The latest factory prefabricated multi service chilled beams (MSCB's) from leading air distribution system provider TROX UK combine energy efficiency, eye-catching design, minimal maintenance and simple installation.

The TROX MSCB's offer bespoke engineering with standard components – an opportunity for a partnership between the manufacturer (who can offer “mix and match” standard products put together – or prefabricated – in the factory) and the architect (who can tailor their designs).

Off-site prefabrication of the TROX beams enables a consistent high quality product to be achieved within a controlled environment and avoids congestion on site. Prefabricating MSCB's in the factory also has a dramatic positive impact on their performance because the quality of the build can be tightly controlled and individual components can be tested so the professional team knows precisely how each will perform in a given space. This information is invaluable to the designer, who can take it into consideration when selecting components to create a system.

Other benefits of factory prefabrication include:

• Speed – “Just-in-time” delivery of factory-finished components streamlines the construction process  making it faster and more efficient.

• Quality – The tight organisation of products during manufacture in controlled conditions in a factory results in consistently high quality. On top of this, prefabricated construction ensures                         conformity to the latest building standards and quality assurance principles.

• Safety – Because on-site time is cut, the risk of accidents is reduced.

• Sustainability – Waste materials can be recycled more easily in the factory, and traffic movements can be lessened, which is better for the environment.

• Certainty – Prefabricated units make the installation process highly predictable, and therefore relatively easy to plan.

• Efficiency – In traditional projects, different trades tend to fall over each other in a bid to get their particular element of the project completed. Prefabrication allows the project to be planned in             such a way that these conflicts do not arise. Offsite pre-assembly also reduces installation times and increases fast track programming.

• Cost – Construction costs are significantly lower because the construction process is faster, more predictable, of higher quality, less wasteful, and safer.

The TROX MSCB's can form a distinctive architectural feature in any commercial application, whether new or refurbished. They can also carry pipework and electrical and data wiring, particularly useful in buildings that make a feature of exposed ceilings.

They work by ducting primary air to the beams and then discharging it through calibrated nozzles. This encourages room air to pass over the beam’s cooling coils before supplying a horizontal discharge to the room via the integrated linear slot diffusers.

The MSCB's major advantage is that it reduces the cost, time and effort involved in a building services installation because a range of services are integrated into a single, self-contained unit. However, the beam also offers other significant benefits to both installers and end-users. For example, they:

• Can be installed in shallow ceiling voids because of the space it saves by circulating all the air within its casing.

• Use less energy than conventional fan coil units, and therefore costs less to run.

• Are virtually maintenance-free because there are no filters to change and no moving parts in the unit itself.

• Have a relatively low capital cost.

• Offer low running costs – they use water for cooling, and take advantage of free cooling, which saves energy.

• Are cheaper to install.

• Are quiet because there are no moving parts.

• Offer high levels of comfort

The multi service beam approach is gaining in popularity with over 3million square feet of office developments completed by TROX in the last few years.

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