Cost Effective Daikin VRV IV Systems at Infosys, Dublin. A Vibrant & Exposed Look.

Once something shunned and banished, exposed ductwork has been on the rise as a design element for some time now. At Infosys Dublin, Alpha Mechanical partnered withIIS Ltd on this fit out to create a vibrant exposed look to the HVAC at reception and the canteen area whilst using the more conventional layout in the office spaces. Playing with size, shape, color and angles allows exposed systems to work in almost any space.

We utilised Daikin’s VRV IV systems which integrate the latest and most advanced technology to provide comfort control with maximum energy efficiency and reliability.

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Daikin VRV IV Features.   

• Total comfort solution for heating, cooling, ventilation and controls
• Redesigned and optimized for total Life Cycle Cost (LCC)
• Reduced install cost and increased flexibility as compared to VRV III with larger capacity single modules up to 14 tons and system capacity up to 34 tons
• Efficiency improved over VRV III by an average of 11% with IEER Values now up to 28
• Improved seasonal efficiency as compared to VRV III with automatic and customizable Variable Refrigerant Temperature (VRT) climate tuning
• Best-In-class warranty* with 10-year compressor and parts limited warranty as standard
• Reduced commissioning time vs. VRV III with VRV configurator software and Graphical User Interface (GUI)
• Design flexibility with long piping lengths up to 3,280 ft. total and 100 ft. vertical separation between indoor units
• Take advantage of Daikin’s unique zone and centralized controls

The Benefits of Exposed Spiral HVAC Ductwork vs Rectangular Ducts.

10. Air leakage at duct joints can lead to energy loss and impaired system efficiency. Quality self-sealing spiral duct systems can guarantee a system that meets or exceeds the highest industry air-leakage standard.

9. When leakage is virtually eliminated, the cost of filtering, heating, cooling, and distributing conditioned air is kept to a minimum. One study shows that a national shift to more airtight systems would lead to an annual energy savings comparable to the annual energy product of three nuclear power plants.

8. The pressure drop of air leaving an air-handler is usually lower in a typical spiral system. The spiral design provides equal pressure internally and allows the air to flow evenly and efficiently, also leading to lower energy use.

7. Air leakage can be detrimental to indoor air quality. Because of concern regarding "sick buildings," there is a demand for more fresh-air intake. With airtight ducts, it is easier and more economical to meet these stricter demands.

6. The problem of noise breakout can be avoided with spiral duct because the reverberation created by the pressure differential existing in rectangular duct does not occur with spiral duct.

5. The inherent design of rectangular duct involves air moving around sharp edges, dampers, and turning vanes. Obstruction to airflow can contribute to noisy turbulence. With spiral duct, less sharp edges equal less noise.

4. Many facilities now require regular inspection and internal cleaning of ductwork. The approved cleaning methods for spiral duct are readily available, economical, and effective.

3. With rectangular duct, extra space - up to 3 inches extra - must be factored in for the connections and reinforcements needed at each joint. This is not a consideration when installing spiral ductwork.

2. Air-flow measurement, a periodic responsibility of a mechanical engineer, can be simplified. Many accurate and inexpensive flow-measurement devices specifically designed for spiral duct enable regular check-ups or continuous monitoring.

1. The installed cost of spiral duct - which includes product, parts, labor, warehousing, transportation, packaging, and waste disposal - can be considerably less than rectangular duct (in some cases, up to 50-percent less).

Relocating your office to better suit your brand.

Moving office is not dissimilar to moving house. It can be stressful and filled with a long list of confusing issues, but it also presents a wonderful opportunity to reinvent your environment and create a space that is fit for purpose and welcoming.

1. Why move?

Consolidation, lease breaks, space and bringing teams together under one roof, or simply looking for a cheaper rent, are some of the most common reasons for relocating.

However, another trend that is emerging among both big and small enterprises – companies are now moving their office spaces with the aim of having a place thatbetter represents them and boosts their brand. As the office space can physically represent the type of business you run, the talent you have, and the clients you work with, it holds within it a major competitive advantage, especially if you do it right.

