Music Choice tunes into Flexible Space from AET

The Flexible Space System, featuring Hiross underfloor air-conditioning from AET, is providing the versatile and comfortable solution for staff at Fleet House, the London headquarters of Europe's leading digital audio broadcaster, Music Choice.

"AET's Flexible Space System was perfect for our requirements" explains Hanna Aiken, Music Choice, Organisation Development & Support Manager. "It is an easily adjustable, accessible system that brings high standards of air-conditioned comfort and the flexibility we need to use and change our working environment as we see fit."

At Fleet House AET has provided a system, covering 2,000m2 and serving the 100 Music Choice employees that work in the mixture of open plan and cellular offices. Flexible Space uses the plenum under the building's raised access floor as a duct in itself, with the building divided into a number of zones depending on the potential use and occupancy density of the area. This approach ensured that air-conditioning could be successfully provided on the project, only requiring raising of the access floor by 215mm. As well as overcoming concerns over height limitations, this approach has also brought considerable flexibility.

Each zone is supplied with chilled or warmed air by conditioned air module (CAM). The underfloor void is divided into supply and return air channels using easily relocatable, airtight baffles. Supply air is drawn up into the occupied space by fan assisted terminal units (FTU450), which are recessed into the floor, plug into an underfloor power source and are connected by data cabling for intelligent control. These fan tile units feature individual controls to provide variable speed and temperature adjusted for maximum user comfort. Air travels back to the CAM via return grilles located over the return channel for re-conditioning and is mixed with fresh air at that point to achieve high standards of indoor air quality. A total of 12 CAM's and 79 FTU's have been installed on the Fleet House refurbishment.

Since they are not restricted by duct or pipe connections, FTU's are easily interchangeable with floor panels, allowing easy reconfiguration of the system to accommodate any changes Music Choice wish to make to their office layout with minimum cost and disruption. Office IT and telecoms cabling as well as power points are also concealed beneath the raised access floor, minimising workspace congestion and making any subsequent reconfiguration a straightforward task.