EME Newsletter MEssage #03/2021

NEWSLETTER
MESSAGE
NEWSLETTER FROM EUROVENT MIDDLE EAST
OCTOBER 2021 VOL. 05
FEATURES
Evaporative cooling:
A Eurovent Middle East
Guidebook
The ROI on talent:
Educating both sides of the
equation
LEAD
STORY
Can VRF overcome the chiller
mentality in the Middle East?
MARKET
INSIGHTS
The Breather before the Boom
by Industry Networks
TECHNICAL
PAPER:
Morten Schmelzer,
Systemair Group on
Ventilation terms
INTERVIEW
Bjorn Ostbye, Manager
Project Development of Lulu
Group International
www.eurovent.me

NEWSLETTER
CONTENTS
MESSAGE
01 Letter to the industry
02 Lead Story: Can VRF overcome the chiller
mentality in the Middle East?
03 Interview: Bjorn Ostbye, Manager Project
Development of Lulu Group International
04 Feature: Evaporative cooling: A Eurovent
Middle East Guidebook
05 Interview: Nils Meinhardt, Global Product
Manager, HVAC/R Industry at UL
06 Market Insights: The Breather before the
Boom by Industry Networks
07 Technical Paper: Morten Schmelzer,
Technical Marketing Director of
Systemair Group
08 Feature: The ROI on talent: Educating
both sides of the equation
LETTER
TO THE INDUSTRY
Alarming shortages
The pandemic seems to be fading into the
background, thanks to the increased pace of
vaccination campaigns. While its end is most likely
nowhere near, and the world must be wary of new
variants, economies are rolling full steam ahead.
COVID-19 has still a rippling effect on many
industries. Ours included!
With a year’s delay, we finally celebrate the opening
of the EXPO 2020, a much-awaited event, and an
occasion to put Dubai in the global spotlight. The UAE
is welcoming visitors from all around the world.
However, the whole world is not open to travel yet.
Restrictions are still omnipresent in many parts of
the world, likely reducing the number of visitors to
the Expo and adding to the economic damage the
pandemic has already imposed on our societies.
Another effect stemming from the lockdowns and
closures are ongoing disruptions in the supply chain.
Across the globe, and across industries and services,
a notable shortage of raw materials and components
is seen. The supply chain, previously a sophisticated
and precise system, suffered lasting damage. There
is a shortage everywhere, from raw materials like
aluminum or plastic, to microchips and shipping
capacity.
Manufacturers are sometimes confronted with
drastic price increases and delayed supply of
components and materials, leading to extended lead
times, premiums and occasionally the inability to
fulfil deliveries. The situation is alarming.
Smaller manufacturers find it more difficult to procure
sufficient raw materials, while others are forced to
compromise on the quality or efficiency of components
to be able to deliver at all.
Project costs have been rising by double digits in many
countries over the last twelve months. But the more
worrying aspect perhaps lies in the fact that many
lower quality products are currently being sold. It
underlines the urgency of stricter use of independent
product certification, market surveillance and the
enforcement of standards.
It is to be seen how long these shortages will remain
with the industry expecting improvements within the
next six to nine months. This is, however, only the case
if no other geopolitical interests are at play.
Kind greetings,
Markus Lattner
Managing Director
Eurovent Middle East
www.eurovent.me OCTOBER 2021 VOL. 05

NEWSLETTER
LEAD STORY
Can VRF overcome the
chiller mentality in the
Middle East?
Even years after introduction of VRF technology to the region, there continues to
be ongoing debate regarding its suitability for local projects. While much of the
reluctance in the adoption can be attributed to lack of awareness on the benefits of
the technology, campaigns from companies to educate the market have uncovered
that a more pervasive issue is the region's short-sighted approach to project costing
and traditional mindsets. Eurovent Middle East shares insights from experts.
In the Middle East, the VRF vs
Chiller comparison was, and still
is, the subject of many studies
regarding efficiency and efficacy,
says Luay Ghussein, Senior Director
Engineering, Taqeef. "We know
VRF offers measurable savings in
terms of space and cost in certain
scenarios," he adds. "We also know
it has some distinct advantages
in terms of aesthetics, interior
architecture benefits, size of the
plant, flexibility, user convenience
and ease of maintenance, given
that the whole system will have
one supplier. But there's still no
definitive answer in terms of which
solution is better as each project
will have its own conditions and
restrictions."
For Srinivasan Rangan, Director
of Marketing and Product
Management, Rheem, although
every system has its own merits
ideal for respective applications,
he believes VRF solutions offer
superior system efficiency due
to advanced control features,
invertor technology and multi-step
subcooling arrangement.
Despite this, Ghussein says an
evident bottleneck for the adoption
of VRF system is the "chiller
mentality" prevalent among
consultants, who are exclusively
using indoor units that are bulky,
loud, and require long ducts. "VRF
indoor units, however, are way more
versatile and offer more flexibility
to the designer," he says. “For
example, some indoor units have
the option to be installed near the
grilles, offering the advantage of
being hidden, while eliminating the
need for ducts since they have a
low noise level. And if using wallmounted
units, the building designer
can save up to 40 cm of height per
floor. For a 10-storey building,
you can achieve height savings of
4 metres – equivalent to an extra
floor."
Rangan remains optimistic that the
system is emerging as an alternative
solution in a segment traditionally
dominated by chillers. "VRF offers
significantly lower full-load KW/TR
and partial-load power consumption
when compared with conventional
chillers," he says. "In addition, VRF
technology is a sustainable solution,
designed in line with the region's
vision and international efforts to
reduce carbon footprints."
Iyad Al Jurdy, Regional Director, LG
Electronics Middle East & Africa
HQ is also of the opinion that VRF
system's inverter compressors,
sophisticated controls and multizoning
capabilities make it stand
out compared to chilled water
systems and constant-speed single
DX systems. "All of these features
play an important role in matching
the load required for each zone to
ensure occupants comfort while
benefiting from the block load for
all zones," he says. "In addition, the
sensory inputs from ambient and
indoor temperatures and humidity
levels along with customised energy
management controls allow for
determining the most efficient logic
of operation in a real-time basis,
reducing lag time and wastage of
energy."
Ghussein says they are currently
working with the Fraunhofer
Institute on their own study, to
highlight the undisputable benefits
of VRF in terms of cost and efficiency
gains to the market. "The challenge
really is to ensure we're using the
technology to its full potential, and
I think we have a long way to go in
this regard," he says.
Moving away from traditional
mindsets
For many, the benefits of VRF
systems can only be unlocked
if the market moves away from
traditional design approaches.
