With its focus set on
innovation and quality, Nuaire had the XBC heat recovery unit ready as the
ideal space saving solution when St Albans Cathedral started its expansion and
refurbishment project.
Along with renovating
its existing Chapter House, which provides specially adapted spaces designed
for children and adult learning, the Cathedral built a new Welcome Centre,
providing much-needed accommodation and modern facilities to support the
varying needs of the Cathedral congregation, visitors and staff.
Prior to the
refurbishment works, much of the Crypt and first floor Education spaces were
naturally ventilated. However, the introduction of a new lift in the Chapter
House meant that the original 1980s Crypt ventilation plant was left without
means to deliver heat and ventilation to the largely windowless basement space.
Nuaire suggested its
XBC heat recovery unit for the job as it catered to the challenge of fitting
under the newly constructed elevated floor void, as space was a premium in the
Cathedral. Being the shallowest on the market relative to air volume, XBC’s feature
of low-depth made it ideal. The XBC also has an integral condensate pump,
which eliminates the need for a gravity drain or condensate drain trap.
Its built-in condensate pump enables the unit to be installed directly on top
of the original 1980s sub-floor, avoiding permanent damage through drainage.
Furthermore, the XBC
unit is fully accessible from the side and requires only 260mm for filter
removal, making maintenance possible within the confined space. Additionally,
when the final parquet floor is installed over the newly raised floor level
incorporating the access hatches, the location of the unit means that it will
be almost invisible within the architecturally-sensitive space.
Nuaire’s Area Sales
Engineer, Andrew Bott, who worked closely with Mott MacDonald, part of the
technical team for the renovation, said, “Being a listed building, we had to
ensure that we proposed a unit that would leave the building relatively
unchanged. The XBC heat recovery unit is well suited to overcoming all
challenges within this project whilst meeting the architectural and
conservation expectations.”
Nuaire provides a full
range of energy-efficient domestic, commercial and renewable ventilation
solutions. UK based with over 500 employees worldwide, Nuaire has been at the
forefront of the ventilation industry since 1966.
