Toshiba UK’s Landmark VRF installation
10th February 2020
UK: One of the largest installations of Toshiba’s VRF air conditioning is nearing completion at Landmark Manchester, a new 180,000ft² multi-storey Grade A office development.
The installation, led by mechanical and electrical contractor Castle Building Services with main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland, comprises 450 Toshiba in-ceiling fan coil units, connected to 54 SHRM-e VRF outdoor condensers, with intuitive control provided by 26 TCUK TouchScreens and eight Black Pear BMS interfaces.
The landmark project is one of the first fully speculative office buildings to be built in Manchester for around 30 years. It involved the demolition of a former cinema on a restricted city centre site, utilising the existing basements and excavating further to provide two basement levels and 14 storeys of commercial Grade A office space above.
“It is a magnificent building and a superb example of a Toshiba heat recovery VRF installation,” said Andrew Bradison, specification manager for Toshiba distributor Cool Designs. “With its best-in-class energy performance, the system operates with significantly reduced running costs, with savings continuing to accrue over the life-time of equipment. Flexible zoning enables the complex requirements of tenants to be accommodated, ensuring very high comfort and satisfaction levels.”
The client required the highest efficiency combined cooling and heating system possible for the premium quality building, incorporating heat recovery, in order to achieve a BREEAM standard of Excellent.
The design, which follows the British Council for Offices standard BCO 2014, required each storey to be divided into separate dual systems to accommodate two potential tenants per floor. The system’s detailed zoning capabilities enable it to be adapted to the diverse requirements of occupants.
External plant for all floors – including the ground floor – is located on the roof, utilising the Toshiba system’s maximum drop of up to 90m from condensing units to fan coils on the floors below.
“This is a major VRF project and required close collaboration between all parties,” said Toshiba sales manager David McSherry.
Due to the tight installation timetable and city centre location, Toshiba distributor Cool Designs carefully managed delivery slots throughout the project. This involved timing equipment arrival to coincide with a 30-minute window, which required taking into account transportation through Manchester’s busy shopping and business district. All delivery slots are said to have been achieved.
