HEATING, VENTILATION & AIR CONDITIONING


IT’S TIME TO


FUTURE-PROOF THE HOT


Condensing water heaters like the SUPAflo EVO are up to 20% more efficient than non-condensing units


WATER SYSTEM


Regulations relating to non-condensing water heater replacement are changing in June. Energy managers


should therefore consider planning ahead now to avoid potentially costly and extended downtime in the months ahead, says Rob Erwood, specification and sales director at Baxi Commercial Solutions


C


hanges to Part L of Building Regulations, which sets the standards for the energy performance


and carbon emissions of new and existing buildings, will come into force in just a few months. One of the updates relates to stricter thermal efficiencies for domestic hot water systems. From 15 June 2022, direct-fired water heaters


must achieve a minimum heat generator seasonal efficiency of 91% (GCV) for natural gas and 92% (GCV) for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). For indirect-fired water heaters, the minimum heat generator seasonal efficiency is set at 91% (GCV) for both natural gas and LPG. The tighter standards apply to both existing and new non-domestic building stock. So what will this mean? In essence, the more


stringent efficiency standards will phase out the use of non-condensing water heaters in the vast majority of buildings. Are there any exclusions? Approved Document L


notes that in very exceptional circumstances, where condensing water heater replacement is deemed not suitable or practical by the Building Control Body, a minimum seasonal efficiency of 80% for gas, or 79% for LPG, may be used.


WHY WASTE WHEN YOU COULD SAVE The uplift is part of the government’s roadmap to help the UK move towards its net zero target by 2050 and is an important step towards more energy-efficient existing non-domestic buildings. Energy efficiency is absolutely critical to reduce emissions from existing buildings and also to avoid unnecessarily high bills at a time of rising energy costs. After all, the cleanest and cheapest kW of heat is the one we don’t use. Condensing water heaters like the Andrews Water


Heaters ECOflo, SUPAflo and MAXXflo EVO are up to 20% more efficient than non-condensing models. As NOx emissions are also lower, upgrading to condensing water heaters will help businesses make vital progress towards their environmental commitments while reducing energy demand. Yet at present, a significant number of businesses continue to rely on non-condensing water heaters to


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provide hot water services. What’s more, there is currently the option to carry out like-for-like replacements of non-condensing water heaters. The advantage of this approach is that no


major work is involved, so the equipment can be replaced quickly with minimal disruption to the daily operation of the building. However, energy managers should take note that


this opportunity will soon be ruled out for the vast majority of cases. And while the efficiency benefits of upgrading to condensing water heaters are clear, certain factors, such as flueing and condensate arrangements, will require early consideration to avoid potentially costly, extended downtime.


ROBUST ASSET MANAGEMENT So how can energy managers ensure that their businesses are protected moving forward? Our advice is to act now to future-proof the hot water systems. Even on the few and far between projects where exemptions may apply, forward planning is essential to avoid any risk of censorship from the Building Control Body. A logical starting point is to implement a robust


asset management programme. With regular condition surveys and inspection of plant room assets in place, energy managers will be able to prepare for future change, schedule future upgrades and replacements, and budget ahead. Not only will this simplify the replacement process, but it will ultimately help protect the company coffers. What’s more, with a proactive asset management


programme in place, planning the company route to net zero will also be easier. In many older buildings, the decarbonisation


challenge may seem huge. But taking a phased approach to refurbishment is an achievable means of meeting longer-term goals. Upgrading from non-condensing to highly efficient condensing water heaters could be the important first step that will help bring the building up to code. A natural progression would then be to


integrate a heat pump and condensing water heater in a hybrid design. This would reduce the carbon footprint still further by meeting the


ENERGY MANAGEMENT - Spring 2022 21 hot water demand more sustainably.


MANUFACTURER SUPPORT At the end of the day, what nobody wants is for buildings to be left in an emergency situation with no hot water supply. As experts in heating and hot water solutions, we look forward to supporting energy managers with site visits, assisting with sizing and helping ‘triage’ the hot water system to achieve the most appropriate solutions at the right time. Working together, we can plan ahead to achieve


a smooth transition to a hot water system that is simultaneously more sustainable and future- proofed – and in so doing, help energy managers minimise disruption and protect the bottom line.


Baxi Commercial Solutions www.baxiheating.co.uk Andrews Water Heaters andrewswaterheaters.co.uk


Andrews Water Heaters is part of Baxi Commercial Solutions.


Upgrading from non-condensing to condensing water heaters is an energy and carbon saving quick win


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