Every single indoor commercial space is unique and has different requirements for its air conditioning units. Whether it is a small shop or café to a multi story building with multiple offices or rooms, creating ideal conditions will come down to each design and purpose of the unique premises. There is no ‘one size fits all approach’ when it comes to air conditioning and each space will require something different.
However, there are three main types of commercial air conditioning systems that you are more likely to come across. These are single split, multiple split and VRF/VRV systems. This article will discuss each of these different types.
Single Split Air Conditioning
This type of commercial air conditioning tends to be the most affordable and the easiest to install. It is best suited for small commercial spaces such as shops, cafes, restaurants and individual offices.
Single split air conditionings are used in individual rooms. They consist of having an external unit and an indoor unit. No ductwork is needed for this type of commercial air conditioning as the two units are connected by electric wires and piping.
The exterior unit has the compressor, the consendenser and the expansion coils. These are typically the ‘noisier’ components of any air conditioning unit. The indoor unit is what delivers the cool, filtered air into the desired room. Most modern units are now able to deliver heating as well as cooled air, which gives you full temperature control all year round.
The only slight drawback with this type of commercial air conditioning is that each indoor unit needs an corresponding external unit. This means if you want to have multiple units, there needs to be sufficient outdoor space for the external unit. However, the benefit is that it can be installed into multiple rooms and they work in isolation. This means if one unit breaks down, the others will continue to work.
Multi Split Air Conditioning
This type of commercial air conditioning is essentially a more versatile version of the single split air conditioning units we have just discussed. They allow more control over the conditions in various spaces. Therefore they are great for larger spaces that have multiple rooms and/or multiple floors.
Rather than having one external for one indoor unit, multi split allows you to connect numerous indoor units to one larger, central external unit. The number of the indoor units depends on the model that you choose, but it can be up to nine.
Multi split air conditioning units still allow you to have control over individual units, so you are able to meet the exact needs of the room that it is located in. They also are available in different types. This is great if you have different indoor spaces that require different types of indoor units.
The drawback of this type of commercial air conditioning unit is that they do have a more complex installation process. This will mean that it will be more expensive and more time consuming to install compared to single split air conditioning. However, multi split will save you money in the long run as they offer greater energy efficiency. The external unit also requires less outdoor space.
VRF/VRV Air Conditioning
VRV and VRV are two terms that are used interchangeably, they both mean the same thing.
The company that first introduced the technology behind this type of commercial air conditioning referred to it as VRV. This stands for Variant Refrigerant Volume. They have the copyright for this terminology, which is why it is more commonly known as Variant Refrigeration Flow.
VFR air conditioning systems work in a very similar way that single and multi split systems work. However, VFR replaces the larger indoor units with a series of small air handlers. It is called variant refrigeration flow as these air handlers allow the flow to them to be varied. This allows for a more flexible approach to controlling the temperature.
VRF commercial air conditioning united come in two main types:
Heat recovery systems- These allow you to control the cooling and heating of any space in insolation. This means that they are a great solution in spaces where there are multiple rooms, like hotels for example, or buildings with adjoining offices. These are incredibly energy efficient, they carry heat that would have been wasted from cooled zoons and redistribute it into spaces where it is needed.
Heat pump systems- This type is more commonly used in open plan spaces that require a single temperature. They are able to cool and heat, but they aren’t able to do this at the same time.
PAR Refrigeration
If you have a commercial air conditioning unit, PAR Refrigeration are on hand to meet your repair and maintenance needs. With over 33 years of experience in the industry, we are more than qualified to meet your commercial air conditioning needs. We have an excellent reputation due to our quality customer service and high level of expertise. Please get in touch with us today on 01924 872109. Alternatively, fill out our online contact form.
