Rinnai remote monitoring system gives sites total control of hot water delivery

Resolving issues with legacy heating systems is often not straightforward.

New coatings on surfaces can make the healthcare environment a safer one, says David Simoes

In the world of commercial boilers, the traditional rules of engagement are well documented: Manufacture a highly efficient unit that meets the expectations of the market, remove the old product from the range and sing the virtues of the new model’s features. It has been a successful strategy for many years, with incremental improvements delivering major developments over a decade.

With 2018 temperatures dipping to a stark -15oC and peaking at 35.5oC, building owners need to ensure they have sophisticated measures in place to manage the comfort of their employees, especially as there is currently no upper temperature limit for workers.

In the building services world, use of offsite fabrication equipment and techniques is gaining traction as a means of achieving improved quality and on-site safety through greater efficiency.

The government is investing £320 million in district heat networks. For some, this may be a new technology so it can in many cases be misunderstood and this lack of understanding means that some potentially efficient systems are delivering under par performance figures.

For any installer in the heating and ventilation industries, keeping up with the latest trends can be the difference between the business being successful or not. Quite often, these trends are based upon legislative regulations or guidance from government or industry bodies – it might be amends to Part L of the Building Regulations, initiatives such as the Renewable Heat Incentive, or health and safety updates from OFTEC.

Whether it is a school, hotel, library, gym, small office or even a large domestic property, space is a valuable commodity. Commercial property owners cannot afford to lose the space a bulky heating system or plant room takes up in their building. Owners and operators of these building are looking to get the maximum from the space they have available.

As businesses and organisations look to improve their building’s energy performance and cut costs and emissions, heating is a frequent starting place for efficiency measures.

The UK’s total gas consumption has fallen by 20% since 2000. In some parts of the country, more than 50% of electricity supplies are now being generated by renewables; and last year saw the first day since the industrial revolution when none of our electricity came from coal.

Recycling our rubbish has become second nature in the UK. But we are missing an opportunity to recycle our heat.

Currently supplying about 11% of global space and water heating needs, most heat networks today are fuelled by either coal or natural gas, while the national renewable energy share can range from 1% in China to 42% in Denmark.

The heat network industry is beginning to make a much-needed cultural shift from keeping the heat on at any cost to one that focuses on increasing whole system reliability and efficiency. This is part of a more holistic approach to maintenance and operation. 

Communal heating systems and district heat networks are considered by the UK Government as one of the most cost-effective ways of reducing carbon emissions from heating, especially as their efficiency and carbon-saving potential increases as they grow and connect to each other. They also provide a unique opportunity to exploit larger-scale, and often lower-cost, renewable and recovered heat sources that otherwise cannot be used.

Over the course of two years, Danny Bulch, director at Cedar Green Projects, replaced the boilers, gas fired water heaters and calorifiers in the Welcombe hotel, spa and golf club with new equipment. The main challenges of the project were carrying out refurbishment during peak heat requirements in winter; overcoming access issues to the plant room; and accommodating different fuel options.

Renewable technologies are becoming more commonly applied in UK homes, with more householders installing solar panels than ever before. But when it comes to sources of heat, most houses are still fitted with ‘traditional’ boilers, and many homeowners are unaware of the alternatives available. However, 2018 looks to be a turning point, with heat pump applications increasing because of the benefits they offer.

The Victoria Hotel in Sidmouth, part of the Brend Hotel Group, promises its guests that: “From the moment you step through the original carriage portico, you will be surrounded by warmth and refinement.” Where the exquisite décor and four-star service provides the refinement, a new A-rated efficient boiler from Potterton Commercial is now providing the warmth.

While district heating systems may have had something of a chequered history in the UK, the last few years have seen a considerable resurgence in their popularity. This is in line with the move to central energy centres, which make it easier to deploy both traditional and low carbon heat sources together.

According to the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), offsite construction currently accounts for at least 3% to 4% of the UK construction sector. However, the cost and time savings and quality control benefits associated with this method will no doubt see it grow exponentially in the next decade.

Most MBS readers will be familiar with the phenomenon of thermal stratification, a frequent occurrence in high-roofed buildings where the natural buoyancy of warm air results in its accumulation at high level. Heating this unoccupied area of the space is clearly inefficient, exacerbated by colder air at high level being pushed downwards into the occupied zone by the warm air, increasing the demand for heating.

