A renewables specialist in Suffolk has transformed the sustainability credentials of a spacious three-bedroom self-build property in Peasenhall by fitting a new air source heat pump with a host of manufacturer-led support along the way. The 2,600 sq ft self-build property, built by owners Jonathan and Emma Hayes, required a
As energy security continues to be a cause for concern for the UK, an industry report has identified the potential role of hot water cylinders in balancing demand on the electrical grid. The report from the Hot Water Association (HWA), entitled Connected Homes, explores the potential for hot water cylinders
Four Evomod 1000kW output boilers from Ideal Heating – Commercial Products have been installed at Beetham Tower in Manchester, which has the distinction of being one of the UK’s tallest buildings outside of London. The 47-storey building, which is home to the Hilton Hotel and private residential apartments, had been
Baxi’s Parent company BDR Thermea Group today announced the appointment of Tjarko Bouman as its new Chief Executive Officer. Bouman will join BDR Thermea Group from 1 February 2024 as successor to Bertrand Schmitt, who is stepping down, as announced earlier this week. Tjarko is currently CEO of NTS Group,
Fujitsu General Air Conditioning UK and wholesaler TF Solutions are celebrating a successful 10-year working partnership. From the launch of its first branch in Stockport in 2001, TF Solutions has grown to 15 branches and is one of the UK’s leading air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump wholesalers. Now part
With pressure for major construction projects growing across the UK, a new report is encouraging mechanical services contractors, specifiers and developers to accelerate the uptake and deployment of offsite construction techniques, particularly when it comes to building services. The UK is currently falling short of its annual target to build
A new £500,000 green energy centre in Merseyside has received the backing of Ideal Heating, as part of the company’s commitment to attract fresh talent into the heating industry. The Green Energy Skills Centre, at St Helens College, will enable heating engineers to learn the skills needed to install, commission
Metso is launching the upgraded Evaporative Cooling Tower, an efficient dry gas cleaning solution designed to cool down hot furnace off-gases by means of evaporation. The Evaporative Cooling Tower, which is normally followed by a hot electrostatic precipitator or a bag filter, cools the gas from about 600-700 °C to
Ideal Heating has received the green light to establish a new £12.5m research and development facility to support low carbon technologies including heat pumps. The company has been granted full planning permission for the UK Technology Centre its headquarters site in Hull. The R&D facility will create a testbed for
Underfloor heating specialists Gaia are designing, supplying and installing energy-efficient underfloor heating in over 250 houses within Taylor Wimpey’s new development in Barham, Suffolk. Taylor Wimpey is a national residential construction company, building more than 15,000 homes across the UK each year. Their new residential development – Churchfields – is
A renewables specialist in Suffolk has transformed the sustainability credentials of a spacious three-bedroom self-build property in Peasenhall by fitting a new air source heat pump with a host of manufacturer-led support along the way. The 2,600 sq ft self-build property, built by owners Jonathan and Emma Hayes, required a heating system capable of improving energy efficiency while also being suitable for the off-grid application. With curtailing the property’s environmental impact also an important requirement, Jonathan reached out to renewable heat specialist, Renew East who recommended Baxi’s HP40 Monobloc Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP). Like a third of the properties in Suffolk, the luxury self-build was off the mains gas grid, making it a prime candidate for a renewable heating system. Although an experienced heating engineer, Renew East Director Luke Nicholls Luke Nicholls welcomed the opportunity to benefit from Baxi’s full support services on his first installation of the new product that would maximise energy efficiency and carbon-saving capabilities. After carrying out complete heat loss calculations on the property, Luke recommended the 11kW Baxi HP40 Monobloc heat pump with a 250-litre hot water cylinder. This system feeds the underfloor heating, which will emit 11kw of heat even at temperatures as low as -5°C. The system control panel has a user-friendly interface which aided the commissioning process by allowing Luke and his team to view the performance of the outside unit from within the property. At the same time, the heat pump’s connection to Baxi’s uSense smart room thermostat ensures Jonathan and Emma have complete control over the temperature in their home. The Baxi monobloc design also aided in the smooth installation process as many of the standard components such as the mims controller, circulation pump and expansion vessel are housed in the main outdoor unit. This saves vital space inside the house for the homeowner and makes installation quicker and