Ideal Commercial Heating, the UK’s number one in commercial heating, is launching the EQMAX, a new range of direct gas-fired condensing water heaters.
Enabling customers to source commercial heating and hot water equipment from a single market-leading and trusted manufacturer makes for a simpler ordering solution through our merchant partners. Customers also benefit from dealing with a manufacturer and support team they already know: the same nationwide sales, technical and aftersales expertise associated with our commercial boilers and heat pumps now extends to EQMAX.
What is EQMAX?
EQMAX is our new range of direct gas-fired condensing water heaters designed for commercial buildings with significant domestic hot water requirements, including hotels, schools, hospitals, leisure facilities and sports clubs.
Available in 10 power outputs from 20kW to 120kW
Three storage capacities of 210, 356 and 538 litres
Full stainless steel build for maximised resistance to corrosion – suitable for all water types
Can deliver flow rates to satisfy high peak demand environments
Reduced system heat loss and increased efficiency with integrated storage compared to indirect water heating systems.
This breadth of choice enables contractors and specifiers to match both output and stored water volume more closely to the demands of the building.
How does EQMAX meet demanding hot water requirements?
Commercial buildings can experience significant peaks in hot water demand, so both storage capacity and recovery performance need to be considered when selecting a replacement.
EQMAX combines a choice of storage capacities with outputs up to 120kW, high continuous flow rates and fast heat-up performance. Across the range, continuous flow rates at a 50°C temperature rise extend from 360 litres per hour to 2,190 litres per hour. This gives contractors greater flexibility to select a model that reflects the way hot water is actually used within a building, rather than relying purely on the capacity of the unit being replaced.
What controls are included?
EQMAX incorporates an easy-to-use controls platform, helping hot water generation to be managed around building occupancy and demand. Features include:
Programmable operating schedules
Setback function
Integrated anti-Legionella programme
How does EQMAX meet regulations?
The range meets the relevant requirements of the Building Regulations and Water Supply Regulations Regulation 4. It also incorporates low-NOx combustion technology, with NOx emissions below 40mg/kWh throughout the range.
Are EQMAX water heaters easy to install?
Ease of installation was a major consideration in the development of the range, particularly because many domestic water heater projects in commercial settings involve replacement or refurbishment.
EQMAX has a familiar water heater configuration, commonly used hydraulic connection sizes and straightforward controls. This can help reduce the extent of pipework changes required when an existing water heater is being replaced.
Plant room access is another important practical consideration. Commercial equipment often has to be moved through existing buildings, narrow corridors and several doorways before it reaches its final location. The stainless steel construction of EQMAX helps keep product weight down, making units easier to transport and manoeuvre on site. The 210- and 356-litre models have a diameter of less than 800mm, enabling them to pass through a standard-width doorway, while the 538-litre model can also pass through a standard doorway once its zip-fastened insulation jacket is taken off.
We understand that for contractors, these details can make a significant difference to the speed and simplicity of an installation.
How does stainless steel help prevent limescale and corrosion?
Each EQMAX water heater incorporates a stainless steel storage tank, heat exchanger and coil. Stainless steel provides natural resistance to corrosion, which is particularly important in hot water applications where components are continually exposed to heated and oxygenated water.
The stainless steel construction is combined with electrical anode protection to further enhance product durability across areas with different water compositions. EQMAX has been tested for operation in very hard water conditions of up to 350mg/l of calcium carbonate, giving contractors greater confidence when selecting equipment for regions where water hardness or softness can contribute to premature corrosion.
What support can you expect with EQMAX?
We recognise that product support is every bit as important as the equipment itself. As with Ideal Commercial Heating condensing boilers and heat pumps, EQMAX comes with a five year warranty at no extra cost when the appliance is commissioned free by Ideal within three months of the installation date. Customers also have access to our nationwide technical and aftersales support.
This is particularly valuable on replacement projects, where getting a building's hot water supply restored quickly and ensuring the new equipment is correctly commissioned can be critical.
What accessories are available with EQMAX water heaters?
Each water heater is supplied with a flue starter kit containing the essential components required for either open or room-sealed systems. A range of hydraulic and flue accessories will be available alongside EQMAX, including unvented kits, de-stratification pumps and components for different flue arrangements.
When is EQMAX available?
The EQMAX range is available to order through commercial heating merchants from September 2026.
Speak to your local Business Development Manager about the EQMAX water heater today.