CCME - May 2021

WORLD REFRIGERATION DAY: SPOTLIGHT ON “COOL CAREERS”

May 2021

INTERVIEWS: SAVING ENERGY, MOVING AWAY FROM R-22 Visakh Tom Jose, LG Electronics Gulf

WHY RECIRCULATE INDOOR AIR? Samuele Peli, General Manager Sales EMEA, Seeley International

How indulgent is the construction marketplace towards digital HVACR stores?

LICENCE TO CHILL WHY ARE MOST CHILLERS OPERATING ABOVE THEIR DESIGN EFFICIENCY? Dan Mizesko, US Chiller Services

PERSPECTIVES: DIAGNOSING THE HEALTH OF TURBINES TEAMED WITH RENEWABLE SOURCES Dr Elias Tsoutsanis, University of Birmingham Dubai

VALVES AND CRITICAL SPACES Syed Taqi Hussain, E.H. Price Middle East

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5th EDITION

14 June 2021, Dubai Theme: District Cooling and Zero-Energy Cities… breaking free from past technologies, past practices

OVERVIEW The 5th edition of DC Dialogue, true to tradition, carries the weight of a rich history of in-depth discussions in past editions that have yielded voluminous and actionable reports, suggesting progressive action. The objective of the conference is as much to discuss the latest technologies capable of raising the bar on energy efficiency and reliability as to review the progress made by the industry and to compare policies and approaches across multiple eco-systems with an ambitious drive towards zero-energy cities. The conference also has a self-given mandate of closely examining different forms of renewable energy, as applicable to district cooling schemes, and the buzz surrounding hydrogen as a form of energy.

SPEAKERS (SO FAR)

George Berbari CEO, DC PRO Engineering; Author, The Energy Budget

Gustaf Landahl Head of Department, Environment and Health Administration, City of Stockholm, Sweden

Dominic Mcpolin Chief, Central Planning - Central Planning Office, Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Bahrain

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REGIONAL AMBAS SADOR FOR TH E M I D D LE E AST AND NORT H AFRICA, EAST ERN EU RO P E AND C E NTRAL ASI A Janet was appointed as Regional Ambassador for the Middle East and North Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia in March 2021.

Janet joined the FCO (now FCDO) in 1986. She has served in the Far East, the Balkans, the Middle East, and Africa, and has worked with NATO (as UK Political Adviser) and the United Nations (as a UN Resident Coordinator).

She has wide policy, development and humanitarian experience across post-conflict and fragile states, and in bringing the principles of the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 and the global Climate Change Agreements together for wider strategic goals, including COP26.

James Grinnell Head of Water, Dubai Regulatory Supervisory Bureau

Janet Rogan COP26 Regional Ambassador for MENA Region

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VOL. 16 NO. 05  MAY 2021

Parking the money on consolidation

Add to cart

Concentrating on core strengths and pivoting the portfolio are the way forward, say V Sekhar Reddy, Lexzander and Rahul Duragkar, Emitech

ON THE COVER...

PERSPECTIVES

Are consultants open to selecting products through viewing them on screen?

Perils of poor valve selection The wrong valve technology in hospitals can affect performance, destabilise entire air management system, says Syed Taqi Hussain, E.H. Price Middle East

page

Today’s market is still suffering from poor commissioning-related competency and general lack of understanding, but it’s not all bad, says Lee Hewitt, Core Emirates

LICENCE TO CHILL

Why recirculate indoor air?

INTERVIEWS

26

32

Managing the performance of gas turbines can strengthen renewable energy schemes, writes Dr Elias Tsoutsanis, Univ of Birmingham Dubai

10

EDITORIAL CAMPAIGN: Cx

22

Why not rely on evaporative cooling to lower energy consumption to balance energy use spike from more fresh air changes? asks Samuele Peli, Seeley International

Saving energy, moving away from R-22

24

Converting to inverter-based systems can help the UAE save 5,000-10,000 GW of energy a year, says Visakh Tom Jose, LG Electronics Gulf

Oh no, not my chillers!

28

Equipment operators and plant owners are in denial or just plain unaware that most chillers are operating above their design efficiency, says Dan Mizesko, US Chiller Services

REGULARS 06 eDItor'S note Are we prepared for a shakedown?

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18

Tackling intermittency

Light at the end of the tunnel

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May 2021

40 Regional News 44 Global News

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Theme: Digitalisation of cold chain and food machinery assets

OVERVIEW

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With automation, the possibility of not just monitoring but also controlling without human intervention in improving food safety and food security standards is alluring. The machines that underpin the cold chain infrastructure come with the capability of listening to, and interacting with, one another, taking diagnostics to a higher level, in the process minimising thermal abuse.

The 10th edition of Food Chain, while addressing legacy topics, is dedicated to the digital transformation sweeping through the food industry. It is the coming together of cold chain with the world of algorithms to deliver more sophisticated solutions that cold storage, distribution, food retail, HORECA, e-commerce fulfilment entities and other sectoral endusers can no longer afford to ignore.

Dr Suheel Ahmed CEO, Arabian Farms (Al Saha eggs)

Piyush Chohwan Chief Information Officer, Lulu Group International

Bobby Krishna T M Senior Specialist, Food Permits and Applied Nutrition Section, Dubai Municipality

Mark Lack CEO, Geant (Urban Foods)

Brent Melvin CEO, Gallega Global Logistics

Turki Abdulaziz Alsadhan, CEO, Al Sadhan Group, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Nagesh Bangalore Muniappa Food Safety Audit, Coca-Cola

Anil Nair BU Quality Assurance Leader - MEA, Mondelēz International

Abdul Rashid CEO, Pilsbury Consulting

Richard Sprenger Chairman, Highfield ABC MEA

Vivek Srivastava GM - Procurement, MAF Carrefour

Raja Subramanyam Cold Chain Consultant

Bejoy Thomas COO, Abu Dhabi Coop & Spar UAE

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H.E. Eng. Saif Mohamed AlShara, Assistant Undersecretary, Sustainable Communities Sector; Acting Assistant Undersecretary, Food Diversity Sector, UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Are we prepared for a shakedown?

B

Surendar Balakrishnan Editor @BSurendar_HVACR

Get the next issue of Climate Control Middle East early!

Visit our website: climatecontrolme.com/digital Also available at

alancing energy efficiency and indoor air quality (IAQ), as an action, is likely to pick up speed. While the debate rages on whether or not the minimum number of fresh air changes needs to be revised to improve IAQ, there is consensus on the need to firmly see it as just one among other measures, to ensure energy consumption is driven down and not up.

Now, could we consider a hypothetical situation, where energy consumption is driven down to such an extent that it becomes possible to cut some slack for the sake of better IAQ – to minimise the spread of infectious diseases and harmful chemicals like radon (see interview on page 24)? It may not be hypothetical at all. If COVID-19 profoundly triggers chastened governments to mandate better IAQ across all building types, there is bound to be a shakedown.

Now, are we prepared for a shakedown that would not lead to increase in emissions or total cost of ownership? The answer is a resounding ‘No’. The nagging question is, are we missing out on various opportunities to lower energy use in buildings, which in turn, would help us improve IAQ? Even the low-hanging-fruit type? The answer is a loud ‘YES’.

Over the years, purveyors of various technologies have chosen the pages of Climate Control Middle East to highlight specific solutions, including evaporative cooling systems, energy-recovery wheels, air curtains, glazing, VFDs, hollow-core systems, smart controls and monitoring. There have been those that have come forward with innovative or well-proven construction, installation, commissioning and O&M strategies. And there have been those that have suggested re-examining certain policies that could strongly persuade building owners from taking an energy-profligate approach.

Dismally enough, in many instances, lack of specialised contracting and project management expertise has prevented the possibility of even sophisticated systems delivering on their potential. And in several instances, the various solutions and strategies have been delivered in silos, as opposed to in a comprehensive manner – as part of a total system approach. True, the sceptre of cost of a total system approach has bogged developers down, but that has been a result of myth subduing logic, or of cynicism that they would not be able to recover the cost of investment.

And so, we as an industry continue to stumble.

I am sorry, but this simply has to change, so we can help countries and regions achieve their emission-reduction targets and so that the people inhabiting them breathe clean air and don’t have to suffer through a protracted pandemic.

Co-Founder & Editorial Director Surendar Balakrishnan| surendar@cpi-industry.com

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May 2021

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The conference features the largest gathering of master developers, sectoral end-users (hospitality, healthcare, FMCG, malls, education, aviation), project management companies, architects, general and MEP consultants, general and MEP contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, testing and commissioning agents, FM professionals and legal experts in the GCC region with a specific agenda of discussing issues that are preventing and, at times, perhaps even impairing MEP stakeholders from delivering optimal solutions, so essential for better building performance.

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PERSPECTIVE

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

PART 3 OF THE STATE OF THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

PARKING THE

MONEY

ON CONSOLIDATION It is essential to once again concentrate on core strengths and pivot the portfolio, say V Sekhar Reddy V Sekhar Reddy is Managing Director, Lexzander and Rahul Duragkar is Managing Director, Emitech Group. Rahul Duragkar and They may be contacted at vscsreddy@lexzander.com and at rahul@emitechgroup.com, respectively.

e are not trying to sound dramatic, but the fact is that the world has changed forever.

For a while, there are certain key elements that humankind has conveniently sidelined or ignored. Well, it is never late and always a better practice to inculcate the good habits of yore to arrive at a better tomorrow.

It is essential to once again begin to concentrate on core strengths and pivot the portfolio. For that, it is important to learn to survive and prepare the mind for a relatively slow path back to recovery and growth.

It is important to understand the new economic growth opportunities and, equally, to take customer-centric views.

The wisdom lies in focusing on trust and loyalty – in-house and outwardly – and in placing the money on diversification.

Okay, so how can we make the above happen? The first and foremost

8

May 2021

need is to set up a dedicated senior team in a war room setting. The dynamics would involve daily CEO informal updates, outlining macro-scenarii and translating to contingency plans, taking hard decisions, and mapping and modelling with time factor – days and not weeks.

While structured and strategic leadership action is good, it is equally important to keep a tab on the work being carried out through tracking tools and an agile methodology.

Overall, it is important to prepare the mind for setbacks, with no regrets for some of the decisions and actions. It is called fortifying the mind and not losing sight of the bigger picture.

SHORT-, MID- AND LONGTERM GOALS

The challenges ahead of us might seem formidable, and here, it helps to break the work and the expectations into short-, mid- and long-term goals.

IN THE SHORT TERM

Typically, the short-term goals would be to keep operations afloat for a period up to six months. For this, it is important to align the leadership, the senior team with a wake-up call. It is equally important to comprehend the true severity of the situation and the financial scenario. The road ahead is challenging. In the journey, it is essential to protect the health and safety of employees and customers.

It is important to run macroeconomic scenarii and do a stress test of profit and loss. It is crucial to plan smart cost cuts to conserve cash, which would mean inducting a hiring freeze and keeping an eagle’s eye on capex, opex and working capital with the objective of optimising the approach.

It is important to consider extreme downside scenarii, outline operational actions and conduct risk analysis.

V Sekhar Reddy is Managing Director, Lexzander and Rahul Duragkar is Managing Director, Emitech Group.

They may be contacted at vscsreddy@lexzander.com and at rahul@emitechgroup.com, respectively.

V Sekhar Reddy

IN THE MID-TERM

The mid-term is about mitigation, about stabilising operations for a period up to 12 months. It would involve re-budgeting, protecting revenues, implementing cash preservation measures and forecasting the medium-term plan for extreme revenue scenarii.

IN THE LONG TERM

The long term is about focusing on growth in a new normal in a defined period of 12 months from now. This would involve analysing mid-term corrective actions and understanding long-term impact, monitoring forecasted versus actual scenarii, re-booting and re-adjusting, and rebudgeting or disinvesting, based on status.

Rahul Duragkar

THE WAY FORWARD

It is a good time for stable units to turn around. That said, it is important to assess the impact due to a low-touch economy. It would help to develop a strategy based on a risk matrix. Do ensure to stabilise operations through supply chains, consistent labour support through least disruptions and through encouraging contingency operational plans for all aspects of business.

At all times, discourage inactions and focus on employee and environmental welfare. Encourage social interaction and steadfastly emphasise on healthcare.

CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here.

www.climatecontrolme.com

9

COVER STORY

Moan Abraham

DIGITAL HVACR STORES

Najmal Abdul Latheef

VIRTUALLY How indulgent is the construction marketplace towards digital HVACR stores? Are design engineers and consultants willing to select products on the basis of viewing them on screen?

Story by Surendar Balakrishnan | Editor, Climate Control Middle East

n the first quarter of 2020, a Europeheadquartered manufacturer of variable frequency drives (VFDs) decided to wind up its operations in the UAE. The reason: A pandemic-triggered drop in demand for its products had made it financially unappealing for it to maintain its brickand-mortar operations, including its roster of sales engineers, any longer.

