2015 January

BSRIA’s Director of Engineering, Mike Smith, is concerned that many Building Owner/Operators may be unaware of the changes in Refrigerant legislation that could have a major impact on their business. 

Potterton Commercial has extended its Sirius two WH commercial-boiler range with the addition of a range of new cascade frame kits. They enable up to six boilers to be installed in cascade. Boilers have outputs from 100 to 660 kW, and each boiler can modulate down to a ninth of full output.

Three Remeha Gas 310 Eco Pro boilers have been installed at Goodenough College in London to improve the energy efficiency of this postgraduate residence and educational trust in the Bloomsbury area. They were specified by specialist procurement managers SolarVent.

Rinnai believes that its Infinity range of continuous-flow water heaters are more effective and more energy efficient than systems that store hot water. The recovery time of a system that stores hot water is often longer than the period of use. Replacing such a system with an Infinity continuous-flow gas-fired water heating system typically saves up to 25% on fuel bills, according to Rinnai

Yet another large oil bill prompted Willows Academy in Grimsby to change existing boiler and hot-water plant and the fuel type. The school caters for the needs of children aged from five to 11.

Refurbishment of five boiler rooms at Churchfield House in Cobham, Surrey, included the installation of MHG Heating’s ProCon MC115 gas-fired condensing boilers. The refurbishment was designed by consulting engineers McCarthy Bainbridge and carried out by heating specialist Industraheat following a competitive tender.

Reduced energy costs and substantial payments from the Renewable Heat Incentive are two attractions of biomass boilers — especially in the public sector. Capital cost can be a deterrent, but there are ways of overcoming that issue. Paul Clark of Rural Energy explains all.

The focus of legislation is increasingly on the whole-life costs of boiler plant, which has major implications on how boiler plant will be specified, says Gavin Watson of Elco UK. 

The opportunity to implement a biomass-led heating system was taken up by Harrogate Grammar School when replacing aging boiler plant. The new equipment includes a Hoval STU biomass boiler supported by two UltraGas gas-fired condensing boilers. The new heating system was specified and installed by G&H Sustainability.

Ideal Commercial boilers has supplied 20 Evomax 150 kW wall-hung boilers and five frame and header kits to Southampton City Council. They have been installed as part of a £14 million investment to improve energy efficiency in five residential blocks at International Way, Weston, and replace electric underfloor heating.

Lochinvar’s EcoCharger hybrid range of water heaters is a closely integrated combination of solar thermal and conventional gas-fired water heating that minimises the use of fossil fuel and achieves efficiencies of 96% (gross) and low NOx emissions (Class 5).

Heating for the refurbishment of one of Britain’s finest award-winning visitor attractions, Brunel’s SS Great Britain in Bristol is provided by two Remeha Quinta Pro 115 boilers. 1 Brunel Square is now a multi-use conference and education space.

With calls for the Government to prioritise the decarbonisation of heating over the next decade, James Porter of Remeha discusses the role of the condensing boiler.

Accurately sizing boiler plant and systems brings many benefits — including lower capital and running costs, ease of commissioning and higher efficiencies. Darren Finley of Ideal Commercial Boilers argues that boilers should not be oversized.

Elco UK has supplied three high-output condensing boilers for a 4 MW LTHW packaged plantroom built by Armstrong Fluid Technology to serve the under-pitch heating coils of Chelsea FC’s training ground in Cobham. The floor-standing R3604 boilers for the containerised system were specified by Richard Jackson, senior engineer with the Anslow Partnership.

Providing control for the biomass heating plant in a cross-border community centre in Ireland is a Priva Blue ID system. Fuelled by wood chips, it is the only heating for the complex; there is no oil or gas support system. The system serves three principal circuits — underfloor heating, domestic hot water and air handling for the main auditorium.

