The benefits of the Andrews "continuous flow” water heaters are amply demonstrated in a recent installation within new purpose built changing facilities serving Marley Playing Fields in Keighley, West Yorkshire. Bradford MDC opted for two Suresport specialist prefabricated buildings, manufactured by Thurston Building Systems and designed as a fast track solution to provide replacement sports changing and amenity requirements.
One building is a 10 team changing facility and the other is for eight teams, each with separate areas for match officials, the team bays having their own showers and drying area, wash basins and toilets. These facilities are Disability Discrimination Act compliant, incorporate anti vandal features as standard and have a high level of interior finish and fittings, including showers, with one on/of switch per pair.
The hot water delivered to all 72 shower heads is generated by Andrews continuous flow WSC44 water heaters. The models used in this installation have an individual heat output of 44kW and a flow rate of 18 litres/min at 35ºC temperature rises. There are 36 units altogether, installed with PAM manifolds in multiples of 4, each of these serving 8 shower heads. The technology of these water heaters is such that up to 40 people can shower at once and a continuous throughput of 130 people can shower within 10 minutes all with no loss of hot water performance! Achieving 89% efficiency, these water heaters measure the incoming water flow and temperature via the primary circuit board then modulate the burner up or down according to the hot water demand.
According to David Talbot, Head of the parks and Landscape Service spokesperson for Bradford MDC, This is another excellent, modern facility that is on offer for uses at Marley Activities and Coaching Centre. The fact that the water is heated only on demand means there is no standing heat loss, which is a great saving in terms of energy usage and keeping running costs to a minimum. The lack of stored water in this system also inhibits
scaling and the formation of legionella bacteria.”
Instantaneous water heating would therefore seem the obvious choice but with other types of unit, shower performance can be disappointing. However the Andrews continuous flow units provide, at mains pressure, a constant flow of hot water within a preset temperature between 37ºC and 95ºC, accurately controlled to +1º C. That matches a high expectation of shower performance and ensures a safe, comfortable experience for the user.
The physical size of the units was also a prime consideration because they are housed, with the central controls for the showers, in a secure area of each building. In this instance the series of plant rooms constructed take up minimum amount of space, each containing 2 multiples of 8 water heaters. This was possible due to the Andrews constant flow units being wall mounted, lightweight and extremely compact - the size of a small suitcase.
The contract was designed and built in Partnership between Bradford Council Parks and Landscape Service and Thurston Building Systems Ltd.
