News Extra Quick work for tall order
HVR has this exclusive on how space heating through boiler technology within a new London landmark has taken shape in rapid time, making full use of modern prefabrication and 3-D modelling
to having a distinc- tive architectural form, the 52 storey Leadenhall Building is one of London’s tallest structures and is setting new standards in terms of design and construction manage- ment. The scale of the property with its 41 floors of offices, shops, restaurants and various circulation spaces also requires a variable heating capacity that is being met by the trio of 1.5mW high perform- ance boilers supplied by Stokvis Energy Systems.
The three Economatic steel shell boilers are part of a package of mechanical service provisions which has been brought together by Crown House Technologies from its south-eastern branch. Crown House Technologies identi- fied the Stokvis boilers as meeting all of the project criteria, working to a performance specification drawn up by consulting engineers, Arup. Overall the rate of progress on the project, which is being led by Laing O’Rourke, has been linked to the use of BIM, or Building Information Modelling, which reaches through from the initial designs of the architects, Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners, to the eventual facilities management functioning of the property. In fact the adoption of modern
construction technologies, includ- ing the use of off-site building techniques and sophisticated Building Management Systems (BMS), has been fully embraced within the building services provi- sions. The three Stokvis Economatic 160F boilers were actually delivered to Crown House Technologies’ premises in Kent where they were mounted on a purpose-designed steel chassis, along with other equipment, and partly pre-commissioned ready for installation on site. Stokvis Energy Systems’ Economatic series of fully modu- lating gas boilers is said to offer high build quality, as well as excellent reliability and heating efficiency. Each of the units is also fully factory insulated to minimise standing heat losses. Furthermore, in addition to matching or exceeding such per- formance parameters for the Leadenhall project, each boiler delivers a temperature of 82° C, a maximum heat output of 1,600kW, a water flow rate of 32.6kg per second, and a minimum efficiency of 95 per cent (NCV), the boilers and their Riello burners had to be able to respond fully to the demands of the Leadenhall Building’s advanced BMS set up.
In relation to the control of com- fort levels within this vast building, rising 224 metres above the sur- rounding streetscape of the impor- tant financial district, the trio had to be able to operate in unison, accommodating multiple input and output signals. Amongst these were low and high fire status, as well as common alarm outputs and the burner firing rate.
In practice the three Stokvis Economatic 160F models will achieve an overall operating effi- ciency of 95 per cent (NCV) whilst also producing particularly low carbon dioxide and NOx levels. Crown House Technologies’ Peter Davey explained: “The building is well insulated, result- ing in relatively low space heating loads that will vary considerably through the day. It was therefore important that the heating plant would be able to respond to vary- ing loads efficiently. “We investigated a number of options to ensure we were able to meet the specification while ensur- ing best value and selected the Stokvis boilers on that basis. The burners are especially critical in ensuring reliable performance and we knew from past experience that Riello would provide the reliability and repeatability we required.”
Paul Sands of Stokvis Energy Systems commented: “More than 80 per cent of the construction process for The Leadenhall Building was executed off site, including prefabrication work relating to the mechanical and electrical services.
“As part of this strategy three Economatic 160F boilers were delivered to Crown House Technologies’ fabrication facility in Kent, where they were mounted on skids, featuring pre-assembled gas and water pipework for ease of installation on site. Following delivery to site they were then lift- ed into position on the 47th level of the building.
“They represent a well-engi- neered boiler solution offering unmatched reliability from their steel construction and top specifica- tion components such as the Riello burners, which we routinely utilise; coupled with very energy efficient, fully modulating performance.” Peter Davey concluded: “The space heating plant has now been commissioned and we’ve been very pleased with the quality of support provided by Riello and Stokvis.”
Open systems pave way to a ‘Smart’ future
sector has utilised building management sys- tems for over 30 years to monitor and control the heating, ventilating and air conditioning in a wide range of building applications but with the development of Open Systems that simplify interoperabil- ity at systems and device level, opportunities have arisen for inte- gration into domestic buildings. This is heralding the dawn of the Smart Home. However according to a Honeywell White paper on the concept despite a growing appetite for smart domestic technology by consumers, installers, electricians and manufacturers alike, one thing lacking is education. In the White Paper, marketing communications manager for
Honeywell, Andy Mansfield, said the demand for smart technology and gadgets in the home is on the rise. More and more everyday devices are now connected to the internet as the desire for greater levels of personal control grows alongside improvements in remote controlled technology.
And heating controls are starting to become a part of this change in the way people control their lives. Over the last 10 years, the com- plexity and capabilities of what are often perceived as simple domes- tic controls have been trans- formed. No longer are heating controls a neglected dial on the wall, they are progressively becoming part of people’s lifestyles and aspirational products
Daily news update at
www.heatingandventilating.net
in their own right. Consumers’ demands for more flexibility, con- venience and communication in their lives, coupled with the con- tinual rise in domestic energy bills, have meant that homeowners now expect so much more from their heating controls. Homeowners are favouring manufacturers who can provide them with new levels of convenience, efficiency and finan- cial flexibility – three of the most important factors for any modern household.
But the White Paper stresses what is missing and needs defining are the links in the chain between the manufacturer and the end- user. “There is a whole new mar- ket emerging which is there for the taking for the UK installer, electri-
cian and merchant. The key is tapping into it.
“The explosion of the internet will play a leading role and electri- cians and installers alike need to make sure they maximise their online presence to remain visible to homeowners and align them- selves with the right manufacturers of smart technology. However, reaching this point relies on the whole industry getting behind Smart Homes – championing the installer, electrician, wholesaler, merchant, manufacturer and homeowner.”
“What’s vital is that installers and electricians stake their place in it now to avoid being left behind when it’s too late,” the White Paper concludes.
HVR | July 2014 | 9
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