Most efficient heating for village hall

[flyingsparks]

I have to price to replace the heating system in a village hall. Currently they have 20 banks of 3 tubular heaters (approimatly 5 ft long) around the room (so 60 in total!) controlled by one thermostat and a contactor.
I am wondering what would be the most efficient type of heater to use. Unfortuantly electric heating is the only option as they don't have oil or gas supply and no boiler.
They would be wanting to turn it on for a function perhaps an hour before and then off at the end of the night.
Ideas?!
Thanks.

 

[JohnD]

What's the insulation like?

 

[deadshort]

If you can cope with the noise, i would use fan heaters.

Regards,

DS

 

[Echo the husky]

Make sure there is good control over the temperature if you go down that route, to prevent the users from cranking the stat up and overheating the building which is quite easy with fan heaters. The tubular heaters would provide an even gentle heat to warm the building rather than a rapid blast of hot air from a fan heater.
What is the issue with the existing heaters?

 

[jj4091]

Have you seen this http://www.dimplex.co.uk/assets/Downloads_PDF/DOM8.pdf

 

[Echo the husky]

From the same place: http://www.dimplex.co.uk/assets/Downloads_PDF/Commercial_Heating_Guide_Application.pdf

 

[RF Lighting]

I've done a scout hut with electric radiators from http://www.heatelectric-uk.com

They have this control setup :

A 1 channel programmer which is locked away supplies a honeywell room stat set to 22 degrees fitted with a frost stat cover so it can't be altered. This supplies the contractor for the rads.

There is also a boost button wired the same as the programmer to allow the heating to be easily switched on outside normal meeting times.

They then have a room stat with a neon supplied from the programmer / boost output. There is nothing connected to its output. This allows leaders of groups to think they've turned the heating up or down without cocking up the system for the following group.

The system has been in about 5 years now and has worked flawlessly. It's been so much better than the old wall mounted fan heaters previously installed.

 

[OwainDIYer]

If you want to use off-peak electricity and the hall is used most days, then consider a fan storage heater such as
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/ERADL4024.html

The output fan can be controlled by a system similar to that suggested by RF Lighting, but will probably need to come on about 2 hours before meeting start as it's unlikely to be as responsive as a direct heater.

Another frost stat set to about 12 deg C would keep the hall dry and mean the heating isn't coming up from freezing in winter. This would imrpove the responsiveness, at the cost of using stored heat.

 

[JohnW2]

If you want to use off-peak electricity and the hall is used most days ....

Nearly every village hall I've known about has been used much less than that, with a fair bit of the usage being 'unpredictable' until fairly late in the day. There may be some regular events (e.g. on the same evening of every week), but a lot of the use is often 'sporadic' (it certainly is in the case of the hall in my village).

Kind Regards, John

 

[stillp]

Nearly every village hall I've known about has been used much less than that, with a fair bit of the usage being 'unpredictable' until fairly late in the day. There may be some regular events (e.g. on the same evening of every week), but a lot of the use is often 'sporadic' (it certainly is in the case of the hall in my village).

Kind Regards, John

But John, the OP asked about heating his village hall, not yours!

 

[Steve]

Due to cost the only real option is probably plain electric convectors. No matter what manufacturers claim these all have the same efficiency at heating the room. Where you can make a difference is with the controls. There's nothing to stop you using internet enabled controls that the caretaker can look after from the comfort of his armchair. But something more conventional with false controls like what rf suggested would work well.

If they have more money you could get a quote to have air source heat pumps installed.

 

[JohnW2]

But John, the OP asked about heating his village hall, not yours!

Of course, but, as I wrote/implied, I've been involved with (or known about) a good few village halls over the years, and I've yet to come across one whose usage pattern was such that it would be appropriate to try to use storage heaters.

But, you're right - the village hall that the OP was asking about (not necessarily "his" village hall) might be used in a totally different way to any I have ever seen.

Kind Regards, John

 

[flyingsparks]

Thanks for all the input. The hall is indeed not used that often (I would say about once a week) and I know there funds are limited so I think air source is out the window already. (Although a good suggestion).
At the minute I believe it is very poorly insulated in the roof space, this is something I am told they are going to be doing soon.
Windows and doors too are due to be replaced when funds allow it to be.
I will look through the links, but at this stage I feel some kind of panel heaters, which is well controlled, possibly using wifi controls so the heating can be set to come on before a function may be a good idea. (Thinking about it, I doubt the hall has wifi or even a telephone line installed at present!)

I am also quoting to replace all the lighting, but I have a lighting designer coming in to spec all this.

 

[RF Lighting]

Where are you located? You're welcome to come and see the heating in our scout hut.

 

[securespark]

That's a bloody good offer.

I had an issue with out Scout hut's heating system & RF kindly invited me to see a system he had worked on. Unfortunately, the job was taken out of my hands.