University Boiler Replacement – Summer Boiler Hire
The Challenge
Our partner contacted Celsius Hire to source a reliable temporary boiler hire solution for a university campus, ensuring continuous hot water supply throughout a major boiler replacement programme within the main plant room. While the upgrade works were planned to take place over the summer holidays, when campus occupancy was lower, maintaining uninterrupted heating and hot water services remained a critical requirement.
Despite reduced footfall during the holiday period, student accommodation blocks continued to operate, with residents still living on site. For these occupants, consistent access to hot water was essential, and any disruption would have had a direct impact on comfort, welfare, and daily routines. As a result, the temporary boiler solution needed to provide full hot water coverage at all times, with sufficient capacity to support heating demand if required during unexpected temperature changes.
The challenge extended beyond simple capacity. The temporary boiler system had to integrate seamlessly with the university’s existing infrastructure, operate efficiently across multiple campus buildings, and remain unobtrusive throughout the replacement works. Reliability was paramount, as the objective was to ensure the campus continued to function normally, without students or staff being aware that the primary boiler plant was offline.
Celsius Hire was tasked with designing and delivering a robust, fully managed boiler hire package that could support a complex university environment while meeting strict performance, efficiency, and reliability expectations. For universities planning plant room upgrades, summer maintenance programmes, or contingency heating cover, our specialist team provides temporary boiler solutions designed to maintain continuity without compromise.
The Solution
As the boiler replacement programme was planned in advance, Celsius Hire was able to take a proactive approach by carrying out a comprehensive, free site survey before works commenced. This early assessment allowed our engineering team to evaluate existing infrastructure, understand hot water demand across the campus, and determine the most appropriate temporary boiler configuration for the project.
Following the survey, a high-performance 300kW temporary boiler system was specified, paired with a 300kW oil burner and a 1,000-litre calorifier. This carefully engineered package provided sufficient capacity to support continuous hot water production for student accommodation and communal facilities, while also offering reserve capability for heating if required. The selected configuration ensured consistent performance, energy efficiency, and operational resilience throughout the upgrade period.
At the heart of the solution was Celsius Hire’s 300kW micro boiler, chosen for its compact footprint, ease of manoeuvrability, and impressive heat output. These characteristics made it ideally suited to a university environment, where space constraints, access routes, and minimal disruption are key considerations. Its small form factor enabled straightforward positioning, while still delivering the power required to support a multi-building campus.
During the site survey, our team also identified an optimal installation location close to the main plant room. This positioning allowed for efficient integration with the existing heating and hot water systems, reducing pipework runs and installation time. At the same time, the location was carefully selected to remain discreet and out of the way of students and staff, helping to maintain normal campus operations.
To further minimise environmental impact, the temporary boiler package was enclosed with acoustic barriers to significantly reduce operational noise. This ensured a quiet working environment and preserved residential comfort throughout the project. With installation scheduled during the summer holiday period, the quieter campus conditions also enabled safe and efficient use of HIAB lifting equipment to position the boiler with precision and minimal disruption.
Through early planning, detailed engineering, and carefully selected equipment, Celsius Hire delivered a temporary boiler hire solution that combined reliability, efficiency, and low-impact installation. Universities planning scheduled plant room upgrades or long-term maintenance projects can rely on our team to design and implement tailored heating and hot water solutions that protect service continuity from start to finish.
University Boiler Heating Hire – Kit List
- 300kW Micro Boiler
- 1000L Calorifier
- 16m 2” Camlock Hose
- 34m S/S PN16 Flange Hose
The Result
As the boiler replacement project was planned well in advance, Celsius Hire was able to carry out a detailed site survey, coordinate logistics, and prepare all equipment ahead of installation. This proactive approach ensured that every aspect of the temporary boiler hire package was organised and ready before arriving on site. As a result, delivery and installation were completed efficiently, without delays or unexpected challenges, demonstrating the value of early planning for large-scale university heating projects.
Planned boiler hire installations such as this allow for precise scheduling, structured workflows, and seamless coordination between engineering and logistics teams. With all components prepared in advance, the installation process progressed smoothly, eliminating the need for last-minute adjustments and ensuring that the system was commissioned on schedule.
Carrying out the installation during the summer break provided further operational advantages. Reduced campus occupancy allowed unrestricted access for delivery vehicles and lifting equipment, as well as safe installation of acoustic barriers and ancillary systems. This created an environment where works could be completed quickly and discreetly, without disrupting students, staff, or ongoing campus activities.
The temporary boiler system has continued to operate reliably throughout the summer period, maintaining consistent hot water provision across student accommodation and communal facilities. With the potential for upgrade works to extend into the autumn term, the university benefits from long-term operational confidence, knowing that heating and hot water services remain fully supported.
This project highlights Celsius Hire’s capability to deliver dependable, long-duration boiler hire solutions for education facilities, combining forward planning, technical expertise, and fully managed installation. Universities planning scheduled maintenance, plant room upgrades, or extended infrastructure works can rely on our team to provide resilient temporary heating solutions that safeguard comfort and continuity throughout every phase of the project.
“Another successful project and great work by the entire team for an easy, smooth install and delivery!” – Anthony Jeffers, Northern Hire Manager
Reliable Heating and Cooling Solutions for the Education Sector
From keeping classrooms warm during a boiler breakdown in the middle of winter, to providing cooling solutions for summer exams, we understand the critical impact of temperature control on student and staff wellbeing. The School Premises (England) Regulations 2012 does not specify minimum temperatures for any parts of a school, however the National Education Union’s position is that temperatures in school classrooms should be at least 18ºC (64.4ºF). Schools also have a duty of care, so it’s important students, staff and parents/guardians are kept informed of any emergency temperature control situations and that the issues are resolved in a safe, timely manner.
Unexpected heating or cooling failures often occur within educational buildings and these can disrupt daily operations and learning environments, which is why Celsius Hire provides rapid emergency response solutions, delivering boilers, chillers, fan coils, AHUs and all accompanying ancillaries to restore conditions quickly. Our industrial-scale heating and cooling solutions cater to a variety of needs, including being able to provide suitable comfort heating for multiple classrooms within a temporary structure, to supplying temporary hot water throughout a college.
We also work with facilities management teams and local authorities to develop contingency plans, ensuring schools, colleges and universities are prepared for any situation. And with tight budget allocations to work with, hiring equipment can save on expenditure, resources and time.
Applications include;
- Comfort heating for classrooms, lecture halls, and temporary structures
- Temporary systems for construction or renovation projects
- Emergency boilers for hot water supply
- Fan coils providing the ability to adjust temperatures as needed (these units requires a chilled or hot water source to its coil)
