Design Solution · HVAC & Energy
Design Solution · Dream about it
Induction beams on central fresh air for quiet, efficient cooling.
Active chilled beams induce room air over a cooling coil using primary fresh air delivered by a separate central system, giving high comfort and air quality with reduced fan energy and noise. They free the floor void from the environmental strategy and suit deep-plan offices, with condensation control needed.
Active chilled beams use primary fresh air delivered by a central AHU to induce room air over a cooling coil at the terminal, providing cooling and ventilation simultaneously without a local fan — giving quieter operation and lower fan energy than fan coil units while maintaining good indoor air quality through the central ventilation path. The technology is well-established in deep-plan commercial office fit-outs and is a recognised alternative to FCUs and VAV in the mid-to-upper tier of the market, though this record provides no evidence of a specific deployment. The practical case for active beams rests on ceiling void availability — they need a distribution plenum for the primary air ductwork, typically 350–500 mm — and on condensation control: if the chilled water supplied to the coil is at or below dewpoint for room conditions, condensate will form, which requires either dehumidification of the primary air or careful water temperature control. They are less responsive to rapid load changes than FCUs and are best suited to buildings with predictable and relatively uniform occupancy rather than high-density variable-use spaces.
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