EME Newsletter Message #02/2021

NEWSLETTER
MESSAGE
NEWSLETTER FROM EUROVENT MIDDLE EAST
JUNE 2021 VOL. 04
LEAD
STORY
Phase out of beltdriven
fans
INTERVIEW
Henrietta Trippett, Head
for Climate Change, British
Embassy, Saudi Arabia
FEATURE
ISO16890 as the reference
standard for air filtration in
general ventilation
TECHNICAL
PAPER
Roadmap to more efficient
data centre cooling in the
Middle East
FEATURE
Industry talk: necessary
paradigm shift for IAQ
www.eurovent.me

NEWSLETTER
CONTENTS
MESSAGE
01 Letter to the industry
02 Lead Story: Fanning a critical discussion
03 Interview: Henrietta Trippett, Head for
Climate Change, British Embassy, Saudi
Arabia
04 Industry talk: necessary paradigm shift
for IAQ
LETTER
TO THE INDUSTRY
Making slow but steady progress
05 Feature: ISO16890 as a reference
standard for air filtration in general
ventilation
06 ISO 16890 - The Global Air Filtration
Standard webinar
07 Technical paper: IT cooling
08 Social Gathering by Eurovent Middle East
09 Video: IAQ retrofits
The year began with us feeling like we’re still at the
height of the pandemic. Physically detached, with
a significant number of us still working remotely
through digital platforms. Vaccination drives are
now well underway, and these efforts are certainly
not in vain, as we see physical and hybrid meetings,
events and conferences slowly resuming in the region
with stringent safety protocols and social distancing
measures in place.
While these are positive developments on the
road to recovery from the effects of the pandemic,
we shouldn’t let our guards down and become
complacent. We’ve seen time and again what happens
when we get too comfortable despite COVID-19, with
several countries experiencing their second and third
waves of infection. Now, more than ever, there is a
need for education and awareness in the market on
public health and safety. We, as the HVACR industry,
have a significant role to play in educating the market
on the best practices regarding technology, energy
efficiency and sustainability.
As the market situation improves, so have the
recruitment efforts for new talent. This year, World
Refrigeration Day (WRD) which takes place annually
on 26 June, announced the theme focused on ‘Cool
Careers’ to encourage young professionals to consider
careers in refrigeration and the wider HVAC field.
Eurovent Middle East will host a webinar and panel
discussion in the build-up to WRD, discussing hiring
new talent in the region. The webinar aims to address
the talent pool here in the region, but also highlight
the challenges we face as an industry when it comes to
the hiring process. Why are there still so few women in
HVACR and how do we fix the gender imbalance? What
do we prioritise when we hire individuals, sales acumen,
or technical skill? These are some of the topics we aim
to understand during this event.
In the last edition of ‘MEssage’ my colleague, Markus
Lattner, announced that Eurovent Middle East, in
cooperation with its members, is working on an
enhanced training and education programme which
will strengthen capability and proficiency in the region.
This is the best time for us to commit to empowering
our workforces and industry professionals. The new
generation are the leaders of tomorrow, and its only
through education that we can foster competent
leadership in the industry.
Kind greetings,
Nerissa Deoraj
Executive Director
Eurovent Middle East
www.eurovent.me JUNE 2021 VOL. 04

NEWSLETTER
LEAD STORY
Fanning a critical discussion
Experts speak to Eurovent Middle East and provide a broad overview on the
differences between belt-driven and direct-driven fans, factors that propel demand
in the region, and the need for greater awareness and education in order to move the
needle towards adoption of more efficient technologies in the market.
Fans are omnipresent in HVACR
systems. They are in fan coil units,
in ducted ventilation systems,
appear as exhaust fans in kitchens
and bathrooms, find their way
in refrigerators and critical
machineries, and are one of the key
components in Air Handling Units
(AHUs). A typical hotel in Dubai can
easily harbour more than 2.000
fans within its infrastructure. Thus,
it is no surprise that fans have a
significant impact on the energy
consumption of a building and, to a
greater extent, of a country.
The European Union has accounted
for the impact of fans on the
continent’s energy consumption
through the introduction of what
is commonly known as the EU Fan
regulation, implemented as part
of its Ecodesign policy in 2011.
Markus Lattner, Managing Director
of Eurovent Middle East recalls
when this regulation came to pass:
“Initially, the EU Fan Regulation met
with some resistance and created
confusion within the industry.
However, it proved to be a motor
for innovation and investment.
Following its implementation, it
is estimated that in the period
between 2011 and 2018, more than
46,800 GWh of energy savings was
achieved.”
Unfortunately, the Middle East
presents a completely different
scenario. Despite the region’s
high ambient conditions already
necessitating greater energy usage,
older or incorrectly specified
technology is the norm, rather
than the exception. Being largely
eradicated from the European
market, belt-driven fans are still
heavily used and widely popular
among investors and planners in
the region.
Speaking on trends in the Middle
East, Lubna Shaikh, Senior
Manager, Business Development,
Trosten, points out that both beltdriven
and direct-driven fans
are used in AHUs in the region,
and that it is important to have
a clear understanding of factors
that influence demand as every
system presents advantages
and disadvantages for each
stakeholder. “In the current
market, belt-driven fans are
Markus Lattner
Lubna Shaikh
typically used for commercial
and residential projects, as it is a
more popular and cost-effective
solution,” she says. Shaikh adds
that belt-driven fans have also been
used over many decades because
it is considered a proven system
for AHUs, and that applications
involving larger volumes of air flow
rates are easily addressed with a
single fan belt-driven system.
Making a case for direct-driven
fans, Morten Schmelzer, Technical
Marketing Director, Systemair
Group says, “Simple physics proves
that belt-driven fans are inefficient
in terms of energy consumption
compared with modern solutions
such as EC plug fans, i.e. a directdriven
fan motor combination. It
is also proven that belt drives can
pollute the supply air stream and
harm products like AHUs due to
issues such as rubber residue.”
Frank Taaning Grundholm, Vice
President, Global HVACR Sales,
ABB Motion, adds that the continued
use of belt-driven fans leads to
additional energy losses in the
transmission between the motor and
the fans. “Moreover, a lot of these
belt drives are not well-maintained,”
he says. “This causes a slip or
complete failure of the belt drive
and, in many cases, the function
of the belt drive is not monitored.
