An 18-story resort and convention center in Chula Vista, CA, needed a streamlined HVAC piping solution that promoted timely installation. Control Air Enterprises selected a prefabricated Uponor PEX piping solution for the chilled water and hot-water risers to the guest room fan coils. Uponor Prefabrication Services added simplicity for additional labor savings on the project.
Customer Challenge
An 18-story resort and convention center in Chula Vista, CA, needed a streamlined HVAC piping solution that promoted timely installation.
Solution
Control Air Enterprises was responsible for installing the wet and dry side of the HVAC system for the Gaylord project. They needed a durable, reliable piping solution for the chilled water and hot-water risers that was lightweight and decreased installation times to help promote labor savings. Control Air was specifically concerned about the amount of time it would take to install the riser piping on the project. On past projects, the number of riser connections slowed their installation timelines and increased labor costs. A streamlined, lightweight solution would allow fewer installers to transport the pipe while a simple connection method would save time and further labor savings.
Results
Control Air Enterprises selected a prefabricated Uponor PEX piping solution for the chilled water and hot-water risers to the guest room fan coils. Leveraging Uponor Prefabrication Services, the risers were assembled offsite at the manufacturing facility and then transported to the resort for installation upon arrival. “Our installers were able to immediately slide everything into place. We’re only making four joints in the field and then moving to the next floor,” said Randy Ayers, division manager at Control Air Enterprises. Control Air partnered with Uponor Engineering Services to develop a support system for the risers consisting of just two supports per floor. This added simplicity for additional labor savings on the project. Ayers also noted that PEX is dramatically lighter than copper, so fewer crew members were needed to install the riser piping on each floor.
