Neil Saunders, Sales and Marketing Director at Vokèra by Riello, Carrier RLC EMEA, explains why hybrid-ready boilers offer an efficient, cost effective stop-gap solution for heating and hot water without replacing radiators or upgrading a building’s fabric.

Modutherm has introduced the Genesis FS ULTRA range of floor standing gas condensing boilers. Ideally suited to larger commercial heating applications, including schools, offices, retail outlets, hotels or heat networks, the flagship FS ULTRA is available in eight models with outputs ranging from 334kW to 2666kW from a single unit, or cascade installations up to 16 boilers

Hoval’s latest generation of gas condensing boilers, offers the option of using hydrogen as an alternative fuel to natural gas to help reduce carbon emissions. Moreover, gas-fired models that are installed now can easily be converted to hydrogen in the future. UltraGas® 2 is also compatible with biomethane.

As methods of heating buildings and processes evolve to reduce carbon emissions, the boiler still has an important role to play, though this too is evolving, says Ian Dagley of Hoval

Changes to Part L of Building Regulations are set to rule out non-condensing water heater replacements from 15 June this year in favour of more energy-efficient condensing units. Baxi’s Technical Director Andy Green looks at the implications for Building Services professionals and why it pays to plan ahead

Temporary plant rooms and boiler hire has grown in recent years, and Rapid Energy discovered a niche sector with trolley mounted electric boiler hire using ACV electric boilers.

There’s a lot of discussion on decarbonisation, centred on which fuel to use to heat buildings. But an interesting reminder came recently from Mike Foster, Chief Executive of the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), with his blog titled: ‘Is a cliche I know, but a great way to decarbonise is to use less energy’. 

Remeha Quinta Ace 65 boilers replace failed 29-year-old boiler units in school chapel

ELCO has launched the new wall-hung THISION® L PLUS and floor standing TRIGON® L PLUS

It's not just The Proclaimers would go five hundred miles...

Replacing an existing commercial boiler of up to 400 kW with a condensing model will meet the requirements of the Ecodesign of Energy-related Products Directive (ErP), but as Steven Evans, national sales manager at Potterton Commercial, explains, there is more to consider if you want to achieve the most energy-efficient solution.

Elco’s Trigon XL range of floor-standing gas-fired boilers achieves ultra-low NOx emissions complying with Class 6 (2018) requirements with emissions as low as 34 mg/kWh. The rating helps specifiers when assessing project criteria under BREEAM, with three credits available if a building achieves less than 40 mg/kWh.

A Spirotech vacuum degasser and a SpiroTrap dirt separator are key elements in the replacement of cast-iron boilers serving an open heating system with modern boilers and a sealed vent system at Exeter Civic Centre. The previous heating system had been in use for nearly 40 years.

Atag Commercial’s XL Series of gas-fired boilers is complemented by an extensive selection of modular installation and cascade options. Multiple sizes and configurations are available, so a suitable boiler configuration is always available. Up to eight boilers can be configured in cascade with a total output of up to 960 kW.

Teaming up CHP with gas-fired condensing boilers offers the potential to maximise the efficiency of both technologies. David Sadler-Smith of Elco Heating Solutions discusses how to maximise the benefits of CHP when incorporated with gas condensing boilers.

These boilers at a high-profile Government site in Swansea have been given a new lease of life and brought up to the standard of any new boiler on the market with the replacement of their burners with dual-fuel burners from Riello. The site is managed on behalf of Telereal Trillium by Arthur Portelli of Oakbury Building Services Consultants..

Not only did the improvement in the performance of Plymouth Argyle Football Club last season lead to promotion to Football League Division One, but the performance of the heating and hot-water system has also been boosted with equipment from Vokera.

As part of a 10-year £43 million refurbishment of The Central Criminal Court for England & Wales [the Old Bailey] Remeha floor-standing boilers have been installed to replace oil-fired steam boilers. The building is managed by the City of London Corporation and houses 18 courts and 52 cells over three floors. For the last 50 years, it has relied on four ornate steam boilers.

