ADVECO LTD
UNIT 7 & 8
ARMSTRONG MALL
SOUTHWOOD BUSINESS PARK
FARNBOROUGH
HAMPSHIRE GU14 0NR
Tel: 01252 551540
Fax:
Suppliers of: Gas Boilers, Air Source Heat Pumps, Packaged Plant Rooms, Renewable Heating, Commercial Heating Systems, Solar Thermal Heating, Heat Recovery, Water Heating
Adveco – The Hot Water Specialists - Bespoke & Packaged Domestic Hot Water Systems for Commercial Projects
Adveco Ltd. is the trusted specialist provider of bespoke, low-carbon hot water and heating systems to the building services industry. Adveco is the single source for system design, supply, commissioning and warranty service. Our services include onsite metering, engineer assessment, and theoretical modelling. Adveco also provides a wide range of options for electric and gas water heating, incorporating the latest heat pumps, solar thermal, electric boilers, cylinders, gas water heaters and boilers, and heat recovery technologies. From individual appliances to full systems that can be packaged or even built off-site and delivered ready for installation, Adveco is able to support projects with bespoke offerings that ensure optimal and cost-effective operation and a route to reducing carbon emissions from your buildings.
BIM & CAD Files available: Click here
Our sectors include:
- Education
- Healthcare
- Hotels
- Leisure
- Offices
- Public Sector
- Restaurants & bars
Our Product Ranges:
Water Heating - Commercial Hot Water Systems:
Data gathering, sizing and bespoke system recommendation for commercial properties intending to replace legacy gas systems.
A range of ASHP’s with above average seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP), for DHW system pre-heat
- FPi-32 Air Source Heat Pumps
- L70 Air Source Heat Pump
- FUSION Packaged Electric Water Heating System
Compact, efficient systems for carbon reduction in commercial buildings which use large amounts of daily hot water, whether on gas or electric.
- Solar Collectors
- Solar Thermal Drainback
- SGE Water Heater with Integrated Solar
A wide selection of highly efficient condensing gas water heaters. Choose from glass-lined or stainless steel vessels with a range of tank sizes to meet project demands.
- AD Water Heaters
- AD Plus Instantaneous Water Heaters
- BFC Cyclone Water Heater
- Innovo Water Heater
- SGE Water Heater
- Twister II Water Heater
For the widest selection of commercial-grade hot water cylinders with indirect-fired water heaters, calorifiers and buffers for various DHW applications requiring large volume storage of water at high temperatures.
- SSB, SSI, SST Stainless Steel Hot Water Tanks
- ATSx Stainless Steel Hot Water Tanks
- GL Hot water Cylinders
- MSS Premium Steel Buffers
- IT Indirect Tanks
- ITS Twin Coil Indirect Tanks
- ST Storage Tanks
A range of electric boilers and water heaters designed to cut carbon emissions in line with net zero strategies and drive greater efficiency and longevity optimising capital investments.
- ARDENT Floor-Standing & Wall-Mounted Electric Boilers
- FUSION Packaged Electric & Packaged Renewable Water Heaters
- SSB-E Stainless Steel Electric Water Heaters
- DRE Electric Water Heaters
- EES Electric Water Heaters
A range of electric immersion heaters and kits for use with water heating systems. Ideally suited as backup heat sources in a wide variety of applications, they are an excellent choice for low carbon top up heating when paired with renewables.
- EB Series
- E Series
The HR001, is a standalone Heat Recovery Unit providing a convenient, packaged unit to recover refrigerant system waste heat. Perfect for commercial organisations that make use of large chiller or refrigeration technology as part of their day to day operations, such as restaurants and large-scale catering facilities in hotels, schools or universities and retailers holding frozen stock.
Creating a modern, efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable hot water & heating system is not just advantageous, it is increasingly becoming a demand as the United Kingdom transitions towards a more environmentally friendly Net-Zero nation by 2050.
- Low Carbon Packaged e32-Hot Water System
- MD Floor Standing Boilers
- MD Wall Hung Boilers
- MSB Standard Steel Heating Buffers
- Chilled Water Tanks
Adveco Ltd. employ an experienced team of industry professionals to provide first class services including technical support. An in-house technical department is available to provide specialist technical information and support for any query.
Further technical information is valiable through the Manufacturer’s own website or from the BPi Download Library
Is the Race For Sustainability Superseding Safety?
Designing a successful hot water system today necessitates a nuanced approach, carefully balancing adherence to stringent building legislation, paramount safety considerations and economic viability. In addition, there is also the growing imperative of environmental sustainability, which has not only emerged as a key driver in the optimisation of commercial hot water systems, but has started to supersede both cost optimisation and, what should be non-negotiable, safety.
