Hoathly Hill Wood Chip Boiler Installation – Progress Report

Timetable
The pipe work laying should be finish by the end of next week. Then Douch Partners will fill the system with water and test for leaks. The first interface units will be fitted to Arc Hall, the Barn, Studios and pottery. Wood Energy Ltd are coming on the 1st to 3rd May to commission the system. This means the boiler will be lit ready to try out the heating in the first buildings.

Installing interface units
In most houses the gas boiler position will be used for the interface units – direct replacement. The internal system will be cleaned using power flushing, then controls will be checked. When there enough houses with interface units fitted, the house will be connected up. There may be a short period when there is no heating or, in some cases, hot water.

Calor Gas System
We need to run down the amount of gas in the tanks so they are empty and this has to happen around the time we no longer need the gas. There may be a short time – in the summer - without gas for some people if we run out before the system is ready, but we'll try to avoid this as far as possible.

Finances
So far, we are performing well to budget.

Marking Milestones
We'll have a small ceremony at the end of May to say thank you to the builders of the boiler house, and have a tour of the boiler room with Stewart Boyle. This is for the Community and some invited guests. We'll plan a full celebration of completion of the project at the end of September, when everyone who has helped bring it about will be invited.

Visitors
Members of the Forest Row Parish Council would like to come to see the boiler on Saturday 28th April. We'll also have a short visit on Friday 11th May from Local Authorities in the South East.

The last stretch of heat main through the courtyard

The end is in sight, but probably the trickiest part has to be done now

The boiler house has it's wood finish added

The final product

Through Margaret's garden to her flat

Through Basil's garden ( with N0 11's extension)

Straight along the path

Round by no 13

Skirting the lime tree to avoid damage to the roots

The digger - ready for the last pipe run

End of second pipe run - ready for connection to houses

Making a connection in the third and final pipe run

Finishing off between numbers 1 and 2

Numbers 1, 2 and three courtyard

The boiler equipment has been installed and tested - all is working well.

Coming into the courtyard for houses 1 to 3 - approaching the end of the second pipe run

Moving along the main driveway

The second pipe run reaches the Barn

The LPG pipe supplying gas to the Barn is cut - the first time one of the existing service pipes has been damaged - a good record so far. The gas is switched off and the pipe mended within 20 minutes. Most of the rest of the day is spent reconnecting the 24 buildings suppled by LPG.

Fusion welding the pipe connections

Reaching the end of the line for numbers 22 to 26. Hand digging through the garden to take the pipe up to the house.

Toby Douch of Douch Partners answers some questions from the Community:

Toby confirms arrangements with Anne Thomson for installing
the interface unit and internal heating system to her house

1. What material did you use for the tanking in the wood chip silo?
The material used for tanking inside was Thoroseal 501, it also can be used for swimming pools and cellars.

2. How will the roof look when it has weathered?
When weathered, the roof over the silo will have the stones more exposed over time, therefore will look more brown in colour, and also being near trees may get some algae.

3. When will you complete the installation of the pipe work?
The plan is to finish the pipework at the end of March, however this is subject to having reasonable weather, and we have had a lot of rain recently and have lost time as a result.

4. When will you begin the connection to the houses?
Connection to the houses is scheduled to commence in late March, however, in the coming weeks we will do a schedule of which houses we will do when and post it in the barn.

5. What sequence have you in mind?
Sequence yet to be agreed.

More generally:

1. What is the role of Douch partners in this project?
Douch Partners are Main Contractor in this project.

2. What do you enjoy most about it?
We enjoy the fact that it is making a contribution to the Hoathly Hill Community, and the wider community as it is a forward looking project. Also, we enjoy working within a community committed to the bigger picture and not just their immediate concerns.

3. What has been the greatest difficulty so far?
The greatest difficulty so far has been the weather and finding the existing services in the ground.

4. How did you resolve it?
This is being resolved with perseverance!

View from Finches Field

Building the door to the silo

In front of Hoathly Hill House

Round by the terraces