Though variable speed drives can
be setup to monitor the belt drive,
it will always be less efficient than
direct-driven fans.”
For Koen van Nistelrooij, Managing
Director, ebm-papst, directdriven,
speed-controlled fans
are the most suitable option for
AHUs. He encourages utilising fan
manufacturers’ experience and
knowledge about positioning
the fan in the unit to ensure it
is working optimally, adding
that direct-driven fans have the
benefit of being easier to install,
having less maintenance costs,
and offering multiple available
options.
Shaikh highlights that directdriven
fans are also a preferred
option for LEED-certified
projects, which has seen growing
interest in the region. She
says that EC direct-driven fans
placed in an array also serve
as a good solution to address
redundancies in operation
theatres, data centres, and other
critical applications. “In addition,
direct-driven fans are highly
suitable and recommended for
their advantages for hygienic
applications, such as convenience
and ease in cleaning,” she adds.
Grundholm mentions more
opportunities can be unlocked
highlighting how using variable
speed drives with direct-drive
fans can better match the airflow
requirements of the building at
the lowest possible energy usage.
“In addition to eliminating the belt
drive, the variable speed drives
will also operate the fans more
efficiently and the dampers will
only be used to provide air seal,
when no flow is required, such as,
when it comes to managing a fire
efficiently,” he says.
Generally, van Nistelrooij says
choosing state-of-the-art
technologies will help increase the
overall efficiency of the complete
installation. “Direct-driven fans
will save an extra filter after the
fan to get rid of rubber particles,
this reduces the internal pressure
losses. It would also be helpful to
use speed controllers to always
supply the amount of air needed,
half speed means half the amount of
air but only about 15% input power
compared to full speed.”
The need to drive a positive shift
However, there are a number of
factors particular to the Middle
East that prove to be a bottleneck
for greater adoption of directdriven
fans. Schmelzer attributes
this to the lack of minimum energy
performance standards in the
region. “In the event that there are
regulations, the requirements still
tend to be at a low level, meaning
that belt-driven solutions can still
be placed on the market without
issues,” he says.
Lack of awareness also contributes
to proliferation of these
technologies, says Schmelzer. “In
some cases, customers used to
belt drives are simply not aware
of its negative impact and that
today's solutions are much more
beneficial,” he adds. “In the EU,
through the Ecodesign Regulations,
belt-driven fans are barely ever
Morten Schmelzer
Frank Taaning
Grundholm
Koen van Nistelrooij
utilised anymore. The market
has completely transformed and
innovated due to applied boundary
conditions.”
van Nistelrooij says the prolonged
use of outdated technologies is a
result of habit. “For consultants,
it is always easier to work and
operate within a comfort zone to
ensure they have expertise on
all components and details on a
particular technology, rather than
to invest time in “new” technologies
www.eurovent.me JUNE 2021 VOL. 04

NEWSLETTER
LEAD STORY
and find out how these exactly
work. If consultants had more
knowledge about and confidence in
the use of direct-driven fans, they
would always go for these solutions
rather than belt-driven solutions.”
Schmelzer points out that
specifications that are not
adapted over time only adds to the
problem. “The same specification
requirements are copied year after
year, without adapting them to the
state-of-the-art in technological
innovation and standards,” he says.
Grundholm seconds this, adding,
“In many cases specifications are
not specific enough, which means
that the contractors have the option
of choosing the lowest cost solution
and still comply with specification.”
The cost of ‘cheap’
However, the most common
roadblock to greater adoption
relates to price pressure.
“Unfortunately, the least
efficient and outdated solution
often tends to be the cheapest,”
says Schmelzer. “The initial
price counts, but not the price
over a longer usage time. Even
if the consultant highlights
this to the investor, they often
don't get through. Accordingly,
some customers opt for beltdriven
solution, looking at costs
over energy efficiency and
sustainability.”
In agreement, van Nistelrooij points
out that capital cost (capex) often
drives project decisions. “Beltdriven
blowers are cheaper than
direct-driven speed-controlled
fans,” he says. “But when we look
at the operation costs over time, we
get a completely different picture
as the operating costs are in many
cases more than 95% of the overall
Life Cycle Costs (LCC).” Essentially,
van Nistelrooij stresses, the
dilemma lies in the fact that the
investor is taking care of the capex,
but the user of the building has to
take care about the opex. “Very
often the investor and the user are
not the same person, that makes it
really tricky for the consultant,” he
says.
Schmelzer provides an example
to underline this phenomenon.
“For the construction of a major
restaurant at the Palm Island in
Dubai, AHUs were required,” he
shares. “The cheapest solution with
belt-driven fans was selected. While
the initial price might have been
cheaper, the energy consumption
over 4-6 years was much higher
and the rate of refurbishment
increased.” Schmelzer adds that
compared to other regions, the
refurbishment rate of buildings in
the Middle East is generally higher.
As a result, he says, in the long
run, cheaper solutions, such as belt
drives, always cost more.
Grundholm says that to date the
only argument for the belt-driven
solution is that they are cheaper.
“Direct-driven fans are more
compact and have higher unit
efficiency,” he says. “Sometimes it
requires a change in AHU design
to leverage modern fan designs,
which is of course a cost for the
manufacturer, but technically any
air handling task can be managed
with direct-drive solutions, so there
is no argument against updating
the specifications to block the beltdriven
solutions.”
Grundholm further adds that any
loss that can be removed without
impacting operation negatively
should be removed, otherwise “we
will never have the best possible
utilisation of our resources”. “In
addition to the energy efficiency
and potential operation failures,
the indoor air quality is also
affected,” he says. “This is because
there will be dust from the wear of
the belts, which best case just adds
load to the filter, but worst case
passes the filter and then people in
the buildings are also breathing the
dust in our buildings. Poor indoor
air quality is not sustainable, as it
deteriorates the quality of life for
the people using the buildings and
potentially increase our costs for
providing required healthcare.”
A push to raise the bar
The industry has a larger role to
play in driving better solutions in
the market. For Grundholm, it is
not only a question of the available
technical solutions to achieve
the highest energy efficiency.
