A cover for a large heat pump needs to bring several requirements together: integration with the building, space for airflow and access to the outdoor unit. Big Blade treats these as parts of the same design.
Its construction uses two complementary assemblies: an internal load-bearing stainless steel frame and external aluminium composite panels (ACP). Adjustable louvres and, in the arrangement shown, a two-part outer shell complete the design.
Why separate the frame from the outer cladding?
The stainless steel frame forms the main supporting structure. It brings together uprights, cross-members, fixing points and the supports provided for the installation type. The ACP panels attach to this frame.
The outer cladding has an important role of its own: it defines the appearance, screens the equipment and forms the openings. It is not expected to provide the entire load-bearing structure by itself.
Useful engineering or unnecessary complexity?
The answer depends on what each component does. In Big Blade, this separation allows the supports and fixings to be designed alongside the cladding, openings and access requirements. It is not simply an extra wall intended to close the unit in.
With large panels, the division of roles also makes assembly and later access easier to understand. The value lies in how the components work together, rather than in the number of material layers.
What installers and specifiers should check
Start with the outdoor unit and installation type: supports, fixing points, pipe connections, air intake and discharge areas, and service access. The illustrations explain the construction; they do not replace the specifications or assembly instructions for the selected version.
The frame supports the cover. It should not be treated as a support for the heat pump itself unless that function is specifically stated for the product.
Does this mean two equivalent load-bearing frames?
No. The design separates the internal supporting frame from the external envelope. The ACP panels provide the cladding, rather than a second equivalent load-bearing frame.
Selecting a configuration for your project
Compare wall-mounted, ground-standing against a wall and freestanding versions. Use the dimensions on the corresponding product page. For a trade enquiry, provide the unit’s model reference, measurements and photographs of the proposed location.
Compare Big Blade configurations · Send an installer or project enquiry
