Building a future without fossil fuels

Speaker after speaker at last month’s CIBSE National Conference [March 2006] stressed that global warming is a reality, illustrated by detailed figures on the relentless build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, glaciers receding, polar ice caps melting and sea levels rising. If we have been complacent hitherto, it would be even more dangerous to become bored at being constantly reminded of the threats to mankind.

Construction orders show double-digit growth

Construction orders in the 12 months to January 2006 rose by 8% compared with 2004, according to figures from the Department of Trade & Industry. There was a 16% rise in orders for the three months to January compared to the same period a year earlier. Orders in the three months to January 2006 rose by 6% compared to the previous three months.

A £1.85 million contract for the pharmacy and pathology building at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, has been completed by Thermal Transfer.

Thermal Transfer completes specialist turnkey project for Royal London Hospital

Specialist contractor Thermal Transfer has completed a £1.85 million turnkey project at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel. The company’s Swindon office had total responsibility for the design, build and validation of the pharmaceutical production site (PPS) in the new £52 million pharmacy and pathology building constructed by Laing O’Rourke.

Gold safety standard continues at Briggs & Forrester

Briggs & Forrester has won a gold award in the RoSPA occupational health and safety awards for the fourth consecutive year.

Government makes moves for even more sustainable homes

The Government is to strengthen the Code for Sustainable Homes to address climate change. The announcement coincided with the approval of the new Building Regulations by ministers last month before it was laid before Parliament to come into effect on 6 April.

Andrews Sykes renews sponsorship of top British Superbike team

In its sixth season of supporting the Hawk Kawasaki Superbike team, Andrews Sykes will supporting the team throughout the British Superbike series. For the first time, the team will be running separate liveries for each bike. One will sport the Sykes Pumps logo, while the other will run under Andrews Air Conditioning colours.

Pipework prefabrication smooths city-centre project in Leeds

Gemma Martland, a mechanical apprentice with SES, completes some final inspection checks before the installation of modular pipework systems at Bridgewater Place in central Leeds. Time savings of around 50% are being attributed to the extensive use of offsite prefabrication systems for this £11.6 million project. Modules are delivered at weekends due to the restricted access and tight storage conditions at this city-centre development.

CIBSE launches register for low-carbon consultants

An important step forward in reducing carbon emissions from new and existing buildings has been taken with the launch of a register for professionals trained and able to comply with the new Part L of the Building Regulations. It is run by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers and supported by the Carbon Trust.

A new home for Denco near Hereford —TV personality and engineering enthusiast Johnny Ball officially opens new headquarters building and air-conditioning factory.

Johnny Ball praises new Denco showcase premises

Denco’s new headquarters and air-conditioning factory has been opened by TV personality and engineering enthusiast Johnny Ball. He is an ambassador for the Campaign to Promote Engineering and told guests that the new complex on the outskirts of Hereford gave a very positive signal about the healthy state of the air-conditioning industry.

Growth continues at White Young Green

Consultants White Young Green increased its order book by 27% to a record £280 million in the six months to 31 December 2005. The corresponding period for the previous year was £220 million.

Construction managers support nuclear energy

Two-thirds of construction managers are in favour of developing nuclear energy, according to an online poll by the Chartered Institute of Building. Over 400 construction managers were polled.

H&V07 wins industry backing

H&V07, the national event for the H&V industry that takes place every other year, will be fully supported by three leading trade associations. FETA (Federation of Environmental Trade Associations), HVCA (Heating & Ventilating Contractors’ Association) and ICOM Energy Association (Industrial & Commercial Energy Association) have all declared their support.

Services to reduce carbon impact are being designed for the conversion of HIghbury Stadium into a mixed-use residential development. Photo: Miller Hare Ltd)

Hoare Lea appointed to Highbury Stadium project

Arsenal Football Club has appointed Hoare Lea Consulting Engineers to provide mechanical, electrical and specialist building-services design advice for the conversion of the art deco Highbury Stadium to a major mixed-use residential development.

