Dunham-Bush evolves school solution
It was a case of natural selection when Dunham-Bush Evolution radiant panels were installed at the recently refurbished sports hall and gymnasium at the Charles Darwin School in Biggin Hill, Kent.
The installation included 144 metres of Evolution with a total output of 80kW for the main sport hall, which includes a full-size basketball pitch and 60 metres of Evolution with a total heat output of 33kW for the gymnasium, which also features a trampoline facility.
“It made good engineering and economic sense to replace the old gas-fired tubes system with low temperature hot water radiant panels,” says William King, director of H & V Building Services, main contractors for the heating work. “The Evolution radiant panels have the additional benefit of being highly efficient, maintenance free and aesthetically attractive,” he adds.
Earlier phases at the school included upgrading the heating in the classrooms and 52 Dunham-Bush Series AM fan convectors were installed. AM fan convectors are designed and engineered with safety, efficiency and ease of maintenance the key criteria.
When selecting heating for large volume spaces, such as sports halls, there are specific environmental considerations that need to be taken into account, in particular siting flexibility and energy efficiency. Radiant panels are often the preferred choice because they can be installed at high level, either freely suspended, ceiling mounted or high on a wall. As the panels are sited remotely from the activities, there are no concerns about damage, obstruction or air movement that might impact on the activities themselves, (badminton for example).
