Is Your System Up To The Mark? Mike Nankivell - the ACR Show

Is Your System
Up To The Mark?
Mike Nankivell
Marketing & Business Development Director
Space Airconditioning plc
Daikin Distributors since 1980

Space Airconditioning plc
Manufacturer
DAIKIN EUROPE N.V
• Space Air, the link between the
Manufacture and all disciplines in
the built environment.

EPBD - Key Objectives
• The 2002 European Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) implicated
most new and existing residential and non-residential buildings, and first
began to be implemented in 2006 through Part L of the Building
Regulations. The Directive was recast in 2010.
The Key objectives of the Directive are to promote: -
• Improved energy performance of buildings within the EU.
• Uniformity of building energy standards across EU Member States.

EPBD - Main Provisions
• A framework method for calculating the energy performance of buildings (SBEM).
• Minimum energy performance standards to be set by Member states.
• Energy Performance Certificates required for buildings built, sold or rented.
Certificate to be accompanied by suggestions for cost effective improvements
to energy performance.
• Display Energy Certificates required for Public Buildings
Certificate to be positioned in a prominent situation in all public buildings over
1000m2 (revised under EBPD2 to 500m2.)
(Note: likely to be introduced for all commercial buildings)
• Regular inspection of air conditioning required
plus the provision of guidelines on best practice in
air conditioning use and replacement.

Air Conditioning Inspections
• Article 15 (originally Article 9) of the recast Energy
Performance in Buildings Directive (EPBD2) requires
regular inspections of air conditioning systems over
12kW rated cooling output.
• The Energy Performance of Buildings
(Certificates and Inspections)
Regulations 2007 - SI 991:2007 implemented Articles
7 – 9 of the original Directive (In England and Wales)

The UK Legislation
Inspections of air-conditioning systems
• Systems must be inspected by the relevant date and then
every 5 years
• Systems installed after 1/1/2008 must be inspected within 5
years of installation
• Existing systems over 250kW should have been inspected by
4/1/2009
• Existing systems over 12kW should have been inspected by
4/1/2011
(current compliance estimated at well below 10%!)

The Legislation
The inspection report must include:
• An assessment of the air-conditioning
efficiency and the sizing of the system compared to
the cooling requirements of the building
• Appropriate advice on possible improvements to
the system, replacement of the system and
alternative solutions.

Background
• A joint working group led by CIBSE with ACRIB/IOR,
BSRIA, FETA, HVCA and with support from DCLG
developed guidance on implementation
(Inspection of air conditioning systems)
• CIBSE TM 44 published in 2007 gives detailed
guidance on assessment methodology and reporting
(currently being updated - due in 2012)

Process
Three key stages in the inspection:
1) Off-site paperwork and energy data
(if available)
2) On site (non-invasive) examination
3) Report and proposals for possible
improvements

Further Information
• The CIBSE guide TM44 contains all of the
information required for the inspections
and includes:
– Summary of system types
– Checklists
– Suggested reporting format
• Available from
www.cibse.org/publications
13

DCLG Information
Available from
DCLG website
http://www.communities.gov.uk/archived/publications/planningandbuilding/airconbusinessesguide
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/airconditioning

So..
Is Your System
Up To The Mark?

Maximising Efficiency
Opportunities
Air Conditioning Inspections identify:
• System design flaws
• Equipment/installation issues
• Maintenance failings
• End-user/operator error

Air Conditioning
Inspections could reveal:
• An absence of appropriate records
• A simple means of reducing carbon footprint
• A need to plan for remedial action
• Great potential to reduce operating costs
• Answers to operating efficiency problems
• Let’s look at some examples of what
air conditioning inspections have revealed……..

Design/Installation
Outdoor air cooled condensing units installed internally
Units starved of ambient air, will recycle/stop/start – premature compressor
failure likely.

Installation
Vertical or near vertical insulated ‘Y’ shaped joints in foreground
are designed to ensure laminar flow of refrigerant to FCUs.
These should be installed in horizontal or near horizontal plain

Installation/Maintenance
Arrowed is a temperature sensor designated to control AHU electric heater,
It has not been fitted into the AHU so is reading ambient air.
Electric heater permanently on!

Maintenance
Corroded and dirty condenser coil leading to reduced cooling capacity

Maintenance
Similar to previous slide – very dirty condenser coil – with section
cleaned by assessor to show difference. Performance will be impaired
unless properly cleaned.

Maintenance
Replacement compressor has not been bolted to mounting plate.
Compressor has already moved. Could lead to pipework fractures,
refrigerant leakage, compressor failure.

Maintenance
Washable FCU filter clogged with dust and debris

Maintenance
AHU filter very overdue for replacement –
not only very dirty but is also damaged

Installation
Chassis type FCU to be enclosed by architectural casing. Exposed to site
work debris and foreign bodies in discharge. Also ensure that connection
is made between FCU discharge and final casing outlet

Installation
Fortunately not in regular use but grille arrowed is extract for a potter’s kiln!
If in use condensing unit could suffer serious damage but also would not
function efficiently as would cut out on high pressure.

End User/Operator
Heat source (computer) next to room temperature sensor will keep system
In cooling mode when heating is required.

End User/Operator
Fan coil unit discharge completely obstructed by files will reduce
performance and increase fan power and energy consumption.

End User/Operator
Files creeping across FCU discharge and shelf acting as turning vane
directing draught at neck of person in chair

End User/Operator
Open windows render air conditioning ineffective
and very expensive to operate

Synergies and Benefits
Over one third of all air conditioning in buildings in
Europe is more than 15 years old and will therefore
be operating with HCFC R22.
• Synergy between EPBD air conditioning inspections and
ODS Regulation. - ref. HCFC Phase-out.
• Energy inspections will highlight opportunities to replace
older systems covered by other legislation.
• Will increase awareness of efficiency advantages of
new developments in air conditioning technology.
• F Gas Regulation also involves mandatory, recorded leak
check inspections.
• EPBD now intrinsic to Part L Building Regs.

Is Your System
Up To The Mark?
Thank you for your attention
Mike Nankivell
Marketing & Business Development Director
Space Airconditioning plc
Daikin Distributors since 1980