March 2015 by Climate Control Middle East

FEATURE: A case for controlling the controllables Without effective control systems, efficiency is but a pipe dream

MARCH 2015

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FEATURE: A case for controlling the controllables Without effective control systems, efficiency is but a pipe dream

MARCH 2015

IEQ IN SCHOOLS:

What is the region doing to safeguard the well-being of schoolchildren? LY EPORT: ITA COUNTRY R rges ahead fo The Republic

Interview:

Straight from the source: Yasmeen al Rashedi of Estidama, on creating liveable spaces

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9 - 12 March 2015

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contents vol. 10 no. 3 MARCH 2015

page

A rose in the desert The Desert Rose Project seeks to supply Dubai residents with smart housing by marrying comfortable living with sustainable development.

page

‘Estidama doesn’t stop at air quality’

SCHOOLS ‘Schools are not monitoring for the presence of lead in the blood’ Dr Nashat Nafouri, the CEO and President of the Saudi Quality Council, comments on the state of GCC schools, his work in the Council and the region’s air quality efforts.

page

Yasmeen al Rashedi, Acting Estidama Program Manager, Urban Development & Estidama Sector, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, talks about the Pearl Rating System and its role in ensuring liveable spaces.

‘Our schools hold 600,000 people and that figure will likely climb to 1.2 million in 10 years’ time’

page

‘Clients need to ramp up on awareness’ Khalid Mulhim, Chapter Officer, ASHRAE Saudi Arabian Chapter, speaks his mind out on energy security, refrigerants, District Cooling and commissioning.

IEQ IN

Engr Abdulla Rafia, Assistant Director General for Engineering and Planning at Dubai Municipality, elaborates on IEQ-relevant regulations and initiatives. page

The industry report card School facilities must have the right HVAC systems in place for a better chance at achieving good IEQ. By Pratibha Umashankar, with inputs from Nickyta Ray

page

March 2015

contents vol. 10 no. 3 MARCH 2015

PERSPECTIVE

Modularisation – pros and cons

page

In an in-depth treatment of modularisation as a design and construction approach, Mohammad Abusaa examines its value to District Energy and data centre facilities. page

The new “R” Adding Rethink to the mantra of Reduce, Reuse and Recover, Shahid Akhtar Nazeer Ahmed demonstrates how to effectively utilise FAHU exhaust air to enhance the efficiency of air conditioning systems.

page

cover story

Rome

rises to the challenge

Buffeted by the economic downturn, the southern European nation staggered but managed to stay on its feet. Today, it is banking on technological innovation to regain its robustness. By Rajiv Pillai, Features Writer

F-Gas and the new regulation ‘The phase-down will make F-gases extremely scarce’

Hermann Renz of eurammon answers three important questions on the challenges of the new F-Gas Regulation.

49 page

Natural refrigerants – a mid-term report card

The F-Gas Regulation is spurring the advance of natural refrigerants in Europe, but what about other countries? We bring you an insider’s insight.

page

Much-needed relief!

Dan Mizesko takes a close look at the benefits of Condenser Relief on centrifugal chillers.

March 2015

page

MARKET FEATURE Automatic for the people Experts agree that clever control systems can reduce energy consumption in built-environments, but lack of engagement among end-users has made the GCC market slow to warm to the idea. By Fatima de la Cerna, Assistant Editor

Regulars

page

Ed's note 08 It’s about connecting the dots NEWS 64 72 76 78 80

Regional Global Comings & Goings Marketplace History

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It’s about connecting the dots

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FEATURE: A case for controlling the controllables Without effective control systems, efficiency is but a pipe dream

MARCH 2015

IEQ IN SCHOOLS:

What is the region doing to safeguard the well-being of schoolchildren? ItALY COUNtrY rEPOrt: ahead forges The Republic

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Straight from the source: Yasmeen al Rashedi of Estidama, on creating liveable spaces

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n mid-June, we will be conducting the eighth edition of The Climate Control Conference (C3). At the onset, you have my assurance this editorial is not meant to be a promotion for the event. I feel the compulsion to talk about the conference, because I would like you to participate in a unique experience, bereft of vested interests and, instead, filled with a strong intent to address as many aspects as are relevant to the common cause of nation-building or region-building. We in the HVAC industry are a privileged lot in the sense that we directly or indirectly influence almost every aspect of living in the region. The impact of our exertions is felt across multiple sectors, be it healthcare, hospitality, real estate, energy, manufacturing, infrastructure or IT. Such is our reach and, by extension, such is our responsibility; and such is the opportunity to weave excellence into the socio-economic development fabric of the region. At times, though, we become so engrossed in the micro-details that we miss out on the bigger picture and don’t see the opportunity in all its glory. I have witnessed this scenario being played out numerous times in the course of reporting on the different sectors and subsectors, with the disconnect starkly obvious at times. And my team and I have seen the same disconnect while conducting sector-specific conferences, where the solutions that emerge do not realise their full potential for want of plugging into the bigger picture. The eighth edition of The Climate Control Conference is an earnest attempt at bringing seemingly disparate elements together and at connecting the dots. My team and I have identified over 80 topics and, through a hitherto unheard of interactive format, hope to cover them towards unearthing insights and recommendations that contribute to an integrated development approach. The topics range from the stimulatory stance of regional governments to master-planning, from consultancy to contracting, from green buildings to the Internet of Things (IoT), from manufacturing and trading hurdles and best practices to regulation and from testing & commissioning to handover and facilities management. We hope you are able to join the discussions and, generally speaking, participate in a uniquely liberating communication exercise.

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CEO Nadeem Hood Associate Editor Pratibha Umashankar | prati@cpi-industry.com Contributing Editor Anoop K Menon | anoop@cpi-industry.com Design Genesis Salao | getty@cpi-industry.com Events & Marketing Manager Mehwish Hilal-Badruddin mehwish@cpi-industry.com Circulation Manager & Conference Services Leader Ruqiya Shariff | ruqiyah@cpi-industry.com

March 2015

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HVAC 360 15 - 16 June 2015  The Meydan Hotel, Dubai, UAE

The eighth edition of The Climate Control Conference (C3) comes at a pivotal time for the region, with the blueprint of the Dubai Expo 2020 expected anytime soon, and with stadia-construction activity gathering pace in the peninsula. In keeping with tradition, the Conference programme has been designed in a manner as to provide a platform for an innovative communication approach (see side-bar), aimed at arriving at qualitative answers, insights and recommendations, which can be applied while taking critical project-related decisions.

KEY SECTIONS

• Government aspirations, programmes & initiatives • Mega events, master-planning & master developments • What the owner wants, how to get everyone to read from the same page as a foundation to realising key aspirations and objectives • Getting into the design of things • Different shades of green • The contracting phase • Manufacturing and supply • Regulation, self-regulation • Cooling approaches • The air side of things • Broader IEQ issues • Energy efficiency and low-hanging fruit • Testing & commissioning • The critical role of FM firms in sustaining IEQ and energy efficiency aspirations

AGENDA

WHY SPONSOR?

• Opportunity to share insights as an industry expert in a ﬁrst-of-itskind 360° forum involving all disciplines of the construction and MEP industries

Connecting the dots… raising the bar

An innovative communication approach Unlike traditional conferences, the pattern of discussions at C3 will follow an unusual approach aimed at arriving at unprecedented clarity and at unearthing answers of immense benefit to the construction and specific MEP industries. The two-day conference will see participants address a grand total of 82 topics, with a structured approach to arriving at insights and recommendations. The audience will comprise: • Government officials involved in policy-making, planning, regulation and enforcement • Quasi-government bodies • Utilities • Master-developers and developers • Building owners and end-users • Consultants • Contractors • Manufacturers • Suppliers • Service providers While the audience will listen to the insights and recommendations and also contribute to the discussions, a large team of journalists associated with Climate Control Middle East and its sister publications will be at hand to take notes with the aim of preparing a detailed report, which will be presented to all the participants and delegates and to the different, relevant ministries and other key influential bodies in the GCC region.

• Unique, novel branding style that will guarantee a high-level of exposure • Networking as a natural extension of conference discussions • One-on-one meetings

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• Opportunity to learn, update or reinforce views on different aspects of the construction and MEP industries… a 360° vision of the two industries • Participate in a unique, first-of-its-kind, free-flowing format of discussions, intended to achieve unrivalled clarity and deep insights into critical issues • Meet technology solutions providers, specialised contractors and specialised consultants related to energy efficiency, resource conservation and indoor environmental quality

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March 2015

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The

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March 2015

ore often than not, it is cooling that gets maximum attention, when the talk is on data centres. Equally important, though, is the role of dehumidification, to prevent â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;copper creep corrosionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in printer circuit boards. The corrosion is the result of ingress of sulphide-bearing gases and moisture, which if not prevented from entering, can lead to loss of valuable data.

March 2015

cover story

A rose in the desert using art sustainable satellite city ho The Desert Rose Project, a sm le envisages combining comfortab , 20 20 by ted ple com en wh project, ghts. ment. We bring you the highli lop ve de ble ina sta su h wit ng livi

March 2015

Mykhaylo Palinchak / Shutterstock.com

“…. History we are writing is what we achieve in the future, and not what we had achieved in the past.” — His Highness ShAikh MohammAd bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai

Inception

The Desert Rose Project was conceived with the intent to develop a smart sustainable satellite city that will provide Emiratis -- primarily -- and expats with housing that adopts the principles of sustainable development. The project, a futuristic initiative, uses as inspiration the vision statement of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who said: “…. History we are writing is what we achieve in the future, and not what we had achieved in the past.” The project plan was presented to His Highness in early 2014 and adopted for immediate implementation. The initial groundwork for the plan was initiated based on the direction given by the Director General of Dubai Municipality in early 2013. The conceptualisation of the city’s planning and design was prepared by Roxy Binno, Project Author, Planning Department, Expert Planning & Urban Design from Dubai Municipality, with the support of the in-house technical and administrative team. The project is currently in progress, and as a part of it, the Dubai Municipality is in the process of selecting the appropriate specialised consultants to prepare the necessary details and documentations for the implementation of the project.

March 2015

cover story

Project conception The project site is located in the desert, at Dubai’s urban fringe in Al Rowaiyah Third, Dubai. The conceptual spatial planning and design of the smart satellite city resembles the Desert Rose, a plant symbolising sustainability and competency. The project has adopted an innovative approach with coherent and interdependent components taking into account the following: • The natural setting • Green development principles • Diversity in housing provision • Promoting the economic base • Promoting quality of life and livability • Adopting environmentally friendly and healthy mobility networks

There is no high-carbon path to shared global prosperity. http://bit.ly/1INkuVq

Fred Krupp @FredKrupp EDF President (Environmental Defense Fund)

• Recycled sewerage water for irrigation • Innovative renewable energy sources The city is envisaged to cover 4,000 hectares of land, served by a vibrant activity centre, and expected to house 160,000 inhabitants. The plan is to provide diverse, affordable and sustainable housing in the form of 30,000 dwellings with related facilities and services. The housing component is distributed across 28 residential neighborhoods, with various densities around the city centre. The project will be implemented in stages and completed by 2020. The city will be designed to provide all the required community facilities and services, such as schools, hospitals, post office and library, and expected

to sustain on its built components, economic base and environmentally friendly infrastructure. It hopes to achieve zero-net-energy status. The human settlement will include: • Renewable energy system and plants targeting an anticipated capacity of 200 MW, where achievable, a sewerage recycling plant with a possible supply of 43,000m3 of treated water for irrigation and a possible eco-park for recycling and treatment of solid waste • A linear city centre with mixed and diverse uses, including economic, commercial, administrative and cultural activities and affordable housing (10,000 units) for expats • Diverse residential areas for national Emiratis (20,000 dwellings) with all requisite public facilities and services • A green belt functioning as a useful environmental and economic asset • Integrated contemporary mobility and communication networks

The innovative components

In keeping with the above conceptualisation, the spatial plan promotes a sense of place and feeling of community, and offers a friendly and contemporary communication and sustainable mobility system with electric light-rail that provides convenient and efficient accessibility. The city also considers a network of bus routes to connect the residential

I want to take Qatar Cool to the global level. I envisage Qatar Cool as a national champion in the not-sodistant future. I am committed to making of any entity I manage in Qatar or elsewhere, an able competitor against the big MNCs out there. My global experience has taught me it’s not a very difficult task – it’s about having the right capabilities, skills sets and a strong work ethic. It’s about building a very strong foundation that is able to catapult you to where you want to go. Yasser Salah Al Jaidah, Chief Executive Officer, Qatar Cool 14

March 2015

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March 2015

cover story

neighbourhoods with the city centre light-rail stations. The city also includes a network of eco-walks for pedestrians and cyclists, with intensive tree planting to provide deep shading and encourage healthy and pleasant mobility. The city centre is designed to provide a linear “Activity Spine” with an outdoor pedestrian Atrium, which will be 3.5 kilometres long, served by electric light-rail to be linked with the Dubai Metro network. All parking and vehicle access will be at the basement level. The spatial design of the Atrium is such that it is expected to reduce noise pollution and rationalise energy consumption. Though it will be partially air conditioned during summer, it will rely on natural ventilation all year round. This will be achieved by controlling the movement of cold heavy air and

Solar panels will be installed on 238 hectares of rooftops, in addition to a possible energy plant with 200 hectares of heat trap area and a thermal tower for renewable energy production

Reliable smart metering solutions

March 2015

light warm air. The city centre has been mandated to adopt the principles of the Transit Oriented Development (TOD). In addition to the one million square metres of diverse activities, it will provide 10,000 affordable residential units on the upper stories, extending along the light-rail path. Solar panels will be installed on 238 hectares of rooftops, in addition to a possible energy plant with 200 hectares of

heat trap area and a thermal tower for renewable energy production. This will significantly contribute to the reduction of the city’s carbon footprint. In addition, the project will encourage a number of environmentally friendly services that adopt renewable energy sources, such as public buses, street lighting, smart communication kiosks to charge mobile phones and electric vehicles for disabled persons, bikes for rent and garbage compactors. The sustainable 700 hectares of green belt that is on the cards, irrigated by recycled sewerage water, will not only act as an environmental buffer zone against desert conditions, but will also positively impact the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and reduce noise from the Al Etihad Rail path. Apart from having the potential to be used as an agricultural production asset, it could be partially earmarked for recreation, apart from being an aesthetically appealing landscape. The Desert Rose Project, when in full bloom, is anticipated to add to Dubai’s many charms.

