horizontal air handler in ceiling plenum

[John shane]

THe architect of our project wants a horizontal air handler that runs on gas heating and electric cooling. Our Convenience store load is at 12 ton and since we only have single phase we designed it as three- 4 ton units. I specified carrier Forced air furnace and matched evap coil and condensing units.

The architect then tells us that he does not want the ones used for residentials and says please search for "horizontal air handler in ceiling plenum" and sent me this picture. I explained that the same configuration will happen with what we specified which will still be hung in the ceiling and the residential ones are not limited to residential and can be applied in commercial establishments. However they still dont want those units, does anyone know a commercial rated 4 ton furnace+split system that is not 3 phase?

 

[TheCommish]

The load should be hung from the top cord, unless the truss is designed for the bottom cord load

 

[steveray]

Not to mention that they will have to rip out all the NM and plastic pipe if it is a new plenum....

 

[e hilton]

John … tell the architect to specify the units. Sounds like he has a dream sheet, doesn't know the answer, and wants yo7 to do all the research. “Please search for” … no, you tell me what you want. Either that, or you (the archy) specify the performance goals and let me do the rest.

 

[klarenbeek]

Unless they are heated with a package rooftop unit, "residential style" split systems are what I typically see used in smaller commercial establishments like this, often hanging above the ceiling. Used in convenience stores, retail stores, dental offices, restaurants, you name it. You might have a hard time finding a unit that doesn't look like a residential air handler at that size for anywhere close to a competitive price.....

 

[Genduct]

THe architect of our project wants a horizontal air handler that runs on gas heating and electric cooling. Our Convenience store load is at 12 ton and since we only have single phase we designed it as three- 4 ton units. I specified carrier Forced air furnace and matched evap coil and condensing units.

The architect then tells us that he does not want the ones used for residentials and says please search for "horizontal air handler in ceiling plenum" and sent me this picture. I explained that the same configuration will happen with what we specified which will still be hung in the ceiling and the residential ones are not limited to residential and can be applied in commercial establishments. However they still dont want those units, does anyone know a commercial rated 4 ton furnace+split system that is not 3 phase?

Your Architect should have engaged a Mechanical Engineer and not assigned the task to you.

I amassuming your gas fired heat is a condensing furnace that gets all the combustion air from outside, Also I am wondering how the outside air needed for people is being introduced ionto the COMERCIAL space.

A MechanicalEngineer will take these questions and develope a solution to your lackof a 3 phase electrical service