Against the background of much debate about the relative merits of aluminium and stainless steel for heat exchangers in boilers, Dr Elaine Lancaster of Ideal Commercial Boilers, makes the case for aluminium– a material that is increasingly being specified over stainless-steel alternatives.

The Murelle One HE 25 kW wall-hung combination boiler from Sime features the elegance of the company’s signature Italian design. Premium-quality components include Giannoni’s condensing evolution stainless-steel and alloy heat exchanger with larger waterways. It is described as the most compact and energy-efficient boiler in the Murelle range.

Stevie O’Neill of EOGB Energy Products Ltd, looks at the effect that new heating technology such as O2 and CO trim has on the efficiency of commercial heating systems and the benefits of automatic trim control.

When operating heat sources in cascade configuration it’s important to design and configure the system to get the most from each source. Kevin Stones of Hoval explains.

Stokvis Energy Systems’ Econoflame R600 Evolution range of floor-standing gas boilers comprises seven models with outputs from 142 to 540 kW and are designed for installing in confined spaces in retrofit or less-accessible new installation.

Lochinvar has developed a ‘smart’ app-based controller for its Herald range of gas-fired condensing boilers. The Con-X-us system enables users of smart devices such as phones and tablets to connect to the on-board boiler controls so that they can monitor and adjust system operation and heating parameters.

With a growing requirement to carry out heating refurbishments in live environments, James Porter of Remeha looks at how compact, flexible, high-performance condensing boilers provide a winning solution to keeping the heating on.

In a potentially turbulent year for the construction industry, Gavin Watson of Elco Heating Solutions outlines the importance of precision when designing CHP and boiler heating in order to maximise efficiency and reduce running costs.

As owners and operators of commercial buildings continue to explore how best to achieve maximum energy efficiency from their heating systems, hybrid solutions are growing in popularity. Pete Mills of Bosch Commercial & Industrial explains why combined heat and power (CHP) systems are the perfect partner for gas boilers.

The Econoflame R6000 range of condensing ultra-low NOx premix commercial boilers from Stokvis Energy Systems comprises seven models with outputs from 142 to 539 kW. These boilers use the patented water-cooled down-firing premix burner system with a stainless-steel heat exchanger and have NOx emissions of 15 to 35 mg/kWh with 0% O2. They can achieve seasonal efficiencies of up to 110.4%.

Boiler plant with a large turndown ratio can respond to various challenges presented by commercial heating systems — especially heat networks. Paul Mickleburgh of Hamworthy Heating takes up the story.

The complete refurbishment of the plant room of Horringer Court School in Bury St Edmunds includes five Thision L Evo boilers from Elco. They each have an output of 140 kW and have been arranged back to back in a free-standing cascade frame to maximise output in a restricted area.

Flues are an essential part of any commercial boiler installation. Dennis Milligan of the British Flue & Chimney Manufacturers’ Association offers advice on how to select and install the correct chimney or flue as part of such an installation.

Two floor-standing condensing boilers from Ideal Commercial Boilers have replaced two old cast-iron sectional boilers at Normanby House, the dermatology and ophthalmology departments of King’s College Hospital in London. the Imax Xtra 240 boilers were specified by Matt Gent, project manager with JD Services HVAC Ltd and were chosen primarily for the compact size, quality and small carbon footprint.

Errors and inconsistencies in the commissioning of boilers cost installers time and end-users money. More careful consideration of flow-rates and the adoption of new automatic commissioning technologies can change this, as Jonathan Grist of Viessmann explains.

Rural Energy has installed another biomass boiler, the third, at the historic Welbeck estate in Nottinghamshire. The estate covers over 6000 ha, and the latest boiler has been installed at Colingthwaite Farm, the estate’s dairy farm and the home of Stitchleton cheese. The 100 kW Herz Firematic boiler heats a range of buildings, including the farmhouse, farm offices and the cheese dairy. It uses home-grown timber.

