Rinnai hot water flows with freedom at Maidstone Fitness Centre

Rinnai gas fired continuous flow hot water and heating systems have been chosen to replace an old thermal store configuration at a fitness centre in Maidstone, Kent.

The site houses gyms, class studios, swimming pool, bar and café plus changing and showering facilities. As one of the busiest gym and sports complex in the South East, it was vital to have a hot water heating system that was accessible.

Rinnai proposed 3 x 1500e continuous flow hot water heating units cascaded to cope with the high demands. But the most important point for the site was that the Rinnai units could be installed externally to the space-starved plant room, resulting in a freeing up of space and heavily reducing additional expenditure for the additional remedial works that would have been required if the site chose to replace ‘like for like’. 

The three Rinnai 1500e units deliver about 40% more water whilst using around 42% less fuel with almost 3,000 litres of hot water produced per hour. Because the Rinnai configuration modulates to demand, the site needed about 2,700 litres per hour at the three peak times during the working day – which it did with room to spare.

In addition, Rinnai also supplied a proven electrolytic limescale inhibitor to maximise system efficiency in hard water areas. Rinnai offers a uniquely-powered electrolytic scale inhibitor kit for commercial hot water systems that promises low-maintenance peace of mind. 

The inhibitor gives long-lasting protection against the formation of hard limescale and ensures that bacteria have fewer places to hide because of cleaner surfaces. This means that there is protection to the capital investment. It is WRAS Approved and used and specified in all market sectors such as manufacturing, hotels, retail and supermarkets, healthcare and education as well as public authorities.

Rinnai 1500e units have the water temperature pre-set through easy-to-use, built in digital controls, eliminating the risk of scalding and potentially eradicating the need for thermostatic mixing valves. Water can be used simultaneously at several points of delivery with no loss of heat.

The Rinnai units are designed for use directly off the mains, with no need for large, ungainly and energy inefficient storage vessels – and they deliver up to 37 litres per minute on demand.

Furthermore, Rinnai, the manufacturer of the industry’s widest range of continuous flow gas-fired water heaters, has ‘A’ rated Eco-labels on all of its units.

Eco-labelling of products offers transparency to specifiers and end users in a clear and simple guide when sourcing the most energy efficient hot water heating units. Rinnai products also meet and exceed the requirements of the Building Regulations Part L (fuel and power) and with these bespoke system arrangements they can offer G3 and ACOP L8 best practice. The possibility of Legionella breeding is minimised as Rinnai units have no storage and therefore limit the environment for bacteria production.

Energy is only used on a Rinnai unit when there is demand – simple as that. There is a big potential of annualised fuel saving costs with a HDC1500ei low NoX unit – these costs can be minimised next to any comparable type of storage water heater, such as gas direct fired storage water heater or indirect cylinder system connected to the heating boiler.

Rinnai Infinity HDC1500i Low NOx can boast the modulation 14:1, 56.6kW to 4.0kW, on both Natural gas and LPG gas and operate at a flow rate of as low as 1.5l/min. Thanks to this high modulation range, the Rinnai units ensure that the optimum amount of energy is used to heat the water, minimising waste and maximising system efficiencies.

By developing this holistic condensing technology initiative, Rinnai offers a simple, viable, cost-effective, and energy efficient solution to consumer on-demand needs for hot water.