Camden’s energy efficient heating upgrade covered by Pendock.
Camden Council’s extensive heating and hot water modernisation programme for over 500 properties, is using around 20 kilometres of Pendock metal pipe boxing to conceal new distribution pipework that serves each flat, as part of the upgraded communal heating system.
The upgrade programme covers blocks on the Weedington Road Estate and surrounding areas, where the existing distribution pipework within each block, as well as the heating and water pipes inside each flat, have been in place since they were built in late 1970s.
In addition to installing new radiators and pipework into each home, upgrades to the boiler room, sub-plant rooms in each block, and replacing the pipework that carries hot water around the estate were essential parts of the broader energy efficiency and operational improvements.
To conceal the insulated distributed heating system pipework in each block that runs vertically through each stairwell and branches off at high level on each floor to feed the individual flats, Camden Council used Pendock bespoke manufactured metal boxing, which was also installed by Pendock Contracts.
Pendock’s technical project manager, Gavin Byram, explained: “In any project of this type, it’s vital that we undertake detailed pipework measurements and site surveys, as this enables us to manufacture the metal boxing to precise dimensions, which simplifies the installation and saves time, as well as providing a better quality finish for our client and the residents of each block.”
The 2mm thick PPC coated metal boxing was manufactured by Pendock at its Telford facility using precision metal forming machines capable of achieving tolerances of around 0.5mm. This helps maintain a high degree of accuracy on site to achieve close fitting joints when securing to walls and ceilings.
“Reducing energy costs and improving heating efficiency are key focal points for local authorities,” Byram added. “In the case of Camden, and for many other local authorities, upgrading communal heating systems makes sense, as much of the supply infrastructure already exists. However, for other projects we’ve undertaken, clients have adopted alternative solutions, such as air source or ground source heat pump technologies, which also use our metal boxing to protect exterior pipework and electrical systems.
“Whichever option is selected, by upgrading often aging systems, social landlords and their tenants not only experience the benefits of increased efficiencies, better functionality and system control, but also reduced maintenance costs, as the newer systems are more reliable and less prone to faults or breakdown.”
The metal pipe boxing used on the Camden projects is part of the Pendock Profiles range, which also includes pre-formed plywood pipe boxing, for fire sprinklers, PIV systems and heating systems at skirting or high level.
