Customer type

Location

Sector

Residential Property Management

Project Overview

P C Kelly Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning was appointed to replace an ageing communal heating system serving a residential apartment block.

The existing heating plant had become unreliable after years of operation, leading to increasing maintenance costs, poor heating performance and frequent breakdowns affecting residents. The property management company required a modern, energy-efficient replacement capable of improving reliability while minimising disruption to occupants throughout the installation.

Following a detailed survey of the existing mechanical systems, our commercial engineers designed and installed a new heating solution incorporating upgraded plant room equipment, improved pipework and modern controls.

The completed installation now provides reliable heating and hot water for all residents while significantly improving efficiency and reducing ongoing maintenance requirements.

Customer Requirements

The managing agent required an experienced commercial mechanical contractor capable of replacing the communal heating system within an occupied residential building.

Their objectives included:

• Replace ageing heating plant. 
• Improve reliability. 
• Reduce energy consumption. 
• Maintain heating wherever possible during the project. 
• Minimise disruption to residents. 
• Upgrade plant room equipment. 
• Improve future maintenance access. 
• Deliver a fully commissioned heating system. 

The customer also wanted a contractor capable of managing every aspect of the mechanical installation from planning through to final commissioning.

Our Solution

Following a comprehensive survey of the building's existing services, P C Kelly designed a phased replacement programme to minimise downtime and maintain essential heating services throughout the project.

The installation included upgrading key plant room equipment, modifying heating distribution pipework and installing modern controls to improve overall system performance.

Works were carefully coordinated with the building management team, ensuring residents were kept informed of planned shutdowns and progress throughout the programme.

Our directly employed commercial engineers completed every stage of the installation to the highest professional standards.

Scope Of Works

The project included:

• Mechanical site surveys. 
• Removal of existing heating equipment. 
• Plant room refurbishment. 
• Commercial boiler installation. 
• Heating distribution pipework. 
• Commercial gas alterations. 
• Isolation valve installation. 
• Pump replacement. 
• Heating controls upgrades. 
• Pipe insulation. 
• Water treatment. 
• Pressure testing. 
• Commissioning. 
• Client handover. 

Installation / Delivery Details

Plant Room Refurbishment

The existing plant room was modernised to improve reliability, efficiency and accessibility.

Works included:

• Installation of new heating equipment. 
• Pipework modifications. 
• Valve replacements. 
• Pump upgrades. 
• Heating controls. 
• Pipe identification. 
• Improved maintenance access. 

The refurbished plant room now provides a cleaner, more organised mechanical installation that is easier to service and maintain

Heating Distribution Improvements

The heating distribution system was upgraded to improve circulation throughout the apartment block.

Improvements included:

• New heating pipework where required. 
• Improved isolation. 
• Replacement valves. 
• System balancing. 
• Pipe insulation. 
• Improved accessibility. 

These upgrades ensure more consistent heating performance across all apartments while reducing heat losses within the system.

Energy Efficiency

The upgraded heating installation delivers significantly improved efficiency compared with the previous system.

Benefits include:

• Lower fuel consumption. 
• Improved heating performance. 
• Reduced maintenance costs. 
• Modern heating controls. 
• Improved system reliability. 
• Reduced operating costs. 

The property management company now benefits from a heating system designed to deliver dependable performance for many years.

Project Challenges

Occupied Residential Building

Residents remained in occupation throughout the project.

Careful planning and phased working allowed heating interruptions to be kept to an absolute minimum while maintaining clear communication with occupants.

Restricted Plant Room Access

Working within an existing plant room required careful coordination when removing old equipment and installing replacement systems.

Our engineers carefully managed deliveries, lifting operations and installation sequencing to maintain programme deadlines.

Tight Programme

The project was completed within a strict timescale to ensure reliable heating was available before colder weather arrived.

Additional resources were allocated where required to maintain progress without compromising quality.

Testing & Commissioning

Before handover, the complete heating installation underwent extensive testing.

This included:

• Pressure testing. 
• Water treatment. 
• Heating performance testing. 
• Pump operation. 
• Valve operation. 
• Heating controls verification. 
• System balancing. 
• Final commissioning. 

The customer received full operating documentation together with recommendations for ongoing servicing and maintenance.

Health & Safety

Health and safety remained a priority throughout the project.

P C Kelly prepared:

• Risk Assessments. 
• Method Statements. 
• Lift plans where required. 
• Permit-to-work documentation. 
• Site-specific safety procedures. 

All works were completed safely while maintaining a clean and organised working environment.

Project Outcome

The completed heating replacement has provided the apartment block with a modern, reliable communal heating system capable of meeting the demands of residents for many years to come.

The customer now benefits from:

• Improved heating reliability. 
• Reduced energy consumption. 
• Lower maintenance costs. 
• Modern plant room equipment. 
• Better heating performance. 
• Improved future maintenance access. 
• Professionally managed installation. 
• Long-term operational reliability. 

The project demonstrates P C Kelly's expertise in delivering complex commercial heating installations within occupied residential developments.

Why Choose P C Kelly?

P C Kelly Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning has over 40 years of experience delivering commercial heating and mechanical projects for apartment blocks, residential developments, care homes, schools, commercial buildings and industrial facilities across the UK.

Our commercial services include:

• Commercial Heating Installations 
• Plant Room Refurbishments 
• Commercial Plumbing 
• Commercial Gas 
• Heating Controls 
• Planned Preventative Maintenance 
• Commercial Boiler Servicing 
• Mechanical Services 
• Reactive Repairs 
• Testing & Commissioning 

Our directly employed engineers deliver high-quality mechanical installations that combine reliability, energy efficiency and long-term value.

Services Delivered

• Commercial Heating Installation 
• Boiler Plant Replacement 
• Plant Room Refurbishment 
• Commercial Plumbing 
• Commercial Gas 
• Heating Distribution Upgrades 
• Testing & Commissioning 
• Planned Mechanical Services