Potterton Paraskid packaged boiler plant for Housing 21's fast-track refurbishment

Published by Jon Land for Baxi Group in Housing and also in Communities, Environment, Local Government

Potterton Commercial has supplied a Paraskid 120 fully condensing packaged boiler plant for Percy Court, a Housing 21 sheltered housing facility in Alnwick, Northumberland. Installation of this prefabricated, skid-mounted boiler package to replace the existing heating plant ensured that inconvenience and disruption for the elderly residents were kept to an absolute minimum, with downtime restricted to just one half day. In addition, this option significantly reduced installation costs, providing both a cost effective and an energy efficient solution.

Percy Court is a social housing development of 29 one-bedroom flats for elderly and disabled tenants with resident management. These two storey buildings benefit from a communal laundry and guest facilities.

The Potterton Paraskid 120 system replaced the previous boiler which was installed when the property was built in 1983 and required replacement for both operational and economic reasons. In consultation with Potterton Commercial’s technical team, Housing 21’s Technical Surveyor selected the packaged boiler plant option and commented: “We decided on the Paraskid solution in order to save downtime and minimize inconvenience to residents, whilst providing an economic solution which reduced Percy Court’s carbon footprint. The Paraskid unit was installed in the boiler room alongside the existing plant which was only decommissioned and removed after the new plant was up and running. Whilst the complete project took around 4 weeks to complete, the actual heating downtime was restricted to only half a day for connection of services to the skid-mounted package.”

The Potterton Paraskid is designed around the Paramount two modulating condensing boiler, with its advanced heating control system, which offers exceptional system energy efficiencies of up to 109% net and NOX levels of around 20mg/kWh. At Percy Court, the Paraskid 120 model incorporates two Paramount two 60 boilers with a combined nominal heat output of 15 to 119 kW at a water flow/return temperature of 80/60oC. The boilers carry Potterton Commercial’s lifetime guarantee on their cast aluminum silicon alloy monobloc heat exchangers which provide long-lasting performance and optimum heat transfer, with gross Part L2 efficiencies of 88% at full load and 98% at part load.

The complete Paraskid package comprises boilers and safety valves, heating pumps, condensate treatment unit, pressurisation unit, heating pipework, isolating valves, gas pipework, pressure and temperature gauges, an expansion vessel and sophisticated control panel, all mounted on a fully welded steel frame painted with red oxide for protection. The Paraskid control panel has been designed for compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations and includes sensors for weather compensation and room temperature control. The heating system allows zone control to be provided locally with thermostatic radiator valves for individual comfort. A variable boiler sequence strategy is a feature of the controls which allows adjustment to suit individual applications. Each Paraskid unit is fully factory assembled and inspected, requiring only connection of external services on site and the heating system may be controlled locally by the control panel or remotely via BMS.

Set in landscaped grounds, tenants also benefit from lift access, a community alarm service and a communal lounge. In addition, tenants have the option of joining in a wide range of weekly social activities. Started 40 years ago, Housing 21 is a major national provider of housing, care and support services for older people and is both a registered housing association and not for profit organization with charitable status. Housing 21 is committed to improving people's lives and well-being by promoting choice and independence for seniors through good quality housing, care and support.