HVAC design and heat load surveys
Heat load calculations, system design and specifications before you buy. Design fees confirmed in writing before work starts.
- Design fees confirmed in writing first
- Equipment, positions and price set out in writing
- Work planned around your opening hours
What is an HVAC design and heat load survey?
An HVAC design and heat load survey works out how much heating and cooling each space needs — from occupancy, equipment, lighting, glazing, orientation and the building fabric — and sets out the system type, unit sizes and positions, pipe and duct routes and controls in a written specification.
In the UK, guide prices run from about £495 to £2,450 per project, plus VAT. A typical job (design package for a 300–800 m² office) usually comes to £995–£2,450 plus VAT.
Oversized air conditioning costs more to buy, cycles on and off and controls humidity poorly; undersized systems run flat out and still leave the room too warm. Getting the load right is the cheapest way to get a system that works.
For straightforward premises the heat load is part of our free installation survey. For larger buildings, tenders and fit-outs, we produce a design package — loads, schematics, layouts and a specification — that contractors can price on a like-for-like basis.
Where it suits
- Fit-outs and refurbishments
- Tender packages
- Larger or multi-floor buildings
- Change of use
- Landlord Cat A schemes
- Planning and landlord submissions
What is included
- Room-by-room heat gain and heat loss calculations
- System options with pros, cons and budget costs
- Layout drawings for units, pipework and condensate
- Electrical load and supply requirements
- Noise data for planning or landlord approval
- Written specification for pricing
How the work is carried out
Brief
We agree the use, occupancy, hours and budget.
Survey
We measure the space and record fabric, glazing and services.
Calculate and design
Loads are calculated and a system designed.
Specify
You receive drawings and a specification.
HVAC design prices
National guide prices for 2026. Local pages show prices adjusted for each region.
| Item | Guide price (ex VAT) | Inc VAT | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat load survey for a single installation | Free | Free | free with a quote |
| Design package, small premises | £495–£995 | £594–£1,194 | per project |
| Design package, larger premises | £995–£2,450 | £1,194–£2,940 | per project |
| Noise assessment data pack for planning | £295–£895 | £354–£1,074 | per project |
Ex VAT. Design fees for larger projects are credited against installation if we carry it out.
Typical job: design package for a 300–800 m² office — £995–£2,450 plus VAT.
Things to plan for
Diversity
Not every room peaks at once; good design accounts for diversity so central plant is not oversized.
Future use
Allow for growth in occupancy or IT load.
Noise
Outdoor unit noise is designed in from the start, not fixed afterwards.
Coordination
Ceiling, lighting, sprinkler and electrical layouts are coordinated early.
Questions about HVAC design
Why do I need a heat load calculation?
It sizes the system to what the room actually needs, avoiding oversized equipment that wastes money and undersized equipment that cannot cope.
Is the survey free?
For a straightforward installation, the survey and heat load are free with your quote. Full design packages for larger projects are charged and credited if we install.
Can you produce a specification for tender?
Yes. We produce drawings and a written specification so contractors price the same system.
Do you provide noise data for planning?
Yes. We can supply manufacturer noise data and calculations to support a planning application.
HVAC design near you
Choose your county or region for local guide prices and the towns we cover.
England
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Bristol
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Cheshire
- Cornwall
- County Durham
- Cumbria
- Derbyshire
- Devon
- Dorset
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- East Sussex
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Greater Manchester
- Hampshire
- Herefordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- London
- Merseyside
- Norfolk
- North Yorkshire
- Northamptonshire
- Northumberland
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- Rutland
- Shropshire
- Somerset
- South Yorkshire
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Tyne and Wear
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands
- West Sussex
- West Yorkshire
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
Scotland
What happens next
Tell us what you need
Use the form, the quote tool, live chat or call us. A postcode and the type of premises is enough to start.
Survey or visit
For mainland installations we survey free of charge. Service and repair visits, and travel to remote locations, are priced before we book.
Written quote
You get the specification, the price and the programme in writing, including any landlord or planning points.
Work and handover
We install, service or repair around your hours, then hand over the commissioning and F-gas records.
Tell us about your premises
Send a few details and we will arrange a survey or call you back with a guide price.