Decarbonisation of the existing heating system to the Chapel
Francis Close Hall has been training teachers since 1847. The historic grade II listed Chapel, constructed in the early 1900’s for St Paul’s College, is an impressive space used for music, art, prayer and worship, weekly World Café and Weddings. The Chapel was previously heated by gas boiler located in the basement area below the adjacent Teaching Centre. The heat emitters within the Chapel are a combination of cast iron radiators and uninsulated large bore distribution pipework in a U-shaped service duct below the Chapel.
3D special design co-ordination of the small plant room to ensure proposed equipment would fit with maintenance access.
Key design issues resolved:
- Due to the age of the building and the nature of the existing heating, a low temperature Air Source Heat Pump was not practical because heat emitters could not be upgraded.
- No single manufacture could provide both parts of the cascade using low GWP refrigerants. • Maintain water content to the circuits to ensure smooth loading and unloading of the elements of the cascade.
- Hydraulic separation between the existing heating network and the new WSHP pipework to maintain water quality within limits
- Upgrade of BMS Controls and Monitoring
Key Challenges:
- Working on a listed building with confined under croft service space of less than 1.5m headroom and 0.9 width.
- Design of all mechanical equipment for 4 circuits for two different heat pumps and layout of a small basement plant room.
- Managing noise within the building and externally due proximity of residential properties