Text prepared by Roxy Binno, Project Author, Planning Department, Dubai Municipality.

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

March 2015

INTERVIEW

Yasmeen Al Rashedi

‘Estidama doesn’t stop at air quality’ Ensuring good indoor and outdoor air quality is an important prerequisite for the layout and design of the urban environment. Yasmeen al Rashedi, Acting Estidama Program Manager, Urban Development & Estidama Sector, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, highlights steps taken in this direction in the emirate in an interview with Climate Control Middle East.

What measures has Estidama implemented towards better Indoor Environmental Quality in buildings in Abu Dhabi? Through the Pearl Rating System, Estidama creates ‘liveable indoors’ that is to the benefit of all building users. Mandatory requirements include maintaining the quality of air drawn into buildings for healthy ventilation, through to the elimination of tobacco smoke from sources inside and outside the building. Estidama also encourages designers and owners

March 2015

Estidama works with developers to create comprehensive travel plans, which promote walking, cycling and public transport

to eliminate harmful emissions from materials used in the fit-out of buildings that suppliers are increasingly able to cater to. Estidama does not stop at air quality – it also encourages best practice design to improve thermal and visual comfort through active and passive measures.

Is there an integrated plan to reduce air pollution (particulate matter from vehicle exhaust) in the urban outdoor environment in order to safeguard the IAQ in the builtenvironment? Does this include a broad strategy for traffic management?

Estidama creates ‘liveable outdoor’ spaces in the same approach as it does for the indoors, which is through a holistic approach. It promotes accessible community facilities and active urban environments that reduce car use and enable healthy lifestyles at the same time. Throughout the planning process, Estidama works with developers to create comprehensive travel plans, which promote walking, cycling and public transport. Where car use cannot easily be replaced, priority is given to more efficient forms of transport and car-sharing vehicles. Estidama continues to work with all Government agencies on significant infrastructure projects, such as the Metro and light rail transit that ensures all developments are coordinated with the Emirate’s framework plans and master plans, in line with Leadership’s Vision 2030.

A key concern in urban areas is noise (including low-frequency noise) from vehicular traffic and large District Cooling plants in dense residential and commercial areas. What is the Urban Planning Council doing towards addressing

March 2015

INTERVIEW

Yasmeen Al Rashedi

noise, which has health ramifications?

It is mandatory to undertake urban systems assessments for all new Estidama buildings, and along with the UPC’s Urban Development planning process, [it] ensures appropriate adjacent land uses to residential areas that mitigate the source of noise. Estidama provides specific noise-reduction targets that are currently optional for developments, but are actively encouraged.

The US Green Building Council has a ‘LEED for Schools’ programme to address Indoor Environmental Quality issues in schools, including air quality and acoustical comfort. Is Estidama considering introducing its own IEQ for schools programme, in order to improve student health (safeguard against incidences of allergic rhinitis and asthma

in children) and also to provide a pleasant learning environment for children?

Schools also achieve Pearl Rating System (PRS) Credits for providing views and a visual connection with the outdoors

The current school building programme in Abu Dhabi has seen record numbers of new schools being rated as 3 Pearl buildings. In addition to the mandatory elements applicable to all buildings, the new schools also achieved 100% compliance with regards to material emissions, ensuring a high level of indoor quality for children and staff. Schools also achieve Pearl Rating System (PRS) Credits for providing views and a visual connection with the outdoors that provides a pleasant and productive learning environment.

What measures is Estidama taking to encourage retrofitting of existing buildings to save energy and water in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi? The UPC is not in a position to discuss existing buildings at this stage.

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Dubai:

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PAIGN M A C L A I R EDITO T S A E E L D OL MID R T N O C E A CLIMAT

IEQ IN

SCHOOLS ENDORSED BY

HEALTH MINISTERS’ COUNCIL FOR THE COOPERATION COUNCIL STATES

March 2015

IEQ IN SCHOOLS

n the years before electromechanical means of cooling entered the GCC region, schools relied on traditional approaches to keep the built-environment hospitable. With the advent of air conditioning, as we know it, came thermal comfort, though it can be argued that disregard for building orientation and poor design can lead to hot spots and to zones that receive excessive cooling, leaving students feeling uncomfortable despite the most sophisticated of machines. The point, though, is technology blew in much-needed thermal comfort in the classrooms and in school transportation. That said, technology alone is inadequate, unless it is backed by awareness, specific regulation, enforcement and collaboration among the various stakeholders. The need for thermal comfort was an obvious one – it showed in the sweaty conditions and, hence, the response was relatively swift. The need for clean air is less obvious. It cannot be seen and, hence, the same alacrity in ushering in thermal comfort is absent when it comes to battling micro-flora, chemicals and silica in the built-environment; and thus the need for awareness

n the School Health Department, we carry out medical check-ups for new admissions in KG1, Grade 1, Grade 5 and Grade 9. The tests in Grade 1 are the most extensive, as this is the time of entering the school, and it is recommended by clinical guidelines. Soon, we will be carrying out hearing tests for Grade 1 students. We are working on a plan. It’s in our protocol. If students are not doing well academically, it could be owing to a hearing problem. Sometimes, the child may have to change places in the classroom. It is beyond the scope of the Ministry of Health on ambient noise. Overall, we set the criteria, and the Ministry of Education monitors the implementation. Checking for lead content in the blood is not indicated in any guideline. – Dr Najla Hussain Sajwani, Head of Section, School Health, Department of Primary Healthcare, UAE Ministry of Health

March 2015

among the stakeholders. The onus is as much on school managements as on consultants, contractors and regulators to recognise the threat of PM 2.5 and other contaminants to students and to teaching and non-teaching staff, and to give a suitable response. Generally speaking, schools claim they face a huge financial burden in running their business and, hence, are able to give only a limited response to IEQ concerns, but the situation facing us is not dispensable. It is the basic right of students to be treated with respect and care, and hence, IEQ needs to be made mandatory. The region needs tighter and more specific regulations and a strong enforcement mechanism. Bodies like the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai and the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) have a wellmeaning framework for assessing schools; it would be wonderful to see them incorporate IEQ in the set of established criteria and, thus, nudge schools to take the next big step. B Surendar surendar@cpi-industry.com

e have a project on asthma in Public Health Centres (PHCs). In 2013, we brought all the nurses in schools together for an extensive workshop on how to detect children with asthma and on how to identify trigger factors. We prepared a checklist for triggers and another on how to monitor asthma and when to take children to a PHC or to a hospital. We gave lectures on how to teach the caregivers in schools in the case of an asthma attack in class, including on identifying if the student is sincere or is manipulating to get out of class. In 2013, a total of 1,018 school students were diagnosed as asthma patients in Sharjah. We carried out the project in Sharjah and are now extending the study to other parts. This was not a schools-specific project – we did this only to help the PHCs; our target was not school children. We have 21 PHCs in Sharjah, out of which two have asthma specialty clinics. – Dr Naseem Mohamed, Coordinator, Asthma Committee in PHCs, UAE Ministry of Health

IEQ IN SCHOOLS

‘Schools are

not monitoring for the presence of lead in the blood’ Dr Nashat Nafouri, the CEO and President of the Saudi Quality Council, in conversation with B Surendar

Where is the GCC on air quality efforts? Until now, there is no strong structure to air quality efforts in the region, or a national or regional declaration on air quality. If you compare to North America, ASHRAE has a standard for IAQ. And then, you have the US EPA taking efforts.

What is the specific situation in schools? Are children being examined for the presence of lead in the blood, for instance? We don’t have any scientific chapter on schools, in the region. And schools don’t monitor for the presence of lead in the blood. For 35 years running, schools have continued to use RACs. Accreditation and excellence models have helped the industry to move from RACs to a sustainable environment. Do we have monitoring for VOCs and standards on how often the built-environments need to be monitored? No. Is lead in paints being addressed? No. And are surveillance measures being carried out at the pre-school level beyond certificates submitted by parents? No. The Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia is going towards a standard, but still it is at the initial stages. As for the Saudi Quality Council, I started with the basics at schools, including teaching the students how to segregate chemicals. We look at it from a Material Safety Data (MSD) perspective and are teaching

students how to safely handle chemicals, based on the WHO classification. Yellow represents reactivity, blue health and red flammability. We want children to recognise the colours and say “If it is blue, it is okay for my health.” We are also teaching the difference between a moist class and a healthy class. We have training for teachers and administrators on how important health is along with mental growth. I have five schools in total where I have started teaching IAQ culture.

We are also teaching students the difference between a moist class and a healthy class

March 2015

What can be done, enforcement-wise, to bring about qualitative change?

We need the local body to put a monitoring and licensing process in place. We need more occupational labs to come up and, prior to that, work out who licenses these labs. For instance, how do we know the results are accurate? Now, the questions to ask are: Do we have public health labs? Who does VOC measurements? Who does the PPM programme in all schools? If you have these embedded in your strategy, you can have funding. There are international references to learn from. The US EPA has a good package for IAQ in schools. There is none in the region. If we want a similar climate, we can take a look at Florida, which has hot, humid conditions, and identical moisture and mould-related problems.

March 2015

IEQ IN SCHOOLS

‘Our schools hold 600,000 people and that figure will likely climb to 1.2 million in 10 years’ time’ B Surendar in conversation with Engr Abdulla Rafia, the Assistant Director General for Planning and Engineering at Dubai Municipality

Local Order No (11) of 2003 Concerning Public Health and Community Safety in the Emirate of Dubai • Article (55): The department concerned will evaluate buildings to verify their efficiency and integrity. If a defect is discovered, said department must see to it that the building occupant resolves the problem. • Article (56): Building occupant must maintain healthy IAQ by installing a proper exhaust system and by ensuring that ventilation and air quality conform to standards. • Article (57): The department concerned will issue occupation permit for buildings intended for group accommodation in compliance with health and environmental standards as well as safety requirements. In case of violations, said department may shut down services and/or building operations.

March 2015

What is Dubai Municipality doing to improve Indoor Environmental Quality in schools in the Emirate? Students typically sit in the classroom for six to seven hours, so it’s important to take care of the air they inhale. Since 2003, Dubai Municipality has been implementing Local Order No (11) of 2003 Concerning Public Health and Community Safety in the Emirate of Dubai, Articles (55), (56) and (57). In addition, the Green Building Regulations & Specifications has an entire section dedicated to Building Vitality. Overall, the Regulations & Specifications covers IEQ-related issues, including indoor air quality, thermal comfort and noise. So the scene has been set, and we have KPIs for ‘New Construction’ projects relating to IAQ requirements. Dubai Municipality will enforce it in all the new schools as far as the Green Building Regulations are concerned. We will also be addressing IEQ in existing schools – we will come to that. What is most important is that we build very fast and we grow very fast here in Dubai, and that whatever we build, we overtake the Existing Buildings. Our schools hold 600,000

people and, in 10 years’ time, that figure will likely climb to 1.2 million. In many countries, old schools accommodate 100% of the students. In 10 years, they will probably accommodate 90%. In our case, only 50% of the students will be in old schools, so we will have more buildings with perfect IEQ.

What does Dubai Municipality check for during inspection of buildings? We inspect the air conditioning of existing buildings, including whether or not building management clean their ducting systems. We also inspect for the presence of legionella and other growth. Broadly, we look for elements that affect the indoor air quality (IAQ). Besides the Green Building Regulations & Specifications, Dubai has a programme of retrofitting for 30,000 of the 120,000 Existing Buildings in the Emirate, and there is an intention to include government buildings in the list of the 30,000. Most of the schools are government buildings, so they will go under the retrofit umbrella. It’s easy to retrofit schools because, unlike other buildings that are

March 2015

IEQ IN SCHOOLS

occupied all year round, they are closed during summer. We have set up an ESCO (Energy Service Company) for the retrofitting programme.

