Mini-split for this Dwelling Unit or something else?

[Designer_82]

Have these 4 dwelling units on the first floor that currently have elec. baseboard heat and no AC. Owner would like to install mini-splits. I have a couple questions I'm hoping you can help. There is a basement below. This is in the Boston area.

1. Is the mini-split the ideal choice or would you do a ducted air handler in the basement? (the cassette for the mini-split kinda ugly)
2. You can see the attached image of the unit below, where would you locate the cassettes for the mini-split for the bedroom and the living room?
3. With the mini-split you don't get any fresh air, so is that a problem not meeting the ashrae requirement?

Thank You

https://ibb.co/682d3jh

 

[nuuvox000]

1)Depends on what the owner wants; I agree a mini-split is kind of ugly. If you're going to do a split system, why not a ceiling split that is flush with the ceiling? Air handler is kind of nice because you can have a couple of supply grilles per bedroom and they're almost invisible

2) I would make sure the splits are as far away from where the beds are going to be as possible. No one wants air blowing directly on them while they're trying to sleep. For the living room, I would probably put the split or supply grilles close to the exterior windows where heat is coming into the dwelling.

3)You have to meet ventilation requirements either way. You can do this through natural ventilation or mechanical ventilation, see chapter 4 of the international mechanical code. For small dwellings, it's typically easiest to meet this requirement by natural ventilation or by having exhaust fans in the bathrooms that run 24/7.