Normally, air conditioning is understood as the cooling of a room with an air conditioning machine. However, the term includes cooling, heating, ventilation, humidity control and smoke and fire ventilation services. Air conditioning for commercial & industrial applications is based on the above technologies, with specialised knowledge about the area to be air conditioned, the amount of cooling or heating or ventilation needed, the number of persons that would be present in that area on an average, etc. Air conditioning consultants for commercial and industrial air conditioning should be thorough with the January 2003 amendments to Building Code of Australia, which specify the several measures and regulations on building construction and the type of building materials that are allowed to be used in Australia.
General air conditioning systems include window type air conditioners, split type systems, variable refrigerant volume (VRV) systems, variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems, ducted air conditioning systems, chilled water systems and close control. The VRV/VRF systems are the latest innovations in air conditioning technology, with the possibility of operating up to 16 indoor fan coil units from one external condensing unit. As such, these systems not only save space but also result in considerable cost savings. These are the preferred systems in huge high rise office complexes, where space for putting up the external condensing units is at a premium. These systems use the R22 refrigerant and R470c, which is a zero-ozone depletion, non-toxic refrigerant.
Cooling systems are of two types, evaporative cooling systems and process cooling systems. These systems are suitable for large commercial and industrial establishments. These systems are tailor-made for smaller and larger applications.

Similarly, commercial heating systems and industrial heating systems comprise warm air heating systems, plaque heating systems, radiant heating systems and site decentralisation systems. All these systems run on gas, oil, electricity, hot water or steam, with optional condensing boiler technology that increases efficiency, while saving energy. These systems are either floor standing type or suspended type.

Ventilation services include constant fresh air circulation, removal of fumes, smoke, odours, etc. by dilution or direct removal methods, reduction of the risk of airborne infection, removal of water vapour generated by respiration, removal of excess heat, removal of hazardous gases like carbon dioxide, etc. and provision of a comfortable environment that is refreshing without being draughty by maintaining adequate air movement inside the designated area. These commercial and industrial ventilation systems concentrate on large air circulation and fume removal. At some places, the application could also include smoke / fire ventilation. These systems are ideal for factories like food processing units, warehouses, production units where heat generation is significant and large offices.

There are several specialist air conditioning consultants for commercial & industrial air conditioning in Australia. They design, install and maintain various types of air conditioning systems that comply with all the building regulations prevalent in Australia. These consultants can be approached by looking up local business directories available in Australia.