Case Study: Healthcare
Client: Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
M&E Budget: £76,000
Completed: March 2026
Primary Services Used
- Project Manager
- Mechanical Engineering
- BMS Engineers
Meel Group replaces outdated boilers within Stepping Hill Hospital.
Project Background:
The boilers supplying Willow House at Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, were failing due to age. Hot water supplies and heating had become intermittent and the legacy plant required frequent, costly maintenance.
Meel Group Projects were contracted to install and integrate a completely new system designed to provide efficient, reliable hot water and heating across the facility.
Mechanical Scope
- Decommissioning & Removal: Safe removal of the legacy system with zero interruption to active services.
- Boiler Installation: High-efficiency Ideal Commercial Evomax 2 150kW boilers
Why we selected the Evomax 2 solution:
- Ultra-Efficient: Delivers up to 99.6% full-load efficiency, reducing operational costs.
- Compact & Powerful: Delivers a high-capacity 150kW output from a space-saving, wall-hung footprint.
- Scalable Output: Features cascade capabilities to flawlessly match fluctuating hospital demand.
- Low Emissions: Class 6 NOx rating for environmental compliance.
- Industrial Durability: Built with a robust cast aluminium-silicon alloy heat exchanger for an extended operational lifespan.
- Enhanced Safety: Includes an integrated flue non-return valve to prevent exhaust gas recirculation.
We also installed a bespoke ECOFLOW Domestic Hot Water Plate Heat Exchanger. This tailored unit provides an advanced, high-performance solution engineered specifically for commercial heating and hot water applications.
The entire system was fully integrated into the hospital’s existing Building Management System (BMS).
Compliance
Prior to final handover, the Low Temperature Hot Water (LTHW) network was fully flushed and dosed, and the domestic water system was chlorinated in strict accordance with UK healthcare standards.
Health & Safety
At Meel Group, Health & Safety is at the core of our operations; we had no accidents or near-misses during this project. Our delivery teams work consistently within live healthcare environments and are highly experienced in adhering to the robust, stringent safety procedures required on NHS sites.
Project Challenges
- Maintaining Continuity: It was critical to maintain uninterrupted hot water services to Willow House throughout the installation process, as the building also houses essential hospital staff accommodation.
- Phased Replacement: The existing boilers were decommissioned in a strict sequence. Our engineers removed and replaced Boiler 1 first; only when they were entirely satisfied with the new unit’s performance did they proceed to the next. This sequence was repeated until all three boilers were fully operational.
- Scheduling: To eliminate any risk of disruption to the building’s occupants, the replacement of the hot water plate heat exchanger was executed entirely ‘out of hours’.
Project Result:
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust expressed that they were delighted with the final delivery. Willow House now benefits from a highly efficient and robust heating plant that guarantees long-term reliability.
