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Installing domestic boilers in commercial spaces
Generally, domestic and commercial properties require entirely diff erent heating and hot water systems to match the size of the property. Both, however, share the same goal of having to adequately meet the needs of the building’s occupants. Sean Keleher, technical director at Navien UK, looks at how heating and hot water appliances designed for houses could be utilised in smaller commercial properties
F
or the many thousands of businesses operating out of commercial spaces across the UK, a commercial boiler may not always
be necessary, providing installers with a chance to offer a more cost-effective alternative.
Spot the diff erence
Commercial properties usually require a much larger, more powerful boiler to ensure such a vast amount of space is adequately heated and all hot water outlets can be used with ease. Traditionally, the size or output of a commercial boiler is 70kW or more to provide enough power for greater reach throughout the property. Whereas domestic boilers will typically range from 24kW to 42kW outputs but can in fact range anywhere between 50kW and 70kW for larger homes. These tend to have six or fewer occupants living in the premises and more than 12 radiators to heat the house. One of the key differences between domestic
and commercial boilers is their lifespan. The lifespan can differ depending entirely on how much it is used and how often it is serviced and maintained. Domestic boilers usually have an expected lifespan of 10 to 15 years, while commercial boilers can be anywhere between 5 to 15 years, as these systems will typically work harder to reach a much a higher demand.
Finding the right fi t
While most commercial properties in the UK require these larger systems, there are many businesses that have the same, if not fewer requirements than a small to medium-sized home. This would include smaller high street stores, corner shops and local cafes, as these types of businesses would typically only use one or two hot water outlets and if required, have a much smaller space for central heating to cover. This can be applied to a whole host of
commercial premises, but the factors will differ from business to business. For example, a high street travel agent and a hair salon will operate out of similar spaces but will require different appliances because of the service they provide.
18 November 2023
As a travel agent may only have two or three rooms to heat, with a hot water outlet in both the staff kitchen and bathroom, the
business would benefit from a combi boiler designed for a medium-sized home, such as the Navien NCB500 ON Combi Crossover which provides up to 41kW of hot water output.
However, while a hair salon would also benefit
from this system, it would require an additional hot water heater, like the Navien NPE Water Heater, for customer facing hot water outlets, as they require instant hot water consistently throughout the day to meet the demands of the business.
Other businesses such as small offices or
office blocks, would benefit from a domestic boiler made for a larger home, for example the Navien NCB700 ON Combi Crossover, which provides a powerful 54kW hot water output. These larger, more powerful systems can heat up to 20 – 30 radiators depending on heating design temperatures, making it a great choice for smaller businesses looking to heat the property but for a lower cost. Both the Combi Crossovers feature the same technology from the water heater to provide consistent hot water without seeing a drop in flow rates, all from a single unit. Furthermore, price points for a commercial boiler typically start from around £2,000 and can be in the tens of thousands for more powerful units, which are commonly used for much larger properties. For domestic applications, most units
are under £1,000 and are between 10% and 20% servicing and maintenance costs.
Benefi ting the business
The Combi Crossover range is ideal for hassle- free installations, thanks to its efficient capabilities in a compact unit. The range has been designed to offer the same power of a high- performance system boiler with the cylinder less-advantages of a compact combi model, which lead Navien to create the Combi Crossover range, an entirely new category for the industry. For business owners, choosing to install a domestic boiler instead of a commercial boiler could even help them to reduce their energy usage and their bills. The Combi Crossover range is 20% Hydrogen-
ready with an ErP A+ rating when used with Navien’s Smart Plus controller, which offers users a wealth of advanced features. The advanced control can be accessed from a mobile phone, allowing business owners to control the system from wherever they are, which helps to reduce energy bills even further. Featuring innovative AI technology such as Smart Forecast and Geofencing, Smart Plus makes heating simpler and the user’s day easier. Smart Forecast will respond intuitively to the current weather conditions to ensure the property remains at a comfortable temperature, while Geofencing allows users to switch the boiler on or off, purely based on their proximity to the premises. This feature is particularly useful for business owners who may have other members of staff arriving at the property before them, as Smart Plus can be used on multiple devices to maximise comfort and convenience. As many business owners are looking to
significantly reduce their overheads, installers have an opportunity to offer these cost-effective alternatives with huge rewards, available from Navien.
www.heatingandventilating.net
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