HVAC, which stands for Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning, helps control temperature, air quality and humidity within large buildings such as offices, restaurants, factories and shopping centres.

These systems provide a comfortable and safe environment for staff and customers from the colder winter months through to the warmer temperatures of the summer.

Commercial HVAC systems are complex and require many different parts, including:

• A thermostat which controls the HVAC system, signalling the system to produce heat or cool air depending on the temperature and system design
• The furnace or boiler, which is the largest part of most HVAC systems, providing heat to the area
• The heat exchanger within the furnace or boiler which is used to heat the air the system pulls in
• The ductwork and vents which transfer heated and cooled air into your workspace
• Refrigerant lines which turn refrigerant substances into liquid form

How they work

HVAC systems operate with three different processes; heating, ventilation and air-conditioning. Each of these processes requires its own unit – so usually a radiator for heating, air-vents for ventilation and an air-conditioning unit for cooling. 

When these three processes are combined together, they create a large HVAC system, controlled by one central thermostat. This is the type of system you’ll usually find in large workspaces, commercial units and in retail or restaurant buildings. 

Cooling

Keeping your industrial, commercial or office space cool during the warmer months can be a real issue for many businesses in the UK.

Air-conditioning systems with HVAC use refrigeration to cool the air – and the refrigerants used to absorb the heat start out in a gas form. A compressor is then used to compress the gas, raising the temperature, before it’s transferred into a condensation coil. This releases the heat and changes the gas into a cooler liquid.

A blower is used to take in the warm air, and releases it over an evaporator, and as the liquid becomes a gas again, it absorbs the heat from the air and cools it.

Heating

Most HVAC systems generally operate with furnaces, where the thermostat starts the healing process by signalling the furnace, opening up a gas valve and igniting the gas burner. 

The heat created from this burner is then used to warm up the heat exchanger, which then changes into air as it goes through the exchanger. Once this heat is transformed into air, it’s distributed using an internal motor and a fan, attached to the furnace. 

The heat is then transferred through to the ductwork within the building – effectively warming your workspace or business area during colder months.

An alternative heating system is to use a boiler and radiator system, similar to the heating systems of most homes but often on a larger scale. These involve gas burners heating water which is conveyed through pipework which links radiators throughout the premises.

Ventilation

HVAC ventilation allows fresh air to enter your building; whether you’re heating or cooling your building – and this is key to a safe working environment.

Without proper ventilation, there’s a risk of spreading harmful bacteria, diseases and infection; something which we’ve all been made particularly aware of since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Not only does HVAC ventilation reduce the risk of aerosol transmission, it’s also vital in the prevention of bad odours, mould and other contaminants in the air, which can also have dangerous consequences of the wellbeing of your workforce. It can also remove pollutants and gases such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide while ensuring a good supply of fresh air.

If you’re looking for commercial HVAC installation for your business or workspace, we can help. Our expert team is experienced in the installation, maintenance and repair of HVAC systems, so whatever your business is looking for – we can help. 

Get in touch to find out more.