Key considerations when selecting a climate solution for your business
When it comes to air conditioners and heat pumps, there is an abundance of options in different shapes, sizes, and features. How can you make the best choice? When it comes to your building, be it a multi-storeyed hotel or a compact retail shop, the products you pick should cater to your needs and those of your customers and / or employees.
In this guide, we have outlined the most important features to look out for, to create the perfect indoor climate while minimizing energy consumption. This overview will help you shortlist your preferences when approaching installers or consultants to make further calculations and designs.
In the following sections, we have listed five key features to better explain how each of these play an important role in creating the right ambience for your building.
The type of system and capacity required
The first thing to consider when looking for the right product is the type of system and capacity required for the building in question. For this, the following factors are key:
1. The number of rooms;
2. The ambient condition;
3. The refrigeration medium. In other words: how the system will cool;
4. The need for sanitary hot water;
5. The size of each room;
6. The operating conditions - this refers to the frequency and duration of heating and cooling in the building, depending on how the space is used.
For light commercial applications, such as small offices and stores, we recommend looking at commercial air conditioning as these have sufficient capacity to cool down or heat up one large space such as a company hall. A good example of this is our Commercial Split, as it has been designed to cool or heat up to four indoor units in unison to ensure the perfect temperature distribution.
For larger commercial buildings, such as spacious hotels and office buildings, Samsung offers two types of systems:
DVM cools and heats spaces using refrigerant. DVM S2 can connect up to 64 indoor units and offers the option to independently cool or heat multiple rooms simultaneously.
HVM (Hydro Variable Multi) cools and heats spaces using water, thus eliminating the need for refrigerants inside the building. It follows a modular concept with the option to combine up to 16 HVM outdoor units to form one climate solution.
Design of the indoor units
The design of indoor units is key in optimising the use of space. Depending on whether you want to free up space on the ceiling or the walls, the right kind of indoor air conditioning units should be selected. There are different types of such units available in the market, some examples:
• Ducted units that can be entirely embedded in the ceiling;
• Wall-mounted units that are fitted onto walls;
• Cassette units that can be fitted on the ceiling, leaving the walls free.
Below are some Samsung products to help you understand each category described above.
The Samsung Slim Duct S serves as a good example of a ducted unit and is remarkably compact at a height of 200mm which allows for easy installation and maintenance in all kinds of spaces*.
*Based on the AM017~071*NLD*H/EU
Wall-mounted units such as Samsung’s air-conditioners equipped with WindFree™ technology cool quietly and gently, dispersing air through 23,000 micro-holes that ensure there is no unpleasant cold draft in the room*. Additionally, these units are easy to mount and install using roller-type brackets that help them slide easily into position. The WindFree™ Deluxe wall-mounted air conditioner is available across various Samsung systems.
*ASHRAE (the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) defines “Still Air” as air currents moving at speeds below 0.15 m/s, with no cold drafts.
Samsung offers a variety of Cassette units:
The WindFree™ 1-Way Cassette is a compact and lightweight device that fits into small gaps or ceilings and is easy to install and maintain.
The WindFree™ 4-Way Cassette has larger, optimised, and removable blades to facilitate a wider cooling range and improved air circulation within a room. The 4-Way Cassette is also available as a smaller 600 x 600 Cassette.
The 360 Cassette is a bladeless unit with a unique circular design and intuitive Circular LED display to add style to any room.
Realistic indication of energy efficiency
It is also important to consider the energy efficiency of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) products. The energy efficiency of HVAC systems can be measured using Seasonal Energy Efficiency which takes into consideration the fact that heating and cooling demands are not constant over the year.
Seasonal energy efficiency is based on:
• Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) value for cooling
• Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) value for heating
Together they provide a realistic indication of the energy efficiency of a system over a typical cooling or heating season. It is also good to know that the energy efficiency of Samsung products can be easily compared with other models as the system is standardized throughout.
Additionally, many air conditioners are equipped with energy-saving technologies which can further reduce energy bills. The following serve as good examples:
Motion Detect Sensor – The optional Motion Detect Sensor available for the WindFree™ 4-Way Cassette and WindFree™ 4-Way 600 x 600 Cassette detects the presence and location of people in the room, enabling automatic management of airflow direction and efficient air cooling.
DVM S2 – By learning usage patterns from recent operations and the surrounding conditions, the Samsung DVM S2 proactively creates, optimizes and maintains the most comfortable environment, while reducing energy consumption.
Smart features to manage energy consumption and increase convenience
A good way to further optimise energy usage is by investing in air conditioners that are equipped with smart features. These features not only ensure optimal energy efficiency but also make the devices more convenient for use.
Smart Control - Temperatures can be managed remotely using the SmartThings App* for Samsung air conditioners. Selecting the cooling mode allows users to schedule operation, group devices or monitor power consumption. Moreover, the optional Wi-Fi Kit allows control of up to 16 connectible indoor units via smartphone, and the geofencing functionality allows room temperatures to be automatically set at the desired level when the user approaches within a preset distance from the building.
*A Wi-Fi connection and Samsung SmartThings application account are required. Wi-Fi Kit to be ordered separately. Requires iOS 10.0 or later & Android 5.0 or later. Additional requirements may be needed to apply SmartThings for medium-sized to large commercial buildings. For details contact a Samsung representative.
*A Wi-Fi connection and Samsung SmartThings application account are required. Wi-Fi Kit to be ordered separately. Requires iOS 10.0 or later & Android 5.0 or later. Additional requirements may be needed to apply SmartThings for medium-sized to large commercial buildings. For details contact a Samsung representative.
b.IoT: The Samsung b.IoT (building Internet of Things) is a building management solution that can efficiently manage and save energy. An open platform with expandability and compatibility, it helps connect different devices and machines to the Internet and facilitate the exchange of necessary data that improves overall efficiency and convenience.
Air purification for better Indoor Air Quality
If air purification has not been a priority when selecting climate solutions, it would be worthwhile to reconsider it. Research shows that the air within the walls of our homes, schools, offices, and factories can be up to five times more polluted than outdoor air*. The air pollutants that are considered to have the strongest evidence of adverse health effects include Particulate Matter (PM), which is produced by a combination of suspended solid and liquid particles in the air**.
The potential consequences of exposure to Particulate Matter***:
Impairment of lung development
Asthma
Heart attacks
Strokes
In completely closed spaces air pollutants remain and accumulate in the room, which in turn could impact the wellbeing and health of people. For healthy indoor air, it is important to have climate units that facilitate air filtration and eliminate potentially harmful PM dust from the passing air, while also improving the climate system and its hygienic and efficient operation. This is why the implementation of Air Purification Panels is key.
Air Purification filters that keep out certain types of potentially harmful PM are available for the following Samsung products for commercial spaces:
• WindFree™ 1-Way Cassette
• WindFree™ 4-Way Cassette
• 360 Cassette
For more information, please read Samsung’s whitepaper on the importance of Indoor Air Quality or check out this page to understand the dangers of harmful PM.
- * Source: U.S. EPA (2019), Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) | Available at: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq. Introduction to Indoor Air Quality, United Status Environmental Protection Agency.
- ** Source: Health risks of particulate matter from long-range transboundary air pollution, World Health Organisation (2006).
- *** Source: Particulate Matter Concentrations, United States Environmental Protection Agency.
