BOILERS & HOT WATER
Boiler room modernisation: key considerations for transitioning to electric boilers
Consulting with an expert can streamline the conversion to electric boilers while reducing total project cost and maximising system reliability according to Acme Engineering
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o address climate change, states and cities are increasingly phasing out fossil fuel use in commercial buildings in favour of clean, green electric options. Today, a common goal is the conversion of aging buildings to accommodate eco-friendly electric boilers that provide hot water to tenants. Switching to electric boilers promotes better health as well. Besides the notorious greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), natural gas-fired boilers and furnaces emit dangerous nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrous oxide (N2O), as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and particulate matter (PM). When upgrading to commercial electric boilers in space-constrained urban areas, however, there are several important issues to consider before commercial property managers and the buildings’ boards of directors can decide on the simplest, most cost-effective option for any retrofit project. “Among the challenges are the facts that every building to be retrofitted is different, managers often lack mechanical or heating system experience, and engineers can be unfamiliar with electric boiler design. Because of this, many need expert guidance on how to proceed with the conversion from gas-fired to electric, including the basic requirements and other factors to consider,” says Robert Presser, Vice President of Acme Engineering, a Canada-based manufacturer of commercial
Acme’s electric boilers are designed to an industrial standard that will last decades.
and industrial electric boilers with over 60 years of experience. In Presser’s view, the key issues to evaluate include power availability and access, fitting the boiler(s) in the building, reducing the total cost of installation, and maximising system reliability and longevity. Consulting with a professional with deep expertise in electric boiler technology, infrastructure, and conversion will streamline the process and facilitate optimal results.
Power availability and access
“In any conversion to electric boilers, the first step for property managers or boards of directors is to call their power company and ask, ‘Are you able to give us the power we need?’ You will need access to hundreds, if not thousands, of amps. Without it, the project cannot proceed,” says Presser, adding that most buildings only have access to 480V, three-phase electrical power.
Building managers also need to consider the added cost for the utility to upgrade their power to the building. Additional electrical infrastructure enhancements may be required as well, such as wiring and upgraded circuit breakers.
Reducing the cost of conversion and installation
Acme’s Slim Series units are designed to produce ample hot water while easing installation with an ability to fit into smaller spaces without costly demolition.
24 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER SEPTEMBER 2023
In the conversion, physically moving and manipulating a large electric boiler through doors and narrow corridors during installation can be extremely difficult – even impossible – particularly in older, space-constrained buildings. “Getting the boiler through doors into the building can be a challenge when a typical doorway in an older building is only 30 inches wide or less. You’ll need to manipulate the boiler into the building and probably fit it into a small elevator to move it to the basement or a service
room,” says Presser. Another problem is the difficulty of removing the existing boiler, which usually is quite large. Because of this, it is common to leave the existing boiler in place, which places further space constraints on the size of the new electric boiler system to be installed. “If the building is older, you may have a very large cast iron, gas or oil-fired unit that is cost prohibitive to break down and remove,” says Presser. He adds that, “Many property managers also decline to install a larger boiler because they do not want to break a wall or dig a hole and lower the unit to the basement.,” says Presser. Presser advises an easier, more cost-effective solution. “Instead of trying to get one big boiler into the building, it is often much easier to move in several smaller boilers and then install and interconnect them where there is space available,” he says. In this regard, property managers are finding a more effective solution in high-capacity electric boilers that are specifically designed to fit through doors and other space-constrained areas. As an example, Acme’s Slim Series units are designed to produce ample hot water while easing conversion and installation with an ability to “squeeze through” narrow passageways and fit into smaller spaces without costly demolition. The electric boiler technology draws on the company’s 40 years of experience in electric heating, temperature control, and manufacture of large integrated units to maximize hot water output in a compact form. Boilers with one pressure vessel tube can deliver 45-180 kW and those with two pressure vessel tubes can provide 225-360 kW. “With 24” widths, the systems are specifically built narrow so they can pass through existing 26” doors or corridors and require minimal floor space. The compact units can fit into service elevators for easy access to the building’s basement,” says Presser.
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