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 GIACOMINI ADD WARMTH TO
VERY SHELTERED HOUSING
The introduction of underfloor heating to the elderly care sector has helped deliver comfort and greater independence for occupants of sheltered housing. A prime example is the Marigold Court project in Gateshead for the Housing 21 Partnership, where Giacomini Sales UK Limited has installed underfloor heating systems on behalf of mechanical contractors R Kirkland (Blyth) Ltd working for main contractors, Frank Haslam Milan Ltd.
Marigold Court is a development of 41 flats and 17 bungalows dedicated to very sheltered housing (VSH), with the likely incapacities of elderly occupants being of special consideration. It is part of a partnership with Gateshead MBC aimed at providing micro communities with a high standard of accommodation that is both diverse and flexible. Apart from ensuring easy access to community facilities in the surrounding area, the prime aim is to supply homes that are economical to run, comfortably designed and inherently safe.
Mark Elliott of project designers CAD 21 noted, “Having already proved the worth of underfloor heating in previous projects, the client was very happy to specify this again. The final decision to use Giacomini for the installation was made by the contractor, but we jointly considered other manufacturers using a forum of informal interviews. The products used were recommended by Giacomini to mirror a specification the client had already found effective”. Underfloor heating was required over an area of
3373 m2, for which Giacomini supplied 62 manifolds together with 16km of pipework.
A particular design advantage with underfloor heating is the elimination of any exposed heating pipe work and equipment, aiding the provision of the safe ‘low surface temperature’ environment demanded for elderly care. Mark Elliott concluded, “We configured a highly efficient heating system that was unobtrusive and easy to manage”.
For the contractor, it was the first time they had partnered with Giacomini. Kirkland’s Jim McGlen was very pleased with the outcome, commenting, “With all the considerations of timing, product choice, insulation needs and on-site practical issues, I think both sides learned a great deal from each other and this has helped develop our future strategy for underfloor installations. The system is run from condensing boilers and we have achieved a very compact and neat solution that avoids the commonly found protrusions of radiators”.
“Apart from surface temperature considerations, this is particularly liked by wheelchair bound occupants and Zimmer frame users, reducing the risk of obstructions, trapped wheels and falls”.
“Marigold Court is an important project in the move towards VSH care. It has shown that considerable savings can be achieved in energy costs without penalising installation requirements, while still improving overall specification. We are already working on other VSH developments using the same principles, with the inclusion of Giacomini underfloor heating being an important factor for both efficiency and safety”.
Giacomini was more than just the installer at Marigold Court. The company manufacturers all its own components – manifolds, valves, fittings and PEX or PB tube and can supply appropriate insulation materials. This ensures product compatibility and a long service life with the minimum of maintenance. For both the management partnership and occupants this means assured comfort and economical energy usage at all times, which, with the bonus of safety factors, add that little extra quality to the autumn years of our senior citizens.
Other factors in the choice of underfloor heating include lower operating temperatures, less convected air movement (which can spread dust and airborne microbes), none of the localised deterioration to wall surfaces associated with radiators and a more even spread of heat that avoids those hot and cold spots that can induce chilling draughts.
Occupants feel more comfortable, their environment is visually more pleasant and clean and all year around comfort remains affordable. The Marigold Court project may only be a recently completed project, but with the benefit of Giacomini underfloor heating, it is already effectively providing welcome VSH accommodation to some of Gateshead’s elder generation.
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