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Bob Schroeder, P.E., LEED^® AP, San Francisco Principal

Chilled beams are increasingly being used to provide comfort cooling in both new and refurbished buildings. Using proven technology, they are flexible, simple to install and maintain and provide an energy efficient, cost effective alternative to traditional cooling systems.

Chilled beams achieve their cooling effect by convection, using finned elements through which water is passed around at 59°F to 65°F. Passive beams work with natural convection while active beams offer increased cooling capacity by using a primary air supply to cause induced convection over the elements. Active beams can also be used for heating. The primary air is then supplied to the room through diffusers built into the beam.

At the Brewery Blocks in Portland, Oregon, The Gerding Theater, a historic building built in 1889, has been transformed from a former armory building into the Portland Center Stage Performing Arts Center. The Gerding Theater is also LEED Platinum certified. Glumac implemented a raised access floor for underfloor ventilation and an active chilled beam to provide overhead heating and cooling. While passive chilled beams work well for cooling, they are unsuitable for heating due to stratification. Also, light fixtures have been integrated into the chilled beams.

Passive beams are virtually noise free. Active beams utilize minimum airflow - typically 40 cfm. Each exposed beam is 8’ x 3’ and can provide 1/6 of a ton of air conditioning or approximately 100 cfm of cooling. The cost of each beam is $1,000 to $1,600 dependent on whether a light fixture is installed.

Chilled beams can be integrated in a ceiling grid or exposed. When exposed, careful placement of the beam is required to promote uniform airflow and may be dictated by illumination requirements if lighting is integrated into the beam.