Johnson Controls Arabia, a leading provider of integrated solutions that include HVAC equipment, fire and security systems, building management systems and controls in MENA, has entered an agreement the Saudi Binladin Group (SBG) to upgrade and rehabilitate the central chilled water plant of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. Johnson Controls Arabia will upgrade the refrigerators as per the highest environmentally friendly and sustainable technological standards to achieve energy efficiency, which is in line with the company’s aspirations, efforts, and goals of facilitating a smarter, healthier, and more sustainable lifestyle.

The heating, ventilation, and cooling systems in the Prophet’s Mosque saw upgrading and extension works in 1988, as Johnson Controls Arabia installed back then the York OM centrifugal chillers with the refrigerant R-12. The refrigerants have successfully served for 34 years in this prestigious project, and under this agreement, the company will re-equip the existing six OM chillers with new R-134a refrigerants which are the best option as they are non-flammable and cost-effective. The total capacity of these six chillers is 20,400 TR.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the inauguration of the YORK Manufacturing Complex in King Abdullah Economic City, which is YORK’s largest complex in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, South Asia, and Latin America regions, by Dr. Mohanad Al Shaikh, CEO, Johnson Controls Arabia, and Eng. Fahad Al Ammari, CEO, Saudi Binladen Group, in the presence of Johnson Controls Arabia board members Saleh Bin Laden, Samer Al Khawashki, and George Oliver, Chairman and CEO, Johnson Controls International.

On this occasion, Dr. Mohanad Al Shaikh said: “As a continuation of what Johnson Controls Arabia started 34 years ago, the upgradation and rehabilitation project for the central chilled cooling plant of the Prophet’s Mosque is of special importance to our company. Furthermore, the project presents a testament to the quality of our heavy-duty YORK OM chillers that enjoy an over 45 years life expectancy, allowing us the flexibility for refrigerant retrofit from R-12 to R-134A for its environmentally friendly specifications. This shift will enable us to upgrade and integrate the project’s chillers with modern technologies through updating the control systems, compressors, gears, and other mechanicals parts to comply with Johnson Controls International’s highest standards of safety regulations.”