2010 February

To help avoid the potentially expensive consequences of the failure of humidification equipment, the Humidity Group of the HEVAC Association has prepared a comprehensive guide to best practice for the commissioning and planned maintenance of humidification systems, It covers all major systems and offers a clear explanation of the key points to be considered. A copy of CoBP4 can be downloaded from the FETA web site using the link below.

EDSL/Tas, which specialises in dynamic plant simulation modelling, has announced expansion plans to double its office operating area. Dr Alan Jones, managing director of EDSL, tells us that software that can accurately calculate carbon emissions from buildings is in great demand following the various initiatives that have focused on this issue.

Big Foot Systems’ ‘off-the-shelf’ prefabricated aluminium roof penetrations have rounded inlets to prevent damage to insulated pipes and cables. They are designed to resist damage by poor weather conditions and avoid expensive insurance claims.

The Aspen Group has been awarded the ISO 14001 certificate for its commitment to improving environmental performance. Aspen has implemented an effective environmental management system to address the balance between maintaining profitability and reducing the business’s environmental impact.

Danlers designs and manufactures a cost-effective, long-range, directional, passive infra-red occupancy switch suitable for applications such as corridors and storage aisles.

ABB has signed a deal to supply variable-speed drives for Nuaire’s range of fans. These drives will form an integral part of Nuaire’s Ecosmart control range, which links, fans, drives and condition sensors into a ventilation system that supplies air to meet real-time demand — saving money by cutting energy use.

SPX offers a new range of APV Compakva water heaters and district heating units for domestic water heating in social housing and commercial schemes.

Heatrae-Sadia’s new web site enables installers, engineers and specifiers to quickly and simply identify the information they need on the company’s comprehensive product range and services. The site also has an information and training section which provides important guidance on energy efficiency, current legislation and details of the company’s training facilities for installers, heating engineers and maintenance engineers.

Sontay has published its 2010 catalogue of field controls and peripherals, showcasing its broadest-ever range of building-management, measurement and control products. It can be downloaded from the company’s web site and is also available as a PDF download and CD-ROM and printed version.

Marshall-Tufflex has produced a full-colour 12-page brochure giving an overview of its power-distribution systems and a brief introduction to each of its main product ranges. Its scope ranges from standard PVCu perimeter trunking to bespoke power and data distribution systems incorporating MT32 prefab­ricated wiring systems.

The Institute of Refrigeration’s service engineers section has published a series of guidance notes on basic refrigeration cycles, leak detection, good practice and the practical applications of F gas regulation requirements. The latest in the series covers brazing leak-free connections, fault diagnosis, using a p-h chart and selection of refrigeration piping.

Saint-Gobain PAM UK, a leading UK manufacturer of cast-iron above- and below-ground cast-iron drainage sys­tems, has published an 88-page catalogue of all the latest products in its Ensign drainage system, which provides the commercial, industrial and public sectors with complete solutions — whatever the application.

Recolight, which offers a WEEE compliance scheme for lamps, has added a video to its web site to highlight the services it provides and raise awareness of the importance of recycling compact fluorescent lamps.

A web site dedicated to R22 has been developed by MHIE (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Europe). It enables companies affected by new regulations to check key dead­lines in the run up to the ban on R22 and access advice on the options available to end users, specifiers, installers and service engineers.

M&E training provider BEST (Building Engineering Services Training) has produced a short film about its services to employers, apprentices and colleges. It can be viewed on the BEST web site and focuses on the services and commitment that BEST provides.

A comprehensive catalogue of above-ground drainage products from BSS Industrial details the 12 000 products available through specialist BSS Drainage outlets. It has clear, colour-co-ordinated sections to help customers find the best product for the job and introduce them to new services offered by BSS Drainage.

Sime has launched a range of high-efficiency condensing combination and system boilers. The Format Digital HE range comprises three combis and one system boiler with outputs from 20 to 35 kW. The combi boilers can deliver instantaneous hot water from 9.5 to 14 l/min. For lightness of weight, the heat exchanger is made of cast aluminium.

Passivent now offers a version of its controlled Aircool ventilation louvre with an integrated heating coil that can be connected to a building’s wet heating system. Called Thermal Aircool, it warms air being drawn from outside to avoid draughts and reduce the load on the rest of the heating system.

Pegler Yorkshire has introduced two new tap ranges. Ebro and Pulsar (pictured) are both minimalist in style and, despite being part of the Francis Pegler range, competitive in price. There are 14 pieces in the Pulsar range and eight in the Ebro range. Both ranges include models for kitchens and bathrooms.

Integrated Environmental Systems (IES) now offers full technical support for Virtual Environment installations on Apple Mac computers using VMware Fusion, Parallels Desktop or the Boot Camp utility in the latest Mac OS. This means that the Virtual Environment suite of Windows products (VE-Ware, VE-Toolkits, VE-Gaia and VE-Pro) can be installed and run on Apple computers and be eligible for full IES technical support.

