Unit 9 Principles of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Assignment Brief 2026

Unit 9 Principles of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Assignment Brief

Introduction

The buildings we use in everyday life – to work, study, socialise and live in – can be increasingly complex in their design, as well as being subject to more stringent environmental targets for emissions. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in buildings play a major role in maintaining the comfort of the occupants and managing environmental impact.

This unit introduces students to the principles of the design and installation of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems for non-domestic buildings.

In this unit, students will develop an understanding of the components and systems that may be integrated into a building services installation, including key calculations, sizing and specification of non-domestic heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and components.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit, students will be able to:

LO1 Prepare the pre-design information required for a non-domestic heating, ventilation and air conditioning installation

LO2 Analyse the heating and cooling loads for a non-domestic building

LO3 Present a design proposal for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system for a given non-domestic building type

LO4 Justify the selection of non-domestic heating, ventilation and air conditioning system components for a proposed installation.

Essential Content

LO1 Prepare the pre-design information required for a non-domestic heating, ventilation and air conditioning installation

The design process

Design stages and tasks

Legislation and regulation (e.g., building regulations, professional bodies,  codes of practice)

Health and safety

Design constraints

Risk assessment

Pre-design/design brief

Building form

Building orientation

Air tightness

Fabric insulation

Glazing

Thermal mass

Occupancy, usage details

Potential internal loads

Budget

Cost plan

Health and safety risk assessment

Design data

External design data

Internal design condition

Design standards and statutory requirements

Publications and guides

Contracts

Consultancy

Sub-contract

Management

Installation

Maintenance

Sustainability

Existing energy use

Potential of passive systems (e.g., solar gain, passive ventilation)

Building fabric modifications (e.g., improved glazing systems, insulation)

LO2 Analyse the heating and cooling loads for a non-domestic building

U-values

Calculation of U-values for composite structures

Heat loss

Calculation of heat losses

Ventilation heat losses

Total heating loads and heating plant capacity

Plant diversity

Plant configuration

Single and multiple boiler options

Minimising heat loads

Cooling loads due to solar radiation

Solar geometry and terminology

Direct and diffuse solar radiation

Calculation of solar irradiance on vertical, horizontal and pitched surfaces

Transmission of solar radiation on building structures

Total cooling load and cooling plant capacity

Factors contributing to cooling plant capacity Assessment of total heat gains to the interior

Effect of building construction and orientation

Use of tables

Reference data and software to determine cooling loads for rooms,  zones and buildings

Strategies to prevent building overheating Effect of shadows and shading

Passive and active cooling measures

Peak summertime temperatures

Calculation and assessment of peak summertime temperatures in rooms

Use of tables

Reference data and computer software

LO3 Present a design proposal for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system for a given non-domestic building type

Heating media and distribution systems

Requirements of the heating system

Radiant and convective output

Distribution

Zoning options

Integration with domestic hot water (DHW) requirements, integration with  low-carbon technology options.

Heating media options

Radiant

Air

Water (e.g., low pressure hot water (lphw), medium pressure hot water (mphw), high pressure hot water (hphw), steam)

System layouts

Centralised or de-centralised

Distribution system layout options

Two-pipe

Reverse return

Constant flow and variable flow systems

Heat emitters

Radiators

Natural convectors

Underfloor heating

Fan convectors Radiant panels

Heat sources

Direct and indirect options

Conventional boilers or other heat sources such as heat pumps or combined heat and power (CHP)

Fuel options and possible storage requirements

Boiler and burner types

Plant room design requirements

Flue and chimney design

Heating system components

Pipework

Pumps

Pressurisation units

Expansion vessels

Air and dirt separators

Pipework expansion devices

Regulating valves

Fire collars

Ventilation systems

Natural ventilation systems

Mechanical ventilation systems

Mixed mode and displacement ventilation systems Process, fume and dust extraction systems

Free cooling and night purging

Mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) systems

Air conditioning systems

Properties and characteristics of comfort cooling and close control application Humidity control

Cooling coils (e.g., direct expansion (DX), chilled water)

Centralised and local plant selection

Air conditioning systems (e.g., constant volume (CV), variable air volume (VAV), fan coils units, chilled beams, chilled ceilings, room-based heat pumps (versatemp systems), split systems, heat pumps, variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems)

LO4 Justify the selection of non-domestic heating, ventilation and air conditioning system components for a proposed installation

Sizing and specification of heating system components

Pipes

Pumps

Pressurisation units

Expansion vessels

Low loss header

Air and dirt separators

Pipework expansion devices

Regulating valves

Fire collars

Commissioning, testing and handover procedures

Sizing and specification of ventilation system components

Duct sizing

Fan sizing

Fan selection and fan laws

Damper sizing and selection

Air handling unit (AHU) sizing and selection

Grille and diffuser sizing and selection

Sizing and specification of air conditioning system components

Psychrometric principles

Use of psychrometric charts to size cooling and heating coils and  humidification requirements

Refrigeration principles

Plotting refrigeration cycles and calculation of coefficient of performance (COP)

Sizing and specification of heat pumps and VRF systems

Commissioning, testing and handover procedures

Current standards and procedures for commissioning ventilation and air conditioning systems

Commissioning procedures for ventilation and air conditioning system components

Commissioning schedules and handover documentation

Sustainability

Energy use

Use of passive systems

Overall strategy (e.g., building fabric, insulation, HVAC solution)

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Answer

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