Industrial spec AC provides cooling and style to exposed services design
Air conditioning systems in an industrial spec finish have provided comfort and style to the refurbishment of a Devon builders’ merchant and retail centre.
Beijer Ref UK supplied contractor Kirton Air Conditioning with seven 10kW ceiling cassettes served by four outdoor units from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), as part of the upgrade at CMC Eakers, in Crediton. The cassettes are installed to an ‘industrial’ spec, because the store uses an open ceiling grid, so services are visible.
The CMC Eakers business was founded in 1975 by Terry Eakers, a local builder, initially to supply his local trade network. But over the years it has been developed into a full-scale builders’ merchant and home improvement centre, offering an extended range of products and services alongside expert advice and specialist support.
In 2024, Eakers was purchased by agricultural specialist Crediton Milling Company, which relaunched the business with a multi-use store including a café and barber shop.
Kirton Air Conditioning designed a cooling solution comprising one 10kW split system for the barber shop, two twin-split systems (4x10kW cassettes) in the open plan store area, and one twin-split system (2x10kW cassettes) in the new café.
Stuart Moss, Store Manager at CMC Eakers, said:
As we now have a café and barber shop, we needed the top floor to be a comfortable environment for both customers and colleagues. Previously, the metal roof meant it often suffered from being either too hot or too cold. It is already noticeable to the public how comfortable a temperature it is to shop and sit in. The staff find it a much nicer working environment and there is a big difference compared to the ground floor, where the oil-based system isn’t nearly as efficient.’’
Ashley Cann, founder and Director of Crediton-based Kirton added:
I have been installing MHI systems into commercial projects for 10 years and I’ve only ever been back to perform routine maintenance. For alternative manufacturers of the same price bracket, there is no comparison for reliability and the availability and communication has always been excellent. It’s a well-made, robust product that can be trusted. The customer is happy with the flexibility they provide: the café area can be kept at a comfortable temperature for customers, while the shop floor can be left to range slightly, but kept within limits – and the barber shop functions as an independent system.’