Contributing to a 50% growth in demand for AET’s Flexible Space Concept over the last 12 months is the transformation of Tricorn House in Birmingham from an outdated 1970s office building into a modern, premium-rent office space with an easily configurable working environment.

Demand grows strongly for underfloor services concept

Advanced Ergonomic Technologies reports a 50% increase in sales for its Flexible Space Concept over the last 12 months. It comprises Hiross Flexible Space underfloor air conditioning, Nesite raised floor and Movinord full demountable partitioning.

SES continues its investment in people

Contractor SES has been received the Investors in People award for the seventh year running. The award recognises organisations that have improved their business and realised goals through the management and development of their people.

There are few finer things in life than designing and building the future — CIBSE president Donald Leeper.

Engineering a low-carbon future

Addressing the issue of growing carbon-dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere is a key driver in the future design of buildings, and was a principal focus at last month’s CIBSE conference ‘Engineering the future’.*

The days of architects and engineers living on different planets are numbered — Pete Baxter

Exploiting the benefits of project collaboration

Building models that incorporate design data and online collaborative management are just two ways of enabling professionals in the construction industry to work more closely together, as PETE BAXTER explains.

Exploiting groundwater for low-carbon heating and cooling

MARTIN PREESE discusses the benefits of using groundwater to heat and cool buildings to deliver sustainable advantages that will reduce carbon emissions and stave off spiralling energy costs.

Responding to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requirement for inspecting boilers

The potential for boiler inspections to identify inefficient systems and reduce emissions is limited by practical constraints, as ALAN SILVESTER explained to a recent conference.

Installed as a modular system to provide heating and hot water for a golf club near Stockport, these Ferroli Tempra boilers each have an output of 30 kW.

Replacement Ferroli boilers are better than par at golf club

Heating and hot water for the club house at Romiley Golf Club near Stockport are provided by three Ferroli Tempra system boilers, installed to replace life-expired large floor-standing boilers.

Additions to the Icos HE range of boilers from Ideal Boilers modulate down to 10.4 kW and have a variable thermostat for central-heating control that is adjustable from 30 to 82°C.

Ideal Boilers adds two more models to Icos HE range

Ideal Boilers has added two new models to its heat-only Icos HE range of high-efficiency boilers.

All boilers in Glow-worm’s Flexicom range have a direct rear flue option — including condensing models.

Glow-worm Flexicom boilers address installation issues

Glow-worm’s Flexicom high-efficiency condensing boilers are said to be the only condensing boilers on the market with a direct rear flue option. Combined with their compactness, this feature enables them to be installed in a kitchen cupboard.

Prefabricated modules for Walsgrave Hospital are prepared for delivery in MEP’s factory at Ashington in Northumberland.

Driving the pace of prefabrication

ROBERT HUGHES explains why prefabrication is the way forward for building services and how the management of such projects is developing.

Microflex insulated piping systems are now available from Watts Industries.

Thermally insulated piping

Following its acquisition of Microflex, Watts Industries now offers the Microflex range of thermally insulated pipes.

The use of Victaulic’s grooved-end pipe-jointing system in the 40-storey Swiss Re Building enabled a floor of riser pipework to be installed each day.

Fast-track piping for the real world

The rapid installation of pipes on site without welding has a long history — which is just as valid today. DAVID SNODGRASS tells the story.

Delivering the time-saving benefits of plastic pipework

Despite the huge installation-time savings possible with plastic pipe, MARTYN ROWLANDS is concerned that these benefits might be squandered by poor installation practice.

Compared with steel pipework, copper enables significant savings to be made in installation time across a wide range of pipe sizes. The use of press fittings, shown here, avoids the use of flames on site.

Copper maintains its appeal

PETER MARSH highlights research that emphasise the technical and commercial benefits of copper for pipework systems.

Modern components for commissioning hydronic systems combine several functions. The Danfoss ABQM is an adjustable flow-limiting valve that automatically compensates for changes in system pressure.

Automatic balancing is the key to efficient systems

JOHN COOPER explains the advantages of using an automatic approach to HVAC balancing.

