2012 March

The organisers of the conference on motor-driven systems in November 2011 are planning a follow-up event this year on 7 and 8 November, following a detailed review by the five trade-association stakeholders — BCAS, BEAMA, BPMA, FETA and GAMBICA. The new event will continue to press home the importance of adopting a systems approach to motor-driven apparatus for optimum energy efficiency, addressing the key areas of regulatory affairs, systems engineering and product technology.

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

The range of Symaro sensors from Siemens measure the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) contained in the room air, acquire temperature, humidity and pressure and — as multisensors — also acquire combinations of measuring variables. The extended portfolio of sensors for indoor air quality, temperature and humidity now includes models for flush-mounting.

Soler & Palau claims to be the first fan manufacturer in the UK to be awarded the Quiet Mark of approval from the Noise Abatement Society given to manufacturers of the quietest products on the European market. The accreditation applies to a number of S&P ducted, commercial and bathroom/shower fans — all of which were subjected to rigorous testing and the results verified by the Association of Noise Consultants.

Vortice, which supplies energy-efficient ventilation systems for the domestic, commercial and industrial markets, has reported double-digit growth for 2011, following reasonable single-digit growth for 2009 and 2010. General manager Kevin Hippey comments, ‘Like everyone else in the industry, we’ve had to control our costs over the last three years, but what we’ve also done is ensure that our new-product development plan mirrors and even pre-empts the needs of our customers, and we’ve gone the extra mile in terms of customer service.’

Saint-Gobain PAM UK has reported significant increases in demand for its innovative push-fit above-ground drainage system. Sales of the Ensign EEZI-FIT cast-iron push-fit products nearly doubled during 2011 over the previous year. These products combine the established virtues of cast iron (strength, robustness, durability, longevity and minimal maintenance) with the ease of installation associated with push-fit systems.

LPCB approval has been awarded to Fike’s Duonet and Quadnet (pictured) ranges of addressable fire control panels — providing independent confirmation that these versatile panels meet, and will continue to meet, the requirements of EN54, the key European standard relating to components used in fire-alarm systems. Fike now offers a complete portfolio of LPCB-approved equipment, which includes manual call points, as well as detectors, sounders, beacons and panels for 2-wire and addressable installations.

Air management specialist Sirius Products has developed a modular filtration system designed to eliminate around 98% of perceptible grease, smoke and odour from kitchen extract emissions. This system, consisting of high-performance electrostatic precipitators and UV filtration units, can be configured to accommodate any airflow and any cooking process. It is ideal for use in locations where issues of environmental health and sustainability are of particular concern. By improving capture efficiency and eliminating the need for non-recyclable filters, Sirius’s ESP and UV filtration sends almost zero waste to landfill and significantly reduces overall energy consumption.

After a 10- year break, 50 year old Mark Bamforth returns to the air filtration industry and casts a critical eye over what has changed, and more significantly what hasn’t.

The technology gap between Turbocor compressors and conventional compressors is like the gap between an F1 car and a normal road car. Enter then the specialist service engineer, as Roberto Mallozzi and Ken Strong explain.

The replacement commercial boiler sector offers big market opportunities but is not always as simple as you might first think. Peter Gammon describes the potential difficulties and looks at how old systems and small spaces need not always be a problem.

In the current challenging economic environment, it is often tempting to delay the servicing of boilers to reduce expenditure. Pete Mills explains why this attitude can often end up incurring greater cost over the longer term.

A-Gas has developed a solution for flushing air-conditioning and refrigeration systems that is non-toxic and not ozone depleting — and which is also easy to use. Called AK Flush, it provides a complete environmental solution when replacing refrigerants.

Visitors to Erdington Abbey Church in Birmingham are now benefiting from efficient heating following the installation of three 65 kW Thision L boilers from MHS Boilers. Installed on a free-standing cascade frame with a low-loss header and Pisces pressurisation unit, the boilers have replaced three aging units as part of a complete refurbishment of the heating system.

