Metropolitan HC is a fan-assisted trench heating and cooling unit from SPC, recessed into the floor alongside full height glazing to provide heating in winter and dry cooling in summer from a single installation.
Manufactured in Leicester by S & P Coil Products Limited, Metropolitan HC suits offices, reception areas and atria, hotels, retail and education buildings with full height glazing.
Heating
Fan-driven warm air to counter cold down-draughts at full height glazing
Cooling
Dry cooling from the same trench installation
BMS ready
0 to 10V fan speed and 24V valve control
Made in Leicester
Manufactured and supported by SPC in the UK
Up to 11,760 W
Heating at 75/65°C from a single 360 x 210 mm unit, 3 m long (2-pipe, high fan speed)
Up to 7,056 W
Heating at 55/45°C from the same 360 x 210 mm unit, 3 m long (2-pipe, high fan speed)
Up to 4,116 W
Dry cooling at 7/12°C from a 360 x 210 mm unit, 3 m long (2-pipe, high fan speed)
NR17 to NR39
Typical noise rating, depending on unit length and fan speed
What is Metropolitan HC trench heating and cooling?
Metropolitan HC combines a copper tube and aluminium finned coil with one or more crossflow fans driven by EC motors. The fans actively blow air through the heat exchanger and keep the inlet and outlet separate, so output stays consistent along the run.
Metropolitan HC is available in heating-only, cooling-only or combined heating and cooling versions, in 2-pipe or 4-pipe configurations.
How fan-assisted trench heating works: the crossflow fan draws room air in and drives it through the heat exchanger and up the glazing.
What sizes does Metropolitan HC come in?
Metropolitan HC is supplied in four standard width and height combinations:
| Width x height (mm) | Width at feet (mm) |
|---|---|
| 245 x 160 | 292 |
| 290 x 160 | 337 |
| 320 x 130 | 367 |
| 360 x 210 | 407 |
Standard lengths run from 900 to 3000mm, with non-standard lengths on request. Units can be butted together and piped in parallel for longer runs, and adjustable feet (up to 30mm) level each unit with the finished floor.
How does Metropolitan HC heating perform?
Metropolitan HC throws a fan-driven warm air jet up the glazing to counteract cold down-draughts and offset heat loss along the facade.
- Output responds directly to fan speed, controlled via a 0 to 10V signal
- Performance published at 75/65°C and 55/45°C
- 15mm copper flow and return connections
- Maximum hot water flow temperature 85°C
How does Metropolitan HC cooling work?
Metropolitan HC provides dry cooling from the same trench installation, giving year-round comfort at the perimeter.
- Minimum chilled water flow temperature 5°C
- Most projects are designed for dry cooling, with no condensate removal
- Integral drip tray and optional condensate pump for wet cooling
- Moisture or humidity sensors recommended for dry cooling designs
4-pipe Metropolitan HC units heat and cool independently, while 2-pipe units provide heating, cooling or changeover. Full performance data for every size, length and fan speed is in the Metropolitan HC brochure.
Metropolitan HC grilles, controls and options
The standard Metropolitan HC grille is an anodised aluminium roll-up grille, available in satin silver or a range of Anolok bronze, gold, umber and blue-grey finishes. A linear stainless steel grille is available for higher end applications or extra strength, or units can be supplied without a grille to take an architectural grille. Roll-up grilles suit occasional footfall, but not high point loads such as chair legs.
Metropolitan HC is designed for open integration with the site BMS, with no proprietary control platform required.
- Fan speed: modulated via a 0 to 10V signal
- Valves: 24V actuators on both heating and cooling circuits
- Standalone control: manual fan speed switching, or controllers with automatic or manual heating/cooling changeover
- Multiple units: master/slave control, with each slave unit needing its own power supply
- Customer-supplied equipment: SPC can wire units to suit your own valves and controllers
- PICVs: best installed outside the trench casing
Metropolitan HC ships as a basic unit, ready for control as part of the site system. Available options include thermostats and controllers, on/off and speed control switches, 24V valves and actuators, and drip trays and condensate pumps.
Units can also be adapted to the building, with angle and corner pieces, dummy sections, pipework within the casing, pedestals for deep trenches, cut-outs where a run meets a column, and bespoke widths and heights. Contact SPC to discuss project-specific requirements.
Project support from SPC: from survey to commissioning
SPC manufactures and supplies Metropolitan HC trench heating and cooling for installation by your chosen mechanical and electrical contractor, and supports the project at every stage. Our Trench CPD is CIBSE approved and can be booked for your practice.
Site surveys
SPC can visit site to review trench positions, dimensions and layout before order.
Selection and layout
Send us your drawings and design conditions and SPC will select unit sizes, lengths and configurations.
