Client: Dunedin Canmore Housing Association
Contractor: Eaga Scotland Ltd
Type of works: supply of Dimplex DuoHeat^® radiators and BR towel rails.

For a major refurbishment of a classic Edinburgh apartment block, Dunedin Canmore Housing Association wanted to tackle the problem of condensation as well as deliver controllable warmth and reduce carbon emissions, so Dimplex DuoHeat^® radiators were the natural choice.

Located not far from the famous Castle, the 23-year-old building, Yeaman Place, consists of 26 dwellings in a four-storey block. The flats were occupied throughout the refurbishment work, meaning that each home had to be renovated from start to finish extremely quickly. Contractor David Chapman of Eaga Scotland Ltd, explains, “Because we had such limited access to each property, we knew the products we selected had to be trouble-free to install, as well as giving the high levels of performance and reliability that are a must in public sector projects. We’d used Dimplex products in the past and knew that the designs make for straightforward installation, plus the customer support is first-class.”

The new systems consisted of a selection of Duo300i, 400i and 500i units in lounges, halls, and bedrooms, with Dimplex BR250 towel rails in the bathroom to give a contemporary whole-home solution. The refurbishment also involved installation of positive pressure units to circulate air within each home, with a view to tackling the condensation that had been a long-term problem.

The tenants had been slightly cautious about the all-electric refurbishment requested by the housing association, but when the new systems were up and running, it soon became apparent that the new DuoHeat electric radiators were a world away from the old system. And as the heaters are hard wired into Dimplex RXPW4 four-zone controllers, the system operate just like central heating, from one central point.

The refurbishment has ensured that the building meets Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) regulations regarding heating, ventilation and air quality, relating to the health and safety of the dwellings’ occupants. “We’ve had extremely positive feedback from the tenants,” comments Glenn Rivers of Dunedin Canmore HousingAssociation. “They like the DuoHeat^® radiators’ controllability, which really keeps running costs low. What’s more, the new systems are helping us to reduce carbon emissions.”

As well as providing improved levels of comfort and warmth for tenants, the DuoHeat radiators have meant that the building’s previous problems with condensation have become a distant memory.