Whilst radiators are primarily associated with residential developments and replacement heating systems in homes up and down the country, radiators are still providing a significant option for building designers in the commercial property sector. Chris Harvey explains.

With the growing popularity of hot yoga in the UK, building services engineers are increasingly likely to be asked to design appropriate climate control solutions. John Barker of Humidity Solutions considers the key criteria

Ensuring that office heating operates effectively and efficiently is not simply a case of setting thermostats. The entire HVAC system must be designed and balanced to control heating throughout a building. Greg Tracy explains how this can be achieved.

Boiler replacement is widely acknowledged as a quick win to improved heating reliability and efficiency. So why do we hear of some boilers failing to deliver the projected performance and savings? It all comes down to ensuring good system design, says Chris Meir.

Thanks to legislation such as the Building Regulations and the Energy-related Products (ErP) Directive, we have long seen a development towards highly efficient heating products. But there is more to an efficient boiler than just its theoretical efficiency figures according to its data sheet – correct setup, operation, service and maintenance are just as important, explains Stuart Turner.

Plant room space restrictions can cause problems when replacing old atmospheric boilers. Jonathan Grist explains what to look out for.

Engineered heating solutions can answer the challenges of installations that aren’t suitable for off-the-shelf products. They offer the flexibility required to meet the heating needs of ‘problem’ buildings, explains Danny Packham.

JS Air Curtains has introduced the Zen range, which means that fascia panels can be custom-made in many different materials; screen printed to carry logos or images; and manufactured to incorporate elements such as clocks and LED displays.

Viessmann has been named as ‘Best Buy’ boiler brand by consumer magazine Which? Viessmann was praised by Which? as the ‘most reliable’ of all brands.

Achieving reliable heating in buildings requires a flexible, high-performance solution. With their improved ease of installation and outstanding high efficiencies, it’s no wonder that tried-and-tested condensing boilers are ticking all boxes, says James Porter of Remeha.

Boilers and the technology associated with them seem to change very slowly, and even quite an old boiler could, until quite recently, quite easily be replaced with like for like. One of the most significant changes has been the move towards wall-hung boilers and their use in cascade configurations, as highlighted by John Bailey, Vaillant’s sales director for commercial and renewable systems, reflecting on 10 years of Vaillant being involved with commercial systems in the UK.

Rinnai’s Energysaver range of fanned-convection powered-flue gas-fired space heaters are designed specifically for use in schools, community centres, libraries, conservatories and churches and other large spaces. Recent enhancements to the range include the 559FT (pictured) and the 309FT.

Despite increasingly stringent carbon-reduction targets, achieving Part L compliance with electric heating in non-domestic buildings remains viable and can deliver significant benefits. Chris Stammers of Dimplex explains how.

Micronic flowmeters have been used at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 4 to survey energy usage in the heating system. The facilities staff at the terminal have a 5-year plan running to 2019, entitled Quinquennium 6, which includes the redesign of the medium-temperature hot-water system, which previously ran at 120°C. The requirement was to run the system at a lower temperature to be more cost effective, more environmentally friend and — crucially — safer.

It is well-established that imperfections in a heat exchange surface can have a negative impact on heat transfer. Tony Willis of Sabien Technology explains how a CIBSE award-winning additive to reduce the surface tension of the heating fluid can improve performance.

The Caspian LST (low surface temperature) range of fan convectors from Smith’s EP UK fully complies with the NHS Estates Health Guidance Notes ‘safe hot water and surface temperatures’ (formerly known and DN4). Compliance has been independently verified by BSRIA.

Radiators have a number of features that make them suited to a range of commercial applications, and recent developments enable them to provide a solution for more applications. Chris Harvey of Stelrad Radiators takes up the story.

Viessmann’s Vitodens 200-W boiler cascade system for commercial applications is more compact than its predecessor and offers outputs from 12 to 594 kW. It requires 30% less space than the previous cascade system and reduces installation times by up to 50%. The height required for installation is reduced from 2.2 to 1.8 m. The width required is also reduced — for example, three boilers in series require 2.3 m compared with 2.7 m previously.

