PURE AIR

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1936, Page 7

PURE AIR

FOR BIG BUILDINGS.

SCHEME AT EARL’S COURT.

LONDON, Ma,y 1

The air supply to the great new Karl’s Court exhibition building, the largest of its type in the world, is to be automatically cleaned, heated during cold weather and mechanically cir culated.

It will be the largest air conditioning job yet undertaken in this country, and is regarded as a striking proof of the. progress which has been .made here in the installation and supply of this type of equipment. Whereas American engineers have hitherto been regarded as supreme in this field, British firms are now making i serious effort to secure overseas business, mainly in tropical" countries, in competition with their American rivals.

“Strictly speaking,” a British authority said, “air conditioning should Include the cooling of the air in summer as well as heating in winter, and, of course, cleaning. There are now 10 big office buildings in London; in which t!;e air is fully conditioned. “An important consideration is that a complete air. circulating system increases the amount of space which cqn be used for" office accommodation. Basements, sub-basements, and other rooms with no open-air access can then be used to house a full working staff. One large bank has made the necessary calculations to show that, on this, ground alone, air conditioning was in their case economically justifiable.” The first stage in the treatment of the air is passage through a “sticky filter” to remove preliminary, dust. It is then drawn through a t water-spray chamber, which both washes , t it and, “humidifies” it, and finally -heated, when necessary, bv being drawn past what is, in / effect,. a series of radia-I tors. 1

Cooling is achieved by cooling the water used in the water-spray, if need be, nearly to freezing point. As much as 600 horse-power may be required to work a complete conditioning system. .

In this country/ cinemas provide an important and/ growing field for ' air conditioning/ It is also used in some tobacco factories and paper mills, where the nxaintenanco of constant atmospheric conditions is important for some processes. .

In South Africa, air conditioning .is being used to increase the depth of mining operations, and in tropical countries generallyto provide comfortable working conditions. Dr. Oscar Faber' is responsible, as consulting engineer for the exhibition, building, for the arrangements for the Earl’s Court project generally. ■.