Boosting the efficiency of gas-fired DHW systems

With efficiency of gas-fired water heaters approaching 100%, PAUL MARSDEN discusses how considering the total system can further enhance efficiency.

Princess Anne visits the new Withington Community Hospital to mark its official opening. Heating and cooling systems make extensive use of Oventrop valves.

Oventrop valves cut times at Withington Community Hospital

Among a wide range of Oventrop valves installed in heating and cooling systems in the new Withington Community Hospital in south Manchester are Cocon 4 multi-functional control valves for fan-coil units.

Constant pressure for clean-water applications — the Grundfos Hydro Multi E range of packaged booster sets.

Booster sets for clean water

The Grundfos Hydro Multi range of packaged booster sets for clean-water applications maintain a constant pressure by continuously adjusting pump speed and switching pumps on and off as required. The pumps operate in parallel and are automatically changed over on the first-in/first-out principle.

Precise and reliable operation for small linear valves — Honeywell’s Smart-T thermo-electric valve actuator.

Thermo-electric actuators designed for small linear valves

Honeywell’s Smart-T thermo-electric valve actuators are designed for small linear valves such as those used on fan-coil units, induction units, small re-heaters and re-coolers using hot/cold water as the controlled medium in an electronic temperature-control system. Movement is produced by expansion and contraction of a wax element heated by electrical resistance.

Tectite Sprint push fittings from Yorkshire Fittings have a slim profile and come in sizes from 15 to 28 mm.

Press and push with Yorkshire Fittings

Yorkshire Fittings offers push-fit and press-fit jointing systems for a variety of pipe materials in wide range of sizes. The company also offers a range of commercial valves, Proflow.

MHS Boilers has simplified the design of its Hydra DHW packages to make them more competitive.

PHE units for DHW

MHS Boilers has simplified the design of its Hydra packages for generating domestic hot water. They are based on stainless-steel plate heat exchangers and available with single- or twin-head primary pumps. These units have an anti-legionella function and built-in volt-free alarm contacts.

A building-management system equipped with remote-diagnostics capability helps ensure that an engineer visiting the site to put right a problem is fully equipped with the necessary replacement components.

Why facilities managers need remote maintenance

Most modern building management systems (BMSs) have provision for remote access. This opens up the possibility of remote diagnostics which, as STEVE LOUGHNEY of Siemens Business Technologies explains, offer facilities managers big benefits.

Representing increasing co-operation between contractors and facilities managers is the recent signing of an agreement between the Heating & Ventilating Contractors’ Association and the British Institute of Facilities Management. Pictured clockwise from top left are BIFM chief executive Ian Fielder, HVCA director Robert Higgs; HVCA Service and Facilities Group chairman Malcolm Linsley; and BIFM chairman Mick Dalton. A similar agreement was recently signed by BIFM and CIBSE.

Working together becomes a necessity to cut lifecycle costs

Clients and politicians are stepping up the pressure on the industry to improve the lifecycle running costs of buildings. MALCOLM LINSLEY argues that professional collaboration is the best approach.

Bureau services are available offering a fully automated, round-the-clock alarm-monitoring and management service

Energy metering for facilities managers

Energy metering should be more than simply complying with the latest Building Regulations.

MIKE CAHILL explains its importance as part of a strategy for automatic monitoring and targeting that can help reduce energy consumption.

A smartMetering service for the non-half-hourly electricity market and for gas and water supplies is operated by Stark Software.

Eliminating estimated utility bills

Clarity, an accredited data collector for the half-hourly electricity market, has introduced a metering service for the non-half-hourly electricity market and for all gas and water supplies.

Roth pipework products are distributed in the UK by Climate Pipework Systems.

Roth pipework systems from UK source

Climate Pipework Systems is distributor for Roth products in the UK. Systems offered include Alu-Lasertec for hot/cold/potable water and connecting to radiators. Heating requirements are met by the Roth X-PRT S5+.

Daikin’s water-cooled VRV system has been used in the refurbishment of three floors of Carolyn House in Croydon, using risers to roof-top plant.

