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Date: September 2021
Ham Baker Requirements
The large office space on site was at the time of OKEL’s site survey being heated by an obsolete and no longer reliable natural gas-fired commercial boiler system that the customer estimated to be 40+ years old.
The boiler was estimated to be operating at 50-60% efficiently due to its age and this was having a detrimental impact on running costs (as less efficient boilers must burn more fuel to generate heat).
General maintenance of the boiler became costly due to regular breakdowns. Sourcing spare parts to carry out the repairs was becoming increasingly difficult and often the offices could be without heat for lengthy periods until suitable parts were located.
The priority for the customer was to invest in a commercial boiler system that would provide a reliable source of heat for the workforce and substantial savings on energy bills.
OKEL chose to install 2 x fully modulating high-efficiency ATAG Commercial XL140 natural gas-fired boiler systems complete with integral “A” rated pump and delivering outstanding efficiencies of 98%.
Unlike older boilers that have no modulation feature, ATAG’s XL boiler model is fully modulating which allows the boiler to use the exact level of heat needed in real-time – this feature means that the boiler is incredibly efficient when it comes to fuel usage and in turn will reduce energy consumption and harmful emissions, and save on energy bills.
The new boiler systems came with a comprehensive manufacturer’s parts and labour warranty. This provided the customer with added peace of mind, knowing that any faults or outages caused by the boiler (and not user misuse) would be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Additionally, choosing to install 2 boilers instead of 1 gave the customer a backup in the event of boiler failure.
Given the age of the building (1960s build), and the age and condition of the pipework throughout the offices, we needed to factor into our design the introduction of a plated heat exchanger. This would ensure a clear separation of the 2 circuits and prevent the pressurised boiler system putting a strain on any weak areas of pipe throughout the building that could result in potential leaks.
A successful and timely installation took place and the customer reporting in Year 1 estimated annual gas savings of 40%, thanks to the excellent efficiencies and modulation feature of the new boiler systems, combined with modern and user-friendly thermostatic controls.