Air Conditioning System Upgrade
Brighton Centre
Location
Brighton, East Sussex
Overview
Replaced an outdated, inefficient chiller-based air conditioning system with a modern, flexible VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) solution designed to handle the demands of their busy East Wing and meeting rooms
Another seamless collaboration of AC South & TSS Facilities working together
Project Overview
Location: Brighton Centre, East Wing
Project Duration: 8 Weeks (AC Engineers), 3–4 Weeks (Electrical)
System Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
The Brighton Centre, a premier events and conference venue located in the heart of Brighton, recently underwent a significant HVAC upgrade to enhance comfort and energy efficiency across its East Wing and adjacent meeting rooms. This project aimed to replace the outdated and inefficient chiller-based air conditioning system with a modern, flexible, and energy-efficient VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) solution.
Scope of Work
System Specification:
Conference Rooms (East Wing):
- Outdoor Units: 4 × Mitsubishi FDC450KXZE2 (45kW Heat Pump)
- Indoor Units: 16 × Mitsubishi FDT140KXZE1 (14kW Shadow Black 4-Way Cassettes)
- Layout: 4 Conference Rooms, each with 4 indoor cassettes.
Meeting Rooms:
- Outdoor Units: 3 × Mitsubishi FDC100VNP-W (10kW Split Systems)
- Indoor Units: 3 × 10kW Cassettes (1 per meeting room)
Areas Covered:
- East Wing: Four large, divisible conference rooms with the ability to combine into a single large event space per floor.
- Meeting Rooms: Three medium-sized meeting spaces previously fitted with outdated and non-functional systems.
Project Execution
Timeline:
- Air Conditioning Installation: 8 Weeks
- Electrical Works: 3–4 Weeks
Electrical Installations Included:
- New 3-phase distribution board to support the VRF systems.
- 4 × 32A ring mains (1 per conference room) to power the new indoor cassette units.
Challenges & Solutions
1. Refrigerant Recovery & Legacy System Removal:
One of the most complex tasks was safely recovering over 220kg of refrigerant from the decommissioned chiller system. This included the removal of associated pipework connected to two 8-fan Searle Fan Coil Units located on the roof.
2. Rooftop Logistics in a Central City Location:
The Brighton Centre’s central location posed logistical challenges for rooftop access. Coordinating the safe removal of old rooftop units and craning new VRF units into place required meticulous planning and cooperation with local authorities to minimize disruption.
3. Building Infrastructure & Aesthetic Considerations:
Navigating the internal building structure to install new pipework and wiring while maintaining a clean, professional aesthetic required bespoke solutions. Ensuring the new system blended seamlessly into the architecture of the conference rooms was a top priority.
Result
The completed installation has transformed the East Wing and meeting room environments, providing:
- Quiet, efficient, and individually controlled climate zones.
- Modern, visually discreet indoor units in Shadow Black, chosen to complement the interior design.
- Increased system flexibility for event organizers through independent systems per conference room.
- Enhanced reliability and reduced operational costs with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ advanced VRF and split systems.
Conclusion
This successful HVAC upgrade at the Brighton Centre showcases the value of tailored system design, careful planning, and expert execution. The result is a future-proof, energy-efficient climate control solution that meets the demands of one of Brighton’s most important venues.
Why choose us?
We're rated as Excellent
Based on over 174 reviews
10/10 super efficient, really friendly and helpful team. All works carried out to the highest standard and superb customer care
Professional company, competitive quotes and knowledgeable engineers.
It is a pleasure to deal with your company, you are all pleasant and efficient very different from the service we have been receiving.
