The importance of air conditioning spaces in modern buildings is not only related to thermal comfort but rather to provide high indoor air quality for its occupants. This involves oxygen replenishment, and removal of moisture, odors, smoke, heat, dust, airborne bacteria, and carbon dioxide. We can say that air conditioning should no longer be seen as a luxury, but rather as a necessity for the preservation of people’s health and living conditions.

Often, to refer to air conditioning the term “refrigeration” is used. As its name implies, conditioning involves treating all or some parameters of the air from the atmosphere (temperature, humidity, pollution). While refrigeration refers to the industrial processes. We can therefore say that air conditioning is a specialization in the field of refrigeration.

In any project, the air conditioning system is what costs the most, it is what demands the most space and, once the construction is completed, what consumes the most. Therefore, it is essential to involve air conditioning consultants from the beginning, as the air conditioning system selected for the project may result in important design variables. Not doing so, could result in obstacles along the way.

There are very basic but very common mistakes when designing a project: mezzanine height that does not favor the location of air distribution duct work; lack of or inadequate space dimensions for machine rooms; when choosing specific finishes not considering aspects related to energy efficiency. However, the biggest mistake is to not consult an air conditioning specialist during the conceptual design phase of the project.

New materials and advances in technology in today’s increasingly airtight buildings require ventilation systems that improve air quality by replacing and renewing indoor air to remove both external and internal pollutants. Ventilation, I think, is the most important aspect on a good design.

Overestimating the capacity required, in my view, is the most common problem. In addition to raising your costs it can cause problems of excessive humidification of the environment.

To condition the air, a machine transfers heat from one side to another, among other things. In the process many components are involved: filters, fans, condensers, evaporators, electric switches, thermostats, among others. All require maintenance. Improper functioning of any of its parts may result in serious damage to your equipment. It is important to understand that proper periodic maintenance is what ensures your initial investment.