Heating for the Bush Residential Resource Centre of Bristol City Council is now provided by a modular, condensing packaged boiler plant supplied by Potterton Commercial. The new plant became necessary when a school on the same site with which a heating system was shared was demolished. The centre provides residential short breaks for children with learning difficulties.Pupils attend normal schools during the day and receive care at the residential centre overnight during the week and at weekends to provide short-break care for families.

Demand-controlled ventilation is an energy-efficient way of providing good indoor air quality. David Cook explains how it can be effectively added to existing systems with AC fans.

Lurking inside many pieces of equipment with fans in them are AC motors that can frequently be replaced with fans having electronically commutated motors to improve control and save energy — with attractive paybacks. Robert Harness takes up the story

Wessex HVAC & Plumbing has won a large mechanical maintenance contract with Dorset County Council for the East Dorset area. Winning the contract follows a long process to establish Wessex on the correct framework agreements set up by the council and then tendering for the work against stiff competition.

The benefits of Rinnai’s continuous-flow water heaters to deliver domestic hot water can be brought to refurbishment projects with a restricted gas supply by using the company’s pack system to add a buffer tank to a bank of heaters to meet peak loads. The concept is especially applicable to hotels, where there can be very short spikes in demand during peak periods, and could reduce the size of the required gas supply by over a third.

The use of HCFC R22 has been long in its banning. With the ultimate deadline fast approaching, Mike Nankivell highlights the benefits of replacing kit that uses R22.

HVCA publications has updated three commercial and legal contracts— ‘CL21 Conditions of trading’, ‘CL70 ‘Maintenance agreement’ and ‘CC8/11 Conditions of sub-sub-contract’.

Heating-controls manufacturer Danfoss has given its web site a fresh look with fast-track navigation to pages tailored to the needs of the heating trade and building professional or domestic heating consumers. The web site includes technical specifications, document downloads, and case studies.

Spirax Sarco has developed a compliance web page for customers with the arrival of the ‘Guide on safe operation of oilers’ (BG01) and ‘Management of industrial and hot water boilers’ (INDG436) guidance notes. The guide explains how the new guidance differs from previous best practice and how to bring existing boiler operations up to scratch. Both guidance notes can be downloaded from the web site, and there is full access to a BG01 presentation from Gastec.

Polypipe Terrain has produced a new commercial brochure with a built-in practical guide to help consultants and contractors working on commercial projects. It sets out Polypipe Terrain’s full product range, the company’s technical support services and the versatility of these offerings across a range of applications.

Daikin Europe has launched a range of wall-mounted residential air-conditioning units that meet the design and performance requirements of modern bedrooms. Operational noise levels are as low as 19 dB(A). Inverter control adjusts the power used to match the actual requirement, resulting in an A energy rating for the entire range. Further energy savings can be achieved using the weekly timer and presence detection to automatically activate an economy mode when no-one is in the room.

Seaward Solar has introduced a test kit for solar PV installations that provides a complete solution to MCS electrical-testing needs and BS EN 62446 easily and safely. Installers have traditionally brought together various test instruments to complete the commissioning tests required by MCS. This kit includes a multi-function PV100 electrical tester with the Solar Survey 100 irradiance meter, a clamp meter and supporting accessories.

Hattersley has introduced a range of press-fit valves with integrated adaptors for the Geberit Mapress system. Comprising a ball, balancing, strainer and check valve, this range is suitable for use with copper from 12 to 108 mm and Geberit Mapress stainless- and carbon-steel tubing. By supplying the valve and adaptors assembled and tested as one unit, the number of purchased components and joints required on site can be halved — simplifying purchasing, reducing costs, shortening installation time and reducing the risk of a leak.