Seeking an opportunity, newly

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May 2021

minted, UAE-based digital store, Phileo PM Aircondition & Refrigeration Trading approached the VFD manufacturer with an offer – of selling the latter’s products through its recently launched online platform. Finding the prospect of extending its presence in the region at a reduced cost appealing, the VFD manufacturer agreed to the deal, and Phileo, in turn, had a new range of products in its digital store.

The VFD manufacturer is among many others that are opting for the digital route for selling their products in the UAE and the larger Middle East and Africa regions. And Phileo is among a growing number of companies that have begun to offer HVACR-dedicated online platforms to those principals – and also distributors – looking to lower their overheads in a pandemic-instigated financial crisis.

Julia Semenova

The first murmurs about digital HVACR stores began in 2019. The onset of the pandemic, in 2020, pushed the pioneering few such stores to cross the threshold from tentative possibility to firm reality. And in 2021, these – and those that have joined the party – are looking to consolidate their position in the market.

Three clear models of such stores have emerged. The first is the brandagnostic and third-party model of products, displayed as a potpourri and transacted through a single digital store, like that established by Phileo.

The second, also brand-agnostic and third party, is a model that facilitates manufacturers and distributors to maintain their virtual stores on a central platform; the likes of UAE-headquartered MEP Global (a Verobiz company) belong to this category. And the third is the type owned by manufacturers and brick-and-mortar distributors, willing to go on their own.

While some may argue that there is not much of a difference between the first and the second models, the fact remains – digital HVACR stores seem to be carving a niche out for themselves through addressing the void of sorts

created by those manufacturers and distributors that found it untenable to maintain a physical presence for selling their specific products, and through providing a platform for those squeamish about entering the market, in the first place. Of course, the exiting manufacturers have an opportunity to sell through those brick-and-mortar distributors still surviving or thriving in the marketplace, but a digital store still provides an option.

The motivation for the third-party digital stores to strengthen their presence is high, as a digital platform constitutes their core business.

Moan Abraham, Director & Managing Partner, Phileo, reveals how his platform is keen on offering all brands and multiple ranges, including heavy equipment. He speaks of giving customers proper technical support, including installation, and whatever it takes to promote the brands in his portfolio – in effect, a digital conduit between manufacturers and customers. Abraham is an industry veteran, who has clocked many years specifically selling HVACR products in the region. As part of Phileo, he is keen on leveraging his experience.

“We are pivoting our skills to account for the trends in the market,” he says. “Since the market is trending towards digitising the industry, we are accommodating this change through our online store.”

Explaining how the third-party model works, Najmal Abdul Latheef, CEO & Founder, Verobiz, says that MEP Global helps to convert 100% licensed suppliers or service providers, who normally maintain an offline premise – like an office, showroom or service centre – to go online with an advanced hyperlocalenabled e-commerce platform to trade and provide the services to the local and global market. “Our platform will be a marketplace with international and UAE brands for the local and global MEP community,” he says. “Each supplier or vendor can represent themselves on our portal with their own identity.

What we do is provide the online infrastructure, which helps them to go online with some easy steps

without the hassle of maintaining and managing a complicated website and its technical headaches. It is about creating an opportunity for them to expand themselves to the bigger MEP community to do business beyond geographical limits.”

Latheef sees MEP Global’s role as also complementing brick-and-mortar companies. He says his company’s plan is not to be a parallel system for the existing market players. Rather, he says, the aim is to help them reduce the cost on marketing and to increase the productivity of their sales engineers with the online automation of sales and trading processes. Vendors would have all the independence to operate, he says, including the ability to provide invoices and delivery notes on their name.

Elaborating on facilitation of the sales process, he says that leads generated from global MEP communities would be received by the respective vendors. Specialised sales engineers from the vendors’ side can then directly communicate with the client through the MEP Global portal to propose the selection and finalise the lead, either through the portal or any other means that the vendors see fit to do so.

The third model – of HVACR equipment manufacturers and brickand-mortar distributors – running their own digital stores sounds equally intriguing for the purported opportunities they offer. Julia Semenova, Process Leader, External Communication, Systemair, elaborates on the Swedenheadquartered manufacturing company’s ‘WEBSHOP’, which, she says, it launched to ease the daily work of customers. “The idea was to give them a fast and effortless way to place orders that would help streamline project timelines,” she said. “Why should they have to wait or depend on the work hours of a supplier? When a customer already knows the items or product names, he can use the fast search and place an order in one second. Or repeat the order he placed in the past.

That could be useful for the wholesaler companies, for instance.”

The WEBSHOP, Semenova says, is available to customers in 13 markets, with Chile and Peru, in South America, being two of them, and the rest in

www.climatecontrolme.com

11

COVER STORY Europe. The plan, she says, is to activate the WEBSHOP in all countries that host Systemair’s subsidiaries. Systemair, she adds, has a sales presence in 50 countries and is backed by good logistics, which would help facilitate the process in those countries and ensure fast delivery.

Semenova says all of Systemair’s standard range of products are available in the WEBSHOP, such as fans and accessories, air-distribution products, air curtains and residential air-handling units (AHUs). “That is about 92,000 items,” she says. The products that need to be configured, though, such as a chiller or a central AHU, are not in the WEBSHOP at this stage, she says, since the article number for these products will only be generated after the configuration and selection of all necessary attributes.

That function, she says, will be added to the WEBSHOP later.

Be it a third-party or first-party arrangement, storage of equipment, parts and accessories is an issue that requires substantial consideration.

Should the digital store hold the stock, or should that responsibility fall on the manufacturer or supplier? Abraham says Phileo keeps fast-moving parts, while the manufacturer or supplier holds the major inventory.

Latheef says MEP Global is not planning to store physical products in its premises, as of now, as its portal is based on the hyperlocal system, where the customer would be able to place the order of a product or service from the nearest vendors, based on geo-tagging, and the vendors would undertake the fulfillment to the nearest or the farthest customer using their own facilities or any of MEP Global's partner shipping companies. “We are working on a fulfillment model, though, where we would be able to store the vendors’ products on our premises to speed up the deliveries and service, which would be especially helpful to international vendors to keep their items in the UAE to serve the customer without delay,” he says.

While availability of products is a key feature, for which storage is a vital aspect, digital stores would be expected to present other features that would build a compelling case for them amidst manufacturers, brick-and-mortar distributors and customers. Phileo and MEP Global say they have the tools and

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May 2021

DIGITAL HVACR STORES

Surajit Mahanty

whatever it takes to facilitate commercial activity involving new construction and retrofit projects, among other projects.

“Customers will have a B2C-level experience when using our online store,” Abraham says. “The freedom and ease of using the store is the same as that of

Raphael Khlat

the datasheets and videos online for them to check, with links to suppliers’ websites,” Abraham says. “We also have chat rooms to provide any technical assistance during their purchasing process.”

Latheef echoes Abraham’s upbeat

To date, I have not come across any project where I send a quote to a customer and he has signed it. So, you still need that face-to-face interaction for negotiating on the pricing. an e-commerce giant. They will be able to select, order and pay in a seamless manner. We will be giving them all the key information they need, including technical data sheets, lead time and pricing. And yes, customers can have the option of bulk purchasing, and they can submit payments using credit cards, PayPal or bank transfer. And to provide further ease, we offer drop shipment capability.”

Abraham says digital online stores would be a shot in the arm for small contractors, giving them access to a global supply chain. “While a brickand-mortar store offers tangibility, our online stores offer accessibility, with all

tone in elaborating on the benefits of digital stores. He says that over the years, consumers have found it difficult to find technically complicated and niche MEP products in the market.

Visiting each supplier physically for availability, quality and price comparison has been a nagging problem, he says. In that context, the MEP Global platform, he says, allows customers to see a wide range of MEP products from different suppliers, to compare the price and services and to even contact them. “The shopping is hassle-free, and the delivery is quick,” he says. “Or the customer can even pick the items up, if the purchase is being done from the nearest suppliers,

S.P. Sarangan

with the help of MEP Global’s hyperlocal system, saving valuable time, energy and money. Our target is to make available the complete range of items related to MEP segments on our portal.”

Latheef says customers can benefit from the experience of hyperlocal and international shopping from the nearest legitimate suppliers. The location-based vendor listing and the option to see the nearest vendors and products or services, two features in MEP Global, give choices to the customer to get the items quickly and to reduce aftersales issues, he says. The advanced product filters in our portal help easy search and comparison with many combination options, which make life easy for the customers in terms of analysis and pricing, prior to finalising the purchase, he says.

Latheef says the features are possible through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and the latest coding techniques. “Our back-end and infrastructure are well secured and provide such facilities for vendors and customers, like high-end dashboards, options for multilevel user accounts and the facility to showcase products or services to bigger audiences, giving a Middle East entry point for international brands,” he says. “And our system is integrated with various payment methods, including all major cards, and the latest payment systems with a highly secured data encryption algorithm."

Like Latheef, Semenova speaks of speed of fulfilling the needs of customers.

Ravi Wadhwani

She says that when a customer already knows the items or product names, he can use the fast search and place an order in a second, or can repeat the order he placed in the past. That could be a useful feature for wholesaler companies, for instance, she adds.

Semenova says that if a customer needs to select a product first and compare several solutions, he can use the selection tool that is integrated into Systemair’s online catalogue.

“He just puts his operating point and selects the right products,” she says.

“That function is useful for installers and contractors. All technical data, living diagrams, dimensions, wiring, installation instructions, BIM models and documentation are available here.

The system shows only the appropriate accessories for the selected product, though, which eliminates mistakes.”

A recent addition to the Systemair digital platform, Semenova says, is the Project Planner function, which is useful for customers who work on projects, in that it allows them to create the individual list of products and accessories they would need for their upcoming projects. “A customer can set up his compilation to get a better overview of his requirements,” she says. “He can export his list with all the technical documentation, cost and operating points in any format – zip, pdf, excel, etc.

– and can also share his solution online with his colleagues to discuss.”

Semenova says that when a customer logs in, he automatically gets his individual prices and terms according to his agreement with Systemair. The WEBSHOP, she says, allows him to check the availability of the products and delivery time in real time. It also lets him decide when he wants to receive the order, and he can choose the delivery address for every shipment, she says.

“That means, we can even send the product straight to the construction site, if needed,” she says. “That is highly appreciated by installers.”

Digital stores not only save time but also give cost advantages to customers, its advocates say. Speaking in the context of Phileo, Abraham says the cost advantage would be around 5-7% in prices.

One reason for low costs, he says, would be low overheads, but he points out that Phileo also has a special pricing agreement with its suppliers. “And because of our quicker response time, we optimise the process, leading to more efficiency, which leads to a more costeffective process than brick-and-mortar suppliers,” he says.

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COVER STORY

Vendors as much benefit, through lower cost of doing business, Latheef says. Their overhead costs are drastically reduced, in terms of document preparation, reconciliation, inventory, data entry and supervision, he says. “All these are eliminated in the online portal, where the lead happens with a single click, as opposed to the long time it takes in physical trading,” he says.

So, with all the benefits listed by digital storeowners, are traditional brick-and-mortar stores scrambling to set up their own virtual platforms?

Evidence points more to a wait-andwatch approach. Surajit Mahanty, Head of Marketing, Awal Gulf Manufacturing, speaks of how the Bahrainheadquartered company is evaluating the option. “At the moment, we don’t have it (digital store),” he says. “Having said that, our newly launched Web site has a page for the Pearl brand, and can be scaled up to a full-fledged online store.”

Like Mahanty, Raphael R Khlat, President of UAE-headquartered Faisal Jassim Group, admits that his organisation has not entered the digital realm but that it is to be an area of focus in 2021.

Even if a foray, Khlat says, the emphasis would be on simple products like grilles, diffusers and thermostats. He

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DIGITAL HVACR STORES

adds that he is still not convinced that a digital store can facilitate the transaction of every HVACR equipment conceivable.

“You can buy a pump of 1 HP capacity online, because it is simple, but I believe it will still need a technician to install,” he says. “If the pump is of 15 HP capacity, you are talking of flanges, pressures, etc. – all these are considerations, when you go into a chilled water installation.”

Much in the same way, buying an AHU involves selection, and several considerations need to be complied with, unless the job is very small and the user accepts the standard package available without any questions asked, Khlat says. Unless we evolve to that extent of standardisation, he says, it is unlikely that engineers will be sitting on the Internet and buying.

Also, there is the element of competitiveness, he says, pointing to the fact that contractors reach out to multiple suppliers in search of a costeffective option. “Negotiations do happen,” he pithily says. He points out to the case of large capital equipment valued in the millions, the sale of which, he says, might not be concluded through an online portal.

He also points out to the dynamics involved in a sale. “Things do get delayed,” he says. “We have to send the proposal to the consultant, and

they review and ask us to revise the submittal. This kind of process can take a lot of time.”

S P Sarangan, General Manager, Trosten Industries Company, echoes Khlat’s reservations. Like Faisal Jassim, the UAE-headquartered company has still not taken the digital route, as it still needs to be convinced that doing so will result in an increase in customer traffic, or that it can be applied to all equipment.