As the number of urban high-rise developments continues to increase, so does the trend for electric heating. Alan Clarke of Heatrae Sadia, talks electric wet central-heating boilers and the key points to consider when it comes to product specification.

Heat interface units and billing services for the communal heating system in a development of luxury apartments and homes for first-time buyers in the Ladbroke Grove development from Taylor Wimpey Central London were supplied by Evinox Energy. The development is part of the regeneration of Grand Union Centre and also includes office accommodation and retail units. Evinox worked with P. R. Morson on the developments.

The industry was recently given the opportunity to provide feedback on standards and performance on heating systems in non-domestic buildings. There was some lively discussion.

Rinnai’s continuous-flow water-heating solutions can work with renewable-energy sources such as solar-thermal and air-source heat pumps. The concept is that the water heater tops up the temperature of stored water heated using renewable energy — but only when required.

Dunham-Bush trench-heating systems were specified for Building 3 at Advanced Manufacturing Park’s Technical Centre in Rotherham to offset heat losses and down draughts from the glazed facade. This building provides flexible offices and workshops for up to 11 tenants involved in industries as diverse as aerospace, automotive, marine, petrochemical and power generation.

Schools, colleges and other educational establishments throughout the UK spend hundreds of millions of pounds a year on heating. It’s an essential outgoing, but that doesn’t mean cost savings can’t be achieved. Even the most complex of heating needs can be met without breaking the budget, according to Nick Winton of Nor-Ray-Vac.

Radiant heating panels are growing in popularity, and for a number of good reasons. David Simoes of Zehnder Group UK explains where they are appropriate and what benefits can be expected.

Commercial-heating specialist EOGB Energy Products offers a service to help companies and organisations reduce their heating bills. The ‘Heating health check’ service involves a specialist EOGB engineer visiting a site and carrying out a full boiler and plant inspection to assess current performance. The boiler combustion is analysed, and the customer receives a report with recommendations and estimated savings based on the current fuel tariff.

The right heat emitter will significantly boost the performance of a heating system based on the use of a heat pump, as Jim Bennett of Smith’s Fan Convectors explains.

The many benefits of underfloor heating, perhaps with cooling, can be maximised with the help of powerful control. Malcolm Jacques of Warmafloor takes up the story.

Inta’s Hiper heat interface unit (HIU) has separate plate heat exchangers for heating and DHW. Features include a factory-set non-electric temperature-control valve to prevent the risk of scalding if the power supply fails. Dual-speed PID control intelligently controls the heat into the plate heat exchange by the electronic modulation of a PICV (pressure-independent control valve).

Marriott International selected Strebel to provide more efficient heating and hot water for its Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club in the West Midlands. The new heating solution comprises three boilers with 10 sections and outputs of 700 kW with Baltur gas burners supplied by EOGB. The improved system provides heat and hot water for the three floors of this 214-room luxury hotel and its full-service spa.

Energy-efficient heating for large high-bay buildings is delivered by Nordair Niche air-rotation heaters by avoiding stratification — hot air accumulating below the roof. The effect is achieved without addition destratification fans/units.

Salem Methodist Church at Cheslyn Hay in Staffordshire has a reliable heating system again following the donation of two boilers by Potterton Commercial for installation by specialist church-heating contractor Christopher Dunphy Ecclesiastical — also free. Potterton contributed two 70 kW Sirius wall-hung boilers.

Rinnai has enhanced the aesthetics of its Energysaver 559FT fanned-convection space heaters, which are widely used in schools, community centres, libraries, conservatories and churches. Changes have also been made to the operation board, which is now an easy-to-use touch-control pad on the top of the unit, rather than on the front with a flip-up cover. A child lock prevents tampering with the controls. The picture shows a humidification tray.

To protect the reliability of LPHW and HWS systems in a care home in Sheffield, Mikrofill supplied gas-fired condensing boilers for a localised plantroom and Extreme 300 l loading cylinders to meet the hot-water demand in each bungalow.