For commercial buildings, such as offices, hotels and leisure centres, a consistent hot water supply is a business-critical service. If a system fails, it can quickly force a business to shut its doors until a solution is found. Even more critically, you only have to look at the recent spate of legionella outbreaks in hotels around the UK to see the devastating impact a failure in water maintenance can have on a business. However, despite this there are still a large number of business owners who do not have a programme in place that meets the demands of their site.

One of the key recommendations to come out of the Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety was for a clearer, more transparent and more effective specification process to put an end to cost-cutting compromises.

In the last few years, the energy management landscape has changed considerably and will undoubtedly change again in the future.

September traditionally hails the start of heating season, where thermostats click in, BMS systems relay information and commercial boilers fire into action to warm occupants feeling the first chilly morning of the autumn.

The UK has so far been successful in achieving interim targets for carbon reduction. But now the low hanging fruit is scarce, it’s time to tackle the big challenge head on - decarbonising our heat. Karen Fletcher looks at the options and the hurdles ahead.

As the HS2 project takes shape, heating the rail sheds along the route is a significant challenge. Here Nick Winton explains why engineers need to get to grips with the knowledge of how to apply radiant heating for efficiency.

As our other experts focus on heating, Dr Chris Ward considers the wider aspects of today’s building services that affect our health  and wellbeing

One of the options for achieving low NOx emissions is to use premix burner technology. Bernard Dawson explains how this differs from traditional pressure jet burner technology.

Stuart Doggrell highlights the growing popularity of unvented internal expansion heaters and their impact on the UK’s changing property landscape.

As the steel vs aluminium heat exchanger debate continues, Steven Evans argues that perhaps it’s time to look beyond the materials to focus on design and maintenance

Paul Martin highlights the important role of flue design in ensuring condensing boilers operate at maximum efficiency

Steve Lalyk explains why the growing use of mixed heat sources means the control strategy is increasingly important.

Space heating systems for workshops need to address a number of criteria that may not apply to other applications. Brett Smith reviews the most important considerations.

Dan Martindale discusses how engineers can keep up with ever-changing requirements around commercial heating, and why lives may depend upon it.

Replacing inefficient boilers, adding effective control and ensuring regular maintenance can transform the energy performance and comfort of a building, while protecting national energy security. Chris Meir examines at the role of condensing boilers in helping improve energy efficiency.

Chris Caton offers advice on getting the most out of your boiler, highlighting some common commissioning and operation issues that building services professionals should bear in mind for better long-term performance.

Mark Ferris considers the changing demands of floor standing boilers in modern commercial buildings, and outlines the key design considerations for specifiers.

With heating on the agenda, Chris Harvey considers the most popular form of heat delivery in homes – radiators. They have come a long way from simple designs, and now offer a wide range of choice for installers working with clients in the private and public sectors.

Good design is at the heart of good performance when it comes to district heating schemes. Alexandra Ivanchuk highlights the key points to bear in mind to get the most out of this form of heating.

Chris Davis highlights the importance of HIU performance and sizing for heat networks, and looks at standards for ensuring that specifiers and end users know what they’re getting.

Mike Hefford examines the benefits of using combined heat and power as the source for heat networks, and how they can be optimised for efficiency and sustainability.

Fourth generation heat networks have a key role to play in reducing fuel poverty in the UK,as well as cutting overall carbon emissions, says Katerina Nika

Mark Ferris, discusses the benefits of district heating systems and how to effectively incorporate CHP and HIUs to provide an affordable, environmental and diverse heat source.

Shaun Mansbridge explains how a West Midlands council used a district heating system to greatly improve comfort levels for its residents, while also bringing a number of other benefits.

Simon Woodward of the UK District Energy Association argues that, with support from government, district energy can play an important part in achieving the UK’s long-term energy, affordability and sustainability goals for heating homes and buildings.

Danny Packham says installers and end-users need to be aware of ErP.

Installing efficient heating equipment isn’t enough to achieve better energy use, says Ian McGregor. Designers and installers must consider the system as a whole including fluctuations in demand and then apply controls technology to minimise waste and ensure occupant comfort.

Paul Sands explains why district heating is becoming popular once more with the social housing sector, and what benefits it brings to the landlord and tenant.

Sentinel Commercial’s water treatment chemicals now have more than triple the power in protection of commercial heating systems, with each drum able to dose systems over three times larger. The new ‘Triple Power’ formulations of Sentinel X100 Inhibitor, X300 Cleaner (for new systems), and X400 Cleaner (for older systems) mean smaller or fewer drums are required for bigger jobs, a development which saves significant costs, waste and storage space, and makes for easier transportation, handling and dosing.