more straightforward. As part of the company’s support for its heating engineers, Renew East was able to access Baxi’s full heat pump services and expertise both before and during the project in the run-up to its installation. To familiarise themselves with Baxi solutions, the team was encouraged to attend hands-on heat pump training, covering design and application as well as the practical elements of the installation and commissioning of the system. Once the installation was complete, they were also able to benefit from commissioning supervision offered by Baxi’s expert heat pump engineers, who could ensure the solution was able to deliver its intended design performance prior to handover to the homeowners. Luke said: “We really enjoyed working on this installation and it has been very easy compared to most. The Baxi’s Monobloc design is a great option when there is limited space in the home and it was very quickly and easily installed. The intuitive, user-friendly controls also mean the customer has complete control over their new system now the property is handed over. “The top-notch extra support Baxi has given has also helped the project to run like clockwork. Often with other manufacturers there’s no return of an email, but every single one of my questions has been answered within just a few hours. “The training that they provided, even as an experienced air source heat pump engineer, was great and I would recommend it to anyone looking to get into installing the technology. The tutors really knew their stuff so we felt really comfortable with the design solution before the kit even arrived on site. The supervised commissioning support was something I had never experienced before with any other manufacturer, so I didn’t know what to expect, but having the engineer physically with me on site was really helpful. They know the product inside out, so it just made the whole process straightforward. “Overall, working with Baxi has been really easy from start to finish, from the training to the design of the system, to the commissioning. It couldn’t have run much smoother to be honest.” Harriet Evans, Renewables Director at Baxi, said: “Baxi has a wealth of knowledge on heating applications, a full suite of heat pump training courses, a range of product solutions and a nationwide network of commissioning engineers to offer that additional site support when required. We want to get installers comfortable using heat pumps – from initial design and application to installation guidance, commissioning and supervision support – and by being there throughout the journey, we can make sure every system delivers on efficiency and comfort.” “We expect to see a surge in demand for residential installations and engineers who come on the journey with Baxi will be able to fully support the homeowners who are taking up the technology. The time is now for engineers to start getting comfortable with heat pumps.” For more information on Baxi’s suite of ASHP training and to find out more about their ASHP products and services, click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
As energy security continues to be a cause for concern for the UK, an industry report has identified the potential role of hot water cylinders in balancing demand on the electrical grid. The report from the Hot Water Association (HWA), entitled Connected Homes, explores the potential for hot water cylinders to be used as thermal stores for grid electricity to build resilience in peak periods. If the nine million cylinders in UK homes were connected through smart controls and used as batteries, the National Grid could unlock 23GWh of energy storage – around half the energy used per day in the UK. Due to the introduction of technologies, like heat pumps, which require hot water cylinders, this number could increase by 36%, increasing the energy capacity to 40GWh. To make use of this energy storage potential, cylinders will need smart functionalities introduced either via retrofitting smart controls or brand-new smart cylinders will need to be installed with gas boilers or heat pumps. Heating engineers will be key in the process of making this a reality, as Kevin Lowe, Technical Manager at the HWA, said: “Hot water cylinders’ potential role in the energy mix is substantial and there is work to be done to make the most of this opportunity. Installers across the UK installing and maintaining cylinders in homes can play a crucial part in this, as our report highlights, by making existing and new cylinders connected.” The report from the HWA also highlights the need for policy direction to incentivise the rollout of connected thermal storage in UK homes for homeowners. This is particularly needed to prevent people from changing their hot water system to remove the cylinder completely so the number of cylinders in the UK can increase to build capacity. In addition to incentives to drive more people to install smart cylinders and retrofit controls to existing cylinders, the report lays out next steps for improving uptake. This includes making smart controls and cylinders more beneficial to SAP and EPC ratings in new builds and reducing taxes and levies on off peak electricity to bring more value out of storing energy in a