Sports Hall Heating Upgrade – Bedford Girls’ School
Radiant heating upgrade at Bedford Girls’ School sports hall. Improved efficiency, even heat distribution and reduced running costs with Powrmatic system.Here
Radiant heating installation for a long-standing client
Our latest case study and it's a good’un. Towards the end of last year, we completed a sports hall heating upgrade at a long-standing client of ours, Bedford Girls’ School, replacing their outdated system with a modern radiant solution designed for performance, efficiency and reliability.
This is a site and client we know well and, having worked with the school for several years, we understand the building and its challenges. That meant we knew exactly what needed to be done to deliver the right solution with minimal disruption, all within a tight programme, before the school reopened after the holidays.
The Brief
Their existing system was failing and no longer fit for purpose, as a result the school had been dealing with:
Uneven heat across the space
Increasing maintenance issues
Inefficient running costs
The sports hall measures approximately 33m x 18m, with a high ceiling, making it difficult to heat effectively using conventional warm air systems. They needed a system that would deliver consistent, usable heat at floor level without wasting energy heating unused air volume.
The solution
Because we already knew the building well, we were able to design a heating solution that directly addressed the issues the school had been experiencing, without overcomplicating things.
Working in partnership with Powrmatic, we specified and installed a continuous radiant tube system using SRP continuous PCV burners. We selected a combination of two 35kW and two 29kW units to suit the size and layout of the hall, with a clear focus on delivering consistent heat where it’s actually needed.
From our side, the project covered everything from strip-out through to final commissioning. We removed the existing system, installed the new radiant tubes, reworked the flue arrangement to suit the updated layout and integrated new controls to give the site team better day-to-day control. Protective ball guards were also installed to make sure the system stands up to how the space is used.
A lot of thought went into how the system was laid out to ensure even coverage across the full 594m² floor area. That’s what’s made the biggest difference, removing the hot and cold spots and making the space consistently comfortable.
Overall, it’s a straightforward, well-planned upgrade that does exactly what it needs to. The hall now warms up quickly and holds a consistent temperature during use, making it far more comfortable and reliable day to day. Heat is evenly spread across the full 33m x 18m space, improving how the hall can be used while also helping to bring running costs down and simplify control for the site team over the long term.
“Projects like this highlight the value of getting both the design and installation right. Vortex Engineering Services did a strong job in developing a scheme that makes the most of the system within a challenging, high-level space. The end result is a well-balanced solution that delivers efficient, consistent heat where it’s needed.”
“The installation was a great success from start to finish and has made a noticeable difference to the hall. The Powrmatic continuous PCV system delivers instant, even heat and operates far more efficiently than the old system.
Our client is extremely pleased with the result and the improved comfort within the facility.”
- Chris Brightman @ Vortex Engineering Services