Technologies
Underfloor Heating
Flame Mechanical Services sources its underfloor heating from Nu-Heat, one of the UK’s market leaders, having supplied over 30,000 systems over the past 20 years. Because Nu-Heat supplies a full range of technologies we can be sure they will integrate seamlessly into your property as all of the fittings necessary to complete the installation are provided.
Underfloor heating works by pumping a controlled flow of warm water from any heat source through plastic tubing embedded in the floor. Because the emitting area is large, sufficient warmth is provided even on a cold winter day with no need for supplementary heating.
Tailored manuals and CAD drawings are supplied for every system and to suit the heat source whether conventional boiler or heat pump. Nu-Heat uses a sophisticated computer calculation tool to ensure that all new systems will fulfil the potential of underfloor heating and match customers' expectations.
Nu-Heat currently has over 60 different floor constructions, from solid beam and block to floating floors, specific acoustic variations and timber-joisted floors to suit almost every project.
The advantages of underfloor heating include:
Design freedom – no radiators taking up wall space
Lower heating bills – 25-40% savings with a condensing boiler, more with a heat pump
Comfort – radiant warmth with no draughts caused by convection currents
Underfloor heating is suitable for both the ground floor and upper floors of a property. It is most easily fitted when a house is being built but can be easily integrated as part of a major renovation. For general refurbishment projects, products are available to fit over the existing floor structure but will involve some height build-up so it is always best to consult Axor Plumbing Services about the best option for each individual property.
All systems and system designs are fully guaranteed.
Ground Source Heat Pump / Air Source Heat Pump
Flame Mechanical Services sources its heat pumps from Nu-Heat, one of the UK’s market leaders in the integration of renewable technologies. Because Nu-Heat supplies a full range of technologies we can be sure they will integrate seamlessly into your property as all of the fittings necessary to complete the installation are provided.
Heat pumps work by extracting the inexhaustible free supply of solar energy stored naturally either in the ground, air or water and utilizing it for domestic heating and hot water. Solar energy in this form is an unlimited resource that produces no harmful emissions and requires no transportation or supply pipelines.
In a well-insulated property, every 1-kilowatt of electricity used to power the heat pump can provide up to 4 kilowatts of free energy. This ratio is referred to as the Coefficient of Performance or CoP, in this case the CoP would be 4. Looking at it another way, a CoP of 4 means the efficiency of the heat pump is 400%. Compare this to a boiler at 90% efficiency and the advantage is clear.
Low carbon emissions
Low heating bills with a high-efficiency system
The perfect partner for Nu-Heat underfloor heating systems
Full integration with Nu-Heat solar systems
A good alternative for properties with no access to gas
Air source heat pumps are often a practical option, as they require no digging or drilling and fewer plumbing connections are used during installation, making them cost effective to install. The units extract energy from the air and will operate in temperatures down to -20˚C and will make a considerable contribution to reducing energy consumption by up to 50% when compared to conventional boiler systems.
Solar thermal panels
During daylight hours the sun’s radiation warms the earth. This energy can be captured and used to heat water. Solar energy is an unlimited resource that produces no harmful emissions and requires no transportation or supply pipelines. Most households can generate a good proportion of their domestic hot water needs using Nu-Heat’s modern, maintenance free, well-engineered solar energy system.
The flat plate collectors utilise the latest collector technology including prismatic glass and titanium oxide absorber coating, both of which maximise performance.
The metal sheet absorber sits between the glazing and insulation and collects the radiation that passes through the glass.
Around 5m2 of roof space that faces east to west through south and receives direct sunlight for the main part of the day are needed to site the panels. Alternatively, if there is no south-facing roof, two panels could be installed separately, one facing east and one facing west – but this will make installation more costly. The panels don't always have to be mounted on a roof; they can be fixed to a frame.
A dedicated solar cylinder or a dedicated cylinder with a solar heating coil will be needed.
Flame Mechanical Services supplies a range of cylinders suitable for use with solar thermal panels.
In England most solar water heating systems don't need planning permission, but it is always best to consult the local planning office if the property is a Listed Building, or situated in a Conservation Area or World Heritage Site. If you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, please consult your local authority.
Flame Mechanical Services will be happy to assess the property and recommend the best set-up to meet your needs.
A solar water heating system can reduce a typical water-heating bill by between £50 and £85 per year. It will also save up to 570kg of CO2 emissions, depending on what fuel it will be replacing.
