2006 September
Realising the intelligent building
24 September, 2006
Achieving intelligent buildings requires the infrastructure to enable systems to communicate with one another and systems that can communicate. Integrated Systems is the key to the future of intelligent buildings. JULIAN JOWITT and BILL McCONNELLL explain how this is being made possible for air conditioning.
Building value with intelligence
24 September, 2006
Although the capability to deliver intelligent buildings exists, the uncertainty of clients presents barriers to their acceptance. ALISON NICHOLL advises how to break down those barriers.
Sontay boosts customer services
24 September, 2006
Sontay, which specialises in control peripheral products, has introduced online tracking of orders, an auto-update initiative to improve project management and information flow for customers and an enhanced web site.
24 September, 2006
Five buildings in Longford Centre development being built at Feltham in Middlesex are having control systems installed by Integrated Control Systems in a £100 000 contract.
Universal control for university campus
24 September, 2006
Singapore Management University has used Echelon LonWorks technology in its new city campus as the foundation for its state-of-the-art intelligent building-management system. Multiple building-automation sub-systems are integrated to enable the university to significantly reduce energy consumption and costs and increase student comfort.
Delivering the intelligent building
20 September, 2006
Among the many benefits of intelligent, or integrated, buildings is a lower first cost. IAN STORRAR has the full story.
20 September, 2006
Tailored solutions for intelligent metering, energy monitoring, remote data retrieval using automatic meter reading from PRI provide the information required to help control the use of energy and its associated costs.
Intelligent buildings group launched
20 September, 2006
The first meeting of the recently formed Intelligent Buildings Group of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers is on 19 October at the Royal Society in London.
Priva boosts intelligence and openness
20 September, 2006
In response to growing demand for interoperability and open systems, Priva Building Intelligence has released an update of its Top Control software, TC 6.0. This new software supports many more protocols and standards. It is compatible with XML, BACnet, Echelon/LonMark, KNX/EIB, ModBus, M-bus, ODBC, SQL and OPC.
The future’s bright, so dim those lights
20 September, 2006
The chronic lack of a long-term vision to tackle energy use means domestic buildings could soon pull away from industrial and commercial equivalents. The BMS industry must stop thinking in the short-term and start shouting about the impact it can make for decades to come, according to RICHARD STROD.
Out-of-the-box energy management
20 September, 2006
Existing network infrastructure can be used by Merlin Gerin’s PowerLogic EGX400 Ethernet gateway to provide direct access to utility consumption and other energy-management information. It is operated via a web browser.
Honeywell is one-stop-shop for building systems in Derby shopping centre
20 September, 2006
Total integration of building systems in the £330 million Westfield Shopping Centre development in Derby is being achieved using Honeywell’s Enterprise Building Integrator (EBI) interface. It is bringing together building-management and life-safety systems, along with security and access control.
Commercial boilers offer three temperature circuits
19 September, 2006
Vokera’s Condexa Pro range of wall-hung condensing boilers have three circuits for domestic hot water, high-temperature heating and low-temperature heating such as underfloor.
Ideal takes boilers to Newcastle
19 September, 2006
The efficiency of boiler plant serving a housing development in Newcastle has been more than doubled following the replacement of the old plant with a system comprising two Ideal Super Plus boilers and two Imax Plus appliances on the one system. It provides 1530 kW of heat at an average efficiency of 95%, compared with 34% before.
New opportunities for commercial boilers
19 September, 2006
It has been clear for some years that the UK commercial boiler market has far more potential than the number of installations taking place each year indicate. JOHN BAILEY believes that its prospects have never been better.
19 September, 2006
Changes to Building Regulations have made the move towards condensing technology for commercial applications inevitable, GRAHAM WILLIAMSON discusses the issues affecting specifiers and identifies what they need to know when considering a condensing boiler in a replacement application.
Reducing the cost of boiler operation
19 September, 2006
In comparing the life-cycle costs of boilers, combustion efficiencies are only part of the equation. KEVIN STONES takes an holistic view.
Direct-flue option for Glow-worm combi boiler
19 September, 2006
Glow-worm’s Flexicon cx boiler is said to be the only high-efficiency combi on the UK market with a direct rear-flue option and small enough to be fitted inside a kitchen wall cupboard.