In recent years, the water heating industry has seen immense change as new technologies have sought to improve efficiency, reduce energy demands and decarbonise building emissions. Such technology will often move faster than legislation, creating new design challenges and concerns. In the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire, new requirements for the protection of higher risk buildings (HRBs) were introduced in the Building Safety Act 2022, and work continues to extend tighter legislation to other classes of buildings. From the perspective of safety, ultimate responsibility sits with the design and specification of a building and its systems, though many will still look to the poor execution of installation. Despite this, we are still seeing specifications and installation of systems that raise concerns over safety. This is particularly the case at the moment due to the focus placed on the use of heat pumps and solar by the government, seeking to adhere to Net Zero goals.
The issue with heat pumps, especially for hot water generation, is that they were conceived as a low-temperature technology, perfect for domestic heating, but less so for commercial DHW, where high temperatures are required to prevent legionella, a key safety concern for water heating. This has led to the development of refrigerants which are both lower in global warming potential (GWP) and able to generate higher temperatures, in excess of the necessary 65°C working temperatures. Currently, the most popular option for such units is R290, due to its extremely low Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 3 and zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP), making it an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional refrigerants. However, its primary drawback and a significant concern for widespread adoption is its high flammability, as R290 is propane.
In the event of a leak, if the concentration of R290 in the air reaches its lower flammable limit (LFL) – approximately 2.1% by volume – and an ignition source (like a spark or open flame) is present, there is a risk of fire or explosion. Propane is heavier than air, so leaked gas tends to accumulate at ground level or in low-lying areas, increasing the potential for dangerous concentrations in confined spaces or poorly ventilated areas.
To mitigate these risks, stringent safety measures and regulations are crucial. Installation and maintenance of R290 heat pumps must be carried out only by highly trained and certified professionals who understand the specific handling requirements of flammable refrigerants. This includes adhering to strict protective zones around the outdoor unit, which must be free from ignition sources, building openings (like windows and doors), and potential underground spaces where gas could collect.
Heat pump manufacturers do incorporate various safety features into R290 systems, such as minimal refrigerant charge, sealed circuits, leak detection sensors, and explosion-proof components. However, human error during installation, inadequate ventilation, or accidental damage to the system can still lead to a hazardous situation. From our own experiences of supplying water heating appliances and heat pumps, we know they get damaged in transit, when stored on site and during movement for installation. So leaks are going to happen, but what does that mean?
While unlikely, catastrophic pipe or component failure could lead to a rapid release of the entire charge. More commonly, small, gradual leaks might occur over time. The danger arises if such leaks accumulate in an enclosed or poorly ventilated space, reaching the flammable concentration range. ASHPs are most likely to be externally installed, where natural ventilation helps to rapidly disperse any leaks, often preventing them from reaching flammable concentrations. So, leaks are less likely to find the necessary mix of air (within the 2.1% to 9.5% concentration range) to become explosive. However, being denser than air (vapour density ~1.6 compared to air’s 1), R290 will tend to sink and accumulate in low-lying areas, depressions, or confined spaces around the unit. This pooling increases the likelihood of reaching a flammable concentration, particularly if enclosed or ventilation is poor – courtyards, or areas with high walls, roofs with parapets and proximity of the ASHP to windows, doors, air intakes, or drainage points offer potential areas where propane could pool and, at around 4% concentration in air, create a significant explosion hazard with the right source of ignition.
R290 has a relatively high auto-ignition temperature of around 470°C, so general hot surfaces are less of a concern, but electrical sparks from components, static discharge, and open flames will provide necessary ignition when fuel (R290) and air are present in necessary levels.
To mitigate this risk, domestic R290 ASHPs are typically designed with very small refrigerant charges, but the latest generation of commercial models are far larger, with recent models ranging up to 450 kW. The propane charge is also greater and can be anywhere from 4 to 50+ kilos.
Liquid propane will produce a very large volume of gas once it vaporises. Approximately 1 kg of liquid propane produces about 0.54 cubic meters of gas. So, 50 kg would produce 23 m³ of propane gas, creating a significant explosion, but even at 4 kg, the potential explosive volume of gas is 2.16m³, exceeding current recommendations to separate units by at least 1m.
The concern is that should a unit leak, the concentration of appliances, whether new or older heat pump units, or neighbouring HVAC and solar systems, could easily supply the necessary source for ignition. Consider installations on the sides of buildings, for example, where leaks would drop down beyond set ‘safe’ distances onto other units. The fear is that it could lead to a ‘daisy chain’ effect, igniting other units in series. Given the demand for roof space, this raises a host of questions about how system design should and must progress to ensure safe operation.
