Richmond Park - HIU & Plantroom Retrofit

Richmond Park, managed by Great Places Housing Group, is a social housing development in Sheffield consisting of 299 dwellings, including houses and flats. Heat is provided through a 2-pipe communal heat network supplied by a boiler house with 2-3 100kW condensing boilers.

The system distributes heat at 75°C to radiators in dwellings, with domestic hot water (DHW) generated by 120L hot water cylinders. While this setup delivers heat effectively, inefficiencies in design and operation created challenges impacting residents and system longevity.

In 2022, Great Places Housing Group partnered with FairHeat to apply for Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) Demonstrator funding. Once awarded, FairHeat conducted an optimisation study, identifying areas for improving the heat network’s efficiency. It highlighted that by enhancing insulation, especially along terminal runs and in the plantroom, could reduce heat loss, while addressing elevated return temperatures (averaging 70°C) would allow boilers to operate more efficiently. Improvements in network bypasses, water treatment, and equipment maintenance were also suggested.

The study also outlined how the DHW system could benefit from better temperature regulation to reduce scalding risks and introducing automatic controls in the plantroom would simplify operations, reduce wear on components, lower maintenance costs, and extend the system’s lifespan.

These improvements in turn could help alleviate the financial strain on the system’s operation.

In 2024, Great Places Housing Group engaged with FairHeat to carry out a Heat Network Efficiency Scheme Capital Works application for funding, which they were successfully awarded around £1.6M. FairHeat led on the Design, Delivery and Quality Assurance of the HIU and Plant Room Retrofit. The team addressed the challenges at Richmond Park by implementing the Work Package proposed. This included a series of targeted solutions that tackled inefficiencies, enhanced safety, and improved overall system reliability. Each intervention was carefully planned to maximise impact while minimising disruption for residents.

Improving System Efficiency through Insulation

FairHeat identified that significant heat losses were occurring due to poor insulation in the network and plantroom. To mitigate this, insulation was upgraded throughout the system to meet CP1 (2020) standards. This improvement reduced heat losses during heat distribution, ensuring that more energy reached the dwellings. By addressing this inefficiency, the system’s performance improved while reducing energy waste and operational costs.

Enhancing Plantroom Control with BMS Integration

To address operational inefficiencies, a Building Management System (BMS) was installed in the plantroom. The BMS provided automated control of pumps and boilers, optimising their operation based on real-time demands. This significantly reduced wear and tear on the equipment, minimised maintenance requirements, and lowered electricity consumption. By automating controls, the system achieved greater operational reliability and improved energy efficiency.

Optimising Boiler Operation with Weather Compensation

FairHeat implemented weather compensation on the boilers, a system that adjusts the flow temperature dynamically based on external weather conditions. This intervention allowed the boilers to operate at lower average flow temperatures during milder conditions, reducing energy consumption while maintaining resident comfort. This adjustment also contributed to lowering return temperatures, enabling the boilers to function more efficiently in condensing mode.

Closing Network Bypasses and Recommissioning Radiators

Network bypasses were a major source of inefficiency, contributing to elevated return temperatures and wasted energy. The Project Delivery team systematically closed these bypasses to improve hydraulic balancing and prevent unnecessary heat losses. Simultaneously, radiators in the dwellings were recommissioned to ensure they operated efficiently and delivered optimal heating performance. These measures collectively improved the system’s overall efficiency and reliability.

Improving Water Quality with Filtration Systems

Poor water quality had been compromising the performance and longevity of the heating system. To address this, FairHeat’s Project Delivery team installed a side-stream filtration unit, which effectively removed impurities and improved the system’s water quality. This not only enhanced the performance of radiators and heat emitters but also protected key components, such as pumps and boilers, from damage caused by contaminants.

Mitigating Safety Risks by Replacing DHW Cylinders

The use of stored DHW cylinders was identified as a safety risk due to the potential for Legionella growth and scalding hazards. The cylinders were replaced with safer alternatives that eliminated these risks. This intervention ensured compliance with modern safety standards while improving the reliability of hot water delivery to residents.

Extending Boiler Lifespan with Back-End Valves

To prevent flow dilution in the boilers, back-end valves were installed, ensuring that the boilers operated efficiently and consistently. This measure also reduced the strain on the equipment, extending its operational lifespan and reducing the need for frequent maintenance.

By taking a structured and targeted approach, FairHeat’s Project Delivery team delivered a comprehensive solution that addressed the core issues affecting Richmond Park’s heat network. These interventions not only improved energy efficiency but also ensured a safer and more reliable heating system for residents.

Resident engagement:

Engagement days were held at the start and end of the project to allow residents to ask any questions about their heating upgrade. This engagement, along with work completed by Great Places’ Customer Liaison Officer throughout the project, helped to provide an understanding of what works would be completed and why there were needed, and ensured that access issues were avoided which helped to keep the project on programme. The engagement day at the end of the project also allowed residents to learn about the benefits of their heating upgrade with expected savings explained from a more efficient system.