Installation of any air conditioning system begins with a design that is based on compliance with building codes and regulations (SNiP) approved by the State Construction Committee of the USSR or the Ministry of Construction of Russia. Also, when compiling projects, Sanitary standards are taken into account (CH) and state standards (GOST) presented to different categories of buildings.
The requirements for the installation of air conditioners in residential, public, administrative and industrial premises are specified in the documentation in separate paragraphs and may vary. Be sure to comply with safety regulations.
For instance, NBP 105-95 states that for each individual room the fire hazard is determined by technologists according to the "Standards of the State Fire Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia".
As a rule, when designing air conditioning and ventilation systems, the following list of regulatory documents is needed, on which the designer relies.
| GOST 12.1.005-88 | General hygiene requirements for workplace air |
| SNiP 2.04.05-91 | Heating, ventilation and air conditioning |
| SNiP II-3-79 | Construction heat engineering |
| SNiP 2.01.02-85 | Fire Standards |
| SNiP II-12-77 | Noise protection |
| SNiP 2.08.01-89 | Residential buildings |
| SNiP 2.08.02-89 | Public buildings |
| SNiP 2.09.04-87 | Administrative and domestic buildings |
| SNiP 2.09.02-85 | Industrial buildings |
| SNiP 2.01.01-82 | Construction climatology and geophysics |
Coordination and permission to install the air conditioner: to receive or not
When opening their own climate control company, which provides services for the sale and installation of hard currency, many people wonder if they need permission to install an air conditioner in a particular room. The company is required to have a license giving the right to carry out construction and installation works.
If we talk about the owners of the cooling devices themselves, then they do not need to receive any permission to install the air conditioner.
The only exception here may be buildings recognized as historical or architectural monuments, buildings that are located on the central streets of the city and are of historical value. In this case, you will have to coordinate the installation of the air conditioner with the appropriate services (first you need to contact the BTI or the management company).
As the judicial practice shows, in the event of a dispute, those without permits may have problems. For example, in winter, an icicle fell onto the external unit of the split system after cleaning the roof by employees of the management company. The owner goes to court and claims compensation for property damage. The judge can both satisfy the requirements of the plaintiff and solve the issue in favor of the defendant, referring to the fact that the installation of an air conditioner is equated to reconstruction of the building with a violation of the integrity of its facade, and also recall the need to coordinate such events with all participants in shared ownership of an apartment building and authorized bodies local government.
Before ordering the installation of HVAC equipment, it is better for the owner to find out whether it is necessary to coordinate the installation of an air conditioner in his village.
Technical task
Presumably, permission is obtained, the project is created. Then you can proceed with the installation.It is carried out on the terms of reference for the installation of an air conditioner, which is part of the project. What is included in it and what is it for?
The standard technical task for the installation of an air conditioner consists of:
- descriptions of the object with its architectural features;
- Descriptions of all installation rules and regulations regarding this room;
- descriptions of the stages of work, indicating the necessary tools and supplies.
Also, this document indicates the requirements for installing an air conditioner, namely the features of drilling walls, laying communications, connecting to the network, installing safety elements, etc.
The terms of reference prescribe not only individual installation requirements, but also standard installation rules for air conditioners regarding the placement of both units.
Air conditioning installation equipment
What tools for installing air conditioning systems are needed?
As an example, you can take the installation of wall or floor-ceiling split systems, the placement of which use the following tools.
| Metalwork tools | Power tools | Equipment for working with copper pipes | Refrigeration equipment |
| Screwdrivers | Large punch | Rolling Set | Gauge station |
| Swedish keys | Small punch | Rimmer | Vacuum pump |
| Throw-horny keys | Stroborez | Pipe cutter | Leak detector |
| Hammer | Screwdriver | Pipe bender | Freon Scales |
| Knife | Burner, soldering iron, tongs (in case of extension of the route) | ||
| Nippers | |||
| Scissors for metal | |||
| Pliers |
In addition to the listed equipment for installing air conditioners, the following consumables are required:
- drill and drill;
- copper pipes;
- pipe insulation;
- drain pipe;
- wires for interconnects and power;
- cable channel under the route;
- Scotch;
- insulating tape;
- brackets and attachments to them;
- grounding plug;
- silver solder;
- freon.
For the installation of industrial air conditioners, the same equipment is required and the same materials are used, just, for example, for laying a route, you will need a larger diameter of the copper pipe, and the extension of the line is done by soldering with nitrogen.
A set of tools for installing air conditioners and the necessary materials are usually indicated in the manufacturer's instructions.
For powerful chillers, you should also purchase an electric machine for 20A or more. If the drainage is supposed to be done in the sewage system, then buy fittings for connecting the hose to it. When the communications are laid in a strobed wall, corrugated pipes will be additionally needed.
Only high-quality materials and professional equipment for installing an air conditioner can ensure the normal functioning of the equipment. It is especially important to correctly install the freon route, since its depressurization affects the operation of the entire system.
Standard and non-standard installation of the air conditioner
There are two options for installing home air conditioners: standard and in two stages.
By household refrigeration equipment they mean wall split systems, which are most often placed in apartments and offices.
Standard
Standard installation of the air conditioner is carried out in one day and involves the execution of work in the following sequence:
- laying of a freon route (up to 5 meters);
- installation of both blocks on the wall;
- commissioning and start-up in test mode.
