The article entitled 'Running hot, cold and green' in May's CM was enthusiastic but it did contain some inaccuracies - and I would also like to clarify some other related points.

  • Chilled beams are not powered with water of 6degC but 16degC.

  • The system can only provide sufficient heating capacity if the building is sufficiently insulated.

  • The system usually supports a traditional heating system. It is not correct to say that running Thermocast with 24 to 30degC achieves the same effect as a boiler driven system at 55degC.

  • The limit for the heating and cooling capacities provided is the max/min ceiling temperature. For cooling the ceiling surface temperature should be above the dew point temperature of the room air to avoid condensation. For heating, the maximum ceiling surface temperature is limited by the maximum temperature asymmetry of the room surfaces. The max/min ceiling surface temp therefore governs the seasonal flow temp.

    • Source

    Construction Manager

    Postscript

    Christian Struck, Buro Happold