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Ability MATRIX Fan Coil Units for West End Refurbishment Project
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Over 30 off EC-DC Matrix 1 fan coil units, manufactured by Ability Projects Ltd, have been installed as part of the high grade refurbishment programme carried out on the now fully let, 1 to 3 Mortimer Street, London W1, mixed commercial office and retail complex.
Refurbishment of office floors 1 to 4 comprised raised floors and new windows as well as air conditioning provided by a combination of Matrix horizontal ceiling concealed and vertical low level 4 pipe fan coil units, supplied with chilled and LPHW from new chiller and boiler plant, all installed by JSMS Ltd, Erith, Kent.
The Matrix fan coil system is unique in the UK in providing infinitely variable speed control of the entire fan coil unit as well as each fan within it, enabling each air duct to be balanced for air volume through fan speed alone, thus removing the need for costly, noisy volume control dampers and their time consuming installation.
Historically, fan coil installations have been designed for single speed operation and are invariably left running with a fixed air volume with thermal output controlled by water volume alone. Matrix however, is designed to adjust the overall fan coil air volume based on either occupancy, thermal demand or a combination of both. Throughout the year Matrix follows demand and occupancy, adjusting the air volume (and conventionally, water volume) to meet that requirement and no more. Thus, if a room is empty, the fan coil can operate in set back mode, increasing its speed if a person enters, just sufficiently to compensate for the marginal increase in demand
It simply makes no sense to use drinking quality water at a time when water is becoming a scarcer commodity, with growing demand for potable water – particularly in London and the south east as the population grows, but ironically, whilst we’re seeing heavier rainfall in parts if the UK, equally on the East Coast of the UK, rainfall has in places and at times during the year dropped to an alarming level – in particular across East Anglia. With forecasts suggesting that the south coast could be experiencing a Mediterranean climate by 2050 – some suggesting this could arrive much earlier – water could become a very expensive commodity and any help available from naturally occurring sources of water will be met with open arms. The UK’s position as an island, with prevailing winds for much of the time heading at us from the south west across the Atlantic Ocean – and a warm current into the bargain – does give us a number of benefits and Polypipe is one company that believes that preparing now, by conserving precious rainwater supplies, would not be a moment too soon to take rainwater harvesting seriously.
Nominal capacities of the fan coils range from 1.7 to 5.0kW at an operating noise level of NR35 and environment of 30Pa Pascals resistance. Some horizontal units have stepped discharge plenums fitted to suit 300mm dia discharge spigots, whilst the vertical units measure 400mm high x 200mm deep. All units are fitted with free issue Trend IQL11 and 13 controllers.
