It’s no secret that HVAC systems are an essential part of industrial, commercial, institutional, or residential buildings. They keep modern spaces warm during the winter and cool during the summer to keep everyone comfortable the whole year.
The primary purpose of a commercial HVAC system is to provide thermal comfort to the occupants of a building by managing and adjusting outdoor air conditions and keeping indoor air at the desired temperature.
If you have any experience with commercial HVAC systems, you may be familiar with the different types of HVAC systems that are available in the market today. All the combinations ultimately fall into the following three categories:
In this article, we’ll take a look at the types of HVAC systems for commercial buildings in detail:
Single-split systems are at the more affordable end of commercial HVAC systems. They’re particularly ideal for small businesses, cafes, shops, and other cozy spaces of the like. The great thing is that every indoor unit comes with an exterior unit, so if you’re looking to expand your business space, you can always include the additional cooling capacity to these systems in a 1:1 ratio.
These HVAC systems generally comprise air furnaces that circulate air through air ducts and air conditioners that pass air via refrigerant lines. The one drawback of single-split systems is that if you wish to control a space separately, you’ll have to get an outdoor unit and that will take up a lot of space.
Multi-split systems, on the other hand, consist of multiple indoor units that are all connected to one outdoor unit that’s much larger in size. These are designed for larger spaces like retail shops, diners, doctor’s offices, and business spaces as well, particularly those that have a lot of walls and multiple floors.
These systems are made up of heat pumps that circulate air the way air flows naturally, saving you a lot of money. However, the cost of installation may be higher because they require more installation time.
A VRV (Variable Refrigerant Volume) or VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) system is basically a heat pump that involves the usage of a refrigerant in the cooling and heating lines. This system has more than one evaporator that’s connected to a single condensing unit.
It’s important to note that the Heat Recovery VRF system is able to provide both cooling and heating to different spaces at the same time by using warm air from different areas of the building and using that to deliver heat where it’s required. These systems are especially ideal for buildings with smaller rooms.
In today’s world where technology is consistently getting more and more advanced, HVAC systems require specialized care and attention. They need to be upgraded every now and then to satisfy the comforts and demands of all the occupants. It’s also important to hire an HVAC service to maintain your system regularly and maximize its lifespan.