RAUTHERMEX features in Glasgow tower blocks

REHAU’s RAUTHERMEX piping has featured in a large scale district heating project in Glasgow, in which four tower blocks are set to be upgraded, providing efficient and affordable heating to over 300 social housing properties.

SSE had the contract to design and fit the district heating system, which is due for completion in January, into the tower blocks, which took the place of the expensive and inflexible stoarge heaters already there.

In order to lower the pipe size and reduce heat loss, a radial system was designed with a central energy centre, powered by 12 new commercial gas boilers. The heat from the boilers will be delivered to plant rooms in each tower block, which will lead to the heat being able to be transferred to interfaces installed in individual flats.

The original performance specification suggested steel piping to be used throughout the installation, but SSE proposed polymer piping after consideration, ensuring a more cost-effective solution, with no compromise on performance nor ease of installation.

Craig Dalrymple, project manager for SSE, commented: “The radial design required more than 500m of pipework to run heat from the new energy centre to the four individual tower block plant rooms.

“To save time on the install and to minimise heat losses over the longer distance, polymer pipes were definitely the better option on paper, so we went with RAUTHERMEX for the installation.”

RAUTHERMEX comes in coils of up to 570m, ensuring faster and more cost-effective installation. This particular district heating installation required 75mm DUO pipework to be fitted.

Craig continued, expressing his appreciation for RAUTHERMEX, said: “Thankfully, it was really quick and easy to install on site as it is lightweight and flexible and because of the longer pipe lengths available, we needed fewer joints.”

Jim Macdonald, consultant engineer at HKA, said: “When we were asked by the Housing Association to consult on the district heating installation for the four tower blocks, we originally suggested steel pipework but our performance specification didn’t preclude the use of polymer pipework and we are happy with the change.

Steve Richmond of REHAU commented: “This particular district heating project is a great example of how polymer pipework is a proven alternative to steel pipework. As well as matching steel for performance, PE-Xa pipes are easier to install as they are lighter and more flexible, and they are much more cost-effective which is particularly important for Housing Associations, where funding for improvements is limited.”

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