Water-cooled VRV air conditioning serves Croydon landmark building

Carolyn House in Croydon has become one of the first UK projects to be air conditioned using Daikin’s water-cooled VRF system.

This wood-burning boiler and oil-fire backup boiler serving underfloor heating systems in 40 houses in Orkney are controlled by a Compri HX3 controller from Priva Building Intelligence.

Priva controls central boiler plant serving Orkney homes

Centralised boiler plant serving 40 homes in Orkney is provided by a Compri HX3 controller from Priva Building Intelligence.

A school in Derbyshire has moved into the era of high-efficiency heating with this installation of Ferroli Econcept 100 boilers.

School upgrades to more efficient heating system

High-efficiency heating for a primary school in Derbyshire is being provided by a Ferroli modular boiler installation that has replaced an old cast-iron sectional boiler. Heating & Process Engineering Services installed four linked Econcept 100 condensing double-boiler units at St George’s Romany Catholic Primary School.

Lindab has designed a ventilation system for the main auditorium of Copenhagen Opera House that delivers high volumes of air with no perceptible noise.

Hush-hush job for Lindab

A displacement ventilation system developed by Lindab for the new Copenhagen Opera House was designed to meet the exacting PNC15 standard. Acoustic tests by Arup Acoustics on the finished project show that the system has indeed met this standard. PNC15 is the background noise level required in a good recording studio and is imperceptible to human ears.

The flue systems for five boilers, including two biomass boilers, in this grass-roofed plant room in Kent were built by Midtherm Engineering.

Midtherm Engineering flues plant room with biomass boilers

A copper-clad, custom-built roof terminal to marry in with the grass roof of a new-build plant room at the Betteshanger Development at Sholden in Kent tops out a complex flue system serving three pressure-jet gas boilers and two bio-mass boilers.

A single 60 kW Powrmatic heater installed at high level in a children’s play centre has replaced an inadequate radiator-based heating system.

Heating a play centre is child’s play for Powrmatic

When a heating system comprising a combi boiler and radiators was proving inadequate to heat 300 m2 of activity area for children in Clown Around in Chorley, heating contractor Walker Adamson of Bolton proposed replacing the old system with a single Powrmatic NV heater.

Marshall-Tufflex PowerPole takes a new turn

Marshall-Tufflex Series 2 PowerPoles in aluminium have been used as part of this his project for Michelmores Solicitors in Exeter. The PowerPoles (horizontal in this photo.) blend in with existing steel columns and carry power and low-voltage lighting in a way that harmonises with the existing steelwork.

Wireless sensors and controls bring sophistication to heating and hot water from oil-fired range cooker

Wireless controls and sensors are being used with an oil-fired range cooker to provide heating and mains-pressure hot water for a stone-built cottage in Cornwall.

Lochinvar scores at Emirates Stadium

Lochinvar has scored again at Arsenal Football Club with the supply of water-heating equipment for the Emirates Stadium. Two copper-fin water heaters and two storage tanks have been supplied. The two water heaters were stacked in a purpose-made MSF frame. They have a combined recovery rate of over 7000 l/h and were installed by MJN Colston Services of Croydon and will provide hot water to the players’ changing area.

Simmtronic provides prime lighting control for Cardinal Place project

Fully addressable digital lighting controls for the 50 000 m2 Land Securities’ office development at Cardinal Place in London were supplied by Simmtronic. The SPECS3 system for the full Cat A fit-out of this office complex has been completed and commissioned. Simmtronic is now enhancing the backbone system to provide each incoming tenant with a customised lighting-control scheme.

Pumps form the extensive TP range of Grundfos with variable-speed control play a key role in the UK’s largest ground-source heat-pump project to date.

Grundfos pumps play key role in ground-source heat-pump project

Variable-speed pumps from the Grundfos TP range play a key role in the UK’s largest ground-source heat-pump project to date. It serves the £19 million PFI headquarters and training centre of Gloucestershire Police and provides 650 kW of heating and 750 kW of cooling.