EMERGENCY BOILER HIRE FOR SOUTH LONDON COLLEGE

RESTORING VITAL HEATING & HOT WATER AFTER A MAJOR BOILER FAILURE

Ideal Heat Solutions received an emergency call from a busy South London college. Their main boiler had overflowed early on a Monday morning following a critical failure in the plant room. This incident left thousands of students and staff without heating and hot water across the campus. With lectures, workshops, and essential on-site services scheduled to begin within hours, the college faced a severe operational challenge.

The situation required an immediate and dependable emergency temporary boiler hire solution that could restore services quickly, maintain safety, and support the campus while a permanent replacement system was arranged.

Ideal Heat Solutions mobilised straightaway, coordinating equipment, transport, personnel, and installation to get the college functional again the same day. The outcome was a successful deployment of two temporary boiler plants – 1120kW and 250kW – able to deliver consistent heating and hot water throughout the winter period and beyond.

OUR EMERGENCY BOILER RESPONSE: STEP BY STEP

Our approach combined technical expertise, structured planning, and clear communication. Below is a detailed breakdown of the full process from first call-out to long-term operation.

– SITE SURVEY & DAMAGE INVESTIGATION

Upon arrival, the Ideal Heat Solutions engineering team assessed the situation alongside the London Fire Brigade, who had already removed the majority of the floodwater from the plant room.

Once safe entry was possible, the team performed a thorough investigation which revealed:

– A ruptured pump bellow had caused significant water discharge.
– Electrical components and several system controls were compromised.
– The main boiler plant was out of operation and unsuitable for immediate repair.
– Core heating and hot water circuits supplying the entire campus were offline.

Understanding the full extent of the damage allowed the team to determine the size and type of temporary systems required. The college needed a dependable, high-output solution that could function independently of the damaged infrastructure.

– EQUIPMENT DELIVERY

Based on the site survey, Ideal Heat Solutions dispatched specialist equipment capable of supplying both heating and domestic hot water to a multi-building campus.

The deployed equipment included:

– 1120kW Temporary Boiler Plant – Suitable for large educational estates with diverse heating demands.
– 250kW Temporary Boiler System – Providing additional hot water capacity and supporting secondary heating circuits.
– Fuel Tanks – Ensuring uninterrupted operation during peak winter conditions.
– Flexible Hose and Pipework – Designed for safe and reliable long-term outdoor use.

All equipment was delivered using a Hiab lorry, enabling the plant to be positioned accurately despite restricted access and limited manoeuvring space.

– INSTALLATION & SETUP

Within four hours of arriving on-site, the Ideal Heat Solutions engineering team had:

– Positioned both boiler plants securely.
– Established safe, compliant connections between temporary and existing systems.
– Implemented suitable electrical and fuel arrangements.
– Tested and commissioned both systems to ensure stable operation.

Crucially, the installation allowed the college to reopen essential facilities the same day. Heating and hot water were restored across classrooms, offices, corridors, communal areas, and welfare facilities.

This performance was particularly important given the time of year; January conditions had created a high demand for heating to maintain comfortable and safe indoor environments.

– FOLLOW-UP WORKS & SYSTEM OPTIMISATION

To fine-tune performance and enhance long-term reliability, the engineering team returned the following day to:

– Reconfigure pipework to improve system efficiency.
– Adjust hose arrangements to strengthen durability and flow stability.
– Confirm compliance with safety regulations for extended temporary operation.
– Ensure that the entire plant could integrate seamlessly with the remaining functional elements of the college’s infrastructure.

This follow-up visit ensured that the temporary boiler systems were not merely functioning — they were performing optimally and safely for as long as the college needed them.

The system ultimately remained in place for six months, operating without any failures while the college procured and installed a permanent plant room solution.