“In my view, we need to support
the consultants to strengthen
the specifications, so belt-driven
solutions are eliminated without
causing unfair trade barriers,”
he says. “It is essential that
specifications support competition
in the market and provide room
for development of new innovative
solutions, which positively support a
sustainable development.” He adds
that specifications have to state
needs and requirements but should
focus as little as possible on specific
technologies as new technologies
enter the market all the time.
Lattner believes that international
climate agreements will also soon
have an impact. “Following the
Paris Agreement, there is mounting
pressure on every government to
accelerate the reduction of carbon
emissions,” he says. “This results
in a growing number of technical
regulations incorporating minimum
energy performance standards.
Within the region, countries like
Saudi Arabia are demanding
a minimum motor efficiency
corresponding to IE3 classification.
We expect that within the next five
years, there will be a more defined
approach towards fans and fan
motor technologies by regulatory
bodies.”
However, Lattner also underlines
the responsibility of the building
industry. “If we have more efficient
technology available, then we must
alert market players and motivate
them to switch as soon as possible,
rather than waiting for governments
to act,” he says. “The leaders in
Middle East have provided clear
visions for a sustainable future. If we
applaud them for it, we also have to
act accordingly.”
For Schmelzer, what is needed is the
strong engagement of associations,
such as Eurovent Middle East and
AMCA, to work towards higher
standards, educate the market, and
objectively outline the benefits of
thinking in the long-term instead
of only about the initial sales
price. “The recommendation to
phase out belt-driven fans soon to
be published by Eurovent Middle
East can only be the beginning of
a multitude of actions to take the
HVACR sector in the GCC region
to the next level for the mutual
benefit of society, economy and the
environment,” he says.
When does it
make sense to
have a
belt-driven fan?
Lubna Shaikh, Senior Manager,
Business Development, Trosten
believes that it is important to
provide context for the use of beltdriven
technologies, adding that
smaller air flow rates selected
for higher static pressures
are required to operate at very
high speeds, and such speeds
are generally addressed by the
selection of drives in belt driven
system. “For direct-driven, the
fan speed shouldn’t exceed the
motor speed,” she says. “For
example, if a 2-pole motor is
selected, the motor speed is 2900
rpm approximately and in such a
case, the fan selection of a directdriven
system shouldn’t exceed a
speed of 2900 rpm. In case of very
high air flow rates, due to single
width construction followed for
plenum / plug fans, we need to
select multiple fans. With multiple
fans, it is important to consider
non-return dampers to avoid any
recycling of air through the failed
fan or fan resulted in breakdown.”
Morten Schmelzer, Technical
Marketing Director, Systemair
Group also says there are certain
cases where belt-driven fans
are suitable, such as for scroll
housing. “If you have a high
external static pressure, or high
total static pressure, a plug fan
can have trouble coping with it,”
he explains. “This becomes valid
as of roughly 1200Pa total static
pressure, in which case the
scroll housing is required to
transfer dynamic pressure into
static pressure.”
Shaik adds that for beltdriven
fans, drives need to be
selected at least at 150% over
the power to be transmitted
as drives selected to the exact
power of transmission may
lead to heating up of drives and
sometimes, breakage in belts.
“Typically, the belts expand a bit
during the first few weeks of the
operation and require tightening
of drives to avoid belt sagging,”
she says. “Laser tools allow
accurate and efficient alignment
of drives. Periodic maintenance
is required to lube drive shaft
bearings, align the sheaves, and
tighten the belt. Semi-skilled
technician can handle standard
starter panel which are normally
used for belt driven systems.
In case of VFD panels, skilled
technicians are required.”
Further drawing a comparison,
Shaikh says that belt-driven
fans can be connected to
conventional starters and VFD
is not mandatory because
any air flow rate corrections
are generally carried out by
changing the drives applying the
fan law. “Variable Frequency
Drive (VFD) is a must in case of
direct-driven fans,” she says.
www.eurovent.me JUNE 2021 VOL. 04

NEWSLETTER
INTERVIEW
Saudi Arabia’s road to COP26
Henrietta Trippett, Climate Attaché British Embassy Riyadh, speaks to Eurovent
Middle East on the role that sustainable cooling technologies play in meeting COP26
targets and provides an update on the programmes and multi-sectoral collaborations
within Saudi Arabia aimed at driving more energy-efficient standards and practices…
The importance of energyefficient
and climate-friendly
cooling solutions has been
recognised by the UN in the
form of the Cool Coalition, a
global network launched by UN
Environment Programme, the
Climate & Clean Air Coalition, the
Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program
(K-CEP), and Sustainable
Energy for All (SEforALL),
which Eurovent Middle East is a
member of. Could you comment
on how especially relevant that
is in countries such as Saudi
Arabia owing to the country’s
high-ambient condition? How can
promoting sustainable cooling
within the Kingdom and fellow
GCC-region countries positively
contribute to these wider targets
for COP26?
There are two main sources of
greenhouse gas emissions from
cooling equipment. Around 80% of
the warming impact comes from
indirect emissions from the energy
consumption and around 20%
from direct emissions of climatedamaging
hydrofluorocarbon
(HFC) refrigerants within the
equipment. Delivering climatefriendly,
sustainable cooling by
reducing the use of HFCs and, at
the same time, raising the energy
efficiency of refrigeration and air
conditioning equipment have the
potential to contribute to strong
climate commitments and deliver
other co benefits.
Given the high-ambient nature of
the climate in Saudi Arabia, there
is considerable emphasis on the
importance and dissemination
of cooling equipment across
the country. If there is rising
ownership of high energy
consuming products this will
threaten energy security, access
and affordability, as well as lock
in inefficient appliances within
Saudi Arabia for a 10-15 year
cycle. By raising the efficiency
of key cooling products this will
lower energy demand, as well as
ensure the provision of affordable,
highly efficient products to those
who need them. Saudi Arabia is
one of the 18 member nations of
the Super-efficient Equipment
and Appliance Deployment (SEAD)
initiative. The SEAD initiative is
the main driving force within the
COP26 Product Efficiency Call to
Action – the joint COP26 and SEAD
ambition is for SEAD member
nations to double the efficiency of
four key energy-using products
sold globally by 2030: lighting,
cooling, refrigeration, and motor
systems. Through Saudi Arabia
working with the UK, as incoming
COP presidents, and the IEA,
as a SEAD operating agent, we
can ensure the use of the most
energy-efficient appliances in
Saudi Arabia and across the GCC
region.
