Air Source Heating & Cooling System at Croydon College

We were appointed on a design and build contract to survey, supply and install a new air source heating and cooling heat pump system within a 300m2 common room located on the lower ground floor of Croydon College. The room is used for recreational time, sports and exams.

The project forms a part of Croydon College’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by 2030, as part of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. Replacing conventional heating systems (based on use of gas or oil) with greener, more sustainable alternatives.

The main challenges were to:

• Identify suitable locations for the outside condensing units.

• Secure access within the common room and work around staff needs.

• Decide how to split the room into suitable heating zones and ensure the zones work together effectively.

• Ensure that our proposed system has suitable energy-saving features to maximise operational efficiency.

A detailed site survey was carried out to identify the specification of equipment required, map out the enabling works and develop a detailed works schedule.

Air source heating systems are a proven low-carbon technology that provides efficient heating and cooling solutions well-suited to the British climate. By reducing the use of fossil fuels, they make a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of our economy. They work by transferring heat from the outside air to water, via a heat exchanger, which then heats a building via radiators or underfloor heating.

They are relatively simple to install but must be installed by reputable engineers to ensure effective operation. In this connection, we are pleased to confirm that our engineers are accredited by REFCOM (the leading certification body in this field) to ensure industry best practices, top-quality workmanship, and compliance document recording and filing on all installations.

We tailored the system to meet the specific needs of the college by:

• Splitting the total area into three zones, each with its own controller.

• Designing the system so that each zonal master unit’s controller is supported by a presence detector, which detects when the room is unoccupied and automatically shuts down the unit to reduce wasted energy.

• Setting up an app on the estate manager’s phone (and equipping each zone controller with a summer and winter mode) to make it simple and easy for staff to alter the temperature when needed.

We led the project from initial design, through:

• Enabling works (including removal of the suspended ceiling to allow access for mounting the ceiling units and pipework).

• Installation of controls and wiring.

• Connection of the heating units.

• Testing, balancing and commissioning of the system.

• Hand over to the client.

We kept the client advised at all times of progress, reflecting their needs and instructions as the project proceeded.

We successfully delivered the project within a three-week period during the 2023 summer break, on time and on budget.

The client was very pleased with the outcome, highlighting our professionalism, commitment to quality, and planning and delivery skills.

The project has delivered significant benefits, including:

• Helping the client deliver their business objectives via the installation of an environmentally sustainable, energy-efficient heating and cooling system in a large part of the college which is in continuous use throughout the year.

• Making a major contribution to Croydon College’s plan to reduce its carbon footprint and save energy as part of a larger programme of work.

• Provision of a more comfortable learning space, fit for purpose for both staff and students.

• Offering savings on both heating bills and maintenance costs as air source heat pumps have a much longer lifespan than traditional heating systems.

Following the completion of the work, our client asked us if we could prepare a case study summarising the proposed energy savings on this project which they could use this as part of their carbon reduction portfolio. We were more than happy to provide this.

This request underlined to us what’s really interesting about this type of work: the steady growth in demand for green heating projects as the need to reduce the carbon footprint of public buildings gathers pace.

Ash Technical Services looks forward to continuing its journey in this field as we keep abreast of the latest, cutting-edge technologies in the delivery of sustainable heating and energy-saving measures for our clients.