Transforming a Burger King fast food outlet into a KFC may sound like a reasonably straightforward task but the recent project in Banbury, Oxfordshire involving Kinlochs and Son Limited (KSL) demonstrated that a restaurant refurbishment often requires more than just a change of menu.
Scheduled to take just over seven weeks from start to finish, the KFC franchisee, was looking for a swift turnaround on installation and chose Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Quality Partner, KSL, its preferred mechanical contractor, having already worked successfully with the company in the past. It was clear that the building desperately required a complete overhaul and switching the standard split type air conditioning system to a VRF heat recovery system from Mitsubishi Electric was an ideal starting point.
Kevin Gregory, Contracts Manager at KSL, comments: “Since 2001 we have carried out a number of installations with KFC franchisees and have successfully combined market-leading Mitsubishi Electric technology with a firm commitment to exceptional customer service, delivering efficient and economical air conditioning solutions that stand the test of time.
The Mitsubishi Electric City Multi VRF heat recovery system offers simultaneous heating and cooling, distributing surplus heat from cooling operations to other areas of the building when and where it is required. This offers significant benefits in the KFC outlet as waste heat from cold room equipment can be recovered and put to good use elsewhere.
Initial discussions with the Banbury KFC franchisee were focused on keeping energy consumption as low as possible and reducing equipment downtime. Kevin Gregory, adds: “The franchisee was keen on the idea of saving energy via a VRF air curtain and recognised the advantages in selecting an economical system which provides a rapid return on the initial investment. During the summer months the newly installed air curtain will deliver cool air and stop flying insects from entering the premises - a major consideration for food outlets.”
Featuring two-pipe technology for quicker installation and a BC controller for ‘intelligent’ decision making, the new system will deliver instant efficiency savings and could reduce energy consumption by up to 30%.
KSL will be responsible for maintenance at the Banbury site and, as a trusted Diamond Quality Partner, were able to offer an extended seven-year parts warranty for additional peace of mind. As well as air conditioning, KSL can provide bespoke cold rooms, ice makers, extraction solutions and have a 24 hour/365 emergency call out facility with a guaranteed response time.