Al Jurdy says, "We encourage
exploring the flexibilities that VRF
Luay Ghussein Srinivasan Rangan Iyad Al Jurdy
systems can offer in facilities
where conventional systems have
historically been the norm, such
as data centres, high rise buildings
and luxury hotels," he says. "As
for retrofit projects, a like-forlike
approach isn't necessarily
always the best option. We have
many successful retrofit projects
where chilled water systems were
replaced with VRF. The savings
in retrofit cost, downtime and
potential additional spaces brings
value to the end customer and are
appealing enough for engineers to
consider."
Rangan adds that VRF technology
has also been a more efficient
solution for many horizontal and
high-rise developments than
conventional chilled water-based
or stand-alone DX systems.
However, Rangan says the fresh
air (FA) system design should
be in line with the applicable
standards to avoid limiting
efficiency gains. The correct coil
conditions must be used to ensure
that the recirculation units share
no additional coil loads. "VRF has
a limitation on the FA to FCU ratio
of 30% within the same system
so the designers should keep
these limitations in mind when
designing any project, "he says.
Rangan adds that design
optimisations can be achieved
using the selection software and
that the diversity factor should
be used carefully. "It is also
important to remember that the
products should be of the T3
design type and not T1 for the GCC
region," he says.
Long-term views over shortsightedness
For Al Jurdy, the potential of VRF
technology is especially evident
when taking a lifecycle cost
perspective, which, he stressed,
should be a deciding factor when
selecting technology. This takes
into account savings in energy,
service and installation costs, which,
Rangan highlights, is significant
compared to air-cooled chillers.
"VRF systems have a lower initial
cost, in terms of transformer saving
and other electrical network sizing,
and 22% lower KW/Ton energy
consumption," he says. "This
translates into lower lifecycle cost
and cost of ownership."
Aside from these primary elements
of a typical LCC analysis, such as
www.eurovent.me OCTOBER 2021 VOL. 05

NEWSLETTER
LEAD STORY
supply, installation, operation, and
service costs, Al Jurdy encourages
customers to consider SEER in
their operational cost calculations
and expand such studies to include
demolition and opportunity costs.
"VRF systems do not require a
complete replacement at the end
of their lifetime," he explains.
"The flexible and modular nature
means that only some units need
to be replaced at the end of their
life, rather than the whole system.
Moreover, demolition cost itself is
lower and doesn't require heavy
machinery to lift the units, reinforce
the base or build complimentary
safety systems and mechanical
rooms to house the equipment
and other auxiliary systems for the
hydronic loop."
Considering these factors, Rangan
cites the payback of VRF systems
to be anywhere between 5 -7 years,
compared to chillers, which can be
exceptionally favourable in areas
with higher power costs. Ghussein
says that they typically see a return
on investment in under five years
for their VRF installations. This
timeframe can be accelerated
depending on the nature of the
project.
However, despite this attractive
payback, Ghussein says that the
reality for most projects in the
region is that most people place
greater value on CAPEX, rather than
OPEX. He adds that this situation
is further aggravated by the fact
that there is no regulation about
running costs. "So, although the
ESMA regulation is continuously
asking for higher Minimum Energy
Performance Standards (MEPS) to
enter and operate in the country,
there is still no incentive to use
the most efficient machines in
the market," says Ghussein. "This
is a challenge that needs to be
addressed."
Challenges related to standards
and regulations
Standards and regulations as a
vehicle to adopt more efficient
technologies continue to be a
ubiquitous narrative in the
industry, largely due to the lack
of education and understanding
in the market. Ghussein says
this confusion is often a barrier
to change and improvement.
"For example, many consultants
are still not aware that the
local certification schemes like
ESMA and QCC should actually
be considered as a "Third-party
certificate".”
For Rangan, this is a lost
opportunity considering many
VRF systems can meet and
exceed regulatory requirements
in many GCC countries, not just
ESMA and ADQCC in the UAE. He
points to SASO in Saudi Arabia,
MEW and PAI in Kuwait, and
the CB Scheme on electrical
safety as examples of regional
regulation pertaining to these
units' energy efficiency and
safety compliance.
Al Jurdy, however, says the
VRF market's increasing pace
of growth is also a challenge
for international regulatory
agencies, consultants, and
contractors alike. "While some
were agile enough to cope with
these changing market trends,
we still had to deal with some
misconceptions with regard to
the VRF systems' specification,
installation and operating
parameters," he says. "Some
of the common misconceptions
in the market relate to VRF
limitations in terms of a building
total load, usage and height."
Such misconceptions can be
attributed to limited knowledge
on available VRF control
solutions in the market, says
Rangan. "Lack of expertise
in installation, testing and
commissioning result in lower
system efficiencies and higher
maintenance cost," he says.
"Appointment of the HVAC
installation contractor should
be based on training history and
experience. VRF installation
should only be performed by
professionals who are factory
trained and certified based on
the type of VRF system being
implemented."
Collaboration to unlock greater
efficiencies
This is where manufacturers
can fill the gap, says Rangan.
"In our view, manufacturers'
involvement and guidance on the
various aspect of system design
is a healthy approach which
results in the correct use of the
technology which can benefit
the end-user," he says. "We
urge consultants to follow the
manufacturer's recommendation
in designing the VRF system to
get the maximum benefits of
various features and aspects of
this technology."
Ghussein also believes
cooperation is the best way
to overcome blind spots
leading to inefficient practices.
"Consultants should collaborate
more with HVAC experts,
manufacturers or suppliers to
understand the scope of new
technologies such as VRF.
Over-regulation doesn't foster
innovation or competition and
that's what's needed to make
energy efficiency in HVAC the
standard and not the exception.
With that comes a whole host
of other benefits to the building
owners and the end-users too."
While consultants in the Middle
East are key decision-makers
when it comes to choosing
and designing these systems,
Al Jurdy says the nature of
VRF systems state the need
for the manufacturer to be
involved since day one as
each manufacturer has their
own design software and will
need to provide actual layouts,
capacities, and installation
recommendations to the
consultants. "It has always been
a collaborative effort between
the two to make sure that the
system is designed and installed
according to the manufacturer's
recommendations," he says.
Ghussein highlights that in Europe,
manufacturers usually provide
design while consultants just state
their requirements and let the
producer decide on the system
layout and components. "This
often leads to a more diverse and
specialised selection - where
designs are fit for purpose,"
he says. "However, it's not an
approach that's followed in our
region. Certainly, having HVAC
expert input at the point of
specification could be a way to
ensure more efficient designs and
to make sure technology is used to
its full potential. We all too often
see systems specified which aren't
optimum for the standards, space
or outputs required."
Rangan adds that consultants
should also use generic
specifications to ensure the
project is not dependent on one
supplier. "They should consult
three equipment suppliers
for every project so that it can
accommodate design flexibility
and ensure the customer gets the
best technological, commercial
solution," he says. "Supplier
experience of handling similar
applications, after-sales service,
installation and commissioning
capabilities needs to be factored in
the final decision-making process."
