Remote Thermal Unit Installation at ARC Thrift Center

Read out Thermal-King, Inc’s recent HVAC installation for Remote Thermal Unit Installation at ARC Thrift Center. Recently Thermal-King, Inc was contracted to install an RTU (Remote Thermal Unit) at ARC Thrift Center in the southern-most tenant space of the building. The tenant space was approximately 168’ (east-west) by 77’ (north-south) with offsets along the north partition wall, east entryway, and south loading dock.

The building is typically framed with the following structural elements: – Open web joists spanning approximately 42’-0” east-west at 4’-0” in the center – Steel joist girders spanning north-south (length varies) – Interior steel HSS columns – Concrete exterior wall panels on the south and west wall The proposed plan includes the addition of (4) RTUs.

Two of the units are ~1,100# on 53½”x82” curbs and two of the units are 600# on 40”x70¾” curbs. The two smaller units are proposed to be installed above the 1st interior girder line from the west end of the space (one on each side of the central column).

The larger units are proposed to be installed above the 2nd and 3rd interior girder line from the west end of the space (just south of the central column). The RTU addition is being planned at the above address in the southernmost tenant space of the building. The tenant space is approximately 168’ (east-west) by 77’ (north-south) with offsets along the north partition wall, east entryway, and south loading dock.

The building is typically framed with the following structural elements:- Open web joists spanning approximately 42’-0” east-west at 4’-0” on center

• Steel joist girders spanning north-south (length varies)
• Interior steel HSS columns
• Concrete exterior wall panels on the south and west wall

The plan included the addition of (4) RTUs. Two of the units are ~1,100# on 53½”x82” curbs and two of the units are 600# on 40”x70¾” curbs. The two smaller units were to be installed above the 1st interior girder line from the west end of the space (one on each side of the central column). The larger units were  installed above the 2nd and 3rd interior girder line from the west end of the space (just south of the central column).

In general, the units were installed as planned without significant structural rework. The large units needed to be centered over the steel joist girders. The small units were centered over the steel joist girder, but at least one edge of the unit was aligned with it. Both the large and small units were centered between the open web joists to evenly distribute the load. The edges of any plywood deck openings as well as below the curb edge (where it does not align over framing) were framed with 2×6 joists (DF-L #2 or better). Then we connected the joists with Simpson joist hangers (or similar) Then a new point load will was introduced to the open web joists which are more than 6” away from the panel point, reinforcing the top chord.