Victaulic has added to its advanced grooved pipe-jointing system (AGS) for large-diameter pipes. Rigid and flexible couplings are now available for pipes up to 60 in (1525 mm) diameter. Joints that would require several hours to weld can be installed in less than an hour using AGS couplings. They are available in diameters from 14 to 60 in (350 to 1525 mm) — compared with 14 to 24 in (350 to 610 mm) previously.

Tour & Andersson’s TA-Scope handheld instrument is designed to verify, measure and balance flow, differential pressure, temperature and power of complex hydronic systems. Its small size enables it to be used in small spaces and situations that might pose a risk if a large, cumbersome measuring and balancing tool were used. Internal batteries provide three days of operation.

Advanced Engineering has made three additions to its popular AC Pro documentation for air-conditioning surveys. They are based on simple check boxes and labels. The additions cover new F-gas procedures and changes in best-practice recommendations from the Institute of Refrigeration.

Ex-Or has added microwave technology as an option for its LightSpot and MLS Digital systems. These detectors can be installed in corners to control an area up to 20 m square. They have dual-circuit control and a regulating photocell to adjust light output in response to ambient light levels. They can control up to 25 DSI/DALI ballasts.

Honeywell’s Kombi 4 valve provides a low-cost means of ensuring immediate hot water and reducing water wastage while enabling easier and faster commissioning in buildings with many DHW outlets. These throttle and balancing valves are installed in the secondary return of constant hot-water systems to balance them. A optional thermostatic control attachment additionally maintains constant circulation temperature.

Flir has introduced two new mid-range infra-red cameras to help reduce the energy consumption of buildings in line with the EU’s latest energy-declaration legislation. The B365 and B425 cameras feature low weight, picture-in-picture fusion, touch screen, tiltable lens unit and interchangeable optics.

BASF has developed a system for quickly improving room acoustics with little effort. It is based on Abacustica panels that can be mounted on walls to absorb sound and reduce reverberation. In rooms with a high level of reverberation, people have to talk louder and louder to overcome it.

Daikin Europe’s EWAD-C series of air-cooled chillers have cooling capacities from 680 to 1800 kW and use R134a. They are fitted with high-efficiency fans and are available with three different sound levels. These compressors have a single screw compressor with an asymmetric loading system to maximise efficiency at part load.

CP Electronics has introduced two high-bay PIR detectors for controlling lighting in warehouses and factories. Both detectors can be used in presence or absence mode with incandescent, fluorescent and compact-fluorescent light sources. They can have optional manual controls.

Stokvis has developed a series of packaged heat exchangers to generate domestic hot water using condensing boilers. The Econoplate C series is specifically designed to operate with the lower primary temperatures provided by condensing boilers. With a flow temperature of 70°C, they will achieve a return temperature of about 45°C.

Rehau has improved the insulation of its Rauthermex district-heating pipe by optimising the foam-blowing process. The new foam achieves lambda values of 0.0255 W/mK, said to be the best in class, without affecting pipework flexibility and quality.

Bitzer’s Ecoline range of semi-hermetic reciprocating compressors are optimised for R134a. This new range increases energy efficiency by up to 20% and is designed for medium-temperature cooling applications. The range is based on the Octagon and B5/B6 compressors and has been extended to lower condensing temperatures to achieve COP improvements of more than 60% under these conditions. They provide an alternative to R404A systems.

MHIE (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Europe) has announced a major expansion to its KX6 VRF range of air-conditioning systems following the success of its KX6 Compact range. The eight ‘full-size’ KX6 heat-pump models offer cooling capacities from 33 to 68 kW and can be paired to provide up to 136 kW. There is also a new range of indoor units. with size reductions or detail improvements to almost every model.

LG’s Therma V air-to-water heat pumps use inverter technology and are aimed at commercial and domestic markets. They can provide heating and cooling via underfloor systems and fan-coil units and heating via radiators. There are four models with cooling/heating outputs from 8.6/9 to 14/16 kW via an underfloor system with outside temperature of 7°C. Heat outputs via fan-coil units or radiators are 7.5 to 13.3 kW with 5.8 to 9.5 kW of cooling via a fan-coil unit. COP is up to 4.5. Domestic hot water can also be produced.

Trench and floor-standing heaters from S&P Coil Products use the Peltier effect to generate electricity from the heat emitted to power fans to increase heat output, avoiding the need for electrical wiring. The Minib range is said to be the first range of direct space-heating devices to use thermo-electric technology to power integral fans. As a result, the output per linear metre of heating element of about 1 kW is about double that of a conventional unpowered natural convector.

Highly reliable fire detection for the National Portrait Gallery in London has been provided by upgrading to a system based on Kentec Syncro fire control panels. The NPL holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world, from Holbein to Hockney. The collection includes work across all media, from painting and sculpture to photography and video.

