Case study

An industrial boiler installation for a First Bus depot in Swansea

What was the problem?

This industrial boiler replacement was commissioned for First Cymru Buses in February 2022.

After trusting UES to complete a number of projects in recent years including Warm Air Heating Installations and regular maintenance across multiple sites, First Bus knew that we were the perfect contractor for the job.

An engineering warehouse, an office block, and a spray room had been served by an obsolete boiler for over 20 years at the Ravenhill depot in Swansea.

The system was past its heyday and unfortunately had become prone to intermittent faults and completely unreliable for its purpose.

After a site survey, we found a series of issues including insufficient ventilation, inefficient appliances, and temperamental controls. The gas supply was undersized in addition to the flue installation being prone to leaks.

What was the solution?

A plan was made to upgrade the BMS controls and install a mechanical ventilation supply to provide sufficient fresh air. The main feature of the project was a state-of-the-art industrial heating system. It would comprise five high-efficiency appliances to contribute towards lower energy use and long-term savings.

The problems that faced us included a lack of space and an awkward route to replace the existing boiler parts. Lifting equipment would need to be organised to work around a gap through an old coal shute.

Asbestos was present in the plant room so this would have to be immediately addressed. A specialist company was called upon to line the room with fixtures and penetrations.

When we arrived on-site our electrician isolated all the plant equipment and stripped the cabling in preparation for the asbestos removal. Our installation team drained down the system and dismantled the existing boiler and pipework. An A-Frame Gantry system was used to hoist the old parts through the coal shute.

First-bus-2

What was the result?

After our mechanical engineers completed the work the empty space was transformed. Five high-condensing Vaillant boilers were fitted in a cascade arrangement accompanied by state-of-the-art BMS controls.

The system was installed with additional safety devices – gas safety valves, co2 monitors, and thermal links.

The Ravenhill depot in Swansea now boasts an incredibly efficient heating system. This installation will save the depot 30% in energy costs thanks to new efficient technologies.

UES has proven across multiple projects that they are an efficient and reliable contractor who consistently works to an exceedingly high standard.

First Bus always trusts UES to get the job done in a swift and timely manner and the saving we have made from their installations have often quickly surpassed the cost of the initial investment.

We have always been impressed with the servicing and maintenance packages that keep the installations performing at optimum levels.

I would highly recommend UES going forwards.

Richard Northey, Engineering Manager

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