PARTNER FOCUS
Are you risking your reputation?
Jennifer Preston, part of the UK based team at Eurovent Certifi cation, discusses the true impact of product underperformance.
R
efrigeration is the backbone of modern life. Systems are essential in a wide variety of industries, from the food cold chain to manufacturing, data centres to pharmaceuticals. Therefore, when equipment is selected based on incorrect performance data, the consequences can be serious. A new white paper, Broken Trust: Energy Effi ciency and the Refrigeration Industry, explores the issue of product underperformance in the European refrigeration sector. Citing research from Eurovent Certifi cation, it has found a potential 31% gap between a product’s claimed and expected performance. With implications on operational effi ciency, profi tability, safety, and environmental sustainability, the big question is: are you risking your reputation on products that underperform?
The impact of product underperformance
The best designed and installed systems will underperform if expected product performance does not match manufacturer claims. However, when things go wrong, the manufacturer is rarely the fi rst port of call for blame. Often, the customer will look to the HVAC installation company, the system designer, or the product specifi er to put things right.
Increased energy consumption When energy effi ciency is overstated, the system will consume
more energy than expected over its life cycle. This leads to higher electricity bills and can negate the fi nancial benefi ts of choosing a system with a cheaper purchase and installation cost. In energy-intensive areas like data centres, food retail, and cold storage, even small ineffi ciencies can lead to substantial cost increases over time.
Shortened equipment lifespan and increased maintenance Inaccurate performance data can lead to improperly sized
equipment. This can cause the system to work harder than intended to maintain the desired temperature, leading to overheating, increased wear and tear, and premature failure of key components such as compressors and fans. Refrigeration equipment will be more prone to breakdown, require more frequent repairs, and incur increased maintenance costs.
Regulatory non-compliance and legal liabilities Many industries are subject to strict regulations regarding
temperature control, food safety, and environmental impact. When refrigeration systems fail to perform as advertised, businesses may unknowingly violate these regulations, leading to fi nes, penalties, and potential legal liabilities. For end users, regulatory non-compliance can also result in product recalls, damage to brand reputation, and loss of consumer trust.
While this may seem unfair, especially if manufacturer data is at fault, it emphasises the adage ‘buyer beware.’ It is down to decision-makers to ensure they choose the right equipment for the project by selecting products with independently verifi ed performance data. If they choose wrongly, the implications can go far beyond broken budgets and ruined reputations; in the worst cases, lives could be at stake.
Safety considerations
One of the most critical risks of using underperforming refrigeration systems is the potential for compromising the safety and integrity of temperature-sensitive goods. If the actual cooling capacity of a refrigeration system does not meet manufacturer claims, stored goods can spoil, degrade, or become unsafe for consumption or use.
16 October 2024 •
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