Energy renovations of large institutional buildings, such as the RSA Angelo Maj retirement home in Italy, are often long and complex projects where reliability is critical. The foundation behind the project set a clear objective: completely phase out gas and transition to a fully electric system capable of delivering maximum comfort with minimal operating costs.
The care home is a large five-storey building that, in addition to residential areas, includes a specialised ward for people with Alzheimer’s disease as well as four additional care units for partially or fully dependent residents. The facility provides much more than accommodation. It offers a wide range of services including day centres, a gym, activity halls and its own chapel, creating complex and continuous energy demands that must be reliably covered 24 hours a day.
Instead of relying on a single large unit, the project uses a modular cascade of six ADAPT MAX heat pumps with a total capacity of 420 kW. The cascade is divided into two independent hydraulic branches. Three units are dedicated to space heating and cooling, while the remaining three are specialised for domestic hot water production. This approach delivers exceptional reliability, as the entire system consists of twelve independent heat pump modules. If maintenance or an anomaly occurs on one unit, the remaining units seamlessly take over operation without affecting the building.
The system configuration combines different capacities to ensure optimal performance and flexibility:
The RSA Angelo Maj project in Darfo Boario Terme demonstrates that energy savings can begin even before all construction work is completed. Heat pumps can be activated in individual modules as soon as installation phases allow, ensuring comfort and reducing operating costs while the renovation is still ongoing.
The system achieves outstanding seasonal efficiency with a SCOP of 5.82. Despite its high capacity, the units operate extremely quietly, with a sound power level of just 49 dB, ensuring a calm and comfortable environment for residents.
In addition to space heating, special attention was given to achieving high temperatures for domestic hot water preparation. A dedicated branch of the cascade system is responsible for domestic hot water production and can reach temperatures of up to 75 °C. This enables safe thermal disinfection without the need for additional energy sources, ensuring the highest hygiene standards required in institutional facilities.
At the same time, the CLOUD.KRONOTERM platform allows operators to remotely monitor the system and optimise its performance in real time. Would you like to explore how an ADAPT MAX cascade system could be tailored to the specific needs of your building? Contact us and let’s find the optimal solution for your project.
