FAQs

Non-technical Questions (click a question to see our response):

• Q: What does Ashwell Biomass offer?
  A: Ashwell offer a biomass solution package including supply of boiler (pellet, wood chip or other fuel, such as food waste or agricultural waste), fuel stores, buffer tanks, pipework and controls, commissioning, quick spares turn-around, servicing and maintenance contracts, and breakdown cover. Unlike many foreign competitors where after sale service or parts order can be slow or non existent!
• Q: Do I need planning permission?
  A: In most cases a biomass boiler installation does not require planning permission. Although this may be required in certain situations, such as listed buildings.
• Q: What types of wood fuel can I burn?
  A: We offer 3 ranges of biomass boiler;

  • The Green-tec range is highly efficient biomass boiler and will only burn wood pellet.
  • The D’Alessandro range is a multifuel biomass boiler which can burn sawdust, wood chip, shavings, pellet, nutshells, etc...
  • The Komforts range is aimed at larger biomass projects starting at 500kW and can burn a large variety of biomass fuels incuding high moisture content biomass fuel.

  Our range also includes high pressure biomass boilers which are particularly targeted at supplying industrial process heat loads.
  
  See our products table for models listed by fuel type (click here)
  See our fuel page on the website for more information (click here)
• Q: How often will I have to refill the hopper?
  A: The hoppers are sized to give approximately 1 week’s running during winter season. Larger bunkers/silos can be installed if site conditions allow, storing several weeks’ supply of biomass fuel.
• Q: What about ash removal and cleaning?
  A: Wood pellets have a very low ash content. (0.5%) The ash collection pans only need to be emptied once every 2-3 weeks. Servicing is recommended on an annual basis.
  
  To reduce manual intervention, some of our boiler models have an auto de ash feature available as an optional extra as well as a pneumatic cleaning mechanism for the heat exchanger. (Selected models only)
• Q: Do I need a supervisor to run my biomass boiler?
  A: No, not unless the boiler is generating steam.
• Q: What servicing arrangements do I need?
  A: There should be an annual maintenance agreement in place to ensure your biomass boiler runs efficiently. Ideally this should include a summer and winter service , one when the boiler is on and the other when it is off.
• Q: What warranty is offered?
  A: Our biomass boilers are typical provided with a one year warranty covering electrical and controls and two years on mechanical. However, longer warranties and support and preventative maintenance agreements are available at an attractive rate.
• Q: What is a containerized plant room?
  A: A containerized plant room is a complete boiler house within a shipping container incorporating boilers, pumps, pipe work, fuel stores and electrical connections. A full range of biomass boilers are offered in the Ashwell Bio Heat Cabin, each one bespoke to the customer’s requirements. The Bio Heat Cabin offers a cost effective biomass solution with the benefits of:

  • Generous RHI subsidy for useful heat generated of up to 7.6p per kWh
  • ease of installation – 'plug in and go'
  • effective supplementary or back up heating system which can be switched on or off easily
  • a portable solution - only a concrete plinth is required and the container is easily removable
  • shorter lead times for planning
  • lower costs of planning
  • a low cost alternative to expensive permanent building costs
• Q: What is the RHI?
  A: The RHI or Renewable Heat Incentive is a government incentive designed to encourage the use of renewable energy as a replacement for traditional fuel sources. It is paid to the owner of the equipment and is based on useful heat output (per kWh) against a tariff dependent on boiler capacity.
  
  See our RHI page on the website for more information (click here)

• Q: What size boiler do I need?
  A: The size of the boiler depends on the site’s specific requirements and the heat load required. Indicative sizes to give an idea are as follows.
  
  Average 3 Bed House - from 20kW
  
  Farms - from 50kW
  
  Workshops - from 60kW
  
  Primary School - from 100kW
  
  Comprehensive School - from 200kW
  
  Hospital - from 300kW
  
  Industrial - from 300kW to 20MW
  
  District Heating - from 300kW to 20MW
• Q: How automated is a biomass heating system? Can I use it like a gas central heating system?
  A: Our biomass boilers can be fully automated and can operate similarly to a gas fired boiler. They have auto ignition of fuel and auto de-ashing. The fuel feed is fully automated on pellet and wood chip boilers.
• Q: Are there any special plumbing considerations to be taken into account?
  A: Our boilers are plumbed in the very same way as for an oil boiler installation.
  
  We recommend a mixing valve / destrat pump is installed with the boiler for back end temperature protection. (required for warranty).
  
  Most of our boilers are suitable for use on vented systems or low pressure systems (up to 3.5 bar working pressure).
• Q: Will my Ashwell boiler fit into my existing heating system?
  A: Yes, but a biomass boiler will require a larger space than a gas or oil boiler installation. Also, consideration needs to be given to space for fuel storage and any feed systems. Containerised plant rooms and external biomass fuel stores can be used to create more capacity where existing plant rooms are not large enough to house the equipment.
• Q: Will my Ashwell supplied boiler work with under-floor heating?
  A: Yes all our boilers work very well with under-floor heating systems. Our heating engineers can work with you to design an efficient heat distribution system that is correctly sized.
• Q: What standards do Ashwell supplied boilers comply with?
  A: Our boilers are tested and conform to the EN 303-5 certification and are certified under the Clean Air accreditation.
• Q: Are there any special flue/chimney requirements?
  A: There are specific requirements in the Building Regulations and HETAS regulations regarding flues for solid fuel boilers and these should be complied with.
• Q: What safety features are fitted as standard?
  A:
  Stage 1; A heat sensor is fitted to the front of the fuel feed tube entering the boiler, if this sensor detects that heat is transferring to it due to ‘creep back’ it automatically runs the feed screw for a few seconds to push the burning fuel back into the combustion chamber. If for any reason (eg electrical power cut) the sensor does not operate stage 2 will take over.
  
  Stage 2; Is purely mechanical and requires no electrical supply in order to operate. The mechanical valve is connected to a small water container, if the valve is activated the measured amount of water is ‘dumped’ into the feed tube.
  
  Note: It must be stated that stage 2 is installed as a further precaution, it is extremely rare for this to activate.
• Q: Do I need a backup heat system?
  A: In most cases a backup heat system is not required for a biomass boiler. Some customers will keep their existing boilers as they are already installed.