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Newsome Selected to Deliver Boiler Replacement Project at Wycombe Abbey School
Newsome is pleased to have been selected to deliver a major boiler replacement project at Wycombe Abbey School in High Wycombe, providing a new high-efficiency heating system to support the school’s ongoing heating requirements.
Following a detailed site visit and review of the existing plant room, our team developed a replacement solution for the two existing boilers currently providing heating to the building. The existing system operates using a duty and standby arrangement, with approximately 400kW of heating capacity available.
The project will see the existing boilers decommissioned and replaced with two modern AIC Nesta floor-standing condensing boilers, each capable of providing up to 300kW of heating output.
Installed as a cascade system, the new boilers will provide increased flexibility and improved control, with the ability to respond more accurately to changing heating requirements across the site.
Developing the Right Heating Solution
Selecting the correct boilers required careful consideration of the school’s existing heating infrastructure, particularly the existing flue arrangement.
The original boiler specification included units requiring 250mm flue connections. However, the existing Furanflex liners have a diameter of 180mm. Using the originally proposed boilers would therefore have required additional alterations and inline flue fans.
Following a technical review, Newsome proposed two AIC Nesta 300kW boilers. These units feature 180mm flue gas exhaust connections, matching the dimensions of the existing Furanflex liners and allowing the liners to be reused, subject to further inspection and confirmation of their condition.
The selected boilers also provide a modulation ratio of up to 10:1, allowing heating output to adjust according to demand. The boilers offer thermal efficiency of up to 108% under specified operating conditions and achieve NOx Class 6.
Greater Control Through a Cascade System
The new boilers will operate as a controlled cascade rather than the existing duty and standby configuration.
This allows the system to bring each boiler into operation as heating demand changes, helping the installation match the required building load more accurately. The controls will also rotate the lead boiler to distribute operating hours across the two units.
When integrated with the school’s existing building management system and controls, the installation also has the potential to operate using weather compensation. This allows heating temperatures to respond to changing external and internal conditions.
The result will be a more flexible heating arrangement that can respond effectively across different operating conditions throughout the school year.
Complete Boiler Installation
Newsome will manage the mechanical and electrical elements required for the new installation.
The project includes the removal of the existing boilers and associated equipment, installation of the two new condensing boilers and connection to the existing heating flow and return pipework.
A new magnetic strainer will be installed to protect the boilers, alongside new condensate drainage through a neutraliser and new flue connections into the existing stacks.
The installation will also incorporate a 600kW plate heat exchanger, a new pressurisation unit and uprated pumps on the boiler loop. New heating pipework will be insulated and finished with identification banding to the relevant British Standards.
As part of the wider plant room works, Newsome will also insulate and clad the existing domestic hot water calorifier vessel.
Minimising Disruption to the School
Planning the installation around the school calendar is an important part of the project.
The works are expected to take place during Wycombe Abbey School’s eight-week summer holiday period, allowing the boiler replacement to progress while reducing disruption to pupils, teaching staff and normal school activities.
Once installation is complete, Newsome will carry out testing and commissioning before providing a full system demonstration and handover documentation.
The project reflects Newsome’s experience in delivering commercial heating solutions that consider existing infrastructure, site requirements and long-term system performance.
With the new cascade boiler system in place, Wycombe Abbey School will benefit from a modern heating installation with greater output flexibility, improved control and efficient operation across varying levels of heating demand.