The Plume Academy

Maldon, Essex


In collaboration with Ingleton Wood LLP, PES Ltd successfully delivered a comprehensive overhaul of the Low Temperature Hot Water (LTHW) system at Plume Academy.

Our team worked closely with the school to coordinate access, ensuring minimal disruption to daily operations. Where daytime access was limited, we carried out works outside of school hours to maintain a safe and uninterrupted learning environment.

A key requirement from the client was to preserve the building’s character by retaining selected original cast iron radiators. To accommodate this, we performed a full system flush and pressure test, ensuring the retained radiators were mechanically sound and fit for continued use.

In all other areas, the existing LTHW system was decommissioned, dismantled, and removed. We installed a new steel LTHW system using a press-fit method—eliminating the need for hot works and enhancing both safety and efficiency. Once installed, the system was fully lagged, and all building fabric penetrations were fire-stopped and documented for the client’s records.

We also upgraded the existing Building Management System (BMS) to integrate with the new installation and dosed the system with corrosion inhibitor upon refill. Six weeks post-installation, we returned to site to conduct water quality and corrosion inhibitor testing, making any necessary adjustments to ensure long-term system performance.

At project completion, the client received a comprehensive Operation & Maintenance (O&M) manual, including all documentation required for ongoing system care.


Services Provided

  • Preliminaries, welfare setup, technical drawings, and R&D survey
  • Full strip-out of the existing LTHW system
  • Builders work in connection (BWIC), including making good, boxing in, decoration, and fire stopping
  • Installation of new LTHW pipework, radiators, and insulation
  • Retention and pressure testing of selected original radiators
  • Controls and power wiring for the LTHW system
  • Water quality and corrosion inhibitor testing
  • System commissioning, flushing, dosing, and client handover training
  • Supply of O&M manuals and as-installed drawings