Design and implement a temporary solution to protect inventory and capital expense equipment
Nearly a decade ago, IKEA chose to establish a new flagship store to serve the St. Louis area. Due to demanding logistics, it was necessary to begin placing large volumes of inventory onsite—even while construction was ongoing. Ikea had already contracted with AAON for a permanent system to condition their space for the benefit of operations, customer comfort, and humidity control. As experts in AAON system nuances, they reached out to us for a synergistic, cost-effective solution to protect their inventory and AAON system from damage caused by construction dust and other environmental variables.
Reluctant to engage their AAON system due to the possibility of damage by operating the units during construction, our team of sales engineers, support technicians, and client representatives began devising a solution to eliminate dirty air from compromising the internal environment. The long-term cost of renting temporary HVAC systems for the duration of construction was quickly dismissed as cost-prohibitive.
A short-term, cost-effective AAON control system to optimize climate control and protection
After running numerous configuration models, the team moved forward with a temporary control to one-half of the installed HVAC units configured to utilize 100% outside air. This solution not only provided precise humidity control but also protected the new equipment from construction dust and contaminants.
OUR WORK INCLUDED
- Provide (1) AAON control bundle added to the RTUs, allowing the rooftop units complete control of heat, cool, and/or dehumidify the outside air as needed.
RESULTS
- Optimal integration of source units and temporary add-on controls optimized temperature and humidity throughout construction and ensured full protection of inventory and equipment.
- Saved tens/hundreds of thousands of dollars from Ikea’s operating budget by eliminating a rental option
