2011 February

Honeywell has established a Building Group to help and advise all who use, maintain, design or specify HVAC, central-heating, water and other systems. This expert team freely provides advice to companies in the buildings industry.

Danlers manufactures a comprehensive range of passive infra-red occupancy switches for automatic lighting control. The products are easy to install, using the existing wiring in a building. They are ideal for energy saving in offices, factories, schools etc.

Big Foot Solar Systems offer the complete non-penetrative mounting system for photovoltaic panels on a flat roof.

Schneider Electric has conducted a major review of its web site in response to customer feedback which showed that 85% of customers primarily visit it to access product and technical information. A new facility therefore enables customers to compare products at reference level. They can now look at the features of specific part numbers and will be able to understand differences such as colour, voltage, ratings, dimensions and settings.

Polypipe Ventilation now offers customers site-based support with a further enhancement to its technical support service. The support includes site visits to assist with problem solving, administering the on-site warranty of Silavent fan products, scheduling drawings with ventilation layouts incorporated, product training and general support for Polypipe’s mechanical extraction, air distribution and heat-recovery ranges of ventilation products.

Smith’s Environmental Products has achieved ISO 9001:2008 quality-assurance certification following assessment by an independent organisation. The assessment was carried out by Bill Dickinson for Certified Quality Systems.

Flir is organising a 3-day training course for new and experienced users of thermal imaging, regardless of the brand of infra-red camera they have chosen. It is also an ideal foundation course for those who have not yet invested in thermal imaging but need a thorough grounding in the subject to enable them to make an informed choice.

BSRIA has published a new guide to underfloor heating and cooling for designers, installers, clients/end users and manufacturers of underfloor heating systems and related products such as building controls and boilers. It runs to 117 pages and includes 24 tables and figures. This guide provides straightforward technical guidance for those who are new to underfloor heating and is a good reference guide for those more experienced in the industry.

Johnson Controls’ HVAC&R controls product catalogue for 2011 contains product information and prices for over 1500 leading product lines covering actuators, valves, sensors, thermostats, transducers and controllers. New products include the VP1000 series of pressure-independent control valves, larger sizes of ball valves and the VT series of electronic room controllers.

Bitzer’s range of Ecoline semi-hermetic reciprocating compressors optimised for R134a is covered in a 16-page guide. These compressors are designed to reduce annual energy consumption by up to 20% and are especially suited to medium-temperature cooling applications in supermarkets, meat-processing plant, bakers and catering establishments.

A 215-page brochure on the Pracht range of high-performance IP-rated fluorescent and linear LEC lighting fittings for more aggressive environments is available from Sill Lighting. It covers batten, tubular, vandal-resistant, industrial, surface, recessed, special, emergency and a new range of LED luminaires — all from high-tech plastics.

BSRIA’s guide on embodied carbon presents 1800 records of embodied carbon for 35 classes of material in a way that can be readily used in calculations. This inventory has been collated from independent sources and open literature and rigorously analysed to give users confidence in the reliability of the values.

Hitachi Air Conditioning has added a compact single-fan unit to its Yutaki range of air-source heat pumps. They are only 800 mm high and can deliver hot water at up to 60°C. Outputs range from 5 to 17 kW.

A new compact cassette for use with Fujitsu’s popular range of outdoor units for multi-split air-conditioning systems has nominal capacities of 2.7 kW for cooling and 3.3 kW for heating. It weighs just 15 kg and is 570 mm square and 245 mm deep, excluding grille. The AUYF09LAL ceiling cassette is available from FG Eurofred.

IDS Climalife has introduced an environmentally friendly heat-transfer fluid for heating, renewable-energy and refrigeration applications as an alternative to mono propylene glycol. Greenway is produced from a renewable vegetable resource, and its manufacturing process is said to produce 40% lower CO2 emissions and use 40% less energy. It includes organic long-lasting corrosion inhibitors.

Legrand’s latest range of Salamandre trunking is 50% quicker to install than its predecessor, according to independent tests — considerably reducing its total installed cost. It was designed following consultations with specifiers, installers and engineers that highlighted a desire for a solution that was faster and easier to install, had fewer components, less time on site and improved health and safety.

Estimation 2011 software for contractors has a host of new features and functionality to help reduce costs and save time on routine tasks in key areas of a user’s business — including winning work, running contracts, managing finances and service and maintenance operations.

ALC Lighting Controls, which is now part of Cooper Controls Ltd, now offers a DALI pre-addressed pluggable lighting-control module that helps comply with energy-efficiency legislation and carbon reduction, while meeting the latest trend for flexible working environments. When used as part of a networked system, this module is extremely flexible and can easily be reprogrammed to respond to changes in working methods and room layouts.

A sophisticated range of controls for Creda’s Nobo Series 8 range of electric convector heaters makes them suitable for a wide range of applications. Individual room controllers are ideal for student accommodation. There is a cable remote system for hotels and commercial buildings. The Orion 700 system can be used for new-build apartments.

