A betting shop is a small secure room where the screens are on for the whole time the door is open. That display heat, plus lighting and a counter workstation, is the load. Customer numbers swing, but the screens do not. Cool the staff counter and the standing area you occupy. A secure shopfront and shutters often limit where an outdoor unit can go. An F-gas certified company should install the split.
Screens that stay on in an empty hour
Count the screens that stay on, not an average crowd. A quiet hour can still be hot because the wall of displays never rests. Add the door if it is propped, and the sun on a glazed front. People are extra. They are not the only gain.
A back office the shop unit never sees
A back office or a staff WC with a door will not be cooled by the shop unit. Include it only if you want it as its own zone. The shop counter is the place a person stands for a full shift.
A shallow room and a draught on the counter
The room is often shallow. A wall unit on full fan will draught the counter and be switched off. High throw and a modest setpoint beat a cold target. HSE workplace temperature guidance covers the staff: reasonable comfort, no legal maximum temperature.
Evening trade under the flat
Evening trade is normal. The outdoor unit will run when the street is quiet. Site it with bedrooms and the flat above in mind. Anti-vibration mounts are cheaper than a move after the first complaint.
- Include screens that run all day.
- Cool the counter as the occupied post.
- Say if the door is fixed open.
Shutters, alarms and a shallow ceiling grid
Shutters, alarms and a reinforced counter change where you can core and where a ladder can stand. The indoor unit has to be serviceable without defeating security. A ceiling grid may be shallow. Do not promise a cassette until the void is measured.
Counter electrics, the board and a refused street elevation
Condensate must not drip onto the shop floor or into the counter electrics. Power wants its own circuit, seen by an electrician, on a board that may already feed screens and alarms. Landlord consent for the outdoor position is usual, and some locations will refuse a street elevation.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the betting shop hot when it is nearly empty?
The screens and lights stay on. They are a steady heat gain. Size them. The customer count is only part of the afternoon.
Core buying guides
Start with these high-intent guides, then dig into the rest of the library.
Related guides
Sources and further reading
How this guide was prepared
This guide was written by the Local AC Installers Editorial Team. We compare official guidance, legislation and established consumer information, separate general information from project-specific advice, and show publication dates and sources. We do not accept installer accreditation claims at face value.