Of particular concern is the proximity of R290 heat pumps and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. While the combination of R290 heat pumps and solar PV offers significant environmental and efficiency benefits for commercial buildings, the safety concerns related to shared roof space demand meticulous planning, design, and execution to mitigate the risks associated with R290’s flammability and the electrical nature of solar PV.
Solar PV systems operate with direct current (DC), which can produce sustained electrical arcs in the event of damaged wiring or faulty connections. These arcs are powerful ignition sources. Inverters, combiner boxes, and other electrical components of the solar PV system are also inherent ignition risks.
PV systems do catch fire, but it’s challenging to provide an exact, definitive number of fires in commercial buildings specifically attributed to solar PV installations. However, available data and reports offer insights into the trends and causes. If we focus on the UK, where some studies have been conducted, the incidence of fires involving solar PV systems is statistically very low, especially when considering the significant growth in installed capacity. However, as the number of installations increases, so does the absolute number of incidents.
Between 2010 and 2022, the UK’s Incident Recording System (IRS) recorded 325 fires that included a reference to solar PV. It’s important to note that these figures may include instances where solar panels were present on site, but the fire originated elsewhere. According to a 2017 BRE (Building Research Establishment) report, 26 of 58 incidents of PV fires occurred in commercial properties. More recent reports indicate a significant increase. There were 66 fires related to solar panels between January and July 2023 alone, in the UK, compared to 63 fires for the whole of 2019. This suggests a six-fold increase in solar panel fires over the last ten years.
There were a variety of attributable causes, including frequently cited DC isolators and DC connectors as common points of failure leading to fires, accounting for over two-thirds of equipment faults. As systems age, the risk of failure and fire from components (like inverters) can increase. Poor installation practices are a significant contributing factor, with some reports suggesting that as much as 36% of incidents were attributable to this. This highlights the importance of using accredited and competent installers. Faulty products, design issues, and external influences like moisture ingress, bird damage, or extreme weather can also play a role.
So, what is the answer?
Greater legislation for commercial-grade appliances is required, especially in relation to the safe transport, storage and installation of pre-charged (i.e. monobloc design) ASHPs.
Stricter specification of ‘protective zones’ or ‘safety zones’ around the units is required. These zones must be free from any building openings (windows, doors, ventilation inlets/outlets) and potential ignition sources. This is especially the case when approaching layouts that incorporate R290 heat pumps and solar PV arrays. Panels, mounting structures, and associated electrical equipment need to be kept a safe distance away from the heat pump units.
Safety zones for R290 should also exclude any depressions or underground spaces where the heavier-than-air gas could accumulate. This is crucial for flat commercial roofs that might have minor dips or service access points.
For those designing systems, a comprehensive risk assessment is essential for any commercial roof installation combining R290 heat pumps and solar PV. This assessment must consider potential leak scenarios, dispersion patterns, ignition sources, and emergency response.
While the overall statistical risk of a fire directly caused by a R290 or solar PV installation remains low, incidents do occur, and their number is expected to increase as the technologies gain more widespread adoption. The concern is that untried combinations of technologies could have serious implications for the safety of those using commercial buildings, maintaining building services, and ultimately responding to emergencies related to the technology in question.
So, is there a better way?
For the provision of domestic hot water to commercial buildings, the simple answer is yes. All refrigerants, whether R290, PFAS or R32, have their issues. Currently, R32-based ASHPs offer a more compact, lower-cost and safe means to generate necessary temperatures for commercial applications. At Adveco, our recommendation is to retain R32 ASHPs as a source of preheat to a DHW application, providing greater versatility and assured service for lower investment and operational costs. The approach also considerably simplifies installation and demands for space. Primary heat for top up and peak demands can then be supplied with either a gas water heater or an electric boiler for greater carbon reduction.
For solar preheat, Adveco recommends the deployment of solar thermal as opposed to solar PV, especially for gas replacement in existing buildings. Specifications will often aim to deploy solar photovoltaics (PV) to supply electricity for space heating and water. PV will always offset grid electricity at 136g/KWh, equivalent to 18 kg of CO₂/m²/annum. Compare this to solar thermal, which offsets gas emissions at 233g/kWh, or 148 kg of CO₂/m²/annum. This makes solar thermal eight times more effective per m² than PV when addressing carbon emissions from water heating, translating to a smaller panel area for solar thermal on the rooftop.
We would always advocate splitting solar water heating (solar thermal) from solar space heating (PV) to gain the greatest efficiencies. A typical office may require, as a rule of thumb, one solar thermal collector per 100 litres of thermal storage capacity. Most commercial-grade applications will typically require six to 20 solar collector panels. These collectors and the gravity-fed system used in Adveco solar thermal applications are also intrinsically safe, so there are no points of ignition.
