Project Details

Axis successfully completed a Communal Boiler Replacement project at a retirement and sheltered housing scheme for elderly tenants in Chessington, Surrey over two months.

This property, owned and managed by The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, consists of 47 flats, including studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units.

Overview

Residents have been experiencing inconsistent heating and hot water due to aging plant items nearing the end of their lifecycle. To enhance both heating and hot water reliability, we executed a comprehensive strip-out of the existing plant room equipment, removing old, inefficient boilers and associated controls.

Installation Details

Axis’ Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) team installed a new boiler system based on Bosch Condens 7000, which can cascade in banks of up to six boilers, providing resilience against boiler failure. We selected three free-standing frames for the new 86kw boilers, perfectly suited for the existing boiler room space. These boilers are ready for a 20% hydrogen blend, futureproofing the system.

To guarantee uninterrupted hot water supply, we installed an 850-litre capacity hot water cylinder with a 30- minute re-heat. Temperature Mixing Values (TMVs) deliver water to flats at approximately 50-55°C, pre-set to the client’s specification. When the temperature drops the heating system will automatically come on, enhancing heating efficiency and reducing costs.

We installed a new Building Management System (BMS) to control the boilers, pumps, and the overall heating and hot water systems. We also flushed and chemically treated the water heating system to maintain cleanliness and optimal functionality. The fully-lagged new pipework prevents heat loss.

Benefits

• Increased heating efficiency
• Reduced energy bills
• Future proofing – Enhanced resilience against boiler failure
• Future proofing – Hydrogen ready boilers
• Uninterrupted heating a hot water service
• Supports the clients’ Net Zero targets

Resident Care and Communication

Throughout the project, our team maintained regular communication with residents, addressing their concerns promptly. For instance, we reduced the size of our compound upon their request. We kept residents informed of our progress and minimised disruptions to their water and heating supplies.

The Communal Boiler Replacement project in Surrey, exemplifies Axis’ commitment to improving living conditions for elderly residents while ensuring energy efficiency and system resilience.

“We were always having trouble. Heating would go off. Or we’d have not hot water. Since they put the new boiler in, it’s absolutely perfect. They cleaned up after too. They were brilliant, did not leave a mess at all. He was kind and courteous. I had no complaints at all. I thank Axis for doing such a brilliant job” – Resident