www.heatingandventilating.net


Heat networks in off-grid areas can be paired well with heat pumps and underfloor heating


Underfloor heating


Off-grid and heat networks A


Stuart Wood, product manager for heat networks at Polypipe Building Products explains why heat networks can be a solutions for off-grid homes


ccording to the Energy Saving Trust there are more than four million UK homes which are off the grid for gas supply and – with the


2025 decarbonisation deadline for gas boilers – this looks set to rise. The development of heat networks is key to


the decarbonisation of heat in the UK, as heat networks work with any energy source which includes renewables and efficient heat pumps. The Government’s own Clean Growth Strategy predicts that heat networks will meet 20% of demand for heating and hot water in buildings by 2050. Although a heat network can cover an area the size of a large town – Copenhagen is almost entirely heated via heat networks – it is more often used to heat small blocks of flats and small to medium- sized housing developments. Due to their efficiency and adaptability heat networks offer a cost-effective solution to the replacement of oil heating in rural communities. Polypipe partners Terrendis have been involved in


two recent European projects which demonstrated the value of heat networks to off-grid sites with a farm in France and a social housing development in Belgium both benefiting from heat network technology. The poultry farm, in the rural hamlet of La


Cueillerie near Loiron, required a flexible heating installation for its henhouses that was capable of adjusting varying needs, depending on the seasons


and growth phases of the chickens. The installation of the heat network allowed the owners to install up-to-date off-grid heating systems and reduce both their heating bills and their CO2 output. The Belgian development was a small new-build estate of 70 social housing units. A heat network was installed as multiple energy sources (including geothermal and wind) were planned for the project – with back-ups and fail-safes in place for increased demand all with smart controls that are connected to weather forecasting software. The heat network meant reduced maintenance


(as there was a single boiler room) and it also ensured that the lifetime cost of the energy will be cheaper as well as limiting the reliance on external suppliers of gas. This was funded as part of the EU’s ‘Resilient Project’ which funds sustainable energy across Europe. With more heat networks being installed


across the UK soon, it is worth talking to a trusted manufacturer who should be able to advise you on the suitable products – and also the key points that need to be covered during installation. They can also help with selecting the right


products and pairing the networks with the optimal heating solutions such as heat pumps and underfloor heating which offer a low return temperature. Single, double and quadruple insulated pipes come in a wide range of sizes that are in stock and


that are made specifically for this purpose. The single medium heating pipe is primarily intended for the transport of heating water in buried distribution networks. Whereas the double pipes combine both the flow and the return medium pipes in the same jacket pipe, primarily intended for the transport of heating water in buried distribution networks. We also have both single and double sanitary pipes used for transportation of hot and cold water. Additionally, both heating and sanitary pipes are available in a combined jacket pipe known as a quadruple pipe. All are flexible and made from cross-linked


polyethylene PE-Xa and heating pipes are colour coded to enable easy identification of flow and return during installation, even with mounted dust or shrink end caps. The multilayer thermal insulation is made from


cross-linked, microcellular polyethylene PE-X foam with a water-repellent closed cell structure, characterised by its durable, non-ageing insulation performance, and its permanent elasticity, maximizing and maintaining the thickness of the insulation layer, even after bending multiple times. The high-grade, black coloured UV-resistant, double walled, corrugated HDPE jacket pipe shields the pre-insulated piping system against mechanical impacts and moisture, whilst maintaining maximum flexibility. Manufacturers will be able to offer a full range of fixtures and fittings to complete your project.


DOWNLOAD THE HVR APP NOW May 2022 21


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32