Wren Kitchens

In a high-end retail showroom, first impressions are critical to the customer experience. The showroom’s original entrance ducted system had reached the end of its operational lifespan. With the Scottish autumn approaching, HF’s HVACR division moved swiftly to decommission the old R407C hardware, replacing both indoor and outdoor units with a high-efficiency R32 system alongside fully upgraded pipework and insulation. The entrance unit serves as a vital thermal barrier between the exterior elements and the interior display areas:

Diagnostic testing confirmed the original ducted unit was running on legacy R407C refrigerant, a gas long phased out of production, making repair parts unavailable and ongoing maintenance non-viable.

With this older unit out of service, cold autumn weather was entering the main showroom floor uninterrupted, creating an uncomfortable environment for shoppers at the primary trade entrance. Liaising with Penguin FM, we proposed a complete, turn-key replacement of this remaining legacy asset rather than attempting short-term fixes on obsolete technology.

Technical Execution

To restore warmth and climate stability to the entrance area without disturbing active retail operations, our engineers executed a clean system upgrade:

1. Legacy Decommissioning: Safely recovered the old R407C gas and removed the original outdoor unit and internal ducted air handler.
2. Pipework & Thermal Upgrades: Replaced all existing line sets and installed heavy-duty thermal insulation/lagging to eliminate thermal loss and accommodate modern operating pressures.
3. High-Efficiency R32 Installation: Installed and integrated new, match-paired indoor and outdoor units running on low-GWP (Global Warming Potential) R32 refrigerant.
4. Testing & Recommissioning: Executed strength pressure testing, deep vacuum evacuation, and precise commissioning to confirm air delivery, heating performance, and system pressures.

Key Commercial & Operational Benefits

• Enhanced Customer Experience: Restored a warm, welcoming entrance environment as seasonal weather deteriorates, protecting showroom footfall and dwell time.
• F-Gas Compliance & Future-Proofing: Transitioning this final legacy unit from R407C to eco-friendly R32 completes the site’s phase-out of phased-out gases, eliminating future supply-chain risks.
• Optimised System Efficiency: Brand-new lagging and modern compressor technology ensure optimal thermal output with lower energy consumption per kW.

Through responsive emergency call-outs, precision engineering, and sustainable equipment modernisations, our HVACR division continues to deliver end-to-end climate solutions tailored to live commercial environments. By combining rapid diagnostic capabilities with complete turn-key execution (from initial fault-finding and pipework modification to next-generation R32 commissioning) we enable retail clients and facilities partners to turn sudden operational challenges into long-term efficiency wins, keeping systems fully compliant, highly resilient, and consistently comfortable year-round.