Daikin answers Grenfell SOS

UK: New community facilities in the shadow of London’s fire-ravaged Grenfell Tower have opened with energy efficient air conditioning and hot water systems donated by Daikin UK in partnership with installer All Seasons Group Services.

The systems serve the newly built St Mark’s Road premises of the Dale Youth Boxing Club and the North Kensington Community Centre. Both featured in BBC One’s DIY SOS Grenfell Special, a two-part TV programme, the second part of which was broadcast last night.

Daikin UK managing director Martin Krutz says the project was a unique opportunity for a manufacturer and an installer to make a practical contribution to much-needed community re-development.

“Originally we were asked to design an air conditioning installation – but were not told anything about the overall project,” he said. “When we were told it was to help the community so deeply affected by the Grenfell fire, we had no hesitation in arranging to donate the systems and asking All Seasons to undertake the installation, also as a donation.”

The project is said to have brought challenges of delivery, installation and commissioning for both companies, while working around an army of other volunteer tradespeople – and the TV production team – on a busy 750m² site underneath the A40 Westway, a short distance from Grenfell Tower.

Loughton-based All Seasons Group Services, a Daikin D1+ Partner, was involved with the project over an eight-week period.

“It was a wonderful experience for the team and something to be proud of,” said All Seasons co-owner Colin Owen. “Grenfell was a major tragedy for the city, but London has given us a lot so we were pleased to have this opportunity to give something back as part of our charity programme.

The new gym has a Daikin high-capacity mini-VRV heat pump, serving four Round Flow cassettes to provide space heating or cooling, as required. It further serves club founder Mick Delaney’s upstairs office, where a wall mounted unit has been installed.

Daikin Altherma high temperature units are also installed to provide hot water for the club’s showers and kitchen.

The community centre also has a Daikin high-capacity mini-VRV heat pump, which serves nine floor-standing chassis units that are concealed by architectural detailing.

Founded some 60 years ago, the boxing club was based in Grenfell Tower from 1999 until the tragic fire in June 2017. The gym had relocated to refurbished premises on a different floor at the base of the building just weeks before the fire. For more than a year after that it operated from a disused multi-storey car park.