RESIDENTIAL HVAC
Individual Control in Every Home. One Strategy for the Building.
Residential HVAC must provide individual comfort control, continuous ventilation and quiet operation in every apartment, while fitting within tight ceiling zones, risers and roof areas across the development.
SYSTEM APPROACH
Apartment-Level Control. Development-Level Strategy.
Hollis & Pike supports residential projects from building-wide plant strategies and amenity areas through apartment ventilation, terminal equipment and controls.
Apartments are compact, well sealed and occupied around the clock by residents who expect to control their own conditions. The right approach balances individual control and metering against plant space, outdoor unit locations, acoustic limits and the maintenance access that remains once homes are occupied.
ENGINEERING CONSIDERATIONS
What Shapes the Selection.
01
Continuous ventilation with heat recovery
Well-sealed apartments typically use mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, with duct routes, intake and exhaust positions and boost operation coordinated with kitchens and bathrooms.
02
Overheating risk
Single-aspect and highly glazed apartments can overheat, particularly where noise or security limits window opening. New homes in England must also show compliance with Part O of the Building Regulations.
03
Outdoor unit locations
Balconies, roofs and plant decks each affect acoustics, heat rejection, recirculation and maintenance access, and outdoor units on visible elevations may need planning approval.
04
Refrigerant and pipework routes
Refrigerant pipework through corridors and into small rooms must be checked against charge limits, with routes that can be maintained without entering other homes.
05
Metering and billing
Where plant is shared between apartments, energy use needs metering or apportionment for each home, which influences the choice between individual and central systems.
06
Night-time noise
Bedroom noise criteria are demanding, so fan speeds, duct velocities and outdoor unit positions are selected for quiet operation at night.