aquatherm piping system secures heating and cooling supply at the new "Aquon" headquarters
For an organisation that manages water and water quality daily, sustainability is not just a concept, but a fundamental practice. Therefore, the new headquarters of "Aquon" should be constructed with the highest environmental standards in mind. By utilising eco-friendly materials and cutting-edge technology, this goal has been successfully accomplished.
"Aquon" is an organisation that works together with the nine water boards in central and southern Netherlands. The company offers information on water quality, laying the groundwork for healthy and sustainable water management. Previously, "Aquon" operated from multiple locations. These have now been consolidated into a new building complex in Houten, near Utrecht.
The building, designed by Vakwerk Architecten and Pieters Bouwtechniek, includes modern laboratories, offices, and meeting rooms on a total area of over 7000 m². The ground floor is dedicated to the laboratories, while the first floor includes meeting rooms, offices, and the canteen. Building services are housed in two rooms on the roof. The new facility will accommodate approximately 150 employees, with space available for future expansion.
The owner aimed for the building to incorporate primarily sustainable materials and technologies. This includes features such as solar panels, a green roof, a wooden façade, and a fully gas-free heating and cooling system. Additionally, the piping system designed to connect the CHP (combined heat and power) plant with a heat and cold storage tank aligns with the building's sustainability objectives. ERIKS, the official Dutch partner of aquatherm, supplied and installed the aquatherm blue piping system made of polypropylene (PP-RCT), with pipe diameters ranging from 40 to 160 cm. Additionally, the project includes distributors made from aquatherm blue with diameters of 200 and 315 mm, as well as pipelines with a 160 mm diameter, all equipped with flange connections on both ends. These components, along with the distributors, were prefabricated at aquatherm's headquarters in Attendorn and transported to Houten ready for installation. This process significantly reduced the time required compared to on-site production.
A comparative life cycle analysis with steel and PVC pipes has shown that aquatherm blue pipes have a lower environmental impact: for example, lower greenhouse gas emissions, a lower acidification potential or a lower ozone depletion potential. The production of plastics requires less energy than the production of metals. Building materials made from plastic therefore generate up to 37% fewer CO2e emissions during the manufacturing process than those made from metallic materials (Source: Cradle-to-Grave Study of Competing Piping Systems). Furthermore, the polypropylene material fusiolen® PP-R/PP-RCT can be recycled up to 100% if the appropriate technical infrastructure is in place.
Another reason for choosing aquatherm blue is its low thermal conductivity (λ = 0.15 W/mK), which necessitated thinner insulation. Additionally, the reduced wall roughness leads to less pressure loss compared to metal pipes. The product's lightweight nature, effective sound insulation, and rapid processing and assembly further support the decision to use aquatherm.
