Exposed Ducting & Branding Combined...

Alpha Mechanical Ltd recently completed the HVAC installation at Five Guys in Dundrum, County Dublin.

Exposed ductwork is on the rise as an energy-efficient design element in retail environments. Our designers know how to make a simple, utilitarian feature pack a major design punch. Playing with size, shape, colour and angles allows exposed systems to work in almost any space. At Five Guys in Dundrum the design goes one step further and incorporates the Company branding into the design, bold reds stand out to make a statement.

What are the benefits?

One of the main goal’s of any retail store is to leave a memorable impression with its customers so that their experience will be worthy of another trip back. Branding, colours, flooring, fixtures, music, and imagery are often used to help further create an environment for the customer. The use of coloured ducting here helps elevate what would normally be a hidden entity. 

• The result gives a 'wow' factor.
• Higher ceilings giving a spacious impression.
• Lower overall costs than a traditional suspended ceiling HVAC.
• Incorporates the 'brand' vibe.
• Clean and minimalist.

The expert mechanical services contractors...

Alpha Mechanical Services & Contractors are one of The United Kingdom's and Ireland's leading providers of high efficiency commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC). Services include: new equipment installation & design, repair, replacement and planned preventative maintenance.

We offer a full range of mechanical consulting, installation and maintenance services with expertise in all aspects of commercial and retail HVAC systems. We have our own in-house engineering, fabrication, commissioning and health and safety experts to ensure cost-effective delivery of the highest quality solutions in a zero harm environment.

At Alpha Mechanical Services Ltd. we bring industry leading expertise and cutting edge technology to create uncompromising solutions. Lets work together!

Sustainability tips for Commercial HVAC that save you money.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are among the most energy-intensive mechanism of any business. In fact, space cooling alone accounts for 15% of the electricity used in commercial buildings on average. Much of the energy and cost that goes into powering HVAC is lost to waste – upwards of 30% in the average commercial building.

Reducing wasted HVAC energy consumption is an important building block in the push for greater sustainability in the business world. It is also a great way to substantially reduce operating costs. And many of the steps that business owners and managers can take to improve sustainability and reduce costs require little to no expense. Many of those steps are also incredibly simple, and the more complex waste-reducing practices often offer excellent return on investment.

Reduce wasted energy by 5-10% by regularly changing HVAC filters

Dirty filters overwork HVAC systems by restricting air flow, cost far more to use, lead to poor indoor air quality and result in far more commercial HVAC maintenance issues and costs. Check HVAC filters on a quarterly basis. Finding an HVAC technician to perform regular check-ups can help.

HVAC filters should be changed every month. At the longest, HVAC filters should be switched out every three months. Switching out dirty filters is one of the simplest sustainability steps a business can take, and it can reduce wasted energy costs by 5-10%.

Reduce costs, save energy with programmable thermostats.

Temperature settings in a business can often be contentious. Installing programmable thermostats removes much of the burden of tailoring temperature settings to meet the desires of a diverse workforce and customer base by focusing on sustainability and reduced costs.

Installing programmable thermostats can affect sustainability and wasted energy in a number of ways. Building temperatures can be set to run at higher or lower temperatures depending on the season, but it is critical that they are correctly programmed.

Programmable thermostats are available in 7-day models, which are ideal for regularly changing schedules; and 5+2-day models, which are appropriate for businesses that operate on regular five-day schedules where less energy use is required on weekends or other two-day periods.

Reduce commercial HVAC maintenance costs by 40% with planned preventative maintenance.

Commercial HVAC maintenance is like getting a tune-up for a car – both are necessary for top performance. Regular planned preventative maintenance on all HVAC systems and equipment ensures that those systems and equipment are not wasting energy due to substandard, ageing or faulty performance.

Taking a proactive approach to a building's HVAC systems through regular quality maintenance can reduce commercial HVAC maintenance costs by up to 40%.

Planned Preventative Maintenance greatly reduces call out costs and labour fees, causes less disruption and is a much better alternative to risking a potentially damaging breakdown of equipment.

Improve HVAC efficiency by 20% by properly sealing heating and cooling ducts.

Doing something as simple as properly sealing heating and cooling ducts can improve HVAC efficiency by 20% or more.

Ducts can be sealed using mastic, foil tape or blown-in duct sealant. The sealing effect is further improved by wrapping the ducts in insulation. Focus first on areas of the building that are unprotected – underneath the building or in unheated/cooled storage spaces.

Improve efficiency by 5-20% with HVAC upgrades and/or HVAC replacement.

Sometimes the best ways to improve HVAC efficiency come through upgrading or replacing existing HVAC equipment and systems. Running HVAC systems and equipment past their suggested lifespans leads to exorbitant energy and maintenance costs.

If a building’s air conditioner or heat pump is more than 10 years old, consider replacing it. Furnaces or boilers that are more than 15 years old will also likely be due for upgrades or replacement, and offer significant cost and energy savings.

Retrofitting existing packaged rooftop HVAC units with advanced digital economizer controls and/or sensors that bring in ventilation air only when needed – also known as demand controlled ventilation – is yet another important and successful way for businesses to significantly improve energy efficiency.

 

Hire expert mechanical services contractors.

Alpha Mechanical Services & Contractors are one of The United Kingdom's and Ireland's leading providers of high efficiency commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC). Services include: new equipment installation, repair, replacement and planned preventative maintenance.

We offer a full range of mechanical consulting, installation and maintenance services with expertise in all aspects of commercial and retail HVAC systems. We have our own in-house engineering, fabrication, commissioning and health and safety experts to ensure cost-effective delivery of the highest quality solutions in a zero harm environment.

At Alpha Mechanical Services Ltd. we bring industry leading expertise and cutting edge technology to create uncompromising solutions. Always on budget and on schedule. Lets work together!

www.alphamech.ie

The Ardmore Hotel Conversion - and an Amazing view of the Aviva Stadium

The 93-bedroom Ardmore Hotel at Finglas Road in Dublin 11 was converted into a nursing home after structural and internal modifications to a five storey over basement, 83 bed nursing home facility including associated internal modifications. Alpha Mechanical were tasked with the buildings HVAC requirements over five floors and the basement. The works also included the installation of a number of Daikin Inverters on the roof which had an amazing view of the Aviva Stadium..

Strategies for Dealing With Exposed Ductwork and Services.

Exposed ductwork is like the holy grail for industrial types, you've found something that totally speaks your style. Or maybe you're reading this because exposed ductwork isn't your taste, but you are living with it, and you want to find a way to hide the ducts and pipes running through your otherwise great office. The answer lies in one of these solutions:

Paint Them the Color of the Ceiling

If the ceiling's blue, give the ducts and services a matching coat, as shown in the example below. The idea here is to make the ductwork disappear, visually.

Paint Them an Eye-Catching Color

Treat the exposed hardware like an accessory for your offices, and give them a colorful coat of paint that matches something else in the room–or doesn't. This helps to camouflage their industrial side without totally making the ducts disappear. Incorporate your brand colour.

 

Leave Them Au Natural

Leaving ducts and pipes bare is the most common thing to do–and also the easiest. Just do... nothing. Leave your ductwork just as it comes and enjoy a space that has a raw, industrial vibe.

Image courtesy of IIS Ltd.  www.fitout.ie

Image courtesy of IIS Ltd.  www.fitout.ie

 

Raw and Industrial

Last but not least: Do nothing, concrete and exposed services Interiors: Exposed beams, concrete floors and raw steel are becoming firm favourites.