What is to be expected from
COP26 with regard to cooling?
The UK’s COP26 Presidency
has four core goals aimed at
accelerating progress towards
achieving the aims of the Paris
Agreement through increased
ambition in: Mitigation,
Adaptation, Finance and
Collaboration. Sustainable cooling
solutions fit under all four goals.
Cooling keeps our vaccines
safe and food fresh, ensures we
have comfortable buildings to
live and work in, and is central
to our industrial and transport
infrastructure. Actions on
sustainable cooling encompass,
active, passive and nature-based
solutions.
In July 2020, the UK published
a guide on sustainable cooling,
“from COVID-19 to COP26,”
launched by UK Environment
Minister Lord Goldsmith in
collaboration with the UK
Carbon Trust and K-CEP. The
Henrietta Trippett
document outlines actions
that national governments,
private organisations, and local
businesses can take to promote
sustainable cooling.
There is also a COP26 Product
Efficiency Call to Action with two
key aims:
• to drive international ambition
on product efficiency policy
which is consistent with
doubling the efficiency of
key products sold globally by
2030; and
• to strengthen the Superefficient
Equipment and
Appliance Deployment
initiative (SEAD) to support
countries in achieving raised
ambition more quickly, easily
and at a lower cost.
The COP26 Call to Action is being
delivered through SEAD. Key
partners include the International
Energy Agency (IEA) and the SEAD
leadership team (EU Commission,
India, and Sweden). The UK, as
incoming COP President, aims
to amplify the policy ambition
and key messages that the SEAD
initiative is striving to deliver.
Through the COP platform, the
UK can help the IEA and SEAD
leadership team to set SEAD
countries on a trajectory to double
the efficiency of these four key
appliances by 2030.
Could you tell us more about
the local campaign of the British
Embassy in Saudi Arabia to raise
awareness of climate issues ahead
of the COP26 in November? Are you
planning to have any initiatives that
would touch on issues related to
sustainable cooling or sustainable
construction?
Ahead of COP26 in November, we
at the British Embassy in Riyadh,
launched a social media campaign,
#TogetherforourPlanet, to bring
together voices from across society
and raise awareness on climate
issues and the commitments we
can all make to take urgent action
to protect the planet. The campaign
was driven by strong collaboration
among the Saudi government, NGOs,
the private sector, educational
institutions, and the Saudi media
to encourage pledges for climate
action.
We are continuing to work on
plans for the coming months, as
we approach November. We hope
to run a series of events raising
awareness on climate issues and
COP26, including events to support
Race to Zero and Race to Resilience,
the UN-backed, global campaigns
to rally leadership and support from
all non-state actors for climate
change action to mitigate and to
adapt to climate change change
impacts. All members of the Race
to Zero campaign are committed to
the same overarching goal: reducing
global emissions in half by 2030
and achieving net zero emissions by
2050 at the very latest. Sustainable
cooling and sustainable construction
are part and parcel of the initiatives
for mitigation, adaptation, and
resilience.
How has the Kigali Amendment
impacted the Middle East reason?
The Kigali Amendment to the
Montreal Protocol is a legally
binding agreement for countries
to phase down their use of
hydrofluorocarbon (HFCs). HFCs
are powerful greenhouse gases up
to thousands of times worse for the
climate than CO2. HFCs are widely
used as refrigerants in refrigeration
and air conditioning equipment
and were introduced to replace
ozone depleting substances that
are being phased out under the
Montreal Protocol. Due to the high
and growing demand for cooling in
the Middle East and other countries
in a developing and warming world,
action under Kigali is expected
to have significant impacts on
greenhouse gas emissions and
associated climate targets. Kigali is
expected to globally prevent up to
0.4 degrees Celsius of warming by
2100 towards Paris climate targets.
All countries must play their part
to achieve these gains. If actions
to tackle HFC use can be combined
with improvements to energy
efficiency of the equipment, the
World Meteorological Organization
(WMO) estimates that the climate
impacts could be doubled.
The HFC phasedown obligations
for most Middle East countries are
not due to start for another few
years. Saudi Arabia, classified as
an Article 5 Group 2 country*, is
required to start reducing their HFC
consumption from 2032.
However, there would be strong
benefits to taking early action to
reduce HFCs to avoid developing
a large installed base of the most
climate-damaging HFCs. It would
also be beneficial to take additional
national measures, such as strong
mandatory controls on leakage
and recovery of HFCs to reduce
emissions, and making energy
efficiency improvements to RAC
technology at the same time as
replacing the refrigerant. We would
encourage countries to incorporate
ambitious actions on HFCs as
part of their UNFCCC Nationally
Determined Contributions.
What is being done to encourage
policy makers and Saudi
companies to pledge to make
a real change to help slow the
impact of climate change through
regulation of equipment being
sold and distributed in the field of
HVACR?
The IEA and SEAD leadership team
are asking countries to sign a Joint
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MAY 2021 VOL. 03

NEWSLETTER
INTERVIEW
Statement for Action on Product
Efficiency to commit SEAD
member countries to take action
towards energy efficiency, and
cooling is a key aspect of this.
This Joint Statement involves
ensuring that countries, and
businesses that agree to work
towards the SEAD 2030 goal, will
commit to act on at least one of
the following:
• To work towards aligning
our product standards with
the goal of doubling the
energy efficiency of products
sold globally by 2030 in
order to meet our Paris
goals, and to advocate for
this internationally;
• To commit to leading or
co-leading a programme
of action on one of the four
high-energy consuming
products associated with
the COP26 Call to Action, or
another globally relevant
high energy-consuming
product, and identifying
opportunities in pursuit of
the 2030 goal;
• To actively engage in efforts
to promote ambitious
products policy nationally,
regionally, and globally to
create stronger incentives,
larger markets and lower
costs for more efficient
products.
Compliance obligations under
the Kigali amendment to the
Montreal Protocol will require
countries cut their use of HFCs,
meaning the industry must adopt
alternatives. As mentioned,
Saudi Arabia will be required to
start reducing their use of HFCs
from 2032.
How can the public and private
sector, the HVACR sector in
particular, work closer together
to promote better standards
and practices within the
Kingdom’s construction sector?
