DESIGN ASPECTS

OF AIR
CONDITIONING
SYSTEMS

BY
S.AKASH
P.GOPI
R.NANDHAKUMAR
DELPHIN.D.S
HORIZONTAL & VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF
SERVICES FOR LARGE BUILDINGS
•  Under-floor distribution Air-conditioning system distribution and terminal
equipment is generally located overhead in the ceiling void with the cool supply
air entering the room from ceiling diffusers.
•  However, the supply of conditioned air from under the floor is a design
option. In this case, the air or water distribution and terminal devices are located
in the floor void, and hence the overhead services are reduced to only lighting
and sprinklers.
•  By making the floor void deep enough, the power, telecommunications and
computer wire ways may be incorporated into the one plenum, all being easily
accessible by merely opening up the raised floor.
•  Under-floor cooling is particularly beneficial for spaces such computer rooms,
as air velocities from floor grilles and resultant noise levels are both much higher
for cooling of equipment than those which would be acceptable for people.
 Services located below composite beams

 Internal distribution of services For many reasons, there is pressure to minimise

the space allocated to the building services. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure an
efficient use of space for the service distribution system in the vertical and
horizontal directions and in the plant rooms.
 The following sections review the spatial aspects of the vertical and horizontal
service distribution.
 Conventionally, the horizontal distribution of services is arranged within a
horizontal layer which is generally located below the structure and above the
suspended ceiling.
•  This layer accommodates the distribution system (ducts, pipes, etc), the
terminal units and lighting units. The raised floor is placed on the floor
slab and accommodates the electrical and communication cabling. The
lighting units are often located within the ceiling depth.
• To determine the spatial allowance for these elements, three design
cases may be envisaged corresponding to different structural
configurations:
1. A flat slab with flexibility of service routing.
2. A slab and down stand beam arrangement.
3. A long span beam system with facility for service integration
in the structural.
Example of integrated services Case 2 –
Slab and downstand beam arrangement
Example of integrated services Case 3 –
Long span beam with web openings