For now, Trosten’s digital foray has been limited to investing in software that generates Revit models. To date, the company provides Revit data only to those customers that specifically ask for them. “In the near future, we want to upload all Revit models, so the architect and consultant can download and place on their drawings,” he says.

As for a full-fledged digital store, like Khlat, Sarangan says that in the case of AHUs and FCUs, the equipment would need to be selected. He points out that somebody has to go through the specs and that those specs would have to be incorporated in equipment selection. “If I am an end-user and need a specific type of AHU, I won’t get it at a common platform,” he says. “When that knowledge is not there and the quantity is a good number, nobody has the patience. As Trosten, we give selection

software, but most of our customers do not have the patience to use it.” Sarangan says there is also a lot of customisation involved to place products on a digital platform. “It is difficult,” he says. “Even an FCU, which is a unitary product, has to be selected for a specific chilled water temperature, so we cannot generalise.

If you have a 1 ton or 1.5 ton room air conditioner, it is fine to place on a digital platform, as you don’t have working conditions, but in the case of FCUs, you have working conditions."

Like Khlat, Sarangan points to the process of negotiation, as something not yet possible to cover in a digital environment. He speaks of how when working with a specific contractor, there is the process of understanding what their budget is and responding to that by doing value engineering by lowering the specs. “We lose all these in a digital platform,” he says. Spare parts, he concedes, can probably be part of a digital platform.

Much like Faisal Jassim and Trosten, UAE-headquartered Hira Industries has also not made a foray into digital selling.

Ravi Wadhwani, Managing Director, Hira Walraven AC Industry, says the company is still assessing if establishing a digital platform ought to be a priority for now.

He points to the high – albeit one-time – upfront investment in e-commerce, plus the annual maintenance of apps, say, but acknowledges that digital will reduce recurring HR costs, like employment visa, medical and insurance.

Like Trosten, the digital focus at Hira has been on BIM. When it comes to a full-fledged digital store, he sounds like Khlat and Sarangan when pointing out that the UAE and the larger GCC region together constitute a project market. “We still need to be more out there with the customer,” Wadhwani says. “We have two indoor salespeople and 10 outdoors salespeople. Having the product displayed digitally is good, because that is where the world is going towards, but I am not sure about logging into Amazon to buy an insulation product, because you can’t compare 4-5 products.” Some products would lend themselves to a brick-and-mortar model, while some could be fitted into a digital ecosystem, he says. “If a matter of tools and spare parts, digital works well, but as in our case, project-specific purchases are consultant driven and about meeting his specifications," he says.

Design engineers and consultants are used to taking decisions not on the basis of tactile feel but on the basis of technical data, selection programs and certification Wadhwani expects the situation to eventually turn towards digital, though.

He says it is really about looking at two aspects, with one being giving the customer the experience of augmented reality (AR) and getting into a project as almost being there. “Providing such an experience to the customer will support the sales team,” he says, “but to date, I have not come across any project where I send a quote to a customer and he has signed it. So, you still need that face-toface interaction for negotiating on the pricing.”

If Wadhwani speaks of AR, Khlat speaks of AI – as does Noufal while describing MEP Global’s many features – as possibly helping mimic the faceto-face experience for customers. “If the consultant industry also latches onto a digital ecosystem for specifying products, I think the guy who is going to do that is going to gain huge ground,” Khlat says. “There will no longer be the involvement of selection engineers. Today, the products we have and the service we do for the products have tremendous potential for improvement, and so that is where AI can come in, and that is where the shift has to happen.”

But, before getting into discussions on AI and AR, for that matter, there is a

need to address the fundamental issue of cyber-security. How exactly would the vendor and the customer be protected in the digital marketplace in this age of cyber-attacks? Abraham speaks of how data protection remains a strong focus at Phileo. The company has a privacy policy in place, which ensures the data the customer presents is strictly confidential. “We have all the checks and balances required,” Abraham says. “We are using Amazon Web services, and all the information is hosted on Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) Security, which is globally recognised and has all the required safety protocols. Cloud is the future, owning a server is the past.”

Speaking of MEP Global, Latheef says the platform secures vendor and customer data with a “state-of-the-art” security algorithm to encrypt the data on its cloud servers. “Moreover, our secured payment system with point-to-point encryption makes sure the data we collect are transferred securely,” he says.

Semenova says Systemair invests a lot into its IT infrastructure and digital safety. “The company follows the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR),” she says. “The personal information is handled in accordance with the company’s privacy policy.”

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15

COVER STORY

While security is a vital element, the main threshold that still needs to be crossed is the ability to fully serve B2B requirements – the type of project-centric dynamics that Khlat, Sarangan and Wadhwani so articulately speak about.

Semenova says she is unaware when the threshold will be crossed. “No one knows,” she says. “Fifty years ago, you

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May 2021

DIGITAL HVACR STORES

could not even make a video call. Now you have VR and AR technology that are growing at a fantastic speed. You can simulate not only a unit’s operation but also weather conditions.”

Abraham says that till AR comes to the fore, as does any other conceivable sophisticated technology, the two – digital and brick-and-mortar – can

co-exist. A project-related buy would involve negotiation and ideation, all of which can be done offline, he says, but once the BOQ (bill of quantities) is finalised, the procurement can be online.

“They can source, but only if the online store has enough information,” he says. “So, we publish the technical data sheets. That way, whenever they decide to buy, they can go through the sheet and easily judge the product.

And if they need further clarity, they can engage with us till fully satisfied.

Semenova seconds this. Design engineers and consultants, she says, are used to taking decisions not on the basis of tactile feel but on the basis of technical data, selection programs and certification, which confirms quality and reliability.

So, are digital vendors nearing the threshold? As she says, “No one knows.”

HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article.

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PERSPECTIVE

COVID-19 AND HEALTHCARE FACILITIES

VALVES AND CRITICAL SPACES

Using the wrong air valve technology in operating theatres and isolation rooms can not only negatively affect the performance of the space but potentially render the entire air management system unstable, says Syed Taqi Hussain sing the wrong air valve technology in your critical space – be it in an operating theatre, laboratory, isolation room or compounding pharmacy – can not only negatively affect the performance of the space but potentially render the entire air management system unstable.

This article explores some of the key elements to consider when selecting your equipment, ensuring you are able to avoid some of the more common pitfalls.

OPEN LOOP VERSUS CLOSED LOOP

An open loop control does not have a direct feedback link from the control variable to the controller. An example of this is the use of a supply air temperature sensor to regulate the volume of cold water passing through a water coil in an air handler operating in cooling mode.

Here, the designer is using an anticipated relationship between interior losses and the volume of supply air to regulate the amount of cooling required to maintain the space air temperature. The volume of cold water has no direct feedback to the control parameter (space temperature),

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May 2021

and therefore, it is an ‘open loop’.

A closed loop control, on the other hand, senses the controlled variable and uses that signal – sometimes referred to as feedback – to adjust the controlled device. As a result, closed loop controls are generally seen to provide a better level of control than an open loop control and are, therefore, more commonly used in HVAC control processes.

Ultimately, it is the application and the design of the air-handling equipment that will determine which control loop is most suitable.

Venturi Air Valves are mechanically pressure independent valves, providing electronic flow feedback. They commonly provide a 16:1 turndown ratio and do not require a straight duct for installation.

They have a spring and cone

Key differences and considerations Venturi Valve – Open Loop

High Accuracy Terminal – Closed Loop

Mechanically pressure independent with cone and spring damper assembly

Venturi-shaped terminal with blade damper

Electronic airflow feedback

High accuracy airflow measurement

Up to 20:1 turndown ratio

turndown ratio 10:1

Less than one second speed of response, best suited for laboratories, compounding pharmacies

Best suited for healthcare applications, such as isolation rooms, operating theatres

Syed Taqi Hussain is Sales Manager (Antec), E.H. Price Middle East, where he specialises in critical space design and the selection of appropriate equipment. He may be contacted at syedh@priceindustries.com

assembly and typically operate in both low- and medium-pressure ratings that allow them to work down to 0.3 in.w.c. or 0.6 in.w.c. of differential pressure, respectively. When using Venturi Valves, the design engineer is responsible for highlighting the model that has been selected.

Understanding the minimum operating pressure is critical – as this device is mechanically pressure independent, a minimum pressure of 75 pa (low pressure valves) or 150 pa (medium pressure valves) is required. Failing to ensure this will restrict the movement of the cone and spring, ultimately compromising the pressurisation polarity.

The pressure drop across the valve should also be measured and reported to the BMS – providing a pressure switch is not appropriate in a critical space.

Feedback on current valve pressure can be valuable information for trouble shooting and facilities management and, as such, should be considered a standard offering on the Venturi Valve models.

One of the technologies used in high-accuracy terminals is the vortex shedding sensor, which calculates air

When it comes to differential static pressure as an air flow measurement, it is recommended that high- accuracy terminals are Venturi shaped, in order to reach the desired accuracy of +/-5%.

flow by measuring the pressure pulses or vortices formed on the leeward side of an obstruction in the air flow and calculating the air flow velocity, based on this. The efficacy of these sensors becomes limited at a low flow – that is, at a velocity less than 450 FPM, when the vortex sensor turns off and stops communicating data. In contrast to other devices that continue to operate with reduced performance, the response time for a vortex shedder is typically slower than the velocity pressure.

These devices utilise differential static pressure measurements for measuring the air flow – a non-invasive flow technology with a typical turn down ratio of 10: 1. They do not require a straight duct and can, in fact, be installed at any orientation with the duct.

High-accuracy terminals utilising differential static pressure can vary in pressure drop, depending on the valve size and target airflow but, typically, have a minimum pressure drop of 0.01 in.w.c and a maximum pressure drop of 0.15-0.20 in.w.c.

In contrast to transducers, which are limited to using a ‘full scale error’ reading only (as seen in VAV boxes), high-accuracy terminals with a differential pressure measurement operate with transducers using a ‘percentage of error’ reading. This enables the pressurisation polarity to remain intact and uncompromised at minimum flows, as illustrated in the example, right.

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19

PERSPECTIVE OPTIMAL ROOM PRESSURE CONTROL STRATEGY

Airflow Offset Control is an open loop control, which maintains a constant CFM offset between supply and exhaust valves. Operating independently of room pressure, it is one of the most commonly used solutions.

Pressure Control, meanwhile, is a closed loop control, which provides airflow adjustment based on room pressure. This is less commonly used, but often required for biosafety laboratories specifically, where the room is controlled to a constant pressure. However, it is important to note that this system should be used with caution, as it is less stable and introduces the risk of overshoot or undershoot.

Actuator speeds and response times are also an important consideration, with fume hood air valves typically operating with a response time of less than one second.

Actuator Speed: Standard speed (typically 90 secs) without VAV fume hoods and equipment exhaust Typical Applications: Healthcare facilities – operating rooms, isolation rooms, CSSD, ultrasound, MRI, CT Scan,

COVID-19 AND HEALTHCARE FACILITIES

2" Transducer w/ 0.5% Full Scale Error CFM

Actual Pressure

Transducer Error

Measured Pressure

Measured CFM

Error

1000

0.4522

0.01

0.4622

1011

1.1%

500

0.1131

0.01

0.1231

521

4.2%

200

0.0181

0.01

0.0281

249

24.5%

100

0.0045

0.01

0.0145

179

79.0%

2" Transducer w/ 0.5% Full Scale Error CFM

Actual Pressure

Transducer Error

Measured Pressure

Measured CFM

%Flow

1000

0.4522

0.0136

0.4658

1015

1.49%

500

0.1131

0.0034

0.1165

507

1.49%

200

0.0181

0.0005

0.0186

203

1.49%

120

0.007

0.0002

0.0067

122

1.49%

endoscopy, emergency waiting rooms, pharmacies High speed (typically < 4 seconds) with VAV fume hoods Typical Applications: Laboratories, compounding pharmacies In conclusion, there are various technologies that can be deployed in your critical space, each with their own benefits and restrictions.

A thorough understanding of these options and due consideration to your specific requirements are fundamental requirements to ensuring optimal performance and safety.

CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here.

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THE 8TH ANNUAL MIDDLE EAST

CONFERENCE 24 May 2021 Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

OVERVIEW The objective of the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center, formed in 2010, is to establish a comprehensive national programme for rationalising and enhancing energy consumption in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Center represents yet another initiative in the country to curb energy consumption with environmental and economic targets in mind.

An inherent element of the Center is the Saudi Energy Efficiency Program (SEEP), which focuses on three sectors, representing over %90 of the energy consumption in the Kingdom. An understanding of the direction of SEEP points to a situation tailormade for the variable refrigerant flow (VRF) industry, which has repeatedly and stridently stated its energy-performance credentials in the region and elsewhere. In other words, the Kingdom offers a wealth of opportunities to VRF stakeholders, particularly manufacturers and suppliers. This is motivation enough to conduct the 9th edition of the Middle East Variable Refrigerant Flow Conference in the Kingdom.

