2008 April
Fan-coil units for the 21st century
16 April, 2008
Users of the web site of “Modern Building Services” are being offered a 10% discount for a seminar to launch a new guide in the Knowledge Series of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers. “Fan coil units : solutions for the 21st century” explains how chilled-water FCUs are a highly effective means of providing air conditioning for buildings. The event is on Monday 19 May at CIBSE's headquarters at Balham in South London.
Pump technology keeps driving forward
10 April, 2008
Pumps last many years, and the rate of technological change is also measured in years. Glynn Williams discusses developments that have a major impact on the performance and energy efficiency of pumps.
Grundfos variable-speed pumps set the pace in refurbishments
10 April, 2008
As part of the programme of Hounslow Home to achieve the Government’s ‘decent homes’ standard for the London Borough of Hounslow’s 16 500 housing stock, Grundfos variable-speed pumps using differential-pressure control have been installed as part of two plantroom refurbishments.
Hep2O gives installers the elbow
10 April, 2008
Hepworth Building Products has extended its Hep2O range with the addition of a universal spigot elbow.
Moving beyond proportional balancing
10 April, 2008
Proportional balancing and variable flow do not go together, but it is taking time for a more effective approach to setting up waterborne systems to be widely adopted.
Connector joins pipes of different sizes
10 April, 2008
The Purus connector for connecting and sealing pipes of different diameters is now available in the UK.
BSS Industrial offers Boss plastic pipework system
10 April, 2008
BSS Industrial offers its Boss cPVC piping system as an alternative to copper and steel. Installation is said to be simple, with no need for expensive tools.
Warrens launches own-brand valves
10 April, 2008
Warrens has launch an own-brand range of products called Warrior. Some of the first products to be offered include gate, globe, check and ball valves.
Components for renewable energy market
10 April, 2008
Intaeco is a newly established company set up to supply plumbing and heating products with a sustainable-energy focus. Its product range is said to be of particular interest to the renewable-energy market and those with an interest in sustainable building practices.Intaeco is a sister company of Intatec, which specialises in anti-scale taps, showers and valves.
Victaulic piping is put through its paces at Olympic stadium
10 April, 2008
The flexibility and ease of installation of Victaulic’s grooved joint system for pipes is being used to good effect in the Beijing Olympic National Stadium in China.
Achieving perfect hydronic control
10 April, 2008
Jean Christophe Carette shares the secrets of successful hydronic balancing.
Why support for traditional metal piping is leaking away
10 April, 2008
The use of metal piping for water, waste and drainage applications has declined in recent years as more specifiers and contractors begin to appreciate the many benefits of modern plastic systems. Adam Turk looks at some of the reasons behind this and makes a surprising discovery.
Grundfos has added two new models to its IMpress range of pressurisation sets. These sets have intelligent micro-processor control.
Push-fit TRVs can take a wide range of pipe materials
10 April, 2008
The Terrier push-fit range of thermostatic radiator valves from Pegler can accept several different types of pipe, enabling installers to reduce the number of valves they need to consider. Possibilities include plain or chrome-plates copper tube to BS EN 1057 or PB and PEX plastic pipe to BS 7291 Parts 2 and 3. A simple tool enables pipes to be disconnected.
Friaphon drainage pipework hits the right note at the opera
10 April, 2008
The Friaphon sound-attenuated drainage systems from Durapipe has been specified for a private opera house in the back garden of Martin Graham, who owns Longborough Festival Opera.
Effective commissioning for variable-volume systems
10 April, 2008
Is proportional balancing still the best approach to commissioning variable volume systems? Martin Lowe, technical manager at Marflow Hydronics, suggests a faster and more practical method.
As part of a major regeneration of the Rathbone Hospital site in Old Swan, Liverpool, A range of Oventrop valves have been installed, including Aquastrom T Plus multi-function domestic-hot water valves to avoid the risk of legionella bacteria growing.
