This article covers the following aspects.
1. Unique Characteristics of a Robust Airconditioning Design Works
2. Common design aspects of Robust air- conditioning works
3. Listing of critical specifications-BOQ Materials wise, that contribute to making air-conditioning designs robust
4. Listing of installation activities in Air conditioning works wherein need to incorporate good design practices
5. Listing of 8 stages for designing air-conditioning works
6, Listing of activities (including unethical) that can adversely impact business during each design stage of air conditioning
This Design can be relevant for buildings used for residential, commercial, shopping malls, education institutes, hotels, hospitals, offices, etc.
1. Characteristics of a Robust Airconditioning Design Works
Optimum usage of energy-saving BOQ materials and systems for air conditioning (e.g., chillers, VRV, outdoor units/indoor units, low power consumption units, etc.)
BOQ, refringent and the entire Air-conditioning system that conforms to local Quality standards and preferably international quality standards such as ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, refrigeration & air-conditioning)
Layout schemes, coils that are optimum and are concealed
Coming up with designs that are eco-friendly and sustainable energy
Configuring the design of air-conditioning BOQ, their installation, and commissioning that ensure conformance of integrated system to meet statutory requirements
Integrated building management systems
2 Aspects which are common with other HVAC and MEP design package like including air- conditioning system, basement ventilation etc
Design schemes that enable the installation & commissioning of equipment with optimized capacity
Design arrangements that will allow easy maintainability
Incorporate flexibility in the design to meet challenges towards potential changes in technology or energy savings or costs
Coming up with design solutions that are scalable /expandable
·Approving specifications/brands of BOQ that enable the least downtime
Approving designs that lay focus on the total cost of ownership, including running costs
Delivering specifications and drawings that are easy to understand and incorporate international standards
Proposing the right choice of BOQ materials in specifications.
Optimizing costs
3 Listing of critical specifications-BOQ Materials wise, that contribute to making air-conditioning designs robust
Types of materials for use | Description of specifications |
VRV | Make/Brand, Tonnage, Inverter Technology, star rating, refrigerant, Chiller’s -British thermal units /hour or a ton of refrigeration /hour |
Outdoor and Indoor units | Size, make,/brand colour, filter type/size, |
Compressor | Cfm (cubic feet per minute and horsepower |
condenser coils | Tube material, tube diameter, thickness, temperature, vapor density, environment friendliness |
Instrumentation, and remote controls | Pressures and temperatures ranges |
Refrigerants | Freezing temperature, evaporation pressure, condensation pressure, environment protection requirements |
and so on |
4. Listing of installation activities in Air conditioning works wherein need to incorporate good design practices
Installation of VRV or outdoor units, indoor units.
Central refrigeration plant, chillers
Distribution pipelines
Cooling towers
Air handling units
Grills, fans, filters &Fan coil units
Fabricating and laying of ducting, copper pipes,
Installing pipe insulations, control cables, v joints
Filling of refrigerants
Installation, testing, and commissioning of complete AC system
Installation of local cooling units
Providing inputs to the building architects, Interior designers, and all other MEP-package designers for integration of all designs across the project
3 Building quality in the air-conditioning design process using designing software:
Essential technical steps/activities include performing the following for evolving
Design calculations for determining capacity for the Airconditioning works for the project include:
·Cooling load computation
Cool air distribution scheme
Incorporating installation, testing, and commissioning aspects and following local and international quality standards like ASHRAE (American Society for Heating, refrigeration, and Air-conditioning) and National Building Code, BIS, National Building Code, etc.
Including detailed 3D BIM Modelling Services with air conditioning with BOQ depicted,
·Develop air-conditioning works related to shop drawings
·Designs supporting all applicable quality standards
Software like Revit MEP, AutoCAD HVAC, Quick Allot, or similar ones having 3D MEP BIM modelling features can be considered for designing air-conditioning works.
5. Listing of Eight stages for developing the design of Air-conditioning works
Design activities vary considerably from company to company, but generally, there are eight stages to designing the MEP-air-conditioning for buildings as below. Whatever designing processes and software are used, designing must result in developing Robust designs by accomplishing the following:
Build designs that are comprehensive, accurate
·Contributes to building quality in construction by incorporating national and international quality standards in BOQ/material specifications and construction process
Integrates statutory and safety requirements (if applicable) in the designs and drawings
·Optimise project costs
Enables efficient delivery of designs & drawings
Incorporates maker-checker step in each design stage through the implementation of segregation of duties concept
My book gives More design stage details as per the link below.