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Q&A

SEELEY ON INDOOR AIR QUALITY (IAQ)

WHY RECIRCULATE INDOOR AIR? This is the question Samuele Peli, General Manager Sales EMEA of Seeley International likes to ask, adding that increasing the intake of fresh air will increase energy consumption, which in turn, will drive the demand for more efficient systems, like evaporative cooling. Excerpts from the interview he gave to Ranjana Konatt of Climate Control Middle East

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May 2021

WHAT ARE THE IAQ-RELATED MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLY TRENDS WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE IN THE COMING YEARS? Increased ventilation rates and increased percentage of fresh air – as opposed to recirculating indoor air – will certainly be a key trend, as well as improving filtration rates. Increasing the fresh air component through systems designed to mostly work based on air recirculation, like most current compressor-based systems, would mean a significant increase in power consumption; this will drive the demand for more efficient systems and for systems based on different concepts, such as evaporative cooling. The balance between energy efficiency and IAQ will be the key parameter driving system design, going forward. Smarter controls and air quality monitoring systems – also to adapt rates to buildings’ occupancy rates – will also gain popularity.

HOW DOES THE GCC REGION COMPARE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD WHEN IT COMES TO THE UPTAKE OF IAQ STRATEGIES AND TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS? With a combination of extreme climatic conditions – in terms of peak temperatures and humidity levels – and gigantic buildings, the GCC [region] is one of the most demanding and challenging markets, globally.

Comparatively low – although on the rise – electricity cost has allowed for many projects to be oversized, with the necessity of increasing the fresh air component and bypassing heat recovery wheels and the like. Cooling demand might surge once businesses will go back into full swing mode.

WHAT IAQ-RELATED R&D HAVE YOU UNDERTAKEN THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH READERS OF CLIMATE CONTROL MIDDLE EAST? We have invested more than 25 million Australian Dollars in R&D every year and are employing more than 70 expert HVAC engineers, who are working on revolutionary, “over the horizon” product innovations. At Seeley International, we are proud to have always been in the front line when it comes to IAQ attention.

Most of our products operate providing 100% fresh, filtered, cooled air, thus overcoming all issues related to indoor air recirculation. More new products are in our R&D pipeline, all of them with maximum focus on IAQ. Most of our R&D was already going in this direction – delivering our customer healthy cooled air at a fraction of the energy consumption of “conventional” technologies.

COULD YOU BRIEFLY DESCRIBE CW3? YOU CLAIM THAT IT DELIVERS UP TO 80% REDUCTION IN ENERGY COSTS, AS COMPARED TO REFRIGERATED SYSTEMS. WHAT ARE THE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS MADE IN THIS PRODUCT? The CW3 uses Seeley International’s latest innovation – a new Micro-Core technology for smaller or uniquely challenging applications. The concept of how it works remains basically unchanged, combined with equally

effective cooling performance found in Seeley’s Climate Wizard’s other commercial models. The new Micro-Core technology allows a much more compact footprint, making the new product also suitable for residential or small commercial applications.

WHAT ARE THE FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF USING INDIRECT EVAPORATIVE COUNTERFLOW HEAT EXCHANGE CORE TO PROVIDE HYPER-EFFICIENT COOLING? There are many benefits to this new technology. If I were to just pick three, I would say: (1) The improvement in IAQ, thanks to no recirculation and pre-filtration.

(2) The fact that total cooling performance increases when the air temperature rises is an especially interesting feature in very warm climates like in the Gulf.

(3) The fact that it reduces the energy use and improves the cooling performance of existing refrigerated systems, and all these without using any synthetic refrigerants or chemicals to harm the environment is a plus.

HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the Q&A. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com

IAQ HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN IGNORED. DO YOU SEE GREATER UPTAKE NOW? SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT MAKE SOME ASPECTS RELATED TO MEP DESIGN AND INSTALLATION MANDATORY TO ENSURE GREATER ADHERENCE TO IAQ NEEDS? My answer is “yes” to both questions.

There has certainly been a significant uptake of practices to fight COVID spread, and HVAC organisations have done a great work in regulating this matter, but going forward, these should be made mandatory by governments.

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23

Q&A:

LG ON RETROFITTING

SAVING ENERGY, MOVING AWAY FROM R-22 Converting to inverter-based systems can help the UAE save 5,000-10,000 GW of energy a year, and a concerted shift to R-410a systems would help the country achieve its emissions reduction goals, says Visakh Tom Jose, Sales Manager, Air Solutions Division, LG Electronics Gulf, in this interview to Surendar Balakrishnan…

While the emphasis over the years has been on retrofitting for energy efficiency and water use optimisation, are we seeing a trend of retrofitting for IAQ, instigated by COVID-19?

IAQ, over the years, did not attract major attention, even if acknowledged as necessary. A reason for this was the lukewarm demand among customers for good IAQ, which made it the least specified factor. As a result, you wouldn’t find any mechanism installed across the Middle East region and, in fact, most parts of the world. COVID-19 has triggered a deeper sense of awareness on IAQ. Today in construction – and this involves the full cycle of investors, suppliers and users – we are seeing a slow rise in demand and are observing an increase in enquiries for air purifiers and other IAQ-related solutions. We are

24

May 2021

seeing IAQ being accepted as a major factor now. I hope the demand does not fade away after COVID, because a pandemic like this can bring the whole world to a standstill.

What steps has LG taken in this direction – of providing solutions that cover energy efficiency and IAQ/IEQ? For LG, retrofitting is about replacement of equipment for not only power and space saving but also control flexibility, IAQ and ROI. All our products are 100% inverter-based technology and ensure power savings. As far as energy saving factor is concerned, LG’s central control systems and wi-fi module allow for the indoor units to be connected to a cloudbased platform. This provides control and monitoring aspects to customers from anywhere in the world.

LG considers IAQ as a moral responsibility to the world. Besides our standalone air purifying devices, including portable-type mini air purifiers, we are able to offer duct purification kits and cassette air purification kits. The duct purification kit includes MERV 13 filter and UV sterilisation, which removes 99.9% of germs. The cassette air purification kit has five stages of filtration, including deodorisation.

While retrofitting, what are you doing to address the balance between energy efficiency and IAQ? Are you proposing solutions with more air changes to lower the risk of spread of disease in the built-environment?

Are you an advocate of highefficiency filters? If so, are you able to address pressure drop in an energy-efficient manner?

We believe that IAQ cannot be achieved

only with high-efficiency filters; it can be realised only through a combination of factors, including providing the right ventilation and filters. FAHUs (fresh airhandling units), one of the major pieces of equipment, have to be made mandatory in all residential and commercial buildings.

Providing sufficient ventilation is equally important, because it lowers the spread of diseases in the enclosed environment. As for the recommended air changes – it varies depending on the nature of the facility. For instance, you would need 6-7 air changes an hour in operation theatres, and fewer in residential buildings. An important point for consideration is the presence of radon gas, indoors. It is one of the major causes of lung cancer. It is an inert, colourless and odourless gas. In an open environment, it disperses; in a built-environment, it gets trapped indoors. Proper number of air changes will help eliminate radon. Likewise, particulate matter of certain size is a Grade I carcinogen, for which you would need highefficiency filters to help stave off the threat.

If I have an old LG unit, and if I add our air purifying kit, the pressure may drop.

But, we can change the ESP level of our motors in the case of our indoor units series produced after 2018-2019. So, we can increase the ESP and still cater to the required air flow in the room. In the case of older units – say, those installed 10 years ago – we would have no choice but to replace the units to add the air purifying kits.

We are talking of a deep retrofit, here.

What has been the response from owners of commercial properties in the times of COVID? Many have seen a drop in occupancies. In this regard, are they willing to spend on retrofitting at all, or are they taking recourse to business-as-usual?

I would like to classify customers into two types – those that are energy conscious and those that are not. I have an interesting customer, who has no relation to energy sustainability. He has a couple of labour camps. In 2019, he appointed an energy consultant to take care of energy consumption to drastically reduce energy.

The consultant responded by going around the facility, auditing it and giving a report.

Such customers are rare in the market. Most of them are only concerned about increasing profit in their primary business. In the preCovid scenario, most were not interested in retrofit.

Those customers that are not energy conscious can be divided into two – those

that don’t have knowledge on how a retrofit job can change their facility, and those with knowledge. My aim would be to motivate these customers.

In pre-COVID times, the government took the initiative of bringing the ESCO model of shared services and guaranteed service contract. Even though the initiative was taken, large portions of the market were untapped, especially small-scale residential and commercial building owners. The situation in the wake of the onset of COVID saw a lot of uncertainty in the market and a drop in investment, which dissuaded many from pursuing the retrofit option. I was speaking to 3-4 small-scale ESCOs, who depend on private investors. All of them stopped pursuing the green concept. Again, we must keep in mind that 50% of the ESCOs are not more than five years old.

COVID brought uncertainty, and many commercial properties remain unoccupied or minimally occupied, with work-fromhome still the popular option. Owners of commercial properties were heavily impacted and had no other option but to drop the thought of retrofitting for a brief period of time.

Now, post-COVID, many customers are thinking about decreasing their operational costs, which has triggered the retrofit market. In H2 2020, we could not see the graph going up. In 2021, there has been a dramatic rise in retrofit activity.

Given that the UAE has signed a new set of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), in line with the Paris Agreement, as a commitment to lower its emissions, what role does LG see for itself in contributing to the building industry and, thereby, to the UAE and, for that matter, to other GCC region countries, in helping lower emissions?

The UAE intends to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 23-24%, in relation to the busines-as-usual scenario, by 2030.

Demand side management is a key area of focus, when you consider the energy sector.

LG has a moral responsibility to be energy conscious, and it has acted by making the shift to 100% inverterbased systems since 2018. This move increases energy efficiency and decreases power demand from the air conditioning sector, which consumes 60% of the electricity used in buildings. LG’s aim is

Visakh Tom Jose

to reduce at least 40% energy usage in existing building by undertaking retrofit assignments.

An estimated 5,000-10,000 GW of energy can be saved per year in the UAE by converting to inverter-based systems. The baseline 30-40% existing non-inverter-based systems, if converted to inverter-based systems, can, indeed, help achieve 5,000-10,000 GW of energy savings a year.

The inverter conversion ratio in the UAE is 20%. In the EU, it is more than 80%. LG has been contributing through its inverter systems to lower energy consumption in buildings, which in turn reduces dependence on fossil fuels, which, in turn, leads to a drop in greenhouse gas emissions.

As for retrofits, 95% of the enquiries we are taking are related to systems already installed with R-22. If repair is the focus, each time they top up the gas, a minute amount of R-22 is released into the atmosphere. If 100,000 such units release minute amounts of R-22, the volume of greenhouse gases released is significant. That’s why we push for retrofits, because you can replace R-22 systems with R-410a systems. So, by pushing for retrofits, we reduce the import of R-22 gas and, that way, contribute to the country’s NDC initiative.

HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the Q&A. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com

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25

PERSPECTIVE

SAVE MONEY

THROUGH LOWERING EMISSIONS Buildings that emit smaller volumes of greenhouse gases can help produce greater profits, writes Toni Allen

lthough people may question the causes, there is widespread acceptance of global warming. We are seeing it even in terms of rainfall, with water being traded as a commodity. This provides opportunities for the building industry.

Gone are the days when green building was cost-prohibitive and unprofitable. Today, constructing buildings that emit smaller volumes of greenhouse gases can actually be more cost-efficient and help produce greater profits.

THE PROBLEM Lighting, heating, cooling and powering residential and commercial buildings utilise large amounts of energy, as does building such edifices. According to a report from the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, called Decarbonizing US Buildings, "Fossil-fuel combustion attributed to residential and commercial buildings accounts for roughly 29% of

26

May 2021

total US greenhouse gas emissions."

Buildings play a sizable role in greenhouse gas emissions. This is due, in part, to their operating energy, or the combined environmental effects of the energy required to power their outlets, appliances and lights, and to ventilate, heat and cool them. It is also partly due to their embodied energy or, essentially, that which is required to build them.

As Green Building Advisor published in Climate Change for Builders, the US Department of Energy reported that buildings in the United States account for nearly 40% of primary energy consumption in the country. Considering

both operating and embodied energy still depend heavily on fossil fuels, the country and its building industry face an unsustainable reality.

THE SOLUTIONS As Climate Change for Builders also revealed, the UN stated in its October 2018 International Panel on Climate report that "Large, immediate and unprecedented global efforts to mitigate greenhouse gasses are required."

Building construction and design can and must play a significant role in this.

The same C2ES report that highlighted the problems with building

An efficient home may use USD 300 per month less in energy costs than a poorly built home – money that could go toward a mortgage.

practices that ignore matters like fossilfuel combustion and carbon emissions also highlighted some good news.

Energy-efficiency improvements in building practices since 2005 have yielded 17.3% reduced emissions in the residential sector and 11.4% in the commercial sector.