We understand that
every country’s national
circumstances are different,
and it is up to local policy
makers and businesses in Saudi
Arabia to decide how best they can
implement policies and practices.
Again, the UK government’s guide,
“from covid -19 to COP26”, is a
helpful reference for actions that
national government, private
organisations, and local businesses
can take to promote sustainable
cooling.
Globally, governments are adopting
ambitious cooling action plans
and raising minimum energy
performance standards. Cities have
initiated directives and are using
their planning powers to advance
heat mitigation policies that promote
green landscaping or cool roofs
and surfaces, district cooling, and
passive buildings/sustainable public
procurement standards. Businesses
are developing innovative new
technologies and business models.
Civil society, academia, and enabling
organisations are helping to mobilise
action. Each has a crucial role to play
in developing better standards and
practices.
How important is this cooperation
among GCC region countries, not
only to ensure energy efficiency
but also better indoor air quality
*“Cool Coalition in the UK” report
considering countries such as the
UK sees responding to COVID-19
as an opportunity to improve
cooling policy and technology
as a pathway not only to zero
emissions but also to saving
energy costs, improving health
creating jobs and enhancing
resilience*?
Cooling is vital for a variety of
essential needs as well as adapting
to warmer temperatures. However,
most cooling is currently energy
intensive and highly polluting due
to the refrigerants used and the
emissions from the electricity
generated to power this equipment.
Existing pollution needs to be
cut urgently and the booming
demand for future cooling must be
met sustainably, to benefit from
enhanced energy efficiency and air
quality improvements.
We are happy to share the examples
of good practice of sustainable
cooling solutions with other
countries. It is for policy decision
makers in the GCC countries to
decide how to implement those
solutions in line with national
circumstances.
*Note: Countries are split into three groups under the Kigali
Amendment:
Non article 5 countries (developed/donor countries) must phase down
their use of HFCs 85% by 2036, and contribute to the Multilateral Fund
to support developing countries meet their compliance obligations. In
the Middle East these are: Israel, Cyprus
Article 5 group one countries must phase down their use of HFCs 80%
by 2045, from 2020-22 levels, and are eligible for MLF funding. In the
Middle East these are: Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Egypt
Article 5 group 2 countries must phase down their HFCs 85% by 2047
from 2024-6 baselines levels and are eligible for MLF funding( other
than UAE who have opted out voluntarily) . Group 2 countries have
negotiated a slower phasedown than group 1 countries because of the
challenges posed by high ambient temperatures. In the Middle East
these are: Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and
the United Arab Emirates
FEATURE
Industry talk: necessary
paradigm shift for IAQ
Owing to COVID-19, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is now a hot topic all around the industry.
The discussion, however, seems to be stagnating. Markus Lattner, Managing Director of
Eurovent Middle East shares his opinion on this matter.
The first issue we face when
discussing Indoor Air Quality
(IAQ), is that we do not exactly
know what we are talking about.
The multitude of contaminants
found dispersed in the air,
along with their often-disputed
thresholds of what is considered
harmful, makes it hard to
find common grounds among
stakeholders when defining IAQ
parameters, resulting in quite a
range of differing standards and
recommendations, as well as
testing and monitoring methods.
The second issue, and by far the
most important one, is that IAQ
is invisible. Neither good, nor
bad air quality is – in normal
circumstances – recognisable
by people without the help of
technical equipment. Thus,
expecting behavioral change
from any side, be it building
operators or occupants is
rather daring. While occupants
are usually entirely excluded
from any direct intervention, it
can be assumed that only few
operators are sufficiently aware
of the impact of air exchange,
occupancy rate, air filtration and
fresh air intake.
The pandemic has put an
unimaginably expensive price
tag on this shortcoming, by
rendering many venues unusable
or unsafe during the outbreak,
leaving occupants, people, as
well as businesses without the
opportunity to intervene. The call
for quick and simple solutions is
understandable but negates the
underlying problem: the demand
for high efficiency ventilation and
air filtration systems. Room air
purifiers may offer a comfortable
workaround in certain conditions,
but they certainly do not solve the
real problems.
The third major issue in dealing
with IAQ lies in accountability –
or lack thereof. Who is to blame
if indoor environments are
contaminated with potentially
harmful substances? The owner?
The operator? The designer?
The occupant? There are too
many variables and stakeholders
involved to come up with a simple
answer. It is time to rethink our
approach to Indoor Air Quality.
We need to find ways to make
IAQ visible. This can be done by
issuing IAQ building certificates,
constant monitoring and
displaying of air parameters,
and by providing occupants
direct intervention opportunities.
Imagine if people could make
the connection between their
subjective well-being and
the surrounding air quality. It
would definitely change price
calculations for buildings
and offices, possibly making
investments in excellent
ventilation systems even lucrative.
Markus Lattner
The industry could spearhead such
developments. Air quality testing and
monitoring systems need to become
a standard component of ventilation
systems. We have temperature
controllers in most of the rooms,
why not also add IAQ parameters or
monitor them in the ducts? The next
technological leap I believe we will
see are ventilation systems which
automatically react to the indoor
air parameters and adjust fresh air
intake, air exchanges and possibly,
even air filtration efficiencies, based
on real time data. This would be a
proactive approach by the industry
satisfying a demand, which without
doubt will grow considerably in the
years to come.
www.eurovent.me
MAY 2021 VOL. 03

NEWSLETTER
FEATURE
ISO 16890 - The Global
Air Filtration Standard
Industry experts discuss the advantages presented by ISO 16890 as a reference standard
for air filtration in general ventilation, the level of adoption in the Middle East and the
urgent need to promote better practices and more stringent regulations to secure clean
air for the future.
The COVID-19 outbreak
undoubtedly underlined the
importance of Indoor Air Quality
(IAQ) and ventilation. Dr Iyad Al
Attar, Independent Air Filtration
Consultant explains, “The
importance of clean air to the
well-being of people and for the
protection of industrial equipment
has highlighted the critical
role of air filter performance.”
Unfortunately, the pandemic also
gave way to outdated, inadequate
or simply incorrect information
related to filtration circulating in
the market.
Prominent organisations such as
the World Health Organisation
(WHO) were not immune to this,
having published a ventilation
roadmap in March 2021, which
referenced outdated filtration
standards. Eurovent, Eurovent
Dr Iyad Al Attar
Middle East and several other
industry experts advocated
for the inclusion of the correct
references in the roadmap and
the WHO has since published
a corrigendum, however
the importance of creating
awareness on the proper
standards remains crucial.
