The successful delivery of hot water applications in UK commercial buildings is dependent on regulations and partnership, hinged on the coordinated efforts of four key groups: consultants, mechanical & electrical (M&E) contractors, manufacturers, and the installer. Each role plays a distinct yet interconnected part, ensuring a system’s design, installation, and maintenance meet the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
Consultants hold responsibility for the design and specification of services for a building, of which the hot water system is just one part or a wide range of design challenges that need to be met if the building is to successfully exceed current and therefore address future regulations.
UK building regulations which influence the process of commercial hot water design are predominantly Part L – which covers the conservation of fuel and power, placing a focus on energy efficiency in a building – and Part G which focuses on the provision of safe and efficient water systems.
Within these regulations, consultants must design systems that comply with the requirements of Part L by setting targets for minimising energy consumption for hot water and deploying renewable energy sources for hot water production, such as solar thermal. The regulations also mandate the use of high-efficiency appliances, such as condensing water heaters and heat pumps. Part G adds additional important demands, especially setting out requirements for the prevention and control of Legionella bacteria in hot water systems and specifying water-efficient fittings and appliances that minimise water consumption.
In addition, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 or CDM 2015, emphasises the importance of identifying and mitigating risks associated with hot water systems, such as scalding risks, legionella, and risks to workers during installation and maintenance. With a primary focus on health and safety throughout the entire project lifecycle, CDM15 requires thorough planning and coordination between all parties involved in the project, including designers, contractors, and installers, to ensure safe and efficient hot water system installation. Crucially in terms of project delivery, the regulations should ensure that all personnel involved in the project are competent to carry out their duties safely and effectively. That is best achieved through the sharing of relevant information between all parties involved in the project, which is consequently a mandate of the regulation.
Both the consultants and M&E contractors will also rely on the manufacturer adhering to construction products regulations (2013) which require that hot water system components, such as boilers, pipes, and fittings, meet relevant safety standards and do not pose a risk to human health or the environment. CE marking, for instance, indicates that they comply with relevant European standards, and WRAS or KIWA approvals will often be a requirement of specification for hot water products. The manufacturer is expected to and should prove diligent in providing adequate information about their products, including performance characteristics, safety instructions, and environmental impact.
Although much focus in the industry is placed on the application of sustainable technology to provision domestic hot water (DHW) for commercial projects, the application of gas still represents the largest technology deployment for water heating and will continue to be used across most existing buildings in the UK. For this reason, the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, also remain important when addressing the safe installation, use, and maintenance of gas appliances, including gas-fired boilers or water heaters used for hot water production. The legislation again demands that only competent persons are involved in installing, servicing, and repairing gas appliances that are regularly inspected and maintained by Gas Safe registered engineers. The legislation predominantly affects the installer, but for a project to be successfully completed the work carried out will require commissioning, preferably by the manufacturer or their local distributor, to ensure correct and safe installation. It is imperative then that the consultant or contractor works closely with the product supplier to ensure the design is fit for purpose, not only in terms of meeting the system design and correct installation but also critically exceeding building safety protocols for ventilation and monitoring.
Building Standards (Scotland) and Building Regulations (Wales) though with variations in specific requirements apply similar levels of regulations on consultants, contractors and installers working on DHW systems.
Given the complexity of meeting planning approval for any commercial project, consultants can and should take advantage of specialists where available. The inherent complexity of designing DHW for commercial projects has increased considerably with the introduction of more sustainable technologies. Today it demands a high level of knowledge across gas, electric, engineering and plumbing. It is also a time-consuming part of the design process and will typically demand a bespoke response. It becomes sensible to involve design and supply specialists, such as Adveco, at an early stage in the project. Specialist engineers can develop bespoke designs or make educated recommendations for product specification as part of the consultancy process accelerating a complex element of early planning.
Typical activities that can be effectively outsourced as part of the consultation process include determining the building’s hot water demand based on occupancy, usage patterns, and specific requirements (such as showers, kitchens, and laundry). This helps avoid issues that can arise from relying on assumptions about usage patterns and building operations, which may not always accurately reflect real-world conditions.
Recommendations on the most appropriate hot water system (from boilers, cylinders and heat pumps to solar thermal) considering factors like energy efficiency, sustainability, and budget are also critical. When design and supply are integrated, it creates new pricing advantages that can help counter budget limitations – such as perceived demand for greater electrical connections to buildings – which can sometimes restrict the choice of technologies or lead to unnecessary compromises in design.
Support can be gained in designing the pipework system to ensure adequate flow rates and minimise heat loss, and more recently electrical connections. Specifying the necessary controls and instrumentation for efficient operation and monitoring. And crucially, ensuring the design complies with all relevant building regulations, safety standards, and energy efficiency requirements.
Consultant, contractor and installer all gain continuing technical guidance and create a channel for effective communication across the breadth of the project ensuring smoother procurement and installation as designed. This is a key deliverable for the contractor. One particular advantage that the contractor can leverage is the provision of offsite manufacturing. In terms of DHW, this consists of the design and construction of plant rooms dedicated to water heating which can be delivered ready to operate with minimal electrical and plumbing connection on site. This is an excellent means of coordinating with the supplier and installer to ensure efficient and safe installation and deliver assured quality of materials and workmanship without impacting other project elements across the wider site. This helps to mitigate, or entirely avoid, potential or unforeseen site conditions or delays that would otherwise impact the installation schedule and budget.
Working with the manufacturer/distributor on testing and commissioning also ensures a comprehensive handover to the building owner/operator with the provision of warranty service and maintenance post-commissioning, providing real added value in terms of ongoing support on the operation and maintenance of the system.
The successful delivery of hot water applications in commercial buildings requires seamless collaboration between consultants, M&E contractors, installers but also specialist manufacturers/suppliers. Understanding the respective roles and complying with the regulatory framework, all the stakeholders are better positioned to drive the adoption of sustainable hot water, contributing to the creation of a more sustainable and energy-efficient built environment by 2050.
