Now there’s an added guarantee of another type of warmth all the year round following the replacement of four old, inefficient boilers with two ATAG XL110 commercial boilers, the last word in super-efficient, environmentally friendly heating technology.
Bristol Lido dates back to 1849 and is one of the oldest surviving in the UK, allowing all year round swimming. Having closed in 1990, the Clifton Baths as it was known, fell into decay for nearly 20 years at which point Arne Ringner‘s Clifton Lido Company purchased the site following a local campaign to save the iconic Lido. A Grade II listing from English Heritage helped seal the building’s future.
The newly re-vamped and restored Lido opened its doors on December 13, 2008 and has since become a highly successful venue for every occasion from daily swims to celebrations and holidays.
Installed by main contractors Octagon Heating Services, the two ATAG XL110 boilers have a combined output of 190kW and will supply domestic hot water and heating for the restaurant, pool and spa.
“Our customers rightly demand high quality, high specification equipment together with the optimum in service support,” said Octagon Heating Services’ Business Development Manager, Colin Green. “Increasingly with climate change they also seek ever higher efficiencies and the most environmentally friendly heating systems. We found that ATAG Commercial’s XL boilers ticked all the right boxes and were pleased to specify and install them on this prestigious contract.”
Featuring ATAG’s tried and tested 316 stainless steel heat exchanger technology, the XL gives a class leading efficiency of 109.3% (EN677), achieved through seamless upward modulation. High efficiencies combined with NOx emissions, which ATAG believe to be the lowest in its class, make the XL one of the most environmentally friendly boilers on the market today.
There are three models in the XL range with outputs of 65.4kW, 105kW and 130.9kW and these can be configured in multiples of up to 8 units to give a maximum output of 960kW. The boilers can be either wall or frame mounted in line (2 – 8 boilers) or frame mounted back to back (3 – 8 boilers) for simplicity of installation.
A major feature of the XL range is the fact that the maximum output can be achieved in the smallest possible footprint of only 2.7m2. Space was at a premium at Bristol Lido with low ceiling heights in the plant room. The compact dimensions of the ATAG boilers, combined with the neat space-saving installation rig, minimised the floor space and height required.
A special Sigram stainless steel condensing/pressure system flue arrangement was designed and installed by Bristol-based The Chimney Centre.
“With our old boilers we were always battling to keep all systems going, but since Octagon Heating Services installed the ATAG boilers we are assured of a consistent flow of hot water for all purposes,” said Arne Ringner, Clifton Lido’s Managing Director. “The Lido is a frantically busy establishment and any disruption to our heating would cause major problems.”
Facilities at Bristol Lido include a poolside restaurant – voted as runner-up in the Observer Food Monthly Awards for UK Best Restaurant – which is open seven days a week; a poolside bar serving breakfast, tapas, afternoon tea, wines, beers and the Lido’s very own ale; a poolside terrace; a superb 24 metre swimming pool and a spa with six luxurious treatment rooms. There’s also a Jacuzzi overlooking the pool and indoor sauna and steam room.
Arne Ringner’s company is currently working on its next project, redeveloping a derelict lido in Reading Berkshire along similar lines to its successful Bristol venture.