The inhomogeneous nature of filter media remains a challenge to performance
variations (Image by Dr. Iyad Al-Attar)
“Accurate filter performance
prediction plays a significant
role in estimating the lifetime of
filters and reducing energy and
maintenance operating costs,” says
Dr Al-Attar. “Therefore, air filtration
standards are sought to ensure the
appropriate filter selection has been
made for a specific application.”
Why care about ISO 16890?
ISO 16890 as a global air filtration
standard for general ventilation
replaces older standards such
as EN 779 and ASHRAE 52.2.
This standard is highly regarded
by industry stakeholders due
to improvements on the test
methodology for filter performance,
allowing a more realistic indication
compared to previous standards.
The test method defined in ISO
16890 shifts the focus on filtration
performance to classes of
particulate matter (PM) size, such
as PM1, PM2.5 and PM10, which
are used as evaluation parameters
by the WHO and other authorities.
Additionally, ISO 16890 expands on
the particle spectrum from 0.3 to 10
microns compared to EN 779 test
methods, which qualified fine filter
performance from 0.4 microns and
above. Ultimately, these practical
improvements will help ensure that
filter manufacturers, purchasing
managers, engineers, and
environmentalists can have a less
complicated discussion, leading to
a better air filter selection based
on site conditions and project
requirements.
It’s important to not lose focus
of what the ISO standard aims
to achieve compared to its
predecessors, as Dr Al Attar
elaborates, “The existing standard
should be considered as initial
guidance in any selection process.
The change lies in the detailed
specification/selection of the air
filters, such as filter media (highly
inhomogeneous) and filter design,
that would influence not only
the efficiency against a specific
particle size but the sustainability
of such performance.” Building on
this viewpoint, Nodirjon Rasulov,
Business Development Manager,
Camfil Middle East FZCO adds that
the efficiency and pressure drop
measurement test in ISO 16890
is wider than previous standards
and points out that the isopropanol
method of filter discharging
has been selected over the wet
process. “It discharges the filter
thoroughly up to 100% without
affecting the fibre structure of the
filter.” says Rasulov. Sara Mokhtari,
Export Director, AFPRO Filters,
also highlights how “Fractional
efficiencies of the filter prior to
and after IPA discharge of any
electrostatic properties can be
seen.”
Slow but steady transition
While a natural transition period
was to be expected, the awareness
on ISO 16890 remains sorely lacking
in the market which is problematic
considering that, globally, air quality
is deteriorating day by day, and the
Middle East is no exception. Rasulov
shares, “Although ISO 16890 has
been effective from 2019 onwards,
it has not overtaken old, existing
standards,” he says. “In fact, now it
is creating more confusion among
engineers who have to deal with all
air filtration standards.” Mirroring
these sentiments, Mokhtari, says
that compared to Western Europe,
there is a noticeable a lag in the
adoption of ISO 16890 in the Middle
East, with many still referring the
much older EN 779 standard and
ASHRAE.
Dr Marc Schmidt, Vice President
Technologies Europe, AAF, adds
that the GCC region has been
slow to adapt however, there has
been strong awareness among Air
Handling Unit (AHU) manufacturers
and, to some extent, end users
in the UAE. “But there still is no
regulation from authorities,” he
adds. “That might be the reason
why consultants seem reluctant.”
Rasulov further confirms the lack
of adoption by regulatory entities in
the region. This however is mostly
owed to the fact that ventilation
equipment is still not governed
by any technical regulation in the
region, as Nerissa Deoraj, Executive
Director of Eurovent Middle East
confirms, pointing out that only the
UAE through the Abu Dhabi Quality
and Conformity Council (AD QCC)
has referenced the standard in
the Air Handling Unit Conformity
Assessment Scheme and overall
implementation is dramatically
slow.
Such a slow adoption pace comes
as no surprise, due to the mindset
in the region and given that the two
main criteria for filter selection is
price and reuse. Other performance
characteristics are often overlooked
or not given due consideration.
Dr Schmidt says this can be
attributed to lack of education and
training and that the generally
conservative nature of the business
segment. Underlining the market’s
unwillingness to adapt, Rasulov
shares that most of the countries in
the Middle East are still focusing on
PM2.5 as the benchmarked source
of particulate to be treated through
air filtration. PM1, which ISO 16890
places in greater focus, remains
relatively untouched.
“We must admit that changing the
way we perceive filter efficiency and
the approach by which filters are
currently selected is challenging
to the general public,” says Dr
Al-Attar. “Regionally and globally,
filtration selection discussion starts
with ‘What would a F7 or F9 filter
class correspond to in ISO 16890?’.
I believe it is better to understand
the selection criteria before
making any sweeping conclusion
and comparing one filter between
existing standards and ISO 16890. “
Nodirjon Rasulov
Dr Marc Schmidt
Nerissa Deoraj
Sara Mokhtari
www.eurovent.me
JUNE 2021 VOL. 04

NEWSLETTER
FEATURE
Sand storms remain a challenge to filtration selections and standards (Photography by Dr. Iyad Al-Attar)
ISO 16890 - The
Global Air Filtration
Standard webinar
Eurovent Middle East in cooperation with Knowledge Partners, Eurovent, Eurovent
Certita Certification, Ishrae Institute Of Excellence, Delhi Chapter of ISHRAE and REHVA,
conducted a webinar on 'ISO 16890 - The Global Air Filtration Standard' on June 9, 2021
to educate and raise awareness on the importance of the standard. The webinar featured
key presentations, which can be accessed below…
The patchwork of standards
used in the region can be
attributed to regional projects
being designed abroad. “If it
is designed in USA, in terms
of HVAC and air filtration, the
selection preferences would
focus on ASHRAE standards,”
says Rasulov. “If it is designed
in Europe, the focus will shift
to EN standards. If a project is
specified in the region, I consider
it a 'hybrid' standard, where EN,
ASHRAE, and ISO can be used to
specify.”
In view of the important role
the standard plays in promoting
better indoor air quality, it
is crucial for the industry to
work together and advocate
for the wider adoption of ISO
16890 on a legislative level and
make provision for inclusion in
existing policies and standards.
