HEALTHCARE & HOSPITAL FACILITIES
• Pump - Ensure that your boiler’s pump is working efficiently, as without it water won’t move around the central heating system.
• Testing - Test the central heating system ahead of the cold weather. This is a key oversight made in hospitals and care homes as although domestic hot water used for showers and washing is running throughout the summer, this doesn’t guarantee that the central heating will work as soon as it is switched on when cooler weather arrives.
EMERGENCY BOILERS In the unfortunate event of a boiler
breakdown, care homes and hospital facilities are often surprised to find that you can hire a boiler until the boiler is replaced or repaired.
“HOT WATER MUST BE STORED AT 60°C TO PREVENT RISKS FROM LEGIONELLA.”
by a qualified person will extend the life and ensure that the boiler is operating at optimum efficiency. An inefficient boiler can also be much more expensive to run as it takes much longer to heat the water.
Key things to consider for estates and care home managers include:
• Rust - Rust in water can be a sign that your boiler requires maintenance. As the tubes within boilers are carrying high heat loads, these can be susceptible to corrosion.
• Pressure - Ensuring the central heating system is operating at the right pressure is essential as if it becomes too high, this can result in burst pipes.
• Filter - Regularly check and clean the boiler’s filter. This is especially important in hard water areas as limescale can build up and clog the filters.
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Temporary boilers are also not as expensive as you might think. The most suitable hire boiler for your needs depends on a number of elements. Take fuel for example, this is a large part of the decision making process as each fuel type has its benefits and challenges.
• Diesel - One of the most common types of fuel, diesel is used to operate many boilers. Delivered by fuel tankers, the diesel is safely locked away in a fuel tank to minimise the risk of theft.
• Natural gas - This type of fuel is often chosen when delivering diesel to a site is difficult or if the location has a supply of natural gas readily available.
• Electric - Electric boilers tend to be more lightweight and are ideal for heating hot water in confined spaces.
Larger packaged boilers tend to operate on natural gas or diesel and are commonly used for
domestic hot water and central heating applications simultaneously. Take the 500kW Packaged Boiler for example, this boiler can supply both through two independent, thermostatically controlled heat exchangers using a three-way valve system.
INSTALLATION - KEY
THINGS TO CONSIDER When installing a temporary boiler in a care home or hospital, there are a number of considerations to ensure a quick and non-disruptive installation process.
Firstly, fitting must take place at a time of day that will have minimal disruption to the building’s occupants. In a care home for example, residents tend to take showers in the mornings and evenings which means that installation should be avoided at these times.
It’s also important to ensure that a suitable ‘flow and return point’ is ready as if the boiler needs to be attached to the current system, flow and return stabbing points are required. This must be prepared by a qualified plumber.
STEPS TO TAKE IN AN
EMERGENCY In the event of an unexpected boiler breakdown, there are a number of steps to take whilst you are waiting for a repair or a temporary boiler to be fitted:
• Ensure residents are dressed in several light layers of warm clothing
• Provide regular hot drinks and hot meals to keep energy levels up
• Draw curtains at dusk and keep doors closed to minimise draughts
• Provide extra blankets where necessary
• Contact a reputable, specialist boiler/temporary heating supplier who will be able to advise on the best solution and in some cases, deliver to site within four hours
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