Villa Air-Conditioning Solution: Using Rooftop Package Air Conditioners
What is the appropriate Air Conditioning solution for an individual villa in the Gulf Region?
There are multiple answers to this question. Types of air conditioning systems are defined based on the unit construction and the cooling media. For example direct expansion, chilled water, ducted split, non-ducted split etc. These are technical classifications and are more useful for manufacturing a system. From an end users point of view, the Air Conditioning system can simply be defined based on the location of the cooling unit; whether the cooling unit is placed inside or outside the house.
Types of systems with the cooling unit placed inside the house are:
- Ducted Split System.
- Non-Ducted Split System and
- Chilled Water system with fan coil unit.
A System with the cooling unit placed outside the house is the Roof-mounted package Air Conditioning system.
These different cooling solutions; i.e. cooling unit placed inside and outside the house, have technical and commercial pros and cons from the points of view of the Supplier (Manufacturer), Consultant and Contractor. However, in order to offer a need-based solution, it is important to understand the unstated needs of a villa owner. It is essential to recognise what really matters to an end user apart from these technical and commercial pros and cons. What are the parameters or benefits that a villa owner actually needs but never ask for? This question needs to be addressed. Air conditioning of a villa using roof mounted package air conditioning system offers numerous such benefits to customers.
What is Roof Mounted Package Air Conditioner? (RTU)
As the name connotes, a Roof Mounted Package Air Conditioner (RTU) is an air conditioner placed on the roof. In an RTU all components like the filter, blower-motor, cooling coil etc. are placed inside one package. Hence the unit is also called Self Contained Package. Cold air is supplied to the room through metal conduits called ducts.
Benefits of a Roof Mounted Package Air Conditioning system for a Villa
1. Health (Improved Indoor Air Quality)
Roof Top Package units can circulate fresh air. Having sufficient fresh air achieves two key objectives:
- a) It pressurises the room and
- b) Increases indoor air quality by diluting polluted or stale indoor air.
Fresh air enters the system through a return air duct vent and then passes over the filter. This air mixes with the return air and is dispersed evenly in the building, through the supply duct system.
When a system does not have access to fresh air; individuals in that particular building may end up inhaling contaminated and re-circulated air which may expose them to more pollutants indoors. This simply means that if there is mould, dust, volatile organic compounds (used for indoor furnishing, maintenance and cleaning) or even individuals with an air-borne infection; other people in the building are more prone to be exposed to any of these pollutants due to the lack of fresh air in circulation. This is why fresh air is essential for our health.
2. Privacy
The most frequently accessed part for maintenance in an Air Conditioning system is the air filter. In case the cooling unit is inside the house, the service personnel needs an access into the house to clean the filters and/or perform any other service operations. In cases where motor replacement is necessary, the service technicians need a couple of hours to finish their work. This creates a disturbance to the family of the villa owner.
However, in the case of a Roof mounted systems, all components are placed on the roof. The service technicians perform the maintenance tasks on the roof without invading the privacy of the villa owner and, the family continues to spend quality time together inside the house.
In addition to these, the Roof mounted Air Conditioning system offers the following benefits:
- No water drain pipe inside the house which eliminates the chances of leakage indoors.
- Ducted air ensures uniform air distribution and cooling.
- No noise from the Air Conditioning system is heard inside the house as the entire cooling unit is on the roof.