Aside from consultants and
contractors, Al Jurdy highlighted
the importance of a multi-faceted
collaboration with regulatory
agencies to ensure that all aspects
of the VRF system are covered.
"Through ongoing technical
training, workshops and sharing
best practices, we can definitely
improve the standard specifications
of VRF systems to reflect the
dynamic nature of operation of
such systems," he says.
Eurovent
Recommendations
www.eurovent.me OCTOBER 2021 VOL. 05

NEWSLETTER
INTERVIEW
How are commercial
facilities balancing the
need for fresh air with
energy savings?
Bjorn Ostbye, Manager Project Development of Lulu Group International, a
multinational conglomerate operating a chain of hypermarkets and retail shops
across the United Arab Emirates, weighs in on what supermarkets are doing to
ensure the safety of visitors in the post-COVID “normal”.
As we are currently seeing an
improvement in the infection rates
and the world slowly returns to
a post-COVID “normal”, what
changes have you observed?
The experience the past two years
has, in fact, changed our mindsets,
and I think we all have learned a
lesson or two. This can be primarily
seen in greater personal hygiene
measures to protect ourselves and
others. The UAE government has
also done a great job in facilitating
the massive undertaking to handle
all the cases and teaching us “do’s
and don’ts”.
Businesses were quick to launch
and offer personal protective
equipment to help individuals and
society protect themselves against
the virus. In my opinion, many
of the products out there mainly
were launched because there were
business opportunities, and they did
not actually help very much.
Going forward, the problem will
probably be around for years
to come, and we all need to
understand the importance of
awareness regarding personal
hygiene and social distancing to
protect ourselves and others.
There should be fewer open
self-service facilities and more
prepacked items on display. We
also need to introduce more
sanitations of open products, and we
shall introduce food-grade organic
sanitisers such as hypochlorous
acid used for sanitisation of fruit,
vegetables and meat, as well as in
the disinfection of food processing
equipment.
In this era, what are commercial
facilities, such as supermarkets
doing to improve indoor air quality
and ensure the safety of visitors in
terms of ventilation?
All major supermarkets are
designed to meet and exceed
requirements set by ASHRAE
standards as much as possible. In
such facilities, additional treated
fresh air is added in the sales area
to make up for the air extracted
from production kitchens and
preparation rooms. Generally, it is
very difficult to change the volume
of the fresh air in existing shops, but
we have requested our HVAC design
engineers to increase the fresh air
in new projects.
As this will be an added cost, both
in terms of capital investment and
operational expenditure, it will
contradict our ongoing energysaving
efforts.
How much importance is
placed on ventilation for the
supermarket? Is it prioritised
or, does preventing cold chain
excursions to protect the quality
and shelf-life of produce take
priority?
In our stores, ventilation is a top
priority. This is evident in the
increased extraction of air from
production and preparation rooms.
Such efforts are in place to ensure
there is no bad odour or smell in the
sales areas. Since treated, cold and
fresh air is provided near the front
of house, this will also increase the
benefit of our customer before the
fresh air reaches the extraction
towards the end or back of the
facilities.
Actually, with the quick turnover we
have, we are not as concerned with
the fresh food on display.
In your experience, has there
been greater attention placed on
air treatment in supermarkets
and other related commercial
facilities?
Bjorn Ostbye
There have been and continues to be
a lot of attention on air treatment,
especially in the industry. That being
said, there are very few companies
in the market that can provide
workable advice. After all, we
cannot rely on the end-user to come
up with the right ideas.
You mentioned that it is now
apparent that recycled air must
be sanitised and technology used
in commercial facilities to be 100%
effective against all bacteria. Do
you expect to see an uptake in
demand for certain products and,
if so, what types of air treatment
products? Or is the investment
required still a drawback?
This is a very important question.
There are already good alternatives
in place, so instead of adding the
cost of additional fresh air, which
will not reduce any bacteria, we
should install a sanitation chamber
after the existing Air Handling Unit
(AHU) itself for the sanitation of
recycled air, along with one or more
independent air purifiers in stores
that are fitted with Fan Coil Units
(FCUs).
We have, in fact, already installed
several special air purifiers that
completely clean and 99,99 %
sanitise recycled air.
Cold air from fish, meat and chicken
rooms can be recycled and returned
to the storeroom and the back of the
house. Previously, the air from these
areas was extracted to the exterior,
so the ability to reuse this cold air
allows us to achieve huge savings.
The initial investment required for
the implementation of such solutions
can be partly offset by savings
in operations. In large shopping
facilities, the investment will be
relatively high.
You also mentioned that the
alternative to have 100% fresh air
would cost too much, leading to
some providers cutting corners.
Do you see this as an area where
regulatory authorities should
step in to raise standards and
requirements related to indoor
air quality? What can be done to
encourage public sector policy
further?
As mentioned above, I do not think
that 100% fresh air is any solution,
rather sanitation on recycled air.
Also, I do not believe that we should
approach authorities with this
idea. In my opinion, authorities
should instead look into the
solution mentioned above or
provide advice on other, more
practical ideas.
Remember, we aim to eliminate
potential bacteria that have
already entered the facilities. What
do we do if the next bacteria we
have to deal with are airborne?
Speaking on the issue of the
need to cultivate better protocols
to address these problems in the
years to come, in the absence of
regulation, what can be done to
encourage commercial facilities
to invest in better technologies
and practices? Do you feel
that education in the market
is sufficient and has made a
difference?
I am sure that authorities are
looking and will do the needful.
However, we are the specialists.
We are the ones that should create
and offer advice on the matter. We
should not await protocols from
the rest of the world when we, in
the UAE, are leading in many ways
otherwise.
Concerning education of the air
quality issue, we need to do a lot
more. Therefore, we need to reach
a “good” proposal quickly and then
go out with “revised” statements
about air quality.
www.eurovent.me
OCTOBER 2021 VOL. 05

NEWSLETTER
FEATURE
Evaporative Cooling:
A Eurovent Middle East
Guidebook
A behind-the-scenes look at the production of Eurovent Middle East's first
comprehensive Guidebook on Evaporative Cooling scheduled for release in November
2021. The contributors discuss market gaps that initiated the document's creation,
the process to ensure its unbiased approach, and the stakeholders that can benefit
from the document's comprehensive overview of the technology.
Back to basics
Scheduled for release in November,
the Eurovent Middle East Guidebook
on Evaporative Cooling was
created with the express mission
of addressing an issue particularly
problematic in the region: insufficient
information related to products and
equipment, in this case especially
cooling towers.
