Introduction to Commercial HVAC Systems

A Breakdown of Key Features and Up to the Moment Innovations 

Much like a typical home, commercial buildings also have HVAC systems for conditioned air supply. Commercial buildings rely on these systems for ventilation, heating, and cooling. 

If you are familiar with the HVAC system in your home, you’re not far off from understanding how HVAC works in a non-residential environment. Just think bigger and more powerful, and be certain, of course, that they require far more energy. Additionally, they require more complex installation, especially when serving multiple floors and variously-sized rooms. Further, commercial HVAC systems can do far more than provide comfort. As we’ll see below, these systems can prove vital for some businesses.

In this breakdown of commercial HVAC systems, we’ll explain the ins and outs of the most commonly-used features, as well as explore the most recent innovations in industrial HVAC products.

Simple and Complex Systems: What They Have in Common

The majority of commercial HVAC systems are placed on the roof of a building in order to limit noise. This also creates an easy access point for maintenance and repair. Most of these systems are modular, meaning that they offer flexibility and variation when additional units need to be installed as a building grows, or when a particular section of a building has specific HVAC needs. 

Commercial HVAC companies engineer their products so that they can easily be linked to each other to account for this modular set up. When new units are added to the system, a building doesn’t have to worry about having technicians in the building who could potentially disrupt a day’s work. When technicians have roof access, they can come and go more easily, making a new commercial HVAC install or repair efficient for the business. 

Simple and Complex Commercial HVAC Systems: What’s Different

There are several varieties of simple and complex commercial HVAC systems, depending on a building’s needs. Simple commercial HVAC systems often serve one area or zone of a building, and have their own separate outdoor unit. These systems also allow for specific control in the space they serve. More advanced systems allow multiple air conditioning and heating systems to operate off of a single outdoor unit. These more advanced units can be space-saving as well as more energy-efficient than the one-unit-per-system model. However, as the complexity of a building’s commercial HVAC system grows, the more advanced engineering is required for its components, as well as for install, maintenance, and repair. Superior commercial HVAC companies will offer their services throughout the process to ensure that a crucial installation is performed effectively. 

Commercial HVAC Products On the Market Today

Aside from furnaces and refrigeration components in the main body of the system, commercial HVAC engineers also focus on return and supply grilles, diffusers, critical environment systems, and more. Browsing these different features and designs gives one a sense of the ingenuity and craftsmanship available to a commercial business as they decide on this vital part of their building’s functions.

Each of a commercial HVAC system’s components is meticulously designed to meet the air flow needs of a commercial building, especially when air and ventilation are not only required for comfort, but serve in protecting a business’s interests. 

Recent Innovations in Commercial HVAC

Commercial HVAC has become increasingly more important as society has gained a better understanding of air quality and health outcomes. More and more businesses want to ensure a healthy environment for their customers and workers, and – in some cases – the services that a commercial HVAC company provides are required in a particular business’s industry. 

For example, in operating rooms or laboratories, clean air is important for the safety of vulnerable patients, or the products being created, respectively. Commercial HVAC can also be important in maintaining a certain environment for the preservation of art, protection from smoke in a public safety target-training range, and many other spaces where excellent air quality is deemed essential. In addition, because commercial HVAC is one of the key functions of any building along with electricity, security, and a computing network, exceptionally thoughtful commercial HVAC companies have found ways to ensure that these systems are insulated against cyber attacks, especially in environments where high-quality airflow is crucial.

One of the most powerful commercial HVAC innovations is the use of specialized diffusers on chemotherapy treatment wards. Because HVAC HEPA and ULPA filters have the ability to filter out infinitesimally small particles, medical caregivers can be assured that their vulnerable patients are protected while they receive crucial treatments. Therefore, commercial HVAC can serve a business in ways that extend beyond the traditional: commercial HVAC can, in fact, help save lives.