Education
AHU projects timed
around term dates.
01256 518170Works delivered within holiday windows. Budget-aware approach for schools and universities with prioritised programmes to suit your timeframes.
Education
AHU projects timed
around term dates.
Educational buildings demand specific planning. Works must fit the academic calendar, respect safeguarding obligations, and deliver value in a sector where budgets are always under pressure.
Term-Break
Delivery
Budget-Aware
Lifecycle
Nationwide
Coverage
The key constraint
The Academic Calendar
Runs the Programme.
In education, the project window is fixed by the school year, not by contractor availability. The summer holidays, six weeks in most cases, are the primary delivery window for disruptive or noisy works. Easter and half-term windows allow limited access for smaller-scope tasks.
Programme planning matters more in education than almost any other sector. Mobilisation, material lead times, and access arrangements all need to be in place before the holiday window opens.
Summer Holiday
The primary window for AHU refurbishment, fan replacement, coil works, and controls upgrades. Full plant room access with no occupancy constraints.
Easter & Half-Term
Smaller-scope works and preparation activities that don't create noise or dust in teaching areas.
Term Time & Weekends
Condition surveys, inspections, and minor works. Minimal disruption, with no noise or access to teaching areas required.
The lifecycle question
Refurbish or Replace?
In education, the answer is almost always refurbish first. Budgets are under sustained pressure, procurement cycles are long, and a well-specified refurbishment can deliver another 10–15 years of reliable service at a fraction of full replacement cost.
Full AHU replacement
Long procurement lead times, often 3–6 months
High upfront cost, difficult to justify in education budgets
Plant room access and structural works frequently required
Decommissioning, disposal, and installation costs on top
Often the right solution, but not always the only one
Targeted refurbishment
New fans, coils, and controls within the existing casing
Delivered within the summer holiday window
Significantly lower cost, supportable within estate budgets
10–15 year life extension on plant that is structurally sound
More deliverable. More affordable. Appropriate for most education estates.
What we find on site
What We Frequently
See on Site.
Educational buildings, particularly those from the 1960s–1990s building programmes, share common AHU problems. Awareness of what to look for makes survey visits more productive and helps prioritise the estate efficiently.
- Fixed-speed belt-driven fans running continuously without demand control
- No BMS integration, AHUs running on timeclock only
- Filter sections overdue for replacement, increasing pressure drop
- Coils fouled or corroded, reduced heating and cooling capacity
- Controls obsolete with no fault logging or remote monitoring
- No commissioning records on file, performance unverified for years
What we deliver in education
Services for Schools & Universities
AHU Refurbishment
Condition survey and costed refurbishment options. Extend asset life within the summer holiday programme.
Find out more →EC Fan Upgrades
Replace belt-driven fans with EC technology. 30–50% energy savings, significant for education energy budgets.
Find out more →Coil Replacement
Restore heating and cooling performance. Sourced or manufactured to fit the existing AHU casing.
Find out more →Controller Upgrades
Replace obsolete controls. Add BMS integration, demand-controlled ventilation, and energy monitoring.
Find out more →Our projects
Case Studies
Healthcare / NHS · Hammersmith, London
NHS Trust AHU Refurbishment, Live Facility
Relevant if: Your AHU is in a live clinical facility that stays operational during works, You need targeted component repair rather than full unit replacement, Reliability and indoor air quality cannot be compromised
Healthcare / NHS · Hammersmith, London
NHS Trust AHU Refurbishment, Live Facility
Relevant if your project involves:
- Your AHU is in a live clinical facility that stays operational during works
- You need targeted component repair rather than full unit replacement
- Reliability and indoor air quality cannot be compromised
Fan drives, filters, dampers, coil face, and bathroom extract fans overhauled. Operational life extended without full replacement or disruption to the trust.
Healthcare / Private · Bath
Operating Theatre AHU Refurbishment with EC Upgrade
Relevant if: Theatre or clinical-grade air quality standards are required throughout, Energy reduction is part of the refurbishment brief, Works must fit around a live clinical programme
Healthcare / Private · Bath
Operating Theatre AHU Refurbishment with EC Upgrade
Relevant if your project involves:
- Theatre or clinical-grade air quality standards are required throughout
- Energy reduction is part of the refurbishment brief
- Works must fit around a live clinical programme
Full internal refurbishment with EC supply and extract fans and a custom heat recovery exchanger. Energy reduced, theatre air quality maintained throughout.
Sport & Entertainment · O2 Arena, London
AHU Refurbishment, High-Footfall Venue
Relevant if: Your venue has limited maintenance windows between events or trading hours, Works must be programmed tightly around the operational calendar, Asset life extension is preferred over full unit replacement
Sport & Entertainment · O2 Arena, London
AHU Refurbishment, High-Footfall Venue
Relevant if your project involves:
- Your venue has limited maintenance windows between events or trading hours
- Works must be programmed tightly around the operational calendar
- Asset life extension is preferred over full unit replacement
Targeted internal refurbishment at the O2 Arena. Fan and filtration systems upgraded. Works coordinated around the venue's operational schedule.
