Commercial heating
district heating/cooling circuits to generate low temperature hot water, space heating or space cooling for multi-dwelling developments. HIU’s are well-known for their energy efficient qualities and by integrating them into the utility cupboard contractors can be sure that they will be boosting the sustainability credentials of their projects. Additionally, HIU’s give building
services engineers the option to design multi-dwelling complexes with district heating systems, which can use energy sources such as CHP or heat pumps. This can be done without the limitations of equipping each dwelling with its own renewable energy source. Domestic hot water provided by a plate heat exchanger is provided rapidly, ensuring a high level of comfort for building occupants.
Take it off site
In the development of multi-residential buildings, such as high-rise apartments, student accommodation or hotels, the layout tends to be parallel and therefore the heating unit is traditionally accessed from the corridor and with multiple skills working on-site. Trying to access these manually poses a number of health & safety risks. Previously a cupboard or framework would be built on-site and completed within a certain timeframe. By fabricating the unit off-site, it eliminates the need for a hot works permit for welding. There are also fewer man hours
required on site and therefore less risk, and this appears to be the biggest driver for pre-fabrication. In fact, Pipe Center has already completed around 400 utility cupboards, has 400 more in progress, and received enquiries for thousands more.
It’s clear that the utility cupboard
offers a plethora of benefits in the way of heating and water. However,
while Pipe Center specialises in heating, the fabrication facility offers the flexibility to integrate electrical components into the same cupboard and has the capability to work with contractors and electrical specialists on-site in Basildon. The space for the components is already pre-cut into the boarding. When you calculate hours and wastage saved, it can be up to 20% compared with the traditional method of building on-site as they could require up to 16 weeks on-site. In addition there are also huge financial savings to be had from the reduction of labour. Just by outsourcing work to the pre-fabrication facility for the likes of utility cupboards, some customers have tripled their capacity and therefore helped make their own businesses become more profitable.
So, what’s next?
The efficient use of space, the integration with plant rooms and the impact on project efficiency all mean that the off-site fabrication of utility cupboards is fast becoming best practice for high rise, multi- residential buildings. We are particularly seeing rapid adoption of utility cupboards in the private sector, for example by residential builders working on 20-40 apartment schemes, and as a result are now looking at a package option which will allow for a swift design, manufacture and installation process. This upsurge has actually led to Pipe Center’s Basildon facility expanding even further with plans for new mezzanine decks and employment of four new apprentices to do our part for the skills shortage in the industry. I believe that the rise of the utility cupboard is indicative of the way the multi-residential market is headed. • The author is Neil Wypior, general manager at Pipe Center Fabrication
Pipe Center’s Basildon facility is expanding in response to rising de- mand for off-site fabrication of utility cupboards particularl in the multi-residential market
www.heatingandventilating.net
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March 2017 CIAL &
COMMER INDUSTRIAL
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