Non-domestic hot water heating systems (AM14)

Arnold Teekaram

• Publisher: The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
• Year: 2010
• eBook ISBN: 9781906846121
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Construction & Architectural Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

When first published in 1989, CIBSE AM3 provided guidance on a novel form of boiler for heating systems and domestic hot water — the condensing boiler. In the intervening period, the place of the condensing boiler in heating and hot water systems has changed to the point where, in almost all cases, they are now required by the Building Regulations. Standards for such systems have evolved from the old British Standards into new European Standards, which focus far more on removing barriers to trade than overcoming barriers to understanding how to install and commission modern boilers, heating and control systems.Other regulations have also emerged in that time, notably the Boiler Efficiency Directive, as well as the Energy Using Products Directive. The environmental agenda has also travelled far in that time, from Rio to Kyoto and then on, via Bali, to Copenhagen.From a position of self sufficiency in oil and gas from the harsh operating conditions of the North Sea, and a quarter of UK electricity generated from nuclear plant, we now have dwindling nuclear supplies as our aging reactors reach the end of their working lives, and are increasingly dependent on gas from the harsher political climate east of the Urals. There is no avoiding the need for the United Kingdom to reduce its energy use by all economically effective means. Doing so is essential to improve the security of our supplies, and to minimise the huge capital costs of the next generation of electricity plants, whatever fuel they use. Taking these actions now will also help us to reduce man-made emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.The politics of CO2 emissions may be clouded, but the chemistry is very simple. The bond between carbon and oxygen absorbs radiation at a certain wavelength, so that carbon dioxide traps radiation and prevents it leaving the atmosphere — the 'greenhouse gas' effect. If there is more CO2 in our atmosphere, it will retain more heat. This fact was established by the Swedish chemist Arrhenius in the late 19th century.It is also increasingly clear that the existing building stock needs considerable investment to reduce its energy consumption, and replacement of heating systems will play a significant role in achieving this. There is a pressing need to provide advice on the refurbishment of existing buildings and retrofitting of heating systems within them. It is therefore timely for CIBSE, working with ICOM Energy and experts from the manufacturing, design, and installation and commissioning sectors, to produce this new Applications Manual, giving comprehensive guidance on the design, installation, commissioning and operation and maintenance of heating systems. It also addresses the two very different aspects of design: that intended for a new building, and that for a refurbishment or retrofit project.This publication should be widely read and used by all those responsible for heating systems in non-domestic buildings, and should contribute significantly to providing betterheating in many buildings.

Table of contents

• AM14 Non-domestic hot waterheating systems OFC
• Foreword
• Contents
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Design decisions and criteria: new buildings
• 3 Design decisions and criteria: refurbishment
• 4 Major components of heating systems
• 5 Controls
• 6 Installation
• 7 Testing, commissioning and maintenance
• 8 Troubleshooting for hot water heating systems
• Index