08 April, 2008
To optimise the use of natural light in its stores, B&Q has installed the Synapsys IP (SIP) DALI system to integrate DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) lighting devices with the building-management system.
Simmtronic Specs3 fully addressable lighting-control systems are being installed by Haden Young in the Cat A fitout of 150 Cheapside — a 19 000 m2 corporate office development overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
Cost-effective dimming for fluorescent lighting
08 April, 2008
Hamilton Litestat has added to its GridIt wiring-accessories a 1 to 10 V grid module for use with analogue regulated fluorescent ballasts. This manually operated high-frequency ballast controller provides an effective and economical way to dim fluorescent lamps.
High-pressure sodium lamp has very long life
08 April, 2008
Greenstock now offers a long-life high-pressure-sodium lamp from Aura. It has a 48 000 h life, based on a 12 h switching life. Light output is said to be 22% higher than standard SON lamps at 147 lm/W, with a 15% depreciation over its life.
Efficiency boost for Crompton Modulay recessed luminaires
08 April, 2008
Cooper Lighting & Safety has added high-frequency control gear and triphosphor lamps to the Crompton Modulay range of recessed luminaires to improve energy efficiency.
The affordable Code 6 house has arrived
08 April, 2008
Delivering to Code 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes requires a fundamental and joined-up rethink of how homes are designed and built. One example was in evidence at the recent EcoBuild exhibition.
With Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, zero carbon, being the standard to be achieved by 2016, leading lights in the industry have been addressing the issue of how to achieve this requirement in an affordable manner.
An impressive example of how the code can be met was very prominent at the recent EcoBuild exhibition at Earls Court in London with what was promoted as ‘the UK’s first affordable and commercial viable Code 6 house’.
Bringing home the heat-pump message
08 April, 2008
Tony Barnes shares his experience of the application of ground-source heat pumps for domestic heating and reducing carbon emissions.
Airedale International Air Conditioning has taken a major step forward in energy-efficient chilled-water air conditioning with the development of a range of chillers based on the Danfoss Turbocor compressor combined with a series of energy-efficiency features engineered by Airedale.
08 April, 2008
There are many benefits in taking the assembly of piped services off site, as Cal Bailey explains.
Why cutting corners does not cut costs
08 April, 2008
Nathan Hudson believes that the most obvious ways of saving money on electrical-distribution systems are usually not the best.
08 April, 2008
Steve Buckley explains how the drive to cut carbon footprints has led to DALI lighting control becoming more relevant across the board.
Edinburgh International Conference Centre takes more control of its lighting and save energy
08 April, 2008
Dynalite Europe has installed a lighting-control system incorporating its Mapview energy-management software to replace an existing system in the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
08 April, 2008
Richard Forster delves into the issues comparing compact fluorescent and tungsten-filament lamps — and in doing so challenges conventional perceptions concerning efficiency and mercury.
Ex-Or cuts costs for the London Fire Brigade
08 April, 2008
25% has been lopped off the electricity bill of the main training centre of the London Fire Brigade in Southwark following the installation of Ex-Or lighting controls.
Megaman’s emergency pack for use with its integral compact fluorescent lamps incorporates an emergency module, batteries and an LED indicator to provide a system that is easy to connect.
The whats and watts of LED lighting
08 April, 2008
For the first time in over a hundred years, the look and feel of general lighting solutions are poised to change as LED technology develops. Steve Landau sets the scene.
Suspended luminaires provide adjustable light distribution
08 April, 2008
Ridi’s Aida-Vario range of suspended luminaires for recessed ceiling grids is designed to meet the requirements of CIBSE LG3a and LG7 lighting codes. These fittings can be lowered to maximise ceiling illumination or fully recessed.
CBI publishes guide to Energy Performance Certificates
02 April, 2008
Against the background of the introduction of Energy Performance Certificates for buildings, the CBI has launched a guide for business, with commercial real-estate advisor CB Richard Ellis.
