Innovative Design

Air Zone equipment works well without any underfloor ductwork, provided that the column units are located in the proper location relative to the building floor characteristics. This satisfies the interior condition, but what is the best solution for treating the perimeter? There are multiple quality methods for treating the perimeter skin load in a UFAD project. Our preferred method is to use an overhead distribution system for treating the perimeter while cooling the interior of the space with the UFAD system. Air Zone recently introduced a Dual Flow Unit that is a perfect solution for this application. The benefits to such a design approach are numerous and include:

• The ability to lower the raised floor height, which improves walk ability and reduces overall building cost. Lower profile floors have less flex and offer more comfort to the tenant.
• The ability to have much better control of perimeter cooling
• Improved control of underfloor temperature and static pressure
• Electrical and data cabling can be freely run underfloor
• A much easier project to build and operate
• Lower first cost
• The removal of underfloor fan powered boxes reduces maintenance, simplifies commissioning, and improves completion time
• Easier to service the equipment
• Better heating efficiency (ceiling VAVs take space return air and warm it; the current underfloor design probably draws air from the carpet level, then re-heats this air in heating mode)
• No perimeter floor grilles conflicting with furniture

Air Zone recently introduced a Dual Flow Unit that is a perfect solution for this application.