Engineered solutions - for a perfect fit every time

Confined spaces, high racking, internal cranes – and a host of other impediments – can make energy management a headache when it comes to the heating system. Engineered solutions are the imaginative alternative. By Joe Kiernan of Reznor UK Ltd.

For some buildings, an off-the-shelf heating system simply won’t fit the bill. Take the church of St Giles in the Field, London, for example. Its 30-year old heating system was beyond repair and an alternative had to be found. But the new heating system couldn’t interfere with this ancient church’s historic fabric, had to use existing underfloor ductwork, needed to be quick and effective in heating up the nave for services, and operate at very low noise levels.

If that wasn’t enough, the heater also had to be sited in the vault beneath the main church – a room just over one metre high which could only be accessed by a short, narrow staircase.

No ordinary heater capable of heating a very large church could be shoe-horned into such a small space. But Reznor had the answer: a Europak PV 2095-20 gas-fired warm air heater, tailor-made to answer the specific requirements of this unusual application. It was also supplied in kit form for easy reassembly in the church basement.

The energy management requirements of the commercial and industrial H&V market are changing constantly. It is undoubtedly now true to say that specially engineered solutions are specified more often than ever before, as consultants and end-users demand perfection in return for their investment. There can be no half-measures – a heating system must work to the end-user’s satisfaction – for both comfort and energy management – no matter what difficulties the building layout presents to the system design.

A correctly designed, well-engineered solution, bespoke to the individual application, will always answer the heating needs of the building and its occupants. In an application where an engineered solution is called for, an off-the-shelf solution will often fall short of requirements, however good the quality of the heaters.

Modern heating installations demand more than just heating. The Climate Change Levy and Part L of Building Regulations require heating systems both to have lower impact on the environment and show reduced fuel consumption. They must optimise fuel efficiency and in some case provide both heating and ventilation or summer cooling.

Energy efficiency should never be compromised simply because the heating system design is unusual or outside the ranges of standard heater models. Investing in high efficiency heating equipment costs less in both capital and ongoing running costs, as well as being eligible for 100% Enhanced Capital Allowances up to one year from installation.

What are the benefits of an engineered solution?
Schemes can be tailored to include heaters complete with optional extras such as filters, modulating burners, dampers, discharge heads, frost protection coils, cooling coils, re-circulation fans and so on.

Additionally, a tailored solution will include the provision of other critical information – heat loss calculations, schematic drawings, flue design, the suitability of types of control equipment and the optimum positioning for the equipment – all of which can assist in the management of the energy consumption of the heating system.

The design of the system will take account of any constraints or obstacles imposed by the building, ensuring the correct layout for the installation.

Reznor engineered solutions also include effective partnership support for consulting engineers, ensuring the H&V requirements of the project are handled smoothly and efficiently. All routine queries about the heating installation can be handled with nominated contractors without having to refer to the consultants.

Heating for all applications
While most heating specifications are for straightforward comfort heating, some engineered solutions require heaters to be tailored for specific requirements. In the case of Thanet Fire Station, the heater was needed to recreate the intense heat of a fire, up to 38°C, for training purposes.

Two Reznor X1030D unit heaters with a total output of 55kW were installed in a room just 108m2 and with a roof height of only four metres. Each was mounted in a small cupboard connected to each other by ducting. A bifurcated fan capable of withstanding very high temperatures was fitted to ensure a constant feed of air into the required space.

While this is far from run-of-the-mill even by the standards of Reznor engineered solutions, it demonstrates the considerable flexibility and precision that a tailored heating solution can provide. All it requires is imagination and the application of Reznor experience and technical expertise.

www.reznor.co.uk