Maintaining Optimum Performance

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However, there are still some who think of maintenance as a necessary evil, rather than something that benefits the organisation in many ways, so they do just the bare minimum.

Here, we discuss the range of benefits that result from a sensible, tailored maintenance regime.

Health, safety and compliance

Clearly, there are health and safety implications for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) plant – as well as some industrial plant – ranging from ensuring safe combustion to maintaining acceptable indoor temperatures and air quality – as well as minimising harmful emissions to the atmosphere. All these issues need to be addressed to ensure compliance with regulations – but this is really just the ‘bare minimum’ and in most cases will not deliver maximum benefits to the organisation.

Reliability

Most buildings and many industrial processes are reliant on their HVAC and process heating systems to be able to function properly. A space heating system that frequently goes wrong and leaves inhabitants shivering at their workplace is hardly conducive to a healthy environment – and has a negative impact on productivity.

Similarly, a failure of process heat in a manufacturing process can lead to significant losses of productivity and profitability, and may compromise product quality and lead to delays in supplies to customers.

A suitable maintenance regime will help to ensure that the plant reliably delivers what is required of it, so that it supports the organisation’s activities, rather than hinders them. In some cases, the maintenance regime should be devised in relation to the organisation’s business priorities to ensure the right maintenance actions are carried out at the right time – neither too rarely nor too frequently.

Regular maintenance also helps to extend the life of plant, helping to reduce capital costs through the lifetime of the building.

Efficiency

Energy efficiency is a major issue for any organisation, in terms of cost and environmental impact. Specifying or purchasing inherently efficient plant is the first step but that efficiency will be compromised if the plant is not maintained properly. For instance, if the heat exchanger in a boiler or heat recovery ventilation system becomes encrusted with deposits this will limit the amount of heat that can be transmitted through the exchanger.

Similarly, combustion processes need to ensure the best ratios of fuel and oxygen to maximise energy efficiency and minimise emissions.

Nor is it just the large items of plant that need to be regularly maintained, the control systems must also be regularly checked to ensure they are operating as intended.

Continuous commissioning

When a new HVAC system is properly commissioned, the control parameters will be set to reflect the anticipated use of the system – at that time. All too often, though, these control parameters are not revisited as the use of the building changes.

This is an increasingly important issue as organisations re-assess the use of their buildings in the light of increased working from home and more flexible working in general. Any changes in the occupancy of a building will inevitably alter the requirements for the HVAC systems, so control strategies should be regularly re-assessed in the light of such changes through a programme of ‘continuous commissioning’.

Summary

When an organisation invests in energy-efficient heating equipment, it can be tempting to cut costs on service and maintenance. However, as highlighted above, doing only the bare minimum to meet regulatory standards is often a false economy – one that may ultimately increase the total lifecycle costs of the system.

In contrast, a well-planned maintenance strategy supports long-term efficiency, safety, reliability and equipment lifespan – all of which contribute to a stronger return on investment.

To help customers maximise the value of their investment, Hoval offers a range of service plans for our gas and oil boilers, heat pumps, and ventilation products. This allows customers to choose a plan aligned with their operational needs and priorities, while maintaining optimum performance and peace of mind.

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Maintaining Optimum Performance