This ebook from AET Flexible Space examines the benefits and design freedom offered by underfloor air conditioning (UfAC)
It examines the types of system available and how they can be incorporated into both new buildings and refurbishment projects, including those with height restrictions and large, open plan spaces.
Indeed, height savings are one of the key benefits of integrating underfloor air conditioning into a project at the design stage. In new builds, UfAC can save up to 600mm by removing services from the ceiling void. In high-rise towers, adopting UfAC throughout can save as much as 10% on height, resulting in turn in savings on façade materials, labour and construction costs.
Alternatively, buildings could maintain their original planned height but using UfAC would increase the number of floors and, ultimately, the area of net lettable space.
In refurbishment projects, underfloor air conditioning has been used to reduce slab-to-slab heights and can help designers overcome the space restrictions that often hinder the installation of air conditioning in older buildings.
The ebook also discusses the design application of different zone units, fan terminal units and raised floors.
In addition, it features a range of case studies looking at underfloor air conditioning systems installations both in the UK and abroad, from the refurb of the historic 8 Waterloo Place in London and the redevelopment of the former Olympic Press Centre in Stratford by architect Grimshaw into a “mini-city” aimed at media and tech start-ups through to the Parkview Green building in Beijing, China.
