Run chilled water piping on building exterior?

[Designer_82]

We have a project for a communications type of commercial building where we are putting in new chillers and the cheapest way to run the new chilled water pipes to the air handler is on the building exterior wall and across the roof into the mechanical penthouse.

Have you seen this done before, chilled water piping along building exterior wall and across roof?

Thx

 

[willard3]

I've seen it: bad design.
Heat transfer will cause problems as will insulation degradation.
Better design to pipe cw interior.

 

[nuuvox000]

Yes, I've seen it. Obviously aluminum jacketing is required as well as the highest r-value insulation you can put on it. You'll also lose efficiency because you'll have to use glycol (assuming you're in a part of the country that has freezing temperatures).

 

[LittleInch]

"Across the roof"??

What sort of roof?

How does it cross?

How far is it?

Of course it can be done - it's no different to any other split A/C piping, just longer.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[EnergyProfessional]

My first concern would be freezing. But you didn't state you climate zone or if this is a glycol system.

 

[RossABQ]

Can you create a chase around the piping? Are we talking about 3" piping or 12"?