2. Good office design

Of course, there are the obvious benefits. Office relocation has been known to have a positive impact on streamlining working practices and patterns, improving the company’s overall workplace culture, re-energising staff, and attracting and retaining the best possible talent. However, as with moving home, relocation is not for the faint-hearted. There is a lot of detail to consider and a good office design is fundamental to this process.

Firstly, you will need to have a really good understanding of the business and its brand to work out what’s needed. Often senior management will think that it understands what the business needs and this may very well be the case in some instances, but not always. For example, the CEO of a FTSE 100 company won’t necessarily know the confidential printing requirements of the finance team, or the commute time for each employee.

3. The idea of change

It is worth getting staff involved and doing the necessary legwork before making any final design decisions. Staff engagement during office relocation has always been important, but be sure you don’t scare people by asking too many questions too early on. Instead, allocate team leaders who can relay the necessary information between staff and the design team that will help build up your plan, while sensitively introducing the idea of change to the workforce.

Additionally, doing a bit of investigative work in the first instance can be really useful in developing a workplace strategy. You wouldn’t move into a new home without understanding the new property or how different rooms could be used for different purposes – the same goes for your new office. Once you’ve properly explored your needs and the new location, a workplace strategy can help to outline the parameters and highlight the best opportunities for change.

4. How much space do you need?

As part of this assessment, you may find that the smallest details can actually make a big difference. You may not actually need more meetings rooms, for example. In fact, on average, 10 per cent of booked meeting rooms consist of one person conducting a phone call or trying to concentrate on an individual task. Many meeting rooms are just too big, with only a third of the seats being used in the space. As a result, a lot of businesses are now shifting to social settings, with meetings taking place in coffee-shop style spaces. The same misjudgment can also apply to the actual layout of your desks. Open-plan tends to be the norm, but people can often struggle to concentrate in open-plan environments and this can result in huge productivity loss.

5. Don’t be a copycat

A hugely important thing to remember is that your brand is your own. One of the biggest mistakes we have seen businesses make is trying to copy what has already been done. It’s easy to become misled by the values of other businesses. Google might be renowned for having a very ‘cool’ and forward-thinking office space, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that its office design would suit your brand. Every company will have its own approach to working practices and, while it’s good to aspire to the values of a respected brand, that’s very different from actually imitating its operational and organisational culture.

6. Nurturing collaboration

Focus on delivering an innovative and fully inclusive workplace that places accessibility at the heart of the office design. Assess what is important to a business, from the systems and processes, down to the smaller design details, and ultimately you can create a workplace that is optimised for collaboration and full inclusion, putting a real emphasis on brand and values.

www.alphamech.ie

Recently completed work at Car Trawler HQ in Dundrum, Dublin.

Recently completed work at Car Trawler, one of the web’s largest providers of car rental services at its Classon House HQ in Dundrum, Dublin.

Alpha Mechanical and the recently completed Car Trawler installation. The fit out consisted of Daikin VRV Air Con serving the seating area and including a new Daikin heat recovery system supplying fresh air including extract from kitchen and general extract, Hot and cold water services to kitchen.

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Bar Air? The relationship between air quality and illness..

Improving Indoor Air Quality at Work

Millions of people are adversely affected by poor indoor air quality. Poor indoor air affects our health and is a leading cause of illness around the world. 

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Indoor air quality (IAQ) in the workplace is the subject of much attention these days, and for good reason. The air quality of the indoor environment can profoundly affect the health, comfort, and productivity of building occupants. Although serious health problems related to IAQ are rare, the perception of endangered health is increasingly common among building occupants.

The causes and consequences of poor IAQ are complex and not completely understood, but there are some basic factors that building owners, managers, employers, and occupants should know in order to address IAQ concerns.

Read more here: https://www.aiha.org/about-ih/Pages/Improving-Indoor-Air-Quality-at-Work.aspx