Although we had been manufacturing slimmer cylinders for many years, the Building Regulations Part L update in October 2010 which required cylinders to be supplied with thicker insulation prompted us to develop a new range of 'SlimFit' cylinders. The main criteria of these requirements were to greatly reduce the amount of heat loss from hot water storage cylinders whilst retaining the heat and,helping to reduce CO2 emissions. One other key benefit we introduced into these units as standard is a multi-bore high recovery coil designed to heat the unit faster than a traditional coil. In  doing so and with the addition of an aqua control thermostat, a quicker heat-up time is achieved and a saving of fuel is attained.

Since October 2010, all replacement vented cylinders have been required to have a heat loss rating so significantly reduced, that we have since had to apply a nominal thickness of 40 to 50mm (as we have always done on our solar cylinders, and heat pump cylinders), 50mm being in excess of the requirements for replacements and the minimum thickness for new build installations. Inevitably, thicker insulation results in a larger diameter and with the restrictions that some airing cupboards impose, we believe that many customers have, and will continue to, benefit from taller, thinner hot water cylinders, as it may be preferable for the increase in overall physical size of the unit to be taken up in the height rather than the diameter.

Manufactured in accordance with British Standard, BS 1566-1 : 2002 and in compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations, these cylinders combine a high performance heating coil (where applicable) with low heat loss, factory applied insulation, to provide a highly efficient and effective way to store and provide domestic hot water. Our polyurethane foam insulation can, in most cases, be applied up to a thickness of 75mm and is the most environmentally friendly type available with an ozone depletion potential of zero and a global warming potential of one. For a more aesthetically pleasing finish, we can offer a metal case.

SlimFit cylinders are available as vented, or Unvented units and can either be manufactured as direct or indirect units. In some cases they can also be manufactured as thermalstores Each unit can come complete with immersion heater(s) and a drain valve.

Matching customers' requirements is particularly important when space is at a premium, so the most common customisation for a hot water cylinder, is the “mixing and matching” of the various heights and diameters that we offer. As additional parts of a Bespoke design, the customer is able to specify a number of options including connection sizes/positions, insulation thickness and the finish of the unit (the metal case finish being the premium option). We can offer design drawings prior to manufacture to ensure that all connection sizes, positions and functions are to the customer's requirements.