JS Wright completes its highest-value contract
02 April, 2008
Birmingham building-services provider JS Wright has completed the £4.6 million fit-out of the 14-storey Park Plaza County Hall Hotel near the London Eye. The 2-year project was the biggest in JS Wright’s 118-year history and has resulted in the company’s work in London accounting for 70% of its forecast turnover of £19 million for 2007/8.
Modern Building Services has launched a new service to simplify the task of matching the staffing needs of companies in the building-services industry and engineers. A new area on our web site enables engineers in the industry to post their CV and those looking for staff to access those CVs.
How much tax relief does it take to change a light bulb
02 April, 2008
The extension of Enhanced Capital Allowances to include electrical systems may be one of the most important changes under the new system, according to property tax and finance specialist Davis Langdon Crosher & James.
Dalkia has reinforced its position in public-sector property manager by retaining its contract with the Welsh Assembly Government. This contract will allow Dalkia to provide flexible and effective services to the WAG, building on its long-term relationship with the Welsh regional government.
Buro Happold supports RedR Day
02 April, 2008
Buro Happold raised £1383 for the charity RedR (Register of Engineers for Disaster Relief) with a company-wide ‘wear red for RedR Day’ in February. This was the second time the price has run a RedR Day since the scheme started three years ago.
Top firms support new CIBSE flexible training initiative
02 April, 2008
A number of top firms in the industry have signed up for a new flexible learning programme aimed at addressing the growing shortage of qualified building-services engineers, launched by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.
Prêt a Manger awards new maintenance contract to M. J. Quinn
02 April, 2008
Prêt a Manger has appointed specialist maintenance provider M. J. Quinn Integrated Services to look after air conditioning, refrigerated display cabinets and general refrigeration in its 160 shops throughout the UK
The UK’s first centre of excellence in low-carbon technologies for buildings is set to open at London South Bank University. The Centre of Efficient & Renewable Energy in Buildings will open in 2009. It will be a unique resource for teaching, research and demonstration of low-carbon energy technologies in the built environment.
Airwell launches VRF air conditioning
02 April, 2008
Airwell has joined the VRF air-conditioning market with the launch of the Flow Logic range of inverter-driven systems. Three different core systems can be tailored to meet cooling needs from 11 to 134 kW and heating from 12 to 150 kW. They use R410A.
Lindab launches new range of perforated ceiling diffusers
02 April, 2008
Lindab has added perforated ceiling diffusers to its Comfort range of air terminal devices. The range includes models with circular and square faces and a special swirl type for delivering very cold air.
Another approach to through-the-wall air conditioning
02 April, 2008
Xpelair’s Digitemp air-conditioning units are self contained and can be installed against outside and outside wall with two 155 mm-diameter holes providing connections to the outside. They use R410A.
Johnson Controls enhances its range of building solutions
02 April, 2008
Johnson Controls has introduced to the European market a range of total building solutions for operating buildings effectively and efficiently.
Portakabin shows it is more than site accommodation
02 April, 2008
Portakabin’s expertise in modular buildings has been utilised in the delivery of a 1800 m2 project for the Ministry of Defence within 30 weeks. The building includes a stylish barrel roof, large picture windows for increased natural light and a barrelled canopy.
Evinox is providing Belmont Homes with the Geminox Modusat for heating and cooling at Coast, its latest development in Hove. The Modusat units in the 68 apartments will be supplied with hot water from four Geminox boilers providing just 400 kW overall.
As part of a major upgrade of the UK headquarters in Redhill of global engineering, consulting and construction company Black & Veatch, the radiator heating system and boilers have been removed and replaced with Daikin VRV systems to provide both heating and cooling.
All change at Colchester Barracks
02 April, 2008
As part of the renewal of heating systems in the 152 buildings that make up Colchester Barracks, AmbiRad radiant heating has been installed in the large workshops and stores.
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.
