Rows of air-conditioning condenser units on a building

Expertise

ACMV Design

Air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation design in Singapore to SS 553, SS 554, the Fire Code and Green Mark 2021: loads, systems, fresh air, smoke control interfaces.

In Singapore's climate, air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation (ACMV) is often the largest energy user in a building. It also decides whether occupants feel comfortable and whether the fire strategy works. Deneed designs ACMV systems for new buildings, upgrades and fit-outs.

Scope

Cooling and heat-load calculations, including latent (humidity) load, which drives many design decisions in the tropics.
System selection: split and VRF systems, chilled-water plants, AHUs and FCUs, matched to the building's use and hours.
Fresh air, exhaust and car-park ventilation.
Interfaces with fire safety: fire dampers, smoke control and pressurisation under the Fire Code.
Commercial kitchen exhaust, where both NEA pollution-control requirements and the Fire Code's duct provisions apply.
Specifications, tender support, and testing and commissioning.

The codes behind the drawings

Reference	What it governs
SS 553:2016	Code of practice for air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation in buildings
SS 554:2016	Code of practice for indoor air quality in air-conditioned buildings
Fire Code 2023 (SCDF)	Smoke control, fire dampers, ventilation of protected areas
Green Mark 2021 (BCA) and the environmental-sustainability provisions of the Building Control Act	Energy-efficiency requirements and certification

For a fuller explanation, read ACMV design in Singapore: SS 553, SS 554 and Green Mark 2021.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a PE to change the air-conditioning in my office?

It depends on the scope. Like-for-like replacement of split units in a small unit may not need one. Works that touch fire safety, such as ducts through compartment walls, fire dampers or smoke control, generally fall under SCDF's fire safety works regime and need a Qualified Person.

What is the difference between SS 553 and SS 554?

SS 553 covers how ACMV systems are designed. SS 554 covers the indoor air quality an air-conditioned building should achieve and maintain. A good design addresses both.