Looking forward into the future of building, it becomes increasingly clear that sustainable solutions will be a growing and inextricable part of it. This involves modern building practices like electrification and intelligent-efficiency technologies.

Public sentiment will play a huge role in this massive shift in building practices.

In poll after poll, election after election, the public continues to show it cares about global warming. What's more, people are growing more concerned over time.

In large part, this is due to a spreading awareness of the cost-savings to consumers of energy-efficient homes and workplaces. As Green Building Advisor noted, "An efficient home may use USD 300 per month less in energy costs than a poorly built home – money that could go toward a mortgage." Invariably, the day will come when the public expects the buildings where they live and work to do their part to reduce climate-change risk.

It will, therefore, be essential for builders to communicate their efforts and the effects of those efforts on long-term energy efficiency and cost. Increasingly, consumers understand and accept the higher initial costs for energy-efficient homes and buildings.

MAKE ALL-ELECTRIC BUILDINGS The retiring of coal-fired power plants in the last decade has led to much cleaner electricity production. Whereas replacing fossil fuels with electricity used to be more of a lateral move in terms of carbon-dioxide pollution, there is now considerable environmental advantage to using electricity. As of mid-2019, according to Carnegie Mellon's Emissions Index, per unit of electricity, carbondioxide pollution was already down nearly one-third from 2001 levels.

According to Getting the Facts Right by RMI, a shift toward all-electric buildings might be challenging and even problematic in the short-term for areas powered mainly by coal. However, this is generally not the case and certainly not the case long-term.

"Getting the Facts Right" goes on

to explain that incorporating energy efficiency into buildings, such as through electrification, not only lowers costs for builders but also increases comfort for the end-users. Building all-electric is cheaper than installing gas-powered air-conditioning and appliances. It also eliminates the costly need to extend gas service to new constructions.

Lifetime energy-usage costs are less for all-electric buildings – in part because formerly separate heating and cooling units are now combined into a single heat pump. RMI's research concludes that heat-pump systems also produce more comfortable spaces by more effectively and efficiently maintaining consistent temperatures throughout the space.

Electrification isn't the only way to design and build energy-efficient spaces, however. As Climate Change for Builders explains, "The ways to reduce energy consumption are well known: Improve airtightness and insulation levels; install efficient windows, doors, fixtures and equipment; design to take advantage of the sun’s rays (while guarding against overheating); be smart about how you operate your home."

FOCUS ON MULTI-FAMILY DWELLINGS Climate Change for Buildings also extols the benefits of focusing on building multi-family dwellings as a way to boost energy-efficiency. By effectively using fewer materials to accommodate a greater number of people, builders can cut down on the impact of using those materials.

In addition to shifting from singlefamily to multi-family dwellings, builders can achieve these results by renovating wherever possible rather than building new construction. Additionally, it helps to upcycle or recycle first before resorting to new materials and, when new materials are required, avoid those like concrete and foam with a strong link to global warming.

Schroders explains that the Buildings as Material Banks (BAMB) project (partially funded by the European Union) is currently investigating ways to transition to what is becoming known as a "circular" building sector that encourages reusing materials and reducing waste. Part of the approach will be to document materials used in renovations and new building construction with "data passports" that empower developers, architects and others to select circular and sustainable materials.

Toni Allen is a contributor and editor at Commodity.com.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT Fortunately for builders interested in exploring ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, many government grants to help fund green building efforts are available. Among these are national, state and local programs from sources including: • General Services Administration • Department of Energy • The Funders' Network • The Home Depot Foundation • The Interstate Renewable Energy Council • The National Association of State Energy Officials.

These programs may include grants as well as rebates, streamlined loan procedures and favorable loan terms, property-assessed clean energy (PACE) funds, and weatherization aid for lowincome residences. There are also several federal tax benefits for green builders and green-building owners, including Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency and the Tax Incentive Assistance Project (TIAP.) States with programs providing grants and other funding assistance to green builders include California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey and New York. Localities with such programs include Arlington, Virginia; Austin, Texas; King County, Washington; Portland, Oregon; and Seattle, Washington.

There are similar programs in other countries and localities.

The bottom line is that focusing on building in ways that produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions is not just good for the planet, it's also good for your and your customers' bottom lines.

CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here.

www.climatecontrolme.com

27

EDITORIAL CAMPAIGN:

THE ESSENTIALNESS OF Cx

CONCLUDING PART OF A THREE-PART SERIES ON COMMISSIONING

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL Today’s market is still suffering from poor commissioning-related competency and general lack of understanding, but it’s not all bad, says Lee Hewitt he perception and understanding of commissioning and commissioning management in the GCC region is gradually changing, and I am pleased to report, it is for the better. It is a long road, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Thanks to the ongoing commitment of our Committee members, the GCC’s Commissioning Specialists Association (CSA) has seen evidence of this with a real desire to implement lessons learnt when speaking to clients, and an

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increased LinkedIn following, backed by the sharp uptake of applicants to join our education programme; we are seeing a 21% increase in applicants compared to previous years. More project specifications are calling for CSA-certified businesses or candidates, as developers are realising the added value of a quality service carried out by trained and experienced staff.

It appears the market has had time to reassess the negative impact of procuring the most cost-effective vendors to

manage or execute the commissioning process. Whilst the fee may appear higher, it pales into insignificance compared to the cost when projects overrun and are repeatedly delivered late.

A great example of this is the current tsunami of work that is occurring in the data centre sector. The potential negative financial consequences if data centres are not finished on time – not to mention the reputational damage to the owner – mean that CAPEX costs, whilst important, are not the ultimate driver.

These projects are fast track, technical and require experienced staff to deliver, so their investment is in quality companies to commission the facility on time, the first time around. Not wanting to make the investment would be a counterproductive move. Just think, you wouldn’t want to receive a COVID vaccine from a substandard manufacturer, would you?

Another positive as we all face this pandemic together is that responsible business owners and property managers are genuinely concerned that their buildings have been left inactive or are operating under capacity since the gradual

Lee Hewitt is Managing Partner, Core Emirates, and Chairman of GCC CSA. He may be contacted at l.hewitt@core-emirates.com

return to the workplace. Noting the World Health Organization has emphasised the importance of having effective ventilation in a building, where airborne transmission is a known risk, the CSA has received many requests asking how best to reopen premises safely, whether that be in full or for partial occupation. The same approach has been taken to ensure the integrity of water systems and the management of risks associated, including Legionella pneumophilia bacteria, noting these are a legal responsibility.

Encouragingly, what the wider CSA community and I are seeing evidence of is the medium-term opportunities for the CSA to add value, taking into account the plethora of government initiatives across the GCC region. These include Dubai’s 2030 Integrated Energy Strategy initiative and 2040 Urban Master Plan, Oman’s 2040 Vision, Qatar’s 2030 National Vision, Saudi’s Vision 2030 and Bahrain’s National Development Strategy, to name a few.

These initiatives will provide the platform for the CSA and registered companies to educate and implement tried-and-tested processes that benefit

all parties. One of these targets, in conjunction with the Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA), is to work closely with developers and introduce the Soft Landings framework. In essence, Soft Landings is a proven five-stage process to facilitate a unified transition between construction and occupation and, potentially, the remainder of its lifecycle.

1) Inception and Briefing – An opportunity for designer, constructor and developer to come together for initial discussions.

2) Design Development – Where the entire project team gains insights and learns lessons from similar projects and really starts to understand how the building will work once in operation.

3) Pre-Handover – A chance for operators to really spend some time getting to know the interfaces and systems before occupation.

4) Initial Aftercare – Where systems are fine-tuned, initial issues “ironed out” and post-occupant evaluation surveys (POEs) take place.

5) Extended Aftercare – Resolution of any issues from the POEs and recording of lessons learnt for future projects.

Currently, the absence of the above is negatively impacting energy efficiency, reliability and Indoor Air Quality during building operation. Problems such as mould growth, leaking ducts and general poor performance could have all been avoided if correct building commissioning and processes, such as Soft Landings, had been implemented.

In conclusion, today’s market is still suffering from poor competency and general lack of understanding, but it’s not all bad; moreover, it remains our mission to collectively raise the bar through education and professional delivery.

CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here.

www.climatecontrolme.com

29

LICENCE TO CHILL Just because you are performing the maintenance as per the OEM manual does not mean your chiller is running efficiently. It takes substantially more than the recommended maintenance procedures to ensure your chillers operate as efficiently as possible. Isn’t that the goal to operate chillers and chilled water plants as efficiently and reliably as possible? Now, let me explain how I can state why most chillers do not operate as efficiently as designed.

OUR FINDINGS U.S. Chiller Services from 2003 to 2012 analysed extensive data from operating chillers and plants in the Gulf region, from the newly constructed and commissioned plants to five-year-old plants. All were electric-driven centrifugal plants. What we determined was that the operating range of these chillers was from 0.98 to 1.8 kW per ton. Water-cooled electric centrifugal chillers in the Gulf region are generally selected and designed to operate in the range starting from 0.687 to 0.760 kW per ton. So, it was clear these chillers were operating 30% above design efficiency at minimum. Again, some of these chillers were just commissioned and put into beneficial service by the OEM field service department.

Dan Mizesko is Managing Partner/ President, U.S. Chiller Services International. He may be contacted at dmizesko@uscsny.com

OH NO, NOT MY CHILLERS! Equipment operators and plant owners are in denial or just plain unaware that most chillers are operating above their design efficiency, says Dan Mizesko he evidence is clear, the majority of chillers and chilled water plants operate above their intended design efficiency (kW per ton).

Most chillers operate above efficiency design, and I’m not talking about one per cent or two per cent here. I’m talking about 20%, 25%, 30% and even higher. I have seen chillers operating 60% above their kW per ton design.

What’s most frustrating is that the equipment operators and owners do not even realise their equipment is operating

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May 2021

inefficiently and consuming excessive power or are in denial. Now, I know some of you reading this are saying, “Oh no, not my chillers!” or “Not my plant”. You are saying, “We have the most efficient chillers, and we have a CMS system and a SCADA system, we do all the maintenance as per the OEM manual, we have VFDs on all our pumps, towers and chillers.” Unfortunately, the bad news is that just because you have purchased the most efficient chiller in the world does not mean it's operating efficiently.

WE ARE NOT ALONE IN OUR FINDINGS A survey report by the U.S. Department of Energy found more than 120,000 chillers in the United States are expending more than 30% in additional energy through operational inefficiencies. This is not a misprint – 120,000 chillers operating more than 30% above design!

A survey report by San Diego State University Energy Engineering Institute on 31 chiller plant sites across the United States found chillers that should be operating in a range starting from 0.65 to 1.00 kW per ton, according to the OEM specifications, were often actually operating in a range starting from 1.5 to 3.0 kW per ton and that most chiller plant operators had no idea how well their chiller plants were performing.

A report on 14 chiller plants by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance found a substantial variation in plant energy efficiency ranging from 0.55 to 1.80 kW per ton.

A report by the California Energy Commission addressed the problem that buildings and chilled water central plants do not perform as well in practice as is anticipated during design.

The reasons cited were: • Improper equipment selection and installation • Lack of rigorous commissioning and proper maintenance • Poor feedback on operational performance and energy performance

FACTORY WITNESS PERFORMANCE TEST Many companies who purchase centrifugal chillers for their facilities demand a Factory Witness Test of the chillers they are buying before accepting delivery and payment.

The OEM Sales Engineer will select the chiller with a software selection program to predict the chiller’s performance. The buyer agrees to purchase the chiller based on the software selection program’s predictions of the chiller performance, including capacity part load and full load and also kW per ton, to name just a few of the parameter performance predictions. The Factory Witness Test confirms that the actual chiller performance matches the predicted performance, and the results serve as a benchmark.

AHRI STANDARD 550/590 The witness testing standard requires specific types of instrumentation and specifies chiller testing procedures and tolerances. It also requires that accurate measurement is an integral part of Witness Performance Testing. All of the following instrumentation must be calibrated and traceable to NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technology: Power meters, temperature sensors, flow meters and pressure transmitters. This ensures the instrumentation meets the accuracy requirements of AHRI Standard 550/590.

A copy of the latest calibration report is made available to the attendees of the Witness Test. As per industry standards, the factory test loop must have redundant measurement devices designed into test loops to verify test data. Redundant sensors are used to measure evaporator water flow, evaporator water temperatures, condenser water flow, condenser water temperatures and chiller power consumption. Agreement between the calibrated sensors confirms that the data taken is accurate.

Some companies even require a ZeroTolerance Witness Test to be performed.

