Hvac Contents HVAC Selection Matrix

HVAC CONTENTS
HVAC Selection Matrix
Most often the HVAC systems are selected based solely on initial cost, or the designer's
experience. This is however short sighted approach. The selection process should consist of
a detailed performance analysis for various systems.
Utilisation of a system selection matrix is a comprehensive way to demonstrate the most

cost effective sustainable solution. The engineer must generate various HVAC options and
grade them in form of numerical rating against the selection criteria. This process involves
the following 6 steps:
1. Define important criteria (seek inputs from owner)

2. Generate and score options 1–10 on these criteria (10 equal to excellent and 0 equal
to poor or not applicable)
3. Assign weight (include the owner’s input to the weighted multipliers according to
perceived importance of each criterion)
4. Multiply weight to score for weighted score.
5. Add weighted scores for total score.
6. Prioritize score of highest ranking option.
The HVAC system with the highest numerical value then becomes the recommended HVAC
system. Examples of similar installations for other owners should be included with this
report to support the final recommendation. Identifying a third party for an endorsement
allows the owner to inquire about the success of other HVAC installations.
Example
Let’s examine the 3 options of HVAC systems suitability for a high-rise building in an
example below:
Criteria Weight Centralized Score Packaged Score VRF Score

System Units Units
Thermal Comfort 8 9 72 7 56 8 64
(Temp/Humidity/
Air quality)
Criteria Weight Centralized Score Packaged Score VRF Score
System Units Units
Real Estate & 10* 9 90 7 70 8 80
Space Utilization
Building 10* 9 90 6 60 7 70
Aesthetics/Facad
e
Life Safety and 10* 9 90 7 70 5 50
Building Codes
Building 6 7 42 8 48 8 48
Amenities/Zoning
Least First Cost 7 8 56 7 56 7 49
(scale economy)
Life-cycle cost 9** 8 72 6 54 8 72
(Energy &
Maintenance)
Project Schedule 7 6 42 8 56 8 56
System Flexibility 9** 6 54 7 63 9 81
Reliability/ 9** 8 72 6 54 8 72
Maintainability
LEED Certification 7 9 63 7 49 8 56
Control Systems 7 8 56 6 42 8 56
Total Score 799 678 754
Priority 1 3 2
*Most Important Attributes for Tall Buildings
**Second Important Attribute
The relative importance of factors differs with owners and often changes from one project
to another. For example, typical concerns of owners include first cost compared to
operating cost, the extent and frequency of maintenance and whether that maintenance
requires entering the occupied space, the expected frequency of failure of a system, the
impact of a failure, and the time required to correct the failure. Each of these concerns has a
different priority, depending on the owner’s goals.
The owner can only make appropriate value judgments, if the design engineer provides
complete information on the advantages and disadvantages of each option. Just as the
owner does not usually know the relative advantages and disadvantages of different HVAC
systems, the design engineer rarely knows all the owner’s financial and functional goals. A
compromise must be made for most important design criteria.
1.1 Comparison - Decentralized Systems v/s Semi-Centralized Systems
So now that you are well versed with the three main categories of air conditioning units, it’s
time to select appropriate option for your building. Some drivers involve the design of the
building itself – height, visibility of equipment, and proximity to surrounding buildings –
while others entail the developer’s preference – initial installation cost, aesthetics, and long
term maintenance and life cycle costs. These, and many other variables, factor into the
decision-making process.
Here are some pointers highlighting the salient features of a centralized HVAC system and a
localized HVAC system. Owners, architects, engineers, designers and other users can discuss
these options with relative objectivity to make the informed decision.
Characteristics Decentralized Semi-Centralized Centralized Systems

Systems (Window/ (Package / Roof top (Chillers)
Splits/VRF) Systems)
Area served Small Medium to large Large
Cooling Direct expansion Direct expansion Chilled water coil
(DX) coil (DX) coil
Cooling capacity Mostly < 5 TR (VRF 3 – 50 TR Greater than 80 TR
can be sized up to 80 Will require higher and up to 2000 TR
TR). number of Will require fewer
Will require very equipments for a pieces of
high number of given load. Will refrigeration
refrigeration increase equipment.
equipments. High maintenance
maintenance. requirements.
Amount of outdoor Influenced by wind Positive outdoor air Positive and
air supply direction and supply guaranteed outdoor
velocity air supply
Temperature control Greater temperature Temperature may Better control quality
fluctuation fluctuate as a result
of step control of DX
control
Humidity control Poor Moderate Good
Air cleanliness Not satisfactory Satisfactory owing to Meet any
owing to low medium efficiency requirement because
efficiency air filters air filters of the possibility of
installing medium or
high efficiency air
filters
Noise level High Lower Lowest
Aesthetics Difficult to hide These systems Less in-suite
multiple air cooled present challenge for equipment helps
condensers on the architects to hide ensure aesthetics
exterior of the and camouflage meet architectural
building. HVAC equipment design intent
with building
interior/exterior
Real estate Usually do not May or may not Require space for
require an require equipment chillers, AHU’s,
equipment room. room if ceiling cooling tower or air
However, the air- mounted package cooled condensers.
cooled condensers units are selected. Ceiling space and
require open space Require very little vertical shafts needed
for heat rejection ceiling space for to run piping and
Ductless units do not ducts. These provide ductwork.

