External AHUs for a Leading Research Laboratory

There are many enclosed environments where air quality and temperature are critical for work to be undertaken, and materials stored. Typical of these environments are laboratories, and irrespective of whether they involve pharmaceuticals, clinical, cosmetics or food, they all have one thing in common: they all rely on efficient air handling units (AHUs) for tempered air.

One of the UK’s southern-based research laboratories was adding a new facility to its existing laboratory, and their appointed contractor approached AirCraft Air Handling for budget costs for the manufacture of four large external AHUs.

Our design team were given the required specifications and duty requirements of each AHU to allow us to accurately estimate both costs and time frames for manufacturing. After several conversations and meetings with the laboratory’s contractor, AirCraft Air Handling was given the green light to proceed with the design and build of the four AHUs.

The weatherproof cases had flush-fitted insulated panels with galvanised inner skins and cross-pitched roofs to shed rain and prevent the pooling of water. The supply and extract heat recovery AHUs were fitted with thermal wheels, mixing boxes, reverse cycle DX heating/cooling coils, EC plug fans, and high-efficiency filters.

All four AHUs were manufactured and assembled at our premises in Stafford, and then broken down into smaller pieces for transport to site.

The AHUs were delivered to site, where AirCraft Air Handling’s installation team started the re-assembly process. Alas, it had to be done in the rain, but it didn’t slow them down! Once assembled, we handed over the four new AHUs to our customer who then carried out the remainder of the installation project by connecting the AHUs’ control system to the building’s management system and connected the air ducting.