BOILERS, HOT WATER & RADIATORS
Key considerations when selecting a hot water system for commercial project
Kevin Potter, national sales manager – commercial, Hamworthy Heating provides expert guidance on how to choose a reliable, efficient, and sustainable hot water solution tailored to the specific needs of different commercial environments
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electing the right hot water system is essential to achieve optimum performance and efficiency in any commercial project. To make the best choice, it’s important to
evaluate key factors such as energy efficiency, system demands and size, installation requirements, and long-term maintenance.
Upgrading to an energy efficient solution
In line with the 2021 update to Part L regulations, installing a non-condensing water heater is no longer permitted, unless the site is exempt. Additionally, many non-condensing systems are reaching the end of their lifespan, making it an ideal time to consider upgrading to a condensing model. However, before making this transition, it’s essential to carefully consider several key factors.
Hot water demands, sizing & recovery rates
Commercial spaces vary in terms of their hot water demands, depending on the number of occupants or usage points, so choosing a system with the right capacity will ensure that hot water is readily available as and when needed, without overloading the system. Most
6 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER AUGUST 2025
importantly, an adequately sized water heater can help to avoid unnecessary energy waste and unnecessarily high energy costs. To achieve an appropriately sized system that meets the needs of a building, the best starting point is to gather detailed information about the specific building and its usage. For new builds, understanding the client’s requirements will ensure that all factors, such as the quality and location of DHW outlets, the intended usage, and the number of users, are accounted for. Furthermore, anticipating any challenges early on can save time later on in the process. Conducting a thorough site survey is just as important for refurbishment projects. It can uncover issues with the current hot water system, such as non-compliance or inefficiencies, and highlight opportunities for more suitable solutions. Additionally, it’s important to consider that building usage patterns may have changed since the original system was installed. For example, an increase in occupancy or the installation of additional sanitary outlets could mean that the current system is either over or undersized. This process is also the perfect time to understand a building’s demands, for instance, in situations where hot water demand peaks in a short period, such as during morning showers in a hotel, storage capacity will be a key consideration. However, in applications with more consistent demand, where storage is less of a concern, recovery rate will be the primary factor.
Equally, for buildings with varying hot water demands throughout the day, both storage and recovery will need to be carefully balanced. In these cases, the system should be sized based on the hourly demand, factoring in simultaneous usage. It’s also important to plan for future growth as a building may not be operating at full capacity from the offset.
Installation requirements
Plant rooms come in all different shapes and sizes, so it’s also important to ensure the chosen system fits within the available space, and allows clearance for adequate ventilation, and future maintenance access. For plant rooms with limited space, such as those within city centres, compact and lightweight designs offer increased flexibility. For example, the Dorchester DR-SG stainless steel condensing boiler from Hamworthy Heating features a narrow diameter of less than 80 cm, making it suitable to fit through a standard 800 mm doorway. Its lightweight and slim design not only facilitates easy transport and installation but also ensures that the system remains accessible for routine service and maintenance. Our area sales manager for central London, Christian Robinson says: “The small footprint of the DR-SG provides customers with a flexible solution when working in tight plantrooms. Also, there’s the added benefit of being able to remove the installation jacket, if needed. We’ve
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