Project Snapshot: Subaru of New England | Thermo-composite AHU’s

Project Name: Subaru of New England
Owner: Boch Enterprises
Architect: Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects, Inc. (GRLA)
Mechanical Engineer: WSP – Boston
Mechanical Contractor: North Mechanical Services, Inc.
Equipment: 2 Outdoor Air Handling Units
Manufacturer: Annexair
Size: 15,000 CFM Each
DAC Sales Engineer: Pat Will


Project Overview:

Architect GRLA and Engineer WSP teamed together to design this 165,000 SF signature project to create a new, state-of-the art headquarters for Subaru of New England. Incorporating the latest in sustainable design practices, the facility is slated for LEED® Platinum certification. The project includes:

  • Exterior finishes of stone, metal panels, glass curtain wall, and strip windows provide an impressive, but welcoming façade in keeping with Subaru of New England’s brand.
  • A new, 3-story, 75,000 SF office building will house executive offices and boardroom, accounting, data processing, sales, advertising, fixed operations, inventory control, warranty administration, dealer development, training and conference rooms, mechanic training areas, lunch room, and employee fitness center
  • A new 90,000 SF high-bay warehouse facility with advanced racking and retrieval systems
  • Sustainable design elements include: photovoltaic array, rainwater collection, locally sourced and recycled building materials, a chilled beam HVAC system, LED lighting systems, skylights for increased interior daylighting, a white roof assembly, and rain gardens for site runoff control

 

The units on the Subaru of New England project were supplied by Annexair and incorporated their Thermo-composite panel system.  The units are 40% lighter than traditional steel units and come with a lifetime warranty against corrosion.    Best of all they are the same cost as traditional steel units.

Take a look at the specification for key features.

UNIT HOUSING SPECIFICATION (Thermo-composite) The unit housing shall be no-through metal with 2’’ Thermo-Composite and foam panel construction – interior and exterior.  No-through metal construction will be inherent to all the component construction in the assembly.  All panels and access doors shall be double wall construction with R14 foam insulation for every 2” of construction.  All foam insulation must be Greenguard certified®. Unit casing will have no exterior condensation at interior AHU temperatures down to 43F while unit exterior conditions are maintained at 95 F dry bulb / 85 F wet bulb.  The panels shall be tested in accordance with SMACNA and ASHRAE 111 to have a deflection of no more than L/1150 at 10’’ and withstand air pressures up to 8” w.c with less than 1% leakage.  Fire resistance of the panel will be in compliance with UL 94.

Thermo-Composite panels shall be provided for the entire unit construction, including but not limited to, walls, doors, floors, roof, interior partitions, and electrical compartment.  The frame shall consist of anodized extruded aluminum profiles which incorporates a thermally broken construction; welded together for reinforcement and insulated for superior thermal performance.  Base structure shall be fully welded and have integral lifting lugs which can be removed once the unit is installed.  All roof and side wall seams shall be positively sealed to prevent water and air leakage.  Panels will be non-load bearing type.

Access doors shall be provided to all major components to facilitate quick and easy access. Access doors will be made from the same material as the unit casing and shall incorporate thermal break construction.

Annexair - Composite Panel - Picture1Unit shall have the entire exterior finished with a PVDF coating designed for UV resistance. Paint shall pass ASTM B117 3000-hour salt fog resistance test and ASTM D4585 3000-hour moisture condensation resistance test. In addition, paint must meet AAMA 620-02 standard for color, chalking, gloss retention, and abrasion resistance. The air handler unit casing shall be provided with a lifetime warranty against corrosion resistance under normal use.

Related Thermo-composite Panel Blog Post:

For More Information - askRick

 

 

 

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