Five Guys - Limited Installation Space Calls For Hitachi SideSmart VRF

The cult-favourite US burger giant Five Guys was established in 1986 as a family-operated fast-food chain business in Arlington, Virginia, serving made-to-order burgers, fries and hotdogs. As the popularity of the business increased it expanded across the United States, Canada and now Australia. With two stores already open in Sydney, their latest Australian location was in Southbank, Melbourne.

When it came to specifying air conditioning equipment, stock availability was a crucial factor for this project as Five Guys Melbourne required a 12 week build program. The specification also had to comply with Five Guys international design guidelines and recommend a system which had Wi-Fi Control.

This project presented several challenges that would need to be adequately addressed by the specified HVAC Solution.

Firstly, there was restricted outdoor space available for the condenser units. The only space that could be allocated for the installation was the loading dock which had poor air circulation and the installation space available for the units was very narrow.

Secondly, there was limited ceiling space available for HVAC equipment.

The decision was made to use Hitachi products as the preferred solution for this store as they effectively addressed these issues.

Hitachi SideSmart™ Slim Modular VRF was chosen because of their compact side discharge outdoor units which measure only 420mm deep, these were able to fit in the limited space available without sacrificing performance. This range also presented fewer complications during delivery and installation due to its lightweight build. Its modularity means that up to 4 outdoor units can be connected, offering a maximum combined cooling capacity of 152kW. 

Hitachi Silent-Iconic™ 4-Way Cassettes were installed. These cassettes not only satisfied the ceiling space limitations, but its premium streamline design made it an integral addition to the store’s overall aesthetic. 

To satisfy the Wi-Fi control requirements Hitachi airCloud Pro VRF remote management was installed which enables complete control via smartphone or web application. Project stakeholders were very impressed with the features of airCloud Pro, especially the capability for troubleshooting any system issues that may arise with access to an error history. Hitachi airCloud Pro alerts the users when maintenance is required to ensure the system is always operating efficiently and effectively. 


Hitachi products used in this application include:
•    RAS-160HNCELWP – 45kW SideSmart VRF Outdoor Unit
•    RAS-080HNCELW – 22.4kW SideSmart VRF Outdoor Unit
•    RCI-4.0FSRP - Silent Iconic Cassette
•    RPI-5.0FSR - High Static Ducted Unit
•    PC-ARFG-A - Remote Control Switch
•    PSC-A32MN - Central Station Mini Control
•    airCloud Pro - VRF Remote Management

Companies involved:
•    Developer and FM: Sea Grass/ GJK projects 
•    Mechanical Contractor: Climafreeze and GSR Air
•    Consultant: BSE 
•    Builder: Trust projects