In other words, the chiller MUST perform at its predicted design performance and, if not, the buyer can cancel the sale. I have been involved in many Factory Witness Tests over the years, and I can tell you it takes the factory days to prepare the chiller for the test, with the objective of

Take a look at an OEM field start-up and commissioning sheet…

DESIGN CONDITIONS TONS

BRINE

FLOW RATE

TEMPERATURE IN

TEMPERATURE OUT

PRESSURE DROP

PASS

SUCTION TEMPERATURE

COOLER

CONDENSER TEMPERATURE ---

CONDENSER

----

RECORD PRESSURE DROPS: Cooler

Condenser

getting everything right, so that the chiller performs as designed. Even with the days of preparation, the chiller will often not perform to design kW per ton. More days of adjustments must be done to finally achieve design performance, sometimes including changes to the chiller’s design.

As and when the chiller is certified and meets design, a printout is given to the buyer to benchmark that the chiller performs as predicted.

CHILLER START-UP AND COMMISSIONING IN THE FIELD Does anyone reading this think that when a chiller is started and commissioned in the field, it receives the same amount of attention, care and diligence as during a Factory Witness Test? Are the proper and precise tools and equipment utilised in the field, as during the Factory Witness Test? Is the same data looked at during the field startup as during the Factory Witness Test? Is the chiller kW per ton even checked during a field startup as it is during a Factory Witness Test? Finally, is the Field Startup Technician as trained and aware of how the chiller should perform as the Factory Witness Test personnel? Of course, the answer to all the above questions is NO. After answering all the above questions with a “NO”, how could chillers ever operate as efficiently as designed? As

the data shows, chillers do not operate as efficiently as designed. The primary reason is ineffective start-up and commissioning from day one of beneficial usage.

The above is a small section taken from an OEM commissioning manual. I want the reader to understand the design condition that the startup technician is to record. Does it mention kW per ton? No. Also, what’s interesting is that the flows are to be determined by pressure drop readings. The Factory Witness Test is performed with a calibrated flow meter; however, the startup technician sets design flow with an instrument that is not nearly as accurate as a flow meter. My point is that energy efficiency is not a priority or even checked during the initial startup and commissioning of the chillers.

With that being the case, if the chiller is not started and commissioned in the field with the same level of expertise, tools, equipment and data with an emphasis on efficiency, how can you expect the chiller to operate as efficiently as designed? The fact is that the chiller operated at design efficiency at the factory, and that was the last time it did.

Next month, I will explore chiller diagnostics tools that identify chiller inefficacies, restorative opportunities and optimisation to restore proper chiller operation and overcome the lack of rigorous start-up and commissioning.

www.climatecontrolme.com

31

PERSPECTIVE

WHEN POWER GENERATED BY RENEWABLE ENERGY DROPS…

Managing the performance of gas turbines can make them strong support partners in renewable energy schemes, writes Dr Elias Tsoutsanis

n a typical day, when you return home from work and turn on the air conditioning, this action will force the electricity grid to provide the energy needed. That energy was not available before and is generated upon demand.

In the UAE, 98% of this energy is provided by natural gas that is burnt in gas turbine engines.

Fast forward 30 years from now – this energy source will be completely different. According to the UAE’s National Energy Strategy for 2050, one of the main objectives is to diversify the total energy mix in order to allow an increased contribution from renewables. The energy basket of the UAE in 2050 will consist of 44% renewables, 38% gas, 12% clean coal and six per cent nuclear.

Today in the UAE, 98% of

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electricity is produced from natural gas that is burnt in combined cycle power plants, which are governed by gas turbines. A modern, heavy-duty, industrial gas turbine, which has the equivalent size of a bus, is capable of generating 400MW of power, which satisfies the energy demand of half a million people. To make a natural gas-fired power plant profitable and efficient, the gas turbines have to operate at full-load continuously. This performance characteristic is inherited from their jet engine counterparts, as they are more efficient when the aircraft is at cruise conditions of 40,000 ft.

When it comes to the operation and maintenance of these machines, any unplanned outage or downtime can have a substantial economic impact.

For example, unscheduled downtime for an LNG facility and an offshore platform costs USD 25 million and USD

7 million per day, respectively. Gas turbine manufacturers have addressed these challenges by equipping the gas turbines with sensors that are capable of monitoring their behaviour in real-time conditions. However, the condition monitoring systems of these plants can only provide an indication of what’s going on with the engine.

Further investigation has to be carried out in order to interpret engine data into customer value. A popular tool used for the above purpose is called engine performance diagnosis, which is the process of analysing data and identifying the health condition of engine components.

Accurate and reliable diagnosis has a strong impact on the operation and maintenance of the plants, as they allow plant operators and managers to schedule, in advance,

Dr Elias Tsoutsanis is Head of Research and Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Birmingham Dubai. He specialises in gas turbine performance simulation, control, diagnostics and prognostics. He may be reached at E.Tsoutsanis@bham.ac.uk.

any maintenance action that each engine needs in order to minimise the risk of downtime and ensure the safe and reliable operation of the plant.

With the impending energy transition that the UAE is targeting for 2050, several technical challenges will arise. One of these challenges is imposed by the intermittent nature of renewables, which will have a large contribution to the energy mix.

When the sun is not providing enough radiation to the solar panels, or when the wind speed drops, both solar and wind farms will have a reduced capacity. This problem will have to be solved by the gas turbines, which will be in stand-by mode and ready to respond quickly in order to fill the energy gap. Any delay or mismatch between demand and generation will affect the stability of the electricity of the grid.

From the gas turbine perspective, this will mean that an engine will have to

operate under dynamic and flexible conditions, characterised by fast acceleration and deceleration. To bring things into an operational perspective this is similar to taking an Airbus A380 and enabling it to engage in air combat with high manoeuvrability. Although this is something that gas turbines were not initially designed for, they have been equipped with technologies that empower them to cope with such scenarii. Nevertheless, the engines will experience accelerated rate of degradation, which means that the useful life of their components will be consumed faster than the current norm, and this will increase significantly the operational and maintenance costs of such assets. Therefore, it is of crucial importance to redesign diagnostic and prognostic algorithms that will be able to predict accurately the performance of

an engine that has a supporting role in the electricity mix. The slightest inaccuracy in the performance prediction of engines will affect the stability of the grid and can lead to blackouts.

The above challenge motivated Dr Moussa Hamadache (University of Birmingham, UK), Professor Roger Dixon (University of Birmingham, UK) and I to investigate the effect of this transition. Our study proposes a new methodology that has the potential to diagnose the health of gas turbines engines when working in conjunction with renewable sources.

We presented a paper on the subject at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Virtual Turbo Expo in 2020.

It was awarded the Best Paper by the Committee of Instrumentation, Control and Diagnostics. The study gives an insight into the challenges that the UAE will have to address in the future in order to enable a seamless transition to a diversified energy mix by 2050.

CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here.

www.climatecontrolme.com

33

PERSPECTIVE

COLD CHAIN

PART 3 OF DIGITALISATION OF COLD CHAIN ASSETS

THE RIGHT MIX OF SKILLS Digital transformation in the refrigeration domain calls for a thorough knowledge in refrigeration systems and controls systems, along with digital literacy, says Raja Subramanyam

n my previous two articles, in the March and April issues, respectively, I gave insights on the need, the mindset required and the benefits of digitalising cold chain technical assets.

As we near the 10th edition of the Food Chain conference, on May 31, my final article will focus on the skill-set essential for executing digital transformation in back-end refrigeration systems and for combining it with HVAC, lighting and other commercial appliances to harmonise their requirement, as per demand, and gain operational efficiency, in turn leading to savings in operational costs and energy bills.

We have many companies in the market offering to digitalise technical assets. Quite some of them have succeeded in incorporating HVAC systems, lighting and commercial appliances, but so far I have yet to see any company getting involved in the refrigeration systems of food retailers, though it’s quite possible that certain establishments are in the testing stages.

So, what are the basic skills and expertise required for digital transformation in the refrigeration domain? In my view, they should have thorough knowledge in refrigeration systems and controls/monitoring systems. Equally, they need to be digitally literate. Among these three, one cannot live without the other. Plus, just having expertise in one of these domains to carry out digitalisation will not do. An individual or a company must be adept in

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all the three. Do we have enough of these skills in the region?

We have seen quite a few organisations who are adept in mechanical systems and electronics but who are yet to make a mark in digitalisation. Why? For one, they are unable to yet convince the customer to take digital steps. Refrigeration being very sensitive in food sectors, especially in food retail, no owner wants to tinker with the existing system for the fear of losing food and business. A lot of media awareness campaigns, in the forms of webinars and forum discussions, have been going on since last year on this subject, but so far they have not yet been transformed to tangible benefits.

Holistically, the route to success would be to: 1. Approach organisations who have the mindset to transform 2. Create awareness face-to-face at their physical locations and explain the tangible benefits, preferably in the plant room 3. Keep it simple, so that everyone in the hierarchy can understand. Let clients not be overwhelmed by your explanations.

4. Assure the client personnel that they would be

Raja Subramanyam is an independent cold chain consultant. He is the designated Chairperson of the 10th edition of Food Chain, on 31 May 2021 in Dubai. He may be contacted at rasubra7@yahoo.com.

adequately trained to handle the transformation 5. Ensure the product offerings are scalable All of the above and more will come up for discussion with food retailers and those in other panels during Food Chain, which I will be chairing. On behalf of the organisers, CPI Industry, publishers of Climate Control Middle East magazine, I would like to invite you to this prestigious event. I urge you to pre-register at: http://foodchain-me.com/pre-registration/ and encourage your colleagues to do so, as well. Looking forward to a meaningful and productive discussion with you.

CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here.

AC DUCT AND UNIT CLEANING FULL AC SYSTEM CLEANING AND SANITISATION Unfortunately, in most homes and commercial spaces, there is no consideration for duct cleaning in the pre-construction phases, with only the efficiency of the system as a priority. Indoor air quality will be on everyone’s minds as they go back to work(work from home) Homes and personal work spaces should be a sanctuary but, unfortunately, most occupants are at the mercy of a facilities’ maintenance program.

If the facility is well-maintained, including the HVAC system, that goes a long way to create a healthy environment.

Existing HVAC systems should be optimized for not only energy efficiency, but also hygiene. At Pro Maxcare, we prioritise hygiene and the betterment of your health while maintaining professional standards.

Moreover, our reliance on air conditioning in the region is problematic for asthma sufferers. “Dust and mould accumulated in the air conditioner can make an asthmatic feel itchiness in the throat and can make breathing difficult,” says Dr Sameera from Abu Dhabi Telemedicine. “Regularly cleaning the air conditioner can help in preventing attacks.”

Duct cleaning is simply the removal of dust, debris, pollen and other particles that are stuck on the inside wall of your ductwork.

Regardless, regular air duct cleaning, replacement of filters and sanitizing common touch points look set to be effective ways of combating Covid-19 spread. With regards to Covid-19, the public perception has been that the virus is transmitted only through direct contact, such as through droplets and from surface contact. However, recent evidence has shown dirty ventilation systems may be behind transmission too.

With EPA-Registered and Environmental Friendly Sanitisation of the ducts, results in upto 30 days protection, and improved air quality.

PRO MAXCARE SERVICES ISO 9001:2015 CERTIFIED CALL 800-776 FOR A FREE INSPECTION

GOOGLE RATING 4.8 cs@pro-maxcare.com http://www.pro-maxcare.com/

POST-EVENT REPORT

CIBSE AWARDS

AND THE

AWARD AWARD GOES TO… The 2nd Annual CIBSE UAE Building Services Awards 2021, though held on a virtual platform, radiated the enthusiasm associated with an in-person event

By Ranjana Konatt | Features Writer he 2nd Annual CIBSE UAE Building Services Awards 2021, digitally broadcast from Dubai on April 8, drew an audience of representatives from the construction and HVACR industries. Though COVID-19 confined the show to a virtual platform, the ceremony had a palpable energetic vibe to it.

The Awards exercise, held under the theme, ‘Designing with a Purpose’, received 40 nominations across five categories. In addition, eight universities participated in the student design competition, of which four were shortlisted.

CIBSE UAE assembled a distinguished team of five judges from the CIBSE headquarters, in the United Kingdom, and industry experts from the region.

Following the grind of the evaluation process, CIBSE UAE hosted the ceremony, with an opening speech by Farah Naz, Chair, CIBSE UAE. “At CIBSE UAE, we acknowledge and support the measures adopted by the UAE’s health authorities to contain COVID-19,” she said. “Therefore, this is the first time we are holding a Virtual Awards Ceremony,

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and we truly appreciate your support.”

Speaking of the event, Naz said: “Today is a very important day, as we celebrate our Second CIBSE UAE Awards Ceremony for the UAE BuiltEnvironment and First Student Design Competition. As CIBSE, we seek to lead, inspire, champion and empower the present built-environment and the future generation. Todays’ award ceremony is a testimony to this cause.”

Imran Shaikh, Vice Chair, CIBSE UAE, addressing the audience, said: “The CIBSE UAE Awards recognise the people, products and the projects that demonstrate engineering excellence in the built-environment. They are the only awards that focus on actual, measured performance outcomes and not just design intent or performance specifications.”