As part of a £28.3 million investment over two years to retrofit energy-efficiency and renewable technologies into its property portfolio, Bupa UK collaborated with Bosch Commercial & Industrial to install over 200 bespoke heating systems comprising a CHP module paired with condensing boilers.

As part of the transformation of the former Terry’s chocolate factory in York into an exclusive housing development, Evinox Energy worked with The PJ Livesey Group to provide a comprehensive district-heating system. Called The Residence, this prominent 5-storey Grade 2 listed building is being developed into over 170 spacious apartments and penthouses.

Selecting energy-efficient boiler plant is just the first step in efficiency. How it is controlled through its life is just as important. Kevin Stones of Hoval illustrates this principle with reference to heating systems served by cascade boiler installations.

Hamworthy Heating’s Stratton mk2 wall-hung boiler has the smallest output in the stainless-steel family and is described as a great match for restricted-space plant rooms. These boilers have been designed to assist customers in refurbishment projects. The robust qualities of stainless steel make it very tolerant of older heating circuits and resistant to corrosion for easy maintenance and a long life.

Reduced boiler run-times on modulating and two-stage boiler plant do not necessarily equate to energy savings. The only accurate measures are a reduction in kWh or fuel consumption, says Tony Willis of Sabien Technology.

According to the Carbon Trust, heating and hot water can account for as much as 60% of total energy use in a commercial building. With energy saving high on the agenda, replacing an old, inefficient boiler may seem an easy fix, but Neville Small of Potterton Commercial explains why careful consideration should be given to the replacement and points to the benefits of boiler cascades.

Improving the energy performance of the UK’s buildings remains one of the greatest challenges facing the building-services industry. With today’s boilers capable of achieving the required increased reliability and high thermal efficiency, the goal now is to engineer for maximum efficiencies, says James Porter of Remeha.

Alpha Heating Innovation has installed boilers throughout a high-end residential development of 55 apartments in Edinburgh. Harbour Green offers apartments with one, two and three bedrooms and is on the seafront at Portobello, less than three miles from the city centre.

Paul Sands of Stokvis Energy Systems gives an insight into the technology that makes modern wall-hung boilers so efficient and how to ensure that system design maximises their capabilities.

Biomass boilers burning wood pellets are sophisticated pieces of kit. Oliver Duckworth of Windhager UK gives an insight into their complexity and capabilities.

Remeha has developed a new brand identity as part of its ongoing investment into the commercial heating market. Recent research carried out by the company confirmed its position as an established, solid brand with a reputation for supplying high-quality, good-value, reliable products. Consultants, specifiers and contractors all viewed it as best in class for performance, efficiency and engineering quality.

­ In the complex and multi-disciplinary environment of building services, keeping up with the latest boiler technology can be a challenge. Gavin Watson of Elco Heating Solutions explains what is required from a modern commercial boiler and the key performance parameters.

The installation of Energys’ dynamic burner-management units (DBMUs) on boilers in two schools in Plymouth is expected to repay its £4400 supply and installation costs of in about 2.5 years. and reduce CO2 emissions by 9.45 t per year. The schools are Hyde Park Juniors and Hyde Park Infants. These DBMUs can be installed in as little as half an hour, and the work at these schools was carried out during the course of a single half day.

Stuart Turner of Hamworthy Heating looks at the replacement of boilers in commercial buildings and why a straight swap-in swap-out solution does not always present best value for money.

Stephen O’Neil of EOGB Energy Products looks at how significant efficiencies in heating systems can be delivered by optimising burner controls.

The replacement of existing CHP plant at Bedford Hospital includes boilers supplied by Mikrofill. The three Ethos boilers each have an output of 130 kW and will primarily serve the hospital’s HWS demand. They are configured to provide heat into the main system when hot-water requirements are at a minimum.