Industrial / Food & Drink · UK
AHU Refurbishment, Active Production Facility
Relevant if: Your environment has specific temperature or humidity requirements tied to production, Shutdown windows need to be planned around a production schedule, The facility remains operational during the works
Industrial / Food & Drink · UK
AHU Refurbishment, Active Production Facility
Relevant if your project involves:
- Your environment has specific temperature or humidity requirements tied to production
- Shutdown windows need to be planned around a production schedule
- The facility remains operational during the works
AHU assessed, components replaced, and fully recommissioned at a working distillery. Planned around the production schedule with minimal process downtime.
Retail / Shopping Centre · Glasgow
Shopping Centre AHU Refurbishment & Gas Pipework
Relevant if: Your AHU serves a live retail or public environment that cannot close, Belt-driven fans are overdue for upgrading, Gas distribution infrastructure also needs a compliance review
Retail / Shopping Centre · Glasgow
Shopping Centre AHU Refurbishment & Gas Pipework
Relevant if your project involves:
- Your AHU serves a live retail or public environment that cannot close
- Belt-driven fans are overdue for upgrading
- Gas distribution infrastructure also needs a compliance review
Three weatherproof AHUs refurbished with EC fans and new direct-fired burners. Gas distribution replaced in 316 stainless steel. Shopping centre stayed open throughout.
Commercial Office · London
Full Internal Refurbishment, City Office AHU
Relevant if: Multiple internal components have reached end of life at the same time, Air volume requirements have changed since the original installation, You need a complete strip-out and recommission rather than piecemeal repair
Commercial Office · London
Full Internal Refurbishment, City Office AHU
Relevant if your project involves:
- Multiple internal components have reached end of life at the same time
- Air volume requirements have changed since the original installation
- You need a complete strip-out and recommission rather than piecemeal repair
All internal components replaced: frost coil, cooling coil, heating coil, filtration, and fan assembly. Rematched to revised air volumes and recommissioned.
Hotel / Leisure · Forest of Arden
Pool Hall AHU Troubleshooting & Survey, Marriott
Relevant if: Your pool hall AHU is failing to reach target temperature or humidity, The unit was recently installed or maintained but is still underperforming, You want an independent assessment before committing to replacement
Hotel / Leisure · Forest of Arden
Pool Hall AHU Troubleshooting & Survey, Marriott
Relevant if your project involves:
- Your pool hall AHU is failing to reach target temperature or humidity
- The unit was recently installed or maintained but is still underperforming
- You want an independent assessment before committing to replacement
AHU installed three years prior was only reaching 24°C against a 31°C target. Full survey identified ductwork leaks, diffuser inadequacy, and control issues. Rectification programme defined.
Leisure / Swimming Pool · Dorset
EC Fan Retrofit, Swimming Pool AHU
Relevant if: Belt-driven fans in a pool hall or humid environment have failed or are near failure, Humidity and temperature control has been lost or is unreliable, You want to extend AHU life without a full casing replacement
Leisure / Swimming Pool · Dorset
EC Fan Retrofit, Swimming Pool AHU
Relevant if your project involves:
- Belt-driven fans in a pool hall or humid environment have failed or are near failure
- Humidity and temperature control has been lost or is unreliable
- You want to extend AHU life without a full casing replacement
Two Ziehl-Abegg GR561 EC fans installed within the existing casing after catastrophic belt-drive failure. Humidity and temperature control restored. Belt maintenance eliminated.
Hotel / Leisure · Norfolk
Custom AHU Manufactured & Installed, Hotel Pool Hall
Relevant if: Restricted plantroom access prevents a standard unit being delivered whole, End-of-life AHU in a pool hall or glazed, humid environment, You need full scope: design, manufacture, install, and commission under one contract
Hotel / Leisure · Norfolk
Custom AHU Manufactured & Installed, Hotel Pool Hall
Relevant if your project involves:
- Restricted plantroom access prevents a standard unit being delivered whole
- End-of-life AHU in a pool hall or glazed, humid environment
- You need full scope: design, manufacture, install, and commission under one contract
Made-to-specification AHU for a glazed pool hall. Manufactured flatpack for restricted access, rebuilt on site. Heat recovery, humidity control, and Trend controls included.
Care / Retirement · UK
AHU Replacement, Continuously Occupied Retirement Village
Relevant if: The building is continuously occupied and cannot be vacated for works, Resident comfort and air quality must be maintained throughout, A standard catalogue replacement is not available or suitable for the space
Care / Retirement · UK
AHU Replacement, Continuously Occupied Retirement Village
Relevant if your project involves:
- The building is continuously occupied and cannot be vacated for works
- Resident comfort and air quality must be maintained throughout
- A standard catalogue replacement is not available or suitable for the space
Replacement AHU designed to performance spec, supplied, installed, and commissioned at a working retirement village. Planned to avoid disruption to residents throughout.
