Carrier to Provide State-of-the-Art Solution to Help Preserve Michelangelo's Frescoes in the Sistine Chapel

- United Technologies and the Vatican Museums announce a technology and innovation collaboration to safeguard the institution and its cultural heritage

VATICAN CITY, June 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Governate of the Vatican City State and Carrier today announced the start of 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, developed by the company's expert global team of AdvanTE³C engineers and backed by its industry-leading research and development resources, is expected to be installed and commissioned by the third quarter of 2014. Carrier, the world's leader in high-technology heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions, is a part of UTC Building & Industrial Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

The new system, which replaces a Carrier system installed in the early 1990s, is designed to deliver exceptional performance with twice the efficiency and three times the capacity of the previous system. The custom-engineered solution uses first-of-its-kind energy-saving technologies, as well as industry-leading approaches to minimize 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 modeling 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 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 deployment of building technologies from 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."

Rev. Rafael Garcia de la Serrana Villalobos, Director of the Vatican Technical Services said: "The Carrier solution is the right response to our urgent need to establish a highly controlled microclimate as well as an effective reduction of pollutants. Our fruitful collaboration with Carrier has brought us to request a larger technical agreement with UTC and its other building solution brands."

Geraud Darnis, President and CEO of UTC Building & Industrial Systems confirmed: "This exceptional project, integrating systems and resources from across our lines of business, demonstrates not only UTC's commitment to preserving the world's cultural heritage, but also our ability to provide world-class levels of engineering and design expertise. These same values and capabilities provide the foundation for our new technology and innovation relationship with the Vatican Museums."

Didier Da Costa, President of Carrier Europe declared: "We are proud to have been called upon again to develop and manufacture this high-performance HVAC system leveraging Carrier's and UTC's global resources and shared technical know-how. The new solution responds to the evolving requirements of one of the world's most famous—and most visited—monuments, and is designed to provide exceptional reliability and scalability for future needs." 

Work will begin immediately with disassembly of the existing system; in the interim, a temporary system will provide cooling to the chapel throughout the summer.

About Carrier

Carrier is the world's leader in high technology heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions. Carrier experts provide sustainable solutions, integrating energy efficient products, building controls, and energy services for residential, commercial, retail, and transport and food service customers. Founded by the inventor of modern air conditioning, Carrier improves the world around us through engineered innovation and environmental stewardship. Carrier is a part of UTC Building & Industrial Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. Visit www.carrier.com for more information.