When heating a commercial property, you can opt for a single large boiler or install several smaller boilers operating in what is known as a commercial cascade. In a commercial cascade system, the boilers are activated as and when needed to match the heating demand at any given time. The sequence in which the boilers are brought online must be carefully controlled, which can be done via the boiler itself or through a Building Management System (BMS).
Our market-leading floor standing Imax Xtra 2 boiler and the Evomax 2 - the UK’s number one wall-mounted commercial boiler – have all been designed to operate in stand-alone or commercial cascade format. Evomax 2 is available with outputs from 30-150kW, which can be increased to 900kW using six Evomax 2 boilers in commercial cascade. Similarly, up to four Imax Xtra 2 boilers can be installed in a commercial cascade for an output up to 1120kW. A simple Varican accessory plug in card gives you the ability to sequence and cascade boilers independently without a complex BMS.
What are the benefits of a commercial heating cascade system?
Using several smaller boilers in commercial cascade will provide you with increased output, but then single high-efficiency condensing boilers, such as our Imax Xtra EL and Evomod, can achieve several megawatts. The real benefit of using boilers in cascade isn’t the achievable output, but the energy efficiency, especially under low load conditions. At times where demand is low, a single large boiler will have a certain amount of turndown but the input may well still be far too large, meaning excess energy is consumed. Boilers operating in commercial cascade, on the other hand, have a higher modulation ratio than a single larger boiler, so there is less need for each individual boiler to cycle on and off to meet changing demands for heating over a day. It gives you a better opportunity to match the load on the system.
Further benefits of installing boilers in a commercial cascade include easier access to challenging install areas, and it can be a good space saving solution. For more details on the benefits read our guide: What are the benefits of a cascade system.
What types of properties are suited to commercial cascade systems?
Being so flexible, and able to achieve high loads, commercial cascade systems are suited to a very wide range of commercial properties. They really come into there own though in buildings prone to fluctuating heating demands, or those where specific heating zones are more frequently in use than others, as they will dynamically adjust their output.
Is it easy to cascade a commercial heating system?
Cascading a commercial heating system is understandably more time-consuming that fitting a single boiler. But with our prefabricated low height and standard frame and header kits, along with our online cascade configurator tool to make choosing what you need straightforward, we’ve made that task quicker and easier. Check out our video to see just how quick and easy it is with our Evomax 2. It shows how building a three-boiler Evomax 2 cascade system can be done in under 90 minutes!
Can I run commercial Heat Pumps in cascade?
We’ve talked about running boilers in cascade, but heat pumps can also work in a commercial cascade system. Up to six of our ECOMOD monobloc air source heat pumps monobloc air source heat pumps can be installed in a cascade arrangement, operating from an intelligent lead controller. Our new Advanced Heat Pumps training course shows how to successfully integrate a heat pump into a plantroom, and includes invaluable advice on how to create commercial cascades.
Contact your local business development manager if you would like to find out more about how to use our boilers or heat pumps in a commercial cascade.
