Park 17, Unit 2 – EPC B Pathway
| Park 17 is an industrial park in Bury comprising 14 units constructed in the 1980s. With the MEES EPC ‘B’ standard and abrdn’s own expectation to decarbonise and achieve EPC ‘B’ across their Estate, we were instructed to assess each of the units and work with abrdn to establish a costed pathway to compliance that considered the existing tenant lease expiry dates. After completing the review of the Estate, Unit 2 was the first unit to become available for works to be completed. We subsequently provided design services for the pathway.
Challenge
When looking to improve the EPC of a warehouse in England, the quickest win is often to remove the heating system from the warehouse part of the model. This is because heating systems in existing warehouses are usually gas fired heaters. For older warehouse units these can lower EPC ratings by a combination of worse U-values (than a 2010 Part L compliant warehouse) and the need to use default heating efficiency values when the exact model of heating system is not known.
The big limitation with this approach is that an EPC could be at the ‘B’ standard at point of let but subsequently worsen once a Tenant completes a fit-out, invariably with gas for heating.
Our Solution
We investigated a number of systems that could provide heating to the warehouse and did not require the use of gas. This would mean that the unit could retain its ‘B’ rating beyond the point of letting. After discussions with Hoval with regards to the technical capabilities and budget costs for their Hoval Roof Vent system, we recommended this system to our Client.
The Roof Vent system acts in a similar manner to an air handling unit, extracting air from the unit with heat being recovered for exchange with the supply air. A separate heat pump provides that initial warmup for those occasions when the heat recovery alone cannot meet the heating demand. Further works to the unit included new VRF for the office spaces, domestic hot water supplied from the heat pump, new lighting and PV.
Result |
| After completing the works, we subsequently lodged an updated EPC for the unit and it achieved an EPC of A6. The unit is now fully decarbonised with no risk to its rating over the next 6 years and the implementation of the MEES EPC ‘B’ standard.
Testing the Hoval system shows that despite the age of the building fabric, the system can easily achieve a 20°C setpoint in winter. With the energy efficiency upgrades and PV generation, any future Tenant will be letting a unit that is genuinely low carbon.
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