Commercial Office · London
Frost Coil Replacement, Restricted Plantroom Access
Relevant if: Your frost or heating coil has failed and needs replacing, Restricted access means a standard single-piece coil cannot reach the plant room, You need a solution that avoids structural modifications to the building
Commercial Office · London
Frost Coil Replacement, Restricted Plantroom Access
Relevant if your project involves:
- Your frost or heating coil has failed and needs replacing
- Restricted access means a standard single-piece coil cannot reach the plant room
- You need a solution that avoids structural modifications to the building
Coil manufactured in two sections to navigate a restricted plantroom. Sections connected in situ. Full performance maintained. No structural works required.
Pharmaceutical / Industrial · UK
AHU Coil Replacement, Pharmaceutical Production
Relevant if: Your process environment has strict temperature and humidity tolerances, Coil replacement must match original performance exactly, Works need to be planned around production with minimum downtime
Pharmaceutical / Industrial · UK
AHU Coil Replacement, Pharmaceutical Production
Relevant if your project involves:
- Your process environment has strict temperature and humidity tolerances
- Coil replacement must match original performance exactly
- Works need to be planned around production with minimum downtime
Coil measured on site, manufactured to exact specification, and installed around the production schedule. Performance verified before handover.
Automotive / Commercial · Farnborough
Heating Coil & Pipework Replacement, Commercial Premises
Relevant if: Your heating coil has failed or is consistently underperforming, Associated pipework also needs replacing at the same time, Works need to be completed to current installation standards
Automotive / Commercial · Farnborough
Heating Coil & Pipework Replacement, Commercial Premises
Relevant if your project involves:
- Your heating coil has failed or is consistently underperforming
- Associated pipework also needs replacing at the same time
- Works need to be completed to current installation standards
Heating coil and all associated pipework removed and replaced. Insulation fitted throughout. Commissioned and tested to BS 6644:2011.
Leisure · Ringwood
Controller Upgrade: £100k AHU Replacement Avoided
Relevant if: You've been advised to replace AHUs that appear structurally sound, Controls are failing but the mechanical structure of the unit is in good condition, You want an independent assessment before committing to capital expenditure
Leisure · Ringwood
Controller Upgrade: £100k AHU Replacement Avoided
Relevant if your project involves:
- You've been advised to replace AHUs that appear structurally sound
- Controls are failing but the mechanical structure of the unit is in good condition
- You want an independent assessment before committing to capital expenditure
External consultants recommended full replacement at over £100k. Root cause was failing controls. Two Trend controllers installed. Both units now fully operational at a fraction of the cost.
Retail · Westfield, London
AHU Controller Upgrade, Westfield Retail Store
Relevant if: AHU controls are obsolete or have failed and the system has stopped working, You need automated scheduling aligned to your trading or operating hours, Temperature control across the occupied space is unreliable
Retail · Westfield, London
AHU Controller Upgrade, Westfield Retail Store
Relevant if your project involves:
- AHU controls are obsolete or have failed and the system has stopped working
- You need automated scheduling aligned to your trading or operating hours
- Temperature control across the occupied space is unreliable
Failed fan motor and obsolete controls replaced with a Trend BMS controller and new temperature sensor. Automated scheduling, accurate climate control, and manual override restored.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
A single AHU refurbishment typically takes 3–5 days on site depending on scope. Where multiple units are being addressed, we programme works to make best use of the available holiday window, summer being the most common.
Yes. We follow safeguarding protocols appropriate to the site, including enhanced DBS checks for engineers where required. All access is managed through the site's visitor procedures.
We always present refurbishment and life extension alongside any replacement option. For education estates, this is usually the more practical route, restoring performance and extending asset life at significantly lower cost than full plant replacement.
Yes. We carry out condition surveys across multiple buildings and produce a prioritised programme report, rating units by condition, compliance risk, and energy performance, which supports planning and budget bids.
We work across all building ages, from 1960s system-built schools through to newer academy builds. Older building stock typically has AHUs approaching or past their original design life, which is where prioritised refurbishment programmes deliver the most value.
Get in touch
Plan Your
Summer Programme
The earlier we talk, the more useful we can be. Tell us about your estate, building ages, known AHU issues, and any compliance or energy targets, and we'll help you develop a practical programme.
Holiday window delivery, programme planned around your calendar
Condition surveys to support planning and budget bids
Schools, colleges, universities, and specialist estates
Direct response, not sales handlers
Enquiry
Tell us about your estate, the size of the programme, and when you need works completed. We'll respond within one working day.