Reasons behind this range
from a simple lack of available,
comprehensive material to
misleading data pushed according
to marketing agendas - all of which
can lead to inefficient designs,
installations, maintenance protocols,
and operations. In a region where
cooling is considered critical, these
inefficiencies can be detrimental to
broader sustainability policies and
increase energy consumption and
long-term operating costs.
Rafael Van Eijcken, General Manager,
Middle East, Turkey & India, Baltimore
Aircoil Middle East LLC and Vice-
President of Eurovent Middle East,
explains that the current patchwork of
information in the market is because
the Middle East receives design
influences from different parts of the
world. "The influences come from
local markets, as well as Europe, the
United States, and Asia," he says.
"This results in system specifications
from a melting pot of different best
practices for different applications
and customer requirements. These do
not always align or fit the purpose of
regional projects, especially in terms
of environmental requirements or
customer budget." Van Eijcken adds
that the Guidebook aims to address this
issue by offering basic guidance on the
critical aspects of evaporative cooling
equipment for this region.
"It was about reigning in the different
types of information that stem from
various manufacturer messages that
fly around on what makes a good
cooling tower design or what people
should consider," says Chris Willis,
General Manager, Evapco Middle East.
Willis adds that going back to the
foundation and providing people with an
understanding of basic terminologies
and characteristics that need to be
considered when designing a system
would go a long way in improving
regional design practices.
Darek Sikorski, Manager, Sales Support
EMEA, SPX Cooling Technologies,
echoes this. "The idea of the Guidebook
was to provide a comprehensive but
easily understandable A-to-Z type
overview of cooling towers. This
includes answering basics questions
such as 'What is a cooling tower?
How does it work?' and 'What are the
different configurations available?' It
also means providing more in-depth
information on installation, operation
and maintenance."
Rafael Van Eijcken
Chris Willis
Darek Sikorski
Striving for an unbiased narrative
This considerable task was taken on
by Eurovent Middle East's Cooling
Tower Working Group, comprising
several active manufacturers. Van
Eijcken says the group has long
underscored the importance of
consistent market education on the
relevant standards and features of
evaporative cooling equipment for
regional projects.
Sikorski adds, "All the main
manufacturers involved had their own
cooling tower guidebooks; however,
we all agreed on the benefit of having
a publication that was jointly authored
by the manufacturers and endorsed by
Eurovent. This would provide unbiased
information that will increase the
understanding of the technology and
products available in the market."
"All the members of the working
group were allocated an equal amount
of content for the subject they were
responsible for," says Van Eijcken.
"All the input was then reviewed and
commented on multiple times by
Eurovent Middle East and all parties
to make sure it was as relevant and
unbiased as possible and for the
best interest of the end-users in the
market." Willis echoes this, saying,
"We were careful to make sure it was
generic advice that did not favour one
manufacturer over another and that
it was for the good of the industry.
The document slowly started to take
shape through regular meetings,
which identified the scope and type of
information that should be included
as well as how to address certain
issues."
Writing for the readers
Now in its completed form, the
Guidebook offers a practical and
easy-to-read reference on essential
aspects related to selection and
design to ensure the most optimal
and efficient evaporative cooling
systems for projects in the region.
"The Guidebook will be distributed
and referenced towards the markets
by Eurovent Middle East and its
cooling tower members as a neutral
basis of understanding on the crucial
aspects related to Evaporative Cooling
equipment," says Van Eijcken. "Decision
makers are routed from the principles
of operation, through the different types
of equipment, important regional design
parameters, towards the importance of
implementing proper maintenance and
operation practices to maintain highest
system efficiencies over a maximised
equipment lifetime."
Willis says such knowledge is especially
critical given the specialised nature
of the topic. "A cooling tower is an
important piece of a project, but it
is often only a small part of what
most stakeholders have to take into
consideration in the context of their
respective roles," he says. "Whether
it's the end-user tasked with running
a building, or a consultant designing
an entire MEP system which contains
different types of equipment, it is often
the case that the people involved do
not have particularly deep and detailed
knowledge about a cooling tower. They
might know marketing stories they have
been told about the product. However,
they are experts in the larger field
they are involved in, not this specific
product. The Guidebook gives them the
information they need in the way they
need it. At the very least, it can serve as
a basis for more practical designs and
more sensible decisions."
Van Eijcken points out that the
document serves as a common basis
of understanding for stakeholders
before moving towards the project's
specific needs. "This will benefit many
stakeholders ranging from design
engineers, such as consultants,
contractors, system integrators,
complementary HVAC component
manufacturers, and overseas cooling
tower manufacturers with limited
regional exposure in terms of
experience," he says.
Aside from the engineering teams,
Willis says the document would also
be helpful for people working in or
related to the purchasing department.
"It is often the case at the purchasing
stages that the person responsible for
buying the product does not have a clear
understanding about the product," he
says. "This guidebook at least helps to
give them an unbiased understanding
without relying on marketing messages."
Willis says the document would also
help facility managers ensure
optimal performance of the unit by
providing better context on water
quality, maintenance intervals and
servicing.
Willis adds the Guidebook is
also useful for end-users, such
as industrial companies, that
require process cooling of their
manufacturing facilities. "For
such types of facilities, the
owners are focused on their main
manufacturing process, such as
plastic moulding, etc. They don't
know about cooling towers or what
to do with them. But it's still part
of their system, and the Guidebook
helps inform them on ways to get
the best out of their equipment for
process cooling."
Essentially, Sikorski says the
document is helpful for any
stakeholder that has a watercooling
requirement, whether an
HVAC or industrial application.
"We are really pleased with the
content provided in this finished
Guidebook. We hope it will provide
key information to allow decisionmakers
to make educated decisions
on the viability of using this most
efficient cooling technology."
Eurovent Middle East will release
the Guidebook on 23 November
2021 with a dedicated workshop
on Cooling Towers as a live event
hosted at the Le Meridien Dubai
Hotel and Conference Centre.
www.eurovent.me
OCTOBER 2021 VOL. 05

NEWSLETTER
INTERVIEW
How will the global chip
shortage affect the HVACR
industry?
From smartphones to cars, many everyday items that society depend on are, in turn,
reliant on semiconductor chips. The chip serves as the brain within an electric device
responsible for its function. However, there has been a global shortage caused by
the high demand of electronic devices during the pandemic. Nils Meinhardt, Global
Product Manager, HVAC/R Industry at UL, shares his insights on the potentially farreaching
consequences this shortage will have on the supply chain and performance
of the HVACR sector…
Could such changes have a
potential impact on the reliability
or performance of certain HVAC
products?
The short answer is yes. The
potential impact may be present
from different perspectives, starting
from the safety of the products
through to their reliability. Now
more than ever, timing is critical to
ensure safe products arrive on the
market on time.