cylinder. Kevin continues: “The key to making this project a reality will be getting homeowners on side, so policy direction must incentivise adopting smart hot water storage. Whether installing a cylinder with a new heat pump installation, or fitting controls to an existing one, homeowners may require financial support to make it worth their while. They will also need to understand the benefits that thermal storage in their home may provide and in turn prevent them removing an existing hot water cylinder. “If we are to get the up to 40GWh of energy storage that our research predicts could be achievable in the UK, industry, Government and installers must work together to help homeowners understand these benefits.” To download the report and find out more about your role in the rollout of thermal storage in the UK, click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Four Evomod 1000kW output boilers from Ideal Heating – Commercial Products have been installed at Beetham Tower in Manchester, which has the distinction of being one of the UK’s tallest buildings outside of London. The 47-storey building, which is home to the Hilton Hotel and private residential apartments, had been heated by four gas fired atmospheric steel one piece boilers, with a total heat output of 4800kW, since its inception in 2006. With the boilers coming towards the end of their working lives, and with the building owners looking to improve energy efficiency, the decision was made to replace them rather than attempt ongoing repairs. Manchester based mechanical and electrical contractor Atmostherm, a long standing Ideal Heating – Commercial Products customer, chose Evomod boilers for this site, based on Evomod’s small footprint and modular nature which made locating and installation easier than expected in the small plant room which had restricted access. Available in 250, 500, 750 and 1000kW outputs, the Evomod will achieve an output up to 1MW from a single unit solution together with a minimum footprint that enables the product to be installed where space is limited. Each module provides a maximum of 250kW heat output and will modulate down through a sophisticated control system. At Beetham Tower, four Evomod 1000kW output boilers have been installed by Atmostherm with Plate Heat Exchangers to achieve the appropriate pressure on the output in order to pump the hot water across the entire building. Atmostherm took advantage of Ideal Heating’s free commissioning service on this project, which has been designed to save installers time and money, plus ensures the appliance is correctly commissioned and operating. Ideal Heating is the only manufacturer to offer a free of charge commissioning service and has done since its launch in 2018. The level of service and technical backup supplied by Ideal Heating were important to Atmostherm as Project Director Andy Payne comments: “The service from Ideal Heating has been brilliant from beginning to end. The team were available to come to site for visits when required and the commissioning process went very smoothly. They were also on hand to help us when it came to deciding to use the plate heat exchanger to achieve our desired output.” The newly installed Evomod boilers are now fully operational and are being used to carry out the heating across the entire building, including the residential apartments, and the Hilton Hotel and its health and fitness facilities. Ideal Heating delivers commercial heating solutions that are at the forefront of technology and developed in line with the latest market trends and legislation. For more information visit: https://idealcommercialboilers.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Baxi’s Parent company BDR Thermea Group today announced the appointment of Tjarko Bouman as its new Chief Executive Officer. Bouman will join BDR Thermea Group from 1 February 2024 as successor to Bertrand Schmitt, who is stepping down, as announced earlier this week. Tjarko is currently CEO of NTS Group, a global company which develops, produces, assembles and tests complex (opto) mechatronic systems and mechanical modules for high-tech OEMs in semiconductor, analytical and healthcare markets. During his tenure, he has rolled out a refined new global strategy, which resulted in record years for turnover and profitability in 2021 and 2022, and a place in the global top 3 of the semiconductor and analytical market niche in which NTS Group is active. Prior to NTS, Tjarko spent nine years at Vanderlande Industries working as Managing Director responsible for the operating company delivering automated material handling solutions in Europe (excluding DACH) and Asia Pacific to main markets of the food retail, e-commerce, fashion and parcel industries. Before that, he was responsible for global services development at Vanderlande including the spare parts business, global services desk and services expertise centre. Marc de Jong, Chair of the BDR Thermea Supervisory Board, says: “Tjarko brings to his new role as BDR Thermea CEO more than 20 years’ experience in business development, operations and supply chain, both in consulting and management, and a track record of combining innovation and growth with a clear customer focus. Tjarko is skilled in business transformation, as well as having digital skills in developing customer value-propositions.” Tjarko Bouman says: “I’m looking forward to joining BDR Thermea Group, building on Bertrand’s legacy, bringing my own experience and skills to the company, and cooperating with the teams across the globe as BDR Thermea moves forward to further strengthen its position in the energy transition.