Oak Frame Property, Ceredigion

Preliminary items

Upon the customer awarding the contract to WRE, prior to commencing the installation a number of detailed design items were undertaken. These were:

Heat Loss Calculations – to confirm the size of air source heat pump specified based upon the actual U-values of the various building elements, internally heated areas and internal design temperatures.

Wind & Snow Load Calculations – to confirm the roofs were structurally capable of supporting the loads to be imposed upon them by the PV system.

MCS020 Calculation – to confirm the proposed location of the air source heat pump met with permitted development requirements.

Probable Water Demand Calculation – to establish the flow rate required from the incoming cold water main to meet the property water demands.

Distribution Network Operator (DNO) applications – to obtain connection offers to connect the proposed air source heat pump and PV system to the national grid.

Site survey

Prior to commencing work, a site survey was undertaken to go through the proposed works as set out in the formal design guide produced for the project following completion of the preliminary items design work. The design guide, specific to the project, set out all the information associated  with the installation for reference by all parties involved, resulting in works progressing smoothly and an uncompromised end installation.

First fix pipework

The first stage of the installation was installing all of the first fix pipework throughout the building to transport the hot, cold and heating water from the plant room to its end locations. Pipework was sized to ensure the design flow rates at the sanitary ware outlets such as high flow showers and wall mounted basin taps.

Pipework insulation

All first fix pipework was then insulated above and beyond building regulations to ensure minimal heat loss from, and transfer to adjacent pipework.

Fire suppression pipework

Loss Prevention Council Board (LPCB) approved fire suppression pipework was installed at the same time as the first fix. The orange pipework is rated to resist heat in the event of a fire ensuring the sprinkler system operates as designed.

Fire suppression sprinkler heads

The concealed sprinkler heads were installed in strict accordance with the design drawings ensuring their location achieves full room area coverage in the event of a fire.

Fire suppression pipework pressure test

Upon completion of the fire suppression pipework and heads, the pipework was filled and pressure tested to 10 bar.

Soil & waste pipework

Soil stacks and waste pipework from all the sanitary ware in the bathrooms, kitchen and utility were then installed ensuring the fall on the pipework was in accordance with building regulations to allow waste water to easily drain away without risk of blockage.

First fix of sanitary ware

Timber noggins were installed in the locations of second fix sanitary ware, such as wall hung basins, to ensure secure fixings were available following completion of the walls.

Ground floor underfloor heating

To allow for expansion of the screed containing the underfloor heating system, blue edge expansion foam was installed around the perimeter or all rooms containing underfloor heating.

Rather than tacking or clipping the pipework directly to the insulation, castellation plates were installed. These ensured accurate and uniform pipe spacing as well as suspending the pipes to allow complete screed coverage around their full diameter. Because a manual screed was being used, the plates also protected the pipes from foot traffic reducing the possibility of damage whilst the screed was being laid.

Once all the underfloor heating circuits were installed the accurate and uniform pipe spacing was evident.

Ground floor underfloor heating manifold

Each of the underfloor heating circuits was returned back to the manifold location where they were meticulously cut to the required length and turned through 90° using pre-formed bends to ensure uniform and unkinked pipe before connecting them to the manifold.

Once all the circuits had been connected to the manifold, the pipework was flushed, filled and pressure tested above its working pressure to ensure it was free from defects and leaks prior to being screeded over.

Each of the underfloor circuits was labelled so that the actuators could be correctly wired to corresponding room thermostats during the electrical second fix.

First floor underfloor heating

Before the first floor underfloor heating routed gypsum fibrous boards were laid, all the rooms receiving carpet were edged with 100mm wide by 18mm thick plywood. This allowed the thin plywood overboarding to be securely fixed round the perimeter of the rooms which ensured there is no spring in the ply overboarding. The edging further ensured that no pipework is present around the perimeter of the rooms where carpet grippers were installed which could have resulted in pipes being pieced by carpet fitters.

Once all the rooms requiring edging had been completed, the gypsum fibrous boards were laid and securely screwed in place to the floor decking beneath.  The installation of the pipework then took place into the pre-routed grooves within the boards.

End returns were installed along the edge of the underfloor boards to allow the pipework tor return upon itself in a uniform manner.

Once all the underfloor heating circuits were installed the accurate and uniform pipe spacing was evident.

First floor underfloor heating manifold

Each of the underfloor heating circuits was returned back to the manifold location where they were meticulously cut to the required length and turned through 90° using pre-formed bends to ensure uniform and unkinked pipe before connecting them to the manifold.

Once all the circuits had been connected to the manifold, the pipework was flushed, filled and pressure tested above its working pressure to ensure it was free from defects and leaks prior to being screeded over.

Each of the underfloor circuits was labelled so that the actuators could be correctly wired to corresponding room thermostats during the electrical second fix.

Underfloor heating programmable room thermostats

The underfloor heating in each room of the property can be individually controlled by the Heatmiser programmable room thermostats allowing rooms to have different temperatures at different times of the day.

