Case Study · Education · AHU Refurbishment
East London Academy
AHU Refurbishment
At an academy in East London, the Theatre and Drama air-handling units had sat non-operational for many years, leaving both spaces without heating, cooling or fresh air ventilation. BVS was asked to attend site, assess the condition of both units, and identify the cause of the failure. The survey found the AHU casings were still structurally sound, but the core mechanical components, including the gas burners, original fan assemblies and roof-mounted compressors, were obsolete or beyond economical repair. The Theatre unit's internal layout was also configured inefficiently for heat recovery. BVS was asked to put forward a solution that restored reliable operation without the cost and disruption of a full AHU replacement.
Project Overview
Rather than recommend a full replacement, BVS proposed a comprehensive refurbishment of both AHUs, keeping the sound casings while replacing the mechanical core. The works included decommissioning and removing the redundant gas pipework and burner assemblies. The original fans were replaced with high-efficiency EC units, new DX heating coils and roof-mounted condensers were installed, and the Theatre AHU's internal layout was reconfigured for correct energy recovery. A new Trend IQ4 controls platform was fitted across both units, delivering a fully refurbished, energy-efficient system at a fraction of the cost, lead time and disruption of full replacement.
What We Did
Gas Burner & Old Plant Decommissioning
The redundant gas burner assemblies and ageing condenser plant were safely isolated and removed from both AHUs, clearing the way for the new refrigeration-based heating system.
EC Fan Replacement
New high-efficiency Ziehl-Abegg EC fans were installed in place of the original assemblies, each sized to its unit's exact duty for better efficiency and control.
New DX Coils & Condensers
New DX heating coils and roof-mounted Daikin condensers were craned into position and connected via a fully insulated refrigeration pipework network.
New Trend IQ4 Controls
A modern Trend IQ4 controls platform was installed across both units, replacing outdated, unsupported controls with a fully supported, future-proofed system.
Both AHUs had been non-operational for years but are now fully refurbished and back in reliable working order. New EC fans, DX coils, refrigeration systems and Trend IQ4 controls were installed and commissioned across both units, restoring heating, cooling and fresh air to the Theatre and Drama spaces for the first time in a long while. The project was delivered on programme, giving the academy a modern, energy-efficient system built to last, at a fraction of the cost of full replacement.
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