'Efficient heating for churches'

AirRight have successfully completed a number of heating conversions for local churches, replacing antiquated boilers with new high efficiency boiler plant, controls and heating systems. For St Botolph's Church at Shepshed AirRight were asked as part of the re-ordering (refurbishment) to submit a design and tender for the replacement of the old boiler plant and the upgrading of the heating system.

AirRight carried out a full survey of the existing heating system, including the necessary design calculations and established a design for the work. AirRight's design and tender was accepted by the architect and Parochial Church Council. The project involved the removal of the very inefficient 30 year old boiler plant and the installation of twin high efficiency gas fired condensing boilers complete with modulating burners, boiler sequence controls, and weather compensation and optimiser control. A pressurised sealed system plant was installed to serve the heating system and a range of boiler safety controls and interlocks installed.

Inside the church the existing pipework was retained where possible and a range of low noise fan convector heat emitters installed. These have provided a substantial upgrade in the heat output within the church giving a rapid warm up time and overcoming the very slow response time of the old system so typical of old church heating systems. The fan convectors were aesthetically finished to blend sympathetically with the redecorations in the church, and the new boiler flue was also specially finished to match the external stonework of the church. The final overall effect created a highly efficient and responsive heating system with good temperature control and was insympathy with the building fabric and use.