2005 October

Hamworthy Heating’s Purewell VariHeat range of boilers has been designed as a direct replacement for traditional cast-iron atmospheric boilers. These boilers occupy the same space as their predecessors, but have 50% higher output, exceptional seasonal efficiency and exceed the Building Regulations coming into effect in April 2006.

Lightweight, insulated PEX pipes are now offered by IPPEC. Insupex plastics pipes are said to be quick and simple to install compared with jointed metal pipes. Being free of joints and durable, they also have low maintenance requirements. They are intended for cost-effective distribution of hot water in the ground externally.

Trane has developed a range of fan-coil units specifically adapted for the requirements of the British market. They are aimed at office and hotel applications.

York International has extended its energy-efficient range of low-noise YAES Sonata chillers to provide cooling capacities of over 1800 kW at typical UK conditions. These air-cooled chillers have screw compressors.

Hamworthy Heating’s Dorchester DR-RS range of direct gas-fired water heaters are designed to work as a room-sealed system. They are thus well suited to applications where a conventional flue is impractical or where a heater needs to be close to the point of use, especially with noise less than 60 dB(A).

New flue options for A. O. Smith’s Cyclone BFC condensing water heaters extend the range of applications.

Passivent has introduced a range of controllable façade ventilators for natural-ventilation schemes. The Aircool range has been redesigned to enhance its performance. Compared with mechanical ventilation, natural ventilation reduces capital costs by 15%, operating costs by 40% and almost eliminates maintenance costs.

The Arena web-based workstation package has been introduced as the standard interface to CentraLine building-management systems. Buildings can be managed easily via a browser, locally or from anywhere in the world. Typical premises include offices, schools, health centres, public and apartment buildings, health centres and retail premises.

The Antares range of towel radiators from MHS Radiators is available in polished chrome, white or a section of colours.

A range of iris duct dampers from CCL Veloduct provide effective control of airflow in either direction. The use of an iris damper reduces the overall dimensions of these dampers. Since they can be fully opened, no access is required for cleaning. Iris dampers can be used close to elbows and T pieces without causing turbulence in the air stream. They are made by ABB in Finland.

Stokvis has added more models to its Econoflame R30 range of wall-mounted condensing boilers for commercial applications to provide outputs up to 120 kW. The new models achieve an efficiency greater than 109.5%, modulation from 13 to 100% and NOx emissions of less than 26 mg/kWh or 15 ppm.

The SmartCom heating-control system from Ambi-Rad is compatible with radiant-tube, warm-air and many other heating systems.

Coster has introduced a control module for use with warm-water underfloor heating systems.

Steinel has launched three new infra-sensors, a fast motion detector and a photo-electric lighting controller.

By combining an air-to-water heat pump with a storage calorifier, a domestic-hot-water package from Clyde Combustions produces hot water with a coefficient of performance of 3.3.

Air-conditioning distributor AiAX now offers close-control units for applications where temperature and humidity have to be closely maintained. They are made by Tecnair LB in Italy.

A full service version of the NBS specification system software for building-services engineers is now available. It builds on the success of NBS Engineering Services Abridged Service, launched in 2004 for domestic, commercial and light industrial projects.

The management of modern structured wiring and data-communications cabling installations is covered in an 18-page brochure from Mita.

The application of Internet technology to building automation is the subject of a free ‘white paper’ from Priva Building Intelligence. It considers the use of TCP/IP in developing interactive building systems.

ABB has published an updated version of its ‘Six step energy saving plan’ for making substantial cuts in electricity usage, reducing liability to the Climate Change Levy and helping companies under Climate Change Agreements meet their commitments.

Guidance on the implications for storing fuel and oil of the latest phase of the Control of Pollution Regulation is provided in a leaflet from Hytek. Topics covered include advice on bunding, oil deliveries, positioning of pump sets and dealing with spillages. Hytek offers a wide range of equipment to help comply with the regulations.

HVCA has released new guidance on good practice on the internal cleanliness of ventilation systems. The association says that adherence to the standards in TR/19 will provide clear and detailed proof that the ventilation system in a building is safe and well maintained, which is vital for securing adequate insurance cover.

Bitzer UK has updated its selection software for compressors. Issue 4.1 comes on a CD and is freely available. The program is a feature of Bitzer’s web site and enables installers and specifiers to work out which Bitzer compressors will provide the necessary cooling performance for any specific application.

Heat-recovery units which all qualify for Enhanced Capital Allowances are the subject of a brochure on its Lossnay units from Mitsubishi Electric.

A new edition of its ‘two-in-one’ guide to its KoolDuct pre-insulated ducting has been published by Kingspan Insulation. This latest issue includes an up-to-date project portfolio of recent installations, as well as like-for-like comparisons between the cost of using the KoolDuct system and conventional sheet-metal ducting.

To overcome problems of keeping water pressure constant, Morston Hall, a hotel on the north Norfolk coast, has installed a Dualstream water-control system. It has been designed to feed the large bathrooms of this 7-bedroom hotel, maintaining the water pressure and flow to all the water outlets.

