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THAXTED CHURCH in Dunstow

9 Apr 2019
Case study

Potterton Commercial condensing boilers have been used to upgrade the heating system of a church dating back to the 14th century – proving that no building is off limits when it comes to modern and efficient heating systems.

The installation of three Potterton Commercial Sirius boilers and 30 new radiators has helped ensure the Grade One listed church is perfectly prepared for the winter months.

Thaxted Church in Dunstow is a beautiful, large building and one of the grandest in Essex, but unfortunately its congregation had started to dwindle due to its ineffective heating system. The church was often left with an ambient temperature of only 8°C in summer and as low as 4-6°C in winter.

The main challenge for the installers was to design a system that did not have an adverse impact on the interior of this listed building, and ultimately provided an effective source of heat.

The original boiler room at the church was actually underground, meaning an 80 metre gas line was required to effectively create a new boiler room above ground, in the main church. Understandably, to preserve the character of the listed building, the church did not want the boilers to be visible.

The closer work with the local diocese architect ensured that the system was carefully planned and approved, and impressively completed the project in only six weeks from the very first site visit.

The project team specified three 110kW Sirius WH boilers – a market leading range with a modulation rate of 9:1. Sirius boilers feature a stainless steel heat exchanger designed for maximum combustion performance and energy efficiency. 

In addition to the boilers, the team specified 30 new radiators, which were strategically placed around the building to keep them discreet, and additional under-pew heaters for extra comfort and warmth. A ‘Spirotech’ controller was also installed to allow centralised control.