By way of explaining the assessment set-up and process, he said: “The assessment set up and the process was created to select the winner based on their merit and achievements in the past year. A minimum threshold of 60% was set for each category to ensure that the entries shortlisted are quality entries and meet submission requirements. Some of the submissions did not meet the

minimum threshold and, hence, were not considered in the shortlisting. In some categories, I would say, none of the entries met the threshold, and so those categories were disqualified altogether.”

Climate Control Middle East was Media Partner of the ceremony. Here, we present the event to you in pictures…

Members of the Jury • Tim Dwyer, Honorary Professor, UCL London, and Technical Editor CIBSE Journal • Hywel Davies, Technical Director, CIBSE HQ • Majd Fayyad, Technical Manager, Emirates Green Building Council • Shajahan Sahabdeen, MEP Manager, Al Wasl Group • Farhan Juratli, Project Manager, Nakheel

The

2

nd

Annual CIBSE

UAE Building Services

Awards

2021

GRADUATE OF THE YEAR, 2021

WINNER CZARINA COPIACO BURO HAPPOLD

RUNNERS-UP: OMAR DARWISH GRFN CONSULTANTS CLIFTON STEPHON MANIPAL UNIVERSITY, DUBAI

YOUNG ENGINEER OF THE YEAR, 2021

WINNER ANN ELEZABETH JOHNY AURECON

RUNNERS-UP: CHRISTIAN GLEN-JONES BLACK AND WHITE ENGINEERING ANSH SINGH WSP MIDDLE EAST

www.climatecontrolme.com www.climatecontrolme.com

37

POST-EVENT REPORT

CIBSE AWARDS

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR 2021

WINNER POLYPIPE MIDDLE EAST RUNNER-UP: GRUNDFOS MIDDLE EAST

CIBSE STUDENTS DESIGN COMPETITION 2021

WINNER BEYOND ZERO TEAM MANIPAL UNIVERSITY, DUBAI

RUNNER-UP: HERIOT WATT UNIVERSITY, DUBAI

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The

2

nd

Annual CIBSE

UAE Building Services

CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR 2021

Awards

2021

WINNER WSP MIDDLE EAST RUNNER-UP: WME

www.climatecontrolme.com www.climatecontrolme.com

39

REGIONAL

NEWS NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGION

FOR MORE NEWS STORIES, VISIT WWW.CLIMATECONTROLME.COM FOLLOW US ON LINKEDIN FOR BREAKING NEWS: CLIMATE CONTROL MIDDLE EAST FOLLOW US ON YOU TUBE FOR VIDEOS: CLIMATECONTROLME

Al Salem Johnson Controls (YORK) outlines infection control strategies for Two Holy Mosques Company says its aim is to support the Saudi government in implementing pandemic-related precautionary measures at the sites for this year’s Ramadan

By CCME Content Team ith the pandemic still posing a threat to the lives of many, the Government of Saudi Arabia has set strategic plans to implement all necessary precautionary measures at the Two Holy Mosques for this year’s Ramadan, to ensure the health and safety of pilgrims. Al Salem Johnson Controls (YORK) said that the YORK-driven HVAC system at the Two Holy Mosques is a vital part of the precautionary measures, to control temperatures and humidity and the purity and freshness of cold air inside them, for infection control and to prevent its spread.

The two cooling plants for the Holy Mosque in Makkah (Shamiya and Ajyad) and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah (the Central Cooling Plant) are among the largest plants in the world, Al Salem Johnson Control said. The YORK system in the Two Holy Mosques, the company said, is divided into two parts: YORK chillers inside the cooling plants, and the Saudi-made YORK air-handling units (AHUs), which distribute cool and fresh air inside the Mosques.

In light of the ongoing pandemic, the importance of AHUs is more profound than at any other time, as they ensure the quality, freshness and purity of the indoor air, through a highly efficient filtration technology, which limits the spread of diseases and airborne viruses, and prevents dust particles from passing through the air ducts, the company said.

Its AHUs, it added, guarantee the comfort of pilgrims and worshipers as well as protect the structure of the Two Holy Mosques, by controlling temperature and humidity levels and by balancing the airflow.

The YORK chillers cool the water, then pump it to the AHUs, where a heat exchange occurs between the warm air entering the unit and the chilled water inside the tubes. As the cold fresh air flows to all parts of the Two Holy Mosques,

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the water that absorbed the entering air temperature, returns to the cooling plant to be re-cooled inside the chillers, and re-pumped to the Mosques, the company said.

The chilled water flows in a closed circuit, thus directly not touching the air.

Therefore, on the one hand, the air is not affected by the refrigerant, and on the other hand, no airborne microbes or bacteria enter this water. As a result, when the chillers reject the heat absorbed from the air of the Mosques outside the district cooling plants into the atmosphere, accompanied by small amounts of water vapour, it is free of any biological or chemical pollutants, preserving the safety of the environment and the health of individuals in the areas surrounding the cooling plants, the company said.

In a continuous cycle, the air moves around the Two Holy Mosques, absorbing heat from the atmosphere and from the pilgrims’ bodies, catching dust particles and some airborne bacteria or microbes on its way to the AHUs. Inside the AHUs, this air first passes through several highefficiency filtration stages, to trap the dust and microbes, then flows over the cooling coils containing the chilled water.

The filtered, fresh, cooled and dehumidified air then blows out of the AHUs into the Mosques to repeat its cycle again.

The AHUs control the fresh air flow rates through several technologies, including partial closure of the air outlets, or by means of a Variable Speed Drive connected to the fans for speed control, thus ensuring flow rates, as needed, the company said.

Energy efficiency, the company said, is achieved through controlling the fresh air flow from the AHUs, on the one hand, and controlling the cooling capacity and energy loads of the chillers, on the other hand, based on the congestion inside the Two Holy Mosques. For chillers, the difference in temperatures of the chilled water flowing back and forth between the chillers and the AHUs indicates the momentary congestion inside the Mosques, the company said.

Thus, both the cooling capacity and power loads are reduced when the number of people is limited, while are raised at peak times, such as prayer times, the company said.

The entire HVAC system, the company said, has been designed keeping in mind the crowded nature of both places throughout the year, especially during the peak seasons of Ramadan and Haj.

Condair appoints new sales manager in Saudi Arabia Rajaee Karasneh will take on the responsibility of expanding sales of humidifiers and evaporative cooling systems across the region, company says

By CCME Content Team

Condair said it has appointed Rajaee Karasneh as its new Business Development Manager for Saudi Arabia. Based out of Riyadh, Karasneh takes on the responsibility for expanding sales of Condair’s humidifiers, dehumidifiers and evaporative cooling systems across the region, the company said through a Press release.

According to Condair, Karasneh joins the company as an experienced sales manager in the engineering and construction sectors, having worked for international companies such as Veolia, Ovivo and Aquatreat in Jordan, Saudi and UAE. Mahmoud Widyan, General Manager, Condair Middle East, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming such an experienced business development manager to our team.

For many years, Condair has operated successfully across Saudi through its distributor partners and will continue to do so. This investment in the region will further support and grow sales, and is an indication of the potential we see in the Saudi market.”

Karasneh said: “I feel very proud to have been given this opportunity to lead Condair’s operations in the region and expand the company’s sales. There has never been a more important time to be working in the building services sector and a greater need to improve our indoor air quality for the benefit of society.”

LG opens new B2B air conditioning showroom in Ras Al Khaimah New base aims to empower decision-makers across the Northern Emirates to implement more efficient and effective solutions to drive growth, company says

By CCME Content Team

LG Electronics, together with ENCOM Trading, opened a new business-tobusiness (B2B) showroom in Ras Al Khaimah, serving customers across the Northern Emirates with advanced technology across air solutions, information display and IT domains, the company said through a Press release.

LG said it has been providing businesses in the region with its advanced range of B2B solutions since 2003. The company said its strategy focuses on reaching decision-makers across government and private sectors, encompassing a wide range of industry verticals.

At the Ras Al Khaimah showroom, LG said, its experts will be on hand to understand business challenges, offering strategic business counsel to all visitors.

The range of technology on display at the showroom, it added, includes solutions for offices, large-scale residential sites, hotels, schools and more.

On display for the first time from LG’s air solutions division are the Round Cassette and Smart Dual Vane Cassette air conditioners – examples from the company’s all-inverter lineup, it said.

LG said its inverter technology solves commonplace issues, such as ineffective and noisy air solutions, instead providing faster cooling, durability and quieter

running. It added that its inverters also come with a 10-year warranty.

The Round Cassette AC is designed to be more aesthetically pleasing than conventional models, while covering a larger surface area and providing increased airflow, it said. Similarly, LG’s Smart Dual Vane Cassette AC offers wider airflow and fine angle control, it claimed.

According to LG, visitors will also be able to view and learn more about LG’s Air Water Heat Pump technology – a self-contained equipment, which can generate hot and cold water in a more efficient manner, replacing existing boilers and chillers used for this utility and ideal for individual villa owners and hotel verticals alike.

“We’re proud to have opened our Ras Al Khaimah showroom today, in response to increasing desire from business owners across the Northern Emirates to implement more efficient, intelligent and costeffective solutions,” said Hongju Jeon, President, LG Electronics Gulf. “Our expansion is testament to not only witnessing increasing demand for such technologies but also our goal of empowering local decision makers across the UAE through the power of technology.”

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// REGIONAL NEWS

Irfan Syed joins Haier as Regional Director Company says he will focus on introducing its inverter technology-based products in the region

By CCME Content Team rfan Syed has joined Haier Electronics Middle East FZE as Regional Director, B2B department, the company said through a Press release. He will be responsible for driving the growth of Haier’s B2B business in the region, with a focus on introducing Haier’s inverter technology-based products, including its new MRV5 VRF products; light-commercial products with R32 refrigerant; and room air conditioners with self-clean and UVC generator module, which, the company said, inactivates the Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

According to Haier, Syed has a 20year track record of successful business growth, covering international markets

Farnek speaks of acquiring FM contracts worth AED 131mn in Q1 Company says it has mobilised over 860 staff, to handle new business, valued at AED 101 million

By CCME Content Team FM firm, Farnek said it has secured a raft of FM contracts, valued at more than AED 131 million in Q1 2021, of which AED 101 million is new business.

Making the announcement through a Press release, Farnek said the contracts involve a broad spectrum of FM disciplines, covering hard as well as soft services, as well as hotel management, a new division that Farnek has only recently launched. All of the contracts vary in length from one to three years, and in total, Farnek said, it is mobilising 860 extra members of staff to service these new and renewed contracts.

Some of the major contract wins, Farnek said, include housekeeping

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May 2021

and hotel management operations for Expo Village, trolley management and MEP services at Dubai International Airport, as well as cleaning services for Nakheel’s new Circle Mall in JVC and providing security for the National Petroleum Construction Company.

Markus Oberlin, CEO, Farnek, said: “Almost 30% of these contracts were awarded to us from organisations based in Abu Dhabi, which underscores our growing presence and reputation in the UAE capital. Another pleasing aspect of our Q1 2021 contract wins was the broad scope of work we were entrusted with, including our very first hotel management contract, which was for the Expo Village.

“Expo Village has been designated as the official residential community to accommodate participants onsite during the Expo and comprises eleven clusters

– including Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America and South East Asia – in leading products and channel business.

Prior, Syed worked for global brands, including Johnson Controls - York & Hitachi, Daikin, and Sanyo (Panasonic), the company said.

Syed, the company said, holds an MBA from Hult International Business School, in Boston in the United States, and is a Graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Kakatiya University, in Warangal in India. Syed, the company added, is also certified for 6 Sigma Black Belt from KPMG, Product Management from Kellogg-NWU and Senior Leadership Programme from IIMA (IIM Alumnus).

of mid- to high-rise buildings with over 2,000 apartments.”

Added Khaldun Aburok, Director of Business Development, Farnek: “The FM sector is exceptionally competitive, and commercial contracts are awarded based on added value, not on price alone.

Therefore, we always make a point of demonstrating a high degree of specialist training and technical professionalism, offering a costeffective, well-equipped, highly motivated, tech-savvy workforce.”

Khaldun Aburok

// REGIONAL NEWS

Eurovent Middle East joins Cool Coalition

Association underlines its commitment to sustainable cooling

By CCME Content Team Eurovent Middle East has become a member of the Cool Coalition, a global initiative led by UN Environment and the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Programme, the HVACR industry association said through a Press release. The initiative promotes a holistic and crosssectoral approach to meet the cooling needs of industrialised and developing countries through better building design, energy efficiency, renewables, and thermal storage as well as phasing down refrigerants with a high global warming potential, Eurovent said. The Cool Coalition is

a global multi-stakeholder network that connects a wide range of key actors from governments, cities, international organisations, businesses, finance, academia and civil society groups to facilitate knowledge exchange, advocacy and joint action towards a rapid global transition to efficient and climate-friendly cooling. The Cool Coalition is currently working with over 100 partners, including 23 countries.

