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Sick Buildings + Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF)

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Sarah Noel Block, MS
Sarah Noel Block, MS

Learn about how HVAC can make a sick building and how variable refrigerant flow (VRF) HVAC systems can fix the health of the building. More at https://www.femoran.com

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Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Is the HOT TOPIC in High-rises
From Sick Building to Silver Certified In 2002, a 15-story high-rise in Maryland became vacant. It sat vacant for 10 years and was declared a sick building. In 2012 Caves Valley Partners bought the building and brought it back to life. The building got a new electrical system, glass curtain fa巽ade, and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) HVAC system. The VRF system gave is LEED points toward a silver certification. The building is now happily occupied by Towson University and MileOne Automotive.
What do high-rises need from HVAC? Properly controlled HVAC is essential for high-rises. There are multiple tenants with different comfort needs. The HVAC needs to be quiet, low maintenance, and healthy.
What HVAC issues do high-rises have? Multiple tenants with different comfort needs. Inefficiently designed HVAC systems. Poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Inconsistent airflow. High HVAC costs.
Sick Building Syndrome
What is a sick building? Sick building syndrome is a condition that affects office workers, giving them headaches and respiratory problems due to poor ventilation and air quality. 01 Up to 30% of high-rises and other office buildings have poor IAQ, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 02 Sick buildings become sick due to flawed HVAC design. 03 Common issues are mold, improper exhaust ventilation, or lack of adequate ventilation. 04
Wrong Sized Ducts The wrong sized ducts causes the majority of sick building issues. Noise is caused by ducts that are too small. The ducts rattle because of airflow restrictions. Uneven heating is caused by ducts that are too big. Improperly sized ducts can cause 60% less efficiency. Lost efficiency will increase utility costs and make the system work harder, causing higher maintenance bills. Wrong-sized ducts will decrease the lifespan of the HVAC system.
HVAC Systems Account for 40-60% of utility costs.
What do high-rises need in an HVAC system? Minimized maintenance costs Personalized control per unit Flexibility to accommodate changing tenants Reliability
Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Benefits of VRF systems Mostly ductless, saving space. Uses a condenser unit that works with multiple units. No need for water piping, requiring only refrigerant piping. Lower utility costs. Less space used. Better individual temperature control.
How does a VRF system work?
Like a Ductless Multi-split System, But Better How does a VRF system work? VRFs have multiple indoor evaporator units connected to one outdoor condensing unit. The condensers work only as needed, providing energy savings from partial load conditions. VRFs are predicted to provide 50% energy savings on average over the lifetime of the system.
VRF Systems = Low Maintenance Generally, VRF systems only need filters changed and coils cleaned. They are easier to install because they are modular, lightweight, and smaller. They are ideal for new construction or retrofit. Smaller piping, allowing the system to fit into standard size walls with more usable space
What can you expect when you have a VRF HVAC system? Georgia Institute of Technology (2013) found that Chicago office buildings save 46.5% on energy bills with a VRF system. VRF HVAC systems are 3.2% cheaper than regular HVAC systems over the lifetime of the system.
際際滷 deck by: Sarah Noel Block, Director of Marketing at Education with The Moran Group 1 Read more about Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) HVAC systems and sick buildings here. 2

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Sick Buildings + Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF)

  • 1. Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Is the HOT TOPIC in High-rises
  • 2. From Sick Building to Silver Certified In 2002, a 15-story high-rise in Maryland became vacant. It sat vacant for 10 years and was declared a sick building. In 2012 Caves Valley Partners bought the building and brought it back to life. The building got a new electrical system, glass curtain fa巽ade, and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) HVAC system. The VRF system gave is LEED points toward a silver certification. The building is now happily occupied by Towson University and MileOne Automotive.
  • 3. What do high-rises need from HVAC? Properly controlled HVAC is essential for high-rises. There are multiple tenants with different comfort needs. The HVAC needs to be quiet, low maintenance, and healthy.
  • 4. What HVAC issues do high-rises have? Multiple tenants with different comfort needs. Inefficiently designed HVAC systems. Poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Inconsistent airflow. High HVAC costs.
  • 6. What is a sick building? Sick building syndrome is a condition that affects office workers, giving them headaches and respiratory problems due to poor ventilation and air quality. 01 Up to 30% of high-rises and other office buildings have poor IAQ, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 02 Sick buildings become sick due to flawed HVAC design. 03 Common issues are mold, improper exhaust ventilation, or lack of adequate ventilation. 04
  • 7. Wrong Sized Ducts The wrong sized ducts causes the majority of sick building issues. Noise is caused by ducts that are too small. The ducts rattle because of airflow restrictions. Uneven heating is caused by ducts that are too big. Improperly sized ducts can cause 60% less efficiency. Lost efficiency will increase utility costs and make the system work harder, causing higher maintenance bills. Wrong-sized ducts will decrease the lifespan of the HVAC system.
  • 8. HVAC Systems Account for 40-60% of utility costs.
  • 9. What do high-rises need in an HVAC system? Minimized maintenance costs Personalized control per unit Flexibility to accommodate changing tenants Reliability
  • 10. Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Benefits of VRF systems Mostly ductless, saving space. Uses a condenser unit that works with multiple units. No need for water piping, requiring only refrigerant piping. Lower utility costs. Less space used. Better individual temperature control.
  • 11. How does a VRF system work?
  • 12. Like a Ductless Multi-split System, But Better How does a VRF system work? VRFs have multiple indoor evaporator units connected to one outdoor condensing unit. The condensers work only as needed, providing energy savings from partial load conditions. VRFs are predicted to provide 50% energy savings on average over the lifetime of the system.
  • 13. VRF Systems = Low Maintenance Generally, VRF systems only need filters changed and coils cleaned. They are easier to install because they are modular, lightweight, and smaller. They are ideal for new construction or retrofit. Smaller piping, allowing the system to fit into standard size walls with more usable space
  • 14. What can you expect when you have a VRF HVAC system? Georgia Institute of Technology (2013) found that Chicago office buildings save 46.5% on energy bills with a VRF system. VRF HVAC systems are 3.2% cheaper than regular HVAC systems over the lifetime of the system.
  • 15. 際際滷 deck by: Sarah Noel Block, Director of Marketing at Education with The Moran Group 1 Read more about Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) HVAC systems and sick buildings here. 2