32 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za RACA Journal I April 2026
REFURBISHMENT project
Over seven years of collaboration, Elmecair and the design team at VMG have built a deep understanding of VRF plants, DX systems and packaged units. That collective experience meant the Ottery design translated cleanly from drawings to reality. Measurements were accurate, sequences were sound and implementation proceeded smoothly.
Working in a trading supermarket always adds pressure, but strong communication made the difference. Daily co-ordination rather than weekly meetings kept everyone aligned. Multiple dedicated WhatsApp groups enabled real-time reporting, with photographs and progress updates shared every day between Elmecair, VMG and the client team.
This constant feedback loop allowed issues to be addressed immediately, though in this case, most responses were simply affirmations that the work was progressing well. Because the plant rooms were largely out of sight, there was minimal disruption to other trades or store operations. As long as the programme stayed on track – and the air eventually flowed – the project team had the space to deliver.
One of the biggest lessons from this project didn’ t come from the plant rooms at all – it came from the roof.“ Even though the site is about 8km inland, we recorded wind speeds of 60 – 70km / h, which was completely unexpected. The wind was corrosive and was carrying fine sand from the coastal plain and it was effectively sandblasting the coils. The previous equipment had been badly degraded because of it, even with corrosion protection in place, so it really highlighted how important it is to understand the environmental conditions around an installation.”
The original 1986 return air plenum including the return air fans which formed part of the economy cycle system.
“ Central to the brief was the refurbishment of the existing masonry air handling units, integrating a new VRF system coupled with a fresh air supply.”
32 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za RACA Journal I April 2026