Guilford Fire Station 

102 kW Peak Heating Demand
7.9 kW System Heat Loss
67% Heat Loss Reduction

Heat Pump-Led Decarbonisation Strategy.

Guildford Fire Station is part of the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, providing emergency response and community safety services to the Guildford area since 1937, with its most recent renovation in June 2015.

The Challenge:

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The fire station was losing 23.85 kW through the appliance bay, requiring high energy input to maintain operational temperatures.
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The heating network also experienced a 102,875 Pa pressure loss, increasing pumping energy demand and reducing efficiency.
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Existing high-temperature systems prevented effective integration of low-carbon technologies.

The Solution:

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Salvis delivered full RIBA Stage 4 Mechanical and Electrical design, implementing a low-temperature decarbonisation strategy.
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Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) system.
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Plate Heat Exchanger (PHEX) for improved hot water performance.
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Replacement heat emitters to enable low-temp operation.
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Optimised pipework design reducing distribution losses to 7.88 kW.
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Integration-ready design for solar thermal and PV.
ASHP Decarbonised Heating
Thermal Modelling Optimised Load Analysis
Low Temp Network Enhanced System Efficiency
103 kPa Balanced System

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A heat loss assessment determines how much energy a building actually requires to maintain temperature. Without this, systems are often oversized or inefficient. Accurate modelling ensures the heating system is correctly sized, reduces unnecessary energy use, and allows low-carbon technologies like heat pumps to operate at optimal efficiency. 

  • High pressure losses in pipework increase the energy required for pumps to circulate heating water. By analysing and optimising system pressure loss, designers can reduce electrical consumption, improve flow performance, and ensure the system operates efficiently across all areas of the building. 

  • Low-temperature systems reduce overall heat demand and enable technologies such as Air Source Heat Pumps to operate more efficiently. When combined with upgraded heat emitters and an improved distribution design, they minimise heat losses and significantly lower carbon emissions compared to traditional high-temperature systems. 

Still have Questions?