Airflow’s LCA301 anemometer kit is designed to help installers meet the recommendations set out in the 2010 domestic-compliance guide to Part F of the Building Regulations. The kit makes it easy to accurately measure airflow in both directions from exterior extract grilles or internal air valves.

Osram describes its Powertronic (PTi) 35 S Mini as the lightest and most compact 35 W electronic control gear to date. It has a very long lifetime of up to 40 000 h and an identical housing footprint to the PTi 20 S. It is suitable for all standard 35 W ceramic metal-halide lamps and designed to be installed within the luminaire, coming with a lightweight plastic housing and fixing cable that is 0.5 m long.

Following extensive market research, Siemens has launched a range of time controllers for central-heating systems with large backlit displays, simple programming and slider controls. They deliberately avoid push buttons and setting menus that require interrogation. The range comprises two programmers and two time switches.

Daikin Europe has introduced two new series of 600 and 900 mm-square ceiling cassette fan-coil units for 2- and 4-pipe installations. Cooling capacities range from 2 to 5.4 kW with heating from 2.9 to 6.9 kW for the FWF series. The FWC series provides cooling from 6 to 8.9 kW and heating from 8 to 12.1 kW.

Calomax’s Eclipse range of water boilers for drinks is made in the UK and offers next-generation styling, energy-saving and anti-microbial protection. The price is said to be significantly lower than imported products. The Eclipse range of wall-mounted and counter-top boilers comprises seven new models offering 100 to over 200 cups of boiling water per hour. They can be installed in staff rooms, canteens, kitchens and restaurants.

Stiebel Eltron’s DHE range of 3-phase electric instantaneous water heaters is available in ratings of 18, 21, 24 and 27 kW. Once the water temperature has been set, it will be maintained under all circumstances. These water heaters are said to be ideal for the leisure, hospitality and health-care sectors, where a duty of care relating to hot water exists. All L8 requirements for health and safety are met.

Frese’s Optima Compact range of valve combines pressure-independent balancing and control of hydronic systems. They can be used with fan-coil units and chilled beams and remove the need for separate double-regulating valves, 2-port control valves and differential-pressure control valves.

Ideal Commercial’s Evomax range of gas-fired wall-hung boilers achieves seasonal efficiencies of up to 97.2% and modulates down to 20% of full output to achieve close load matching and more efficient system operation. Nox emissions are less than 40 mg/kWh, qualifying these boilers for maximum BREEAM points.

Weatherite Building Services has completed the installation for a new heating system at Enfield Teaching College in London. Appointed as project manager by Briar Associated, Weatherite assumed full responsibility for the supply and installation of a Buderus gas-fired condensing boiler, two Grundfos circulating pumps, a new flue system from the boiler house to the roof and all associated building and electrical work.

Tony Hardiman, chairman of the National Insulation Association, has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list for services to the energy industry. The award follows the National Insulation Association’s own appreciation for his support and dedication when he was presented with an award for services to the industry at its annual conference in December 2010 in recognition of the huge contribution he has made to the insulation industry for over 30 years.

Building-services contractor SES has completed work at the £20 million Hartlepool Community Health Centre scheme and announced new contract wins for its north-east office totalling £50 million. The state-of-the-art health centre incorporates GP surgeries, a range of PCT services such as community dental services, a minor-operation suite, and speech and language services. There is also a Boots pharmacy.

Kimpton Building Services has won the M&E design and installation contract for a 141-bedroom Travelodge on Liverpool’s waterfront. The site is a derelict former car park next to the Liverpool One retail destination. Installation of services for this 10-storey building is expected to start in March, and Kimpton will have to overcome the accessibility challenges of the development, which is on a very tight site in a built-up area on one of Liverpool’s main through routes.

Destroying refrigerants and replacing them with new refrigerants has a much greater environmental impact than continuing to use the older substance, according to a study by Tokyo University. The study was based on R22, which has an ozone-depletion potential of 0.05 [compared with 0 for HCFCs] and a global-warming potential of 1700 [comparable with HCFCs] and showed that recycling had 24 times less environmental impact than destroying it and producing replacement refrigerants.

With only 5% of buildings with air-conditioning systems with a cooling capacity of 12 kW and more expected to have been inspected by the deadline of 4 January 2011, CIBSE has called for the mandatory of air-conditioning inspections. CIBSE technical director Hywell Davies explains, ‘It [certificate lodgement] will enable us to build up a national picture of air conditioning.’

Suppliers of air-conditioning systems and spares are starting to join forces with F-gas certification body Refcom not to do business with installers that are not F-gas registered. By 4 July 2011, anyone carrying out service, maintenance, recovery or leak checking on stationary refrigeration equipment containing refrigerants covered by the F-gas Regulation must have obtained one of the updated national qualifications (C&G 2079 or CITB J01).

Inviron has been awarded a contract by the British Film Institute to maintain all its buildings, including BFI Southbank and the iconic BFI IMAX in London, the BFI National Archive in Hertfordshire and film vaults in Warwickshire. Paul Horsley, operations manager with Inviron, says, ‘The BFI has a very broad remit and a diverse range of buildings and venues in its portfolio. As their technical-services partner, we are a key support and will ensure that all are run to the utmost efficiency and, in turn, that the numerous events and screenings run smoothly.