Nu-Heat solar water heating systems are supplied with a 10-year warranty. Panels should be inspected annually.
Fuel Displaced £ Saving per year CO2 saving per year
Gas £50 250 kg
Electricity £80 570 kg
Oil £55 310 kg
Solid £60 520 kg
All savings are approximate and are based on the hot water heating requirements of a 3-bed semi-detached home with a 3.4m2 panel. Figures have been obtained from the Energy Saving Trust and are correct at March 2012.
Energy Efficiency Measures
Levels of insulation within a building are of key importance for both underfloor heating and heat pump systems, as the better insulated the house, the more efficient and cost-effective to run the heating will be.
In practice even a building insulated to well above the building regulation requirement will always need some level of heating; first, because there has to be some passage of air from the outside to maintain freshness and second, because insulation does not itself create warmth, it simply helps to retain it.
All new homes are built to strict guidelines on air-tightness to help retain heat but it is important to consider this aspect when refurbishing an older home with potentially high heat losses. If you have a project that may have high losses please contact Flame Mechanical Services for advice.
It is inevitable that the cost of energy will continue to rise and insulation measures are just one way of limiting the amount of energy needed to heat the UK’s homes.
To help with the cost of installing energy efficiency measures such as insulation there are a range of grants and offers available from the government, local authorities and energy suppliers. When it is launched, the Green Deal will also provide a mechanism for qualifying households at install energy efficiency measures at no up-front cost; loans will be repaid with savings on energy use. For more information visit www.decc.gov.uk.
To find out whether you are entitled to a grant, call your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012 for free, impartial advice. Their advisors will tell you about any special grants or offers available in your area – and whether you will be eligible for them.
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater is collected from the roof via the downpipes, filtered, stored and then used for non-potable purposes including toilets, washing machines, garden hoses, for cleaning cars and other applications. It is not suitable for baths, showers or washing dishes.
Flame Mechanical Services supplies below ground tanks, which have the advantage of being unaffected by temperature extremes such as summer heat or freezing conditions. The tanks have a flat, two-cylinder design that requires less excavation than other products and offers greater flexibility. They are made of durable plastic.
Sizing depends on a number of considerations such as the average amount of rainfall, the number of occupants and the size of the roof. Tanks are available in two sizes, 3500L and 5000L. If required, two tanks can be fitted together very simply to increase storage capacity to 7000L or 10,000L.
There are three packages that give a flexible solution for individual properties:
Package 1 with an integrated filter suitable for roof sizes up to 150m2
Package 2 with an external filter suitable for roof sizes up to 350m2
Garden package with an inbuilt filter basket and its own jet pump
The range enables Flame Mechanical Services to specify the best solution for any property.
Rainwater harvesting plays its part in helping to achieve required levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes. When level 5 comes into force, rainwater harvesting will be a prerequisite.
Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery
The last few years have seen a significant increase in the number of Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems installed in new and existing homes
A MVHR system provides an energy efficient way of maintaining a fresh pleasant atmosphere in a property. The system utilizes a central air unit, housing two fans and a heat exchanger. The unit is connected by a series of duct systems to all the rooms of the property.
One fan extracts the stale, moist, unwanted air from the ‘wet’ rooms of the dwelling such as bathrooms and kitchens, this air is passed through the heat exchanger and exhausted to outside.
The second fan brings an equal volume of replacement fresh air from outside; this air passes through the heat exchanger to be pre-warmed by the heat removed from the stale exhaust air. The two air streams do not mix so there is no risk of cross contamination. Pre heated fresh air is distributed to the living rooms and bedrooms so that all rooms are continuously ventilated. This provides balanced ventilation throughout the home therefore negating the need for any further extraneous ventilation.
The pre heated fresh air provides energy efficient savings as the heating system within the property will have less work to do in order to maintain pre-set room temperature levels.
At Flame Mechanical Services we design, supply and install MVHR units and ductwork systems for a number of leading manufacturers.
Air Conditioning
Whether it is a single wall mounted air conditioning unit through to a centralised whole house fully ducted air conditioning system Flame Mechanical Services can help.
We have, for many years, specialised in the supply, installation and commissioning of a vast range of cooling and heat pump air conditioning equipment.
Through our technical staff and engineers, we are able to offer a full range of services both before and after sales giving advice and assistance.
From design to supply to installation Flame Mechanical Services can help you achieve the required levels of heating & cooling throughout your property.
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