PROJECT 27
18kW air source industrial heat pumps had to be installed . The heat pumps were retrofitted onto the existing boilers and mounted onto the roofs , in close proximity of the boilers . With these changes the electrical control panels had to be upgraded and installed .
From a building point of view , custom-designed galvanised steel cat ladders were made and installed on the sides of each block . Remedial work was done in the boiler room in that painting , cleaning and repairs were necessary .
Burgess and Partners were appointed the main contractor on the project , with Darryl Brainin as projects director and Bernard Bezuidenhout and his assistants as the main plumbing technician and installer .
After thorough investigation it was apparent that the initial allowance for heating of the hot water pipes and storage of hot water was insufficient . The ring feed system providing the hot water had long runs of pipe or ‘ dead leg ’ pipes resulting in the delivery of hot water being a ‘ closer to the source , higher the delivery ’ basis meaning that rooms further away experienced substantial delays in the delivery of hot water . Block 1 and 4 have a room capacity of 28 double rooms with 4 boilers installed having a capacity of approximately 1 800 litres . Blocks 2 and 3 have room capacity of 32 double beds , and the dedicated boiler room delivers the same capacity as for Blocks 1 and 4 , with even poorer delivery of hot water .
As SANS 10252-1 requires 3 360 litres demand and storage or ( 120 litres / Bed / Day and 60 litres / bed / day respectively ) the current provision was inadequate . To avoid extreme inconvenience to guests during this upgrade it was decided to retain the existing storage vessels and apply an alternative heat source .
One of the five heat pumps installed , with connecting pipe and insulation .
Two of the four boilers in the boiler room .
All images : © Plumbing Africa – Rory Macnamara
April 2021 Volume 27 I Number 2 www . plumbingafrica . co . za