Toshiba helps deliver efficient fire stations

Published:  03 January, 2013

Penrith Community Fire Station is one of 21 new fire stations being equipped with energy-efficient systems that include Toshiba heat-recovery VRF air conditioning.

New community fire and rescue stations across the north England are being equipped with Toshiba heat-recovery VRF systems. A total of 21 new fire stations will replace outdated facilities. 15 of them have already been completed, with the rest due early in 2013. All stations have a combination of 3-pipe VRF and split systems, with the design satisfying the requirements of EN378 and Part L of the Building Regulations.

As well as serving office accommodation and rest rooms, the Toshiba units also cool communications and server facilities.

In line with a philosophy of continuous improvement, the final five stations will be equipped with air-source heat pumps, instead of gas-fired boilers, for heating corridors — plus Toshiba’s leak-detection system, which attracts BREEAM credits.

Most stations are also being equipped with Toshiba’s high-efficiency VN air-to-air heat exchanger to significantly improve overall energy efficiency.

Craig Bowden, Arup associate in Newcastle upon Tyne, says, ‘The Toshiba 3-pipe heat-recovery system is ideal for the layout of the stations. the system efficiencies enabled Arup’s design to meet Part L requirements and the BREEAM aspirations of the fire authorities. The support provided by Toshiba throughout has been first class.’

The equipment is being installed by Toshiba accredited installers Cool Breeze Air Conditioning & Refrigeration of Gateshead and Coolair Equipment of Dukinfield on behalf of mechanical-services contractors Balfour Beatty Engineering Services and Lorne Stewart.