Heating Industrial and commercial 2
Hot topic
Pressure for greater boiler
efficiency underpins CIBSE’s
new guide to non-domestic
hot water systems, writes
Ian Vallely
T
he last CIBSE guide to non-domestic hot water
heating systems was published more than 20
years ago, so the sector has been due for new
guidance on this subject for a while now. The
new AM14: Non-domestic hot water heating systems is
a comprehensive application manual that describes
a logical sequence of processes for engineers to help
them to design efficient heating systems. It covers
water-based heating systems for buildings other than
dwellings with a total installed capacity from 45kW up
to 2MW. (Domestic hot water generation is outside the
scope of the publication.)
Arnold Teekaram of research body BSRIA is principal
author of AM14. He says: 'The guide is intended for
designers and engineers who install and commission
non-domestic heating systems or components. It
addresses both the design of heating systems for new 'Since the publication of AM3, however, there have
buildings and the specific requirements relating to the been many significant changes in technology and that
design of replacement systems and refurbishment of is one of the main reasons it was felt there needed to be
Knowledge
existing systems. a more comprehensive and updated heating guide.
of the types
The process of producing AM14 included researching 'There have also been other changes that were not
and designs of
new and emerging technologies, and Teekaram began envisioned in 1989, such as low-carbon technologies
by consulting manufacturers, building owners and including heat pumps, biomass, solar thermal and
existing systems
operators. The main focus of the research was to look CHP, and these are covered comprehensively in the
will help the
at existing knowledge in both new and emerging new guide. Guidance is also given on controllability,
engineer to
technologies. an important design issue.'
The guide also makes reference to existing technical AM14 has also evolved as a result of the pending
make the correct
publications such as the CIBSE guides, the Building withdrawal of parts of British Standard BS 6880: Code of
decisions
Regulations, British Standards and manufacturers’ Practice for Low Temperature Hot Water Heating Systems
published literature (updated where necessary). of Output Greater than 45kW, as well as a response to
AM14 is wider-ranging in its scope than its changes to the Building Regulations introduced in
predecessor, AM3 (no longer in print), as well as being 2006 and the requirements of the Energy Performance
more comprehensive. In fact, as Teekaram explains, the of Buildings Directive.
project began with the objective of updating AM3 but, Legislation is now in place that prohibits the use of
as its development proceeded, the scope was widened, inefficient boilers for many domestic and commercial
largely because of advances in technology including space heating and hot water production/applications.
modular boilers and renewable heating sources. BS 6880 was, for many years, a comprehensive guide
'AM3, which was first published in 1989, dealt for engineers involved in the design, installation and
specifically with the application of condensing boilers. commissioning of non-domestic heating systems. Its
At that time, these high efficiency boilers were used in nominal replacement, BS EN 12828 (published in
very small numbers in the UK and their use was not 2003), only covers system design and in far less detail
encouraged by legislation so there was little incentive than the earlier standard. Matters covered in BS 6880:
to use them. Part 2: Selection of equipment and Part 3: Installation, >
www.cibsejournal.com February 2010 CIBSE Journal 57
CIBSEfeb10 pp56-59 feature_Boilers.indd 57 29/1/10 14:32:36
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76