What are the key drivers when selecting fan coil units?
The key drivers that affect the selection of fan coil units (FCUs) will vary due to the role different parties have within a commercial building project, however, they are usually drawn from one or more of the following:
- Cost control
- Waste reduction
- Best practice specification
- Sustainability benefits
- Ease of installation
- Carbon reduction potential
Fan coil units are assessed on how they perform against these drivers by various actors throughout the project lifecycle of designing, constructing, commissioning and occupying a commercial building. However, fan coils should also be evaluated on how they can assist with reducing the damaging effects on project cost and sustainability of the often-wasteful practice of the transition from a Cat A fit out to a Cat B fit out. The first fit out, Cat A is undertaken by the building owner on the newly constructed building and is completed to offer basic functional requirements, including the installation of fan coil units to condition the air. The second fit out, Cat B, is carried out by the tenant and it is common that the original positions of the Cat A FCUs will not be best placed to provide air conditioning for the adjusted layout of the interior space.
This view was shared by Sam Smith, Associate Director of Building Services at WSP who said: “There is no guarantee, and it is often unlikely, that the Cat A FCUs will be appropriately positioned or suitably sized to meet the specific requirements of a Cat B fit-out”.
Reassessment of the M&E design is now required. This can lead to the installation of additional FCUs and the removal of FCUs that are no longer in the correct positions or that are oversized. This creates waste and adds time and extra cost to the Cat B fit out. We cover all the implications of this Cat A to Cat B in our white paper ‘Reducing waste in development fit outs through effective fan coil solution design’.
This blog highlights the differing priorities of the key actors in the project. However, the waste reduction and sustainability benefits of choosing more adaptable FCUs can appeal to all parties. These fan coils have the ability to remain in position and adapt to subsequent fit outs to help reduce waste and drive sustainability improvements.
What drives the selection of fan coils for each party in a commercial building project?
There are several key players in the project lifecycle of a commercial building and here we will look at how each one will approach the selection of fan coils.
M&E Consultants
M&E consultants look for ways to produce a best-practice specification that is robust and can deliver a solution that covers as many of the variations in use and occupancy of the building over its lifetime. Specifying adaptable large FCUs gives that flexibility and offers their clients an air conditioning system that will require minimal change and therefore reduce waste, disruption, and installation time.
Developers
Building developers, as we covered earlier, can be driven by cost and are likely to look for the lowest cost Cat A FCU specification as they do not bear the cost of the Cat B fit out. However, when viewed over the lifetime of the building, the benefits of using options that minimise disruption and reduce scrap during the many fit outs that will be required should not be ignored. The desire to produce sustainable buildings as we head towards the net zero carbon target in 2050 is driving customers towards buildings that can prove their sustainability credentials through schemes such as LEED and BREEAM. These buildings command a premium and developers who choose not to adopt designs that can reduce waste and carbon emissions will find their product less attractive and the return on investment could suffer accordingly.
M&E Contractor
For M&E contractors, waste reduction is a huge issue, and many have hard targets to minimise waste from their projects. Consequently, having to remove and replace FCUs presents them with a problem of what to do with the units that they cannot use. Keeping them to use later presents issues around finding suitable storage spaces, logging each unit, and keeping track on other projects where they may be able to be re-used. Even if other projects are found the client will need to be persuaded to take a second-hand FCU and issues of the manufacturer’s warranty for the unit will have to be resolved. It is far easier for the M&E contractor to make a few adjustments to existing FCUs to meet Cat B requirements and to also meet their own sustainability targets for their projects.
Client (end user)
The end user is the one paying for the cost of the Cat B fit out. Therefore, leasing a building that has been designed to minimise waste will be attractive, not just due to the reduced costs but also as it is likely to align with corporate level sustainability ambitions. FCUs that offer flexibility also make any changes to the building space required during the lease much easier to achieve with minimal disruption and cost.
Sustainability consultants
Whether the sustainability consultants are working on behalf of developers, contractors, or end user clients the message will be the same – make your design as sustainable as possible whenever possible. A design for FCUs that only encourages waste each time the Cat A to Cat B cycle occurs will never be considered sustainable and the design options that minimise the chances of that happening will always be the preferred options.
Where can I find information to assist with the selection of the most appropriate fan coils for my project?
For detailed information on the factors that should be considered when selecting the most appropriate fan coils for a project we have a comprehensive Ability white paper ‘Reducing waste in development fit outs through effective fan coil solution design’ available for download.
If you have any questions about the white paper or would like to chat through the fan coil options best suited to your project , please contact our experienced team who will be happy to help.
Troy Chambers
