High-Rise and Multifamily HVAC Systems
Specifying high-rise HVAC systems for a new multifamily tower, or replacing ventilation in an occupied building? We handle both.
We match fans, makeup air units, dampers and louvers to your building height, stair and corridor airflow, garage size and fire code listing.
We select the equipment from about 30 manufacturer lines, quote it, and return a selection ready for submittal.
Our offices are in Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth, serving Texas and the Gulf Coast, and we ship nationwide.
Not sure which ventilation equipment fits your high-rise?
We match the equipment to your building height and fire code.
High-Rise and Multifamily Ventilation Equipment We Supply
| Equipment | Where it goes | Listing |
|---|---|---|
| Makeup air units | Corridor supply | ANSI Z83.4 direct-fired, Z83.8 indirect-fired |
| Vane axial fans | Stairwell pressurization | AMCA 210, UL 705 |
| Mixed flow fans | Stair and corridor supply in tight shafts | AMCA 210, UL 705 |
| Backward inclined fans | Smoke exhaust | AMCA 210, UL 705 |
| Fire dampers | Rated walls and floors | UL 555 |
| Fire smoke dampers | Shafts and smoke barriers | UL 555 and UL 555S |
| Bathroom exhaust fans | In-unit bath exhaust | HVI certified |
| Tunnel exhaust and jet fans and wall exhaust fans | Enclosed parking levels | cULus 705, AMCA 250 |
| Drainable louvers | Facade intake and exhaust | AMCA 500-L and 511 |
Life Safety Ventilation in High-Rise HVAC Systems
High-rise HVAC systems in residential towers include three life safety systems: stair pressurization, smoke removal, and fire and smoke dampers.
The fire alarm starts the stair pressurization fans and closes the fire smoke dampers. Fire dampers close on their own when a fusible link melts, and smoke removal fans are switched on by hand after a fire.
Smoke control fans and dampers run on standby power, usually from a generator with its own generator room ventilation.
We supply the variable speed fans, relief dampers and motorized control dampers on one submittal, so the airflow, pressure and damper ratings agree.
Parking Garage Ventilation Under Multifamily Towers
Parking garages under multifamily towers use exhaust fans controlled by carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide detection. Tunnel exhaust fans, the same jet fans used in road tunnels, push the air toward the exhaust shafts. We supply the gas detection controls with the fans.
At the shaft or outside wall, tube axial fans or utility set fans discharge the air. Acoustic louvers keep fan noise away from the apartments above.
Common Questions
Should a high-rise apartment building use a direct-fired or indirect-fired makeup air unit?
Use a direct-fired makeup air unit for 100% outdoor air corridor supply, and an indirect-fired unit when the system also handles return air. Direct-fired units burn gas in the airstream and put nearly all the fuel's heat into the air. Indirect-fired units heat through a heat exchanger, so no combustion products enter the supply air.
Are jet fans better than ducted exhaust for an apartment parking garage?
Jet fans suit an enclosed apartment garage because they replace most of the exhaust ductwork. Garage jet fans run 315 to 630 mm in diameter and produce 20 to 89 N of thrust. Most run on two-speed motors or variable frequency drives and speed up only when carbon monoxide or nitrogen dioxide levels rise.
What is a quiet bathroom exhaust fan for an apartment?
A quiet apartment bathroom exhaust fan is rated 1.0 sone or lower. One compact model we supply moves 50 cfm at 1.0 sone through a 3-inch duct, with a brushless DC motor built for continuous run. A fan that quiet suits continuous exhaust, where the bath fan runs all day.
What fan is used for stairwell pressurization in a high-rise?
Stairwell pressurization in a high-rise usually uses vane axial or mixed flow fans. Stairs serving floors more than 75 feet up must be smokeproof enclosures, and pressurization is the common way to meet that rule. A variable frequency drive or barometric relief damper keeps stair pressure steady as doors open and close. Mixed flow fans fit inline in tight shafts.
Does an apartment building need fire dampers or fire smoke dampers?
An apartment building usually needs both fire dampers and fire smoke dampers. A fire damper closes on heat and carries a UL 555 rating of 1 1/2 or 3 hours. A fire smoke damper also closes on a smoke detector signal and carries a UL 555S rating at 250°F or 350°F.