EME Newsletter MEssage #01/2023

LEAD STORY
is a potential risk that regulations
would be bypassed through the
use of non-compliant thermostats
available in the free market, as they
are sometimes procured separately
by customers or via e-commerce.
“There is a need for uniform
regulation application on other
cooling systems such as chilled
water systems.”
Rangan further underscored
that a lack of compliance and
reduced accountability could lead
to decreased safety and comfort
for occupants, increased costs for
individuals and businesses, and
negative environmental impacts.
“A lack of enforcement can erode
confidence in regulatory systems,
leading to a loss of trust for
regulations,” he says.
How this regulation will be managed
within Building Management
Systems (BMS) is another important
aspect that needs to be addressed.
Ghussein and Rangan believe it will
add another layer of complexity
to the discussion. “It’s unclear
how they will regulate all the BMS
coming into the market,” Ghussein
says. “There would be a need to
connect the unit to the BMS, the
system should also ensure that the
AC doesn’t go below 20 degrees C.”
Currently, adds Rangan, remote or
BMS controls are not regulated.
Recommendations on the best way
forward
Without a doubt, the regulation
will go a long way in achieving
greater savings. “As an industry,
we support the regulation to that it
saves energy,” Ghussein reiterates.
“In some countries, such as Japan,
building codes have even been
forbidden going below 24 or 25
degrees C, which underscores the
clear value behind having such a
regulation. So yes, it’s good to have
such a regulation. The question is,
is the current requirement effective
and working?”
Rangan says that the importance of
Rangan says that the importance of
clearly defining testing standards
and protocols for all thermostats
entering the UAE should be
emphasised. “The regulations
should be uniformly applicable
to all types of thermostats,
and the exceptions process
should be clearly defined,”
he says. “This is because
some end-use applications
may not be practical to apply
the regulations, for example,
cold storage, pharmaceutical
or hospital applications.
Additionally, suppliers should be
well protected in case of misuse
of the thermostat settings in the
field.”
According to Rangan, several
According to Rangan, several
measures can improve
compliance with regulations
related to air conditioning
units not cooling below a
certain temperature. “Clear
and consistent definitions of
key terms and standardised
measurement protocols are
critical to ensuring effective
implementation,” he says.
“Certified testing organisations
should also be required to
test compliance with the
regulations, and the regulations
should be part of broader
energy efficiency standards.
Public education and outreach
can also help raise awareness
and promote compliance.”
Lattner sums up the concerns of
the industry, “The regulation in
its current form is not achieving
its goals. It doesn’t address
applications where you need
lower temperatures, leads to
unfair competition in the market
and leaves way too much room
for circumventions. People will
not understand why their AC
can’t go lower when at the next
location, the room temperature
is clearly lower due to nonregulated
BMS systems or a
third-party remote control. We
absolutely support its intention,
but this issue may better be
addressed through building
codes and public awareness
campaigns.”
FEATURE ARTICLE
Gopalakrishnan G, Operations
Director, Emrill, an integrated
facilities management company, is
a firm believer in the importance of
quality installation within the sector.
“HVAC has many areas requiring
specialist expertise,” he says.
“Qualified and licensed technicians
and engineers across the UAE
possess the required skillsets to
install and maintain HVAC systems
efficiently.”
However, complaints have emerged
in the GCC region due to improper
or inefficient installations, which
not only put to risk the reliability
of a system but also lead to
costly maintenance or greater
consumption due to it not operating
as intended. Several common
installation issues can be seen with
DX air conditioning installations,
says Srinivasan Rangan, Director
of Demand Generation, Strategy
and Regulatory Affairs, Rheem
Manufacturing. “These include
incorrect sizing, poor placement
of the indoor and outdoor units,
improper refrigerant charge,
inadequate insulation, and poor duct
design,” he says. “Additional factors
that can contribute to issues with
air conditioning systems include
improper implementation,” he
says, providing the example of low
side static exceeding equipment
design, hot air recirculation caused
due to the equipment being placed
too close, which does not follow
the manufacturer‘s installation
guidelines, as well as poor quality
of refrigerant piping and inadequate
brazing of joints or leakage in airflow
ducts.
For Hadi Ismail, Chief Sales Officer,
Taqeef, improper installation
practices are cost driven. “Often,
when installers do not follow
manufacturers' instructions or
recommendations, the reason
is purely economic,” he says. “A
common example in the UAE is that
they don’t install return duct to save
money because it's expensive.”
Gopalakrishnan points out, however,
that with the number of HVAC
solutions in the market, there is also
an unavoidable learning curve. “FM
is a fast-evolving sector,” he says.
“With the implementation of any new
product or service, there will be a
learning curve across the industry,
where support may be required from
our original equipment manufacturer
partners.”
Why does it matter?
NEWSLETTER
What’s causing inefficient installations
and why you should care
Proper installation is a critical part of the project process that can significantly impact an
HVAC system's efficiency, lifecycle, and overall performance. However, there are many
cases in which quality installation is overlooked or simply not given the necessary attention
it deserves. Eurovent Middle East looks at how poor installation processes lead to wrong or
inefficient performance and operations and the reasons why…
Gopalakrishnan G
Subpar installation practices,
unfortunately, has a number of
consequences. Rangan explains
that these issues he highlighted
can result in inefficient operation,
increased energy consumption,
and costly repairs. “Proper
installation, regular maintenance,
and attention to these issues can
help ensure optimal performance
and longevity of the system,” he
says. “If the air conditioning unit
is not sized properly or has an
incorrect refrigerant charge, it can
lead to reduced efficiency, increased
energy consumption, and a shorter
lifespan. Similarly, insufficient
insulation and poor duct design can
cause inadequate cooling, increased
energy consumption, and costly
repairs. Regular maintenance
and attention to these factors are
crucial for optimal performance
and longevity of the system.” All
these factors, he says, will have
an adverse impact on the cost of
ownership and home comfort for
end users.
Ismail says there are also critical
energy efficiency implications.
“For example, when you don’t add
a duct, the air is taking a path that
it shouldn’t,” he explained. “And
the way it was manufactured and
tested, it was meant to have duct on
the outlet and inlet, so having the
air going through the false ceiling
in either kitchen or bathroom, two
typical places installed, is simply an
inefficient use of energy.”
What contributes to the issue?
While the challenges listed
above can lead to errors during
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JUNE 2023 VOL. 09