Comprehensive heating from Potterton Commercial

01/06/2012

Baxi Commercial Division has supplied new Potterton Commercial gas-fired condensing boilers and Andrews Water Heaters products for a refurbishment project at Range High School, Formby in Merseyside. This is a co-educational comprehensive school with specialist status in mathematics and computing which provides secondary education for around 1300 pupils, 250 of whom are sixth form students. Such a large school has significant heating and hot water demands and, in order to reduce both carbon footprint and fuel costs, the school has switched from an oil-fired to a gas-fired system.

The existing pressure jet boilers and calorifiers have been replaced by new Baxi Commercial Division gas-fired equipment which provides the whole school with energy efficient space heating and domestic hot water.

The system was designed by Capita Symonds on behalf of Sefton Council. Existing space and water heating equipment has been replaced by four Potterton Commercial Eurocondense three 300kW floor-standing, condensing boilers and two Andrews HIflo 81/264 gas-fired storage water heaters. The latter each have a capacity of 368 litres, heat input of 80kW and a recovery rate of 959 litres per hour through a temperature rise of 56oC. The new boilers serve existing radiators and air handling units whilst the storage water heaters supply domestic hot water to wash hand basins, showers, laboratories and kitchens throughout the school.

Capita Symonds' design engineer commented: "In selecting this equipment, we looked at various products from numerous manufacturers. Our final decision was based on quality, efficiency, costing, value for money, maintainability, flexibility of control and physical sizes of the boilers.

We have used Potterton Commercial and Andrews products on various projects over the years and we particularly appreciate the very proactive product selection advice and after sales service provided by Baxi Commercial Division staff. 

We have used Potterton Commercial and Andrews products on various projects over the years and we particularly appreciate the very proactive product selection advice and after sales service provided by Baxi Commercial Division staff. We anticipate that the school's fuel bill will be reduced by approximately £7,500 per annum after installation of the new plant and carbon footprint will be reduced due to its higher efficiency. Both Capita and the school are very pleased with the equipment and we will continue to use Potterton Commercial and Andrews products on future projects." During the summer of 2010, the existing oil-fired boilers, plate heat exchanger and calorifiers were removed from the plantroom and the new equipment was installed.

The Eurocondense three boilers are located in a bank of four, side by side, in the existing stand alone boilerhouse, with individual flues through the flat roof and pipework runs through a service duct to the school. The HIflos office. The installation was carried out by based James Mercer Group.

Potterton's latest floor standing condensing gas boiler, Eurocondense three, offers a range of upgraded features, including a smaller foot print, improved modulation range and reduced operating noise levels. Using the very latest heating technology, this new boiler incorporates a heat exchanger made from aluminium/silicon with a 10 year warranty and a combustion system which delivers exceptional energy efficiency as well as advanced ultra low NOx performance of 35mg/kWh (Class 5). The Integrated System Regulator (ISR) control system developed in conjunction with Siemens can be used with simple room thermostats or fully integrated Building Energy Management Systems using a volt free connection.

Andrews Water Heaters HIflo direct fired storage water heaters are ideal for use in schools and other large commercial applications where there is a constant demand for hot water or where demand peaks at specific times. Their fast recovery rates guarantee hot water whenever required and an inbuilt high temperature programme eliminates the conditions that allow legionella to be present. Their tank design also precludes legionella colonisation, even with a build-up of debris, as water at the bottom of the tank reaches at least the same temperature as the rest of the heater.