Vent-Axia’s range of electrically heated towel rails comprises 10 models. They are IP55 rated and come in sizes from 450 x 600 mm up to 500 x 1500 mm. There are three heat outputs (150, 250 and 400 W), matched to the size of the rail. They are finished in high-quality white and chrome and available as flat, curved and designer styles.

Pre-assembled lifting stations for removing condensate from boiler plant have been development by Grundfos. Conlift operates automatically when condensate enters the collection tank and is available in several versions.

Myson Floortec, which manufactures underfloor heating systems, has launched a new guarantee to give installers and home owners greater peace of mind. For an underfloor heating system to work efficiently and be free of problems, all components need to be compatible. Many quality issues have arisen in the past because of incorrect combinations of components, often from different manufacturers. In such circumstances, the cost associated with incorrect design or potential remedial work must be borne by the installation company rather than individual manufacturers.

Gilberts has gained BSRIA Cert certification for its WH-75 range of high- performance external weather louvres, claiming to be the first company to receive this certification. This new scheme is designed to ensure that weather louvres are classified correctly in accordance with the relevant test standard and that the performance classification claimed is both valid and repeatable through the manufacturing process.

System Sensor Europe has upgraded its Series 6500 intelligent beam smoke detectors to improve performance and reduce the total cost of installation and ownership. A detector can protect up to 1500 m2, making it very effective in protecting shopping-centre atria, concert halls, historic buildings, warehouses and other large areas with high ceilings.

The shell-and-tube range of boilers from MHS boilers offers outputs from 60 kW to 10.5 MW. They are reverse-flame and 3-pass design and are suitable for oil, gas and dual-fuel firing. The range includes the latest forced-draught low-temperature hot-water boilers, including oil-fired condensing units.

Climaveneta’s i-Whisper Enthalpy packaged rooftop unit includes a thermal wheel to recover both latent and sensible heat and provide free cooling. These reverse-cycle air-to-air units have inverter-driven scroll compressors and a plug-and-play approach for simplified installation and maintenance. By providing precise control of temperature and indoor air quality in a single unit i-Whisper Enthalpy is an ideal alternative to a combination of air-handling units and chillers.

Buteline is offering starter packs costing £135 for its press-fit plastic plumbing system. Pipes are pushed into fittings and secured in position by clamping to achieve a secure joint. The system eliminates O-rings and other moving parts. It can also be painted with water-based paints. The flexibility of Buteline pipes reduces the number of fittings by up to 20%.

Vent-Axia’s Silent Fan has been awarded the Quiet Mark 2012 by the Noise Abatement Society and features in the recently launched ‘Quiet Mark directory’. With a noise level of 16 dB(A), this fan is claimed to be ‘a significant 75% quieter than a typical intermittent bathroom fans’.

Rinnai fan-convection powered-flue heaters have earned a reputation for providing flexible, safe and controllable heat efficiently and reliably. An array of Rinnai heaters in a large church with central time control can cost less than £5 to provide heating during a Sunday service. The fully modulated fanned convection quickly circulates warm air to take the chill off large spaces quickly. These heaters have a small powered flue to allow flexible positioning; flue extensions are available.

The ECOflo range of condensing storage water heaters from Andrews Water Heaters now have the benefit of new BMS controls. They offer the same functionality as previous controls, but in a more aesthetically and highly engineered unit that is easier to install. The controls interface uses 24 V signals from the ECOflo unit to determine if ignition has been successful. Diagnostic information is provided via two LEDs on the interface which indicate the status of the ignition process.

Coolmation offers a complete range of air-to-water heat-pump solutions for commercial applications with heating capacities from 5 to 700 kW. Made by Rhoss in Italy, the range includes heat-only models, reversible options for heating or cooling, and a hybrid version that can provide heating and cooling at the same time.

Airedale has responded to market demand for a compact, efficient high-capacity scroll chiller with the 460 to 930 kW air-cooled DeltaChill and 450 to 1010 kW DeltaChill FreeCool. These chillers use R410A and are available in 182 models with two sound variants and three efficiency levels. For applications where space is limited, a more compact chiller can be selected with a standard efficiency level. An 820 kW unit from the high-capacity DeltaChill FreeCool range is illustrated.