SPECIALIST EQUIPMENT DEPLOYED

The temporary boiler plant was designed to support high-demand environments and ensure continuous operation:

– 1120kW Temporary Boiler Plant – Reliable high-capacity system suitable for large campuses with complex heating loads.
– 250kW Boiler System – Supporting additional hot water production and ensuring stable supply for welfare areas, science labs, kitchens, showers, and other high-use facilities.
– Fuel Tanks – Providing consistent fuel supply during winter months.
– Trend BMS – Allowing performance monitoring and operational oversight throughout the hire period.

CHALLENGES AND RESULTS

THE CHALLENGE

The college required a temporary heating and hot water solution that could:

– Restore essential services immediately following the boiler overflow.
– Operate safely within a plant room that had recently suffered water damage.
– Handle significant heating and hot water demand across a large multi-building campus.
– Remain in place for several months while a permanent replacement was arranged.
– Avoid interruption to lectures, exams, staff operations, and student services.

OUR SOLUTION

Ideal Heat Solutions delivered a tailored temporary system that met every requirement:

– A 1120kW boiler plant to handle the primary heating load.
– A 250kW system supplying additional hot water capacity.
– Professional installation and commissioning performed the same day as the emergency call.
– Safe integration with existing infrastructure using flexible hoses and secure pipework.
– Full support from experienced engineers trained to work in sensitive educational environments.
– Continuous monitoring and optional operational reporting to ensure performance remained consistent.

The solution was robust enough to keep the college fully functional for six months.

THE RESULT

The college benefited from a comprehensive and dependable emergency heating and hot water solution.

Key outcomes included:

– Zero ongoing disruption – The campus reopened the same day.
– Consistent performance – Both temporary plants operated faultlessly throughout the hire period.
– 6 months of dependable operation – Supporting the college until the permanent system was fitted.
– High client satisfaction – The college praised the speed, professionalism, and clarity of communication provided by the engineering team.
– Full continuity of education – No interruption to lessons, workshops, or student services.

The college later commented that they would happily return to Ideal Heat Solutions should another need arise.

WHY IDEAL HEAT SOLUTIONS?

Ideal Heat Solutions is trusted across the UK education sector for temporary boiler hire during emergencies, refurbishments, and planned maintenance.

We provide:

– Extensive experience in heating solutions for colleges, universities, and schools.
– A full fleet ranging from 15kW electric boilers to 1.5MW packaged plant rooms.
– Safe installations supported by compliance-trained engineers.
– Complete project delivery including fuel management, pipework, electricals, cranage, and commissioning.
– 24/7 emergency call-out capability for critical situations.
– Long-term hire options for refurbishments and system replacements.

Whether the requirement is emergency heating, temporary hot water, or full plant room replacement, we have the equipment and expertise to keep operations running smoothly.

CONCLUSION

A boiler failure in a large educational facility can quickly bring the entire campus to a standstill. In this case, Ideal Heat Solutions ensured that a South London college avoided prolonged closure by supplying and installing high-capacity temporary boiler systems within hours of the initial call.

The 1120kW and 250kW boiler plants provided consistent heating and hot water across the campus for six months, giving the college time to source and install a permanent replacement system. The installation was safe, efficient, and fully compliant, demonstrating Ideal Heat Solutions’ commitment to supporting critical environments with dependable temporary HVAC solutions.

Frequently asked questions about EMERGENCy boiler hire for colleges

How quickly can emergency temporary boilers be installed?
In many cases, installation can begin the same day, depending on access and initial safety checks.

Can temporary boilers support large educational campuses?
Yes — our fleet includes high-capacity systems suitable for multi-building facilities.

Do you offer temporary boilers for both heating and hot water?
Yes, our systems can provide both, with dedicated options for higher hot water demand.

How long can a temporary boiler remain on site?
Temporary boilers can remain in place for weeks, months, or longer if needed.

Do you provide contingency planning for colleges?
Yes — our Contingency Planning Service reduces downtime risk by prioritising emergency deployment.

Do you supply and manage fuel tanks?
Yes — full fuel management is available for all temporary boiler installations.