“By upgrading the policy, it will
provide direction instead of
allowing markets to follow at
random.” Rasulov adds that the
standard should be mandatory to
ensure organisations can enforce
proper inspection in line with ISO
16890.
Another approach would be to
strengthen communications
with environmental ministries,
and other sectors. “It would
also be helpful to shift our focus
to foundational information,
integrating these updates in the
standards as part of the university
syllabus,” he says. “By doing that, we
could nurture young generation to
learn and easily adapt for upcoming
changes in the industry.” Mokhtari
is of the firm opinion manufacturers
must also play an active role in this
regard adding, “Education is the key
to success. Market leaders should
keep investing in educating their
partners to create more awareness
and promote adoption of ISO 16890.”
Having a clear understanding of the
way the standard works is key to
ensuring the best filter selection.
The standard differentiates between
three main Outdoor Air Categories
(ODA), according to contamination
levels. Once determining the Supply
Air (SUP) category in accordance
with the application requirements
(general or industrial ventilation),
engineers can easily select the
recommended filter class based on
the calculation of the ODA and SUP
air levels. This facilitates easier filter
selection which ultimately optimises
the filtration system and impacts on
the energy efficiency and indoor air
quality.
There are several resources available
to the industry to provide technical
guidance related to air filtration and
filter selection in accordance with
ISO 16890. Eurovent Middle East also
published two recommendations
on air filtration and ventilation and
recommendations for healthcare
facilities.
Refer to these recommendations
and guidebooks for reliable
technical guidance.
Related documents
and links
All related documents and files can
be found in the respective sections
in the right sidebar.
• Eurovent Air Filter Guidebook —
First Edition — 2017
• Eurovent Recommendation 4/23
— Selection of EN ISO 16890
rated air filters classes — Third
Edition — 2020
• EME-GEN — 20004.00 —
COVID-19 Recommendations for
Air Filtration and Ventilation
• EME-GEN — 20006.00 —
COVID-19 Recommendations for
Healthcare Facilities
• REHVA Journal 01/2021 — Filter
Class Conversion between EN
779 and ISO 16890-1
• WHO Roadmap to improve
and ensure good ventilation
in the context of COVID-19
(Corrigendum)
• EME-REC – 21001.00 –
Recommendations on WHO
‘Roadmap to improve and
ensure good ventilation in the
context of COVID-19’
www.eurovent.me
JUNE 2021 VOL. 04

NEWSLETTER
TECHNICAL PAPER
Roadmap to more efficient
data centre cooling in the
Middle East
Asim Ansari of Airedale International Air Conditioning writes for Eurovent Middle
East on the urgent need for more sustainable data centre cooling practices, how
to optimise performance in the GCC region, and opportunities for free cooling in
high-ambient conditions.
Asim Ansari
guidelines and now recommend
supply temperatures between
18 and 27 degrees C. However,
a much wider operating band
exists in the “allowable” range,
which represent the actual limits
at which IT equipment should
be subjected to. This gives data
centre operators more flexibility
in terms of temperature setting,
with the caveat that outside the
recommended range, there is an
expected impact on reliability,
defined as the “X Factor”.
Typical failure rates for IT
equipment are low, around 2-4%
annually. According to updated
ASHRAE calculations, operating
at the top of the allowable range
(45°C) would only increase the
failure rate by an additional 3-7%.
In Figure 1 and Figure 2, we
present studies conducted on the
savings that can be achieved from
raising the temperature in stages
using an annual temperature
profile for Dubai.
20 degrees C, 24 degrees C, 28
degrees C and 36 degrees C
Raising the Air-On temperatures
to the CRAC unit reduces energy
consumption
The increasing reliance on data
owing to the global community’s
rapid digitalisation underscores
the fundamental importance of
data centres in modern times. The
demand is only set to increase
as the world steadily moves
toward digital processes for many
aspects of social, professional,
and economic life. However, with
this growth comes scrutiny and
as data centres become crucial to
our way of life, while consuming
a greater share of our natural
resources, the need for both
reliability and sustainability is
magnified.
The first, and perhaps most
pressing issue is the impact
that such operations have in
the context of climate changemitigation
efforts. Missioncritical
applications, such as
data centres, are known for
being energy-intensive, which is
potentially detrimental to broader
sustainability targets.
The second concern is related to
the growing burden of operating
cost. The growing energy
consumption of more demanding
data centres is coming at a time
when energy costs are on the
rise. This has made operators
eager to look for solutions that
can help improve the bottom-line,
which can come in the form of
maximising rack density.
It is important to remember
that server cooling accounts for
40-50% of Data Centre energy
cost. This means addressing
this key issue will be helpful
in sustainability measures and
profitability. However, the rapid
growth of the industry has meant
the supply chain has struggled
to keep up. Just a few years ago
for example, chillers were facing
serious issues in the Data Centre
sphere as operators required
a lot more from their cooling
systems than was offered or
available on the market. For some
time, chiller operating limits and
efficiencies were preventing the
industry from achieving the PUEs
that it strived for and, simply put,
past efficiencies were no longer
sufficient.
As problems with chillers
continued, alternatives like
adiabatic dry air coolers were
taking advantage of elevated
supply air temperatures to provide
solutions without the need for
compressors. Chillers, at the time,
were extremely inflexible, and
had relatively limited operating
envelopes.
The Middle East dilemma
These typical challenges are
especially aggravated in the Middle
East. The economic boom in the
GCC region attracted international
conglomerates and created
a need for a reliable digital
infrastructure. However, there
were a number of complications
unique to the region.
As previously mentioned,
cooling contributes to a big
chunk of the data centre’s
energy consumption. The
requirement is all the more
higher in the Middle East,
in view of the high-ambient
conditions. The region also
sees minimal rainfall and water
scarcity, which designers must
be mindful of.
There is also greater scope for
improvement in terms of raising
awareness in the market on
better cooling practices within
data centres. In the region,
conservative temperature
management is the norm.
There is a habit of maintaining
data centres at unnecessarily
cool temperatures. In Europe,
however, and in many parts
of the world, it is common
to raise the temperatures
as high as possible, in line
with updated guidelines on
server operating envelopes, to
maximise efficiency. There is
still a general reluctance in the
UAE and GCC region for such an
approach, out of unfamiliarity
or due to the time lag to catch
up with global trends. This is
where the industry needs to work
together and send a message
that raising set points can be key
to achieving greater efficiency
without compromising on uptime
and reliability.
