2006 November

Comfort and safety for children in a new primary have been achieved using a Robbens underfloor heating system. The new Church of England primary school at Yaxham in Norfolk replaces a building dating from the nineteenth century.

The air-leakage requirements of the latest Building Regulations will have an effect on space heating systems. KEITH SPRAGUE explains how radiant and warm-air systems will fare under the new regulations.

A warm-air heating system from Reznor positioned to create a cyclonic rotating air-distribution effect is maintaining comfortable temperatures in Ensign Buses’ large depot and maintenance facility.

LARS FABRICUS describes how central energy plant can be used with local hot water generators in dwellings for maximum efficiency

Keston Boilers has supplied two SEDBUK A rated high-efficiency C55 boilers for the new £34 million Nugent House annexe of Eastbourne College. For speed of installation, the boilers were built into a bespoke floor-standing rig. Savings in installation costs were also made possible by the small-diameter flue system, which can run up to 45 m vertically or horizontally.

Stiebel Eltron has won a contract to supply heat pumps for 41 houses on the Isle of Skye. They will extract heat from the ground.

Comfort levels, space restrictions, interior design — the arguments for underfloor heating are endless. REX INGRAM gives advice on the planning and design of underfloor heating system.

A reduction in heating costs of up to 30% is claimed by Airflow Developments by using its Economiser to take warm air from the roof void in large buildings and redirect it back down to floor level. This claim is substantiated by an independent investigation carried out by BSRIA. The product lends itself to use in retail warehouses, factories and community leisure facilities.

Coverad has developed a range of induced-airflow electric heaters for commercial applications that meet the needs of current legislation and cater for a market where safety, electrical efficiency, ease of installation, low maintenance and robust construction are required.

Autron’s range of LST (low surface temperature) radiators has been independently tested by BSRIA for heating output and casing temperature — ensuring that specifiers, contractors and users can be confident of quoted performance data.

BSS has added a new range of tubular radiant heaters to its portfolio of BOSS-branded products.

UHMA (the Underfloor Heating Manufacturers’ Association) has launched the UK’s first independent training course in the design and installation of underfloor heating.

Nearly 2500 m2 of underfloor heating has been installed at Young Options College in Shifnal, Shropshire. Unusually, the tubing was installed by fixing it directly to the reinforcing mesh within the slab by Thermo-floor rather than installing onto the slab and then covering it with a screed.

Heating for a luxury penthouse created during the conversion of a church into 12 apartments is provided by an Even-Heat underfloor heating system.

Electric heating itself does not emit carbon dioxide, and nor need the generation of electricity from renewable and nuclear sources. DAVID RUMBLES reflects on a new future.

14 engineering upgrades suggested by extensive customer feedback are incorporated into Ferroli’s new Optimax HE combi and system boilers. Almost all involve making life easier for the installer and service engineer by giving all parts and connections more hand and tool space — without increasing the size of the boiler.

The Redring Hotbox electric boiler provides economical heating where space is limited or gas is unavailable. These boilers drive sealed wet systems in light-commercial or domestic situations. They can deliver a flow temperature of 60°C to eight radiators against an outside temperature of 0°C.

The heating range of Dimplex includes products for most commercial, light-industrial and domestic applications — enabling the creation of fully integrated heating systems or the provision of localised room or spot heating.

Energy-efficient underfloor heating systems are being installed in the Piers Arts Centre in Stromness, Orkney, to provide background heating. The museum is being renovated and regenerated, with an extension to link the two existing buildings. The Raychem systems are being used extensively, including the entrance, galleries, lobbies and cloakroom areas.

The Econo-Air 3000 series of direct-fired gas heating and ventilating system from Stokvis Energy Systems incorporates high-efficiency burner and controls to optimise energy usage, minimise the effects of draughts and cold penetration, and instantly respond to falls in internal temperature.

Air-conditioning specialist Mitsubishi Electric has created a new consultants sales team to offer a specialist service to architectural and building-services consultants.

Consulting-engineering practices are enjoying buoyant business, according to the latest state-of-business report from the Association for Consultancy & Engineering.

LG’s air-conditioning division has reported a major upswing in orders for its ranges of VRF and mini-VRF systems. Orders have been received for a wide variety of sites — including commercial offices, health centres, sports facilities and retail malls.

An initiative by two major contracting organisations to help its members meet health-and-safety competencies has been welcomed by the Health & Safety Executive. The move by the Heating & Ventilating Contractors’ Association and the Electrical Contractors’ Association comes against a background of increasing prosecutions by the HSE as too many building projects and developments use contractors that flout relevant legislation, standards and good working practice.

Over 12% of construction work by value is no longer subject to the practice of retention, according to the latest assessment by the Specialist Engineering Contractors (SEC) Group. The latest additions to the group’s list of clients that no longer include retention clauses in their construction contracts includes the following.

