Rinnai continuous-flow water heaters net Padel Nation project
Rinnai is providing the hot-water solution for the flagship Birmingham Padel tennis centre of Padel Nation. Padel tennis is the second most popular game in Spain after football, with 150 000 courts and three million registered players. There are now 20 courts in the UK. The centre hosted the British Masters Padel Open Tournament in December 2014.
Guy Heathcote, shareholder and manager at Padel Nation, explains how he came to choose a Rinnai system:’ We opened in late September in an empty building with only a small existing boiler that was completely unsuitable for the new changing facilities.
‘Just as important at getting the courts installed was an efficient system to provide hot water for the showers and washrooms, as well as a small kitchen and cafe area.’
His objectives were continuous hot water whatever the time of day and demand and not having to store hot water, which would have been costly and wasteful when the centre was not busy and which might not have been able to cope at peak times.
Having heard good reports about Rinnai, he talked to two representatives ‘who were very good about supplying technical information in advance of the decision and provided us with support throughout the installation’.
The decision was made to install an Infinity 1500i heater on secondary return. Guy Heathcote put the system through its paces before the tournament, at which 50 pairs were expected, by turning all the outlets at once. He says, ‘The water heater coped with no problem.’
Padel tennis is played with a short-handled bat and is apparently very quick to pick up. Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal play it as part of their training regime to sharpen up reactions.