Markus Lattner, Managing Director, Eurovent Middle East, said: “The Middle East stands like no other region for the essential role of cooling and refrigeration for a successful socio-economic

development. Eurovent Middle East has been established to provide crucial coordination between governments, industry and service providers and to build up competence in cooling and refrigeration within the region.

We have joined the Cool Coalition, as we fully believe that it will be by cooperation and collaboration that we are able to transform societies towards a responsible and sustainable use of resources. We are proud to join other organisations from our region and strengthen the role of the Middle East in this global initiative.“ Lily Riahi, Cool Coalition Coordinator at UNEP, said: “To put the cooling sector on a path to net-zero emissions, we need everyone on board. The Cool Coalition is thrilled to welcome Eurovent Middle East among its members. Together, we can transform the sector and put it on a path to decarbonisation, in line to global climate targets and sustainable development goals.”

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43

GLOBAL

NEWS HAPPENINGS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

FOR MORE NEWS STORIES, VISIT WWW.CLIMATECONTROLME.COM FOLLOW US ON LINKEDIN FOR BREAKING NEWS: CLIMATE CONTROL MIDDLE EAST FOLLOW US ON YOU TUBE FOR VIDEOS: CLIMATECONTROLME

AHRI, others petition U.S. EPA on HFC phase-down rule Seek uniform national standards for stationary air conditioning and commercial refrigeration equipment in the transition to climate-friendly refrigerants

By CCME Content Team he Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration institute (AHRI) on April 13 joined more than 35 other industry and environmental organizations in petitioning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeking uniform national standards for stationary air conditioning and commercial refrigeration equipment in the transition to climate-friendly refrigerants under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. If promulgated, these standards will result in an additional half billion tons of CO2 reduction, over and above what already is projected to be achieved by implementation of the AIM Act, AHRI said through a Press release.

The U.S. federal standards sought by the AHRI petition align with similar standards already in place in nine states in the country. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) submitted similar petitions under the AIM Act, AHRI pointed out.

For new residential and light-commercial central air conditioning equipment, the petition, AHRI said, seeks a regulation requiring that equipment manufacturers use refrigerants with a global warming potential (GWP) of 750 or less in equipment made after January 1, 2025, with the exception of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) equipment, whose deadline would be January 1, 2026.

These transition dates would align the country with the dates adopted in December 2020 by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and nine additional Climate Alliance states, AHRI said.

Through these petitions, AHRI said, a broad variety of stakeholders, including itself, hope to demonstrate that sufficient consensus already exists and that a regular notice and comment rulemaking would adequately represent all material interests, thereby allowing the agency to forego the negotiated rulemaking process it must consider – but is not required to undertake – for such petitions, pursuant to the AIM Act. AHRI said its petition emphasises that as a general matter, “the U.S. HVACR industry already is proceeding with the requested

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For commercial refrigeration and chiller equipment, the petition seeks the GWP limits and transition dates according to the table below: TABLE1 Product Category (New Equipment )

AR4 GWP Limit

Transition Date

Standalone/Self-contained Refrigeration Systems

SNAP Rules 20/21 Prohibitions

January 1, 2022

Remote Refrigeration Systems (>50 lbs refrigerant charge)

1500

January 1, 2022

Remote Refrigeration Systems (<=50 lbs refrigerant charge)

2200

January 1, 2022

Industrial and Processing Refiregeration (w/o chillers)

1500

January 1, 2022

ACIM (>50 lbs refrigerant charge)

2200

January 1, 2022

Transport Refrigeration

2200

January 1, 2023

1

Exceptions: ACIM <50lbs charge, Medical, Scientific and Research Applications

transition date as its goal; granting this petition provides order and structure to the market and streamlines industry preparation”.

The transition dates contained in its petition, AHRI said, allow “sufficient time for careful planning and preparation, both to avoid excessive costs that can unduly burden consumers, and to ensure all safety and other associated standards can be met”, according to the petition.

“For example, contractors and technicians must receive appropriate training, state and local building codes must be updated and changed, and supply chains and distribution networks must be modified,” AHRI said.

“While AHRI has long believed that an earlier transition would not allow enough

time for manufacturers to prepare, we have been equally clear that a later transition date would put long-term compliance with the AIM Act at risk,” said Stephen Yurek, AHRI President & CEO. “Aligning these dates also reduces costs for consumers and ensures long-term availability of energy-, environment-, and life-saving refrigerants for climate control and for the cold chain for food, vaccines, and other medicines.”

AHRI, the U.S. Department of Energy, CARB and other stakeholders have invested more than USD 7 million in research into alternative refrigerants in preparation for this transition, AHRI said, These more climatefriendly alternatives, it added, are in use today in Europe, Australia, Japan, Thailand and in more than 90% of new passenger vehicles currently sold in the United States.

“COOL CAREERS” WEBINARS PLANNED FOR WORLD REFRIGERATION DAY Participants include UNEP OzonAction, ASHRAE, EPEE, FAIAR, IIR, ISHRAE and U-3ARC

ASHRAE ETF releases updated airborne transmission guidance Society clarifies guidance for evaluating and mitigating the spread of SARS-CoV-2

By CCME Content Team

By CCME Content Team series of webinars focusing on the cool careers that make the world better are coming in June to celebrate World Refrigeration Day, June 26, the World Refrigeration Day Secretariat said through a Press release.

The Secretariat said it will partner with seven organisations to make students and young professionals globally aware of career opportunities in fields relying on refrigeration technology.

By way of listing the issues expected to come up for discussion in June, the Secretariat posed the following questions: Who researches how food can be preserved from its source to the table and how vaccines and medicines can be shipped around the world? Who enables data centres to function? How can climate change be stabilised while not sacrificing modern convenience? Who safely manages the processes that enable air to be cooled? How can the quality of indoor air be improved, and disease transmission prevented?

The people, “cooling champions,” and the careers that make modern life possible will be spotlighted in “cool careers” webinars over two weeks in June, the Secretariat said.

Organised as part of the day’s 2021 campaign theme, “Cooling Champions: Cool Careers for a Better World”, the webinars will be conducted by groups whose networks reach into developed and developing nations, the Secretariat said. Campaign partners are UNEP OzonAction, ASHRAE, EPEE, FAIAR, IIR, ISHRAE and U-3ARC, it added.

The objective is to inspire students and those early in their career path to join the more than 15 million people worldwide currently employed in the refrigeration

sector, making the world better, it further added.

“Partnering with these organizations enables the refrigeration industry to reach out globally, with particular emphasis on developing countries, to expand the workforce that supports life-giving and society-dependent technologies,” said Steve Gill, Founder & Head, World Refrigeration Day Secretariat.

“Opportunities within the industry abound for young people with a wide range of career aspirations. Advanced cooling technologies provide them with a profession that improves life in their communities and in the world as a whole.”

According to the Secretariat, each campaign partner will target career opportunities with webinars in the language common within that network.

Special emphasis will be given to sectors that are commonly less known, like Cold Chain, Refrigerant Management, Indoor Air-Quality, Sustainability, Heat Pumps, and Not-in-Kind Technologies. Gender equality and promoting women in cooling careers will be highlighted in this year’s campaign as well, it said, adding that the schedule of webinars and topics will be available in the coming weeks at www. worldrefrigerationday.org.

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The ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force released an updated, unequivocal statement on the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in buildings, ASHRAE said through a Press release.

ASHRAE released the following statement: “Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is significant and should be controlled. Changes to building operations, including the operation of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems, can reduce airborne exposures."

ASHRAE said the statement replaces its April 2020 statement, which said airborne transmission was “sufficiently likely” that airborne precautions should be taken. At that time both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Diseases Control (CDC) contended that transmission of SARS-CoV-2 was by droplet and fomite modes, not airborne.

Subsequently, both have acknowledged the risk of airborne transmission indoors, ASHRAE added.

“This may seem like a small step, but we feel it is important to leave no doubt about our position, given the muted support for ventilation and filtration as important tools in the effort to stop the pandemic, from some organizations that should be leading more strongly,” said William P Bahnfleth, Chair, ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force.

According to ASHRAE, the Task Force has been developing and disseminating guidance for the control of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 since its formation in March 2020.

“ASHRAE volunteers have played a huge role in evaluating evidence and developing detailed guidance to improve indoor environmental quality,” Bahnfleth said. “The public, globally, is benefitting from the volunteer efforts of some of the most knowledgeable scientists and engineers in our field and this updated guidance is proof of it.”

To view the complete airborne transmission statement and other COVID-19 resources, ASHRAE suggested visiting ashrae.org/COVID-19.

www.climatecontrolme.com

45

// GLOBAL NEWS

JOHNSON CONTROLS RELEASES 2021 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

Document includes its new environmental, social and governance commitments, company says

By CCME Content Team

ohnson Controls on April 9 published its 2021 Sustainability Report, highlighting its new environmental, social and governance commitments and progress towards the company’s sustainability goals, the company said through a Press release.

George Oliver, Chairman and CEO, Johnson Controls, said: “At Johnson Controls, sustainability is our business. This year saw us continue to pioneer new and important paths to sustainability, including our issuance of a green bond in the U.S. capital markets – among the very first industrials to do so.

“We welcome and embrace the enhanced attention and urgency around tackling climate change and making gains across environmental, social and governance pillars. We are determined to strengthen and further build our culture of diversity and inclusion. “Our bold new sustainability commitments demonstrate we are all-in to help drive healthy buildings, healthy people and a healthy planet for our employees, shareholders, customers and all of our stakeholders.”

According to Johnson Controls, highlights of the report include: • New ambitious sustainability commitments that outline the company’s priority to make positive changes in lowering its company footprint, such as achieving net zero carbon emissions before 2040.

• Its first-ever Sustainability Report that includes and fully integrates its first-ever diversity and inclusion report, highlighting its D&I commitment, mission, vision, pillars and progress. Its goal to double its customers' emission reductions

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May 2021

•

•

•

•

through implementation of its OpenBlue digitally enabled solutions by 2030.

Its intention to double the representation of women leaders globally and minority leaders in the United States over the next five years.

Its green financing initiatives, including a green bond – one of the first industrial companies to issue a green bond in U.S. debt capital markets – and a senior revolving credit facility tied to specific sustainability metrics Executive compensation that is linked to sustainability and diversity performance goals. The appointment of the company’s first Chief Sustainability Officer and the formation of a Governance and Sustainability board of directors’ committee Performance contracting projects that have helped its customers avoid more

than 30.6 million metric tons CO2e and save USD 6.6 billion through energy and operational savings since January 2000.

• Greenhouse gas emissions intensity reduction of more than 70% since 2002.

• Our commitment to The Climate Pledge, co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism, to reach net-zero.

11th ANNUAL CLIMATE CONTROL

AWARDS 2021 14 September 2021 | Dubai, UAE

www.climatecontrolawards.com

31 AWARD CATEGORIES: 1. MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR (AIR TREATMENT)

16. PROJECT OF THE YEAR (OUTDOOR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS)

2. MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR (AIR MOVEMENT, VENTILATION)

17. PROJECT OF THE YEAR, NEW CONSTRUCTION – IEQ (HEALTHCARE, ACADEMIC, HOSPITALITY, COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL)

3. MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR (FIRE SAFETY) 4. BUILDING ENVELOP OF THE YEAR (CONTRIBUTING MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER) 5. BUILDING PERFORMANCE SERVICES (TESTING AND CERTIFICATION) 6. DISTRICT COOLING COMPANY OF THE YEAR 7. O&M COMPANY OF THE YEAR (CHILLED WATER PLANT) 8. DISTRICT COOLING UTILITY PROVIDER OF THE YEAR 9. INNOVATIVE MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR (CHILLERS) 10. MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR (CHILLED WATER SYSTEM EQUIPMENT AND COMPONENTS, LESS CHILLERS) 11. MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR (STANDALONE DX)

18. HVAC CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR 19. HVAC CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR 20. BUILDING EFFICIENCY PROJECT OF THE YEAR 21. IAQ HEALTHCARE RETROFIT PROJECT OF THE YEAR 22. COMMISSIONING/RE-COMMISSIONING COMPANY OF THE YEAR 23. FM COMPANY OF THE YEAR (ENERGY MANAGEMENT, IEQ) 24. IoT INTEGRATION INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR 25. DIGITAL HVACR STORE OF THE YEAR 26. HVACR ENGINEER OF THE YEAR 27. YOUNG HVACR ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

12. MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR (VRF SYSTEMS)

28. MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR (VEHICLE ENVELOP & CONDENSING UNITS)

13. GCC REGION MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR

29. COLD STORE OF THE YEAR

14 .MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR (WATER HEATERS)

30. DOMINIC DE SOUSA AWARD FOR INNOVATION

15. HVACR ACCESSORIES MANUFACTURER/SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

31. EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARD

IMPORTANT DATES PRESENTATION TO THE JUDGES:

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES IS

AUGUST 23 & 24, 2021

6PM (GULF STANDARD TIME, GMT+4) ON WEDNESDAY, 9 AUGUST 2021 (ENTRIES SUBMITTED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR EVALUATION)

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