As the number of urban high rise developments continues to increase, so does the trend for electric heating. Alan Clarke, technical support manager at Heatrae Sadia, talks electric wet central heating boilers and the key points to consider when it comes to product specification.
The number of residential high rise multi occupancy developments has steadily risen, especially in large cities such as Birmingham and London. In fact, in London alone, over 510 buildings of over 20 storeys are either planned or already under construction.
Where central boiler plants or individual gas boilers have been used to provide heating and hot water to high rise multi occupancy dwellings, anecdotal evidence suggests that more and more developers are choosing electric options.
From the perspective of the specifier, selecting electric over gas means fewer restrictions, and no flueing, condensate drainage or plumbing issues to consider, which is especially relevant since the guidelines surrounding concealed flues tightened in 2013.
If the properties are to be rented, the landlord benefits from simplified maintenance, as the need for annual gas boiler services – for which gaining entry to individual dwellings is often problematic – is eliminated.
Fortunately, the electric heating market has moved on from the inflexible, largely uncontrollable night storage heaters that it was once associated with. Heaters which store energy overnight and release it during the day (whether or not it’s needed) are not an appropriate solution for today’s consumer – and so innovative, sophisticated, controllable products that provide heating and hot water when the end user wants it have been developed.
One of the main advancements has been the introduction of electric wet central heating flow boilers. Compact, wall hung and efficient, electric wet central heating boilers are used in conjunction with conventional wet radiators or underfloor heating systems, and provide central heating on demand, when it’s actually needed. They are controlled and operated by a programmer and thermostat, working in a similar way to a gas-fired boiler.
Most end users will want an electric boiler to be as comparable to a gas boiler as possible, not only in terms of user benefits like controllability but also operating life. There are various electric boilers on the market, but it’s important to remember that they differ in terms of cost, longevity and quality. Low-cost electric boilers will quickly prove to be false economy, as after just a few years it’s likely they will either need to be repaired or replaced.
Some electric boilers can have an operating life similar to a traditional cast iron gas boiler (which can boast a lifespan of around 25 years). High-quality products that last might cost more initially but will save the property owner money in the long run, while also providing peace of mind.
Take our Amptec boilers for example. To ensure they have a long operational life, several key features were designed into the product. For instance, we use solid state technology for the switching of the heating elements to ensure a much longer switching life compared to what is achievable using conventional electro-mechanical devices such as relays and contactors. We believe that only solid state technology is suitable for the typical switching life required for a long-lasting electric boiler, and we avoid using mechanical relays to switch the heating elements on and off.
In addition, the heating elements used in Amptec are designed to run at low Watts density, which is essential to prolong the boiler’s life, and we chose copper sheathed elements, as in this particular application they last longer than other materials.
Ultimately, whilst electric heating was historically considered to be lacking in choice and flexibility, a series of innovations over the last few years has provided a raft of products. All of which offer a viable solution for urban high-rise developments, and meet the needs of specifiers, landlords and residents.
For more information please visit www.heatraesadia.co.uk.
