Gilberts reworks speculative ventilation system to meet Google’s requirements
Pending completion of Google’s new 93 000 m2 offices at Kings Cross in London, Gilberts has upgraded the air movement in temporary rented accommodation for 4500 staff in front of the new site. The rented space was speculatively built and fully fitted out for general office accommodation. However, the higher-than-average use of IT by Google required upgrading the existing air movement.
Gilberts applied best-value principles and delivered a solution whereby the original grilles were removed, reworked and reinstalled using technology Gilberts originally developed to help address air quality in the humid environment of the Hong Kong MTR (underground transport system).
The Gilberts solution was tried and tested in its test centre at Blackpool. The original blades were removed from the existing linear ceiling diffusers and replaced with modified deflectors. The vanes in the new version were originally developed to solve a moisture and humidity issue on the Hong Kong MTR and now form a core element of the company’s GZL Zipp-Air slot diffusers.
These diffusers now deliver multi-directional airflow. Blades at 100 mm increments instead of the standard 200 mm simultaneously provide more control and greater air throw. A semi-circular air-distribution pattern under the diffuser face allows high-induction mixing with the room air and a rapid fall off in discharge velocities, making possible high air-change rates within normal comfort parameters.
Sales director Ian Rogers explains, ‘Everyone involved in the project — the main contractor Integra Contracts, the M&E contractor MJ Lonsdale and the consultant Cundells — visited our test centre, where we demonstrated the performance of the original diffusers in a ceiling, as was installed, and then without a ceiling as Google wanted the areas to be, as it was hoped this would be a viable “quick fix”.
‘We also demonstrated our GSFA swirl diffusers, the product of choice if starting from scratch, and then original GSL diffusers with the alternative modified deflector blades.
‘The final option was chosen, as delivering the air-movement requirements needed, with the added benefit of re-using the existing products, thus saving money, materials, carbon and time.’
