Gas-Fired Water Heater Replacement at a Health Centre in Birmingham
Application: Health Centre, Birmingham
Existing Unit: 1 x Gas-Fired Water Heater
Replacement Unit: 1 x Virdis Energy GP Water Packaged Plate Heat Exchanger
Project Overview
A health centre in Birmingham experienced an unexpected failure of its gas-fired water heater, leaving the building without dependable hot water. Given the nature of healthcare environments, an urgent replacement solution was required to restore dependable hot water as quickly as possible.
In addition to replacing the failed unit, we also needed to confirm that the original domestic hot water (DHW) output had been correctly sized and could meet the building’s demand. The new unit also needed to integrate effectively with the proposed new boiler system to achieve reliable and efficient operation.
The Challenge
The project presented several key challenges:
High Urgency: The failure of their existing unit required a rapid response to minimise disruption.
DHW Output Validation: We needed to confirm that the DHW output had previously been calculated correctly in order to recommend a new unit.
Compact Plant Room: There was no room to fit a buffer vessel so the new unit needed to be capable of producing the required DHW flow rate instantaneously.
The Solution
Following a detailed site survey and load analysis, we recommended the Virdis Energy GP Water Packaged Plate Heat Exchanger. This unit was selected to match the calculated peak DHW demand precisely and instantaneously while offering superior performance and energy efficiency.
By utilising a ‘packaged’ design, the unit arrived fully assembled, pre-tested and factory-wired. This significantly reduced on-site labour and allowed for a seamless integration into the building’s heating system.
The Result
The new Virdis Energy GP Water Packaged Plate Heat Exchanger successfully restored reliable hot water to the health centre with minimal disruption to daily operations. By accurately matching the building’s DHW demand, the new system delivered dependable performance while improving overall efficiency and reliability.
Key project outcomes:
- Accurately sized DHW output to meet the building’s operational demand
- Reliable and consistent hot water supply
- Improved overall energy efficiency and system performance
- Enhanced system reliability with seamless integration into the new boiler system
- Instantaneous DHW production, eliminating the need for a buffer vessel
- Minimal disruption to building operations during installation and commissioning
The GP Water is an industry-leading packaged plate heat exchanger, engineered to deliver efficient performance for over 30 years and trusted at more than 5,000 locations across the UK. For any questions or enquiries, please contact our technical team.