VRF System Installation in a School within a Tight Deadline

Service Unlimited, Inc. brought air conditioning to the entire Immaculate Heart of Mary School for the first time, creating a more comfortable learning environment for students and faculty. The project included a Carrier variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system featuring two heat recovery zones and one heat pump zone, with 36 indoor units served by four condensing units. Installing a new system within the existing building presented several design challenges. The most significant was the limited space above the ceilings, which could not accommodate the multiport distribution controllers required for the heat recovery zones. Our team developed a creative solution: locating the controllers on the roof and routing refrigerant piping through individual roof penetrations to the indoor units. This approach required careful planning and attention to equipment placement, piping routes, and the connections throughout the school. With the entire installation scheduled for summer, completing the work before the start of the school year was essential. Close coordination between SUI and multiple subcontractors kept the project moving through each phase. From rooftop installations to work inside the classrooms, the team managed a demanding scope within a firm completion window. The finished installation reflects the care taken throughout the project, from neatly arranged equipment and piping to indoor units integrated into the classroom ceilings. Just as meaningful was the result for the school: welcoming students and teachers back to air-conditioned learning spaces. This project demonstrates SUI’s ability to solve challenging installation problems, bring trades together, and deliver quality work when the deadline matters.