St Edmund’s College brings quiet, reliable warmth to a Grade I-listed chapel using discreet ETHERMA infrared heaters.
About the Building
St Edmund’s College is one of England’s oldest Catholic schools, home to several historic chapels designed in the Gothic Revival tradition.
The Galilee Chapel, completed in 1922 by architect F.A. Walters, is a Grade I-listed space used for worship, exams, and musical performances. Its tall ceilings and ornate finishes meant that heating had to be both sensitive and effective.
Heating Before ARC Thermal
The chapel previously relied on aging quartz-ray heaters and two fan units, both noisy and increasingly unreliable.
“Fan heaters had to be switched off during mass because of the noise … As the space was used more often, we needed something reliable and discreet that could warm both the air and the building fabric.”
Traditional wet or air-source systems weren’t possible due to the building’s protected fabric and lack of pipework.
Why ARC Thermal
The College approached ARC Thermal Solutions seeking a modern, low-impact replacement that could meet heritage-approval requirements and reduce maintenance.
ARC recommended ETHERMA EEZ-2000 infrared heaters - slimline, silent, and designed for listed or architecturally sensitive environments.
“ARC supported us throughout the approval process with the Westminster Diocese Historic Churches Committee”
“They provided all the information needed to confirm that infrared heating would have minimal impact on the building.”
