Commercial heating
Tailored products to meet energy-saving demands
With commercial building managers under increasing pressure from the Government to perform in line with the UK’s green agenda, the close management of carbon emissions and onsite energy consumption are now top of the agenda. Phil Chilton explores how leading manufacturers are tailoring their product development to ensure easier installation, easier maintenance and energy efficiency to help installers meet demand
commercial building managers, the energy efficiency arena is new territory, but with each legislative change we are seeing a sharper incline in compa- nies taking a leap into the unknown. More and more firms are specifying products that deliv- er cost savings through reduced energy consumption, even if this means a slightly higher upfront monetary outlay. This upsurge in financial invest- ment as businesses strive to improve their premises has driven improvements in the way com- mercial heating manufacturers tackle product development. Whilst the needs of the end user remain at the forefront of industry- wide innovation, so too do the needs of the installer.
For heating engineers, time is money and creating systems that are simple and quick to install - and equally as easy to maintain - will always remain of great impor- tance when designing new prod- ucts if we are to maximise the opportunities being presented to us as an industry.
Leading manufacturers such as Dimplex are increasingly deliver- ing commercial heating solutions which incorporate time-saving installation and maintenance fea- tures, whilst offering the energy efficiency credentials required by national and international carbon
reduction commitments. For con- tractors and installers, this means a portfolio of high quality heating products and supplementary units to specify, ensuring the customer is happy and their time is spent as efficiently as possible – maximis- ing profit margins on every job.
Ceiling heaters – easy access One such popular heating choice is ceiling heaters, which can pro- vide subtle heating where wall space is limited and fast response is needed. A popular choice in shops, offices and restaurants, these units remain a reliable option for both new build and refurbishment projects and by making subtle changes to the fab- rication of the products, installers are now benefiting from quicker access to working parts for essen- tial maintenance. Dimplex’s recessed model for example now includes a hinged grille for con- venience, which is proving a help- ful addition when working in a busy public environment. For commercial premises looking to optimise energy performance, ceiling heaters can be installed with a wall-mounted control unit designed specifically to offer more than just temperature controls. These controls can provide twin heat settings or a fan only mode, which allow the output to be matched to changing heating
Dimplex DAB recessed range of air curtains
demands to keep energy consump- tion and running costs minimal.
Radiant heaters A popular form of heating in leisure centres, community build- ings and outdoor seating areas, radiant electric heaters only pro- duce heat when the transmitted infrared energy is absorbed by people nearby, heating the person rather than the air around them. Energy efficient in their own right, these products already offer significant energy and running cost reductions compared with gas heaters. Despite this, there is almost always room for improvement. Leading manufacturers offer compatible Passive Infrared Sensors (PIRs) which activate the heater when movement is detect- ed in the surrounding area to ensure energy is only consumed when really necessary. Using these sensors as an addition to a new or pre-installed radiant heat- ing solution can optimise efficien- cy and deliver the highest possible financial reduction.
Air curtains An example of Dimplex radiant heaters 18 | March 2014 | HVR
Research by the Carbon Trust and Bristol University shows that using an air curtain to prevent treated air escaping through open doors could save up to 30 per cent on system running costs. Further to this, a recent Carbon Trust study has highlighted that up to half of the 1.3 million commercial build- ings in the UK could benefit from installing this technology. Couple these findings with a payback peri- od as short as five months and it is clear to see why air curtains are
being increasingly specified across a wide range of business premises. To optimise the performance of this sought-after technology many decision makers are connecting them to low cost control switches, automated timers, Passive Infrared Sensors (PIRs) or to the building’s BMS control system, so they can be carefully controlled to provide airstream coverage only when pre- determined. These simple yet effective control options ensure the air curtains are working to maximum efficiency when, and only when, required – keeping the long-term running costs of the building down to a minimum. High power models such as the Dimplex DAB recessed range have also been designed with installation and maintenance front of mind. The range includes dedi- cated recessed units rather than standard units with separate recess kits, eliminating the need for addi- tional construction works to deliv- er a far quicker installation time. The energy saving agenda is clear but as carbon reduction tar- gets continue to be squeezed, there is further stringent legislation on the horizon. These compulsory changes will force many in the commercial sector to invest further in new or improved heating tech- nology and create new opportuni- ties for installers. Supported by continued product development from manufacturers to help save time, money and energy, there has never been a better time to grab those opportunities.
// The author is the commercial products manager at Dimplex //
Daily news update at
www.heatingandventilating.net
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