What is being done to balance IEQ and energy efficiency concerns? By reducing the consumption of energy, we are reducing emissions by 30%, which is a huge reduction. Our approach is to ensure better rating of air conditioning equipment for energy efficiency and also an improvement in the type of filters used, which must provide no less than the minimum ventilation needed for acceptable IAQ. We have taken steps to balance health and energy efficiency. While you talk of a tighter building envelope, we put conditions relating to a minimum amount of fresh air intake as well as the provision of open-able windows. We also regulate for heat recovery from exhaust to reduce deficit from the use of fresh air. We want to reduce the size of the windows to reduce heat, but health requirements necessitate a natural view, so instead we have regulations on window type – shading coefficient – and orientation, with more windows on the eastern and northern sides of the building.

And how are you addressing energy loss through leakages in ducting systems? We have clearly distinguished between the ducts inside the building and those outside, which is the area of focus when it comes to addressing leakages. We have mandated duct-leakage testing in our

Our approach is to ensure better rating of air conditioning equipment for energy efficiency and also an improvement in the type of filters used

Regulations. Also, building owners are required to ensure that they have a certain specified thickness of insulation and to carry out adequate maintenance.

Considering the demographic profile of the UAE, do you feel there is an issue with a sense of belonging, with some in the construction and MEP fraternities thinking only short term, which is likely having an impact on IEQ and energy efficiency, perhaps owing to the use of inferior products, with cost in mind? If you see the framework of the Dubai Plan

2021, released in December 2014, it includes six themes or pillars. The second pillar is titled ‘An Inclusive & Cohesive Society’. Basically, it talks of equality and fairness. Our community is made up of a mosaic of cultures, and there is a strong sense of belonging. People feel this is a good place to live. On the social side, this mosaic has helped us. We are receiving and amalgamating ideas coming from all over the world. On the technical front and the use of inferior supplies that you mentioned, since it’s an open market, we have left it to the competition, and people are aware of quality – they ask about rating, guarantees, country of origin, and we are certainly not getting garbage. Most of the District Cooling companies are going for the Rolls Royce of equipment. That’s because the owners and developers are aware, and they are concerned about reputation. None of them went under. They care for their branding. Emaar, Nakheel, Meraas… all of them make money based on reputation. Most major developers are here to stay. We are running a product certification system based on world-renowned certification programmes, and they are based on sound international bodies. We do certify products and the equipment, and we follow testing protocols. So these are actions that give us much better control. A number of countries are closed and encourage the use of only national products. That way, there is a possibility of inferior products doing the rounds. We have no restrictions, and the competition here is on price and quality.

SNIPPETS

Temperature variations affecting crop production Climate change is taking a toll on the world’s harvest, and researchers from Kansas State University have the data to prove it. Citing the results of their study, titled “Rising temperatures reduce global wheat production”, the

March 2015

researchers said that yields of the globally traded crop will drop by at least a quarter in the next decades as a result of temperature changes. Describing the situation as “severe”, the study’s co-author and director of the USAID Feed the Future Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab at the university, Vara Prasad, said the expected decrease would pose as a huge challenge, what with the world’s burgeoning population necessitating an increase in food production.

Air pollution impairs cognitive development Researchers at the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Spain, have found a correlation between exposure to air pollutants and cognitive development in children. Through the findings of their study, which measured memory and attentiveness, they discovered that students of schools situated in high-traffic, and thus, heavily polluted, areas show less cognitive growth than those who attend comparatively less polluted schools.

March 2015

IEQ IN SCHOOLS

The industry

report card

In the second part of our two-part series on the industry insights on IEQ in schools, we reiterate the view that better IEQ is easier to achieve if the right HVAC systems are in place in the school complex and if the industry throws its weight behind the cause. By Pratibha Umashankar, with inputs from Nickyta Ray

nadequate attention to HVAC systems often result from both competing fiscal interests and inadequate technical competencies,” says Brian K Kasher, in a paper on classroom ventilation1. The author highlights that school occupants are generally not trained to ascertain the effects of inadequate ventilation, and temperature “is most often a voiced concern relative to HVAC”. Arguably, therefore, the dynamics concerning Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) in schools is different from those in other builtenvironments. In light of this, the HVAC equipment used forms

the first step in ensuring acceptable IEQ levels in an academic ethos. Bassel Anbari, PE, Managing Director at InterCool, concedes as much, when he says, “This is a very interesting subject, which resonates with the industry, but no serious action has been taken to implement required system design and construction to achieve IEQ as per international standards.” Here, he seems to be gesturing towards schools in the region. In this context, it is pertinent to note that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in October of last year, released new guidelines to help school districts protect Indoor Air Quality while

Experts agree that there is need to raise standards of academic achievement of students through better thermal comfort

March 2015

increasing energy efficiency during school renovations.2 While such guidelines have yet to emerge in the region, Anbari, speaking from his company’s perspective, informs that InterCool works with the US-based company, Global Plasma Solutions, which specialises in Bi-Polar Ionisation using needle point technology. Anbari claims that equipment from Global Plasma Solutions has been used in many schools in the UAE and in many different applications. Speaking broadly about IEQ in schools, he adds: “Proper air balancing between fresh, circulating and exhaust air to maintain

required pressure in each part of the school is essential, along with a good air conditioning system that allows maintenance of temperature and humidity in the building. On the other hand, thermal comfort is vital to students’ performance in schools, as high temperatures will have a negative impact on health, resulting in poor performance of students.” IEQ criteria of the built environment, especially in schools, are typically evaluated in various combinations using a number of environmental features and addressing different characteristics associated with user outcomes, including thermal comfort, student performance, achievement, absenteeism and health. For Saad Ali, Group General Manager, MENA, at Ruskin Titus Gulf, ASHRAE Standards are reliable benchmarks. He elaborates, “We support ASHRAE standard 62 for minimum ventilation requirements, LEED 2009, using ASHRAE 90.12007 as a baseline, stipulating that new buildings and schools can attain EA credits by improving building performance anywhere from 12% to 48%.”

It is vital to take steps to identify potential problems and possible solutions for poor IEQ in schools. Bassel Anbari points at volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and noise and vibration as culprits. “VOCs should be monitored and treated in schools to prevent health complications and maintain an efficient IEQ,” he advocates, and adds, “Noise and vibration issues in classrooms need to be addressed at the design stage, encompassing architectural, interior, air conditioning design and system selection parameters.”

He claims that his company has partnered with several schools and universities to help create IEQ-efficient buildings. Instead of such individual and sporadic efforts, Ali believes that manufacturers in the region need to work together to bring about the necessary change in IEQ levels in schools. He, however, admits that there is a long way to go to in the quest of bringing about improvement in IEQ, especially the air quality, as building designs

Are schools, on their part, earmarking operations and capital budgets to cover these prerequisites and parameters? This takes us back to the unhealthy cohabitation of “competing fiscal interests and inadequate technical competencies” with which we began the discussion. References 1. “Absence Of Classroom Ventilation At A Large Pre-k To 12 School District: Classroom Measurements, Equipment

Configuration, Technical Challenges”, a paper presented by Brian K Kasher at Indoor Air 2011, Austin, Texas, June 8, 2011. http://www.abstractsonline.com/Plan/ ViewAbstract.aspx?s Key=a0b42527956c-4e85-9bc1- b11c016fa633&c Key= 72f16cf5-0bc3-4fc4-b5d354d0ec74eebf&m Key=%7BF53D1928C445-406F-A24 B-297CA9654 D92%7D 2. www.epa.gov/schools

Every part and segment of the construction and facility management cycle needs to dovetail to achieve the goal

are outdated. “High energy costs is expected to force tighter regulations, and government-monitored bodies have to whip up change to regulate schools,” is his considered opinion. Experts agree that there is a need to raise standards of academic achievement of students through better thermal comfort. They also concede that the onus of improving learning outcomes rests on engineers, consultants and government bodies, who must spearhead the cause of good IEQ in schools to help prepare young students for a sustainable economy and create a pool of healthy workforce. For this to happen, design and construction phases of a school building (integrated project development), proper operations and management procedures, and the balancing of IEQ concerns with energy-efficiency need to top the list of priorities. Every part and segment of the construction and facility management cycle needs to dovetail to achieve the goal. The question emanating from this is:

March 2015

ARTICULATION SAUDI ARABIA

‘Clients need to ramp up on awareness’ Khalid Mulhim, Chapter Officer, ASHRAE Saudi Arabian Chapter, in a free-ranging discussion with Climate Control Middle East…

On energy security and how Saudi Arabia is trying to secure it

When it comes to energy security, I see greater momentum on regulation now than ever before. For instance, there is an increase in focus on Renewable Energy. Energy is an issue not only in Saudi Arabia but also globally. Now is the right time for leaders in the construction industry and regulators to interact with each other. Most of the awareness in technical meetings in Saudi Arabia involves technical people, manufacturers, clients and academia, though the awareness among clients needs to be ramped up. Maybe they are not up to date. So while the technology is there, they need to be more aware. They need to carry out lifecycle cost analysis. Often times, the talk is only about capital, but the point is we have to look at maintenance and recycling, as well. Clients need to be aware of what kind of benefits they will get to see. To get things moving ahead, energy should be regulated. In conferences, we hear specific decision-makers in government and manufacturing

March 2015

organisations talk of regulation and how it can affect the economy. It’s like a domino effect that will affect so many other aspects.

Refrigerants

There is so much of talk about low-GWP alternatives for high-ambient conditions, but the point is we as a region are only into light manufacturing – we mainly assemble equipment, for which we adopt technology from elsewhere. Clients need to know more about maintenance and reliability. I might have a project but also incidents, so there are risks involved. So we need to be balanced in our approach to refrigerants and carefully consider safety as well as the environment. We have to be broad-based in our search for alternative refrigerants. If we consider absorption chillers, which involve water and lithium bromide, I would say it is most safe to handle lithium bromide, provided we take

appropriate precautions. It is worth the effort, considering the high energy-efficiency yield. And where we have excess steam, absorption chillers can definitely be used. If you have a plant nearby, which is the source of excess steam, why not use absorption chillers to run a District Cooling scheme for the area. Most of the small industrial units in Saudi Arabia can be connected through a network of excess steam, which can come in handy, and it can save money. You can use absorption chillers in the hospitality sector, as well. By having a boiler in a hotel, you have the potential for excess steam to run an absorption chiller.

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ARTICULATION SAUDI ARABIA

It is the task of a consultant to look at the energy available in a hotel. This is a practical solution. People talk about R290 and R32 in a general sense, but we still are not there. You need to study them for some years to see their performance, reliability, etc. Coming up with a new refrigerant is difficult. When it comes to new refrigerants, people in this region are always inclined to sit back and watch others, especially in new projects; and they are willing to take decisions only on the basis of what they observe. Cost, maintenance, reliability and safety are questions – we simply don’t have enough available data on new refrigerants. At the same time, manufacturers might come up with another refrigerant; so the area is very dynamic. Also, we must remember that most alternatives are now on the high-pressure side.

On commissioning

The awareness on commissioning is not there yet, not only with the enduser and the client but also with the people that are into technical issues. They don’t know the importance of commissioning. Commissioning comes at the end of a project. Why don’t we talk about it during the different phases of a project, such as pre-design, design, detailed design, construction, start up and operation? Commissioning-related talk should start and be mentioned in initial papers – it ought to be discussed in the design stage. Commissioning engineers should be there during the discussions. The commissioning agent should be a third-

party and involved with the owner of the building. It’s an investment and will cost less than one per cent of the total project but will save huge money. District Cooling More and more District Cooling projects are coming up in Saudi Arabia, but client and provider issues need to be looked at. If a single client, then we have minimal issues to deal with, but if the District Cooling scheme involves multiple clients, there are several aspects to address. People seem to be reluctant when it comes to applying District Cooling at the community level, because there is no protection for the end-user. The general thinking among end-users is that ‘I am putting all my eggs in one basket with one provider’. As a result, things are going up and down, and we have a three per cent penetration of District Cooling in Saudi Arabia. Clients don’t want to go with District Cooling, because they don’t want to pay the premium involved. They feel that split systems are something they can keep under their control. As for regulations, laws to protect the client are not there yet. I see the value District Cooling has to offer. For instance, with dedicated personnel, you can achieve precise temperature control, which is laudable.

HAVE YOUR SAY!

We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com

SNIPPETS

Something to gas about

Shrimp shells for solar energy

Sappi Fine Paper North America (SFPNA), headquartered in Boston, in the United States, has managed a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity in three years, exceeding a five-year goal. Sappi’s boilers currently meet most limits under the recently promulgated Industrial Boiler MACT rules, thanks to past capital investments and optimisation of fuel mix, the company claims. Construction of a new gas pipeline to transport natural gas to its mill, and converting equipment at the mill to burn natural gas are measures expected to achieve further drop in greenhouse gas emissions.

