Unit Heaters for Fire Stations: Stockport Central

Stockport Central Community Fire Station, being rebuilt on King Street West for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), needed heating that could run efficiently from a heat pump. SPC supplied two CiRRUS Unit Heaters for the appliance bay, selected for a 55/50°C low-temperature hot water (LTHW) system, along with two ductwork heating coils. The scheme was specified by Hurstwood Environmental Consulting and installed by mechanical contractor Barlows UK Ltd. It follows SPC’s work on unit heaters for fire stations at Blackley Community Fire Station.

Rebuilding Stockport's Fire Station

The original station on King Street West was demolished in August 2025. Construction of its replacement began that October, with Seddon as contractor and completion expected in autumn 2026. Stockport Central is part of GMFRS’s estates improvement programme, which also includes the new Blackley and Whitefield stations. During the rebuild, crews have operated from nearby Whitehill Community Fire Station.

Unit Heaters for Fire Stations: Our Heating Solution

The route to CiRRUS started with a question about Blackley. While specifying the Stockport scheme, Hurstwood identified SPC unit heaters from the earlier installation and asked the team to confirm the model and selection. Blackley fire station used Ci6 units with an angle bracket, a built-in three-speed rocker switch and BMS enable/disable via volt-free contacts. Stockport’s selection was based on the same arrangement.

The main difference was the water temperature. Blackley was designed around 45/35°C, while Stockport’s heat pump system called for 55/50°C. Area Sales Manager Paul Shankland and Ben Sword quoted two options for the 14 kW requirement: a Ci5 4-row unit with a 3.5m maximum mounting height, or a Ci6 2-row unit with a 4.5m maximum. Hurstwood chose the Ci6 2-row at low speed, which avoided any mounting height restrictions.

The project also included two heating coils for the ductwork. Hurstwood asked SPC for the flow rate and physical size of each, so they could check the heat pump’s LTHW flow and confirm the fit in the ducts. SPC supplied one coil for a 250 x 250mm duct and one for a 300 x 250mm duct.

Key Specifications

CiRRUS Ci6 Unit Heaters (x2)

Model: Ci6 horizontal airflow unit heaters (H600 x W600 x D360mm) with 2-row water coil
Mounting: AB cantilever wall brackets
Controls: BMS1/O/VFC for BMS integration (volt-free enable/disable) and RS3B three-speed rocker switch
Front panel: SLFP standard louvre front panel
Finish: SWF standard white paint finish
Heating duty: 7 kW at low speed, 8.6 kW at medium and 9.7 kW at high speed per unit, giving 14 kW across the two units at low speed
Design basis: Air on 20°C, Water 55/50°C, 230V single phase

Ductwork: Heating Coils (x2)

Sizes: one coil for a 250 x 250mm duct, one for a 300 x 250mm duct
Construction: aluminium fins, 15mm connections, economy casing with 25mm flange in 16G galvanised steel
Design basis: 55/50°C LTHW from the heat pump

Project Outcome

The CiRRUS unit heaters (Ci6) give the station low-temperature hot water heating that suits a heat pump supply, with BMS integration and local speed control. This supports GMFRS’s wider aim of reducing carbon emissions across its estate. The coils complete the package for the ductwork, so the project’s low-carbon heating comes from one UK manufacturer.

Stockport is the second GMFRS station to use CiRRUS unit heaters, and shows how unit heaters for fire stations can be adapted from one LTHW design basis to another. Thanks to Hurstwood Environmental Consulting for the specification and Barlows UK Ltd for the installation.

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