Helvar’s HID range of electronic ballasts for metal-halide lamps has been introduced to satisfy the increasing demand for energy-efficient lighting and the prevalence of electronic ballasts in modern luminaires. The range comprises the EP-h electronic ballast for 20, 35, 70, 100 and 150 W metal-halide lamps for indoor lighting.

The R40 wall-mounted boiler from Stokvis incorporates the latest gas-heating technology to achieve maximum operating efficiencies with minimum environmental impact. For example, CO2 levels are 8.5 to 8.7%, and NOx emissions are less than 39 mg/kWh at 0% oxygen — exceeding requirements for maximum BREEAM credits.

Wagner UK has introduced a high-performance version of its OxyReduct Compact system for preventing the outbreak of a fire. OxyReduct is well established as a fire-protection solution for mission-critical applications or where business interruption is unacceptable or where the warehouse or archive stock is invaluable.

Imofa has expanded its range of electric duct heaters with a range of ATEX-certified heaters from VEAB. Designed for heating air in duct systems, central ventilation plant or industrial situations where there is a danger of explosion, these heaters are approved to EC/EFTA requirements for Zone 1 and Zone 2 hazardous areas.

Hamworthy Heating offers bespoke site surveys to help identify a client’s needs and ensure the recommendation of the most suitable boilers, water heaters or renewable-energy products. By conducting such site surveys, Hamworthy is taking a proactive approach to understand the demands faced by clients today.

Legrand claims to have become the first company to enable metallic cable-trunking systems to be used with single-insulated (non-sheathed) cables according to the requirements of the 17th Edition of the Wiring Regulations. An amendment that came into force for all new designs on 1 January 2012 and Section 521.10.1 stipulate the need for trunking to deliver IPXXD or IP4X protection when used with these cables — which standard IP30-rated systems do not.

Elta Fans has set up a strategic alliance with Ziehl-Abegg to use its motors and fan impellers as part of Elta’s commitment to meet energy and climate-change legislation being introduced throughout Europe. The first batch of products to be powered by motors and impellers from Ziehl-Abegg is the first on the UK HVAC market sector to use the Ziehl FE2 Owlet impeller. It is the Raptor range, available as a plate fan, cased axial fan or plate-mounted axial fan (two units are illustrated).

To eliminate cold draughts from the reception area of the headquarters of the London Fire Brigade, JS Air Curtains has supplied an electrically heated Rund air curtain. This air curtain is 2 m long and is of brushed stainless steel. It was installed by Arkas horizontally above the double-entry sliding doors leading into the reception area. A time switch and digital thermostat were also provided.

Heating and hot water for a new hotel at Drayton Manor Theme Park in Staffordshire are provided by equipment from Hamworthy Heating. The installation comprises three Dorchester DR-FC Evo water heaters and two Ensbury LT 370 low-temperature steel boilers. This hotel has 150 bedrooms. There are 11 rooms with a ‘Thomas & Friends’ theme, restaurant, brasserie, two bars and extensive state-of-the-art conference facilities.

Monodraught Windcatchers and Suncatchers played a key part in a new visitor centre at the headquarters of Durrell Wildlife Conversation Trust in Jersey winning an architectural award as ‘Jersey’s best innovative and/or sustainable design of 2011’. An important element of the overall sustainability objective is the mixed-mode heating, ventilating and environment control system developed for the project, which includes a Monodraught natural-ventilation and natural-daylight strategy.

One of the largest mosques in West Yorkshire is heated by two Vaillant floor-standing ecoCRAFT VKK120 condensing boilers. The Masjid-e-Umar in Savile Town, Dewsbury, can accommodate over 300 worshippers, hosting the five daily prayers, funerals and school visits.