Trench CPD
Our CIBSE approved CPD, Design Considerations for Trench Heating, can be delivered to your practice.
Area Sales Managers
Your local SPC Area Sales Manager is on hand for questions, site visits and installation queries.
- Ready for site: each unit is labelled with its serial number, model reference and site reference, and arrives with a protective cover to keep in place until the grilles are fitted.
- Installation, operation and maintenance: the Metropolitan HC IOM manual, covering installation, commissioning and fault finding, is supplied with every order.
Specifying Metropolitan HC
Unit selection from SPC and free BIM objects for your model.
Get a unit selection
Send us your drawings and design conditions and SPC will select Metropolitan HC unit sizes, lengths and configurations for your project.
Download BIM objects
Add Metropolitan HC to your BIM model. Our BIM objects are free to download from SPC on bimstore, alongside the rest of the SPC range.
SPC trench heating in UK projects
SPC trench heating has been installed along full height glazing in projects across the UK, including The Grand York Hotel, the Museum of Two Halves in Wrexham, Archway Tower in London and the Midlands Goods Shed at King’s Cross. See SPC’s projects.
Specification summary
| Detail | Spec |
|---|---|
| Unit sizes (width x height) | 245 x 160, 290 x 160, 320 x 130 or 360 x 210 mm (width at feet 292 to 407 mm) |
| Lengths | 900 to 3000 mm as standard, non-standard lengths on request |
| Heat exchanger | Copper tube / aluminium finned coil |
| Fan type | Tangential (crossflow), brushless DC (EC) motor |
| Power supply | 230V / 1 phase / 50Hz, internal 24V DC conversion |
| Power draw | 3 W to 33 W per unit, depending on length and fan speed |
| Specific fan power (SFP) | 0.12 to 0.16 W/(l/s) |
| Casing | 1.2mm mild steel, black powder coat |
| Water connections | 15mm copper |
| Min. chilled water flow temperature | 5°C |
| Max. hot water flow temperature | 85°C |
| Max. working pressure | 10 bar |
| Noise | NR17 to NR39 depending on length and fan speed (100m³ room, 0.5s reverberation time, 2m distance) |
| Testing | Performance tested in line with EN 164301 |
| Manufactured | Leicester, UK, by S & P Coil Products Limited (ISO 9001:2015) |
1 EN 16430: European performance test standard for fan-assisted radiators, convectors and trench convectors. A full sound power spectrum based on independent testing is available from SPC on request.
Full Metropolitan HC performance data (duty, flow rate and pressure drop by unit size, length and fan speed, for both 2-pipe and 4-pipe configurations) is available in the literature below.
Discuss your trench heating and cooling project
Send us your layout for a Metropolitan HC selection, request a site survey or book the Trench CPD. Call +44 (0)116 249 0044, email spc@spc-hvac.co.uk or use the form below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. 4-pipe units heat and cool independently via separate flow and return connections, while 2-pipe units can be specified for heating only, cooling only, or as a heating/cooling changeover system.
Four standard width and height combinations (245x160mm, 290x160mm, 320x130mm and 360x210mm), in standard lengths from 900mm to 3,000mm, with non-standard lengths available on request.
Yes. Fan speed is controlled via a 0 to 10V signal and 24V valve actuators are available for both heating and cooling circuits, allowing direct control from the site BMS without a proprietary controls platform. Options are also available for manual fan speed switching and master/slave control across multiple units.
Units used for cooling, where chilled water temperature falls below the dewpoint of the room air, can be specified with an integral drip tray and an optional condensate pump. Many installations are designed around dry cooling to avoid condensate removal altogether.
Yes. Metropolitan HC performance is published at 55/45°C as well as 75/65°C. At 55/45°C, a 360 x 210 mm unit, 3 m long, delivers up to 7,056 W of heating. SPC can run a bespoke selection at your project’s design conditions.
Metropolitan HC is installed by your chosen mechanical and electrical contractor. SPC supports the project with site surveys, unit selection, the IOM manual and help from your local Area Sales Manager.
The standard Metropolitan HC roll-up grilles are suitable for occasional footfall but not high point loads such as chair legs, and trench units should not be positioned in doorways or areas of constant footfall. A linear stainless steel grille is available where extra strength is needed.
SPC recommends installing Metropolitan HC 50mm to 500mm from the glazing, with the heat exchanger on the window side wherever possible.
No. Metropolitan HC is an addition to SPC’s trench range. The existing Metropolitan Powered range remains available for projects that call for its format and finish.
The Metropolitan HC fans have sealed-for-life bearings and need no routine maintenance. The heat exchanger is reached by removing the roll-up grille and fingerguard plate, and can be lifted out of the casing for a more thorough clean. SPC recommends an initial inspection after three months, then at intervals to suit the space. Full guidance is in the IOM manual.
