Duke of Edinburgh’s Award headquarters moves on from R22
Aging R22 air-conditioning systems in the headquarters building for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award have been replaced with Daikin VRVIII systems with integrated heat-recovery ventilation and a centralised I Touch controller, supplied by Space Airconditioning, which also advised on the various Daikin-based options available. Gulliver House is a red-brick 3-storey building in the centre of Windsor and has been the organisation’s headquarters since 1991.
Over the years, air conditioning in the form of split-system heat pumps had been installed to serve various parts of the building. They included 18 aging individual split systems.
The building suffered from a lack of control for the multiple air-conditioning units and an ineffective ventilation system. A number of the existing units were also out of order.
The central air-handling unit used R22, so even if it had been refurbished, it would become unserviceable by law by the end of 2014.
Once the charity had finalised plans to modify the internal layout of the building, Space Air was asked to prepare formal proposals to replace the R22 equipment and obtain installation quotes from within its network of approved installation specialists as part of a competitive tender process. Space Air-approved installer Air Improve was instructed to install the specified Daikin Solution.
Daikin VRVIII systems incorporating a mixture of 4-way cassettes, ducted and wall-mounted fan-coil units with fully integrated VAM heat-recovery ventilation units were installed floor by floor to minimise disruption. Much of the work was carried out at times that were least convenient to staff.
On completion,the new systems, including the I Touch centralised control, were commissioned and staff trained by Space Air technicians before the installation was formally handed over.