The Heatmiser thermostats are neatly located adjacent to, and at the same height, as the room light switches for a neat appearance and convenient viewing and use. The thermostats are Wi-Fi enable allowing the system to be controlled both locally and remotely via the internet using smart phones and tablets.

Plant room incoming and outgoing services

To save valuable floor area in the property itself, all the large mechanical and electrical equipment was located in a plant room within the separate garage building. This required a number of cold water pipes (mains cold, balanced cold, softened cold and fire suppression) to be ducted across to the main house.

Property incoming services

The cold water pipes were brought up into the back of the cupboard ready for the hot water cylinder to be installed.

Mains cold water storage tank and booster pump

Due to the property being on a hill, a flow and pressure test of the mains cold water supply determined that the flow rate and pressure to the site were both poor and would not meet the requirements of the customer and system. A 500 litre mains cold water storage tank with pressurisation pump was therefore installed, increasing both the flow rate and pressure to the property.

Photovoltaic (PV) inverter

A SolaX hybrid inverter to maximise the conversion of the DC electricity generated by the PV panels to AC electricity for use was installed in the plant room. The inverter is Wifi enabled allowing the system to be monitored and managed both locally and remotely via the internet when away from the home through the easy to use application. The application facilitates the management and monitoring of the system allowing the customer to access key system data at anytime, anywhere. For example, being able to visualise and compare actual yields with those estimated is essential in ensuring the system is operating at peak performance.

Photovoltaic (PV) battery storage

SolaX battery storage was installed in conjunction with the inverter to maximise the self-consumption from the PV panels.

The batteries can also be force charged with cheap rate electricity from the grid during off-peak times when electricity suppliers offer cheaper tariffs. This cheap rate electricity then being used during the following day to power the home and heat pump system.

Photovoltaic (PV) & Electric Vehicle (EV) charger electricity supplies

Both the PV and EV systems were installed with dedicated electrical supplies, clearly labelled in the plant room consumer unit.

Hot water cylinder installation in progress

The incoming cold water pipework from the garage plant room, and the first fix hot water distribution all connected to the hot water cylinder using brass munsen rings to secure the pipework in place, as opposed to cheap plastic clips which harden and break over time.

Hot water cylinder installation complete

Once the hot water cylinder installation was complete, all valves were clearly labelled to allow the customer, or anybody working on the system, to be able to easily and quickly identify them.

Filling the air source heat pump system

With the air source heat pump system complete and the underfloor heating fully installed, the installation was then flushed and filled with a mixture of water, glycol and inhibitor.

Commission the air source heat pump system

The final stage of the installation was to commission. This involved checking the system water was protected down to -15°C, using a refractometer, and setting operating parameters, such as the weather compensation heat curve and hot water temperature via the air source heat pump controller. A commissioning certificate was completed with all the commissioning readings and settings recorded.

Air source heat pump, immersion and underfloor electricity supplies

The air source heat pump system, hot water immersion element used only for legionella pasteurisation of the cylinder, and the underfloor heating system were installed with dedicated electrical supplies, clearly labelled in the property consumer unit. Having dedicated electrical supplies allows any electrical faults to be easily traced to the area of the electrical system containing the fault.

Heat metering

A heat meter was installed to measure the amount of heat (kWh) output from the system for heating and hot water. The amount of electricity (kWh) input to the system being measurable by the dedicated electricity meter serving it. By dividing the input electricity into the heat output energy, the customer is able to monitor the Seasonal Coefficiency of Performance (SCoP) of the system.

Air source heat pump external unit

The air source heat pump was located discreetly to the side of the property.

Roof felt and battened

Prior to installing the PV panels the garage roofs were felt and battened by the roofing contractor.

PV panel installation

Each of the PV panels was installed into position connecting the DC cables to the adjacent panels.

PV panel electrical protection

Each of the DC cable connections was encased with an Arcbox to prevent the risk of fire.

PV panel flashings

Flashing kits were installed around the perimeter of the panel arrays so that the roof tiles could be tiled over them keeping the system weathertight as well as it being more aesthetically pleasing than using hooks where the panels above the roof surface.

Complete PV arrays

The completed PV arrays on either side of the garage roof were then ready for tiling around by the roofing contractor.

Finished roof containing the integrated PV system & Electric Vehicle (EV) charger

The completed garage roof with the PV system aesthetically set into the slate tiled finish. The MyEnergy Zappi Electric Vehicle (EV) charger was installed at the front of the garage, on the side elevation.

Completed sprinkler heads

The completed sprinkler heads are neatly concealed in the ceilings, unlike many sprinkler heads on the market which protrude from the ceiling and are unsightly.

Completed shower room

The Worcester Renewable Energy bathroom design, supply and installation service allowed the customer to create a lovely wet room on the ground floor in keeping with the rural location and style of the property.

Completed bathroom

The Worcester Renewable Energy bathroom design, supply and installation service also allowed the customer to create a beautiful bathroom on the first floor, again in keeping with the rural location and style of the property.

Completed kitchen

Worcester Renewable Energy installed all the plumbing to the kitchen and utility within the property.

Completed property

The finished property has all its heating and hot water provided by the new air source heating system and electricity provided by the Photovoltaic (PV) system.