A Breath of Fresh Air: How Air Vent Technology Helped Restore Ventilation at a Historic Museum

When Segedunum Roman Fort and Museum needed a modern ventilation upgrade, Air Vent Technology worked with key partners to design, deliver, and support the installation of six replacement air handling units – preserving both indoor air quality for museum visitors and precious historical exhibits.

Challenge

The museum’s existing air handling units (AHUs) had reached end of life and a full replacement was needed. However, with no technical documentation available for the existing units, a full survey and custom solution was required. Several challenges shaped the project:

• No technical data was available on the original AHUs
• The AHUs were located in rooftop plantrooms, meaning crane lifts would need to be involved during a potentially complex installation process
• Drainage channels on the roof meant special sub-baseframes were needed to the support new units
• Accurate ductwork alignment and dimensional matching were essential to minimise rework and disruption
• The contractor’s extensive site programme required flexibility around commissioning dates

While this was the first time Air Vent Technology had worked directly with Segedunum Roman Fort and Museum, the museum’s chosen consultant – JCP Consulting – knew from our previous work together that it could trust in both our detailed on-site surveys and system design.

Solution

Over several weeks, experts from all parties worked collaboratively to ensure a successful project from start to finish.

First, an initial call and on-site visit between Air Vent Technology and JCP Consulting enabled both teams to fully understand the project’s requirements.

Each existing AHU was surveyed in detail, assessing airflow rates, heating and cooling needs, heat recovery, and humidification requirements. Ductwork entry points and connections into the roof were also identified.

In total, Air Vent Technology:

• Specified and sourced six replacement AHUs, each closely matched to the original units in size and layout so that locations could be safely reused
• Secured custom sub-baseframes to accommodate the rooftop’s existing drainage infrastructure
• Planned and facilitated site deliveries in four phased drops that aligned with contractor H Malone and Sons’ installation schedule
• Provided on-site engineering support, attending each delivery to successfully bolt the AHU sections together and onto their baseframes as they were craned into position
• Offered guaranteed flexibility both during the installation and in our subsequent commissioning support

By successfully identifying component technical details, understanding the need for collaboration and coordination with existing building services, and overseeing logistical planning, our input was valued from start to finish.

Our ability to survey, specify and support with minimal disruption made us a valuable asset to both JCP Consulting and H Malone and Sons.

Results

The new AHUs have improved ventilation across all museum spaces. They provide enhanced air quality and comfort for visitors and a stable environment to preserve exhibits.

The museum was also able to take advantage of the replacement schedule to re-line the rooftop area, improving weatherproofing and long-term protection for the building.

All four parties – Segedunum Roman Fort and Museum, JCP Consulting, H Malone and Sons, and Air Vent Technology – were delighted with the overall process and outcome.