HVAC performance comes from the building and the complete operating system, not from one catalogue efficiency. Climate, envelope, occupancy, internal loads, water temperatures, ventilation, controls and maintenance all affect the result. ISH China & CIHE 2027 becomes a useful sourcing event when every supplier receives the same building case and clearly states which part of the system it can design, supply and support.
The fair runs from 12–14 May 2027 at China International Exhibition Center (Shunyi Hall), Beijing. Its official sectors cover heating, energy, water, comfort, installation and intelligent building technology, including boilers, heat pumps, ventilation, pumps, pipes, valves, purification and smart controls. Buyers can use that range for several different projects.
| Buyer mission | Starting evidence | Useful result from the show |
|---|---|---|
| Design HVAC for a new building | Loads, envelope, occupancy, zones and available utilities | A compatible plant, distribution, terminal and control concept |
| Retrofit an operating building | Energy and comfort data, existing equipment, space and shutdown limits | A phased improvement plan with interfaces visible |
| Replace heating with a heat-pump system | Source conditions, delivery temperatures, load profile and backup needs | A configuration tested against winter and part-load duty |
| Improve ventilation and indoor comfort | Occupancy, airflow, air-quality, acoustic and maintenance requirements | A ventilation and control route tied to real rooms and schedules |
The primary mission should guide the route. A hotel retrofit, an industrial office, a residential development and a low-temperature heating conversion may all use pumps and controls, but their load patterns, comfort expectations and operating teams differ.
Prepare one building case
Compile location, design weather, building use, gross and conditioned area, envelope assumptions, orientation, occupancy, lighting and equipment loads, operating schedule, zone layout, peak and part-load profiles, indoor temperature and humidity targets, ventilation and air-quality requirements, domestic hot-water demand where relevant, available power or fuel, plant space, noise limits and service capability.
For an existing building, add current equipment, system schematic, supply and return temperatures, flows, controls, energy records, comfort complaints, alarms, water quality, maintenance history, available measurements, physical access and allowable shutdown windows. Separate measured conditions from estimates and note the season and operating mode behind each figure.
Define the project outcome in buyer language. It may be stable room temperature during occupied hours, better humidity control, lower peak electrical demand, replacement of a fuel-fired plant, improved ventilation, easier maintenance or additional capacity for a changed building use. Suppliers can then explain which equipment and control changes address that outcome.
Keep destination rules and owner standards already identified by the project team in the brief. The supplier should state the technical basis of its selection; final code interpretation, design approval and permitting remain with the project owner and its appointed professionals.
Compare the complete heating and cooling route
Map the system from energy source to occupied space. The route may include boilers or heat pumps, chillers where relevant, storage or buffer vessels, heat exchangers, pumps, water treatment, distribution, valves, fan coils, radiators, floor heating, air-handling units, controls and metering. Mark what remains from the existing installation and where the new equipment connects.
For heat pumps, compare performance at the buyer’s source and delivery temperatures, ambient range, part-load conditions and defrost duty rather than relying on one rated point. Record compressor and circuit arrangement, minimum and maximum output, backup heat, buffer strategy, pumps, sound, electrical demand, controls, refrigerant-related service requirements identified by the project team, maintenance access and the conditions behind seasonal estimates.
Hydronic discussions should use design and part-load flows, supply and return temperatures, pressure loss, pump control, minimum flow, water volume, expansion, air and dirt separation, filtration, water-quality assumptions, valve authority, balancing, freeze protection and the relationship between plant and terminal controls. A high-efficiency heat source cannot deliver the expected result if the existing emitters require incompatible temperatures or the distribution system cannot maintain flow.
For terminal units, compare output at the actual water and room conditions, fan or natural-convection behaviour, sound, condensate, filtration, controls, cleaning, access and replacement space. Record how each zone will respond to occupancy and how simultaneous heating and cooling demands are handled where relevant.
Treat ventilation, water and comfort as defined subsystems
Ventilation needs room-by-room airflow, occupancy schedule, outdoor-air condition, filtration target, pressure relationships, heat or energy recovery, fan duty, duct routes, acoustics, condensate, frost strategy where relevant, access for filter replacement and coordination with heating or cooling terminals. Ask how actual airflow will be measured, balanced and maintained after handover.