Hot water is not in paltry supply at poultry factory
19 September, 2006
Hot water is being generated at an efficiency of up to 96% (net) for poultry company Moy Park Ltd at its factory in Derbyshire by a Lochinvar installation. The equipment comprises a Power-fin gas-fired water heater and an LST 250 storage tank with a capacity of 115 litres to provide a hot-water supply for the factory’s washdown facility.
Solar water heating for the commercial market
19 September, 2006
Andrews Water Heating has developed a packaged approach to applying solar energy to the commercial water-heating market.
Solar water heating for the commercial market
19 September, 2006
Andrews Water Heating has developed a packaged approach to applying solar energy to the commercial water-heating market.
Clyde gets full marks from Charterhouse School
19 September, 2006
All boilers are Charterhouse School are progressively being replaced with modern and more efficient systems from Clyde Energy Solutions.
The route to successful commissioning
19 September, 2006
The latest Building Regulations emphasise the importance of commissioning in creating a heating system that is compliant with the regulations, energy efficient and cost effective. STEVE HILLS says that unless commissioning is completed correctly, the chances are the system will not be performing to its design specification.
Baxi on Energy Technology List
19 September, 2006
Baxi Commercial boilers are included in the Energy Technology List, so that they qualify for Enhanced Capital Allowances. All the company’s commercial condensing boilers appear on the list.
Dimplex adds to hot-water choice
19 September, 2006
Dimplex has expanded its popular SU and SUTP ranges of unvented storage water heaters with the introduction of a larger storage vessel. These ranges are now available in sizes from a compact undersink 7 litres to a mid-range 75 litres.
Elson adds high standard of heating and hot water to quality homes
19 September, 2006
Domestic hot water for homes with up to five bathrooms in a development in Salford is provided by packaged equipment specially designed and made by Elson. The development at Broughton Green is a partnership of the City of Salford and Taylor Woodrow, with the houses and apartments for sale. Heating and plumbing contractor George Birchall of Stoke worked with Elson to provide a prefabricated solution for the key parts of the system.
Understanding the requirements of Part L for boilers
19 September, 2006
PETE MILLS comments on the latest changes to Part L and their effects on commercial boiler specification, with particular reference to the application of controls in refurbishment projects.
Stokvis boilers are hot on emissions
19 September, 2006
Stokvis Energy Systems has minimised emissions of NOx, CO and CO2 from its recently expanded Econoflame range of boilers by incorporating pre-mix burners, multiple-pass heat exchangers and the latest electronic controls.
Control prevents unserviced boilers being used
19 September, 2006
Vokera has extended its Autostop control to prevent domestic boilers being used for more than 12 months without being serviced to its Mynute HE range of high-efficiency system boilers and the new Unica HE combi range.
Pushing Part L under the floor
18 September, 2006
Underfloor heating has always been a highly effective method of delivering comfort, especially in large spaces. Changes in the last two editions of the Building Regulations have so improved its cost basis that the benefits can be more widely enjoyed.
Delivering projects more efficiently
18 September, 2006
When the whole project team agrees on who does what, uncertainty, duplication of effort and confusion are reduced — so that projects are delivered more efficiently. DAVID CHURCHER explains how BSRIA is helping the process.
Moving beyond indifferent lighting
18 September, 2006
PROF. PETER BOYCE explores why so much lighting in commercial buildings in the UK is indifferent and what can be done about it.
Why cooling towers need joined-up Government
18 September, 2006
Different Government departments have very different perspectives on the use of cooling towers for rejecting heat from air-conditioning systems. ROBERT MacLEOD-SMITH gives his perspective.
The lessons of the Barrow LD outbreak
18 September, 2006
An expert witness in the recent re-trial of Gillian Beckingham, GREG DAVIS, considers the lessons needing to be learnt from this landmark case.
Retailers shop with Parkersell for electrical safety testing
17 September, 2006
Parkersell’s electrical testing and inspection unit (ETI) has secured significant contracts in the retail sectors. New contracts include shoe retailer Clarks and bookmaker Corals. Existing contracts that have been reinstated include Kwik-Fit and women’s fashion brands Viyella and Jaeger.
Cablofil makes lighter work of installing lighting at T5
17 September, 2006
A bespoke lighting-support system for Terminal 5B at Heathrow Airport has been designed by Cablofil based on its wire-mesh cable tray. Working with Crown House Technologies, Cablofil devised a system that was simple to install and secures more than 400 lights to the curved ceiling of the terminal building, carrying power and digital control signals to each fitting.
