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The flue design process is most probably, our favourite part of what we do. It's our opportunity to apply our creative skills, problem solve, collaborate and deliver. It's where our obsessive nature is welcomed and it is most definitely the most important part of what we do. Successful completion of flue installation projects, to schedule, would not be possible without it. We refuse to leave anything down to luck.
Our first step, after the initial first phone call, will always require the gathering of information. Some of the key information that will be useful to us in the design process will be:
Any detail that we don't have at initial enquirey stage can usually be gained via our first site meeting. We like to get a good feel for a site before we really get into the design and understand that we do not live in a millimetre perfect world where everything is square, plumb and level. It would be at this stage that we would be able to present any concerns we had with the initial mechanical design and begin to build on a solution.
All appliance technical data sheets and installation manuals, produced by the appliance manufacturer are observed. Combustion data, specific to the selected appliance is extracted and put together with flue route detail and dimensions, into a calculation sheet where we can determine appropriate flue sizes and gain snapshots of flue performance across the entire operational range of the system under varying conditions. Results of which are crucial and data of which forms the basis of many flue design based decisions. The most suitable flue type can then be selected.
On flue systems where aggregated gross Kw input exceeds 366.6Kw, design needs to go a step further to satisfy the requirements of the 'Clean Air Act' and the Clean Air Act Memorandum. Flue termination height and proximity to taller structures is particularly sensitive and relative to the total load across all appliances connected to the flue system. Pre-existing flue terminals can also have an impact if close enough to a new termination. Even when the flue installation and its connected appliances do not fall into the remits of the Clean Air Act, termination location will need to be a well considered topic with any flue design.
To ensure our flue design intentions are clear and to have a well coordinated, fluid process all the way through, our project managers and flue design team are trained and competent in the use of CAD software. Drawings are offered at design stage and also updated for 'as installed' drawings for sign off O&M's at project completion.
Flue design isn't exclusive to the above, it can vary from project to project depending on specific requirements. It will usually include all of the above but it can go further. Sound limitations sometimes have to be met which would involve design around attenuation. Structural considerations around flue support can be needed. Design around CO2 dilution when low level flue discharge on large output plant is required and mechanical fan assistance where flue draught conditional requirements cannot be met.
The team at Vulcan Flues Systems apply in-depth knowledge and experience to each and every project, providing essential input to scoping and planning at every stage. From the initial consultation process through to the solution, design and execution of the project, Vulcan partners with private clients, architects, contractors, quantity surveyors, consulting engineers, MEP engineers amongst other professionals, to ensure full engagement in the wider building design process until all necessary testing has been completed and the installation signed off.
Frequently, we are asked to act as consultants in one capacity or another, whether that be responding to flue related queries from heating engineers or helping mechanical consulting engineers put flue specifications together that they can include within their tender package. We sit in front of a lot of tender packages, often put together with outdated templates that do not suit the requirements of the project going out to tender. Getting tender specifications on flue requirements up to date and relevant to the project in hand is a valued service to the consulting engineers that use us. They find that it sets the project on the right tracks from the very beginning. Whatever the capacity, we're always pleased to offer flue advice.
