Case Study: Heating Refurbishment - Education
Client: Urban Design & Consult
Sector: Healthcare
Completed: February 2025
Budget: £65,170
Services Used
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- BMS Engineers
- Air Source Heating
- Building Works
- Pipefitting and Welding
Plant room refurbishment with Air Source heat pump integration.
Site:
Birtle View Medical Practice in Heywood, Lancashire, is run by Hope Citadel Healthcare.
The existing plant room, heating system, and domestic hot water system were approaching the end of their life cycle, and it was no longer efficient for them to be repaired and maintained.
The project had to occur while the practice was live, and all services needed to be maintained throughout the works.
Contract Arrangements:
We secured this project via competitive tender from our valued Client, Urban Design & Consult. Meel Group have worked with this client on a number of previous projects.
Project Overview:
- Removal of end of life mechanical equipment including gas boiler, cylinder and associated equipment.
- Installation of new HTG boiler water heater and ASHP including associated BMS upgrades.
Project Elements:
Design
Meel Group designed the new plant room with considerations to improve the system’s longevity, efficiency, and ease of maintenance.
A new Air Source heat pump was to be installed to operate as a lead boiler for the supply of domestic hot water, with additional gas boilers installed to function as a top-up. The new system also required upgrades to the BMS.
Future-Proofing and Design Considerations
Pump-sizing was carefully planned in order to accommodate potential future expansions. Provision was made for additional circuits on the low-loss header to allow for system modifications or upgrades.
Preparation
Before work could begin to replace the existing systems at the medical centre, we installed temporary heating and domestic hot and cold water provision to prevent disruption and ensure the medical centre remained fully operational throughout the upgrades.
Scope of Works:
Heating : Low Temperature Hot Water (LTHW) Installation
- We installed two Worcester system boilers to provide low-temperature hot water (LTHW) for heating.
- Meel Group engineers replaced all the associated plant room equipment, including pumps, pipework, and controls.
- Our designers gave full consideration in their planning to allow for the future expansion of the heating system.
- These included appropriately sized pumps and the allowance for additional circuits on the low-loss header.
- The heating circuit was flushed and dosed during the installation to ensure optimal performance and system longevity.
Domestic Hot Water System (DHW) Installation
- As part of the building’s decarbonisation strategy, we installed a Daikin Altherma 3 high-temperature air-source heat pump.
- To support the ASHP, a 300L McDonald calorifier was also installed as part of the DHW system.
- Our engineers ensured that all the new systems were fully integrated with the building’s existing infrastructure and compliant with the energy efficiency and sustainability goals.
Project Challenges:
- The project took place while working in a live environment.
- Space was at a premium; the DHW system was to be heated by an Air Source Heat Pump, which required an internal unit and external controls. Our designs had to unitise available wall space very efficiently.
- Compliance to the NHS Standardisation Documentation was always adhered to, and some parts of the installation, such as providing 3-phase power to the ASHP, required careful design and implementation.
Commissioning & Results:
All new equipment was commissioned to ensure proper operation and integration with the existing infrastructure. The domestic installation was chlorinated on completion.
Health and Safety:
At Meel Group we take heath and safety very seriously, planning projects correctly to mitigate risk factors. This project was completed without accident. All RAMs were in place, and we had no incidents during the project.
The Results:
The design and installation has ensured that Birtle View Medical Centre now benefits from a reliable, efficient, and future-proofed heating and domestic hot water system. The system’s installation aligns with Hope Citadel Healthcare’s decarbonisation and sustainability objectives.
