Portsmouth International Port, a major player in the UK’s cruise industry, recognised the need to expand its capacity to accommodate a growing number of cruise ships and passengers. To achieve this, they embarked on an ambitious project of constructing a brand-new, state-of-the-art cruise terminal. This new terminal would increase the passenger throughput and serve as a landmark for sustainable design in the cruise industry.

A seawater heat exchanger is at the heart of the terminal’s eco-friendly design. This system utilises the abundant and free energy source of seawater to heat and cool the existing terminal and the new annexe. As part of this comprehensive approach to sustainability, UFHN was selected to design, supply and install a tie-to-mesh underfloor heating system for the new terminal.

The Challenges

Due to the building’s vast open spaces and glass features, the design process was complex, requiring close collaboration with the design team to ensure the system integrated with the building’s aesthetics. We had to employ creativity for the positioning of the manifolds. Due to their size, placement was required to be discreet while enabling complete system optimisation.

The project involved multiple concrete pours across the site, and our team meticulously planned the pipework to minimise the crossings between pours and expansion joints. This minimised disruption and ensured a smooth installation process. In addition, a specific ramp area with five pours presented a further hurdle that resulted in sleeving the pipework without compromising the next pour.

Due to the time of year, the construction experienced exceptionally heavy rain, causing flooding on the site. Unfortunately, some of the concrete pours became too wet and required removing and re-pouring. UFHN demonstrated exceptional adaptability by relaying the affected pipework, ensuring the project stayed on track.

Results

The entire team successfully navigated the challenges of large open spaces, extensive glass use and demanding concrete work. UFHN has delivered a robust and energy-efficient Mercury Arial tie-to-mesh underfloor heating system across 1600m2 of the new cruise terminal by working closely with the design team and adapting to unforeseen circumstances.

This project exemplifies UFHN’s expertise in designing, supplying and installing underfloor heating for complex and large-scale structures. Our commitment to collaboration, meticulous planning and adaptability ensures successful project completion, even amidst unforeseen challenges.

Download the case study or learn more about this project: https://portsmouth-port.co.uk