A Hydronic underfloor heating system from Gaia Underfloor Heating Limited has been installed during the modernisation of an historic fire station in the heart of Cambridgeshire with the build-up specified to actually support the weight of a fully laden appliance.
Officially opened by Sir Peter Brown, Chairman of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority, and Chief Fire Officer, Chris Strickland, Yaxley Community Fire and Rescue Station covers the Huntingdonshire district of the county. It is staffed by oncall firefighters recruited from the nearby community.
Work on the conserved building, which dates from 1879, was led by main contractor, SDC Builders Limited and took just over a year to complete. The Gaia Hydronic underfloor heating system and an air source heat pump were the key elements to a package provided by G-Core Limited, which offers a full planning, design and installation service for ground and water source, as well as air source heat pumps.
Michael Regis, who designed and coordinated the project for G-Core, comments: “We work across the UK, carrying out commercial and large- scale domestic contracts and, although installing the underfloor heating system is not normally part of our responsibility, we have worked with Gaia in the past and opted to involve the company again at the Yaxley Fire Station.
“Basically we always recommend the use of underfloor heating to get the best flow temperatures and performance from the heat pumps we install. The Yaxley Fire and Rescue Station uses a 15 kW Dimplex air source heat pump, providing the heating for both the main building and other areas of the adjoining accommodation.
“The main contractor laid the high density insulation required to take the weight of the fire engine when it is full, and Gaia completed the installation of its Hydronic system, including the manifold. Gaia did a very good job in terms of both the design detailing and the installation.”
As well as the main bay, the remodelled Yaxley station provides a lecture room, office, welfare facilities and a smoke house in place of the former practice tower.
As well as its Hydronic system – ideal for gaining optimum performance from both heat pumps and condensing boilers – Gaia Underfloor Heating Limited also offers specifiers electrical UFH, together with a full design and project support service.
For further information on Gaia Underfloor Heating, please contact 01359 242 400 or visit www.gaia.co.uk