Commercial Heating and Hot Water System Design
Cowley Group provides heating design and consultancy for full commercial heating and hot water systems, retrofit net zero solutions, air source heat pump and boiler installations, and full plantroom refurbishments.
What we help you achieve
- Comfort and reliability through correct sizing and distribution.
- Lower energy use with an effective controls and zoning strategy.
- Buildable retrofit plans aligned to carbon targets, budgets, and constraints.
- Clear scopes and specifications that reduce delivery and commissioning risk.
Ideal for
Estates and facilities teams, consultants, main contractors and M&E contractors who need dependable technical support.
- Commercial offices and mixed-use buildings
- Education and public sector estates
- Industrial and warehousing
- Retail and hospitality
- Existing buildings requiring staged decarbonisation
Heating Design Services
We support projects from concept through detailed design and delivery support — keeping performance, resilience, and maintainability at the centre of every decision.
We support projects from concept through detailed design and delivery support — keeping performance, resilience, and maintainability at the centre of every decision.
Full system design
Design of complete commercial heating and domestic hot water systems, including plant selection, distribution, emitters, controls strategy, and energy performance optimisation.
Plantroom upgrades
Refurbishments that improve maintainability and resilience: layout optimisation, pipework replacement, new pumps/valves, insulation standards, and safer access.
Low carbon retrofit solutions
Practical retrofit pathways to reduce carbon and energy use: staged upgrades, hybrid approaches, and plantroom reconfiguration to suit constraints and programme.
Energy optimisation
Improve system efficiency through hydraulic strategy, control sequencing, zoning and setpoint review, plus commissioning and verification support.
ASHP and boiler installations/replacements
Design support for air source heat pump installations and boiler replacements—right-sizing, hydraulics, buffer strategy, acoustic considerations, and controls integration.
Specs, drawings & scopes
Clear documentation to reduce risk: design reports, plant schedules, schematics, scope of works, tender clarifications, and technical submittal review.
Designed for Commercial Requirements
Heating and hot water projects succeed when the design is buildable, maintainable, and aligned to how the building is actually used. We focus on lifecycle performance, not just first cost.
Right-sizing: plant selection based on realistic loads, diversity, and operating profiles.
Hydraulics that work: stable ΔT, sensible buffer strategy, and distribution that supports controls.
Controls strategy: zoning, sequencing, and setpoints designed to avoid conflict and waste.
Retrofit-first thinking: solutions that respect constraints, programmes, and phased delivery.
Typical Deliverables
Depending on project stage, we can provide:
• Feasibility and options appraisal
• Design report and basis of design
• Schematics and plant schedules
• Controls intent and sequencing notes
• Specification and scope of works (tender-ready)
• Technical support through installation and commissioning
Our Approach
A structured process that keeps stakeholders aligned and reduces delivery risk.
A structured process that keeps stakeholders aligned and reduces delivery risk.
1) Discovery & site understanding
Capture constraints, operating patterns, asset condition, plantroom layout, and programme requirements.
2) Concept & feasibility
Evaluate options (including low carbon solutions), outline benefits/risks, and agree the preferred strategy.
3) Detailed design
Produce schematics, plant schedules, control intent, specifications, and tender-ready scope.
4) Delivery support
Technical support during installation, submittal review, commissioning guidance, and performance sign-off.
Heating Design FAQ’s
Common questions about commercial heating design, retrofit decarbonisation, and plantroom upgrades.
Common questions about commercial heating design, retrofit decarbonisation, and plantroom upgrades.
Yes. We design complete commercial heating and domestic hot water systems, including plant selection, distribution, and controls strategy—tailored to building use and operational goals.
Yes. We develop practical retrofit strategies that reduce carbon and energy use, including staged upgrades, and plantroom modifications to suit constraints.
Common elements include layout and access improvements, new pipework and insulation, pumps/valves upgrades, replacement plant, improved controls, and maintainability upgrades—delivered as a coordinated scope.
