Regional Winners

Please tell us about a project you are particularly proud of – what was the problem and how did you solve it for the customer?

With this project, I was able to advise the customer right from the start of the planning stage on the energy efficiency of the building and how this would impact the heating load of the building and seeing it all work better than expected. I learned that I can run a super low flow temperature and still achieve good comfort levels in the property with careful design. This was a newly built property and I have completed the full install which included an ASHP, underfloor heating, hot & cold pipework, and bathrooms. The main problem was the siting of the ASHP.

Myself and the customer talked through the options on siting/location that would keep within the planning constraints and in the end had the ASHP at the back of the house which the planning authority approved of. Also, the 1st floor radiators took a lot of discussion with the customer with the radiators being upsized for a low flow temperature.

We had to decide where to place them in the house, where they didn’t look out of place considering the size. When designing the system, the only specification the customer had was he wanted an ASHP with low running cost, which meant I had the freedom to choose the products and design the system the way I wanted to. The system is made up of a Nibe F2050 ASHP with a Nibe SMO S40 working on an open loop system with a Nibe indoor & outdoor sensor. The ground floor is an underfloor heating system with 100mm pipe centers (for low operating temperatures) with no zone control (open loop). The first floor is a radiator circuit with panel radiators in the bedrooms and landing and column radiators in the bathrooms. The design flow temperature is 32.5c @ -3.9c for the UFH and radiators. All the pipework for the radiator and hot & cold is pre-insulated MLCP which is fully sealed and taped at connections to prevent heat loss. The system is filled and tested to VDI2035 standards (chemical-free).

Which products did you select for the job and why?

I used a Nibe2050 Air Source Heat Pump 10kw as, from previous experience using Nibe products, I find they are excellent quality with a great backup service. They have really good controls (SMO S40) which can be finely tuned to maximise efficiency. The Nibe SMO S40 unit is the brains of the system giving a multitude of options to get maximum efficiency from the system. The customer has an easy-to-control interface and can have remote access through the Nibe Myuplink app to control the system. Nibe’s exceptional build quality and proven track record in renewables make them my first choice for high-spec systems. The ASHP package was sourced directly from Nibe.

I used the Nibe Megacoil heat pump cylinder so it worked seamlessly with the other Nibe products. The customer will benefit from a well-made/designed cylinder with great build quality and backup service. The cylinder was sourced directly from Nibe. I choose Henrad panel & column radiators for their build quality which means the customer will have high-quality radiators that will last for a long time. Henrad radiators are very good quality which is important in maintaining good water quality in the heating system. The radiators were sourced from a local merchant. I used the IMI expansion vessel and radiator valves as they have the best and most reliable expansion vessels and their radiator valves are top quality. The customer will have an expansion vessel and valves which will need little to no maintenance – also sourced from a local merchant, I used the Uponor pre-insulated MLCP as its best practice on newly built houses giving you good insulation on the distribution pipework and keeping the heat loss in distribution to a minimum. Again, sourced from a local merchant.

Tell us what was different or unique about this job? Why does it stand out?

This job was different because I really pushed the boundaries on what I thought was possible on low-temperature heating design. This is the lowest temperature I’ve ever achieved in a system design. The system not only met the requirements but exceeded my calculations. Also, the fact I had input into the specifications for the insulation types/sizes, MVHR system, and floor coverings (ufh). I showcased my skills as an installer/ heating designer who is always trying to be at the forefront of new ideas and solutions to achieve maximum efficiency for the customer by delivering an extremely efficient installation with high-quality products and materials. The project took 18 months from sitting down with the plans to completion. The building is in a small remote hamlet in the Northumberland National Park.

And finally, tell us what the end result was for your customer?

The customer is very pleased with the end result as they have great comfort levels within their home. The main thing they have mentioned is the fact that the radiators on the first floor are barely warm but the rooms are 20-21c. The installation qualified for the bus grant of £7500 and with a low flow temperature it will be extremely efficient and offer low running costs. The customer will have a nice comfortable living environment all year round no matter what the Northumberland weather throws at them. I’ve had recommendations from the customer since completing the work and has resulted in more jobs for my company, which is always a bonus.