WATER HEATING
NAVIEN UK’S NPE-24SWE UNITS WERE SELECTED AS THE BEST SOLUTION TO REPLACE OLD FLOOR-STANDING STORAGE HEATERS WITH PINHOLE LEAKS IN THE KITCHEN OF BELFAST CITY HALL… Tankless water heating systems
Replacement of outdated hot water systems in hotels, civic buildings, leisure centres and catering venues presents a growing opportunity for installers. Tankless technology is increasingly being considered where space, demand variability and energy efficiency are key drivers. One recent example is Belfast City Hall, a landmark building and venue for weddings and other formal events. The kitchen for its Grand Hall, which supports high-volume banquets, had been operating with floor-standing storage heaters which had developed pinhole leaks and were no longer economically viable to repair. Their location within a constrained plant room made removal challenging, while the operational demands of the bustling kitchen meant any replacement needed to deliver high output, consistent performance and a practical installation solution within limited space. After assessing factors such as output, scalability, installation access and long- term maintainability, Navien UK’s NPE- 24SWE tankless water heating units were selected as the best solution. Addressing the immediate issues, the units also reshape the building’s hot water strategy by introducing a more modern, efficient and future-ready approach. By delivering hot water on demand, the system removed the need to heat and store large volumes of water overnight, reducing unnecessary energy use. The compact form factor and relatively light weight of the units also allowed installers to manoeuvre them through restricted access points and complete installation efficiently. Crucially, output and scalability were central to the specification. The NPE- 24SWE’s ability to deliver high output and operate in cascade ensures capacity can be matched to demand without oversizing the system at the outset. This approach supports both efficiency and future flexibility. Following installation, Belfast City Hall reported immediate delivery of 60°C
Belfast City Hall.
Navien NPE-24SWE tankless water heaters.
The kitchen for the Grand Hall.
hot water at point of use, consistent performance during peak demand and the removal of the daily energy requirement associated with heating a cold-water cylinder each morning. The additional plant room space created has also simplified access for future maintenance. As a result, Belfast City Council is now exploring the wider use of similar solutions across other sites. Tankless water heaters, sometimes referred to as instantaneous or on- demand systems, heat water as required, rather than storing and maintaining large volumes at a temperature. In applications with fluctuating or intermittent demand, this can help reduce energy used during periods of low or no usage. According to the Energy Saving Trust, instantaneous water heating systems can be more energy efficient than traditional storage-based solutions because they eliminate standby heat losses associated
with keeping large volumes of water hot. Industry estimates suggest that, when correctly specified and applied in suitable commercial environments, this approach can contribute to energy savings in the region of 15-30%, depending on usage patterns and demand profiles. In a market where energy prices and efficiency targets remain under scrutiny, this can be an attractive consideration for building operators reviewing long-term running costs.
Navien UK supports installers and specifiers with a broad portfolio of heating and hot water solutions, alongside guidance to help ensure systems are correctly matched to building requirements. www.navien.co.uk/product/npe- water-heater/ Want to know more?
74 | PLUMBING & HEATING MAGAZINE
FOLLOW US ON:
www.plumbingmag.com
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online