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Douglas County authorizes HVAC replacement at Public Works Building A after repeated failures
Summary
The county authorized entry into a contract through the TIPS cooperative to replace a failing Daikin VRF system at the Public Works Building A with conventional rooftop units, citing high maintenance costs and multiple compressor failures.
Douglas County commissioners voted 5-0 on April 16 to authorize the county administrator to enter an agreement through the TIPS cooperative purchasing program to replace the HVAC system in Building A at the Douglas County Public Works facility.
Jimmy Wilkins, director of building maintenance, told the board the building’s Daikin variable‑refrigerant‑flow (VRF) system, installed when the building opened in 2015, has been costly to maintain. Wilkins said the county has spent more than $40,000 on maintenance over the last three years and has replaced compressors roughly 13 times since installation. He said no warranty coverage remains on the system.
Engineering work by P1 Engineering recommended replacing the two rooftop VRF units with conventional Carrier rooftop systems, replacing some ductwork and VAV boxes, and installing a controls system that integrates with the county’s existing controls. Wilkins said the project would be disruptive — requiring ceiling removal and periods without heating or cooling — and staff are planning to schedule the work in the fall (targeting a September 1 start and completion in November) to reduce impact on occupants.
Commissioners asked about warranty history, comparative efficiency, and construction impacts. Wilkins said modern conventional rooftop systems can approach the efficiency of early VRF systems and that the county expects more reliable maintenance and better integration with county controls.
The motion authorizing the county administrator to contract with P1 Mechanical through the TIPS cooperative, subject to legal review, passed unanimously. Staff will finalize contract terms and coordinate relocation and continuity plans during construction.