For most people, shrimp shells are probably of no use. But to researchers at Queen Mary University of London, they are a source of energy. The researchers have reportedly succeeded in creating electricity-generating solar-cells using chitin and chitosan, two chemicals found in the shells of shrimps and other crustaceans.

March 2015

PERSPECTIVE

Mohammad Abusaa is Business Development Manager at H.H. Angus & Associates Limited, Consulting Engineers, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He can be contacted at mgabusaa@gmail.com

Modularisation – pros and cons Positing the view that modularisation makes investing in District Energy and data centre facilities more attractive, Mohammad Abusaa demonstrates how a modular approach allows for scalable investment, while offering a future expansion option.

raditional District Energy systems (such as a centralised cooling/ heating plant in a university campus) are similar to legacy or enterprise data centres (such as a stock exchange data centre), in that they are more often than not built to deliver a service to specific single or multiple users, where the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operational Expenditure (OPEX) of these systems are considered “cost of doing business”. As private investors have become more involved in the development of

March 2015

Modularisation

District Energy systems and data centre colocation facilities, either through public-private-partnerships (PPP or P3) or other ownership structures, the obvious priority has become generating profit from these

Break Even Point (BEP) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) are other financial indicators that are becoming more prevalent in the District Energy and data centre sectors. Not only that, traditional owners/ operators of District Energy systems and data centre facilities are now, sometime for the first time, being challenged by their CFOs and CEOs to prove the feasibility or the value of having these

It is important to qualify that modularisation is not a solution for every project

installations. While CAPEX and OPEX are still utilised in evaluating a system or a solution, Return on Investment (ROI), Total Cost of Ownership (TCO),

the competitiveness and productivity of the US construction industry. The committee defined efficiency improvements as “ways to cut waste in time, costs, materials, energy, skills, and labour”. It identified five interrelated activities that could lead to breakthrough improvements in construction efficiency and productivity in two to 10 years as follows: 1) Widespread deployment and use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) applications

The key benefit of modularisation is that it provides an opportunity to better manage a project cash flow systems in-house, as against outsourcing. All this has created a more competitive marketplace in these sectors, which demanded creativity and innovation in design, construction and operation of these facilities.

Modularisation is considered one of the design and construction approaches that add value to these sectors. In 2008, a committee within the National Research Council (NRC) was tasked to provide advice for advancing

2) Improved job-site efficiency through more effective interfacing of people, processes, materials, equipment, and information 3) Greater use of prefabrication, preassembly, modularisation and off-site fabrication techniques and processes 4) Innovative, widespread use of demonstration installations 5) Effective performance measurement to drive efficiency and support innovation

Defining “modular”

In my experience in the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) and design and build of District Energy systems,

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PERSPECTIVE

Modularisation

which saw me working on some of the world’s largest modular and stickbuilt chilled water plants, and experience in the engineering of data centre facilities with exposure to key modular data centre projects, I have come across several definitions of the term “modular” in both industries. Therefore, it is important to ensure that all parties in a discussion are on the same level of understanding of the term before initiating a conversation about the concept in order to avoid misunderstanding, especially when it comes to contractual matters and setting client expectations. Some believe that modularity is the complete pre-assembly of materials

offsite, while others believe it is only partial preassembly. There are also those who think it is the traditional on-site stick-built construction built in phases; hence, the importance of clarity in such discussions. In essence, my definition of a module is that different materials and equipment are pre-assembled/pre-fabricated offsite, typically in a

controlled environment in the prefabrication facility to form a pre-assembled unit. Only when the unit is designed to produce a product, such as cooling in the case of chilled water plants, or provide a service, such as storing data in the case of data centres, when connected to basic resources, such as power and water, would it be considered a module. This could also be in conjunction with other modules forming a larger system. The approach to a project becomes “modular” in nature when several of these “modules” are combined together on-site. This

Modularisation, therefore, will make sense when coupled with prior planning from the service provider’s side, and if implemented properly, will certainly contribute positively to the financial health of the business

Key similarities in the District Energy and data centre colocation service providers’ business models: District Energy service provider Revenue stream sources from users Typical CAPEX Usually spent over a period of 18 to 30 months, depending on the size of the project Typical OPEX

Key performance parameters that directly affect profit margins

Consumption costs, connection costs, monthly fixed costs, annual fixed costs, etc. Real estate, legal/commercial fees, different professional fees, engineering, construction, commissioning, project management, employees and offices during project planning, construction and initial operation phase, sales and marketing, etc. Operation & maintenance, utilities, administration (accounts, billing, customer service, sales and marketing, engineering, management, etc.), upgrades, depreciation, taxes and other costs. KW/TR “kW of power consumed per tonne refrigeration produced” or COP “Coefficient of Performance” — both are ratios between energy consumed in a facility and heating/cooling provided. Higher COP or lower kW/ TR = lower operating cost or “more efficient system”

March 2015

Data centre colocation service provider

PUE “Power Usage Effectiveness” Ratio between energy consumed in a facility (excluding IT load) and IT equipment load Lower PUE = lower operating cost or “more efficient system”

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PERSPECTIVE

Modularisation

is a “modular” approach in contrast with pre-fabricating a component offsite to be used in a traditional stickbuilt construction project.

Why modularisation?

It is important to qualify that modularisation is not a solution for every project. From a technical perspective, some of the benefits of offsite prefabrication and modularisation are higher quality of workmanship, shorter delivery schedules, an efficient and competitive supply chain system for the module components, cost competitiveness in some situations and less emissions that can harm the environment. From a business perspective, the key benefit of modularisation is that

March 2015

it provides an opportunity to better manage a project cash flow. This is something that investors look at closely when evaluating any business opportunity. Building in “phases” or in “sections” using a modularisation approach allows for the spread of capital investment over longer periods and lowers the risk of building larger infrastructure prior to securing users or customers who are the source of revenues for the business.

or “more efficient” than the stick-built approach. Location, labour conditions, project requirements and client preferences, among other factors will define if a modular approach is preferable, feasible and/or cost competitive. It is also important to look at the different financial indicators of a modular project and not only the CAPEX. Similarly, it is important to understand the perspective of the entity incurring the cost of the project. There are situations, for example, where contractors prefer Is it cheaper? a stick-built approach, as Not necessarily; it depends. it gives them more control We live in a global in implementing design marketplace and need to changes or variations during put things in perspective construction in markets before putting forward a where this is the norm. blanket statement about Going modular the modular concept would then as “cheaper” “increase When suppliers their risk cost” even and/or though contractors offer it might be lower a true modular solution to in capital a service provider, they are cost. actually offering a “system” There are also and not a “product” sectors and markets where clients will pay a premium for a modular solution, at least from a CAPEX point of view. This typically happens when clients are seeking to ensure quality of workmanship,

run parallel construction schedules (on site and offsite) to shorten project duration, control the security and confidentiality of the constructed system by fabricating offsite in a more controlled environment and to mitigate political, social and/or environmental issues that might hinder the efficient constructability of a typical stick-built project on site. All in all, it is about putting things in perspective.

District Energy and data centre colocation service providers – business model simplified

In simple words, District Energy systems consume resources to produce cooling and/or heating. This product is sold to end-users who pay a tariff based on their consumption of the cooling and heating product. Similarly, data centre facilities, colocation facilities in particular for example, consume resources to store or process data. This service is also provided for a fee or, say, a “tariff” that the users pay. In a noncompetitive or monopolised marketplace, such tariffs are more or less mandated, either by the government or the private sector, and clients have no choice but to pay to get the service. In a competitive marketplace, which we are seeing more of nowadays in these sectors, District Energy service providers and data centre colocation providers will mainly compete on tariff. While some might have exclusivity over a certain geographical area or client base, the fact that they are in competition with other providers to secure the business in the first place

creates this competitiveness in tariff structures. Typically, a service provider’s revenue will only come from tariffs. Therefore, the calculation of which is key to the District Energy and data centre colocation service providers’ business.

The revenue stream

It is important to understand that when a customer agrees to pay, say, USD 1 for every unit of consumption, he/she will pay the USD 1 regardless of how much energy the service provider consumes to produce the unit. Therefore, reducing energy consumption per produced unit increases the margin for the service provider; hence the importance of efficiency in such systems to business, technical and investment groups, as it forms the basis of income and profit for the business. It is worth noting that, typically, any increase in utility costs on the service provider is transferred directly to the customer via an agreed formula. This also applies to inflation, etc.

Planning, planning and planning

There is a significant and huge burden on project ownership and management groups to properly plan for the initial capacity of any system, its operational efficiency and growth plan as more customers come online. One of the main challenges service providers face is that typically high efficiency is achieved at full load or full capacity (depending on the design, of course), which is not the case a majority of the time. Proper sizing of equipment, sequencing, phasing and having a solid control system

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PERSPECTIVE

The now steady rise in global temps poses a clear and present danger to public health and economic stability. http://mikebloom. bg/1Gdrn1g

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SNIPPET

Harnessing water from air Pedro Ricardo Paulino, a Brazilian engineer, has invented Waterair, a machine that can produce 5,000 litres of potable water a day. It consists of a system that captures the ambient air, condenses the water molecules and passes them through a special filter and then treats them with UV radiation. The machine stops working when humidity of the air is less than 10%. Though the energy cost to run Waterair is high at present, it opens up a source of water during acute scarcity.

March 2015

will certainly contribute to managing the system efficiency as desired. Yet, such technical aspects are based on load assumptions that are usually provided by those who are in contact with the customers (typically principals and sales team), who have an important responsibility of understanding the customers “real” demands and requirements by working closely with them and by having enough experience to evaluate the expected real load versus contracted load. Thus, it is clear that both business and technical leadership groups within the service provider’s team are expected to work closely together to develop the phased growth plan of a project and demonstrate how such growth will be achieved. They are ultimately expected to provide a “promise” to investors based on their findings and assumptions. In a phased growth plan, modularisation will certainly help soften the initial CAPEX requirements, spread future re-investment and provide a reasonable revenue-to-CAPEX ratio. For example, presenting a business case that requires USD 10 million in capital investment with 200 users connected at the initial phase and a plan to re-invest an additional USD 10 million in three years, when and if the client base reaches 500, sounds more attractive than presenting a business case to invest USD 20 million in capital today, with 200 users connected at the initial phase, with a forecast to secure 300 more users in three years. Of course, it all depends on the investors, cost of capital at the point of investment, risk appetite and many other factors, but certainly USD 10 million CAPEX would

Modularisation

sound more attractive than USD 20 million CAPEX knowing that only 200 out of the forecasted 500 users are confirmed at the initial phase of the project. Modularisation, therefore, will make sense when coupled with prior planning from the service provider’s side, and if implemented properly, will certainly contribute positively to the financial health of the business. On the other hand, improper planning from the service provider’s side will always affect the business negatively, regardless of the construction methodology.

Is a module a product or a solution?

When suppliers and/or contractors offer a true modular solution to a service provider, they are actually offering a “system” and not a “product”. That system is expected to deliver a certain output under certain conditions. Therefore, it is important to understand how risk is being managed in a modular project. I have seen a number of companies that are transitioning from a typical product supplier background to a modular solution systems provider. The main challenge they face, at least internally, is the new contractual liabilities that they have to accept as part of offering a complete system, as against what they are used to, of offering a product within a system. The risks, performance guarantees and penalties and the length of commitment to a project are only few commercial issues that need to be addressed by the modular system supplier. Therefore, District Energy and data centre colocation providers have

to clearly identify who is taking the performance liability of the “packaged” or “pre-assembled” system that arrives on the site. It is typically expected that the modular system supplier is the entity that takes full responsibility of the system performance.

Conclusion

The concept of modularity for District Energy and data centre facilities has been presented and implemented over several years now. I will not indulge in comparing efficiencies, footprint and quality between modular and stick-built designs. I believe designers can excel in both approaches and deliver a great solution, with each having its own pros and cons. The purpose here was to elaborate on why a modular approach might be attractive from a financial perspective. It boils down to a very simple analogy: Would it be reasonable for a university student to take out a loan to buy a minivan today in anticipation of having a family in 10 years or buy a smaller car which he/she can easily afford today and save money for the future upgrade to a minivan? It is not about complicated financial models or investment analysis. It is very simple and straight forward. Modularisation allows for scalable investment, starting with the minimum possible infrastructure required to serve current clients with the capability to expand in the future. In addition, especially in the ICT sector, modularisation allows for the incorporation of newer technologies and advancements in every new phase that is added to the system. 