What can companies, such as
UL, do to inform and educate
consumers on the potential effect
material changes might have on
products on the market?
UL strengthens the relations with
our customers by providing timely
responses to their enquiries.
UL can also evaluate alternate
material selections and their
potential impact on the safety of
their products. On the other side,
UL is also anticipating the need of
UL: An overview
the customers by developing new
testing capabilities to be ready to
support them when needed.
We have also set up a dedicated
webpage for news, resources, and
links to tools like UL Product iQ®
and UL Prospector® databases
that can help you to quickly locate
UL Certified products, components,
materials, and ingredients. With
this UL wants to support the
industry to keep their projects
moving.
Stefano Traversi, Engineering Leader HVAC of UL speaks on the importance of thirdparty
certification.
In what way is the HVAC sector
affected by the global chip
shortage? Which product areas or
products are most vulnerable to
this shortage?
The global chip shortage is
impacting the supply chains of the
manufacturers at various levels.
The shortage starts from raw
materials and may have an impact
at all levels of the supply chain.
With higher technological product
sophistication, the utilisation of
microchips is growing.
In the HVAC industry, microchips
are used to enable an extensive
amount of product functionalities,
from temperature control up to
artificial intelligence algorithms.
This applies to the complete HVAC
sector but with a greater impact on
more sophisticated products.
Which stakeholders within the
supply line are most affected,
and what are the potential
consequences? Could this, for
example, potentially affect the
price of some products?
The most affected stakeholders
of the supply chain are suppliers
of raw materials such as plastic
and steel. On the component side,
microprocessors and electronics
have also been impacted. In addition
to the increased raw material input
costs, global container shipment
slot shortages and an increased
microchip demand from specific
industries are also causing a
shortage in microchips and
significant price increases.
What strategies are companies
implementing to cope with these
disruptions?
Sourcing departments are under
pressure to secure the supply chain
and look for alternate suppliers.
Several factors can play a role in
strategy development. This includes
the duration of this shortage, which
will drive companies to decide if
they should absorb the input cost
pressures.
If companies shift their components,
materials, and ingredients to
avoid disruption in the supply
chain, will this affect their existing
certifications? If so, in what way?
Not every component or material
has an impact on the certification of
a product. There are some critical
components that need evaluation and
Nils Meinhardt
potentially may require additional
evaluation before being used.
Timing is very critical in this case
since, depending on the technical
specification of the component
selected, the specific test plan
may lead to extended or reduced
testing. The UL listing program
helps manufacturers to manage
component suppliers to shift faster
and with minimal re-certification
effort.
Forming a segment of Eurovent Middle East’s webinar focused on ‘The Value of Product Certification’, Stefano
Traversi, Engineering Leader HVAC for UL highlights the principles and importance of third-party certification.
This presentation includes essential standards for accreditation of certification bodies and an overview of
performance and safety certifications.
www.eurovent.me
OCTOBER 2021 VOL. 05

NEWSLETTER
MARKET INSIGHTS
The Breather before the
Boom by Industry Networks
Market outlook by Desmond Noronha, Technical Analyst, Industry Networks
The KSA Giga-construction boom
was to follow the end of the Expo-
FIFA driven project cycle. The
pandemic, politics and macroeconomics
have unfortunately
delayed the hand-over in this
construction market relay and HVAC
businesses that were shielded from
the economic fallout of the gap in the
project development during 2020 are
now experiencing a painful market
contraction.
Even though the estimated regional
spend planned for urban projects
continues to be formidable at close
to USD 582 billion, it had been reeling
pre-pandemic with over capacity. The
GCC’s urban construction project
market has shrunk by 6% over the
last 12 months with USD 91.8 billion
worth of projects completed and USD
9 billion worth of projects cancelled,
while only USD 24.3 billion in new
construction were announced.
© Copyright 2021 Industry Networks.
© Copyright 2021 Industry Networks.
While there is no hiding from the
short-term pain, there are multibillion
dollar strong reasons to be
optimistic about the mid-to-longterm
prospects for construction in
the region. Let’s evaluate three of
the most relevant ones here:
1. The Giga projects are real.
While most HVAC businesses
cannot reasonably forecast
this work at present because of
the lack of transparency to the
activity that is taking place, it
will be reassuring to know that
many major consultants are
overwhelmed with the design
work that’s on their plates,
mobilisations to site and earlystage
work on projects like
NEOM have begun. The most
exciting opportunities for HVAC
businesses today are the massive
district cooling requirements that
these developments are going to
need.
2. Utility growth is a canary in
a coal mine. While the urban
sector shrunk through the
pandemic, the utility sector grew
by 6 %. This strong growth in
utilities has been seen almost
across the entire GCC and is an
early indicator of the urbanization
and industrialisation of the
region that is being planned for.
It's also encouraging to see that
the multi-billion dollar utility
infrastructure that is being
built-out is not just government
initiatives but also through PPP
schemes which involve greater
vetting of the viability of projects
by financial institutions and the
private sector.
3. Making food, medicine,
essential commodities & data
locally. COVID has woken up
governments and industrialists
who realize that the sleepy
pace of industrialisation can
significantly affect stability and
security. Industrial growth in
the food processing sector and
medical sectors are primary
targets of the drive for economic
and social security particularly
for the UAE, Saudi Arabia,
and Qatar, but aren’t the only
industries that they are targeting
as they work towards job creation
in a post-COVID world.
A good example would be the
upcoming Food Tech Valley,
a new initiative that seeks to
triple the UAE’s food production
and will be home to four main
clusters: agricultural technology
and engineering cluster, a food
innovation centre, R&D facilities,
and an advanced smart food
logistics hub. The project is a part
of UAE’s National Food Security
Strategy 2051 aims to create an
integrated modern city that will
cater as a hub for future clean
tech-based food and agricultural
products and an incubator for
researchers, entrepreneurs,
startups, and industry experts
involved in developing solutions
that have the potential to shape the
future of the food industry.
© Copyright 2021 Industry Networks.
With a solid case to be made for
the future, businesses must plan to
take a breather while they prepare
for the next construction boom.
www.eurovent.me
OCTOBER 2021 VOL. 05

NEWSLETTER
TECHNICAL PAPER
Ventilation systems
Morten Schmelzer, Technical Marketing Director of Systemair Group gives a
comprehensive overview of the different terms related to ventilation systems to
provide the Middle East market with an understanding of their individual advantages
and disadvantages.
Ventilation is the intentional
replacement of used indoor air
with fresh, outdoor air.
The air is used by the people
inhabiting the space, who inhale
oxygen (O2) and breathe out
carbon dioxide (CO2).
