AIR HANDLING UNITS
should look for low thermal transmittance, reduced thermal bridging and strong mechanical resistance, for example through insulated galvanised steel panel construction. Units installed on roofs or in exposed plantrooms are particularly vulnerable to avoidable heat loss if the casing is poorly designed. Airtightness is equally important. Leakage undermines both air quality and energy effi ciency, forcing fans to work harder and reducing the eff ectiveness of fi ltration and heat recovery. A higher leakage class, i.e. lower leakage rates, can translate into measurable operational savings over the life of the system. In larger buildings, even modest percentage improvements in fan and heat recovery performance can become material energy and carbon reductions. Filtration should be matched to the building’s risk profi le.
Offi ces and schools may prioritise comfort, productivity and particulate reduction; healthcare, laboratories and pharmaceutical environments may require multi-stage fi ltration and higher-grade solutions; industrial, food and battery manufacturing sites may need precise humidity control, molecular fi ltration and robust corrosion-resistant materials. Controls are another defi ning feature of the new generation of AHUs. Intelligent control platforms can integrate with the building management system to monitor heat recovery, airfl ow, fi ltration status, component operation and energy performance. This enables more responsive operation, reduced maintenance, quicker fault detection and better end-user comfort. It also
allows the AHU to operate as part of a whole-building strategy rather than as an isolated item of plant. Packaged solutions can take this further by combining an AHU with heat pump technology. These systems can deliver stable, fresh-air temperatures throughout the year, using recovered energy as part of an integrated heating and cooling process. For commercial applications where plant space is limited, the ability to combine ventilation, fi ltration, heat recovery and thermal generation in one unit can reduce installation complexity, maintenance requirements and overall footprint.
The role of refurbishment Full replacement is not always necessary or practical. Many existing AHUs can be refurbished to improve effi ciency, air quality control and compliance readiness. Refurbishment may include upgrading fans and motors, improving controls, replacing fi lters, enhancing sealing, addressing casing deterioration and introducing or improving heat recovery. In suitable applications, a well-refurbished unit can extend service life by 10 to 20 years. For consultants, contractors and end users, the best
specifi cations will be those that treat the AHU not as a standalone ventilation product, but as a key part of the building’s low-carbon climate control infrastructure.
"The UK Health Security Agency has warned
that energy effi ciency
measures can inadvertently increase indoor pollutant
concentrations if they are not paired with adequate ventilation."
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