Carbon dioxide provides cooling for Imperial College
17 September, 2006
Cooling for mission-critical blade servers at London’s Imperial College is provided by Trox’s carbon-dioxide cooling system. 15 CO2OLrac units each provide 20 kW of cooling for the server cabinets in the E-Science computer suite.
17 September, 2006
An online information source on electric space heating has been developed by Dimplex. It includes information on policy initiatives and legislation, compliance with Part L, funding programmes, environmental issues and the core benefits of electric heating.
17 September, 2006
Autron has launched a new catalogue of its low-surface-temperature radiators and accessories. These products have a maximum surface temperature of 43°C, in line with the requirements of Building Regulations for many projects. Among the company’s product is the Slenderline, which at 75 mm deep is said to be the slimmest LST on the market.
17 September, 2006
Connectix, a leading supplier of cable systems, has launched a new web site for consulting engineers involved in information-technology infrastructure.
17 September, 2006
Addvent’s latest catalogue of commercial, industrial and domestic ventilation products includes useful guides to assist with correct specification in line with health-and-safety regulations.
Busbars for electrical distribution
17 September, 2006
Upower’s new web site provides an easy means of exploring the company’s comprehensive range of busbar products for electrical distribution. The systems are designed to accommodate all major MCBs and MCCBs.
An education in energy efficiency
17 September, 2006
A new brochure explains how a CentraLine heating control system can greatly reduce a school’s heating costs — and also provide a valuable classroom resource to teach energy efficiency.
Heat pumps and renewable energy
17 September, 2006
To explain how heat pumps can provide an alternative, renewable energy source for homes, schools, offices and commercial buildings, Viessmann has produced a free 44-page technical guide. It is aimed at consultants, designers, energy managers and contractors.
Comprehensive handbook from BAC Balticare
17 September, 2006
BAC Balticare has published a 480-page product and applications handbook covering its full range of cooling towers, evaporative condensers, water-saving wet/dry fluid coolers and ice thermal-storage units. It is available free to owners and operators, specifying consulting engineers, facilities managers and maintenance companies.
Inviron secures continuation of Fluor maintenance contract
17 September, 2006
Birmingham-based Inviron has won a 3-year contract worth £200 000 to continue maintaining mechanical and electrical services on sites operated by Fluor Ltd. Its scope includes Fluor’s UK headquarters at Camberley in Surrey and various tenanted buildings throughout Greater London.
Briggs & Forrester directors and managers take more stake in the company
17 September, 2006
Share ownership of contractor Briggs & Forrester Group has been extended to include all directors of the four operating companies and other members of the management team. Group chairman Mike Stanton explains that this group has collectively purchased 25% of the group.
Balfour Kilpatrick wins more Marks & Spencer refurbishment contracts
17 September, 2006
A further four contracts to remodel Marks & Spencer stores are worth £4.5 million to Balfour Kilpatrick, the multi-services and power-systems business of Balfour Beatty.
New Canary Wharf office for hurleypalmerflatt
17 September, 2006
Multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy hurleypalmerflatt has moved its Canary Wharf office to larger premises at West India Quay. 25 staff have been moved to the new office, which doubles capacity for future recruitment and on-going expansion.
CIBSE launches its register of low-carbon consultants
17 September, 2006
Over a hundred professionals have passed the qualification examination for the register of low-carbon consultants run by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers. The register was officially launched on 1 September.
Mitsubishi Electric joins investors top-10 green list
17 September, 2006
Air-conditioning specialist Mitsubishi Electric has been acknowledged as one of the top-10 ‘green’ companies of the year in the Portfolio 21 survey of Global Mutual Fund, which invests in companies helping the move towards a sustainable society. The survey links financial performance to corporate environmental performance.
Government must do more to tackle heat pump and electric vehicle barriers, Which? says
Which? is calling on the government to provide more support for greener home heating and cars, as new research shows cost and other barriers are putting people off making the switch.
New study reveals job stress affects 70% of construction workers
A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from the University of Cambridge has revealed that at least 70% of people in the construction industry report feeling stressed at work, and this not only has a negative impact on job performance but also personal life. The findings highlight the urgent need for effective strategies to combat workplace stress.