Not only has the 100 days of Carbon Clean Up campaign organised by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers made a useful contribution to reducing the UK's emissions of carbon dioxide, but it has also shown how much can be achieved for just a little investment and how important it is for everyone in an organisation to be involved. An energy manager alone cannot achieve very much. With the support and involvement of everyone in an organisation, from the board downwards, success is assured — as the experiences of award winners in the campaign demonstrate (click the link below, "The 100 days stories').

Legrand has upgraded its e-catalogue. It includes all the company’s products — over 50 000. It is supplied on CD and can be updated via the Internet.

Guidance on sustainable water management in schools can be downloaded from the CIRIA web site. It is aimed at designers and contractors involved in building and refurbishing schools, as well as people in education.

The new product overview brochure from Axair Climate shows all the company’s latest ranges, including new, technically advanced products from Hitachi, Fujitsu and Axair.

An updated version of the SBEM energy-calculation software is available for download. SBEM version 1.2a enables designers to demonstrate compliance with Part L2A of the Building Regulations for non-domestic buildings that came into effect in April.

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.

New catalogues from Carrier Air Conditioning cover the latest large chiller, the 30XA Aquaforce, and residential air-conditioning products.

Invaluable guidance on the integration of renewable-energy sources at a early stage in the design of a building is provided by CIBSE’s TM38 publication — ‘Renewable energy sources for buildings’.

ADDvent’s new web site gives specifiers and electrical contractors access to its complete range of ventilation and air-conditioning products. The site has a quick-search feature for products or it can be browsed by section or product range. Product pages include all the technical, dimensional and performance information needed for specification.

Mitsubishi Electric has produced two brochures explaining how offices and retail outlets can comply with new environmental regulations on energy consumption, while ensuring they provide the ideal environment in which to work and shop — in the most cost-effective way possible.

A range of luminaires that simulates the appearance of skylights has been introduced by Whitecroft Lighting to deliver the illusion of outdoor light from standard suspended ceilings.

Ferroli’s AQUAcyl range of stainless-steel hot-water cylinders combine fast recovery with a 25 year tank guaranteed. The high-grade 316L stainless steel does not require a sacrificial anode.

Thermal Technology has completely revised and updated its Shallovent range of low-profile ventilation/heat-recovery units for installing in ceiling voids.

Victaulic has launched a range of flow-control products that can be used directly with its grooved piping system. The new range enables Victaulic to offer a complete piping-systems package for the first time.

EncaSeal has been developed by Apollo Energy Research to completely encase and seal most types of insulation used in the HVAC sector, such as ductwork, pipework and storage vessels.

A new closed-circuit cooling tower from Baltimore Aircool can operate in three modes: combined dry/wet; adiabatic and fully dry. HFL cooling towers have an intelligent controls package to switch between these modes to match requirement and minimise water consumption by operating in adiabatic or dry mode as much as possible. Capacities of up to 2 MW are available from a single unit, with water consumption being reduced by 40% compared with conventional cooling towers.

Marshall-Tufflex has launched a cable-management system with a distinctive curved profile. Odyssey is said to be the first 3-compartment uPVC system on the market with a completely curved outer profile.

Design software for VRF air-conditioning systems from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is available from 3D Air Sales. This is said to be the first software to enable 2-pipe systems to be converted to 3-pipe — and vice-versa. The software is available free from 3D and HRP.

Colt International’s has added a larger size to its Caloris range of low-noise horizontal concealed units to heat and cool larger spaces.

A reduction of at least 80% in heat flow through walls, roofs, ceilings and walls is claimed for Glidevale’s Protect VC Foil membrane compared with conventional vapour-control barriers.

An integral 6-stage air-filtration process is used in Toshiba’ latest high-wall indoor air-conditioning units. The filtration process includes the use of products based on Sasa, Zeolite and vitamin C. Research in Japan shows that this filtration technology gives exceptional anti-virus, deodorising and anti-oxidant characteristics.

Autron has introduced an anti-microbial finish to its range of low-surface-temperature (LST) radiators.

The first wireless building-management system launched by TAC Satchwell is said to offer an 80% reduction in installation costs. Simply by eliminating the need to install cables between every control point, Andover’s Continuum can save miles of wiring on major installations.

Ventilation manufacturer Xpelair has introduced 33 new product ranges in response to the latest revision to Parts L and F of the Building Regulations and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). The new legislation has created a surge of interest in energy-saving ventilation solutions, and Xpelair has geared its new-product development accordingly.

Ventilation manufacturer Xpelair has introduced 33 new product ranges in response to the latest revision to Parts L and F of the Building Regulations and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). The new legislation has created a surge of interest in energy-saving ventilation solutions, and Xpelair has geared its new-product development accordingly.

A Cash-Management module from Estimation is believed to be the first software in the UK for cash book and cash-flow forecasting to fully address the special requirements of the construction industry.