As part of its drive to improve sustainability and reduce carbon emissions, Stroud School in Hampshire has installed two Hoval biomass boilers. They provide space heating and domestic hot water for the main building and two new buildings. The school had previously used LPG boilers.

Comfort and fuel economy have both been massively improved following the replacement of warm-air-heating in an aircraft hangar at RAF Brize Norton. Base Hangar’s gas bill in 2012 was £800 000 a year. The installation of an AmbiRad Nor-Ray-Vac continuous-tube radiant heating system has reduced fuel costs by 75%.

The Renewable Heat Incentive scheme is crucial to the UK’s long-term decarbonisation efforts, believes Justine Grant of Team.

Combat’s multi-burner radiant-tube heating system is available in a wide variety of zoning options. They include herringbone, flag and T configurations. Multiple burners per pump reduce installation costs and the number of building penetrations. The system uses Blackheat burners.

Lochinvar has upgraded its popular CPM range of condensing, gas-fired, stainless-steel, wall-hung boilers in line with the requirements of the European Eco-design of the Energy related Products (ErP) Directive. Lot 11 of this directive requires that integrated glandless circulating pumps have a maximum Energy Efficiency Index (EEI) no higher than 0.23. The revamped boilers all contain an A-rated integral fully modulating pump.

Contamination in commercial heating systems can be a costly affair, leading to increased running costs and a higher probability of system breakdown. Kevan Peaker of Spirotech highlights some of the key symptoms to look out for in commercial heating systems, many of which are caused by the build up of dirt and air.

Stewarts Plumbing, an underfloor-heating installation specialist in Warwickshire, specified Polypipe plastic plumbing and underfloor heating for its new offices. The system chosen for heating was the Overlay, which is well suited to retrospective installation as it is installed over the existing floor and is only 18 mm deep.

Ideal Commercial Boilers’ Imax Xtra EL range of floor-standing condensing boilers is available in five models with outputs from 320 to 620 kW. They have a single aluminium silicon alloy heat exchanger and are suitable for single and multiple installations for fully pumped, open-vented or pressurised systems.

Rehau has created BIM (Building Information Modelling) models for its district-heating pipework ahead of the deadline in April 2016 for BIM Level 2. BIM models are available for the Rauvitherm and Rauthermex pre–insulated polymer pipework systems.

Engineered heating solutions can answer the challenges of installations that aren’t suitable for off-the-shelf products. They offer the flexibility required to meet the heating needs of ‘problem’ buildings, explains Joe Kiernan of Reznor.

This overdoor air curtain from Boon Edam is specifically designed for revolving doors to prevent cold air entering the building as the door revolves. The main body of the heater unit is mounted above the revolving door and has curved air outlets to create a warm barrier around the inner opening of the door.

Trench heating has provided an effective alternative to radiators for heating a living room in Kenilworth Cottage in Cheltenham, owned by Richard Wheatley. He explains, ‘The room previously had a great big radiator on the back wall. It limited what we could do with the room. If we were to put a sofa in front of it, it would block the heat from circulating around the room and potentially damage the furniture over the course of time. The room also features large French windows.’

Stelrad now offers a heavy-duty version of its popular Planar radiators for applications such as nursing homes, factories, sorting offices, and commercial premises where trolleys, wheelchairs and tractor units may accidentally nudge the radiators.

The largest parish church in England and a Grade 1 listed building, Holy Trinity Church in Hull, is now heated by an Imax Xtra EL 620 kW floor-standing condensing boiler from Ideal Commercial boilers. It was installed as part of a major overhaul of the heating system which was itself part of a £4.5 million project to transform the church into an events venue for Hull being the UK City of Culture in 2017.

EcoPowerad fan convectors from Smith’s have been paired with an air-source heat pump for a new heating system to replace an oil-fired boiler and radiators in a home in Norfolk. The fan convectors have been installed in downstairs rooms, with traditional radiators upstairs in the bedrooms.

Replacing ageing boiler plant in heating systems has become an important undertaking in commercial buildings, but as Peter Gammon of ELCO Heating Solutions explains, there are some considerations to be made.