Baxi Commercial Division has sponsored the launch of a new CIBSE YEN (Young Engineers Network) region in the north east of England. CIBSE YEN is a network of regional centres that aims to provide a forum and support network for young engineers within CIBSE. Each region has a committee to organise social and technical events in the local area.

Building-services contractor Briggs & Forrester has reported six new contracts in the south east of England worth a total of £12.3 million. They are for the installation of M&E and public-health services. The largest contract is for an extension to Gatwick Airport’s North Terminal, worth £4.3 million and scheduled for completion in the Summer of 2011.

Shouksmith’s north-west division has won eight new contracts worth a total of £1.42 million, including two for affordable housing and regeneration specialist Lovell in Liverpool. The contracts for Lovell are worth a total of £704 000; both involve installing heating and plumbing services for housing regeneration projects at Netherley and Kensington in Liverpool.

Trevor Hursthouse, chairman of the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ Group, has been appointed an OBE in the New Year Honours. He has worked in the construction industry for over 40 years and been a member of the SEC Group since its inception and served as its chairman since 1999.

Birchall has won the maintenance contract for mechanical and electrical services for The Rolls Building, an 8-storey business-court development in London’s Fetter Lane. Designed by architect Woods Bagot, it brings together four High Court departments dealing with commercial and business dispute legislation under one roof.

Bailey Maintenance has strengthened its portfolio of blue-chip clients with the securing of work worth over £22 million. The company has secured a significant number of major contract wins, expansions and retentions in the last six months. Gained under a new senior management team, these contracts represent a strong start to a 5-year strategy to expand its nationwide client base and grow its business.

Hoare Lea’s Plymouth office has moved to new premises at Mills Bakery, Royal William Yard. The practice has maintained an office in Plymouth since 1951 and has 36 engineers, support staff and management personnel. The previous office was in the city centre, and the move was prompted by the need for more space and the opportunity to occupy prestigious offices with improved facilities more suited to an international firm of consulting engineers.

Air-filter specialist Camfil Farr claims to have become the first organisation in the world to be awarded the BSI’s Kitemark in Energy Reduction Verification (ERV). The new energy standard BS EN 16001 represents the latest best practice in energy management and builds upon existing national standards and initiative. The standard enables companies to develop and implement an energy-management policy, identify areas of significantly high energy consumption and target energy reductions.

Vaillant marked the production of the millionth ecoTEC high-efficiency condensing boiler for the UK market from its factory at Belper in Derbyshire with the awarding of £1000 of holiday vouches to be shared equally by the householder and installer.

HVCA president Martin Burton has identified environmental responsibility as a key growth opportunity for building-services contractors in 2011 and further forward. He says, ‘In spite of what has been described as the sharpest and deepest downturn most of us can remember, there is a clear understanding on the part of the Government, clients, end users and all parties to the construction process of the need for a truly sustainable approach to buildings and their services, for the preservation of global resources, and for the harnessing of technologies that are genuinely renewable, energy-efficient and “planet friendly”.’

Starts on office developments are expected grow by 41% in 2011 compared with 2010 as developers respond to increasing demand from tenants plus rising capital and rental values, particularly in central London — according to the latest Glenigan Index. Economics director Allan Wilen comments, ‘Little new floorspace came onto the market in the recession, and the shortage of quality office space will worsen as the recovery gathers momentum.’

Boiling hot and chilled filtered water for the 530 staff of the Ministry of Defence at Walker House in Liverpool are provided by 10 Zip HydroTaps on all three floors of this refurbished landmark building next to Liverpool’s Town Hall. At the MoD’s previous building in Mersey House, staff were provided with water fountains and fridges for chilling cold drinks. Drinking fountains are no longer required, and there are fewer fridges.

JS Air Curtains has supplied a 2 m bespoke Zen air curtain to the prestigious Manzil Banqueting Hall in Manchester. It can seat up to a thousand diners in two lavish halls. The air curtain is over the main entrance to protect the reception area from the outside elements and act as an architectural and functional elements.

Cooling and heating to provide a more comfortable environment in the extensively used main hall of the Gateway Academy at Chad St Mary in Essex is now provided by Fujitsu split systems. This large hall is used for assemblies, gatherings and drama sessions and shows. It is also used for a church service on Sundays.

Esporta, the UK gym and health-club chain, has completed an intensive 6-month upgrade of its heating system based on Remeha gas-fired floor-standing condensing boilers. They were installed in 55 clubs to replace 7000 kW of old atmospheric and pressure-jet boilers. The project has reduced NOx emissions by at least 90% and CO2 by 26% compared with the previous pressure-jet boilers. Gas consumption is expected to be reduced by at least 20%, and by 25% more where atmospheric boilers have been replaced.

The installation of an air-sampling fire-detection system in the new second terminal at Dublin Airport is confidently expected to avoid the numerous false alarms that were suffered in the existing T1. Indeed, the system proposed by Protec was put on trial for a month in the old terminal and the sensitivity of the equipment adjusted over that period.