According to the Association for Decentralised Energy, there are 17,000 heat networks in the UK supplying half a million customers – a huge increase on 2013, when there were only 2,000 networks and 211,000 users. With the technology becoming increasingly popular, building services solutions provider REHAU has published a new whitepaper exploring key considerations around heat networks, titled Trends in District Heating Pipework.
The company’s conversations with contractors, ESCOs and specifiers has identified misconceptions around the use of polymer systems, which have become more prominent in recent years. With questions often arising around topics from specialist welding, thermal expansion, mechanical fittings and the material’s suitability to larger networks, through to heat loss, flow temperatures and leak detection capabilities, clarification was key, says Steve Richmond, Head of Marketing and Technical at REHAU Building Solutions UK.