March 2015

PERSPECTIVE

Akhtar Nazeer Ahmed is Associate Manager – Mechanical, Planning & Design Department Engineering Management, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority

Fresh Air Handling Systems

he green movement globally has focused on Reduce, Reuse and Recover. The HVAC industry has also contributed by creating products and following practices based on these guidelines. This green initiative is essential today, as the sector accounts for 50% of the power consumption in the Middle East region.

a shift of focus in the industry. Moreover, there is continuous encouragement from the Dubai government and Dubai Silicon Oasis higher management for smart cities, green initiatives and innovative smart solutions, which are especially applicable to the Middle East region and climatic conditions. One such system, “FAHU Exhaust air utilisation”, as implemented and tested at Dubai Silicon Oasis, has shown considerable reduction in power consumption. If incorporated during the HVAC initial design stage of a project, it can have a notable energy saving of around six to 10% (Refer to calculations). This is a simple system of reusing the exhaust air from fresh Air Handling Units (FAHUs) by supplying it to AC condensers. For better understanding, a brief description of the conventional FAHU (A.1) as used in Air Conditioning systems and heat rejection

The lesser the surrounding ambient air temperature, the more the efficiency and vice versa

Introduction

The air conditioning cycle is based on recirculation of refrigerant, water and air. The focus in the air conditioning industry has been to “Reduce” the power consumption in each component to achieve best efficiency of the system, as well as to “Recover” energy by introducing new components in the air conditioning system, which in turn increases system efficiency. In the last decade, introduction of new and better control of the components has allowed

March 2015

in conventional DX systems (A.2) have been included.

A. Conventional FAHU and air-cooled systems

A.1. Conventional Fresh Air Handling System (FAHU): The basic function of a FAHU is to supply outside fresh air and maintain Indoor Air Quality. The external fresh air is filtered and cooled using a cooling coil and then supplied to the space. In Dubai, the air entering the cooling coil is at around a temperature of 46.1 DB degree C / 30% RH (at peak), and the air leaving the cooling coil is at a temperature of 21 DB degree C / 70% RH, leading to a certain cooling coil capacity requirement. To increase the efficiency of this system, the exhaust air from kitchens, toilets, and sometimes the AC space itself is used, which is usually at 24 degree C (in some cases as low as 22 degree C). The exhaust air is passed through a heat recovery system in which the heat present in the outside fresh air is partially transferred to the exhaust air (heat from higher temperature air is transferred to the lower temperature air), leading to the air entering the cooling coil temperature to

be around 33 DB degree C / 55% RH. Thus, the energy input required to cool the fresh air is reduced for the same air leaving the cooling coil conditions. The same amount of treated fresh air is supplied as in the earlier case, but with a cooling coil of lower capacity, thereby reducing the running cost of the equipment. The return air which has gained heat from the fresh air is now exhausted into the atmosphere. The air that is exhausted into the surrounding atmosphere is usually at a temperature of 36-39 degree C (In some cases it drops to as low as 32 degree C), which is lower than the ambient temperature of 46.1 degree C. And this cool air is exhausted into the Magazine adv 6 stage.pdf

atmosphere without further recovery. Refer to Figure 1 below, which shows the components

3/4/15

It needs to be noted that the effective utilisation of exhausted air can be carried out only by selecting the right air conditioning equipment and its performance in the region. A.2. Heat rejection in conventional aircooled system: The air conditioning system captures the heat energy from within the AC spaces and rejects it into the environment using air or water as the medium. Due to the limited clean water source and high cost of desalination in the Middle East region, typically, the choice of heat rejection medium

Figure 1 1

and air flow directions of a conventional fresh Air Handling Unit with heat recovery wheel.

6:56 PM

March 2015

PERSPECTIVE

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is air. The lesser the surrounding ambient air temperature, the more the efficiency and vice versa. Heat rejection by air is achieved using outside ambient air and passing it through a finned coil condenser. Condensers are rated in terms of total heat rejection (THR), which is the energy absorbed at the evaporator plus the work input to the compressor. The THR is also the product of the refrigerant mass flow and the enthalpy difference between the refrigerant vapour entering and the refrigerant liquid leaving the condenser coil. Therefore, at high ambient temperature available for condensers, more power will be required by the compressor to raise the refrigerant temperature. Refer to Figure 2 and the charts showing the variation in cooling capacities and power consumption of Ducted Split Unit SADE 30 / SBHC 17 with Figure 3 the varying outdoor temperatures. If the cooling capacity of the above-mentioned model is considered at an ambient temperature of 115 degree F, the cooling capacity of the system would be 25.3 TMBH with 1300 CFM airflow at an on coil temperature of 80.0 DB degree F / 67.0 WB

Greenpeace @Greenpeace

Heat rejection by air is achieved using outside ambient air and passing it through a finned coil condenser

March 2015

Fresh Air Handling Systems

Figure 2

degree F. In order to reject this amount of heat into the atmosphere, the system requires 2.7 kW of electrical power input. Considering the same equipment at an outdoor temperature of 105 degree F, the cooling capacity of the system will be 27.0 TMBH. The net

heat rejection into the atmosphere increases by 6.7%. This increase in heat rejection means an improved cooling performance of the air conditioning equipment. Additionally, the system consumes only 2.5 kW of electrical power, which is 7.4% lower

than the performance at 115 degree F. If the outdoor temperature is 100 degree F, the enhancement in cooling capacity and the reduction in power consumption is around 11%.

B. Effective exhaust air utilisation from the FAHU

As mentioned in A.1, the air that is exhausted into the surrounding atmosphere is usually at a temperature of 36-39 degree C, which is lower than the ambient temperature of 46.1 degree C. This exhaust air can be further utilised by supplying it directly to the aircooled condensing units as mentioned in A.2. The exhaust air gets mixed with the ambient air, leading to air with a temperature of around 38-39 degree C near the condensers, which then passes over the condensing coils. When the condensing coil gets air at a lower temperature than the ambient temperature, the total heat rejection into the atmosphere by the split system increases, thereby increasing the cooling capacity of the split system. At the same time, this phenomenon reduces the power required to achieve the cooling capacity. Figure 3 (opposite page) shows a model demonstration of the proposed system, ie, supplying the exhaust air to the air-cooled condensing units. In addition to this, the system allows selection of FAHU condensing units or chiller at a lower design temperature, if considered at the earlier design stage. The most significant benefits of the proposed

system are its simplicity and almost negligible extra cost. Typically, the FAHU and normal DX condensers are placed together close to each other at the roof, and all that requires to be added is a guiding duct, as indicated in Figure 3, which can lead the comparatively cool exhaust air from the FAHU to DX condensers. Moreover, when a building is not completely occupied or at part load, and the AC temperatures drop to less than design, then the exhaust from the FAHUs are at further lower temperatures, causing excess waste of energy. (We can notice the same on most of the building roofs.) The aboveproposed system can even control the additional wasted energy.

The most significant benefits of the proposed system are its simplicity and almost negligible extra cost

SNIPPET Prefab house gives more than it takes Melbourne serves as the address of Australia’s first prefabricated house touted as having the capacity to produce more energy than it will consume in its lifetime. Its energy-producing potential will, allegedly, be comparable to at least 6,000 trees. The developer behind the project, ArchiBlox, calls it the Carbon Positive House, claiming that the design concept goes beyond carbon zero and allows the structure to make positive contributions to the environment through features that blend sustainability and comfort. Said features include an airtight building envelope for energy efficiency, a green roof – equipped with a solar panel for electricity generation – for enhanced thermal insulation and in-ground cool tubes to support cooling needs. The building materials used are also said to be sustainable and free from formaldehyde and VOC.

Conclusion

The smart city ecosystem, green building regulation and the growing requirement of maintaining Indoor Air Quality makes it imperative for every building to be installed with a fresh air management system. In light of this, the proposed solution is a combination of an effective exhaust recovery system and the use of highefficiency products, which will have an enormous impact on the energy consumption in regions with high temperatures. Clearly, the new “R” has gained preference among energy and waste management experts, who are convinced of the efficacy of incorporating ‘RETHINK’ into the paradigm. 

March 2015

INTERVIEW

F-GAS REGULATION

‘The phase-down will make F-gases extremely scarce’ Hermann Renz, member of the Technical Committee of eurammon, answers three important questions on the challenges of the new F-Gas Regulation, to help offer some clarity to niggling issues that still remain unresolved.

he revised F-Gas Regulation, with its direct and indirect prohibitions, is a major challenge for the refrigeration and air conditioning sector. The tasks that have to be mastered, and the chances these then offer in turn, are explained by eurammon expert Hermann Renz, member of the Technical Committee of eurammon and Technical Programs Manager at Bitzer Kühlmaschinenbau GmbH. The revision of the F-Gas Regulation prescribes which refrigerants will be allowed or prohibited in the future. What does this mean in concrete terms for manufacturers and operators, and where do you see the challenges? The roadmap features a phase-down through to 2030. At first glance, this seems to be a long time, but the branch is already being forced to set

the points in a sustainable direction in the long term. It is also foreseeable that new challenges will emerge in the future. The EU has meanwhile announced a further reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050, which will result in an additional need to act. Does it make sense to convert existing equipment or is it better to invest in a new system that will meet future requirements? Even if existing systems could continue operations through to 2030 when operated with recycled refrigerants, it

often makes commercial sense for wellmaintained systems that are operating efficiently to be converted to refrigerants with a low GWP. However, it has to be ensured that there are no disadvantages in terms of energy efficiency due to the change-over. As far as older equipment is concerned, new investment is recommended here, as this is often far more profitable to operate, thanks to more developed technologies. How does the revised F-Gas Regulation impact the future use of natural refrigerants? In principle, the phase-down will make F-gases extremely scarce, which will be tantamount to an indirect ban in many areas, thus boosting refrigerants with low GWP. But the sheer diversity of refrigeration and air conditioning systems means that it is not possible to define any one universal solution, even for subsectors. One thing is relatively certain, and that is that there will be a clear increase in the number of applications with natural refrigerants and alternative “low GWP” system solutions. However, successful implementation will need sound foundations. This includes, among others, corresponding initial and further training of the professionals involved – which in turn needs experienced trainers, which takes time, as is well known. 

As far as older equipment is concerned, new investment is recommended here, as this is often far more profitable to operate, thanks to more developed technologies

Global campaign backed by star power If celebrities had their way, 2015 would serve as a turning point in global efforts to promote social equality and protect the environment. Personalities ranging from film actors and musicians to philanthropists and human rights activists,

March 2015

through the campaign called ‘action/2015’, are urging world leaders to put their efforts into addressing climate change, injustice and poverty. The campaign, which has the support of over1,000 international organisations, highlights the need for positive outcomes from the two UN summits scheduled to take place later this year. Among those involved in the campaign are Bill Gates, Bono, and the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Malala Yousafzai. The

campaigners are asking leaders to reach ambitious decisions that would: end all forms of poverty; enforce fundamental rights; and hasten transition to 100% renewable energy.

JStone / Shutterstock.com

SNIPPET

REPORT

Natural refrigerants – a mid-term report card

The F-Gas Regulation is spurring the advance of natural refrigerants in Europe, but what about other countries? The lecture event organised by eurammon at the Chillventa gave an insider’s insight. We bring you the report.

he eurammon lecture event held at the Chillventa on October 15, 2014 in Nuremberg, entitled “Natural Refrigerants throughout the World – Country Situation, Applications and Experiences”, illuminated the current situation in various international markets seen through the prism of regulatory frameworks. The following experts show how the use of natural refrigerants is developing in Kazakhstan, the Middle East, Turkey and the United States. It also highlights the increasing significance of natural refrigerants worldwide.

Kazakhstan – initial indication of political will

Kazakhstan still has a long way to go to achieve environmentally friendly standards in refrigeration. Even so, its endorsement of the Kyoto Protocol in 2009 constituted a first important milestone for the Central Asian state when it comes to sustainable technologies. The country now has to implement a national plan to regulate emissions of climatedamaging greenhouse gases. But a lot still remains to be done for

Until legislation is in place to urge the use of ammonia, the cheaper initial costs of adopting conventional refrigeration systems will be seen as an advantage

natural refrigerants, confirmed Yuri Dubodelov from SAKADA Engineering, Almaty. The entire region is suffering from an extreme lack of skilled workers, with scarcely any engineering and development expertise, and there is very little demand for high-performance refrigeration systems that also face strict safety requirements.

The Middle East – cost consideration beats environmental awareness

The situation in the Middle East is much better compared to that in Kazakhstan. Hans Raaymakers, General Manager at ADEAREST, underlined in particular the role played by ammonia in the UAE. There has been widespread use of the natural refrigerant throughout the region since the 1990s,

thanks to the influence of western companies. Many systems are currently being modernised or replaced by new ones, so we expect a continued increase in the spread of ammonia. However, until legislation is in place to urge the use of ammonia, the cheaper initial costs of adopting conventional refrigeration systems will be seen as an advantage.

Turkey – progressive phase-out

For decades now, applications with natural refrigerants have been accepted as part of the industrial standard in Turkey. Around 90% of the systems use ammonia. Only 10% of the systems are operated with fluorinated refrigerants, and this is only for cooling areas smaller than 2,000 m² in

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March 2015

REPORT

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F-GAS REGULATION

size. By contrast, there is still relatively little use of CO2 as a refrigerant. Here, an increasing impetus is coming from multinational companies that are refurbishing systems with high global warming potential (GWP) and high ozone depletion potential (ODP). A highly progressive F-gas phase-out statutory based on the EU regulations will continue to boost the significance of natural refrigerants in the next few years, explained Hüseyin M Yüksel from the Turkish Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Manufacturers´ Association (ISKID) with regard to the current situation.