The concentration of CO2
serves as a measure of the
quality and freshness of indoor
air. The absence of fresh
outdoor air results in increased
concentrations of CO2, which
will lead to building inhabitants
suffering from reduced
concentration, increased fatigue
and, in some cases, headaches
and sluggishness.
The advantages and
disadvantages of infiltration
Fresh outside air can typically
enter the building through
infiltration, which is considered
unconscious or non-intentional
ventilation. This is characterised
by outside air entering through
the seams and cracks within the
facade, pushing the inside air
out through the other side. The
amount of infiltration must be
large enough to bring in adequate
fresh outside air and this is
dependent on how leaky the
facade is, the size of the building
and the number of people in the
building.
However, infiltration is not
constant and cannot be
controlled. If the wind is not
blowing, there is hardly any
infiltration and if the wind is very
strong it will quickly start to draft
inside. Infiltration is also not always
the most efficient solution as it will
increase energy consumption for
heating in the winter seasons. Also,
with infiltration the balance between
the amount of indoor and outdoor is
not guaranteed.
Increasing infiltration by opening the
window
A way to temporarily increase
ventilation through infiltration is to
manually open a window or door. By
consciously making larger openings
in the facade, more fresh outside
air will flow in, allowing for better
ventilation.
An important advantage to opening
a window is being able influence
the amount of fresh air that enters.
More fresh air leads to lower CO2
concentration indoors and reduces
the possible concentration of harmful
particles.
However, there are major drawbacks
to opening windows and doors. First,
opening the windows would also
Morten Schmelzer
allow more pollutants from the
outside air, such as fine dust and
mosquitoes, to enter, not to mention
the noise pollution from outdoor
activities.
It also requires much more heating
energy when it gets colder, which
leads to a drier indoor climate.
This is especially problematic
during the winter season and
makes inhabitants susceptible to
respiratory infections. The optimum
relative humidity indoors is between
40% and 60%.
In the event opening the windows
or doors is not an option and the
infiltration is insufficient to address
the fresh air supply requirements
of the people in a building,
there is a need for a ventilation
system to ensure that the indoor
concentration of CO2 does not
become too high.
The table below gives a weighting of
the various ventilation options.
Open window
Opening the windows is the easiest way to ventilate. Disadvantages are
drafts, noise and pollution from the outside and high costs for heating.
Natural ventilation
Natural ventilation with grilles reduces some of the disadvantages of the
open window. But when the wind is not blowing there is no ventilation
and drafts are often experienced in winter.
Hybrid ventilation
The purpose of a ventilation system
A ventilation system facilitates the
introduction of fresh outside air
in an intentional and controlled
manner.
Although installing more fans
typically leads to more expensive
operations, it is also crucial to
helping ensure that ventilation and
air flow can be easily controlled.
The use of more fans will lead to
Hybrid ventilation reduces some of the drawbacks of natural ventilation.
But does not prevent drafts in winter and costs more energy than natural
ventilation.
Balance ventilation
an increased demand for energy;
however, it will also lead to reduced
requirement for heating.
If the fans are set up per room, we
speak of a decentralised system and
if the fans are set up per building
it is called a central ventilation
system. From central systems, the
air is then transported to the various
rooms with air ducts, vertically, via
shafts, and horizontally, above the
suspended ceiling. With balanced
Balanced ventilation is the best way of ventilation and can be performed
both centrally and decentrally (per room). This way of ventilation is more
expensive and also takes up more space.
www.eurovent.me
OCTOBER 2021 VOL. 05

NEWSLETTER
TECHNICAL PAPER
ventilation, the outside air is
cleaned with fine dust filters
and heat recovery, without
recirculation taking place.
When weighing the associated
cost of installing more fans, it is
also important to take note of the
benefit that improved ventilation
and indoor air quality brings to the
people that inhabit the building
in terms of reduced absenteeism
and more productivity. An
especially balanced ventilation
will ensure that the conditions in
the room are optimal and healthy
for people to feel well.
An overview of recirculation
Recirculation is largely 50%-90%
reduction of ‘used‘ air. Essentially,
the air that is extracted from a
room is returned to the same
or other rooms. This is done
consciously in new systems for
clean rooms and operating rooms,
where the recirculated air passes
through a very good filter, such as
HEPA filters, so that the indoor air
becomes very clean.
Recirculation systems are also
found in older buildings with
poorly insulated facade. In
order to achieve an even and
comfortable indoor climate during
winter, more air was circulated
than the outside air needed
by the people in the building.
However, newer buildings are
equipped with decentralised
recirculation systems, whereby
the recirculation was sold by
certain suppliers as a kind of heat
recovery system to circumvent
European legislation.
The meaning of internal leakage
Internal leakage in a central
ventilation unit is often confused
with recirculation. Following
greater awareness surrounding
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)
in the 1990s, recirculation
systems are now rarely used.
SBS was often caused by too
little ventilation and too much
recirculation to save energy.
Together with inadequate
maintenance of the systems,
this resulted in buildings where
inhabitants became ill.
Subsequently, regulations were
introduced mandating the use of
fully outdoor air systems. These
were often provided with heat/
moisture recovery in order to limit
energy consumption. Now, with
certain forms of heat recovery,
there can be limited internal
leakage from the discharge to the
supply air. This leakage usually
amounts to less than 0.5% of the
air volume if the layout of the unit,
especially the position of the fans,
is correct.
This can happen if there is
significant pressure on the heat
recovery device because the
exhaust fan is on the ‘wrong‘ side.
In many cases, exhaust fans can
be moved, which greatly reduces
internal leakage.
Internal leakage can be measured
with a tracer gas. It has never been
shown that virus particles, for
example, can also leak from the
discharge to the supply via the heat
recovery. It is possible to have a
100% leak-free system, however it
can only be achieved by applying a
two-element system, with the use
of run around coils. These are heat
exchangers that are connected to
each other in separate supply and
exhaust units.
The purpose of circulation
An air conditioner is not a
ventilation system but a circulation
system that heats or cools the
air and, therefore, ensures a
pleasant temperature in the room.
A VRF system consists of various
decentralised air conditioners in
different rooms that are linked
in an energy-efficient manner
to a central heat pump that can
provide cooling and heating. Air
conditioning systems could be
supplemented with local filter units
fitted with HEPA filters. These
are circulation systems with a fan
and a HEPA filter. A HEPA filter
captures more than 99.5% of all
(virus) particles and, thus, keeps
the room clean.
The purpose of air treatment
Air treatment, as the name
suggests, refers to the treatment
of air before it enters a space.
An air treatment system ensures
that the supply air is purified,
has the correct temperature and,
preferably, also has the correct
humidity with a sufficiently low
CO2- content. Air treatment
must not produce too much noise
while the system also ensures
that the ‚used‘ air is removed
from the room with balanced
ventilation.
