Chiller and AHU installation
Chiller & AHU installation in Al Hijaz
In Al Hijaz, east Jeddah, installing chillers and AHU units in large shopping centres and modern malls balances uniform cooling with system management ease. Alrabih positions units precisely and insulates piping to ensure high efficiency and long service life.
- Vibration isolation
- Aluminium cladding
- Full commissioning
Clients We're Proud to Serve
Organisations and companies that trusted Alrabih with their projects.
When you need this installation
- 1
A new commercial or government building
The building is ready but the central cooling plant is not yet installed. You need a team to lift the chiller to the roof, prepare the bases and run chilled water pipework to AHUs on every floor.
- 2
An existing unit vibrates and makes noise
Constant vibration loosens pipe joints and fatigues mechanical components. If the unit is not sitting on proper vibration isolators, that is corrected during reinstallation; the site survey determines which isolator type is needed.
- 3
Extending an existing building
Adding floors or new areas means extra AHUs and extending the chilled water network. We connect the extension to the existing plant after verifying the current chiller capacity, which the site study determines.
Who it's for
Building a hospital or hotel that needs a central cooling plant
We visit the site before the building is complete to plan pipe routes and the plant room, then lift the chiller, mount AHUs on every floor and commission the full system.
Ask on WhatsAppReplaced an old chiller but connections do not match
We survey the new chiller and existing pipework, fabricate any transition pieces needed in our workshop, then reconnect and pressure-test the network before start-up.
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What the installation covers
- Chiller lifted onto isolated base
- Chilled pipework run and insulated
- Aluminium cladding of pipework
- AHUs mounted and duct-connected
- Pressure test and commissioning
How we work
How we work
- 1
Site survey and design
We visit the site to measure the plant room or roof, check pipe and duct routes, and determine lifting requirements and the right vibration isolator type for the building.
- 2
Base preparation and lifting
We prepare the chiller and AHU bases, fix the vibration isolators, lift the units into final position and check they are level before any connections are made.
- 3
Pipework and ductwork
We run the chilled water pipes, insulate them and clad them in aluminium sheet to resist Jeddah's humid salty air, then connect each AHU to its duct network.
- 4
Pressure test and commissioning
We pressure-test the pipework to confirm there are no leaks, then run the full system, measure air conditions at each AHU and adjust dampers until the required air distribution is achieved.
Considered installation or a rushed one?
| Alrabih | The usual way | |
|---|---|---|
| Chiller base | Isolators matched to the site | Bolted straight to concrete |
| Pipe insulation | Full insulation with aluminium cladding | Partial or left bare |
| Pipe test | Pressure test before start-up | Started without testing |
| Air balancing | Measured and dampers adjusted | Unbalanced airflow |
| Transition pieces | Fabricated in our own workshop | Improvised or ill-fitting |
Everything your AC needs, from one team
From system design and duct fabrication to installation, commissioning and maintenance.
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Some of our work
Ductwork, rooftop units and diffusers, from work we've completed in Jeddah.
Customer reviews
What our customers say
- Muhammadramzan 2641
“MashaaAllah. Services are so good. Behaviour and kindness 100/100. Prices are less then Market. Fully recommended”
- shahzeb armani
“Wow. Prices are so comfortable. Outstanding services. People are so talented and nice”
- Tawfik AlyawerLocal Guide
“U can find all u need for air conditioning”
Your satisfaction matters to us! If you had a great experience with us, we'd love a 5-star rating and a kind review.
Worked with us? Leave a reviewService areas
We come to you anywhere in Jeddah
From Al Shiraa and Al Yaqout in the north to Al Thaghr and Al Quraiyat in the south, with our base in Al Aziziyah.
