Cylinder and buffer space required

[SBMS]

Hi all

 

Just wondered if anyone can give an idea of the smallest 'cupboard' required to house:

 

300l cylinder

100l buffer (for the ASHP)

Plumbing gubbins for the ASHP

 

We have currently set aside space in our utility on the ground floor of approximately 1m x 1m internal space (full height ceilings).  I think we might be being optimistic but this cupboard has stolen space from the downstairs WC already so hoping we don't have to steal any more.

 

Does this sound tight?

[JohnMo]

You can get a square 100l buffer that is designed to sit under the cylinder.  So find the cylinder and buffer sizes and there you go.

[Bozza]

Our cupboard is 1x1 full height.  Contains 230l cylinder & gubbins, fuse box etc etc.  Some space to front for ironing board etc but not much room each side of cylinder.

 

do not place your cupboard underneath or next to bedrooms, you’ll hear the system when on.  If you have to, mitigate with extensive sound insulation.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

[SBMS]

8 hours ago, Bozza said:

Our cupboard is 1x1 full height.  Contains 230l cylinder & gubbins, fuse box etc etc.  Some space to front for ironing board etc but not much room each side of cylinder.

 

do not place your cupboard underneath or next to bedrooms, you’ll hear the system when on.  If you have to, mitigate with extensive sound insulation.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

Thanks - do you have a buffer? Am thinking it might be tight to get a 100l buffer which our installer has specified, in a cupboard this size (if we can’t do what Johnmo suggests)

[Bozza]

Yes so there is dead space above the cylinder.   So stacking a buffer is theoretically possible, as suggested, depending on dimensions and obviously allowing for some sort of structure/framing.  Probably need to speak to your plumber though as what might physically fit on paper is different to what can be fitted in real terms eg access etc.  as a door is only 2m high or thereabouts.    

[JohnMo]

Square Buffer 450mm high, 300l cylinder 2053mm high.

 

What is your heating system, as it seems a large buffer requirement.  Do you have lots of TRVs on rads or lots room thermostats?

 

Or a huge boiler/heat pump in a small property?

 

 

 

[SBMS]

11 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

Square Buffer 450mm high, 300l cylinder 2053mm high.

 

What is your heating system, as it seems a large buffer requirement.  Do you have lots of TRVs on rads or lots room thermostats?

 

Or a huge boiler/heat pump in a small property?

 

 

 

Our ASHP installer has currently specified a 300l cylinder and 100l buffer for a Nibe F2040 12kw. House is 280 sqm internal. UFH downstairs radiators on first and second floors (8 radiators + 4 towel rails). 

Edited April 10, 2022 by SBMS

[JohnMo]

What about tcvs and thermostats?

 

It sounds like the system should be large enough to run without or with a small buffer, as long as you are not chopping up in to very small circuits with lots of tcvs and thermostats.

 

If you are running weather compensation and have the system balanced you should be able to run without any (or very few) additional controls.  

[JohnMo]

Read the article in this thread, although it mentions no modulation, everything applies at Min load on a modulating heat pump or boiler.

 

 

[SBMS]

16 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

What about tcvs and thermostats?

 

It sounds like the system should be large enough to run without or with a small buffer, as long as you are not chopping up in to very small circuits with lots of tcvs and thermostats.

 

If you are running weather compensation and have the system balanced you should be able to run without any (or very few) additional controls.  

Yes I think there are just two circuits - the UFH and then the upstairs rads. I’ll ask the installer.