We design the air conditioning and ventilation for commercial buildings, then document it so it can be priced, approved and built. Load calculations through to construction drawings, on a fixed fee.
Every project gets the same core scope. What changes is the building, not the rigour.
Room by room heating and cooling loads based on the real building fabric, glazing, occupancy and equipment. This is what sizes the plant, so it is done first and done properly.
Split, packaged, VRF or chilled water. We compare the realistic options on capital cost, running cost, plant space and tenancy structure, then recommend one and show the reasoning.
Outdoor air rates, toilet and kitchen exhaust, car park ventilation and smoke exhaust. Sized to AS 1668.1 and AS 1668.2 and documented so the certifier can check it.
Mechanical drawings, equipment schedules, specifications and the design certificate. Coordinated with the other trades so the contractor can build from it without guessing.
Different building types carry different loads, ventilation rates and approval requirements. These guides cover what changes and why.
System choice is the decision that drives the rest of the budget. Get it wrong and you either overspend on plant you did not need, or you lock a tenant into running costs they will complain about for a decade.
Split and packaged units suit small tenancies and single occupancy buildings. Low capital cost, simple to maintain, but they take up facade or roof space and each unit is its own maintenance item.
VRF suits multi tenant buildings where each tenancy needs its own control and its own metering. Higher capital cost than splits, better part load efficiency, and it keeps the facade clean.
Chilled water suits larger floor plates and buildings where plant is centralised. Highest capital cost and it needs real plant room and riser space, but it is the most efficient option at scale and the easiest to expand.
We run the comparison on your actual building rather than defaulting to whatever was used last time. The reasoning goes in the report, so you can show a client or a financier why the selection was made.
Related reading: VRF vs chilled water, split system vs central plant, and what commercial HVAC design costs.
A commercial HVAC design has to satisfy the NCC and the referenced Australian Standards before a certifier will issue a construction certificate or a complying development certificate. In practice that means ventilation rates to AS 1668.2, fire and smoke control provisions to AS 1668.1, ductwork to AS 4254, and the NCC 2025 energy efficiency provisions that apply to mechanical plant.
We issue a design certificate with the drawings, and we deal with the certifier directly when questions come back. That is included, not a variation.
Section J reports and JV3 energy modelling sit with a separate energy consultant. We coordinate our design with theirs so the two packages agree.
We design commercial HVAC for projects across Sydney, the Central Coast, the Illawarra, the Hunter and South East Queensland.
Most commercial HVAC design projects fall between $5,000 and $25,000. A small tenancy fitout is usually $3,000 to $8,000. A mid sized commercial building is typically $8,000 to $25,000. Large or complex buildings run from $25,000 upward. We quote a fixed fee before starting.
Thermal load calculations, system selection, plant sizing, duct and pipe layouts, ventilation rates to AS 1668.2, mechanical drawings, a specification, and the design certificate your certifier needs for the CC or CDC.
About three weeks for a typical commercial building, measured from the day we receive the architectural drawings. Small fitouts are often faster. We confirm the program in the fee proposal before you commit.
Yes. We design base building systems for new construction and tenancy systems for fitouts. On a fitout we assess the existing plant first, so you only pay to upgrade what actually needs upgrading.
It depends on floor area, occupancy, tenancy structure and budget. Split and packaged units suit small tenancies. VRF suits multi tenant buildings needing individual control. Chilled water suits larger floor plates. We run a comparison before recommending one.
Tell us about the project. We reply with a clear scope and fee within 24 hours.