Load diversity allows a heat source to be reduced with respect to peak load.
It seems creative hydronicians are always coming up with new things to heat. Some of the “unique” heating loads I’ve come across lately include:
Such unconventional loads are often served by the same boiler that provides space heating and domestic hot water to the associated building.
Calculated Vs. Colossal: One approach to sizing the boiler for a multiload system is to add up the Btu/hr. requirement of all loads (assuming they’ll all operate simultaneously), add a generous safety factor to that number and then pick the next bigger boiler from the catalog. This approach appeals to those who would purchase a turbo-charged V8 4x4 pick up so they can proudly haul some 2x4s home when it’s time to build a doghouse.