Commercial boilers are useful for space heating and room lighting. They are a type of a machine that you should handle carefully during repair or maintenance since they operate at very high temperatures and pressure. Commercial boilers for instance, provide heating for buildings and facilities used for business purposes. Boilers are electrical or oil-powered machines that heat water to generate steam or hot water needed for industrial purposes.
Types of Industrial and Commercial Boilers
There are different types of industrial and commercial boilers, and some may be more suitable for use in certain facilities than others. In general, boilers are installed in large residential buildings, hotels, lodging facilities, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, universities, educational institutions and several other similar premises.
- Water-tube Boilers
This type of boiler generates steam from water circulating inside tubes heated externally by making them pass through a fuel-powered furnace. Water-tube boilers are used extensively for industrial and commercial applications. Super-heaters mounted integrally can generate extra heat, which makes these boilers suitable for use in a wide range of applications where large amounts of steam is required to produce higher pressures.
2. Fire-tube Boilers
This is one of the most basic types of boilers. Hot gases generated from a furnace powered by fuel burning inside the furnace is channelled into fire-tubes. These tubes are made to run through the main vessel of the boiler containing water. The gasses then transfer the heat through the walls of the tubes to the surrounding water by thermal conduction to generate steam. Fire-tube boilers are compact in construction because water and steam are kept in the vessel, but that implies a very high output steam pressure cannot be obtained with these boilers.
3. Condensing Boilers
These are water heaters fuelled by oil or gas. They condense water vapour in the exhaust gases, utilising the latent heat of vaporisation for heating water returning from the central heating system. They can attain a very high level of efficiency, and as a result, they require less heat from the burner. They therefore give rise to lower carbon footprints and you can expect to pay lower energy bills.
4. Electric Boilers
These boilers use only electricity for heating hot water. They are easy to install and they operate quietly. Since they do not use fuel and there are no combustion considerations, they provide a perfect solution in areas where the use of gas is prohibited or where strict emission regulations are in force.
The primary safety hazard in boiler systems is the risk of explosion when a boiler fails to contain the expansion power generated by heating water. Any mechanical or personnel errors can lead to an explosion, which is financially costly at best and fatal at worst. To avoid these hazards, most companies have a separate boiler room with limited access. Only authorised people are allowed to enter the room whenever it is necessary.
The Size of Commercial Boiler You Need
Selecting the right boiler for industrial or commercial use can be a daunting task. A detailed evaluation of your steam pressure and volume needs will be required. Strategies for seasonal load requirements must also be considered as some applications require large steam or hot water only at certain times of the year.
Technical inputs from experts such as ST Heating Services Ltd can assist in making the right choice. In addition, we are well known in Manchester and throughout the North West, United Kingdom for exceptional service in industrial and commercial boiler installation, servicing, repair and maintenance.
Commercial services need to have a properly sized boiler. Your boiler may not generate the needed heat if it is too small. Some would say that if your boiler is oversized, it will likely start an on and off cycle. This will lead to huge tear and wear, which means your building will not be heating effectively. A boiler is an essential and integral part of any property. The role of an efficient boiler is to provide hot water for any facility that it has been acquired for. However, bigger properties and establishments need a commercial boiler to effectively meet their needs for hot water. Always remember that the mass of commercial boilers should match the hot water needs of where it will be set up.
Which Size of Commercial Boiler Do You Need?
Generally, the output determines the size of the commercial boiler you will need. That is usually measured in kilowatts; big commercial boilers emit more kilowatts and subsequently supply more hot water. Moreover, when you have a commercial boiler that emits more and you have a smaller house, the extra heat output will amplify your bills which will waste energy. In retrospect, a small boiler will inadequately heat water for a large property.
Seek The Experts’ Help
Most boilers’ manufacturers do not make public information relevant to their sizing. However, you are given guidelines known as “H-22”. It simply means Heat Loss Calculation. This is what needs to be done by a software program or calculator to determine the sizing. It is because of this we recommend experts to advise you on how to size your boiler. They are the ones with in-depth knowledge. Better put, choosing ST Heating Services Ltd for your industrial and commercial boiler heating and plumbing services could save you your business. We are certified and guarantee a proper repair and maintenance to all our customers in Manchester and the wider North West, UK.
Steam Sizing
Steam needs resizing to fit the needed square feet of radiation. The contractor will be required to go through the house, calculate the square feet, and measure the radiation. Further, in older homes with steam boilers, asbestos insulation may have taken off. This leaves the pipes uninsulated, necessitating insulation before resizing the boiler. Existing structures give a good opportunity for one to design the size of the plant. It is advisable to be keen on boiler pant sizing done by both the engineer and salesman.