The United States – throwing the economic switch

President Barack Obama has

March 2015

created the legal framework for phasing out F-gases with high ODP and GWP, reported Dave Rule, President of the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR) from the United States. In the medium term, the industry expects to see a corresponding shortage, which will make environmentally harmful refrigerants more expensive. It is, therefore, currently searching for efficient alternatives that are also viable in terms of costs. Altogether, the United States reveals a comprehensive, cross-application trend towards natural refrigerants, starting from large refrigerated warehouses via smaller commercial applications through to air conditioning systems. To forge ahead with this transformation with the greatest possible efficiency, new

partnerships are emerging, where representatives from the industrial and political sectors are collaborating closely with end-users.

Large and small steps in the right direction

Natural refrigerants are currently becoming increasingly significant on a worldwide scale. Various legal, economic, ecological, infrastructural and political factors influence the spread of environmentally friendly refrigerants, such as ammonia or CO2. The EU and major industrial countries, like the United States or Turkey, are driving these developments and acting as a source of inspiration, setting standards that are increasingly being taken as guidelines by countries in other regions. 

March 2015

Dan Mizesko has been in the industry for over 38 years as a certified factory- and industry-trained centrifugal chiller engineer. He is with US Chiller Services and can be contacted at dan@uschillerservices.com

Much-needed relief!

PART 1

Taking a close look at the benefits of Condenser Relief on centrifugal chillers

ne of the biggest opportunities for energy savings and, in fact, proper operational procedures for protecting the reliability of centrifugal chillers that is overlooked in the GCC region, is Condenser Relief. I would like to explain Condenser Relief and try to get you to embrace and employ this method of control on the chillers that you are responsible for operating and maintaining. As a building or equipment owner who has centrifugal chillers installed at his facility you should demand that this method of control is utilised in your facilities by whoever is responsible for operating your equipment. To miss out on utilising Condenser Relief is to waste enormous amounts of energy and not provide proper protection for your chillers. To understand Condenser Relief and its benefits, you must first fully understand what Compressor Lift and Compressor Surge is, as well as how critical it is to keep a centrifugal chiller compressor within its Lift Range and keep the compressor out of a Surge or Stall condition. • LIFT: It is the temperature

March 2015

6. Impeller damage 7. IGV/PRV damage 8. Compressor catastrophic failure

What happens before and during surge?

difference between saturated cooler temperature and saturated discharge temperature

In some cases, Surge is preceded by unsteady pulsation and vibrations due to Stall

Generally, the Lift of a centrifugal chiller is between 65 degree F and 70 degree F, as shown in the chart below. However, I urge you to always consult the design spec sheets for your chiller’s exact Lift. If the Lift is not provided, you can easily calculate it.

In other cases, there are no vibrations, pulsation or warnings and Surge occurs suddenly

Saturated Condensing Temp (F) Minus Saturated Cooler Temp (F) = Lift

Surge is a complete collapse of compressor flow and results in gas travelling backwards through a forward spinning impeller

110° +11.5%

Condensing temperature

105° -11% 100°

NORMAL LIFT

Surge is energetic and can cause damage to thrust bearings, seals, impellers, etc. A flow re-circulation occurs at the impeller inlet as identified by previous GMRC research

40° -11% 35° +10%

Suction temperature

30°

• Surge: It is defined as a momentary reversal of gas flow caused by the inability of the compressor to make the required “lift” for the available load. Surge must be avoided at all costs in a centrifugal chiller.

Why so? Well, here are the consequences of Surge… 1. Strong gas pulsation 2. Important intensity variation 3. Thrust bearing and counterthrust bearing wear and damage 4. H.S. shaft damage 5. Labby seal damage

I will now explain what can cause low-side and high-side Surge. It is very important that you fully understand this, as it will tie directly into Condenser Relief. Low-suction pressure Surge is characterised by: 1. Low refrigerant level a. Low charge

b. MD restriction 2. Low chilled water flow a. By-pass division plates b. Blocked tubes c. Air in water lines d. Dirty strainer e. Pump/valves 3. Carryover a. Excessive oil in refrigerant 4. Load Changes a. Hot gas by-pass malfunction b. Agitator valve malfunction c. Rapidly changing load High head pressure surge is characterised by: 1. Air in machine 2. High entering water temperature

Failed impeller due to Surge

a. Low water flow 1. By-pass division plate 2. Blocked tubes 3. Air in water lines 4. Dirty strainer 5. Pump/valves b. Poor tower operation 1. Improperly controlled fan

2. By-pass water/air 3. Strainer plugged 4. Fan pitch 3. Dirty or scaled tubes 4. Wrong refrigerant charged I urge you to fully understand the definition of Lift as well as Surge and what can cause Surge. It will all directly tie into

next monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s installment, where I will fully explain Condenser Relief, its substantial energy-saving potential and the need to implement it to fully protect your chillers from Surge and its enormous potential for compressor damage. ď ś

March 2015

COUNTRY REPORT

ITALY

Rome

rises to the challenge There is no denying Italyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s powerhouse status as a manufacturing hub of HVACR equipment. Buffeted by the economic downturn, the southern European nation staggered but managed to stay on its feet. Today, it is banking on technological innovation to regain its robustness. By Rajiv Pillai, Features Writer

March 2015

taly is one of the largest AC markets in Europe and it is estimated that it alone accounts for 25% of the total cooled floor area in the EU. The market of room air conditioners (RACs) has boomed after 2000, with average sales of more than one million units per year. Antonio Cianci, CEO of Advanced Materials GmbH/SRL, says: “A total of 42 Italian companies are involved in the HVAC market – a number that puts Italy as the fourth in Europe after only Britain, Germany and Denmark. Commercial establishments in Italy are the highest growing sector for air conditioners, with about 50% of the cooling demand taken over by chillers. Italy can be considered as the European leader for the air conditioning market when it comes to turnover and sales of equipment, especially in the non-residential sector; this positions it way ahead of Spain, France, UK, Germany and Poland. Says Cianci: “Despite a reduction of about two per cent in 2013, the volume of sales and revenues for the national systems for air conditioning in the non-residential sector corresponds to approximately 28.2% of the total, compared with 23% in Spain, 18% in France, 13.8% in the UK and 10.3% in Germany.”

It reported declines across various sectors of the industry, including multi-split, VRF, mini VRF, centralised units, fan coils and refrigerants.

Market penetration

Despite declines, there are huge changes in the HVAC industries. Several HVAC manufacturers are adopting different strategies and innovative methods in order to improve their market penetration. Says Cianci: “In the light of economic, technological and cultural changes of recent years, the increase in the HVAC sector seems to be supported by the decrease in prices of such equipment (due to increased global competition), by technical innovations in the field and by greater sensitivity to issues such as energy-saving and environmental impact of global population. Companies should also be able to offer complete technology solutions to support their introduction in the market, as more and more HVAC systems are

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The majority of heating and cooling requirements are in the urban areas, where three quarters of European citizens live. In recent years, the number of hot summer days, especially in those regions with a usually moderate climate (Austria, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, France, UK, etc.), has been increasing; consequently, this has led to a growing demand for systems with cooling load features. In the Italian residential sector, the most commonly adopted air conditioning systems are room air conditioners and split units. Even though a clear segmentation of the sector is not available, the Italian Association of Manufacturers of Air Conditioning and Ventilation Equipment Co.Aer (2006) (now renamed to ASSOCLIMA) reported that the market is dominated by mono-split conditioners in the range below 7 kW cooling power. This type of system alone covers nearly 75% of the stock. Large split and multi-split systems account for nearly 15%, the remaining 10% being covered by small capacity room air conditioners. However, in 2012, Co.Aer revealed that the HVACR industry had a negative turnover.

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March 2015

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COUNTRY REPORT

Antonio

Prakash

Cianci

Chablan

an Joe Cheri

ITALY

offered and sold as integrated systems that include alarm systems, lighting, extraction, humidification and a general air quality control. It appears that some manufacturers are offering solar-powered air conditioning systems, even if the costs of such systems cannot be recovered in the short term.” Further adding to the culture of R&D and innovation in the HVAC sector, Cianci says, “The HVAC industry is under pressure to design more effective equipment at a faster rate. Improvements that address noise reduction, energy efficiency, ecofriendly design and reliability are essential for HVAC manufacturers trying to get ahead of the competition. The HVAC industry is seeing innovation in fields such as air conditioner equipment, building systems integration and building automation and energy management. Other changes include integration of the various systems present in a building (HVAC, security, fire alarms, communications, internet, etc.), which helps save construction costs and allows efficient facilities management. Also, control systems are adopting cloud-computing strategies to offer flexible and accessible monitoring and operations of buildings.” Prakash Chablani, the Managing Director of Unigulf, adds, “The culture of innovation goes towards more compact units, and quieter and energy-efficient machines.”

The UAE and the other Gulf states need to be wary of allowing themselves to be turned into a dumping ground for unregulated or even defective goods

Drivers of growth

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March 2015

newer systems are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. That is the reason the shift to newer systems is making the market rise. However, there is an ongoing debate raging in the European HVAC community about the burden regulations have placed on the manufacturers of cooling and heating equipment. They have to deal with the various demands of building regulations, emissions controls and energy-efficiency goals, which all require various degrees of compliance. The HVAC industry has been bombarded with legislation, from safety standards to performance criteria, to rules on equipment disposal. Says Cianci: “HVAC equipment is switched out for new high-efficiency models. The European Union strongly supports energy efficiency. The Directive 2012/31 on the energy performance of buildings is to promote innovation and energy efficiency through incentives. Changing regulations regarding refrigerants are also affecting HVAC equipment sales and the cooling equipment product mix.” Compliance comes at a cost, an investment both in money and time. If compliance with the regulations is not enforced, then there exists a problem that those who cut corners are actually able to gain an advantage. They would look elsewhere, with the GCC state collectively posing as a lucrative market. This leads to the necessity for vigilance on the Gulf shores – the UAE and the other Gulf states need to be wary of allowing themselves to be turned into a dumping ground for unregulated or even defective goods.

The growth of the HVAC industry is directly tied in with the construction market. Cianci implies: “Positive signs in the construction market indicate the HVAC sector’s burgeoning return to strength. As more residential and commercial buildings are built, demand for HVAC systems will increase. In addition, national standards for energy efficiency and a growing trend toward lowering household and business energy use are projected to encourage home and building owners to upgrade to more efficient systems.”

Dodging dogmas

The global market for HVAC systems has been down due to the economic crisis, and the market has shifted paradigms in recent years. The old systems were basic analoguebased electrical systems, and they still make up the majority of the installed systems. The

The Italian Connection

In addition to an ethical approach, Italian manufacturers, broadly speaking, are riding on a core ethos of excellence in their bid to strengthen their business relations in the GCC region. Says Cianci: “Their (the manufacturers’) expectations are very high, because the UAE market is always changing and the construction sector, linked to HVAC market, is dynamic, and it pays attention to environment issues. Their experiences, technology and innovation

can be decisive factors to let them to enter in this market or to develop new opportunities.” Also, in order to stay ahead of the game, the manufacturers are offering on-going support to address the needs of the people in the Middle East. Says Chablani: “Operations, maintenance, back up and support are obvious services given by local representatives or sales organisations. This requires an effort that is well known to global exporters, like most of the Italian companies, so it is not an issue. The biggest effort is to change the mentality towards high-end products that is now beginning to be

understood in the Middle East, but it will take time and hopefully will happen gradually.” Joe Cherian, Managing Director of RACI India, a subsidiary of RACI srl, Italy, says, “Over the years, everyone has understood the benefits and significant savings in operating a central chilled water system. During the last decade, we have seen new companies evolve and expand to other GCC countries”. RACI is currently focusing on the GCC market and sees potential growth for their District Cooling valves, accessories and pipeline product business in the UAE.

