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The UK has rapidly become home to one of the largest serviced oce markets in the world. Last year, the sector grew to 2.9 million square feet, a 157 per cent increase. Mike Hayes, Applicaons Specialist at FläktGroup, explains how new cooling technology can help meet the changing needs of commercial oce buildings


COOLING TECHNOLOGY BSEE


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On the back of one of the hoest summers on record, cooling systems in parcular are high on the agenda. Temperature is regularly ranked as one of the top 10 workplace complaints and research shows that 80 per cent of oce workers worry about it having a big impact on producvity.


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uFor buildings that need to be fiexible enough to accommodate changes in design and usage, underfioor air condioning systems (UFAC), such as FlaktGroup’s OceCool, can provide the answer


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coming together to transform the modern office. This is reflected in the commercial property market with rising demand for flexibility when it comes to building operations – of which heating and cooling is a crucial element. In a typical office environment, space heating and cooling requirements are at their peak during the weekdays when most staff are present. However, flexible working trends mean that, increasingly, people are working at different times of the day and night. Coupled with this, commercial property is getting smaller. From 2012 to 2016, the average size of office floor space in London fell by 23.9 per cent. The mantra for modern construction certainly seems to be ‘do more with less’ and this can be challenging when it comes to specifying heating and cooling solutions in offices. Building managers and engineers must face some tough decisions about the types of heating system to install, as specifiers face the ever-growing challenge of maximising lettable space in a building. What’s more, failing to respond to modern workplace trends will mean that tenants will increasingly look elsewhere.


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WHAT LIES BENEATH Focus on underfloor cooling


hanges in the way we work away from the traditional nine-to-five, and a shift in workplace culture, are


Changing needs


One of the major trends in the market is the emergence of serviced offices and co-working spaces. We have seen demand continue to grow exponentially across the country, both for fast growing SMEs and increasingly also for larger and more established companies. Across central London alone, it is estimated that flexible workplace providers have taken nearly 20 per cent of office space. Co-working offers businesses the flexibility and room to grow and minimise exposure to long-term leases. It can also improve the employee experience through features such as in-house gyms and ‘chill-out’ rooms. However, these types of offices also provide a range of challenges for managers when it comes to maintaining a comfortable temperature. Gone are the days when office temperatures are fixed at a set level across the business. Today, different areas need to be controlled according to specific and changing functions and at different times of the day.


What’s more, on the back of one of the hottest summers on record, cooling systems in particular are high on the agenda. Temperature is regularly ranked as one of the top 10 workplace complaints and research shows that 80 per cent of office workers worry about it having a big impact on productivity.


Ensuring comfort


Advances in modern cooling technology means that there are many different options for specifiers and building managers to choose from. Conventional air conditioning systems include chilled water or direct expansion, wall mounted fan coils or ceiling mounted cassettes. However, although these solutions do not take up valuable floor space, they can only provide very inflexible, fixed localised cooling and heating. For buildings that need to be flexible enough to accommodate changes in design and usage, underfloor air conditioning systems (UFAC), such as FlaktGroup’s OfficeCool, can provide the answer. These solutions work by installing discreet local zone units to areas of between 50sq m and 300sq m, using the raised floor void as an air


distribution plenum to distribute the conditioned air.


The Local Environmental Control Units (LECU) which are sited within the raised floor void, can then each be controlled as required by the occupants to adjust the temperature and control the release of conditioned air into their particular area of the office. The LECU will also continuously circulate room air and can even provide local heating should this be required.


A key benefit of underfloor systems is that conditioned air flows in the same direction as thermal lift, not against it, supplying the highest volume of fresh air into the occupied zone. The air stratifies in the office, which means that the high air temperature, at high level, returns to the downflow air handling unit (AHU), improving energy efficiency.


Flexible, modular soluons


The rapid turnover and multi- functional nature of modern office spaces means that easy installation and maintenance of heating and cooling systems is now an important factor for busy building managers and engineers.


Fortunately, with underfloor systems there’s no need for ceiling- based duct and pipe work, leading to huge savings in construction materials, installation costs, fit out and reconfiguration costs. This also allows designers to make the most of historic or ornate ceilings on refurbishment projects, whilst still providing full air conditioning to the space.


uTemperature is regularly ranked as one of the top 10 workplace complaints and according to reseach, 80 per cent of oce workers worry about it having a big impact on producvity


All service connections in the floor cavity are easily accessible for maintenance purposes, and all risks associated with maintenance personnel working at height are removed.


When the office space has to be redesigned, the technology can be easily moved without special tools. Since their own power and data rails run in the modular raised floor, hence the electrical systems can be relocated quickly. The LECU is dimensioned to fit a 600 x 600mm floor tile exactly without the use of stringers. With two adjustable grilles and a space for a preferred floor finish in between, it can seamlessly blend into a space.


In today’s changing working environment, it’s more important than ever for facilities managers to be aware of the heating and cooling options available to them. Underfloor air conditioning systems are highly flexible and can be easily adapted to suit any future modifications to a building’s layout. Combined with ease of installation and the opportunity to save on valuable floor space, this technology can help managers to stay one step ahead of rapidly changing workplace trends.


www.flaktgroup.com BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER DECEMBER 2018 23


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