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HEATING, VENTILATION & SERVICES
Heat supplied from the Community Heat Hub
Flow returning to the Community Heat Hub
Electricity Feed
The building envelope and occupant comfort must always be prioritised to ensure the system operates optimally and meets both environmental and user needs
Hot Water Cooler Water
space must be allocated for the plant and distribution system. The location of the heat generation plant should be carefully considered early in the planning process to ensure unobtrusiveness and effectiveness. Each building or home must also have space for a heat interface unit, which controls the heat and hot water delivery. These units are typically installed in utility or plant rooms.
The internal heating systems should be compatible with the heat network, including considerations for radiators, underfl oor heating, and other methods of heat delivery. The location of systems’ controls, such as smart thermostats, is also important to ensure users can manage their heating effectively. For precise specifi cation, it’s important to understand the temperature and pressure requirements of the heat network to ensure building systems – especially distribution piping and radiators – can accommodate these levels. As heat networks generally operate at lower temperatures than traditional gas heating, this may affect the selection of internal heating solutions. Prioritising high-effi ciency design is key, ensuring that the heat network’s temperature aligns with the building’s specifi c heating needs.
Sizing the heat network Sizing is essential to ensure the development has adequate heating capacity. Collaboration with engineers is necessary to estimate the heat demand for the entire site, factoring in building size, insulation standards, occupancy levels, and external temperature variations.
Engineers typically perform heat-load calculations to determine the capacity of the central plant, as well as the required size of pipes and heat exchangers.
Energy effi ciency & sustainability Heat networks offer an excellent opportunity to integrate renewable energy
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into a development. Considerations should include how renewable heat sources can be incorporated into the system to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and ensuring the buildings are well-insulated and airtight to improve network effi ciency. Smart controls, including heat meters and interfaces for monitoring, should also be factored into the design.
Regulatory & planning considerations
Heat networks must comply with national and local building regulations, particularly those related to energy effi ciency, carbon reduction, and safety. In the UK, this includes compliance with Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power) and Part G (Sanitation and Hot Water), which govern heating system design as well as system installation.
Some local authorities may also have
specifi c heat network requirements, so close coordination with planning authorities is essential to align with local energy strategies.
Maintenance & operational considerations
Heat network designs should facilitate easy access for maintenance and inspections, including the provision of dedicated plant rooms, service ducts, and clear pathways for equipment access. In conclusion, when integrating heat networks into new developments, careful consideration of space planning, energy effi ciency, regulatory compliance, and future scalability is critical. Working with engineers and other specialists ensures the design is effi cient, sustainable, and future-proof. The building envelope and occupant comfort must always be prioritised to ensure the system operates optimally and meets both environmental and user needs.
Neal Herbert is managing director at GTC ADF JANUARY 2025
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