Victaulic has partnered with mechanical, electrical and HVAC contractor WS Swift to successfully retrofit and upgrade the HVAC system within a 265,800 sq ft office and retail building in the heart of London. This project involved replacing the existing chillers with cutting-edge air source heat pump systems, all while the building remained fully operational and occupied.

During the planning phase, WS Swift initially considered welding for the retrofit. However, early assessments revealed that the time required for welders to be on-site would be excessive – almost permanent – not a scenario that would work for the contractor or the building owner. Therefore, WS Swift took their original drawings to Victaulic’s Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) department to convert their welded model into detailed 3D drawings for a grooved system, which helped to visualise and optimise the piping design and mitigate any potential system clashes prior to installation. 

Another major factor in choosing Victaulic was the need to work within an occupied building. Since tenants remained in place throughout the upgrade, safety on-site was of course a key consideration and the flame-free pipe joining method from Victaulic eliminated any potential risk of fire. With the project taking place during the summer of 2024, it was also crucial to keep the building cool throughout the installation process. As old chillers were shut down, a temporary cooling system was turned on – installed with Victaulic products as they are so adaptable – allowing the temporary system to be quickly disassembled and reconfigured at a new location in the building, all using the same materials.

Time considerations also were a critical point. Project deadlines are always important, however when upgrading a fully occupied and operational building, there is even more pressure. Victaulic solutions significantly impacted project timelines. Their Installation-Ready^TM couplings are designed for quick and easy installation, translating to faster assembly times, resulting in less time on site.

The project showcased the advantages of Victaulic’s flame-free, reconfigurable pipe joining solutions, ensuring efficiency, safety, and adaptability in an operational building or in any decarbonisation jobs.