BSEE
CASE STUDY
Much like its “impressive drive for improvement” in academia, as noted by Ofsted, Nova Hreod Academy takes a similar approach to improving its facilies and impact on the environment
Too Cool for School? W
New water heaters get full marks at Nova Hreod Academy
hen faced with increasing
energy bills due to an ageing water heater, the Private
Finance Initiative (PFI) provider, HCP, worked with the school to select a more efficient solution from the Andrews Water Heaters range. This needed to suit both the long term aims of the PFI project and lifecycle, but also the school’s requirements at the time and in the future.
Located in Swindon, Wiltshire, Nova Hreod Academy is a mixed secondary school for students aged 11 to 15. Previously known as Hreod Burna Senior High School, the establishment has provided education since it was founded in 1966. Under the PFI infrastructure programme, seven schools in Swindon including Nova Hreod were redeveloped. They are currently in the 13th year of its 25-year contract for the design, building and financing of the new school buildings and facilities. Nova Hreod also receives ongoing maintenance for the lifecycle and replacement of assets to ensure that the school is always operating as required.
A high demand environment
With over 1,000 students in attendance, HCP has a duty of care to provide a comfortable, clean
environment for all students and staff. In order to achieve this, a continuous supply of hot water is vital, not least for health and safety reasons. With people becoming more aware of poor sanitation, hygiene and possible waterborne disease/infections, it is a necessity to reduce concern by providing faultless water solutions.
Nova Hreod boasts a number of sports facilities with shower amenities, as well as classrooms for practical subjects such as science and food technology, that require hot water for students and staff to use. With such high volumes of hot water required, it was crucial that a robust and continuous water supply was available, while at the same time reducing their energy bills.
High energy usage
The school utilised HCP’s Consultancy Services, headed by Michael Thomas and Rawlings Simon, to undertake an Asset Condition Survey. Following this inspection, they found that the previous water heater units were nearing the end of their usable life and that the units were heating at a slower rate, meaning they were no longer performing at their optimum level. The heaters had become inefficient for numerous reasons, including leakage and sediment build-up. This general wear-and-tear meant these minor issues quickly developed into larger problems with substantial financial impact. In additional to financial drivers, Nova Hreod’s staff and students were becoming more concerned with the issues surrounding climate change. Therefore, finding a solution that reduced carbon emissions was also key.
With pressure building due to unnecessarily high utility bills and risk of asset failure, Michael Thomas knew the school needed to upgrade its water heater quickly. However, additional time constraints meant it was imperative that the project did not disrupt the start of the new academic year.
A partnered approach
HCP pride themselves on delivering competent solutions, through strategic partnerships and a wider, more holistic view of the landscape and needs. Michael Thomas contacted his trusted Heating Contractor, Octagon Heating who, due to previous success from the Andrews Water Heaters ranges, invited Amanda Symons, Specification Manager at Andrews Water Heaters to carry out a site survey. Amanda was able to recommend the best solution for the challenges they faced, specifying the SUPAflo EVO to supply the hot water. This tried and tested product had evidenced its capability to cope with high demands for instantaneous water supply on previous projects.
26 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MAY 2020
The SUPAflo EVO SF62 upgrade came with multiple advantages, including an efficient recovery rate of up to 9,230 litres an hour, as well as digital controls built-in as standard to aid maintenance teams with installation and diagnostics. The contractors opted for a combined heating solution, specifying the GL800 buffer system to improve the reliability and efficiency. The GL800 can cope with the high usage requirements of the school environment because of its 800-litre tank. Filled with water heated by the SUPAflo EVO, the GL800 stores water and maintains its temperature. Ultimately, this saves time, money and energy by eliminating the need to repeatedly heat water from cold when needed.
Amanda Symons, specification manager at Andrews Water Heaters says: “With this type of system there are often fears that, when in standby mode, there may be a reduction in heat. However, the benefit of this system is that there are minimal standby losses. Therefore, it is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint because it allows the water heater to simply supply the demand.” Due to restrictions in the building design, the school’s existing flue route presented an additional challenge. It utilised an encased shaft that required a redesign of the route, with new flue pipework running up through the building. Octagon Heating overcame this issue, implementing a new flue system, with help from a specialist contractor, Chimflue.
First class results
With multiple variables at play in terms of efficiency, environmental impact, cost and deadlines, true supply chain collaboration meant the project delivered for Nova Hreod. The total duration of the project was six weeks, with the installation completed in June 2019 ahead of schedule. Since its full commission in July 2019, the system has provided impeccable results.
Julian Hopkins, managing director at Octagon Heating said: “The team at Andrews Water Heaters were extremely supportive throughout the project, from the initial specification through to installation and maintenance.”
In a safety conscious environment, where a continuous supply of instant hot water is expected, there can be no compromise on quality. With the school’s prerequisites and challenges in mind, the SUPAflo EVO SF62 and the GL800 have provided an arguably faultless and unified resolution.
Michael Thomas from HCP concluded: “We are extremely satisfied with the upgrade to our water heating system. The SUPAflo and buffer system has made a substantial difference to the capability and resilience of our systems and will no doubt support our goal of reduced energy consumption and Co2. We’d also like to thank the teams, at Octagon Heating and Andrews Water Heaters who helped make the process as seamless as possible.”
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Due to restricons in the building design, the school’s exisng flue route presented an addional challenge
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