Hubbard quieten protests with low noise specifications
Hubbard Commercial, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of compact refrigeration and cooling systems to the forecourt and convenience store sector has acknowledged the power of the increasing number of protest and pressure groups against C-store developments as one of the main drivers in the design of their low noise refrigeration compressor receivers in recent years. With forecourt and convenience store developments coming under ever more scrutiny by planning and environmental authorities the requirement for low environmental impact solutions are becoming more and more critical to the success of planning applications and long term profitability.
Dougie Stoddart, Commercial Manager of Hubbard says “The louder pressure groups get the quieter our machines become, delivering a ‘win-win’ of not only gaining the good will of protesters but bringing additional benefits for site developers and operators as the long-term development of quieter machines goes hand in hand with greater operating efficiency”. As market leaders in the design, manufacture and supply of low-noise refrigeration systems Hubbard’s experience and knowledge of the forecourt and convenience sector has proven invaluable to site developers and symbol groups across the country. Involving Hubbard at an early stage of planning enables site owners to maximise efficiency whilst minimising environmental and social impacts and improving site viability.
Changing lifestyles have led to rapid growth in the C-Store sector particularly around the developments in forecourt retailing where comprehensive food offerings are now the norm. Whilst sites typically trade long hours with many trading 24 hours the sites are generally small, averaging around 3000-5000 sq ft and located in highly populated urban areas. The critical refrigeration requirements for the sector have therefore become small footprint, low noise, low running cost and easy maintenance. Hubbard Commercial have cornered this sector of the market with their established HCP and HCPS systems and now have extended their offering with the launch of a new range of HCR compressor receivers. The new HCR systems offer a split solution with a low-noise compressor sited inside the C-store and low-noise condensers externally. The benefit is immediate, external noise is reduced significantly whilst Hubbard’s easy access housings ensure that routine maintenance of the compressor/receiver units involves minimal disruption to the retail environment. The Hubbard HCR compressor/receiver unit is compact and can be free standing or wall mounted to further free up important floor space.
The HCR system is also extremely flexible allowing multiple installations to be run from one external condenser reducing external noise levels by up to 33%. A site running three conventional installations with a dedicated condenser for each system could generate external noise levels of up to 44dB(A), whereas three HCRs linked to a single triple-circuit external condenser cuts external noise levels to just 30dB(A).
As sector leaders Hubbard Commercial also offers a range of low-noise packaged condensing units aimed squarely at the retail convenience sector. HCP packaged unit systems offer precise temperature control with a well-earned reputation for reliability across high, medium and low temperatures. For ultra low noise packaged requirements a further version (HCPS) incorporates Scroll Compressor technology reducing single fan condensers to a maximum of 39dB(A) at ten metres or 34dB(A) when fitted with an optional Hubbard Sound Attenuation Kit.
Dougie Stoddart says “At Hubbard we take customer comment very seriously, working closely with
c-store developers we take their concerns on board at the earliest stages of planning which is why we have such a successful and proven track record within the sector. For developers and operators it is becoming increasingly more important to be able to meet planning objections head-on at the earliest possible time. With Hubbard’s experience of noise moderation we are able to actively support our clients, resolving local issues before they develop out of proportion. Showing planners, local authorities and pressure groups that we take their concerns seriously and are prepared to work with them towards solutions that are acceptable both commercially and residentially”.