Southco plugs the leaks and relieves the pressure for Air Handling Systems

When seeking to increase the energy and operational efficiencies of its HVAC enclosures by eliminating air leakage through the latching systems, air conditioning equipment manufacturer Air Handling Systems Ltd. (AHS) looked to Southco – as the only company with a product which satisfied rigid pressure tests - to provide the solution.

Shildon-based AHS manufactures bespoke air handling equipment – primarily HVAC enclosures – for the private and public sectors that include the hospital, pharmaceutical and automotive industries. Customers include organisations such as Bombardier, the BBC, various NHS Trusts and, more recently, Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Within the air conditioning sector, energy efficiency and optimised operational performance have become industry requirements, particularly in service buildings such as hospitals where the demands for hygiene and comfort are high whilst at the same time there is an increasing emphasis on cost savings and reduction in waste.
Air conditioning users are faced with having equipment in place that complies with Part L Building Regulations and provides cost savings through energy-efficient installations.

There is an ongoing issue around air leakage from HVAC enclosures. Air leakage implies lost energy and increased cost. To counteract this, it is imperative to make the equipment as air tight as possible. The current industry standard is DW 143 Class B 1000 Pascal.

When AHS pressure tested its air handling units, it found that the major cause of air leakage was via the sealing of the enclosure doors. Primarily, this was because the latches available at the time failed to properly engage and provide sufficient compression to seal the gasket on the thick door of the cabinets.
This is when AHS turned to Southco, who it had been working with for many years as a dynamic, industry-leading company which shared its own innovative thinking and pioneering approach.

Wes Campbell, Technical Director at AHS: “Southco offered the perfect solution through modifying its standard E3 Vise Action compression latch and having additional thread for allowing the engagement of the nut at the rear of the latch, thereby accommodating tight compression for up to 50mm thick doors.

Ulrike Sturman of Southco explains: “The Vise Action’ design of Southco’s E3 latch series has proved itself in millions of installations and continues to be a market-leading product for quick, secure closure in applications where vibration, sealing and quality are paramount. Its smooth operation aligns the pawl behind the frame and draws it up tight with a single continuous half-turn motion. Its compression action provides consistent 6.4 mm (.25") pull-up for environmental sealing in gasketed applications, and helps reduce or eliminate noise and rattles caused by vibration. Over-centre latching resists accidental opening due to shock or vibration. The original Southco Vise Action mechanism combines with numerous body and head styles, designed to suit specific installation and application requirements.”

AHS strives to outperform its competitors by applying very strict air leakage tests to its equipment. Whilst the industry standard is Leakage Class B 1000 Pascal, AHS equipment achieves Leakage Class C 1500 Pascal as a minimum. However, for some applications, it has reached Leakage Class D 2500 Pascal. Subject to the same rigid test conditions, the Southco E3 compression latch has successfully passed this same Class D rating.

Wes Campbell of AHS concludes: “At Air Handling Systems we are very pleased to work with Southco and appreciate how accommodating Southco has been in finding the perfect solution to our problem.”

  Ask For More Information…