Following good experience with Andrews ECOflo storage water heaters at a number of its sites, the Caravan Club has installed two 380 litre units at its new site in Littlehampton, West Sussex. The site has 115 pitches and was previously an independent caravan park. A £1.2 million development programme has brought the site up to the Caravan Club’s standards.

Cost-effective and energy-efficient lighting from Riegens Lighting has contributed to a ‘Very good’ BREEAM rating for the new office development of Subsea 7 in Westhill near Aberdeen. Over 2500 luminaires have been installed in the 17 300 m2 building, with daylight linking in cellular and open-plan offices.

Two new buildings in Aberystwyth both use Oventrop valves to control heating and cooling. One is for the Welsh Assembly Government. The other is the neighbouring offices of Ceredigion County Council. Hoare Lea was consulting engineer for both buildings, with different M&E contractors.

Active chilled beams and luminaires with micro-prism optics have been supplied by SAS International for a refurbishment and extension project at 10 Hills Place near Oxford Street in London. Architectural and design practice Amanda Levete Architects specified over 200 m of these ISMs for the 1300 m2 office refurbish­ment and extension.

Major projects that are enjoying the benefits of Micronics clamp-on ultrasonic metering include Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport and the ExCel exhibition centre in London. Despite these successes, the company’s David Leigh reports that the general uptake in building services has been slower than expected.

Metering of the electrical consumption of a new energy-efficient college building in north London is provided by Eaton split-metered distribution boards. 26 Smartboards have been installed in the new Wood Street campus of Barnet College to provide metering capability to the requirements of Part L2 that 90% of consumption can be assigned to specific end-use categories. These boards have dual metering facilities so lighting and small power loads can be metered separately.

If you are ever visiting HMS Belfast in London give a thought to the air conditioning that provides both heating and cooling in this challenging environment. Because the ship is metal, it suffers extremes of temperature in summer and winter. The preferred installer of air-conditioning systems for the last 17 years has been Sirocco Air, whose brand of choice for the last 15 years has been Fujitsu.

The state-of-the-art pumping solution for a new luxury spa hotel in Glasgow is provided by a range of Grundfos equipment. Blythswood House has been refurbished at a cost of £17 million into an 88-bed 5-star boutique hotel and leisure venue. Grundfos worked with consultant T. Dunwoody & Partners and contractor James Frew Ltd.

Among the main environmental strategies for a new school in Leatherhead is natural ventilation provided by Monodraught Windcatchers throughout. Leatherhead Trinity is a 2765 m2 primary school that replaces one junior and two local infant schools. It accommodates 390 pupils and also houses a 150 m2 area for special educational needs, a language unit and offices for Surrey Arts.

A sports club that set future England cricketers Geoffrey Boycott and Darren Gough, as well as legendary umpire Harold ‘Dickie’ Bird, on their way to sporting fame has now called in another big hitter — Smith’s Environ­mental Products to supply high-level fan convectors for a new changing room at the Shaw Lane Ground.

When the refurbishment of Colchester Town Hall, dating from 1898, included improved disability access, the installation of a disabled lift came at the expense of the plant room and air-handling plant providing heating, ventilation and comfort cooling to the Jury Room, Mayor’s Parlour, members and committee rooms. However, Imofa UK rose to the challenge of removing existing plant and instal­ling a new unit on time.

When more air conditioning was needed at Lord’s Cricket Ground, CER, which has carried out air-conditioning and refrigeration work at the ground for the past eight years, was called in. The £225 000 contract was for the offices of the England & Wales Cricket and a pair of restaurants in the Mound Stand. The equipment was supplied by FG Eurofred and Fujitsu distributor FM Air Conditioning. All the work had to be completed in a very tight time frame to fit into the schedule for Test Matches and Middlesex games.

As part of the conversion of a 19th-century property in the ground of Brocksford Hall in Derbyshire, two 3.7 m radiators have been replaced with a single fan convector form Smith’s Environmental Products. Anton and Marjorie Brooks were converting an upstairs studio into a bedroom with en-suite facilities and came across Smith’s at an exhibition, which recommended a Staccato low-level wall-mounted fan convector with thermostatic control and coloured front fascia — red for this project.

The first school in the Government’s Building Schools for the Future programme to receive an ‘Excellent’ rating from the Committee for Architecture and the Built Environment includes a natural-ventilation system supplied and installed by WindowMaster. The first phase of the new Stockwell Park High School is designed by architects Sheppard Robson and is being built by Wilmott Dixon. The £19 million project is due for completion in November 2010.

Birmingham’s new coach station has achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating — with the help of M&E and sustainable-engineering design solutions by EDCM Consulting. The development, for National Express, includes a green roof and rainwater-harvesting system. It has achieved a B-rated Energy Performance Certificate and CO2 emissions 19% lower than required by current Building Regulations.