Book 1
Amazon link: India-
Amazon link-Global-
Eight Design Stages
Stage 1)
Develop a preliminary design brief and drawings -Performing the below activities
·Developing Strategic plans for design aligned with visions
Developing comprehensive design brief (vis a vis cooling load or and heating load etc.)
Developing all preliminary designs
Stage 2) Detailed design /drawings /specifications and scheme- Performing the below activities
Making comprehensive designs for air conditioning works on essential aspects such as those below.
i)Design features vis a vis Chillers, VRV, Outdoor units, Indoor units, air conditioning, pipes, insulations, etc
ii) National and international standards for quality
iii) Specifications of BOQ material
iv) Tolerances on quality of artistry vis a vis installation and commissioning
Incorporating comprehensive Quality requirements
Considering comprehensive Design-related construction processes for air-conditioning works
Design by considering standardization leads to lower costs
Accurate Bill of quantities for each design area /no off of air-conditioning works package items
Factoring appropriate acceptance criteria for air-conditioning works- design work in process and completed area
Using licensed software while developing air-conditioning designs. *
·Issuing of design and drawings to air-conditioning works contractor at project site with version control
Stage 3) Develop schematic drawings for statutory approvals and Incorporating all requirements vis a vis Statutory approval and design/drawings*
Stage 4) Develop tender with BOQ and specifications- Performing the below activities
Making tenders that are comprehensive vis-à-vis technical specifications
· Tenders include options for multiple brands of various BOQ materials
· Tender drawings incorporating applicable quality standards for all works.
· Incorporating comprehensive Inspection requirements w.r.t. air-conditioning works.
· Tender drawings incorporate applicable Statutory requirements vis-à-vis applicable National/International codes. *
· Stage 5)
Making construction drawings duly coordinated (GFC)-Design and drawings for air-conditioning works performing the below activities.
·Making construction drawings accurate by obtaining and incorporating inputs from other design functions into various design elements for air-conditioning or works.
Preparing coordinated drawings for each relevant air-conditioning or work by factoring inputs from the Architect team, Interior design team
(Stage 6)
Perform final Design calculations -Performing the below activities
·Validating designs after proper incorporation of all proposed connected heat loads, façade glass specifications, air leakages, and air conditioning at different progressive loads or estimated occupancy of constructed areas or pro-rata over some time
·Considering appropriate factors of safety & proposed statutory approvals *
·Vetting of design efficacy and drawings developed vis-à-vis specification of BOQ materials and installation requirements.
Stage 7)
Making Cost estimates -For the entire project, including in Rs and Cost/Sft. of the saleable area or built-up area or both-Performing the below activities
·Estimating costs based on detailed working vis a vis each essential BOQ item (such as below) and their quantities
·Chillers or VRV,
·Outdoor units,
·Indoor units,
· Valves
·Cablings/wirings,
· Fittings,
·Instrumentation,
· Remote controls,
Refrigerants,
Air filters,
·Air conditioning pipes,
·Drainage pipes insulations, etc
Stage 8) Issue “As-built drawing”-post-work completion and approval- Performing the below activities
·Using appropriate software and making “As-built drawings” designs and drawings after verification of actual supply and installation of each BOQ material for air-conditioning works*
6.Listing of activities (including unethical) that can adversely impact business
·Strategic plans for design not aligned with visions and
Developing a non-comprehensive design brief
In the tenders, the designer or consultant Insists on names of specific brands /vendors of BOQ, such as heat exchangers, valves, pumps for the Heating system, chillers, Outdoor units, indoor units of Air conditioners, etc., in collusion with vendors' return for commission/kickback from such vendors./contractors *
·Assigning the same MEP designer to develop designs, drawings schematic designs & drawings who initially developed concept design, thus not implementing the segregation of duties concept*
·Compromising specifications for developing samples of air-conditioning-related BOQ materials in collusion with vendor/contractor. *
·Using unlicensed software while developing air-conditioning-related designs. *
Issuing of design and drawings to air-conditioning-contractor at project site without any version control
·Not shredding waste designs/drawings or not deleting obsolete /old soft drawings*
·Bribing mandatory Agencies that approve the safety-related specifications (Human beings & environments) of air-conditioning design works relevant for safety, e.g., Choice of refrigerant, insulations, control panel, etc.*
Contractors influence certifying agencies to compromise statutory certification in return for favors. *
Making tenders where technical specifications are inadequate or are deliberately stated vaguely for subsequent manipulations amongst the designer and contractor with ulterior motives. * * indicates activity having statutory or and unethical implications
You can read more about the activities that can adversely impact business in Chapter 3 of my handbook ETHICS in the real estate and hospitality industry, Volume 1- Architectural, Interior Design, and MEP services. “