As We Return To The Office Again,
HVAC Equipment Needs To Work Effectively

People sat at desks in a warm office By Brian Beetson, National Sales Manager - Managed Services at Mitsubishi Electric.

From the initial lockdowns to more recent hybrid working models, office and building managers have been forced to adapt to spaces being used in different ways over the past two years. However, now that restrictions have ended in England, workers have returned to offices once again in varying capacities. Some are even returning at the fastest rate since the pandemic began, and now is the time for building systems to start working at full capacity again.

However, with many buildings having been closed for varying periods of time and with capacity fluctuating there may be concerns about the performance, maintenance and function of heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. Will equipment be able to perform to pre-lockdown standards? What issues will occur when it starts functioning back to full capacity?

Luckily, there are ways of ensuring a safe and effective restart of building equipment ahead of the office reopening. By evaluating the performance and integrity of HVAC systems early on, building owners and facilities managers can make sure equipment is prepared, allowing for a safe and practical return to the office.

Different Requirements

Over the last two years, each industry has been impacted by Covid-19 restrictions differently, and each building and HVAC system will have been working at varying capacity depending on the sector.

For example, medical facilities like hospitals will likely have had equipment like chillers working overtime, meaning the facilities team looking after that equipment is well aware of the value of a good maintenance regime.

However, in sectors like offices and leisure sectors, a lot of equipment will have been operating at 10-20% of capacity, or may have even been shut down completely. As such, building and facilities managers employed in these sectors are more likely to need to prepare their systems for reopening.

Key Considerations

While it’s important that building equipment is back up and running to its optimal efficiency for when people head back to the office, it’s more complex than simply 'switching them back on' as buildings re-open.

For example, equipment like chiller systems are a vital part of creating a comfortable environment for occupants, but today's modern chillers are high-performance machines that require more preparation than simply restarting.

So, as buildings re-open, it’s important to think about the key considerations to bear in mind, and what help is available to ensure systems don’t fail just as people return.

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Practical Solutions

Re-starting redundant systems will use up energy and could exacerbate any existing issues with older equipment, leading to potential system failure or a costly power surge. Therefore, it’s important to consider practical solutions when preparing HVAC equipment.

Firstly, it's not a good idea to switch on systems on the same day that the building re-opens. In reality, equipment like chillers should be turned on well in advance, giving them time to run from 0% efficiency back up to 100%.

It’s also important to run a system check on your chiller systems, especially in buildings that have been empty for some time. Not only can this help avoid potential power surges when buildings get back to operating at full capacity, it’s also an opportunity to focus on the efficiency of the system and either initiate any repairs required to increase performance, or even plan for a complete replacement.

If after running a system check some component turns out to be non-functioning, it’s worth bearing in mind that replacing old equipment doesn’t have to take a long time. Lots of equipment is now easy to order at short notice, with modern, inverter-driven modular chillers available to order 48 hours in advance-meaning you can get your systems up and running in no time at all.

A Steady And Controlled Restart

If higher occupancy levels are expected in the coming weeks or months, it’s important to run checks on existing systems, and reboot them in a steady, controlled manner.

Regardless of the equipment manufacturer, there are ways of ensuring a safe and effective restart of equipment-while also improving efficiency, tackling rising energy costs and reducing carbon footprint.

Preparing HVAC equipment now can help ensure a safe and healthy return to the office environment later, and navigate the ‘new normal’ in the weeks and months ahead.

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As We Return To The Office Again, HVAC Equipment Needs To Work Effectively