HEATING, VENTILATION & SERVICES 71


PLANNING WARMTH INTO NEW HOMES


Peter Mintoft from Charlton & Jenrick considers how electric fi res can support comfort, design fl exibility and clear homeowner expectations within increasingly effi cient new build homes and developments.


s new homes become more energy effi cient, the way residents use heat is changing. etter insulation, airtightness and system control reduces the oerall energy needed to maintain a stale temperature within the home. oweer, purchasers still alue the comfort, amience and focus created y a fi replace. or houseuilders, the opportunity lies in treating an electric fi re as a planned element rather than an accessory added after the room layout is fi ed.


A


he distinction etween primary and secondary heating is essential. he  edition of pproed ocument  for dwellings is scheduled to tae effect in ngland from  arch  for uilding wor not connected with higher ris uilding. Setting out how the energy and emissions impact of secondary heating should e included in the approed calculation. t also states that a heat pump should meet the full design demand without assuming support from secondary heat sources. n electric fi re therefore needs a defi ned role. t may proide local comfort and isual amience, ut it


should not compensate for an undersied primary heating system or wea uilding faric. Secondary heat sources can add complementary short-term, rapid response for these comfort warmth needs. When that role is estalished early, the specifi cation can support the wider design strategy. lmost all new electric fi res allow the low energy fl ame display to operate independently from the heater, so the feature can contriute to the character of a liing space throughout the year. When warmth is reuired, local temperature, presence and time controls can help residents use the fl eile heating function for defi ned periods in the room they occupy. eelopers should present this as a desirale choice for rapid response and comfort rather than a guaranteed energy saing, since actual use, tariff, controls and the effi ciency of the primary heating system all affect running costs.


arly coordination also protects the architecture. he fi re infl uences the width and depth of a feature wall, the position of a teleision, the route of electrics, and the need for future serice access. f these


points are left to the fi t-out stage, you may ris an awward proection, trailing cales or a layout that limits furniture placement.  coordinated approach allows the appliance, surrounding materials and adacent oinery to read as one part of the room. t also gies the electrical designer and fi re manufacturer an opportunity to confi rm power reuirements, clearances and any enclosure entilation proisions efore wor gets underway.


Standardisation can mae this approach est practice across a deelopment.  houseuilder may select a small numer of confi gurations matched to popular house types, with each arrangement supported y a clear drawing and specifi cation. he ase uild can include the necessary power supply and wall depth, while the fi re itself is offered as standard in selected plots or as a uyer option for a turney property. his reduces late ariations and gies site teams a repeatale template. t also helps procurement teams compare costs on a consistent asis, including the appliance, framing, fi nishing, electrical wor and commissioning.


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