What sets this district apart
Al Hijaz has massive shopping centres and malls with multiple floors, open atriums and thousands of daily visitors. Rooftops are broad and electrical and thermal loads are huge, requiring very large-capacity chillers. Interior spaces range from tight corridors between shops to open halls on lower floors, demanding careful AHU distribution balance. Chilled piping runs long distances across floors; full insulation and high efficiency are essential to reduce heat loss and condensation in coastal humidity. Mall management coordination is vital, as installation lasts weeks and disrupts shopping and common areas.
Al Hijaz sits in east Jeddah, a district of large malls and modern shopping centres with multiple storeys and broad rooftops.
Chiller units here are typically dual or multiple units to handle massive cooling loads, with chilled water piping distributed across an extensive network serving hundreds of shops and common areas.
The AC setup in Al Hijaz
- 1
Dual or multiple chillers on roof
Large malls require multiple chillers mounted on vibration-isolated bases, connected via a primary chilled water distribution system.
- 2
AHU units on each floor and section
Each floor or mall section has AHU units in separate plant zones, distributing cooled air through ducts to shops, corridors and atriums.
- 3
Extensive ductwork with control dampers
Ducts distribute cooled air from AHU units across an extensive network with dynamic control dampers that adjust airflow to each zone's needs.
Before the visit
Before our visit in Al Hijaz
- 1
Obtain complete mall plans and heat load calculations
Request from the mall engineer the complete architectural and mechanical plans, heat load calculations for each floor and section, and the agreed installation schedule.
- 2
Confirm installation windows outside shopping hours
Coordinate with mall management on working periods, typically nights or low-traffic days, and designate visitor and shop restricted areas.
- 3
Verify access points and technical space availability
Confirm safe stairs to the roof and plant areas, and designate storage areas for heavy equipment and chillers away from visitor and staff traffic.
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FAQ
Questions about Chiller & AHU installation
How is the chiller unit lifted to the roof?
The method depends on the chiller weight, the building height and the space available around the site. The survey determines whether a crane or other equipment is used, and we verify that the roof structure can carry the load before setting the unit on its base.
Why do chilled water pipes need aluminium cladding in Jeddah?
Chilled water pipes carry cold water through hot, humid, salty air. Without external protection, insulation deteriorates from moisture and salt and loses effectiveness. Aluminium cladding protects the insulation from outdoor air on rooftops and the humid interior air found in coastal buildings like those in Jeddah.
Can you connect AHUs to an existing duct network?
Yes, if the existing ducts are in good condition and match the new unit's connections. At the survey we check the duct opening sizes, the duct condition and the plenum arrangement, and confirm whether part of the network needs adjustment or transition pieces need to be fabricated in our workshop.
What does system commissioning involve?
After the pipe pressure test we run the chiller and AHUs, measuring air temperature and pressure at each unit's outlets. We adjust dampers and valves to achieve the designed air and water flow to every zone in the building, and record the final readings before handover.
What is the difference between placing the chiller on concrete inertia bases and on rubber anti-vibration mounts?
A concrete inertia base adds mass that dampens the chiller's own vibration and holds the unit steady when the compressor starts. Rubber anti-vibration mounts interrupt the path of vibration before it reaches the roof slab. Whether to use one approach or both depends on the site survey, which takes into account the roof structure, the size of the unit and the building design.
The mall has hundreds of shops; how do you distribute cooling fairly?
We design a main and branch piping network serving mall zones separately, with adjustable dampers and pressure gauges on each branch to balance flow and monitor performance.
Upper floors run hotter than lower floors; how do you control temperature variance?
We install additional or larger-capacity AHU units on upper floors, and deploy temperature sensors with automatic control to adjust chilled water flow to each zone's demand.
The mall operates daily with short downtime; can you install quickly?
We stage the work, beginning with roofs and closed zones, then shifting to corridors and sections during night closure hours or scheduled maintenance days.
The piping runs very long distances; is heat loss significant?
We insulate chilled piping with extra-thick insulation and aluminium, minimise run lengths by using localised AHU distribution, and fully test system pressure and temperature efficiency.
