Pioneer Group Case Study
Pioneer Group Case Study
Job Completed – April 10th-18th June 2024
Location – B35 Birmingham
Client – Pioneer Group
MAC Engineers on site – 2
Objective: To resolve the client’s persistent reliability and efficiency issues with their air conditioning system & to ensure the comfort of the occupants.
Solution: Following multiple tests, repairs and manufacturer inspections, the malfunctioning Daikin air conditioning system was replaced entirely with a brand new Mitsubishi Electric system that would not only provide a comfortable environment for the building occupants but significantly improve efficiency to vastly improve running costs.
Equipment installed:
21x Mitsubishi Electric Ceiling Cassettes, 2x Mitsubishi Electric Heat Recovery Units, 3x Mitsubishi Electric Condensers
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The challenges with heating and cooling for Pioneer started back in 2023
With their costly air conditioning barely functioning, leaving the building occupants either freezing in winter or extremely hot in summer, Pioneer found the company that installed their air conditioning systems no longer responded to their attempts to reach them and soon came to realise the installer had since gone out of business. Since the original installer was no longer available to call upon for support, Pioneer reached out to MAC in 2023 to assist in resolving their air conditioning issues once and for all. Yet following an inspection by MAC’s engineers, many issues with their previous installation quickly started to come to light.
From lack of refrigerant to failed compressors, burnt out PCBs and faulty expansion valves, MAC’s engineers got to work locating and replacing each faulty part over the coming weeks, checking each part of Pioneer’s air conditioning system until eventually all the units were finally running correctly. MAC called in Daikin to inspect the equipment so they could be signed off as commissioned and affirmed as running correctly, which would normally mark the end of implementing a solution. Although that wasn’t the case.
Before long Pioneer started experiencing issues with their air conditioning again, with each problem being swiftly attended by an MAC engineer to resolve, although the problems continued to recur. By this stage MAC began to fund the callouts, taking responsibility for the equipment due to an increasing level of involvement, although the issues continued to persist. With these troubles largely linked to communication faults between the indoor and outdoor units due to fluctuating temperatures across each room over multiple floors, it was clear the issues with the initial installation were much more significant than they appeared.
Taking steps to finding a long term solution
As the issues with Pioneer’s existing air conditioning units were directly linked to their problematic installation, the troubles and costly repairs would continue to persist and MAC opened a discussion with Pioneer to replace the existing ducted system with a more reliable and efficient cassette system instead. As Pioneer group had already opted to refurbish all floors of their building and remove the unused ductwork left by the original installer, MAC took this opportunity for an engineer to get a much closer look and found the problems with Pioneer’s existing air conditioning system did indeed run far deeper than even Daikin originally thought.
Refrigerant pipework was the wrong size, electrical cable was damaged, ref nets were at the wrong degree and even drainage pipework was insufficient. It was clearer than ever that this air conditioning system was so improperly installed from the beginning, no amount of repairs would see it working correctly. Although with so much already invested in repairing their current air conditioning, Pioneer were naturally reluctant to replace all their systems as well. As a result, Pioneer opted to tender out the works, although were happy to include MAC in that tender.
Pioneer found their solution and it also became MAC’s Proudest Moment
With three other businesses in the running to provide Pioneer with a new installation, the quotation provided by MAC’s general manager Nathan was selected as the best solution to finally bring Pioneer’s air conditioning issues to an end. Not only was this a massive relief for Pioneer but it was also the biggest single purchase order ever received from a commercial customer at MAC since it was founded back in 2009.
“This goes to show what we can all accomplish working together; office staff, engineers, apprentices, and managers as a TEAM.”
Midland Air Conditioning director – Anthony Smith
The solution was to ultimately replace the existing Daikin ducted system throughout the building and replace it with a Mitsubishi Electric VRF system that utilised two heat recovery units and multiple ceiling cassettes for a massive boost to reliability and performance.
This would not only allow for better temperature control within each indoor space, but significantly improve running efficiency, which would in turn resolve Pioneer’s running cost issues too. Starting in April 2024 over the course of three months and working in tandem with Pioneer’s refurbishment team, multiple floors of Pioneer’s building saw the decommissioning of the existing air conditioning with brand new Mitsubishi Electric systems in their place by MAC’s engineer’s.
“I’ve worked here for nearly 10 years with the heating and the office environment temperamental; too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter. Now it’s a much nicer environment!”
Pioneer’s Home Ownership & Commercial Properties Officer – Aston Russel
As each floor had a complete facelift, so too did their air conditioning system including offices and expansive open plan areas with the occupants of the building comfortably wearing t-shirts instead of having electrical heaters in tow.
The best result for both Pioneer and MAC
With Pioneer Group’s head of Community and Facilities, Irfan expressing his delight in the completion of the new air conditioning systems, Pioneer Group have a very happy team on their hands.
Pioneer’s new solution into the future is very much a result of knowing the importance of working with the right people to reach their desired outcome.
“I’d recommend MAC to anyone who is looking for an air conditioning system. They’ve done a great job that we are really happy with and couldn’t thank them enough.”
Pioneer’s head of community and facilities – Irfan Mehboob