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Fujitsu General Air Conditioning UK and wholesaler TF Solutions are celebrating a successful 10-year working partnership. From the launch of its first branch in Stockport in 2001, TF Solutions has grown to 15 branches and is one of the UK’s leading air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump wholesalers. Now part of the Travis Perkins Group, the company has been selling Fujitsu equipment for the last decade. Sales and Business Development Director Andy Cherrill said: “It’s important in a partnership that you are working with a great business, great products and great people. With Fujitsu we are lucky to have all three and those are the reasons we have reached our 10-year milestone with them. I’m looking forward to an exciting future, collaborating together for success.” Ian Carroll, Chief Operating Officer at Fujitsu, said: “Congratulations to Andy and all the team at TF Solutions. This 10-year anniversary is a testament to the strength of our partnership. Their confidence in our products and services has helped us grow as a business. We are honoured to be part of this success story and look forward to building on that in the future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With pressure for major construction projects growing across the UK, a new report is encouraging mechanical services contractors, specifiers and developers to accelerate the uptake and deployment of offsite construction techniques, particularly when it comes to building services. The UK is currently falling short of its annual target to build 300,000 new homes in England[1], while 90% of student accommodation rooms for the 2023/24 academic year had already been sold by April 2023[2]. With a 17% increase in hotel construction projects also reported over 2024[3], pressure is on the construction sector to build faster as confidence in city centre building continues to rise.[4] REHAU’s new report, Offsite Trends in Building Services explores how modern methods of construction (MMC) can help tackle this issue. Underlining a skills shortage of 937,000 construction industry vacancies by 2032, it looks specifically at how to implement mechanical service installation into offsite projects to make builds easier and faster.[5] Steve Richmond, Head of Marketing and Technical, REHAU Building Solutions, said: “Building at pace within tight footprints and using traditional methods is undoubtedly difficult, necessitating new approaches such as MMC. This new report details what is possible and how different offsite methods suit specific projects and help provide simpler, faster and high-quality builds for contractors, all within a factory-controlled environment.” With high-rise construction increasingly necessary in high-density urban areas, REHAU’s guide highlights how the company can help with the challenge of building at height in smaller spaces. At the same time, it uncovers obstacles that contractors, specifiers and developers must overcome when using offsite construction methods to ensure quality work. The guide includes information on key components that can be assembled at the factory and transported and assembled onsite for a high-quality build. This includes modular shafts, pre-wall constructions, bathroom pods and polymer risers, as well as relatively new technologies such as thermally activated building structures (TABS), which can provide both heating and cooling. “There have already been many exciting innovations across the globe to further improve offsite construction methods that we have included within this new guide,” Steve concludes. “Like all fields, MMC is continually developing, and the hope is that through this whitepaper, readers can find out more about these innovative methods and solutions, and best put MMC techniques into practice to meet market demand.” To download REHAU’s report, ‘Offsite Trends for Building Services’, CLICK HERE. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new £500,000 green energy centre in Merseyside has received the backing of Ideal Heating, as part of the company’s commitment to attract fresh talent into the heating industry. The Green Energy Skills Centre, at St Helens College, will enable heating engineers to learn the skills needed to install, commission and service air source heat pumps. It will also provide a showpiece learning environment for students at the college, supporting a broader focus on green skills and energy. As an Employer Partner, Ideal Heating has equipped the facility with a range of its market-leading products, including its Logic Air heat pump and hot water cylinder, helping installers gain experience and confidence at working with these heating solutions. It forms part of commitment from Ideal Heating to support installers in the transition to low carbon heating solutions, such as heat