Radiant-heating systems using water as the heat-transfer medium make efficient use of energy and space in building. Malcolm Stamper takes up the story.

Traditional-style radiators are well suited to the lower water temperatures associated with heat sources such as condensing boilers and heat pumps, says John Colling.

Sports halls in educational establishments are multi-functional spaces and need a heating system that can respond accordingly. Nick Winton explains why radiant heating is so far ahead of the competition.

Efficient heating for a refurbished Grade A listed building on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile is provided by boilers and a pressurisation unit from MHS Boilers. The Hub, Edinburgh’s Festival Centre is now served by three ADI-NOx LT 150 kW boilers and a Pisces pressurisation unit.

Buderus has launched a CHP system to provide a low-cost supply of hot water and electricity. The range provides electrical outputs from 19 to 240 kW and heat from 34 to 374 kW. Up to five units can be cascaded to provide up to 1200 kW of electrical output. The company offers a free feasibility study to asses a site’s suitability and ensure that a system is correctly sized.

The Girona glass-fronted panel heater from Dimplex comes with a choice of black or white glass and a smooth finish. These electric heaters are BEAB certified and constructed from toughened chamfered safety glass. There are five outputs from 0.5 to 2 kW with a highly accurate digital thermostat to keep room temperature steady to ±0.3 K. Air circulation around the room is faster and more effective than traditional front-grille panel heaters.

Wood Energy’s biomass Green Heat module is designed to be easily retrofitted into large commercial and public-sector buildings. These modules provide a robust, pre-fabricated design that can be retrofitted as a standalone heat-delivery unit using wood pellets. They can operate alongside boilers using fossil fuels.

MHS Boilers has expanded its breakdown cover to seven days a week. The service is automatically available to customers with an MHS Boilers contract or extended warranty with breakdown cover. Richard Layzell, service-office manager, says, ‘When issues arise with a heating system, especially over the weekend when some buildings are at their busiest, it can be a real headache for facility managers. We hope that having an engineer available any day of the week can help prevent costly downtime and also make our customers’ lives a little easier.’

With the market for standalone circulators in Europe due to change form 1 January 2013, Grundfos is already prepared with appropriate pumps. From that date the EU Directive on Energy Using Products will set new requirements for energy efficiency in domestic and light-commercial circulator pumps.

Zehnder’s Carboline range of radiant-heating panels is based on a construction that is said to make them considerably more efficient than other panels. These panels are served by hot water and can exchange up to 95% of the heat from the water, compared with a claimed 80 to 84% for a standard panel. They can also be used for cooling with similar heat-exchange efficiency.

Mike Lamb argues the benefits of a method of heating that is naturally more efficient than those based on heating the air in a space.

A closed-loop ground-source gas-fired absorption heat-pump system is providing low-carbon heat to The Open University in Milton Keynes. The heat pumps were supplied by Ener-G, which claims this is the largest such installation in the UK, with a total heat output of 140 kW to serve the 2000 m2 Building 12 new-build development that forms part of the Walton Hall campus. The building is targeting a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating.

Ideal Commercial’s Evomax range of wall-hung boilers is now on the Energy Technology List, so it qualifies for Enhanced Capital Allowances. These boilers have seasonal efficiencies of up to 97.2% and can modulate down to 20% of full output. NOx emissions over the entire output range are less than 40 mg/kWh, so the boilers qualify for maximum BREEAM points.

CA Group’s SolarWall installation for the new distribution centre of Marks & Spencer at Castle Donington has been shortlisted for the Commercial Renewables Project of the Year. This 4500 m2 transpired solar collector is expected to reduce the heating requirement of this 80 000 m2 building by around 40% and the overall energy requirement by about 30%.

Jeff House considers the role of prefabricated boiler systems in the low- and zero-carbon technological environment to meet space-heating requirements.

A heating system that is not specifically designed for the characteristics and requirements of the building is unlikely to be effective and efficient. Frank Staniland explores the issues involved and some solutions.

A saving of about £300 per home in the cost of installing heating system in new homes in Doncaster has been achieved using Polypipe plastic plumbing systems instead of copper. The systems were used in homes built by St Leger Homes, which manages homes for Doncaster Council.

Glow-Worm’s Clearly Hybrid system combines an air-source heat pump and high-efficiency boiler with a control system that chooses which heat source is the most cost-effective based on heating requirements, energy tariff and outside temperature. The system can be installed in new and existing post-1970s homes.

The first installations of Sanyo’s recently launched R410A heat-pump split provide heat for two new homes in Oxted, Surrey. These air-to-water systems have been installed in two architect-designed homes overlooking rolling country side. The systems have an output of 15.4 kW and serve underfloor heating, radiators and DHW.

Potterton Commercial’s Eurocondense Three range of floor-standing condensing boilers represents a complete transformation of its trusted Eurocondense range. The various changes improve efficiency, siting options and ease of installation. There are five outputs from 125 to 300 kW. Up to 15 boilers can be connected in line or back to back to give a maximum output of up to 4.5 MW.

Correctly installed air curtains can save huge amounts of energy — and waste even more if they are badly installed — says Phil Chilton. With the latest Building Regulations putting energy-saving technology high on the agenda, air curtains fit the bill perfectly.

The dining hall at St Anthony’s College at the University of Oxford is once again a comfortable place to eat and use for other functions following the installation of a new heating system and air curtains across doorways. The installation was designed by Dimplex as an alternative to the original idea of two freestanding units from the Electricaire range. It quickly raises room temperature to comfortable levels and retains warmth for the duration of the hall’s use.