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

March 2015

FEATURE

CONTROLS

nergy g e e c u red mon a y l l t a n c i e t s m an dra of engage c s m e k c a. st trol sy ut due to la to the ide n o c r t cleve ironments, b slow to warm a h t e s agre been lt-env Expert ption in bui market has consum rs, the GCC ditor E e s t u n a t end , Assis a n r e de la C a m i t a By F

March 2015

IN A Nutshell Many buildings, marquee or otherwise, in the region are not automated, despite having a BMS. The status quo prevails… in many instances, automation systems have been installed, only to adhere to regulations, but are not connected. Often-times, building owners buy cheap products they don’t intend to use to get a check mark on certification requirements. Contractors have a potential role to play in educating clients on the value of controls. The industry ought to focus on promoting active humidity controls. In a typical room in buildings in the region, the thermostat is present, but the humidity control is missing.

n Dubai, a five-star hotel inaugurated only last year has a dedicated – for lack of a better term – meter reader, i.e., an employee who is responsible for inspecting all of its 12 meters and noting down on a piece of paper the amount reflected on each. He does this twice a day, taking two hours each time. That means four hours of his workday and 20 (more if he works six days a week) of his workweek are solely devoted to the task of writing down some numbers. Extrapolated to a year, that would translate to almost a thousand hours. The above is not a fabricated scenario, clarifies Henrique Pereira, Managing Director of SEABRA Middle East, who believes the employee’s time could be put to better use if the hotel would only install a clever building management system (BMS), one that integrates all HVAC systems into a single platform and, thus, allows management to see the whole picture, of which meter readings make up only a small part. “If only,” muses Pereira,

sharing that the hotel story he mentioned is, unfortunately, not only true but also just one of the many representative scenarios of the current “level of reality” in the UAE and the rest of the GCC region.

First impressions

Talking about his first time in Dubai, Pereira admits to being astounded by what he saw. “Seeing all those beautiful buildings, I was so sure that everything must be automated. I was very surprised to discover that I was wrong.” He recalls his initial meetings with facilities managers, saying, “I’d ask them if they had a BMS installed, and they’d say ‘no’. Other times, I’d get a ‘yes’ but then be told that they weren’t using it. There were also some who claimed that they were using their BMS, but when I asked them to show me, they couldn’t even remember the password. The only reason they have BMS is because regulations require their installation. They don’t care about using them. They just buy cheap products they

A complicated BMS will only frustrate users, who will then decide to just bypass controls altogether don’t intend to use to get a check mark on certification requirements.” Bakhtiar H Wain, CEO of Avanceon, has an explanation for why this is the case. “There is no question that the regulations are there. We can see that governments in the Middle East are working towards sustainability,” he says. “But governments can only do so much. Certifications are important, of course, but people must genuinely believe in the need to be green; they need

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March 2015

FEATURE

CONTROLS

When it comes to IEQ, everyone associates controls with thermal comfort, but controls add to CO2 monitoring systems, thereby also affecting occupant health.” – Sanjiv Sachdeva, Managing Director of Gulf Engineering System Solutions

Installing a complex BMS that the client doesn’t know how to use is like giving a car to someone who can’t drive. Imagine that person in a parking lot, just sitting inside the car the whole day, unable to go anywhere.” – Henrique Pereira, Managing Director of SEABRA Middle East

It’s possible for controls not to offer energy optimisation benefits, but energy optimisation cannot happen without controls. Automation is mandatory – a prerequisite to achieve efficiency.” – Bakhtiar H Wain, CEO of Avanceon

to have that mind-set, because efficiency is an end-user-driven industry.” Wain, expanding on this last point, names contractors as an example. “Ideally, contractors should educate their clients on the need for energy-saving control systems, but their primary objective is to meet the specs identified and to deliver the project on time so they can move on to the next one. They can, perhaps, ask the clients if they want to be educated on what their options are, but if the end-users are not engaged or interested, there’s not much the contractors can do.”

Keeping up with the times Drawing upon his exposure to the industry, Pereira observes that what GCC countries have in common is how their buildings tend to be equipped with only the very basic of controls. “I’ve worked with

March 2015

hotels that are only a decade old, making them fairly new, but they face a lot of challenges. They cannot reach desired temperature levels or they have to change equipment often,” he says. “This is because even though scenarios are different now – sources of cooling have changed, staff size has changed – the equipment behaves the same.” Sanjiv Sachdeva, Managing Director of Gulf Engineering System Solutions, echoes this observation. “Buildings here are more fan coil units, or room units as we call them, and most use technology that is 10 to 15 years old,” he says. This lamentable state, he adds, can be improved if consultants are up to date on current trends. “It is even more important today to keep consultants informed, because controls is one field that is changing very fast. They need to know what new technology is available out there, so they can make the right specifications.” Manufacturers, explains Sachdeva, are consultants’ source of new information, so

By introducing automation, customers can expect 10 to 20% reduced energy consumption, and 95% will enjoy payback in less than two years interaction between the two is important and in everybody’s best interest. “Consultants learn in university and in the seminars they attend, but in the real world, interaction is necessary. It brings technology forward and trends into focus.”

On the bright side

Not all is doom and gloom, however. As per Sachdeva’s rough estimation, the size of the GCC controls market – commercial and industrial

combined – for 2014 reached USD 25 billion, with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar contributing USD 6 billion, USD 5.25 billion and USD 3.75 billion respectively. And he is expecting those figures to increase this year. “It’s still early in 2015, but so far, the HVAC industry has been upbeat, enjoying 25% growth compared to the same period last year. At the end of this year, I’m projecting a 15% increase in market size for the whole industry, since more projects are in the construction phase,” says Sachdeva. He adds that with policy-makers expressing more support for green building, new development projects will mean more awareness of, and interest in, controls and automation. “Even now, people are already making smart choices,” he says. “Most are choosing products with BACnet protocol, since old products are difficult to integrate. The market is also showing a preference for EVL (Ethernet Virtual Loop) platforms to control and monitor services, and for systems that come with freely programmable functions and are easy to operate.” The latter is especially important, he stresses. According to him, a complicated BMS will only frustrate users, who will then decide to just bypass controls altogether. “Control systems must be user-friendly. They should be designed in such a way that they are less technical for the end-users. Leave the technicality to the engineers and the installation team.”

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FEATURE

CONTROLS

Thinking out loud

Reflecting on the region’s controls industry, John Cameron, Manager (Middle East) at Sontay, shares with Climate Control Middle East his thoughts on...

Building health in the GCC In many cases, only simple air conditioning is implemented. There is often little fresh air, or it is not being controlled correctly or the use of fresh air control is not understood by building operators. This ends up causing dampness or, in severe conditions, mould. I recently visited a building and looked at their BMS. I immediately found out that they were supplying fresh air into the building at 24°C and the RH was over 80%. This was introducing high moisture content into the building, which would eventually have caused issues with the building fabric.

How the GCC compares to other regions I’ve been in the Middle East for 33 years, and I think our BMS industry is well behind those of Europe and North America. There has been very slow uptake of some of the newer technologies. Also, in those regions, projects with BMS don’t just stop at the installation stage because systems have to be used and maintained to enjoy savings. Here, an installed BMS usually becomes a mere monitoring system or, worse, ends up in a corner, gathering dust.

Market behaviour and how it must change We went through a phase of ‘build it [at] low cost and worry about energy costs later’. Now, many building owners are shocked at the actual running costs of a building and looking to make savings as energy prices rise. Unfortunately, the market here has been very price driven and project specifications are not updated with the latest energy-saving technology and options. With the use of advanced cost modelling and some real thought on the materials and design, large sums in energy could be saved, even with the use of currently installed plants. Also, I think everything comes down to the final engineering of each system and to the engineers themselves. They must be encouraged to implement the systems in line with the projects’ real needs and to monitor the whole plant, so it offers the best comfort and energy solutions. Put more engineering into the projects in the early planning stages and it will pay major dividends in the long run.

March 2015

Other features that are attracting the attention of the market are remote access and energy-saving and energymonitoring capabilities, adds Sachdeva. “Owners of hotels and store chains, for instance, are realising the benefits and importance of being able to check what’s happening in their buildings even while they’re away. They want to be able to compare the energy usage of their properties and determine the cause behind any discrepancy.” Sachdeva also suggests that the industry focus on promoting active humidity controls. “When you go into a room, you’ll normally see a thermostat to control temperature, but humidity control is missing,” he says. “It’s a prevailing misconception that you can control humidity by controlling temperature. You can’t. We must change our controls strategy to address active humidity, which is just as, if not more, important as temperature to indoor environmental quality because it encourages microbial growth.” For his part, Wain is convinced that the industry should take a closer look at what he believes is the next big thing in controls. “IoT, or the Internet of Things, is becoming quite a buzzword. Personally, I am very excited about it. It’s going to shape the future of controls. We talk about BACnet and all those other protocols, and they’re great, but who’s to say if they’ll still be of value in the next three or four years? Maybe with IoT, there will no longer be a need for them.”

While he admits that, at present, buildings in the GCC can’t be described as healthy and efficient in general, the region has seen numerous improvements. “Efficiency was not a pressing concern before, but it is becoming one now and not only because of its relation to the environment. For the business owner, efficiency through controls means a decrease in utilities costs. The benefit goes directly to the bottom-line.” Not many things, Pereira elaborates, offer the same promise of immediate results. “Controls can give you fast ROI (return on investment). They are dramatically effective. By introducing automation, customers can expect 10 to 20% reduced energy consumption, and 95% will enjoy payback in less than two years.” Bringing those numbers to the attention of the customers, says Pereira, should be a priority among those in the sector. “Our role is not to convince them but to demonstrate to them why they should install controls in their buildings. It’s not about putting on presentations but giving them concrete data that can be audited later. What we do is not marketing but engineering, and engineering is about estimating and giving figures. It is about getting the solution to fit the problem and not the other way around.” Engineering, Pereira says, means being able to say to the customer: “I am not telling you to go for this solution. The numbers are telling you to go for it.”

Efficiency is business Pereira, like Sachdeva, holds a positive view about what is in store for the controls market. “The future is looking up,” he says. “The size will dramatically increase in the next four to five years with companies now beginning to introduce efficiency, comfort and automation.”

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

March 2015

REGIONAL

Empower connects Emirates Towers to its DC system Claims the 6,000 TR project will result in energy savings of approximately 80%

Philip Lange / Shutterstock.com

ubai, UAE-headquartered District Cooling provider, Empower has announced it has connected its services to the Emirates Towers development in Dubai. The development consists of the Emirates Office Tower and Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, which are connected to a twostorey retail complex known as “The Boulevard”. The two towers, which rise to 355 metres and 309 metres, respectively, are in the list of the tallest buildings in the world. Empower converted the existing air cooled system to District Cooling system for a total capacity of 6,000 tonnes of refrigeration (TR), which according to the company, will result in energy savings of approximately 80% for the Jumeirah Group-owned property. “Building a green economy for sustainable development is a key pillar in the country’s roadmap to development under Vision 2021, and we are fully committed to achieving this goal,” said Ahmad Bin Shafar, the Chief Executive Officer of Empower. “Our partnership with the Jumeirah Group is a key milestone, as it marks the convergence of the real estate, hospitality and utilities sectors in creating projects that are sustainable and environmentally responsible. The conversion from traditional cooling to District

March 2015

Cooling for this capacity is the first of its kind in Dubai and has set the benchmark for other developments utilising traditional systems of cooling.” According to Empower, the new cooling system in the Emirates Towers will utilise 0.90 kW of electricity for every tonne per hour, compared to the property’s conventional cooling system, which required 1.7 kW of energy every hour. Construction work for the Emirates Towers District Cooling infrastructure included connecting the property to Empower’s existing District Cooling plant, which serves Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a task that proved to be extremely challenging but interesting, Bin Shafar said. “Empower’s District Cooling plant serving DIFC is across the street from the Emirates Towers, and connection to Emirates Towers included building a network using advanced Non Destructive Road Crossing (NDRC) technology through micro-tunnelling, in order to ensure that disturbance is avoided for traffic or commuters on one of the busiest roads in this area,” Bin Shafar said. The Emirates Towers retrofit is the first phase of a 30,000 TR project that includes the renovation of cooling systems of retail, residential and commercial Jumeirah Group properties that includes Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management and Madinat Jumeirah.

Empower announces net profit of AED 410 million District Cooling company says its 2014 revenues reached AED 1.50 billion

ubai, UAE-headquartered Empower has announced that its 2014 net profit reached AED 410 million, for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014. The figure demonstrates 65% growth year on year (YoY) from 2013, the company said. Total revenues for the year reached AED 1.50 billion, a 76% increase YoY, the company added. “2014 represented a significant year in Empower’s growth story, showing impressive results in both quantity and quality of our work,” said Ahmad Bin Shafar, Chief Executive Officer, Empower. “In the last year, we have undertaken an ambitious development strategy to improve our infrastructure, reasserting our commitment to provide world-class District Cooling services. “The vision of our leaders, under His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has contributed to our success year after year over the last decade. It is their support that has primed this country to build not only businesses but sustainable businesses.” Revenue growth for the company includes the first full year of operations following the acquisition of Palm District Cooling (PDC), a Dubai-based entity that Empower acquired in Q4, 2013. “Following the acquisition of Palm District Cooling, we have grown into a company that holds the largest District Cooling portfolio in the world,” Bin Shafar said. “This has resulted in the growth of our projects, capacity, assets and customers. Our company is providing services to many prestigious projects, and in the last 12 months, we have added more unique and world-class projects to our portfolio.” Notable new projects signed by Empower last year include an AED 750 million agreement with TECOM Investments’ to provide Dubai Design District (d3) with 120,000 TR of District Cooling services, signifying a 12% capacity addition to Empower’s network. They

also include a retrofitting agreement with Jumeirah Group, whereby Empower will convert the systems of iconic properties like Emirates Towers (already executed; see related story, opposite page), BurjAl Arab, Jumeirah Beach Hotel and the Madinat Jumeirah to District Cooling. During 2014, Empower also completed its second plant in the Business Bay Project, which according to Empower, is the region’s first District Cooling facility of its size built as per the green building principles. The company claimed it continues generating healthy earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) and has, accordingly, re-paid loans amounting to AED 350 million during the year. “We have also declared dividends to our shareholders for the second consecutive year, which demonstrates the robustness and the strength of our business model and our financing strategy,” Bin Shafar said. “The dividend payment this year amounts to AED 250 million.”