How to optimise data centre
performance
Generally, there is a need to
drive better understanding
of existing references in the
market when considering what
temperature to operate the data
centres. The American Society
of Heating, Refrigerating, and
Air-conditioning Engineers
(ASHRAE) publishes guidelines
for temperature and humidity
operating ranges of IT equipment
(the ASHRAE guidelines cover
server inlet air temperatures,
not air conditioning discharge
temperatures).
The original ASHRAE air
temperature recommended
envelope for data centers was
20-25 degrees C. This was a
conservative statement, based
on data available at the time,
on how a data center could be
reliably operated. Reliability
and uptime were the primary
concerns and energy costs were
secondary. Since then, in-line
with technology advancements
and a focus on sustainability,
ASHRAE have updated their
Figure 1: Based on a 200kW DC, 5 x CRAC units
Typical cost savings of $10,000 USD per year can be achieved
Figure 2: Energy savings summary
www.eurovent.me JUNE 2021 VOL. 04

NEWSLETTER
TECHNICAL PAPER
Consider the possibilities
With raised temperatures, the
possibility of introducing a degree
of free cooling is now realised;
previously a pipe dream in hot
regions. Going back to my previous
comment on chillers, earlier chiller
designs and system applications
were not taking full advantage of
free cooling opportunities, and this
lack of system optimisation led to
further energy wastage. In freecooling
operation, up until recently,
typical approach temperatures
were wide, resulting in low supply
water temperatures, which had a
significant impact on energy usage.
Higher data centre temperatures,
coupled with a new generation of
thinking around chillers and free
cooling systems, where approach
temperatures are narrow and
Delta Ts are wide, means that freecooling
can be achieved even in
higher ambient regions such as
the Middle East.
Redesigning free cooling coils,
simplifying air paths, increasing
coil surface area, ducting hot
air directly to the CRAC units
and unifying indoor and outdoor
equipment with intelligent
software systems, are all
factors of these optimised
systems that have allowed
Airedale to take advantage
of evolving temperatures to
maximise free cooling and save
energy.
Its potential to be used even in
high-ambient conditions has
also been proven. We have had
experience in the design of free
cooling systems in high ambient
regions and believe this could
be achieved in the Gulf.
We believe there is strong
potential for concurrent cooling
for data centres in the Gulf region,
which sees the hybrid operation of
a chiller’s mechanical operation
and free cooling design working in
tandem.
Without a doubt, there are great
benefits that can be achieved in
the use of concurrent cooling,
especially in terms of energy
efficiency and sustainability.
However, at the moment, in view
of the GCC region’s relatively
low energy prices, the extra cost
required to switch from a standard
chiller to a free cooling chiller
might not be able to justify the
extra initial cost. However, the
technology and solutions are very
much available to stakeholders
in the Middle East, and with the
global energy prices on the rise
it could be a good opportunity
for stakeholders to stay ahead of
the curve and future proof their
operations from rising energy costs.
Another helpful approach
to achieving energy savings
and impressive Power Usage
Effectiveness metrics is through
the use of intelligent controls
systems. Essentially, an optimised
HVAC is the harmonisation of the
equipment with the environment and
a combination of unit controls and
building controls can ensure HVAC
systems run effectively at their most
efficient operating settings.
Working for a more sustainable
future
With the increase in number of
co-location data centres, as well
as the roll-out of 5G, data centre
operators will have to adapt better
efficiency standards to meet
customer demand. Overall,
I believe there has been a
significant improvement in the
Middle East in terms of embracing
best standards of education
and there has also been more
influence from the data centre
industry in the global scale. The
knowledge shared from experts
working in other parts of the world
has influenced temperatures and
improved working practices.
However, we need to work
together to create a positive
shift in mindsets and move away
from traditional approaches.
This highlights the importance
of platforms, such as
Eurovent Middle East. It is our
responsibility, as an industry, to
develop communication aimed
at sharing best practices that
will be helpful to all relevant
stakeholders. This includes
informing the manager of a data
centre that raising the temperature
is a more environmentally friendly
approach, helping consultants
become acquainted with the latest
technology in the market, and
educating the public sector to raise
federal government standards.
As the data centre industry grows,
so does its demand on the planet’s
natural resources, including power
and water, and as cooling systems
and techniques evolve, there is
an opportunity for data centre
operators in this region not only to
save money but also play a greater
role in conserving our natural
resources.
Figure 3: Free Cooling Opportunity with raised Chilled Water temperatures
Figure 4: Trend of Raising Chilled Water temperatures in the DC environment
www.eurovent.me JUNE 2021 VOL. 04

NEWSLETTER
EVENTS
Social gathering by Eurovent
Middle East
After more than a year of physical distance and online meetings, Eurovent Middle
East welcomed members and guests to a casual evening at the Le Meridien Dubai
Hotel and Conference Centre on June 2, 2021 .
In an open-air environment with ample space, attendees were noticeably happy to
meet in person again and share and exchange on the past months. There is so much
more information to gain when people gather and spend time together. The team
thanks everyone for a light-hearted, enjoyable evening!
www.eurovent.me JUNE 2021 VOL. 04

NEWSLETTER
VIDEO
Why the Middle East
should incentivise
ventilation retrofits
Learn more in Eurovent Middle East’s latest instalment in a series of public awareness
videos below…
ABOUT US
Eurovent Middle East is the region's only industry association
representing leading manufacturers of Indoor Climate (HVAC),
Process Cooling, Food Cold Chain, Industrial Ventilation, and
Building Automation Technologies, as well as sector associations
and industry initiatives active in these fields. By thinking ‘Beyond
HVACR', contributing manufacturers fulfil the highest requirements
in terms of product quality and sustainability.
CONNECT WITH US
CONTACT OUR TEAM
Dubai World Trade Centre
Office 07, Dubai Association Centre, 2nd
Floor, The Offices 2 at One Central
P.O. Box 9292 Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Phone (int.): +43 660 4012050
Phone (UAE): +971 58 597 4765
Email: office@eurovent.me
Web: www.eurovent.me
www.eurovent.me JUNE 2021 VOL. 04