Glow-worm has added a 5 kW air-to-water heat pump to its Clearly Heat Pumps range. These units have an electric back-up heater and are designed for new-build homes with low energy requirement and can contribute to achieving Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. They are accredited under the MCS (Micro­generation Certification Scheme) and therefore eligible for possible funding under the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive. These units achieve a COP of 3.79 with an ambient temperature of 7°C and water temperature of 35°C.

Pippa Wibberley describes an integrated approach to community heating using heat pumps — a solution that can be retrofitted.

The new general-stores warehouse at Chevron’s Pembroke refinery is heated using Zehnder ZBN radiant panels. Paul Bullock, mechanical design engineer with Bullock Consulting, says, ‘With a ceiling heating of 9 m, radiant technology was the obvious choice. Radiant heating’s ability to provide a uniform distribution of heat in large space whilst also achieving energy savings of up to 40% in comparison to other systems made it the most economical and energy-efficient solution.’

Baxi Commercial Division has donated two condensing boilers for the recent redevelopment of St George’s Crypt, one of the UK’s foremost homeless charities. A £1.5 million redevelopment at the organisation’s main site at Great George Street in Leeds has seen the refurbishment of existing facilities and an extension. The new facilities include individual bedrooms, reception area, modern training rooms for personal and life skills, residents’ lounge and an expanded and refurbished restaurant with a new kitchen.

A stately home in Herefordshire has eliminated fuel costs following the installation of a wood-chip system to replace oil. Whitfield House can fuel the two 65 kW boilers supplied by Euroheat from wood chips derived from trees felled on the estate and dried and chipped on site. The annual oil bill was previously £25 000. The entire installation cost about £200 000, which should be paid back in about eight years — less if the Renewable Heat Incentive comes into effect.

Smith’s Environmental Products has extended its Ecovector range of fan convector heaters with two new models — the HL (high level) and VE (vertical). These units are aimed at the domestic, social-housing and light-commercial markets and have all the features of the existing Ecovector range. They replace the existing Sterling, Sentry and Sentinel models.

Justin Mc Inerney shares his enthusiasm for the many benefits of underfloor heating — enthusiasm bases on 20 years of experience.

The lower flow temperatures associated with heating systems using renewable energy are not incompatible with radiators, as Chris Harvey explains.

Dimplex’s Lab M range of air-source heat pumps for space heating is now registered under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). The MCS is the key to accessing Government grant funding under low-carbon initiatives. The Lab M range is now eligible for funding under the CERT (Carbon Emissions Reduction Target) scheme. Certification is also likely to be a required of the Renewable Heat Incentive, which is proposed to come into effect from April 2011.

It’s now more important than ever to ensure that space heating systems are tailored to reflect the characteristics of individual buildings and the activities within them. Ant Wilson of AECOM explains

With increased pressure being placed on businesses to meet Government energy-efficiency targets, many companies are readdressing their heating needs. Graham Williamson, business director of commercial heating at Ideal Boilers, discusses the impact these legislative demands are having on the commercial heating market and advises how both the industry and businesses can prepare themselves.

Radiant ceiling panels have been supplied by Zehnder to heat the redeveloped Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset. The £16 million 5000 m2 extension houses a new display hall, reception, gift shop, visitor facilities and restaurant. This museum holds the finest and most historically significant collection of tanks in the world.

Lochinvar has supplied new gas-fired high-efficiency boilers to provide heating for Oxford University’s Keble College. The two EcoKnight EKB145 boilers are in the basement plant room of the main college building and provide space heating for the library, main dining hall and the fellows’ dining rooms. They were specified by SI Integrated Services & Design of Oxford.

With cleaner electricity generation on the way, electric space heating has a positive and secure future, especially as electric heating products are highly compatible with renewable technologies. Robin Wood argues the case.

Creda’s Eco-Response intelligent electric heating technology has been developed to help meet the requirements of Part L of the 2006 Building Regulations and give enhanced SAP scores. It is an integrated storage, direct-acting heating system with simple, yet sophisticated one-touch electronic controls. It is said to provide a good solution for housing associations and builders.

The need to achieve higher efficiencies for heating systems is driving a move towards lower flow and return temperatures in wet systems. David Shuttleworth explores the implications for heat emitters.

One of the key futures boosting the carbon-saving credentials of the Sainsbury’s supermarkets in Dartmouth and Alnwick are the 450 kW biomass boilers supplied by Remeha. They are the main source of renewable energy in these stores and use wood pellets made from forested trees.

Raychem electric underfloor heating has been installed to an extension to a large residential property in Suffolk. The extension comprised a garden room with glazed frontage, gym and shower facility. The work was carried out by Spectrum Electrical of Sudbury, a Raychem CertifiedPRO installer who was authorised to provide the customer with the manufacturer’s ex­tended 20-year total care warranty.

A church in Ireland is said to be effectively heated for the first time in its 300-year history following the installation of a Potterton Paramount two 80 kW condensing boiler and 22 low-surface-temperature radiators. Doolin Plumbing & Heating installed the system in St Coman’s Church of Ireland in Roscommon.

Smith’s Environmental Products reports that its online guide to installing its Space Saver fan-convector unit has become its most downloaded document. The 12 months from August 2008 to July 2009 saw 39 400 downloads of the Space Saver installation guide, along with 1956 users accessing the PDF online.