Simple Air Conditioning System Saves Construction
Costs
Everyone in the construction industry knows how complex
conventional air conditioning systems are both to design
and install. It is also well known just how inflexible
they are when the original designed use of the building
or floor needs to be altered to keep pace with modern
change.
So why, I asked Jackie Blanden, Director Export Sales
of WM Protek, were not more office complexes or corporate
headquarters buildings being installed with underfloor
air systems?
“I cannot tell you”, was her simple and direct response.
“Underfloor systems are quick and simple to install.
All that’s required is a variable height raised floor
which uses conventional 600mmx600mm floor tiles and
a floor void of around 275mm. Perhaps the answer lies
in the fact that the systems are so simple, so uncomplicated
and so cost effective that architects and building owners
cannot believe they can offer so much.”
“One of the main advantages,” she explained, “was that
by putting the building services in the floor void,
the building owner can actually gain more usable space.
For example, if you take a typical 10 storey headquarters
building, an additional floor can be incorporated simply
by utilising the space normally taken up with trunking,
etc., necessary for a ‘conventional’ air conditioning
system. Isn’t that a major advantage for any building
owner?”
“In addition, independent estimates, not our own sales
message, show that underfloor systems can reduce overall
construction costs by about 10%, plus the annual running
costs can be up to 50% less,” Jackie explained.
So how does the system work? Very efficiently and
very simply is the answer. Each area of about 400m2
is controlled by a zone unit, which provides conditioned
air under the raised floor. The zone unit can be freestanding
in the room or built into a cupboard. Outside air and
return air from the room are mixed and filtered, then
cooled or heated, and finally introduced into the raised
floor plenum by the zone units. The conditioned air
is distributed from the plenum into the room by stand
alone fan terminal (RAG) units installed into the floor
void.
The intelligent fan terminal units control a micro
climate within a particular area of the floor. Each
has two floor grilles, one for the supply of air and
one for the return air. Each unit measures the same
as a floor tile and they are powered by simply plugging
into a bus bar (a purpose-made, colour-coded extension
lead with about four socket outlets).
It is the combination of fan terminal units that can
be simply lifted and re-positioned where required, depending
of floor/office configuration layout, and the fact that
they are not ‘fixed’ wired into a pre-set position,
that provides the Protek system with its total flexibility.
To explain it even more simply: To move a fan unit
to a new location, all that has to be done is to lift
the desired floor tile where it is to be required.
Then lift the fan terminal unit and place it in the
hole created by the removal of the tile. Plug the electrical
cable into a nearby extension lead bar, place the floor
tile back in the previous hold left by the fan unit
and that’s the job done. It really is as easy and as
uncomplicated as that.
Within the floor void there are no trunking networks,
no special plumbing, no ductwork and no special electrical
installations. The air just flows within the void and
is directed into the room, and heated (up to 1kW) if
required, via the fan terminal units. This allows total
freedom of design and a superb indoor environment.
The underfloor area can be used to run all other services
such as power, data or voice cables etc., without affecting
the efficiency of the air handling system.
In operation both the floor mounted fan units and the
zone units are exceptionally quiet, making them suitable
for use in any office environment.
