Built to perform
The Baxi Commercial Training Academy is a specially created, state-of-the-art training facility incorporating all current products in both the Andrews Water Heaters and Potterton Commercial ranges. Believed to be the first of its kind in the commercial heating and hot water sector, the academy has 17 live - installed products, with flueing, hydraulic and electrical connections, which permit comprehensive training to be delivered on products, installations, commissioning, servicing and fault finding.
The Training Academy went 'live' towards the end of 2007 and since then new products have been added into the practical area, including the evacuated tube option for the Andrews SOLARflo water heating system and, most recently, the Potterton Commercial GaeaTherm ground source heat pump, which was launched in May. SUPAflo panels mounted on the exterior of the building can be linked via an indirect cylinder or the MAXXflo storage water heater, for practical demonstration purposes
Existing products installed in the Academy include Andrews floor-standing and wall-hung direct fired water heaters, ranging from the non-condensing storage water heater models and the compact high-output continuous flow appliances, to the latest condensing storage water heaters - the traditional style ECOflo and the revolutionary, Queen's Award-winning MAXXflo stainless steel, multiple burner option.
Potterton Commercial products include wall-hung condensing boilers from the Paramount two and Sirius ranges, Eurocondense floor standing condensing boilers and a number of floor standing, pressure jet gas or oil-fired boilers including NXR3 and NXR4 sectional, cast-iron models, and the Arizona Evolution monobloc steel boiler. Where products from the Andrews range are complementary and can be incorporated as elements of a packaged boiler house, such as the SOLARflo system and the MAXXflo, these are linked so their operation can be demonstrated to trainees.
As well as hands on product familiarisation for installation work, Baxi Commercial offer commissioning procedures on both brands as well as fault finding and service requirements. Courses are customised to the specific requirements of larger end user organisations, M&E contractors and merchants to run alongside the product training. These can cover, for example, system design, setting up controls and flueing.
Baxi Commercial also facilitate professional courses, such as the new joint venture with Sandwell College which started in June 2008. These Unvented Hot Water (G3) courses being held at the Training Academy involve equipment installed to Sandwell College specification which can be used for practical examinations. The two day course includes an examination and, on successful completion, candidates are awarded the CITB Approved Certificate.
Practical training is supported by theory sessions in state-of-the art air conditioned presentations room equipped with internet access and a plasma flat screen for PowerPoint presentations. This has also proved to be an ideal environment for CPD courses and several CIBSE recognized Andrews Water Heaters and Potterton Commercial seminars are held in the Academy.
