ENERGY SAVING
year without compromising on thermal comfort. Improved heat exchanger design also plays a major role. The latest heat exchangers are specifi cally designed to achieve optimum heating and cooling performance using industry-standard hot and chilled water temperatures. This allows them to transfer heat more effi ciently and maintain stable thermal comfort. In large open-plan spaces, this responsiveness helps reduce temperature swings and prevents systems from working harder than necessary.
As whole-life cost becomes key to specifi cation, durability has also become even more critical. For AC contractors, reliability is essential not only to minimise call-outs but to ensure that the fan coil unit delivers genuine long-term value. Today’s modular fan coil units are constructed with longevity in mind. Galvanised steel chassis off ers enhanced rigidity and corrosion resistance. Stainless-steel condensate trays maintain strength over time and are easier to clean without deterioration. Class ‘0’ insulation helps ensure strong acoustic performance while resisting degradation. Even minor improvements, such as sectioned fi lters that can be removed easily in tight spaces, contribute to longer fan coil life and reduce the risk of damage during servicing. Filtration is another area witnessing whole-life cost
improvements. Some fan coil units rely on disposable fi lters, which typically require replacement several times a year and are non-biodegradable. In buildings with many fan coil units, this leads to a substantial volume of waste and ongoing cost. Modern modular fan coils increasingly off er long-life wire mesh fi lters that can be vacuumed in situ, off ering an environmentally conscious solution. By eliminating several synthetic fi lter disposals per year per unit, these long-life wire mesh fi lters, such as Diff usion’s ‘Eco’ Filter, reduce landfi ll waste, cut maintenance costs, and help end-users align with sustainability goals. Another signifi cant element of whole-life cost is adaptability. Commercial buildings rarely remain static. Offi ces are reconfi gured, lobbies are repurposed as fl exible workspaces, and tenant requirements shift. Traditional fan coil units, once installed, off er little fl exibility. When layouts change, they often have to be removed and replaced at high cost and disruption. Modular fan coil design solves much of this challenge. Units can be reconfi gured on site, changing the orientation, adapting plenum options, or adjusting airfl ow arrangements, without replacing equipment. With fan coils available which off er over 300,000 confi gurations, a modular fan coil unit can evolve with the space it serves, being adapted or relocated, signifi cantly extending its lifetime and reducing waste. Service and maintenance are an essential focus when considering whole life cost. There has been a signifi cant development in the AC market with a shift towards easier and less intrusive servicing. In large commercial buildings, ceiling voids are often packed with ductwork, pipework, and cabling. Accessing fan coil units from below can be diffi cult and sometimes impossible due to the disruption it causes or the limited space. The latest modular fan coil units are increasingly off ering side-access panels, as well as access from below, enabling fans to be removed laterally, if needed. This design feature has a signifi cant impact on whole-life cost
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since servicing becomes quicker, ceilings remain intact, and equipment can be maintained at the correct intervals rather than being left to degrade due to poor accessibility. Side- access variants are now available across both smaller and larger module ranges, giving installers more fl exibility during retrofi t projects.
Embodied carbon
Whole-life cost also includes the carbon impact of a system across its lifetime. While operational carbon is a vital factor, embodied carbon, the emissions associated with manufacturing, transporting and disposing of equipment, is now a signifi cant consideration too. To off er transparent reporting, some manufacturers like Diff usion have adopted CIBSE’s TM65 methodology to provide their customers with accurate embodied carbon data at a component level. For the AC market, this level of transparency helps specifi ers compare embodied carbon values against other manufacturers’ units more easily, ensuring products align with wider sustainability strategies. For AC contractors considering whole-life cost when it comes to specifying air conditioning, modular fan coil units off er an ideal solution. They deliver practical benefi ts with compact dimensions, easier installation, and fl exible confi guration while providing the end-user with lower operational costs, easier servicing, and a longer lifespan. With the introduction of higher capacity units like the Modular Highline 275 range, contractors can now specify fan coil solutions for large spaces more eff ectively, using fewer units and delivering more consistent thermal performance. As the air-conditioning market continues to shift towards long-term value and sustainability, modular fan coil units provide a pathway that aligns effi ciency, durability, and adaptability. They off er a way to reduce whole-life costs, improve comfort, and reduce waste. For large commercial spaces looking to upgrade fan coils without unnecessary disruption, modular fan coil units off er a practical, future- ready solution that delivers value throughout a building’s life.
'Operational energy
consumption is still a signifi cant factor in whole-life cost, which is why modern modular fan coil units are vital.'
www.acr-news.com • January 2026 21
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