This hybrid approach, mixing R32 heat pumps, solar thermal and preferably electric boilers in an indirect system, optimises energy demands and ensures robust provision of daily hot water, which also meets sustainability goals. It also maximises the use of space for services and lowers upfront and ongoing operational costs.
Ask Adveco? Sustainability and Regulation Challenges For Water Heating
Welcome to the second in the Ask Adveco series. This time we respond to questions on DHW sustainability and regulation challenges..
How does Adveco define sustainability within commercial buildings?
Sustainability encompasses a broad range of functions across the commercial sector, from the bricks and mortar construction to daily operational demands. As a hot water specialist for more than 50 years, Adveco’s focus is on how we can take not just new, but also the many existing buildings, to a point where sustainability can be actively demonstrated. For us, that means best addressing the type of energy used and reducing the energy required to meet business-critical hot water demands for tangible carbon emission reductions – all without impacting daily operations or incurring costs that prevent the forward movement of sustainable business strategies.
What are the challenges of upcoming regulation/technical changes that specifiers need to be aware of in the short to medium term?
The Buildings Safety Act has increased scrutiny of hot water systems, which higher-risk buildings (HRB) must adhere to more strictly. For new HRB or significant alterations to existing ones, building control approval is required. This process involves detailed scrutiny of the proposed hot water system design, ensuring it complies with regulations and safety standards. Of note are the requirements placed on gas water heating and the installation of flues or appliance ventilation ducts, which, if they penetrate compartment walls or floors, should exhibit a fire resistance (REI) that is at least half of the compartment wall or floor. For all buildings over 30m tall, and for some situations in buildings over 18m tall or under 10m deep, flue through compartment walls will not be allowed under the new legislation.
The will likely be further tightening of energy performance standards for hot water systems under Part L. If that is the case, we can expect to see more stringent minimum efficiency requirements for all hot water systems, including boilers, heat pumps, and solar thermal systems. Regulations are also likely to incentivise greater integration of renewable energy sources, particularly solar thermal and heat pumps.
Lowering the storage temperature limits of DHW is also under review, but our technical consensus is that the review will not change the legislation. If it does, we would still design preheat at +50°C and system temperatures at a safe +65°C.
What do your technical teams get most commonly asked about?
The current challenges in the industry revolve around understanding how to size electric hot water systems with heat pumps to accurately fulfil a building’s DHW demands. Most questions revolve around their efficient ASHP operation, space for the tank and, of course, costs.
One issue we increasingly encounter in the retrofit space is the request to switch from gas to a like-for-like electric system. A 360kW gas application is very different to a 360kW electrical application; the electrical demand is simply enormous. Bringing that additional electrical supply to the building is incredibly expensive, so a lot of our technical design relates to meeting specified DHW demands whilst reducing costly electrical supply, which has the potential to derail sustainability projects.
How do you work with specifiers?
An initial engagement often happens via our free CPD offerings. Working together, we will supply the hot water design, which could involve metering an existing building or working within the specification and building legislations. The resultant design will recommend products that Adveco selects and supplies. But we can also create elements for a wider specification, such as designing only the preheat for a system.
Once the specification goes out to tender, it becomes a case of just keeping in touch over the months should there be any updates to the specification that require addressing. Adveco does continue to be involved with the building, though, through the commissioning process and ongoing system service.
What are the key sustainability challenges commercial buildings face when it comes to heating and hot water?
Lighting, heat and hot water are necessities. They are also a key contributing factor to the release of carbon emissions from commercial building stock, accounting for 40% of annual emissions. Water heating alone represents as much as 30% of a building’s daily energy demands, so it represents one of the key challenges seeking resolutions. From sink and basin-led demands, to showers, baths, pools, to kitchens, laundry and general demands for regular cleaning, all add to the demands for hot water, making it a business-critical function for most commercial and public sector organisations. Whilst new builds make consideration for such evolving demands as part of the current building regulations, the majority of commercial buildings are pre-existing, and many will be overdue for renovation.
Of the current commercial properties, only around 14.5% were constructed after 1996, and 80% of all buildings are still expected to be in use in 2050. However, factoring sustainability into older properties is complex and costly. This is especially true when addressing space heating, which can require the building to be adapted in terms of insulation, ventilation, energy supply, pipework and heat emitters. This is the most significant challenge facing building operators wishing to formulate net-zero strategies. There is a silver lining. When water heating reaches a scale seen in commercial properties (requiring a defined plant room space), it is essentially a separate system that requires less and lower impact alteration to the building’s fabric, pipework or energy supply for meaningful carbon savings. This means, despite the apparent system complexity, it remains one of the most cost-effective means of introducing sustainability in terms of capital investment and running costs.
If you have a question you would like answered by the team, feel free to send it to marketing@adveco.co, and we will aim to include it in future Q&As.