In addition to heat/moisture
recovery, an air treatment unit
often contains particulate filters,
a heater and a cooler, fans and,
in some cases, silencers. It also
features a section where the air
can be humidified in the winter,
so that it does not become
too dry inside. Air treatment
essentially functions to ensure a
good and healthy indoor climate
and all this is guaranteed in a
balanced air handling “fresh air
ventilation” unit.
System comparison
System
comparison
Open window
Natural
ventilation
Hybrid
ventilation
Circulation
Recirculation
Weighting according to system performance in comparison: ++ good + sufficient + / - neutral - insufficient -- poor
Balance
ventilation
Weighting criteria central local central local
Refreshment
regarding
COVID 19
++ - + - - - - + / - ++ ++
Tour - - - - - - - ++ ++ ++ ++
Sound fans ++ ++ + - - + - + -
Sound of Outside - - - - ++ ++ ++ ++ ++
Pollution of Outside - - - - ++ ++ ++ ++ ++
Controllability - - - - - + / - ++ + ++ +
Energy heating - - - - ++ ++ ++ ++ ++
Energy fans ++ ++ + - - - - - - - - -
Compatibility ++ + + ++ - - + - - +
Installation
space / budget
Weighting criteria
Refreshment regarding COVID 19
Tour
Sound fans
Sound of Outside
Pollution of Outside
Controllability
Energy heating
Energy fans
Compatibility
Installation space / budget
++ ++ + - - - - - - -
Explanation
How much fresh air is coming in? With natural ventilation this depends on the wind. You can choose this
yourself with mechanical ventilation. An air conditioner is not ventilation. Central recirculation is undesirable
because of the possible spread of COVID 19 through the building.
Controlled introduction of treated ventilation air produces less draft.
If fans are closer to the user, the chances of noise disturbance increase.
With more openings in the facade, more outside noise will enter.
With more openings in the facade, more particulate matter will enter from the outside.
Balanced ventilation allows temperature control of the ventilation air (including cooling) and humidification
(40%

NEWSLETTER
FEATURE
The ROI on talent: Educating
both sides of the equation
On June 24, 2021, Eurovent Middle East hosted a live panel discussion addressing
challenges related to obtaining and retaining talent to meet the HVACR sector's
evolving requirements. Moderated by Nerissa Deoraj and Markus Lattner, the panel
members shared their experiences and insights on how investing in skills training for
the improvement of the industry can meet broader goals related to energy efficiency.
From global logistics' reliance
on secure cold chains across
various sectors to the growing
demand for clean and comfortable
indoor climates, the critical
role the HVACR sector plays in
society is irrefutable. However,
as the industry evolves, there is
a shortage of individuals capable
of bringing the necessary training
and skillsets to meet the sector's
requirement for human capital.
The noticeable skills gap can be
attributed to the lack of awareness
of job opportunities within the
industry. It is also aggravated by
a lack of understanding of the
sector's importance in so many
aspects of our everyday lives.
As Nodirjon Rasulov, Business
Development Manager, Camfil
Middle East, pointed out, "What
is invisible is indispensable,"
underscoring how the impact of
high indoor air quality on human
health and productivity can be so
easily overlooked. He says this
can serve as a barrier for the
youth to be excited to become
part of the industry. Naveen
Sivakumar, Head of Marketing and
Business Development for Turkey,
Middle East and Africa, Danfoss,
shared the same sentiment. "We
are behind the ceilings and on
the rooftops," he says. "So, the
exposure is missing in colleges.
It is an industry that is taken for
granted. We set the thermostat,
and that is it."
However, there are many initiatives
the industry can take to address the
challenge of not only drawing talent
but also retaining them. Sivakumar
said the only way for the industry to
be attractive is to cultivate a more
robust employment ecosystem
comprising proper legislation,
greater education, as well as a
richer and more diversified skill set
supported by competitive salaries.
It is vital to identify individual
challenges and effectively address
them to develop such an ecosystem.
The need for government
intervention and certification
When it comes to the public sector's
role, Sivakumar said government
intervention is particularly important
for developing legislation that can
audit the skill set of people doing
maintenance and repair work
on HVACR systems in buildings.
Criticising the level of knowledge in
the Middle East, Sivakumar points
out that many of the major hotel
operators still confuse refrigeration
and air conditioning by setting room
thermostats at 17 or 18 degrees C.
Markus Lattner, Managing Director,
Eurovent Middle East, adds that
the lack of adequately trained
technicians is not only leading to
inefficient operations, but it also
poses a threat to the safety and
wellbeing of people involved in
building operations especially with
the outdated systems prevalent in
many buildings
Nodirjon Rasulov
Naveen Sivakumar
Underlining the gravity of the
situation, Lattner points to the tragic
incident earlier this year when the
compressor of an air conditioning
unit burst during routine
maintenance work, resulting in the
death of one worker and severe
injury of two others. There must be
frameworks in place to avoid such
risks, he added.
Weighing in as a representative
of the industry and as an Emirati,
Roudha Bin Baher, Commissioning
Engineer, Petrofac, highlighted
opportunities for the private sector
to support government through their
expertise in this regard, underlining
the need for greater collaboration.
"Even the people that are
preparing most curriculums for the
government need extra knowledge
and experience in the industry," she
said, "That's why I encourage the
private sector to get involved."
Bin Baher's observation stems
from her own experience, as she
credits private companies for her
introduction and exposure to the
refrigeration and air conditioning
sector. "These companies fill the
gap between education and the real
world," she said. "I can really see
the benefit of getting the training
from the company itself, to teach
us what's happening in the real
markets." This sort of private sector
involvement, she adds, can help
overcome possible shortcomings
from educational institutions.
The benefit from the expertise that
private companies bring to the
table is also obvious to Rasulov.
"There is a very big gap between
universities and the industry," he
said. "When it comes to a topic like
filtration, for example, it is not even
extensively covered in the HVACR
part of engineering. They spend only
10-15 minutes talking about the
basics. However, when we go and
approach schools to offer classes on
a voluntary basis, we find that they
are very welcoming."
A diversified workforce and skillset
Sivakumar believes that a
framework for formal technical
education should be directed to
the youth and should also be made
available to existing technicians.
"I'm talking about the simple bluecollar
air conditioning technicians
that are hungry for knowledge,"
he said. Sivakumar pointed out
how such technicians, typically
expatriates, are employed with a low
salary and have little opportunity
to enhance their position. Their
experience assisting in projects
has given them an intuitive
understanding of how HVACR
components work. "If you introduce
theory to them, you could be getting
an amazing technician," he said.
"There is enough motivation, but,
unfortunately, that kind of formal
education isn't happening here."