When it is supposed to carry out a standard installation of an air conditioner, you should prepare:
- 5 m of copper pipe for the route;
- 5 m of power cable;
- 2 m boxes for food;
- 1 m box under the highway.
In a standard installation, an external air conditioning unit is installed under a window on the facade of the building. Fixation is carried out using brackets that are fixed to the wall with dowels and “capercaillie”. Climbers are not required.The indoor module is mounted on the wall to the right or left of the window, leaving a gap between the ceiling and the top of the block at least 10 cm, while the distance from the floor to the device should not exceed 3 m, otherwise the quality of cooling decreases markedly.
Communications are hidden in boxes, drainage is diverted through the wall to the outside - condensate flows by gravity.
In two stages
In what cases is it necessary to install an air conditioner in two stages and how does it go?
- At the first stage, the master drills holes in the wall and plots a channel for inter-unit communications. If necessary, the ends of the copper tubes are closed from debris and dust. It is also possible to mount brackets and an outdoor unit without connecting;
- At the second stage, after finishing the premises, the indoor unit is hung up, connected to the external interconnect wires and the route. Then carry out commissioning with pressure testing and evacuation of the refrigeration circuit. If necessary, refuel the system with freon. After they run the system in test mode to check its performance.
At the very end, the acceptance certificate of the work performed is signed.
In the following cases, the installation of air conditioners in two stages is preferable:
- Installation at the stage of construction and repair work in the room. In this case, inter-unit communications are laid in a shtroba, and not in a box. This provides a more attractive appearance of the finished system;
- Installation in the winter. It is undesirable to carry out commissioning at subzero temperatures due to the technical features of the operation of split systems. Turning it on in frost can damage the compressor, and vacuum can cause excessive moisture in the circuit.
When there is a two-stage installation of air conditioning systems, the drainage can be made into the central sewage system. At the request of the customer, he can carry out the gating of the walls on his own according to a previously made marking by a specialist.
Choosing an installation location for the outdoor unit
The placement of the indoor unit in the room depends on the location of the main "living areas" living, since the cold air stream should not go to the person. Also, the location is determined from technical aspects, namely:
- allowable path length and elevation between system units;
- maximum cutoff of heat influx from a window or door;
- compliance with the permissible distances from the ceiling to the unit and from the floor to the device;
- lack of barriers for the exit stream in the form of home decoration;
- lack of heating appliances and open fire at a distance of 1-1.5 meters.
You can install the external unit of the home air conditioner on the usual facade of the building or on the loggia / balcony, fixing it to the wall or on a ventilated facade, siding, etc.
On the facade
When mounting the outdoor unit to the wall brackets as standard, the manufacturer's specified distances from the heat exchanger and the sides to the walls and possible obstacles must be observed. When installing the air conditioner on the facade, usually under the brackets they drill holes with a small punch according to the size of the dowels - this is approximately 100 mm. Insert dowels into these holes and the “capercaillie” screw the brackets to the wall. The block is fixed on them with nuts and bolts through the mounting holes on the brackets and special “paws” of the device itself.
On a ventilated facade
Today, ventilated facades and facing materials such as siding are gaining great popularity. If you plan to install the air conditioner on a siding or ventilated facade, then it should be noted that according to safety requirements, such material must withstand a load 2-3 times more than the outdoor unit gives, that is, we are talking about a margin of safety.
Typically, when installing the air conditioner on siding and similar materials, the brackets are secured through the guide bushings. It looks like this:
- drill holes in the facade under the sleeve;
- holes for a collet are drilled in the wall;
- fasten a stud through the collet in the wall;
- a sleeve of the required length is put on the stud;
- put the bracket on this hairpin and fix it with a nut.
When installing the air conditioner on a ventilated facade with brick walls, it is better to use a dowel and screw the screw instead of a collet into it.
On the loggia or balcony
When the outdoor unit is placed on a loggia or balcony, care must be taken to strengthen the balcony railing, since vibration during work can gradually weaken them. It is advisable to install an external air conditioning unit on the loggia on the side, as this will prevent condensation from entering the passers-by. You should choose the side on which the rays from the sun least fall during the day.
If you have an unglazed loggia or balcony, it is better to put a block in this territory, as this will provide protection against falling icicles in the winter.
The installation of an external unit on a loggia with glazing is undesirable due to the lack of sufficient air exchange between the condenser heat exchanger and the environment, which usually leads to more frequent on / off cycles due to overheating, reduced operating efficiency and premature compressor failure.
Installation of an industrial air conditioner
Installing a home air conditioner is different from installing an industrial air conditioner. The external blocks of such units are mainly located on the roof in the following order:
- a layer of foam is laid on the roof;
- pour a concrete cushion on top;
- fixing supports are placed on it - mounting frames;
- mount the external module on the supports, providing for the presence of anti-vibration pads.
If we are talking about installing an industrial air conditioner (chiller) with air-cooled condenser, it is important to ensure air access to the device on the one hand and its outlet on the other. When placing water-cooled appliances, they connect the water supply and organize the discharge of waste water. In such units use only clean water.
When the installation of industrial air conditioners involves the collection of dozens of VRV-system blocks, then the allowable height difference between the blocks and the total length of the route, as well as the total nominal and maximum load on the outdoor units, are taken into account.
There is a wide variety of industrial refrigeration machines, the installation of each of which involves a large amount of preparatory and installation work in accordance with the design documentation.
