MEETING OF COUNCIL - Town of Cambridge

COUNCIL MINUTESTUESDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2013CR13.2 ADMINISTRATION AND CIVIC CENTRE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMREPLACEMENTPURPOSE OF REPORT:To advise Council of the need for the replacement of the Air Conditioning system at theAdministration and Civic Centre.BACKGROUND:The existing Air Conditioning system was installed in 1996 when the new Administration andCivic Centre was built. It has been independently assessed as having reached the end of itseconomic life. Furthermore, it has experienced several significant and costly failuresthroughout the last few years, particularly during summer. The Town is faced with therequirement to replace the chiller and associated air conditioning system or to consideradopting a revised airconditioning process.DETAILS:Engineering consultants were appointed to assess the existing system, peer review previousassessments and review the other potential options available for replacement.The assessment is completed and has identified:-• The chiller has reached the end of its operational life;• The existing Heating, Ventilating & Air Conditioning (HVAC) system does not comply withthe current Building Codes of Australia (BCA) Part J. The code prohibits the use ofelectrical duct heaters as the primary method for heating;• The existing air conditioning system is very inefficient and profligate in terms of energyconsumption; and• The existing chiller comprises of refrigerant gas R22 which has relatively high globalwarming and high ozone depletion properties. R22 is currently being phased out and isno longer manufactured or imported into Australia. Whilst some reprocessed stock isavailable, it is envisaged that this will only be available until 2014.System OptionsSeveral system options were reviewed:-1. Air cooled chiller system;2. Air cooled chiller system with gas heating;3. Water cooled chiller system;4. Water cooled chiller system with gas heating;5. Variable Refrigerant Volume system (VRV);6. Chilled Beam Systems;7. Trigeneration & Cogeneration systems; and8. Geothermal System.H:\CEO\GOV\COUNCIL MINUTES\13 MINUTES\FEBRUARY 2013\C CR.DOCX 128