Southco plugs the leaks and relieves the pressure for Air Handling Systems

When seeking to increase the energy and operational efficiencies of its HVAC enclosures by eliminating air leakage through the latching systems, air conditioning equipment manufacturer, Air Handling Systems Ltd. (AHS) looked to Southco to provide the solution. Energy efficiency and optimised operational performance have become industry requirements in the air conditioning sector and users are faced with having equipment that complies with Part L Building Regulations and provides cost savings through energy-efficient installations. At AHS, the major cause of air leakage was via the sealing of the enclosure doors of its units. Primarily, this was because the latches available at the time failed to properly engage and provide sufficient compression to seal the gasket on the thick door of the cabinets. Wes Campbell, Technical Director at AHS: "Southco offered the perfect solution through modifying its standard E3 Vise Action compression latch and having additional thread for allowing the engagement of the nut at the rear of the latch, thereby accommodating tight compression for up to 50mm thick doors. Ulrike Sturman of Southco explains: "Southco's E3 latch is a market-leading product for quick, secure closure in applications where vibration, sealing and quality are paramount. It provides consistent 6.4 mm (.25") pull-up for environmental sealing in gasketed applications and, through its over-centre latching operation, it helps reduce or eliminate noise and accidental opening due to shock or vibration." AHS applies strict air leakage tests to its equipment. Whilst the industry standard is Leakage Class B 1000 Pascal, AHS equipment achieves Leakage Class C 1500 Pascal as a minimum and, for some applications, it has reached Leakage Class D 2500 Pascal. Subject to the same test conditions, the Southco E3 compression latch has successfully passed this Class D rating.