Argonaut to organise seminar on climate control solutions

Company says it will also announce an important partnership

he engineering solutions provider, Argonaut has announced that it will hold a seminar on March 9 in Dubai, under the theme, ‘Bridging to the Future of Reliability’. The seminar will cover three aspects, said Imran Ali, General Manager of the company. They include a presentation of climate control solutions, targeted primarily at the cooling sector of the HVACR industry; the launch of the new chiller technology, Turbocor; and the announcement of the company’s partnership with Saudi Arabiaheadquartered Zamil Air Conditioners. Ali said Argonaut is anticipating an attendance of 100 to 150 key HVACR players, including master developers, MEP contractors and consultants. Representatives from sectors with significant cooling requirements, such as events, Ali said, are also expected to be present at the seminar.

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March 2015

REGIONAL

The Big 5 Saudi to celebrate major milestone This year’s show will mark the fifth anniversary of the event

nder the royal patronage of Prince Mansour bin Mutaib bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, The Big 5 Saudi International Building and Construction Show is set to celebrate its fifth anniversary this March, from the 9th to the 12th, at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events. The show’s organiser, dmg events, describes the occasion as a major milestone for the construction event that has

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reportedly witnessed substantial growth every year since its inauguration in 2011. According to the event announcement, from its inception to 2014, the show’s exhibitors went from 300 to more than 540 and the number of visitors increased by 52%, climbing from 9,000 to nearly 16,000. The overall space, meanwhile, is anticipated to grow from 7,000 square metres in 2011 to 20,000 square metres this year. The success the event has enjoyed in its five years is not unexpected, since construction plays a key role in Saudi Arabia’s overall economic development. The sector has modernised the Kingdom and provided a platform for house building, employment opportunities for Saudi nationals and growth potential for local businesses, the announcement claims. It also reveals that an estimated USD 75 billion worth of construction projects were awarded in 2014 alone and around USD 200 billion will be awarded over the next couple of years. “The construction industry is a crucial pillar of Saudi Arabia’s growing economy,” says Nathan Waugh, Event Director for The Big 5 Saudi. “It is widely acknowledged that well-managed and successfully delivered construction projects can improve the delivery of public and private services. But it needs a strong foundation, which is why The Big 5 Saudi has gone from strength to strength. It brings together decision-makers, procurement managers, international visitors and large companies for four days, providing them with the opportunity to network and see firsthand what new products are on the market.” Rajhi Steel, a sponsor of the event, can attest to the show’s value, saying: “The exhibition has exceeded our expectations. We have been able to demonstrate an expansion of our image as a direct result of our participation.” For this year’s show, dmg events is expecting to receive 16,000 visitors as well as 560 exhibitors and to see more multi-million dollar deals signed. The organiser is also keen to make it known that the event, in addition to showcasing products designed to help deliver a sustainable future, will highlight education as part of the show’s core agenda. As stated in the announcement, visitors can benefit from seminars and workshops covering various areas, such as asset maintenance, project management, market overview and the LEED rating system.

or the year 2013, the global market size for variable speed drives (VSDs) was USD 839.4 million. This figure, the author of a market intelligence report published by BSRIA has predicted, could increase by 28.8% and reach USD 1081.2 million by 2018, as a result of relevant legislation and more widespread awareness of the need for energy efficiency. In the Middle East and Africa, however, interest in VSDs is not as evident, Gambi Chiang, the author, has said. Chiang is Senior Manager for Special Projects at BSRIA. According to the report, in terms of VSD sales for HVACR application, fewer than 60,000 units are sold per year, which translates to around USD 33 million in annual sales and an annual growth rate of 5.6% — small numbers considering how big the HVACR industry in the region is. If current behaviour continues, the report has forecasted that the market size of the region in 2018 would only be USD 44 million. By comparison, Europe, the largest market for 2013, saw its sales hit USD 304.2 million and is expected to see that number grow to USD 390 million by 2018. In the report, Chiang has cited the Middle East’s and Africa’s high ambient temperatures as a factor affecting the implementation of drives and has observed that “standard VSD global market products may, in fact, not size for 2013 be suitable for the specific environment”. In her report, Chiang has said that though the Middle East and Africa are lagging behind, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and South Africa are showing considerable concern for efficiencyrelated issues. Chiang has expressed optimism about the sector’s future in the region. During an exclusive telephone conversation with Climate Control Middle East, she said that while VSD penetration was lowest in the Middle East and in Africa, the region should not be dismissed. “The market is not huge there at the moment,” she said, “but the region’s sizeable HVACR industry gives it a lot of potential.” Other than industry size, Chiang said during the interview, she had identified new development projects as another possible growth driver. “Opportunities,” she said, “can be found in the niche new high-end developments that aim for Green Building certificates, such as the LEED Certification or the Pearl Rating System.”

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March 2015

REGIONAL NEWS BRIEF Mostra in Saudi Arabia Will run in Riyadh in Q4 this year The Mostra Convegno Expocomfort (MCE) brand, which is exclusively associated with Italy as the host country, will take place in the Kingdom from November 30 to December 2. Called MCE Saudi, it will be held at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center. MCE Saudi is being organised by Reed Sunaidi Exhibitions, a joint-venture of Reed Exhibitions Group with a long-term presence in the country. According to the organisers, it is a unique opportunity for all the companies exhibiting at MCE to showcase their best-inclass products to a market where the demand trend is expected to grow, particularly for the construction sector. The sector is one of the driving forces of Saudi Arabia’s economy, which is focusing on launching largescale projects to build new “economic cities”.

Testing protocols in high-rises give VRFs global boost Testing facilities will become available in the Middle East, as and when there is local manufacturing of VRF systems, says industry veteran By Rajiv Pillai

Dubai school aims for LEED Gold Ladybird to build region’s first dedicated LEED Gold certified early years learning facility

Dubai’s Ladybird Nursery has announced it will be gunning for LEED Gold in its ongoing efforts to build its Early Learning Centre in Jumeirah Village Circle in Dubai. The Centre will cater to children ranging from the ages of four months to five years. “We want to build a facility that will be every child’s dream,” Monica Valrani, CEO of Ladybird Nurseries in Dubai, said. “This is a facility that will not only enhance a child’s learning experience but also positively impact the health of our children and staff. At the end of the day, it’s all about our children.” Valrani was extremely thankful to the Dubai authorities. “I would like to thank the KHDA, Nakheel and Trakhees for all the cooperation they have extended to us in making this project a reality. Without them, this would not have been possible,” she said. The USD10 million facility, being designed by Godwin Austin Johnson and to be constructed by Al Shafar Contracting, Valrani said, is set to change the Early Years education landscape in Dubai.

March 2015

RF systems are being adopted worldwide in large-sized buildings, as well, with the support of efforts being taken to verify their performance in high-rises under various temperature conditions. VRF system manufacturers in China, Japan, Korea and the United States have constructed environmental testing rooms and high-rise test towers that are able to accommodate maximum refrigerant piping height difference. The Middle East does not have similar testing regimens yet, but there is scope for them as a logical next step to local manufacturing. This is according to Moan Abraham, General Manager, Air Conditioners MENA, Hisense Middle East. “There is no manufacturing of VRF systems in the Middle East,” Abraham says. “Where there is manufacturing space, there is laboratory testing space. That’s why it is more common in Asian countries. In that aspect, VRF is still not a matured product in the Middle East.” Abraham cites the availability of regional lab capacities for room air conditioners, split air conditioners, commercial package units and chillers. Given the precedent, he is quite optimistic that such testing facilities will be available in the Middle East for VRFs, once manufacturing kicks in. Moan believes that VRF systems are the future and that they can satisfy all our demands. He is of the opinion that regional governments should take the initiative of building local capabilities for testing VRF systems.

Cavotec wins Abu Dhabi, Muscat airport orders Company will be installing its sub-freezing DX-boost pre-conditioned air technology for cooling aircraft

lobal engineering group, Cavotec, has been awarded breakthrough orders for its sub-freezing DX-Boost pre-conditioned air (PCA) technology for cooling aircraft at the Presidential Flight Hangar at Abu Dhabi International Airport and at the Oman Air MRO facility at Muscat International Airport, the company said. The first order is a turnkey contract to supply specialised

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March 2015

REGIONAL

HVAC 360: Connecting the dots... raising the bar For its eighth outing, The Climate Control Conference returns to Dubai with a new communication approach

ith the Dubai Expo 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup just five and seven years away, respectively, it is inevitable that various construction and HVAC activities will either start in earnest or

ASJC to diversify economy through new facility in KAEC Industrial Valley Expects new factory and training centre, once finished, to create hundreds of employment opportunities

joint venture between Al Salem Group of Companies and Johnson Controls, Al Salem Johnson Controls (ASJC) has announced that it has begun work on its new manufacturing facility and training centre. With the foundation stone already laid at King Abdullah Economic City’s (KAEC’s) Industrial Valley, the chosen location for the plant, the company expects the initial developmental phase to begin immediately and for the project to be completed by 2017. With the new plant, ASJC regards itself as the first industrial company offering integrated HVAC solutions to establish its industrial facility and training centre in KAEC, a move, it says, is in line with its goal of enhancing its presence in the Kingdom. “Throughout our long association with the Middle East, our focus has always remained on contributing to the growth of the region,” says Claude Allain, Vice

March 2015

gather pace. And Saudi Arabia, with a population nudging towards 30 million, and with an inexorable march towards doubling that in the foreseeable future, is seemingly always in need of more housing and other socio-economic development projects. With the two mega-events looming larger than ever before, and with Saudi Arabia part of the overall mosaic, CPI Industry, the publisher of Climate Control Middle East magazine, is keen to unearth answers to numerous questions, and to their several sub-questions, through The Climate Control Conference with its overarching theme: HVAC 360: Connecting the dots...raising the bar. Scheduled to take place on the 15th and the 16th of June in Dubai, the eighth edition of the conference

President and General Manager (Middle East) for Johnson Controls and Executive Board Member of ASJC. He goes on to share that he believes the company’s decision to invest in the KAEC will “bring Johnson Controls’ state-of-the-art manufacturing and HVAC technology to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”. For his part, Mohanad Alshaikh, ASJC CEO, is confident that the project will prove favourable for everyone concerned. “The Kingdom... offers one of the most vibrant and promising economies in the region and our focus on innovation, energy efficiency and stringent quality control will enable our customers to benefit from higher energy and operational savings while conserving the environment,” he says. This focus on energy savings and concern for the environment will be reflected on the design itself of the plant, claims the company, revealing that the facility “has been designed to produce integrated solutions that increase efficiency and operational savings”. Saudi nationals are also set to benefit from the new facility. “When fully operational, this new factory will facilitate 1,000 employment opportunities, creating a growthoriented environment that’s more efficient, more intelligent and more connected for our customer,” says Mohanad.

has been designed in a manner as to provide a stage for an innovative communication approach, aimed at arriving at qualitative answers, insights and recommendations, which can be applied while taking critical projectrelated decisions. The two-day event will be the most comprehensive ever on the HVAC industry and will see participants addressing a grand total of 82 topics. The audience will comprise government officials involved in policy-making, planning, regulation and enforcement, quasi-government bodies, utilities, master-developers and developers, building owners and end-users, consultants, contractors, manufacturers, suppliers and service providers.

Hörmann Middle East aims for strong 2015 Company says it is looking to build on a positive 2014

örmann Middle East, manufacturer of industrial, commercial and residential doors said it experienced a positive year in 2014 through launching new products, expanding its business in Qatar and entering new markets in eastern Africa and South Africa. Hörmann said it introduced market-centric technologies, like the new ALR 67 thermal doors that, it claimed, improve insulations level to protect from scorching temperatures during summer. The company now looks to complete new projects in the UAE and Qatar this year, it added. Darius Khanloo, Managing Director of Hörmann Middle East, commented: “The regional market has been very active, especially in Qatar, and we are currently looking at two new projects in the UAE, as well. 2014 was a very busy year for us; we completed several prestigious projects in the region and expanded our business to eastern Africa and South Africa, using Middle East as our base because of the proximity. With our flagship showroom in Jebel Ali, we can ensure quick and convenient deliveries.” Hörmann said it recently launched the Rollmatic Rolling Grille and ThermoPro entrance doors. The company also introduced its latest intelligent docking system, which it claimed, plays a significant role in energy efficiency of commercial buildings.