UNDER THE ARCHES
Malcolm Jacques, Commercial Manager at Warmafloor, explains how the latest underfloor heating technology has been successfully put in place at a Grade I listed building.
Waverly Arches is a set of Grade I listed Victorian arches that are to be converted into a new retail and leisure quarter in the centre of Edinburgh. Dating back to 1875, they formed a part of the old train station which was an integral part of the city centre. The Waverly Arches development is part of the latest phase of a £150m re-development of Edinburgh’s Old Town to create a leisure-based environment. The site will include bars, restaurants and retailers, enhancing the local area and breathing life into the historic buildings in the area.
At Waverley Arches, Warmafloor, underfloor heating and cooling specialist, has been commissioned to develop a unique and bespoke heating and cooling solution for 16 of the 19 retail units, soon to be opening. Of key importance within this project was designing a system sensitive to the historic fabric of the materials used in the arches. Being Grade I listed, they required sensitive controls which could be tailored depending on the season and external temperature. Another important element was ensuring that there was a pleasant environment for both customers and workers for when the retail units open.
On site, Warmafloor fitted an underfloor heating and a Tacker screeded floor system. By installing innovative and unique floor build up, Warmafloor ensured that the Waverly Arches received the latest technology of
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Underfloor heating systems heat the room via radiation, which is the most natural and comfortable form of heating because it creates an even, comfortable environment with no hot or cold draughts. Rooms with high ceilings similar to the ones in the Waverly Arches gain even greater benefits from this system. With traditional radiator systems, some of the heat is immediately wasted whereas
underfloor heating and cooling. Key benefits of the system include reduced installation costs and lower building weight, as well as energy savings of up to 60% compared to traditional heating systems such as radiators.
The Warmafloor Tacker system is a widely used system in screeded floors due to its versatility and ease of installation. The edge insulation is laid around the area to be heated, acting as a barrier against perimeter heat loss and creating a more energy efficient product. The Warmafloor insulated Tacker insulation panels are then laid over the complete floor area. Warmafloor polybutylene pipework is laid out in circuits and secured into the Tacker panel by specially designed staples, installed with a Tacker gun. These staples are fully retained by the fabric thereby preventing the pipe lifting during the screeding process. The underfloor pipe work is connected to the Warmafloor manifold, filled with water and pressurized to check for water tightness.
with an underfloor heating system the heat is concentrated in the first two metres above floor level where it is most most needed.
This year Warmafloor opened a new office in Doncaster to further the company’s capabilities in the north of England. The team situated there is delighted to be a part of such an exciting project in a historically significant area of Edinburgh. Warmafloor has worked in close cooperation with Horizon M&E consultants, led by Alby Wodar on the project.
Warmafloor also worked alongside Union for the first time on the project, and it has been another excellent partnership to contribute to the scheme. Union is a standalone main contractor who also work on in-house sub-contract businesses.
On the Waverley Arches scheme, Warmafloor created detailed designs to maximise efficient installation and help to deliver the project on time and under budget.
www.warmafloor.co.uk UNDERFLOOR HEATING | 43
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