At one of their most iconic locations yet, air conditioning systems from Daikin UK are helping to maximise green energy standards for Brighton’s high-flying new tourist attraction, British Airways i360.

The public areas of the beach building are air conditioned by Daikin VRV IV systems, making efficient use of renewable energy for heating.

- The ‘east’ system is a 20hp heat pump with continuous heating to deliver 27.7kW of cooling or 36.0kW of heating to the restaurant and the retail area.
- The ‘west’ system consists of two heat recovery units totalling 34hp, delivering 47.7kW of cooling and 61.3kW of heating to the events, exhibition and conference spaces, and the main office.

A British Airways i360 spokesperson said: "We have a prominent year-round attraction, so we needed high efficiency heat pumps to deliver comfortable indoor temperatures for visitors and staff in all seasons. These systems have the added benefits of heating with renewable energy."

Dominic Shortland of Seraphic Consulting, one of the British Airways i360 project’s building services consultants, says mostly the air conditioning is delivered via ducted fan coil units concealed in tight bulkhead locations. The installation consists of 26 slim ducted fan coil units (low external static pressure) and seven concealed ceiling units (medium external static pressure).

The beach building also has a number of Daikin VAM heat recovery ventilation units to provide a constant supply of fresh air. The heat recovery facility minimises additional demand on the air conditioning systems when there is a significant difference between outdoor and indoor temperatures. In a further efficiency boost, carbon dioxide sensors ensure the VAM units deliver only as much fresh air as necessary to maintain air quality standards.

To avoid corrosion from the salt-laden sea air, the units’ heat exchangers have been treated with Blygold resistant coatings. This specialist factory-applied treatment significantly extends the life expectancy of heat exchangers without compromising their thermal efficiency.

Sixteen wired remote controllers allow local control of air conditioning, within parameters for the Daikin VRV IV and VAM systems managed via a Daikin i-Touch Controller. In the absence of a full building management system, the Daikin I-Touch Controller has also been programmed to manage various third-party ventilation and extraction systems for the kitchens and other service areas.

The Daikin installation includes six Daikin Sky Air single split systems which provide cooling for key facilities – including the motor room housing the viewing pod’s lifting mechanism and the two reproduction Victorian tollbooths which serve as ticket office and tea room.