Leisure, Healthcare & Communal Buildings

An £105,000 project to refurbish Ramsgate library has brought together the best of traditional architecture with modern low-carbon technology, including Dimplex heat pumps, to restore the community building to full working order.

The elegant Georgian building was almost completely destroyed by fire in 2004, shortly before its 100th anniversary. An ambitious plan was put together by Friends of Ramsgate Library, working in conjunction with Ramsgate Council, for a rebuild that preserved all the architectural integrity and used the latest materials.

Planning permission was granted in 2006 and, following feasibility studies into low-carbon heating options, Dimplex installer partner Econic was appointed to design the ground loop heat pump system, which included two Dimplex SI 50 TE ground source heat pumps, each supplying a heating output of 46.7kW.

The system also provides passive cooling to selected areas of the building during the warmer months using the relatively cool liquid from the collector, which is usually 10-12ºC, to flow through the underfloor heating system.

Romsey-based consulting engineers, EDP, commissioned the initial survey. Edward Wilmoth, mechanical designer at EDP, explained: “We were tasked to deliver a creative solution for the building in line with the low-carbon strategy and after very careful evaluation, Dimplex ground source heat pumps met the demanding specification.

“As well as being low-impact on the building structure, affordable to run and low-carbon, the system also had to be low-maintenance and be capable of providing free cooling in the two seminar rooms,” he said.

www.dimplex.co.uk