HVAC Challenges in Historical Buildings

Installing or upgrading HVAC for historic buildings is a complicated—and sometimes nerve-wracking—process. As the HVAC installer, you have two responsibilities that can sometimes clash. You have to provide a system that meets the needs of those using the building while preserving as much of the original building’s features, fixtures, and appearance as possible.

Adapting modern mechanical systems to historical buildings needs careful planning and preparation to overcome numerous challenges, including such issues as:

– Accidental introduction of moisture capable of damaging historic features or collections
– Altering the building’s internal appearance due to dropped ceilings, grilles, registers, and other modern equipment
– Potential damage to historically significant features
– Stripping and restoring cladding and finishes to install new insulation or vapor barriers
– The removal of historic features during the installation or upgrade process
– The structure’s ability to safely manage the weight and vibrations of large equipment.

Each building will present a different challenge. Some will need completely new HVAC systems; others will include heating and cooling systems that are themselves of historic value and need upgrading to meet modern codes and standards. In all cases, your task to provide appropriate HVAC systems for the building while preserving the building’s historical integrity as much as possible.

HVAC for Historic Buildings

Planning HVAC for historic buildings requires input from a qualified team of experts. Ideally, the HVAC technician will be working with a mechanical engineer, an electrical engineer, a structural engineer, a preservation architect, and preservation consultants who understand the building’s historical importance.

One of the first steps is to determine how the building will be used. Is it a museum or will it be used for retail, commercial, or residential purposes? Museums will often require climate control systems to safeguard delicate artifacts, while commercial use may allow for more leeway in how many changes you can make to the interior. In all cases, the goal is to make the least possible impact while successfully completing the job.

During the design phase, a thorough assessment of the building’s existing climate is essential. To gain a complete picture, yearlong monitoring of interior temperatures and humidity levels will be needed. During this time, be sure to determine:

– Air infiltration levels
– Any building areas where increases in energy efficiency can allow you to reduce the amount and size of new HVAC equipment
– Any building, site, or equipment problems that need resolving before HVAC installation, including the presence of asbestos.
– Any historic mechanical systems, radiators, and grilles that can be reused.
– Requirements of local building and fire codes
– The location of all chillers, boilers, air handlers, and cooling towers
– The state and location of existing construction materials and mechanical systems
– Which spaces, finishes, or features must be preserved.

Types of HVAC for Historical Buildings

As each historical building is different, no one type of HVAC system will work in all situations.

Water systems, including hydronic radiators, fan coils, and radiant pipes, have the advantage pipes are much smaller than HVAC forced air ducts, and therefore easier to install without damaging historically important features. If the site has historic hydronic radiators, it can often be restored.

Water systems, however, come with the risk of hidden leaks and burst pipes, both of which can damage surrounding areas or introduce moisture to delicate collections.

Central air systems allow for a high degree of climate control, and many can have their condensers located outside, minimizing how equipment affects building space. Any benefits from an external condenser are mitigated, however, by the potential for causing severe damage to the structure’s appearance during installation.

Small-duct systems offer a better solution in many circumstances. The use of flexible tubing for small-duct systems makes installation less likely to damage surrounding features.

Combination systems may be necessary for some buildings, using both water heating and ductwork to meet the needs of building occupants. No matter what type of HVAC for historic buildings you decide on, it should meet the following requirements:

– Ease of service and maintenance
– Inclusion of humidity monitors and safety systems to protect collections
– Installed with future upgrades in mind
– Installed within the structural limitations of the building
– Minimum levels of vibrations and noise
– Visual compatibility with the original architecture.

Providing HVAC for historic buildings is one of the greatest challenges an HVAC technician can accept. It can also be one of the most rewarding projects you ever work on.

Want to improve your HVAC maintenance skills? Consider taking our four-day, instructor-led HVAC Workshop, which covers boilers, air conditioning, refrigeration, and more. Or rely on our HVAC training simulations for hands-on experience in a risk-free virtual environment.