Underfloor air conditioning has been around for more than twenty years, but many in the construction industry still don’t know all that much about it. However, as the demand for more sustainable, flexible, and energy efficient systems grows, underfloor air conditioning is becoming increasingly popular.
Find out the five biggest reasons why you need to be ‘in the know’ about underfloor air conditioning.
1. It increases your floor to ceiling heights
Underfloor air conditioning systems make use of the space beneath a raised access floor for the distribution of air. This eliminates the need for most of ducting and pipework used for traditional, ceiling-based air conditioning systems, and leads to an average usable space saving of 15 per cent. It is also perfect for buildings with feature ceilings or other period features which would be obscured by a lowered ceiling.
2. It minimises waste and boosts energy efficiency
Not only does underfloor air conditioning offer significant savings on construction materials, installation costs, fit out and reconfiguration costs, the system’s modular and flexible design also minimises waste and energy consumption. As there is no ductwork required, underfloor systems operate at very low pressure encouraging energy efficiency. Underfloor systems can offer up to 30 per cent savings in energy costs and a 29 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions when compared to ceiling systems.
3. It’s completely modular and flexible
Underfloor air conditioning systems are inherently flexible and modular in design. Equipment is installed at floor level, making it easy to install, maintain and re-arrange to suit the demands of today’s agile workspace. The ‘fantiles’ can easily be relocated within the raised floor, offering huge savings compared to ceiling-based systems when reconfiguring and adapting workspaces.
4. You get more consistent cooling than with downflow ceiling systems
Contrary to what you might think, underfloor air conditioning actually offers superior temperature control. Traditional ceiling air conditioning systems are often the cause of office arguments, because they are either too hot, or too cold, or cause a draught. Underfloor solutions create minimal draughts and allow for individual control of temperature and fan speeds. This enables offices to create comfortable and adaptable working environments for all of their staff.
5. It reduces the total height of new builds.
By utilising the existing raised access floor, underfloor air conditioning systems can actually reduce the total height of new build properties by up to 10 per cent. This saving can be so considerable that it has allowed some buildings to add an additional floor to the original design.
So, if you are looking for ways to boost the energy efficiency, flexibility, and open up space on your next project, why not consider an underfloor air conditioning system.
For more information contact AET Flexible Space.
All figures are for AET Flexible Space underfloor air conditioning systems.