pumps, as well as to help to attract young people into the industry. Lewis Litherland, a Renewable Energy Lecturer at St Helens College, worked as an engineer for British Gas before making the switch into education. He said: “I’m very passionate about creating a centre like this in St Helens, as I’ve come from a similar economic background to many of our students, and I’ve been fortunate to have fallen into an industry that has provided me with great opportunities. “So, if I can play a part in providing this for more young people in a similar position, it would be a great personal achievement for me.” The Green Energy Skills Centre has been launched to meet a growing demand for skilled and qualified workers for renewable energy industries to support the drive to a net zero economy. Decarbonising homes is crucial to meet the UK Government’s 2050 net zero target but, despite this, there remains a major shortage of skilled low carbon heating engineers. Working with partners such as St Helens College, Ideal Heating is helping re-train thousands of installers to fit and maintain heat pumps. Andrew Johnson, Training Director for Ideal Heating’s parent company Groupe Atlantic, said: “To tackle the skills gap which exists in the heating industry effectively, we need a two-pronged approach. “The way we heat our homes is changing and it’s so important that existing installers learn the skills required to work with heat pumps and other low carbon solutions. “We also need to focus on attracting more young talent into the industry. They are our installers of the future and, without them, we simply won’t succeed in this low carbon transition.” The Green Energy Skills Centre is now up and running, offering a range of BPEC-accredited training courses for heat pumps. Ideal Heating’s own Expert Academy training arm is re-skilling thousands of installers to become low carbon engineers. Ideal Heating opened its National Training and Technology Centre in East Yorkshire earlier this year, as the centrepiece of the company’s UK-wide training operations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Metso is launching the upgraded Evaporative Cooling Tower, an efficient dry gas cleaning solution designed to cool down hot furnace off-gases by means of evaporation. The Evaporative Cooling Tower, which is normally followed by a hot electrostatic precipitator or a bag filter, cools the gas from about 600-700 °C to about 200-350 °C. The tower operates dry, meaning that all water added is evaporated. The small droplets in the tower evaporate rapidly, which reduces the retention time and length needed to ensure complete evaporation. “We are excited to introduce the enhanced Metso Evaporative Cooling Tower. Its unique design enables efficient and even cooling. We have many decades of experience with cooling towers, and we have now improved both the design and the process control. The advanced model-based automatic control, for instance, allows for accurate control of cooling during startup and varying process conditions; this is important for protecting both the tower and the downstream equipment,” explains Leif Skilling, Director, Gas Cleaning at Metso. Benefits of the Metso Evaporative Cooling Tower Metso has 60 years of experience with evaporative cooling towers and about 30 units sold. This extensive knowledge is incorporated in the new version of the Metso Evaporative Cooling Tower. The Evaporative Cooling Tower can treat gases from any type of metallurgical furnace. It has commonly been used for example with Peirce Smith converters and anode furnaces. In addition to the furnaces, Metso can also supply excellent hood systems for the gas uptake, where, e.g., the converter hood system provides adjustable dilution air intake, giving the operator control of both gas composition and temperature. More information about the Evaporative Cooling Tower is available on our website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ideal Heating has received the green light to establish a new £12.5m research and development facility to support low carbon technologies including heat pumps. The company has been granted full planning permission for the UK Technology Centre its headquarters site in Hull. The R&D facility will create a testbed for product development and advancements in the heating solutions to help decarbonise UK homes and business premises. The state-of-the-art facility will also see the UK market leader expand its R&D team. The facility represents a significant investment from Ideal Heating and will play key role in the company’s transition to low carbon heating solutions, including heat pumps. Pre-construction work on the site of the UK Technology Centre is expected to begin by the end of this year, with the main part of the facility due to be completed by the end of 2024. The R&D centre is set to be operational in 2025. Ideal Heating Engineering Director Helen Villamuera said: “Our UK Technology Centre is part of a major £60m investment we’re making in our Hull site, to support heat pump manufacturing, distribution and innovation in heating technologies. “From the outset, Hull City Council has been fully supportive of our plans, which will create highly skilled jobs and expand our existing R&D