The Hydro Majestic in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, has undergone a major renovation and restoration – with hydronic heating chosen to integrate seamlessly into the traditional design
The Hydro Majestic hotel in the Blue Mountains has long been notable for its eclectic mixture of architectural styles, including Art Deco and Edwardian, and as a result a restoration of the property was never going to be easy. Any new additions would have to blend seamlessly into the aesthetic that makes the hotel unique, and it was for this reason that hydronic heating was chosen as a significant component of the hotel’s heating system.
How hydronic heating works
Hydronic underfloor heating relies on pipes laid in the concrete slab or screed to carry heated water. The water can then be heated by various energy sources, the most efficient of which is a natural gas boiler. Other sources can also be used such as electric heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps, wood-fired stoves, and to a more limited extent, solar hot water systems. This makes it very effective for efficiently heating large areas.
How The Hydro Majestic hotel incorporates hydronic heating
The Hydro Majestic hotel is heated by a mixture of hydronic floor heating, hydronic floor mounted cast iron radiators, Air Handling Units with hydronic heating coils and huge gas open log fireplaces. A building management system controls all services within the Hydro Majestic including the heating systems.
Centralised boilers are used to provide heated water to the kitchens, accommodation and the hydronic heating system. The existing cast iron radiators were maintained to heat the wooden and brick structure due to the age and style of the heritage buildings. However, the new building additions have new slab floors which allowed hydronic floor heating to be installed.
When Comfort Heat visited to see the results, the spaces heated with the floor heating were clean, dust free, quiet and warm. The Building Management System in use ensured only the energy needed to heat the spaces comfortably was used. The hydronic floor heating installed by Comfort Heat Australia is working well for the hotel and will continue to heat the Boiler House Café and the Pavilion, maintenance free, as long as needed into the future.
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