Type of works: supply and installation of Airedale Ecopack air conditioning units.
Superdrug Stores PLC is a leading health and beauty retailer operating over 700 stores throughout the UK. The company is committed to
cost effective energy efficiency and minimising the environmental impact arising from the use of materials and services within the stores.
Two of Superdrug’s West Yorkshire stores, Bradford and Halifax, required air conditioning systems for comfort and air quality. The Stores specified an energy efficient system which would keep a constant temperature of 18-23ºC. Andy Sparrow, Utilities Manager at Superdrug, comments, "For Superdrug, a store whose mission it is to become the customers’ favourite up-to-the-minute health and beauty shop, air quality is paramount." He continues, "shelves and products cannot be covered in dust or dirt from the air and keeping a clean, fresh environment is imperative for a retailer selling perfumes and toiletries."
Airedale supplied both stores with units from its Ecopack range. This new range of air handling units has been designed specifically for the retail industry and optimises the use of outside ambient air for free cooling or heating. Available in 3 models covering nominal duties of 53-80kW, units are available with the optimum number of options for heating, controls and airflow. In addition to Superdrug’s specifications, both stores had their individual requirements which Airedale were able to accommodate immediately with the new Ecopack units.
Due to the unusual structure of the 425m2 Bradford store, the unit needed to be fitted into a light well. Andy Mould of TBS, the contractors on both installations, comments "A standard packaged unit as supplied by other manufacturers could not be installed nor would it have been easily accessible for service and maintenance".
The flexibility of the Ecopack allows the evaporator and condensing unit to be installed separately as a split system. An intake duct runs vertically from the evaporator to the roof level to ensure a constant fresh air supply.
"The split configuration of the unit has enabled easy installation into a difficult building site", adds Mould. "Other advantages include maintainability of the system without interrupting its operation."
An EP67 packaged unit was installed on the roof in Halifax to provide air conditioning to a 325m2 store. The roof curb mounted packaged unit was supplied with a highly efficient indirect gas fired heater capable of fully modulating down to 30% of the burner’s total capacity control. New plug fans are driven without belts which means they are maintenance free. Recognising noise pollution concerns on the Halifax installation, Airedale installed large intake and exhaust air hoods on the Ecopack for low noise levels. Base supply and return air duct connections were utilised forquick and easy trouble free installation.
Both the units at Halifax and Bradford have a Trend controller linking the Ecopacks to Superdrug’s Trend system through a modem link. With remote monitoring Superdrug can increase the efficiency of the system by setting airflow to suit demands in each store.
"Airedale’s new Ecopack range is the perfect solution for Superdrug’s air conditioning needs", concludes Sparrow. "We are delighted with the system and because it reduces both energy and cost consumption we can expect a payback period of only three years."