capabilities at our site in Hull. “We’re delighted to have secured full planning permission for the UK Technology Centre. We will now begin a competitive tender process to appoint a contractor to deliver this project.” The two-storey building, with an additional partial storey to accommodate plant rooms for the centre, will help to develop and refine the low carbon heating technologies, including heat pumps, needed to decarbonise UK’s 25 million homes. The Government has set ambitious targets for head pump deployment, including for 600,000 heat pumps to be installed in domestic properties annually by 2028. The UK Technology Centre will provide a purpose-designed new home for Ideal Heating’s expert R&D team, which has an increasing range of engineering roles related to design, development, electronics, simulation and product testing disciplines. Laboratory facilities within the 38,000 sq ft (3,500 sq m) building will enable Ideal Heating’s R&D team to simulate a range of scenarios and conditions to test new innovations and advancements. The centre will also house environmental chambers, a heat pump testing area, workshop spaces and a training room. In designing the building, Ideal Heating has practiced what it preaches. The R&D facility features roof-mounted solar panels to generate renewable electricity for the building, with air source heat pumps serving the mechanical heating system. LED lighting and controls will help reduce energy consumption within the building and high-performance building fabrics will reduce heat loss. The R&D facility is one of a series of major investments at Ideal Heating’s Hull site. Construction work has been completed on a heat pump production facility and expanded distribution centre, totalling £20m of investment. Ideal Heating also announced recently it had started producing its new monobloc heat pump, Logic Air, in Hull as the company supports the rollout of renewable heating products. Ideal Heating has also opened a £2.2m National Training and Technology Centre in Hessle, on the outskirts of Hull, with capacity for up to 5,000 installers every year to learn the skills needed to supply and maintain heat pumps. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Underfloor heating specialists Gaia are designing, supplying and installing energy-efficient underfloor heating in over 250 houses within Taylor Wimpey’s new development in Barham, Suffolk. Taylor Wimpey is a national residential construction company, building more than 15,000 homes across the UK each year. Their new residential development – Churchfields – is located in the Suffolk village of Barham and will provide 257 homes. Suffolk-based underfloor heating experts Gaia are delivering wet underfloor heating systems for the new-build homes, after Taylor Wimpey opted to fit low-carbon and future-proof heating solutions in the development. “Gaia HQ is local to the Churchfields site, so once we heard Taylor Wimpey were looking for low-carbon heating, we approached their team to provide a full design and quotation. Not only are our wet underfloor heating systems low-carbon, but they’re future-proof too – which is ideal for meeting new regulations!” says Steven Rooney, Director at Gaia Underfloor Heating. The new regulations implemented by the UK government mean that carbon intensive gas boilers will soon be unsuitable for future homes and should be replaced with low-carbon alternatives. To adhere to the new legislation, Taylor Wimpey have chosen air source heat pumps which are known as the ideal pairing for wet underfloor heating – to create a low-carbon heating system. When used together, underfloor heating and heat pumps can be 40% more efficient than a gas boiler and radiator system. Plus, underfloor heating runs at a lower temperature than radiators, so consumes significantly less energy for the same warmth. “The energy efficiency of combining underfloor heating with heat pumps is a significant benefit for the future residents of the Churchfields development. It’s more cost-effective and produces a more comfortable, even warmth too” adds Steven. Gaia are delivering the design, supply and installation of wet underfloor heating systems on the ground floor of the residential units, as well as their expert guidance from the concept stage through to delivery and aftercare. “We have extensive experience working with housing developments across the UK and are proud to be providing underfloor heating for this project. It’s great to work with another significant national developer like Taylor Wimpey and we’re looking forward to seeing the completed site” concludes Steven. The Churchfields development features two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes which are surrounded by green open space and convenient amenities. Construction began in September 2023 and is due to be completed in 2028. Gaia specialise in the design, supply and installation of underfloor heating for residential, commercial and industrial projects across the UK and Ireland. Trusted by architects, contractors, M&E consultants, builders and developers, they have worked with some of the UK’s leading housing developers.For more information about Gaia, visit www.gaia.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