Indoor-air-quality products should be connected to a pollutant or comfort objective and an operating location. Record sensing range, filter or media, pressure drop, consumables, replacement interval, noise, control logic and the evidence relevant to the proposed room. A portable display result and a whole-building ventilation design answer different questions.
Water products at this fair should be assessed for their building role: pumps, valves, plumbing, supply, drainage, treatment for building services or point-of-use comfort. A buyer sourcing industrial wastewater treatment needs a different influent definition, process route and evidence base; building-water exhibits should not be stretched into a complete industrial treatment solution.
For domestic hot water, define demand pattern, storage, recirculation, delivery temperature, heat source, backup, distribution losses, controls and hygiene measures established by the project designer. Plumbing and drainage discussions should use fixture load, pressure, material, joining, access, noise, maintenance and interface conditions from the actual building.
Make controls and supplier interfaces explicit
Draw a responsibility map covering load calculation, equipment selection, hydraulic and air-system design, sensors, actuators, local controllers, plant control, building-management integration, power and communication interfaces, third-party equipment, commissioning, balancing, performance testing and training. Name the party responsible for each interface rather than assuming the equipment supplier also integrates the complete building.
For connected controls, record protocol, data points, update interval, sequences, schedules, setpoints, alarms, trend storage, dashboards, remote access, user permissions, software licences, backups and the cybersecurity requirements set by the owner. Ask which logic is included, which needs project programming and who can modify it after handover.
Request equipment selections at the project’s stated conditions, system schematics, equipment and valve schedules, pressure and flow assumptions, utility needs, control description, installation requirements, maintenance clearances, commissioning outline and proposed acceptance tests. Where several suppliers are involved, one coordination list should show the document and decision needed from each party.
Reference projects are useful when climate, building type, load profile, water temperatures and operating mode resemble the buyer’s case. Record significant differences, actual operating data available and changes made after commissioning. Access to a customer site and its records requires advance permission.
Use supplier and reference visits to close specific risks
A supplier visit adds value when the shortlist depends on engineering selection, configuration, fabrication or assembly, controls, testing, spares or service. Confirm which products and activities are present at the proposed address. Follow the offered configuration through design release, critical bought-out parts, production or assembly, software loading where applicable, calibration, testing, nonconforming control, factory acceptance, preservation and packing.
At a reference building, focus on the conditions that matter to the project: seasonal operation, room comfort, plant temperatures, part-load behaviour, defrost or backup operation, alarms, energy and water records, operator workload, maintenance, noise and modifications after handover. A building with different loads can still show service practice, but it should be treated as context rather than direct performance evidence.
Installation and commissioning also need a clear route. Record site-readiness checks, delivery and lifting, shutdown and tie-in sequence, flushing or cleaning, pressure testing, controls integration, sensor checks, balancing, functional testing, operator training, seasonal commissioning, handover documents, warranty start and the process for unresolved items.
Compare scope, operating needs and acceptance
Ask suppliers to quote against the same building case. Separate equipment, required options, pumps and valves, tanks, sensors and controls, software, accessories, recommended spares, freight assumptions, supervision, installation, commissioning, balancing, testing, training and service. Note excluded pipework, ductwork, electrical work, civil work or third-party integration rather than comparing totals with different boundaries.
Keep purchase price separate from estimated power or fuel, water, consumables, routine maintenance, replacement parts and operator needs. Use the same weather, load, schedule, tariff and control assumptions for operating comparisons, and record which estimates still need engineering verification.
The final matrix should link each building requirement to the selected equipment, system assumption, supporting evidence, interface owner, installation need, control point, acceptance test, quoted scope and next decision. ISH China & CIHE then becomes a structured system-sourcing stage instead of a hall-by-hall comparison of individual heating, water and comfort products.
Sources
- ISH China & CIHE 2027 official facts and figures
- ISH China & CIHE official homepage
- ISH China & CIHE official partners
Event information checked on 24 July 2026.
Xentra can support exhibitor research, multilingual technical meetings, supplier appointments, reference-visit planning and structured proposal comparison. Final system design, safety, code interpretation, permitting and investment approval remain with the buyer’s project team and appointed professionals.