22 January 2010 Fan coil design the answer to problem retrofits Ian Thomas Product Manager at TROX UK looks

at the problems inherent in refurbs and introduces an ideal solution for projects with less than ideal limitations! Refurbishment projects vary enormously in terms in budget and levels of ambition. For every large-scale, realistically-scheduled refit a contractor comes across, there ill be a multitude of other projects here budgets are tight, timescales are even tighter, and much has to be delivered in terms of improved comfort for the building occupant disruption. !n addition to limitations imposed by the customer, contractors also face challenges presented by the building. "hilst most problems encountered during installation can be solved, the retrofit project al ays carries an added level of ris#. $ontractors are only too a are that unanticipated problems encountered at installation stage can %uic#ly ipe out profit margin. !n the current economic climate, ho ever, no-one project & even a problematic retrofit. "hilst ne ants to al# a ay from a ith the absolute minimum of

build projects are proving

increasingly elusive, refurbishment projects are on the increase as building o ners and occupiers become increasingly a are of carbon footprint. 'o ho those can the contractor tac#le the full range of retrofit projects & including here limitations imposed by the customer or the fabric of the building )*more

seem insurmountable or, at the very least, open to ris#(

2)* Fan coil design the ans er to problem retrofits !n ans er to this %uestion from customers, +R,- has just launched in the ./, the +F$. - a fan coil solution particularly suited to projects ith limitations relating to budget or problematic installation. 0eveloped initially for small to medium projects, it incorporates proven +R,technology, and is manufactured to the same e1acting %uality standards. !t has been designed ho ever ith certain #ey priorities in mind that ma#e it capital cost, and e1tremely %uic# and ideal for many ./ retrofit projects2 lo

simple installation, regardless of space constraints. Ideal solution in two parts +R,- +F$.s reduce manpo er and installation time due to their modular design. +hey are made up of t o separate components & a fan module and a coil module & and can be installed in t o halves.

3)* Fan coil design the ans er to problem retrofits +he modular light- eight design also enables the units to be installed by only one person ithout the re%uirement for lifting e%uipment. 4ll that has to be done is to install the components one by one and simply tighten the scre s bet een the fan module and the coil module.

5)* Fan coil design the ans er to problem retrofits

+he +F$. also provides a solution to the problems of changing filters here the filter frame is larger than the ceiling tile. !ts filter frames are collapsible, hich enables even the largest si6es to be 7folded8 into small dimensions for removal from small openings, saving time and enabling maintenance or# to be carried out more efficiently.

+o facilitate simple installation and maintenance the +F$. includes standard +R,- controls and valve arrangements. !t has also been designed to provide energy efficiency advantages, ma#ing it attractive in retrofits here the occupier or building o ner is aiming to reduce energy consumption, or here the building needs to be brought up to date ith regard to legislation.

9)* Fan coil design the ans er to problem retrofits 4s part of this focus on energy efficiency, the units are available in both 4$ and :$ fan options, and can be upgraded easily from 4$ to :$ at a later stage if re%uired. +he opportunity to install the +F$. either hori6ontally or vertically ;as a all mounted unit< adds an additional level of fle1ibility. Applications +he +F$. range is made up of = models. +here are 2 different fan modules and = coil modules. :ach model uses a different combination of these modules, based on the acoustic and thermal re%uirements, providing a ide range of units ith different capacities and features. +he +F$. fan coil units are suitable for a ide range of buildings including hotel rooms, hospitals, gyms, residential buildings and offices. +hey have also proved ideal in older buildings here there are particular space limitations relating to installation of building services. Future proofing >oo#ing to the longer-term, the fact that the fan and the coil modules are separate modules, means that these can be purchased separately throughout the lifetime of the system if re%uirements should change. +his gives the fle1ibility of replacing either of the modules if a different acoustic or thermal performance is re%uired. +he +F$. unit, as a +R,- product, also means that the contractor can satisfy budget limitations ithout having to compromise on the %uality, reliability and product support of the e%uipment installed. +his has, in the

past, been one of the only ays of solving the problems presented by budget constraints. ?)* Fan coil design the ans er to problem retrofits +his is just one of +R,-@s fan coil options. +here ill be many applications in hich it ill not be product of choice. !n circumstances here budgets are particularly tight and there are space constraints on installation ho ever, the +F$. could be the ans er that the industry has been aiting for. :nds

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Issued by:
+R,- ./ >td $a1ton "ay +hetford !B25 3'C $ontact2 Derald $arey +el2 01E52 =95959 Fa12 01E52 =?3091 :mail2 gcareyFtro1u#.co.u#

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