Avoid Judging By The Cover
At some point after commercial boiler installation, contractors may replace equipment with what is readily available. Therefore, it is vital to consider siding on the property, better insulation, and many other things that reduce heat. Also, however easy it may seem to be, never avoid calculating the heat loss. Ensuring the right size saves money for customers and also their energy bills.
With that said, you should be able to size your commercial boiler. If you are making countless calls to your service providers or your boiler isn’t performing as it should then know its time change it. Always look forward to upgrading your old boiler.
Considerations
Prior to purchasing commercial boilers always take into account, the size of the place it will be set up, flow rate, the number of radiators present, mains pressure, and how many bathrooms are in the area. Normally, the size of the boilers varies between 24 kilowatts and 42 kilowatts. However, these days there are combi boilers which are also effective but not suitable for large establishment. They provide hot water for a house which has a maximum of 20 radiators.
The mass of the present boiler that you have should be a big determining factor of the next one. However, ensure that you consult a professional on this because at times the boiler that you were using might not be suitable for your establishment. In addition to this, the demand for hot water and the temperature of the water that the boiler will be heating should also be determining factors.
Below are some ways in which a company can ensure that their commercial boiler room is safe for everyone who regularly visits.
Clear the Room
The boiler room should only act as a room for the boiler, not a storage space for other items. Having items scattered everywhere in the room makes maintenance more challenging, plus they can injure people who visit the room if there is low lighting. Using a boiler room as a storage room also increases the chances of accidentally storing flammable products in there.
Conduct Regular Inspection
Check the hygiene of the boiler room. Search for any leakages in the piping system. Ensure all parts of the boiler are functioning. Boiler rooms should be clean and well organised. Any trash or poorly kept equipment in the boiler room might injure staff, and ease the spread of fire in case of an outburst. Like any other machine, boilers are prone to wear and tear. They need regular servicing, preferably after one year, though after a couple of years, say ten to fifteen, you should plan for a commercial boiler replacement.
Ensure Sufficient Ventilation
Companies should keep their boiler rooms well ventilated, especially if their boilers are oil-powered. The International Fuel Gas Code stipulates that there should be at least two openings in a boiler room, and they should preferably be at opposite ends. Having a well-ventilated room improves air circulation, therefore, preventing the production of harmful carbon monoxide, which is poisonous and reduces the efficiency of the boiler, causing incomplete fuel combustion. You can build the boiler room on a separate ground to allow ventilation features like open spaces without compromising the safety of your other import and equipment. It would be advisable not to place a wire mesh on the openings as this might ease clogging by dust and papers.
Keep an Operations Log
It is also important to keep a record of everything that happens in the room. An instruction manual guides the engineers and technicians on how to perform required tasks. Every employee or external technician who enters the room for inspection should record their findings in a report and submit it to the relevant authority. These records will help you avoid any potential boiler problems as you can easily identify potential hazards and schedule maintenance on time. Each person managing the boiler room should know how to operate the boiler. You can mount the instructions at the entrance where they are visible to all who enter. Create a checklist as well for checking in and out when in a shift or after each inspection. Having one enables you to trace for the cause in case the boiler malfunctions.
Follow Checklists
You can improve safety by setting a standard protocol for everyone who visits the boiler room. These protocols should be accompanied with checklists that will help operators to avoid costly mistakes. For example, you can come up with a checklist for properly starting up and shutting down the boiler to minimise the errors and safety issues associated with the process.
Follow these easy tips to manage your commercial boiler room. You can conduct regular pieces of training and drills on your team. Whenever you need to outsource, search for a reliable servicing company such as ourselves at ST Heating Services Limited. We have a reliable team of gas safe registered engineers, contractors and plumbers trained at commercial boiler replacement, installation, purchase and repair. Our services are fast, dependable and of the highest quality.
About St Heating Services
A commercial boiler is very sensitive and it needs to be professionally installed. ST Heating Services Ltd can help with boiler installation, boiler repairs and maintenance competently. Other services that the we provide include maintenance of the boilers, repairing boilers among others.
ST Heating Services are an efficient heating services company who operate in the Manchester and North West region. We offer our proficient services at competent rates and all our gas and heating engineers are highly qualified and experienced. We offer reliable services on all kinds of commercial and industrial boilers. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you would like any further information. Call us on 0161 279 0137 or email info@stheatingservices.co.uk.