Rasulov added that companies
need not look far to see the benefits
that can be unlocked by proper
training mechanisms, highlighting
the untapped opportunities within
companies’ existing workforce. "It
always depends on the company
how they want to nurture a
candidate," he said, "but if we give
proper and continuous training
even after employees join, it will
be not only for the benefit of the
person but also for the benefit of
the company."
Expanding the search with
evolving technologies
There is also a need to cast a
wider net when assessing potential
candidates for HVACR positions.
Bin Baher said that candidates
with a background in chemical and
mechanical engineering would
be ideal for HVACR positions.
Purwanti Alissa Paillé, Founder
& CEO, careersbay.com, an
HVACR recruitment company,
confirms that candidates with
diploma showcasing additional
specialisations on relevant topics
are favoured by companies.
Rasulov added that while the
technical background is essential,
there are plenty of opportunities for
people from other fields, given the
broad nature of available positions.
"In our company, we look at not
only the intellectual capabilities
of the person but the emotional
capabilities also," he said. "I would
suggest to anyone who is looking
into HVACR positions to focus on
what different perspectives they
can share and to think out of the
box."
Sivakumar said that openness
to specialists from different
backgrounds is so crucial,
Markus Lattner
Roudha Bin Baher
considering HVACR systems
have also evolved. "Mechanical
engineering was the classical
choice for specialists in the
sector," he said, "but we need
to remember that the industry
has moved on from simple
air conditioning systems to
complicated Internet-of-Things
and BMS systems - all of which
require an appreciation for
electronics. So, let us not stick
to one branch of knowledge.
The industry has moved on, the
systems have evolved, and they are
now not only talking to each other
but to other systems as well. "
Opening the doors for women in
the industry
The need for diversification also
touches on opportunities for
women in the sector. Paillé said
that from her experience, there
had been a great demand for
women among HVACR companies,
especially for management
positions. Rasulov observed the
same trend, adding, "There are
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OCTOBER 2021
VOL.05

NEWSLETTER
FEATURE
Purwanti Alissa Paillé
Nerissa Deoraj
also frameworks in place to
encourage a positive move in this
direction, through frameworks
such as GEEIS (Gender Equality
European & International
Standard), awarded to company's
showing the willingness to open
the doors for women."
Sivakumar added that many
companies are following suit and
that Danfoss has the ambition
to have 30% of their leadership
positions held by women by
2025. "This is a commitment that
we have taken all those years,
and we are pushing the agenda
very clear," he said. " Even for
me, personally speaking, I lead
a team of six strong females
in the marketing and business
development team, three of which
are engineers, and I know their
energy and what they can bring to
the table."
Nerissa Deoraj, Executive
Director, Eurovent Middle East,
added that positive moment is
evident but there is room for
growth. "The number of women
in the industry has increased,"
she said, "And they bring a lot of
skills and competence. Women
should definitely be considered
more when it comes to positions
requiring higher technical skill
sets because they actually are
very capable, and competent."
Sivakumar agreed, also
highlighting how there is scope
for women's expertise and skills
behind the scenes as well, and
that it is up to the industry to
improve the image of many roles
within the sector. "The technician
is not a guy in overalls, covered
with oil and grease and with
the hard hat," he said. "These
days, HVACR technicians work
with a computer or a mobile
phone trying to troubleshoot the
problem through the internet
- so that image change is also
needed."
What does it take to get them to
stay?
While equipping individuals
with the latest skillsets is
important, keeping them will
only be possible if they are given
proper compensation for their
work. Currently, this is more
the exception rather than the
rule. Rasulov shared that while
white-collar technicians have a
competitive salary, there is a big
gap in the salary of blue-collar
technicians. "What they are
getting is unfair presently," he
said.
Sivakumar calls the salary
discrepancy "a clear disgrace",
especially when companies
consider candidates' nationality,
opting for people from
developing countries and making
a case for low compensation
because of the conversion rate.
"It's not fair," he said, adding
that the loser, at the end of the
day, is the industry. "If you are
trying to hire a designer with five
years of experience at AED 6.000,
you are not going to get the right
people."
Paille said salary is a key
determining factor for people's
decision to stay in the industry,
adding that while the amount
varies among different companies,
she encourages companies to
increase their offer to attract better
candidates and cultivate loyalty
between the parties. Sivakumar
shared that, unfortunately,
salary has often been the cause
of companies losing out on
great talent. He believes proper
legislation that places value on
skilled technicians would contribute
to an ecosystem where buyers
are given a chance to pay more to
benefit from excellent service.
Why education is money
Despite the complex nature of
these issues, there is an urgent
need to strengthen the human
resource ecosystem to meet a
growing sector's human capital
requirements and accommodate the
expected wave of retrofits given the
region's ageing built environment.
"Most of the air conditioning
systems in the Middle East are
getting old, and we have many
outdated systems all over the Gulf
countries," he said. "This brings into
the picture potential opportunities
for retrofit. Remember: a retrofit
is not only to make a building safer
it's also about making it more
economical and more viable."
Education, Sivakumar said,
must also be directed to the
government to highlight the
benefit of eliminating energy
guzzlers, given the more efficient
technologies available in the
market. "It's about educating both
sides of the equation," he said,
"Government stakeholders need to
understand the new technologies
coming up and how it can be
economical." Providing an example,
Sivakumar points to how 40% of a
supermarket's energy bill comes
from refrigeration. "Globally, 1%
of the global energy consumption
comes from supermarkets, so there
is a lot of money to be saved. That's
how I see it: Education is money.
Yes, it's about developing a person,
but it's also bringing money back to
the economy."
Sivakumar said that this crucial
topic underlines the importance
of organisations such as Eurovent
Middle East, which operates at
the juncture among the different
stakeholders that need to come
together. "If the industry has to
work together, they need to have a
neutral platform, and this is where
I believe Eurovent is adding great
value as well," he said.
Deoraj confirmed that work is
underway for Eurovent Middle
East's Leadership Academy,
which will provide engineers and
MEP consultants with a holistic
overview of technologies that
are available in the market.
Deoraj said that the training
sessions would be facilitated by
members offering real-world
technical expertise to address
problems and misperceptions in
the market, especially when it
comes to technical knowledge and
specifications.
In addition to educating
stakeholders, Deoraj said the
Academy aims to empower
consultants to shift their focus
from typical fixed design methods
in projects. "Symptoms of these
problems include issues related
to copy-pasting of specifications,
without really thinking about
what the technology is or having
a clear understanding of what
they are asking for," she said.
"Our Academy is just one of the
projects we are working on to try
and change these perceptions and
educate the market. This is one of
our biggest targets for this year,
and we hope that to have it up and
running by early 2022."
www.eurovent.me
OCTOBER 2021
VOL.05

NEWSLETTER
ABOUT US
Eurovent Middle East is the region's 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