Carrier and the Governate of the Vatican City State are to begin the installation of a landmark heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) system for the Sistine Chapel, specially designed to address the challenges of protecting Michelangelo’s masterpieces against deterioration.

Carrier’s “groundbreaking” system is expected to be installed and commissioned by the third quarter of 2014. It replaces a Carrier system installed in the early 1990s and is designed to deliver exceptional performance with twice the efficiency and three times the capacity of the previous system.

The custom-engineered solution uses energy-saving technologies to minimise noise and limit air motion around the frescoes. In order to ensure outstanding reliability, highly controlled temperature and humidity levels, and optimal airflow management, the design team completed extensive modelling using a specially developed application. Once installed, the system is designed to be virtually unnoticeable to visitors.

In addition, the Governate of the Vatican City State and Carrier’s parent company, United Technologies Corp (UTC) have entered into an agreement to ensure the protection and safety of the Vatican Museums’ artwork, spaces and visitors through the use of building technologies from other UTC companies. According to the terms of the agreement, the parties will work together on integrated solutions spanning HVAC, elevators and escalators, fire detection and alarm, fire suppression and safety, electronic security, access control, video surveillance services and related software solutions, from brands such as Carrier, Otis, Lenel, Kidde, Chubb and Marioff.

Antonio Paolucci, Director of the Vatican Museums stated: “We are confident that Carrier’s HVAC system will enable us to realize our goal of ensuring the preservation of Michelangelo’s masterpieces in the Sistine Chapel while allowing visitors to continue to behold the frescoes for years to come.”

Work will begin immediately with disassembly of the existing system and a temporary system will provide cooling to the chapel throughout the summer.