advantage of more
require ceiling
floor to floor space
space.
or flexibility of
adding additional
floor space.
Load diversity No diversity Lower diversity Lower diversity
Require each piece Some diversity is

of equipment to be possible, but
sized for the redundancy
maximum capacity. (standby) is
recommended for
critical areas.
System efficiency Low Medium High
However, these These are perceived Provide the best

provide to be more efficient coefficient of
opportunities of to use on week-ends Performance (COP)
operating only the and after hours - a
designated unit on key feature in
need basis. marketing the
building to
increasingly energy-
conscious tenants.
Operating life Shorter (5 to 10 Longer (10 to 15 Longest (25 to 30
years) years) years)
Maintenance More maintenance Less maintenance at Having the
that too in the package unit refrigeration
conditioned space location. equipment
centralized generally
Maintenance can be
allows easier access
undertaken by semi-
for preventive
skilled technicians.
maintenance and
service.
Maintenance
however is complex
and has to be carried
out by specialist
contractors or
Original Equipment
Manufacturers
(OEMs)
Heat rejection Air cooled only Both air and water Both air and water
cooled cooled
Life Safety, smoke No Possible Yes
control integration Dedicated smoke Most fire codes
exhaust and makeup mandate mechanical
air systems must be smoke control and
added separately to removal systems in
the system, which high-rise buildings.
entails both cost and The central system
space. design allows for
smoke control
capability and
stairwell
pressurization
system.
Operator No May be required Required
Initial cost Lower overall costs Medium Higher, because
design, engineering
The equipment costs The layout is simple
and construction take
may be higher but and repeated
longer time.
the design and multiple times,
construction costs which saves design
are lower. time.
Operating cost Lower Medium Higher (note kW/TR
is lowest)
Constructability and Simple and fast. Simpler compared to More complex.

Installation central systems. Heavy equipment
The units are needs special lifting
standard skid arrangements.
mounted complete Installation requires
with internal piping high degree of
and control wiring. technical input and
services of specialist
contractors.
Project Schedule Easy to achieve Somewhat Tight

achievable Engineering and
Standard items, easy procurement time is
delivery and lower higher and
construction period construction is
permit achieving tedious with lot of
tight project inter-disciplinary co-
schedules. ordination.
Commissioning Simple plug and play Commissioning does Commissioning and
type not require specialist balancing is quite
skills and can be elaborate with
undertaken quickly services of 3rd party
and cost effectively. certified
professionals.
Plant room Not required Separate equipment Fan room and central
room is required room required
Redundancy Not required 3 x 50% 2 x 100%
There is a reduced Partial redundancy Complete

risk to operations recommended. redundancy
since failure of one recommended when
unit impacts only a inadvertent
small area. equipment shutdown
of main units cannot
be tolerated. A single
equipment failure
constitutes a service
outage for entire
building.
Flexibility of More flexible Comparatively Less flexible
operation flexible
Energy metering for Simple Simpler compared to Difficult.
individual tenants central systems. Chiller system is
Multi-metering can common for all
be easily achieved tenants causing
allowing individual difficulty with running
tenancies to be cost segregation
responsible for between tenancies.
energy consumption
outgoings.
Energy Recovery No Partially Yes
Rooftop units can be Can include energy

selected with energy recovery economizer,
recovery equipment. heat wheel,
dehumidifier options.
Controls Individualized Individual control Central systems are
controls are options are not usually regulated
available. always available. according to a single
These can’t be easily design setting.
However, these
networked to BMS.
can’t be networked These can however
to building be networked to
automation system BMS. This means that
(BMS). optimum start and
stop can be used.
Flexibility Yes Yes Difficult
The units may be If capacity needs Usually AHU’s serving

placed in numerous change or different multiple zones is
locations. New interior or ductwork difficult to modify.
equipment can be changes are
added, changed or required, these
moved to systems can be easily
accommodate modified.
building renovations.
LEED certification Limited Partial High
Only VRF systems Roof top units Central systems

get few points on provide equipment offers
energy efficiency opportunities for very high efficiency
and sustainability. energy recovery compared to local
systems and score
points on
sustainability, energy
& water efficiency.
LEED platinum
certification is
achievable.
Skilled Labor Does not require Does not require Central systems
specialized, trained specialized, trained require specialized,
technicians. technicians. trained and skilled
operators to monitor
and run the
equipment.
Spare Parts Easily available Easily available from Chiller parts are
multiple distributors. expensive, available
only from the
manufacturer and
not ex-stock in most
cases.
Refrigerant Safety VRF systems must Refrigerant is The system is
satisfy ASHRAE 15 classified as a hazard potentially safer
refrigerant to human health and because refrigerant is
concentration limits the codes place isolated from
based on pounds of restrictions on how occupied space.
refrigerant per much can be Having the
thousand cubic feet discharged into a refrigeration
of interior volume living or work space. equipment installed
beyond which acute in a central location
toxicity is expected. minimizes the
Typically, refrigerant potential of
charge in a VRF
refrigeration leaks,
system is 4 to 6 simplifies refrigerant
pounds of handling practices
refrigerant per ton and typically makes it
of cooling. easier to contain a
leak if one does
occur.
Future expansion Flexible Less flexible Less flexible
compared with
individual systems

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HVAC CONTENTS

HVAC Selection Matrix

Utilisation of a system selection matrix is a comprehensive way to demonstrate the most

1. Define important criteria (seek inputs from owner)

Criteria Weight Centralized Score Packaged Score VRF Score

*Most Important Attributes for Tall Buildings

**Second Important Attribute

1.1 Comparison - Decentralized Systems v/s Semi-Centralized Systems

Characteristics Decentralized Semi-Centralized Centralized Systems

Ductless units do not ducts. These provide ductwork.

Require each piece Some diversity is

However, these These are perceived Provide the best

Constructability and Simple and fast. Simpler compared to More complex.

Project Schedule Easy to achieve Somewhat Tight

There is a reduced Partial redundancy Complete

Rooftop units can be Can include energy

The units may be If capacity needs Usually AHU’s serving

LEED certification Limited Partial High

Only VRF systems Roof top units Central systems

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