Heating design

Heating design that isn't based on guesswork

Heat generation, distribution, and emission — sized precisely instead of generously estimated. We design heating systems that are only as large as they need to be.

Heating plant of a system designed by Giovanoli Gebäudetechnik

What this service covers

The heating system is the single most expensive piece of building services equipment, both to buy and to run. Oversize it and the owner pays twice: once at purchase, then every year through poorer efficiency and more frequent cycling. That is why we calculate instead of estimate.

  • Heat generation — heat pumps (borehole, groundwater, air source), wood fired boilers, district heating connections, bivalent systems, and combinations with solar thermal
  • Borehole fields — sizing and simulation of the field including its long-term behavior over 50 years
  • Heat distribution — network calculation, hydronic balancing, buffer tanks, pumps, and valves
  • Heat emission — underfloor heating, radiators, radiant ceiling panels, thermally activated building systems
  • Controls — system schematics, control concept, and interfaces to the building automation system
  • Tendering and award — bill of quantities, bid comparison, and award recommendation
  • Heat pumps
  • Borehole fields
  • Wood energy
  • District heating
  • Bivalent systems
  • Underfloor heating
  • Hydronic balancing

How we work

Market-based total cost

The planned system is defined and quantified in detail. A precise tender produces comparable contractor bids and makes pricing transparent.

Sizing without safety margins stacked on safety margins

We calculate the design heat load room by room and, where it matters, verify it against a dynamic simulation. The layered allowances common in practice are eliminated.

Saving space means saving money

Smaller generators and tightly sized tanks need less plant room. In residential buildings, the space you free up is immediately rentable or sellable.

Product selection without commission

As an independent office we earn nothing on the equipment installed. We recommend what fits the project, not what carries the highest margin.

Verification on site

On request we review the installation on site, check the hydronic balancing, and accompany commissioning.

Retrofits during operation

For replacements we plan the changeover so that heat supply remains available throughout construction, usually with defined switchover dates.

Scope of the engagement

What is not included Construction management, on-site supervision, measurements, balancing, and acceptance testing are not automatically part of a design contract, and neither is the preparation of as-built documentation. We are glad to provide these services — priced separately and stated transparently.

Frequently asked questions

How large does the heat pump really need to be?

That is determined by the calculated design heat load of the building, not by a rule of thumb per square meter. We calculate room by room and, for demanding projects, verify the result against a dynamic building simulation. Systems sized this way regularly come out smaller than roughly estimated ones.

Is a borehole worth it compared to an air source unit?

Boreholes reach higher seasonal performance factors and run more quietly, but cost considerably more to install. Whether the premium pays off depends on drilling depth, ground conditions, permitting, and heat demand. We simulate the borehole field over 50 years so the decision rests on numbers rather than on experience alone.

Can you assess an existing system?

Yes. Expert assessments of existing installations are part of what we do — for example when operating costs are too high, when comfort is poor, or as a second opinion before an investment.

Do you work outside the canton of Grisons?

Yes. We work throughout Switzerland and have supported projects from Basel and Zurich to Chur, the Engadin, and Lugano.

Let's talk about your project

A short conversation is enough to define scope, schedule, and fees. We usually reply within one business day.

Send an inquiry or 081 377 80 80