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an important part of the overall approach. EDF demonstrates the benefits of considering the AHU and refrigeration circuit as one integrated system. The airflow, dampers, refrigerant detectors and controls are all designed to work together rather than being treated as separate site-installed measures.
Simplifying safe application
Project-specific assessment will always remain necessary. Every building is different, and factors such as occupancy, installation location, ventilation, refrigerant charge and maintenance access must be considered by the project team. However, an integrated, factory-tested and CE-
marked product can remove a significant amount of uncertainty. ThermoCooler HP is supplied with coordinated design, manufacturing, testing, installation and operation and maintenance guidelines. Together, these elements support the safe application of the complete R290 installation. This gives consultants, contractors and property
owners a clearer route through what might otherwise be a complicated and costly process. It also allows many critical safety functions to be engineered, assembled and tested under controlled factory conditions rather than being created separately on site. The product retains the principal operational benefits of the original ThermoCooler HP. Its heating- priority, defrosting-free design positions the DX
Above: The ThermoCooler HP R290 demonstrates its Evacuation Dilution Function (EDF) following de- tection of a refrigerant leak.
system and heat exchangers on the warm side of the thermal wheel. This enables it to overcome the ever- present defrosting issues and supply temperature fluctuations that traditionally designed AHUs with integrated reversible heat pumps experience in winter.
The thermal wheel remains the first stage of energy
recovery, while the heat pump provides additional heating when required. In cooling mode, fresh air free cooling and night-time cooling can be prioritised before the compressor cooling is activated.
Experience and engineering must lead the transition In some respects, the refrigeration industry is
AIR HANDLING UNITS
closing a circle. Natural refrigerants such as propane and ammonia were used more than a century ago before being displaced by synthetic alternatives.
Those synthetic refrigerants addressed some immediate safety and application challenges but ultimately contributed to wider environmental problems. The industry responded to new demand and regulations, with new refrigerants and new engineering. Today, R290 is returning to commercial HVAC discussions because of its extremely low GWP. However, we are not returning to the technology or safety practices of the past. Modern components, sophisticated controls, detailed risk-analysis methods and recognised safety standards allow us to approach flammable refrigerants with a far greater level of engineering discipline. The correct response to flammability is neither
fear nor complacency. It is rigorous design. As the 2027 and 2030 regulatory changes
approach, the HVAC products used in commercial buildings will have to evolve. The successful solutions will be those that combine lower environmental impact with safety, energy performance, practical installation and long-term operational reliability. The move to R290 is therefore not simply a change of refrigerant. It represents a new design philosophy in which environmental responsibility and engineering safety must progress together.
22 October, The Brewery, London
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Raising Standards, Proving Competence, Delivering Better Buildings
conference.thebesa.com GET YOUR TICKETS DOWNLOAD THE HVR APP NOW September 2026 25
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