Member Article

Lord Combustion Services pass school heating test in style with hybrid retrofitting project

When a West Midlands secondary school wanted to modernise their heating and hot water system, Lord Combustion Services passed the test to deliver high quality results.

The co-educational secondary school and sixth form, which has capacity for more than 1000 pupils, needed specialist engineering expertise to retro-fit a new system around their timetable and to a high standard of work.

The school has more than 30 classrooms, as well as science laboratories, computer rooms, workshops for design and technology and creative art suites. The school also boasts its own theatre, sports gym, sixth form centre and swimming pool.

Lord Combustion Services were enlisted to introduce a modern, energy efficient heating system, utilising air source heat pumps to bring the site up to date and replace a set-up which had been in place for more than 30 years. The work needed to be conducted during the winter months while the school was operating as normal.

The experienced team at Lord delivered a successful installation which gives greater efficiency and zonal control while ensuring there was temporary heating and a hot water plant to serve all requirements within the school, including the swimming pool.

From an initial review of their requirements and the existing installation, Lord provided a comprehensive design and project management strategy for the school, part of an academy trust. The benefits included a decarbonisation strategy to reduce energy usage and the replacement of an outdated plant and heating and hot water systems with improved energy efficiency and reliability.

Lord installed hybrid systems using high efficiency, modulating, condensing gas fired boilers, coupled with a cascade of air source heat pumps. The team located and repaired leaks to existing distribution pipework within the school and installed new circuits complete with associated building works.

All the works to teaching areas, offices and corridors within the school buildings were undertaken by Lord Combustion Services during the 2021/22 academic year including the winter months, with heating and hot water for the swimming pool maintained throughout.

The school team were impressed by the results as the old system had become unreliable and did not give the control and energy efficiency needed for modern school usage. They were conscious of the need to introduce a system which was sustainable and reduced the environmental impact.

With the new heating system installed, they can control specific zones in the building to reduce energy saving costs which has been beneficial at the time of increase utility costs while working to achieve net zero.

Working with the team at Lord Combustion Services, they benefitted from a high-quality service from the initial visits through to the delivery stages. The new plant rooms are set up for the school to benefit from an improved system for years to come.

The customer was pleased with the Lord team’s attention to detail. Being able to carry out the key work during term time with measures in place to reduce the impact was helpful as they could keep operating as usual throughout.

Lord Combustion Services Managing Director Stuart Smith said: “Working to the school’s requirements, we were pleased to deliver a project which was the typical of the high standard of retro-fitting project which Lord regularly delivers.

“The quality of the work produced demonstrates the evolution of renewable and hybrid solutions. We were pleased to introduce a system which modernises the heating and hot water system while benefitting the site from greater control of energy levels.

“We are reducing fossil fuel usage, particularly during the school’s summer months when consumption will be down 100 per cent on peak levels. We have been recognised with awards for our success on sustainability so it is pleasing to deliver another example of how we can make a practical difference to our customers’ future energy consumption without compromising on quality.”

Since launching in 1982, Lord Combustion Services has grown from being a mechanical contractor specialising in service and commissioning of gas and oil-fired equipment to provide all aspects of mechanical and electrical building services.

From its HQ in Dudley Road East, Oldbury, Lord supported key NHS sites, care homes and schools across the West Midlands throughout the challenging Covid-19 pandemic.

Despite the lockdown restrictions Lord continued to implement energy efficient solutions as part of installation contracts for the likes of Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham.

In April, the company made the West Midlands Net Zero Business Pledge to reduce their environmental impact during a visit by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street to mark their 40th anniversary. In November Lord was recognised for its achievements in reducing clients’ environmental impact by winning the sustainability trophy at the West Midlands Business Masters Awards, organised by regional news website Business Desk.

Lord are in the running for the 2022 Black Country Chamber of Commerce awards for Excellence in Manufacturing and Family Business of the Year, with Managing Director Stuart Smith up for Business Person of the year, to be announced at an awards ceremony on Friday 16th September.

At the 2021 Black Country Chamber of Commerce Awards, Emma Tibbetts took home the director of the year trophy in recognition of her leadership qualities and personal contribution to the company. Lord was also named service business of the year.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Osborn Communications .