www.heatingandventilating.net Robert McGookin from A1 Flue Systems
A tall story
The newly opened Hastings Grand Central Hotel in Belfast has set a record for the tallest chimney in Ireland
Flue Systems, the same company that installed the chimney system at The Shard, which, at 306m high, is the tallest building in Europe. The contractors behind the renovation of the
A
former Windsor House, Michael Nugent – which is based in Pomeroy, Co. Tyrone – called in A1 Flues to design and manufacture the system, which was two years in the planning. The flue firm even arranged for the stainless steel structure to be powder coated to match the stunning cladded exterior of the 23-floor £53m development by Hastings Hotels. Michael Nugent’s contracts manager for the
project, John Stevenson, said everything about the project was ambitious. When it came to commissioning the chimney system, which links to the boilers that power the central heating and hot water system for the hotel, the company went to A1 Flue Systems. “This has been an incredible project - working
with great contractors such as Graham Construction and where the quality of workmanship, materials and systems were second to none, which meant we were able to work with the best specialist contractors across the board – including on chimneys,” said John.
DO A SWEEP TWICE A YEAR.... D
uring the heating season, chimney sweeps and installers should grasp the opportunity to educate their customers on the importance of
regular maintenance, as it is imperative that consumers look to have their chimney swept to reduce the risk of chimney fires, says Bruce Allen, CEO of the Heating Equipment Testing and Approvals Scheme (HETAS).
As the industry evolves to accommodate innovative approaches to appliance and chimney design and meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act 1993, it is vital that the regular sweeping of chimneys and maintenance post installation is not overlooked, but an imperative part of owning a wood burning appliance.
www.heatingandventilating.net
In the past year, there were 4,015 chimney fires in England. This was a 5% decrease compared with the previous year, and a 45% decrease compared with five years ago (7,250 in 2012/13) . Aiming to decrease this figure further, HETAS is turning up the heat on the importance of maintaining high standards and providing education and training not only to installers and chimney sweeps but also the end user, helping consumers get the most out their wood burning stove. To keep emissions low and ensure optimum efficiency HETAS advises chimneys are swept twice per year. As well as removing soot and tar deposits, chimney sweeps can also identify any obstructions or defects with the chimney or liner.
A competent installer will conduct visual checks and a smoke test to determine whether a suitable flue liner should be fitted. In addition to regular sweeping, using clean, quality wood fuel is essential for continuing efficient operation of solid fuel appliances. Woodsure, HETAS’ partner launched the ‘Ready to Burn’ scheme with the support of DEFRA to highlight the importance of burning dry logs to improve stove efficiency and air quality. “Our message is clear”, says Bruce – “don’t burn wet wood”. ‘Ready to Burn’ logs and kindling ensure the wood contains less than 20% moisture to reduce smoke and PM2.5 particulate emissions which contribute to air pollution.
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t 80m tall, the chimney was specially designed for the new 300-bedroom hotel – which is owned by Hastings Hotels – by A1
The new flue at the Hastings Grand Central Hotel in Belfast “We looked to projects such as The Shard and
other skyscrapers in London, and one firm has done them all, so we called them in to do the same for the Grand Central Hotel. “There were challenges to overcome – such as designing specially made brackets to support the chimney so that it could be fixed through the cladding on the exterior of the building – but the end product is absolutely fantastic, and we are ever so proud that it’s a record breaker.” Robert McGookin from A1, is delighted to add the
record-breaking project to the company’s portfolio – which currently includes work on the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station to install a new system inside one of the iconic towers. “We are experts in designing, manufacturing, installing and maintaining commercial chimney systems – especially on very tall buildings, where there are unique challenges for getting the combustion gases from boilers safely out of the buildings and into the atmosphere,” said Robert. “Our team of designers and engineers was able to use experience from projects such as The Shard, the Cheesegrater, the Walkie Talkie and the Gherkin in London to design exactly the right system for the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast. “We’re very proud that our chimneys are part of such a landmark building in Belfast.”
Chimneys & flues
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