Watts Industries provides pipework solution for central plant in new school
Microflex pre-insulated and flexible piping from Watts Industries is part of a renewable-energy system circulating hot water from a central plant room to eight distribution points in the £35 million Gainsborough Education Village in Lincolnshire.
Hot water for heating and sanitary purposes is generated by a central biomass boiler and two ground-source heat pumps. Gas boilers top up the temperature when necessary.
Hot water is piped through 600 m of single- and twin-core Microflex to the above-ground distribution pipework supplying washrooms and heating systems throughout the school.
Microflex is a lightweight and easily installed piping system. It consists of PE-Xa carrier pipes surrounded by thermal insulation and encased in a double-skinned flexible, corrugated HDPE outer jacket.
Microflex Uno and Duo pipes were specified for the project by Mouchel and installed by Engineering Services (Humber) Ltd. Roy Kilner, project manager with ESHL, says, ‘It was our first project with Microflex, and we found it very quick and easy to install. It bends easily to go around corners or avoid underground obstacles. Connecting up is just as simple as conventional plumbing.’
Gainsborough Educational Village replaces four old secondary schools and brings 1200 mainstream pupils and up to 120 special-needs children under one roof. It received special funding for incorporating low-carbon technologies.
The biomass boiler is the main source of heating for much of the school, and the heat pumps supply more than 80% of the energy for underfloor heating in the special-needs unit.
