DRIVING DOWN HEATING COSTS FOR A GREENER SHOWROOM

Encompas Ltd

Encompas were involved for nearly two months in one of the largest underfloor heating and heat pump technology projects ever undertaken.

A vast new motor store, designed by Glasgow based Opfer Logan architects, was built for Arnold Clark near Stafford, with space inside and outside for some 900 cars.

The £15 million showroom covers an area of 4,600 square metres and the laying of underfloor piping for the purpose of both heating and cooling the showroom was one of the most important elements of the work. The underfloor piping - manufactured by an Italian company called Valsir – was laid onto special quality floor insulation. The piping’s layout design was governed entirely by what the client wanted to deliver into the building in terms of heating and cooling.

Outside the showroom on the 10 acre site, engineers drilled over 50 boreholes, each of them 100 metres deep. This was the first step on the way to harnessing energy from the earth for this large scale project.

The pipes are linked together through a brass manifold, manufactured by another Italian company, Pettinaroli. The manifold also serves as a control valve, allowing clients to switch zones on and off in the building. Semi-dry fibre screed, a mix of sand, cement and polypropylene fibres was laid by hand around and on top of the pipework.

In the end much of the work at Stafford may neither be seen or heard, but the people who pass through the showroom, to view the hundreds of cars on display, will most certainly feel the difference that Encompas has made.

BLOSSOMING RELATIONSHIP WARMS BEAMISH DEVELOPMENT FROM THE GROUND UP

Myson Underfloor

Myson, is helping to provide the warmth for a new development of residential lettings in County Durham.

The use of Myson Floortec’s underfloor heating (UFH) system in five barn conversions in Beamish is the result of the Gateshead-based firm being chosen as the preferred supplier for Newcastle firm, CA Heat Pumps.

When Charlie Aitken set up his firm in West Jesmond last year, he selected Myson Floortec UFH as the preferred product to complement his ground source heat pumps, which provide renewable energy.

CA Heat Pumps has just completed the installation of the bespoke Myson Floortec UFH systems to link up with the five heat pump installations installed in these converted out buildings.

Ground source heat pumps take the natural warmth from the ground and convert it into heat. At Beamish, 15 bore holes, each 65m deep, are being used to source the heat.

The work at Beamish follows other projects where CA Heat Pumps and Myson Floortec have teamed up, including a farm house in Longframlington, Northumberland, and a holiday home conversion in the Scottish Highlands.

www.myson.co.uk

A TOWERING SUCCESS

UponorLimited

Located in rural Cheshire, Lymm Water Tower shows what can be achieved if vision meets enthusiasm and passion.

This grade II listed building is far from an ordinary building project, and combines 19th century architecture with modern contemporary living. The end result is stunning! The lush green views of the surrounding countryside merge with 19th Century brickwork and the tranquil white architecture of the ground floor extension.

Inside the contemporary decor is heated by comforting warmth supplied by an underfloor heating system from Uponor Housing Solutions. The project has won many coveted design awards, and still continues to do so.

The contemporary style and the circular theme of the project meant that radiating heat by traditional means was going to be completely impractical. Uponor Housing Solutions Ltd stepped in to offer a complete plumbing solution supplying the property’s underfloor heating and domestic pipework. All the work was completed in the Uponor MLC piping range, with pipe sizes on the site varying from 12mm to 110mm. Both timber joists and screed floor applications were encountered on the project. The adaptability in this case allowed the pipes to be installed on joists 600mm apart, (where normally they are 400) still maintaining the 200mm space between pipe runs the system needed to be 100% effective.

Uponor’s MLC pipe is a form stable pipe, allowing flexibility in its application, but solidarity once the pipe is laid. The heat distribution from the system flows evenly throughout the property leaving no hot or cold spots just a comfortable all round temperature. The installation joints were managed with a neat and slim press fit system that not only allows a leak proof finish but also allows for pipe to be laid in tight spaces.

The inherent properties of Uponor MLC pipe means it is completely oxygen diffusion free making it also completely safe for drinking water purposes.

www.uponorhousing solutions.co.uk

UNDERFLOOR HEATING HELPS GARDEN CENTRE GROW

Robbens Underfloor

Robbens underfloor heating systems make perfect partners for open plan retail areas.

The large new retail hall at Ashton Hall Garden Centre on the outskirts of Lancaster is a perfect example of that partnership in action.

In its thirty-year history Ashton Hall has expanded considerably - just as the concept of the garden centre has grown into an integral feature of Britain's shopping life.

Since he took over twelve years ago, current owner Tony Abbit has seen a number of major changes.

" These days garden centre customers are looking for more than just plants and compost. Our new extension has been specially designed to meet their demand for hundreds of garden related items from furniture and barbeques to specialist books and clothing."

Beneath its distinctive twin domes the new retail hall at Ashton Garden Centre provides well over 500m2 of open plan shopping space. The building features extensive areas of glazing on a steel frame, giving high levels of natural lighting.

"A light, airy environment with easy access to all areas was a key requirement," says Tony Abbit. " Robbens underfloor heating not only met this need, but also ensured no hot or cold spots. It was a more practical solution to ensuring comfort for our browsing customers than warm air blowers or radiant panels."

A solid floor construction was used for the new retail area. During installation loops of Robbens multi-layer pipework were fixed in position above a layer of insulation material with the loop ends connected to four discreetly located manifolds. The manifolds are connected in turn by flow and return lines to the

oil-fired boiler, which is located in plant room adjacent to the retail hall

.

After pressure testing, a normal sand and cement screed was poured to integrate the heating system into the floor structure and provide a smooth, even surface for the wood laminate finish.

Heating the retail hall from the floor up rather than the ceiling down as with convector systems not only ensures much greater comfort for customers and staff, it also saves energy. By eliminating “stack effect” under the 8m high domes, running costs should be optimised.

www.underfloorheating.co.uk

DISCREET COMFORT FOR PENTHOUSE

EVENHEAT LIMITED

The discreet invisibility and efficiency of underfloor heating can warm new life into old buildings - equipping them for a changed role in the 21st Century.

Spire Court at Beckenham Kent is a fine example of this principle in action. Here a luxury penthouse with every modern comfort including Even-Heating underfloor heating has been created in what was once the roof space of an old church.

The conversion of the former United Reform Church into 12 apartments is an award-winning scheme by WDS Design Ltd.

In the 3000ft2 penthouse many of the architectural features of the old building are matched with the hi-tech essentials of today. The huge living area features carved wood buttresses and gothic window arches together with a built-in plasma TV and uplighters integrated into the floor alongside the Even-Heat system.

Even-Heat underfloor heating serves all areas of the penthouse, which features four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

A timber suspended floor construction was used in the refurbished building. The space between the joists was packed with insulation material before installation of the Even-Heat system. This comprised special aluminium heat diffusion plates with PE-X pipework mounted in two grooves at 200 mm centres.

Pipework loops were connected to the gas-fire condensing boiler, which serves the penthouse, via discreetly located manifolds.

A chipboard deck covers the Even-Heat diffusion plates and pipework to provide a suitable fixing surface for the final floor finish – carpet in most areas with ceramic tiles in the bathrooms and top quality vinyl in the kitchen.

When the system is in operation heat from the warm water flowing through the pipes is spread across the entire underside of the floors by the aluminium plates. Quick response and even surface temperatures are key advantages of the system.

www.even-heat.co.uk