Cigarette-smoke pollution problems in one of the largest social clubs in the south west of England have been solved by installing Honeywell electrostatic air cleaners. This sports and social club has 3000 members and staff, and club steward Shaun Mullan believes there is no need to impose a smoking ban anywhere.

As part of an investment programme that includes upgrading and replacing current facilities as part of a long-term maintenance programme, six Andrews Maxxflo condensing storage water heaters have been installed in various locations on the Streatham Campus of the University of Exeter. They join numerous other Andrews water-heating and boiler installations already operating on the site.

The intelligent integration of services in the new Haghill Primary School & Community Sports Centre in Glasgow is generating substantial energy savings. This is one of the first new schools to be built as part of a programme of work involving over 200 new and refurbished schools.

Combined heat and power is among a range of technologies installed at Solaris, a regional centre of excellence in environmental sustainability in Blackpool.

Air-conditioning units with the cooling capacity of units that are normally twice the size and weight have been installed in the extended and refurbished River Island store at Lakeside in Essex. The compact Toshiba 12.5 kW digital inverter split systems were installed by Metainy.

Valves to control domestic hot water and other water services in a hotel with an award-winning exterior were supplied by Oventrop for mechanical-services contractor Bower Fuller. The Oventrop valves have been installed throughout the 120-bedroom, 6-storey Travelodge in Cambridge.

Replacing four shell-and-tube heat exchangers with plate heat exchangers at Leighton Hospital in Crewe is expected to achieve energy savings of more than £5000 a year. The savings come mainly form improved control. Ken Hardy, estates manager at the hospital, says, ‘The new units are saving energy, because they have eliminated the frequent [temperature] overshoots we used to get.’ Efficiency has been improved by over 5%.

Aga, which makes the cast-iron Aga cooker, has overcome the problem of temperatures in its factory at Telford exceeding 30°C by installing a Breezair evaporative air-cooling system. It has reduced the temperature to less than 25°C.

As part of the major refurbishment and conversion programme of Morrisons supermarkets, Qualitair QLC low-temperature ceiling cassettes are being installed in the Market Street area of each store. These areas consist of specialist food counters such as a fishmonger, baker and greengrocer. The concept is part of the company’s strategy to offer customers food that has been freshly prepared in the store.

In response to Government policy to exploit natural, energy-saving solutions in schools, ventilation for classrooms in the new mathematics block at a school in Dorset is provided by Monodraught Windcatcher natural-ventilation units.

York International’s air-conditioning factory at Basildon is to be closed as part of a major strategic restructuring across York Europe, Middle-East and Africa. The news closely following the announcement by Johnson Controls that it is to Acquire York International for about $3.2 billion.

BEST (Building Engineering Services Training) has taken steps to encourage only the highest calibre learners to apply for the limited places offered by employers. The company is a leading training provider for the HVAC&R and plumbing industries and has raised its entrance criteria for craft apprenticeships.

Vaillant Group is boosting capacity at its UK assembly plant at Belper in Derbyshire by 80% to meet soaring demand for high-efficiency boilers. The facility will now operate 24 h a day, six days a week, and employ 60 more staff.

The Major Projects Agreement (MPA) has had a positive impact on the Terminal 5 project at Heathrow Airport, according to a survey by independent auditors Baker Mallett.

CIBSE has welcomed the publication of the new Part L of the Building Regulations, which contains many of the institution’s suggestions from the original consultation in 2004. CIBSE expresses disappointment that some measures relating to improving existing dwellings have been dropped, but supports ODPM in its efforts to drive up the energy efficiency of non-domestic buildings.

Daikin Airconditioning UK is moving to new state-of-the-art office in Weybridge. As a result, the next few months will see regional offices in Woking, Redhill and Heston integrated into the new premises.

Design services for this £9 million development at Accrington & Rossendale College are being provided by White Young Green. It has been necessary to pay particular attention to the steeply sloping site, a phased construction programme and keeping the site fully operational.

Motorcyclist Jay Fernandez, sponsored by air-conditioning distributor Space Air, is back in the lead of the 2005 MRO SuperTwins Champions after two tough rounds at Knockhill and Cadwell Place.

Mechanical contractor Thermal Transfer is part of an alliance team awarded the European Construction Industry ACTIVE ‘Best project of the year award’.

The architectural design for this newly completed futuristic building for Stephenson College in Leicestershire has been shortlisted for ‘Building of the year’ in the ProCon Leicestershire Property Awards.

New measures to make buildings more energy efficient will save a million tonnes of carbon a year by 2010, according to an announcement from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and DEFRA last month (September).

How many people are there with misgivings about the sort of examinations that children at school and students take? Many people wonder about the worth of media studies, psychology, leisure and tourism and a whole range of other courses.

Skills shortages and skills gaps encapsulate the two greatest concerns of the building-services sector in its need to ensure adequate capacity and capability to deliver projects in the future. Let’s face it, the average age of people in the industry is increasing — and one of the main reasons is that younger people are not entering the industry.

Geminox now offers prefabricated boiler plant in the UK following success in partner countries.

Armstrong Holden Brooke Pullen now offers configurable HVAC pumping packages that reduce installation time on site and enable designers to select an effective system solution without the high costs and longer lead times associated with bespoke systems.