Feedback from Hamworthy’s recent series of continuing professional development (CPD) presentations suggests that there is a lack of awareness in our industry about the pending Energy related Products (ErP) Directive. Mark Goodacre of Hamworthy Heating sheds light on what will be changing and the potential impact this will have for specifiers, consultants and contractors.

Steve Tomlinson of Siemens Building Technologies explains how pressure-independent control valves (PICVs) offer energy efficiency and consistent comfort for the occupants of buildings.

Designed for communal chilled-water systems, Evinox Energy’s chilled-water meter kit includes all the equipment required to facilitate commissioning, balancing and flow control of the chilled-water circuit and also accurately measures energy consumption.

Belimo’s EPIV pressure-independent characterised-control valve is available in sizes from DN15 to DN150. These valves combine the four functions of measuring, controlling, hydraulic balancing and bubble-tight closing. They provide real-time information of the measured flow rate.

The FloCon Watchman from SAV Systems combines the proven benefits of commissioning models with electronic monitoring to support ‘soft landings’ for hydronic heating and cooling systems. It provides visibility of performance at zone level rather than whole-system level, so that problems can be quickly pinpointed and remedied.

So great are the benefits of a larger ∆T in hydronic heating and cooling systems that the issues posed to the commissioning process are well worth addressing. Chris Parsloe explains.

Marflow Hydronics has added to its range of valve sets with the introduction of the Xterminator Lite. This next-generation 40 mm assembly comes as an off-the-shelf solution and works more ideally in today’s buildings. The company’s development team has combined its knowledge and understanding of valve sets to date with what has been learned from customers to create a valve assembly with new features and associated fitting kits.

BSRIA has published new guidance to help designers avoid problems with the selection and application of control valves and assist with the design of energy-efficient variable-flow systems. The guidance is called ‘Selection of control valves in variable flow systems’ (BG 51/2014).

Commissioning is vital to the successful operation of buildings, and the growing deployment of Building Information Modelling opens up new possibilities and opportunities. Matt Ward of the Commissioning Specialists’ Association takes up the story.

Non-invasive methods of supporting plant on flat roofs offer significant benefits over traditional concrete plinths. Laurence James of Pump House looks at how M&E contractors are changing their views on the best practice in supporting rooftop M&E building services.

It is high time the industry got the Building Information Modelling (BIM) it actually needed and not the one foisted on it by software providers, according to B&ES president Andy Sneyd.

Gas-fired absorption heat pumps now supply most of the space heating and support the DHW system at a care home in Banbury. Ken Sharpe was given the chance to look at the project.

These solar-sharing fins bring a distinctive appearance to the Redcar Leisure Community Heart building. They were created by architectural-metalwork specialist Eltherington in expanded mesh and aluminium and are fitted vertically on the window sections. Used across the east and west elevations, the solar-shading fins provide energy-performance benefits.

Heatrae Sadia has partnered with former England rugby captain Phil Vickery, MBE, for him to front a campaign to re-launch its commercial drinking-water offering. Running throughout 2015, the deal will see Phil Vickery support and endorse the Heatrae Sadia brand, with a particular focus on its Aquatop boiling- and chilled-water solution.

The global market for BEMS (building and energy-management systems) could almost double from its present level to over US$6.8 billion by 2020, according to Henry Lawson, a market-research consultant with BSRIA, in a new market report. The European market currently accounts for nearly half the market and is growing at 10% a year. The market in North America is growing faster than that figure, and the rest of the world even faster.

Frigesco has been awarded funding of £102 000 from the Department of Energy & Climate Change to develop its highly efficient flash defrost technology for air-source heat pumps. The technique is said to be capable of reducing supermarket cooling-energy costs by up to 20%.

A strategic joint venture agreement between hurleypalmerflatt and Hannan Associates of Manchester is intended to unlock new service offerings for existing and potential clients of these M&E design consultancies. The two companies will continue to trade independently, with a focus on joint working and collaboration where suitable projects arise.

Castle Building Services has reported an increase in turnover to £23 million last year. The company has also secured £34 million in orders for 2015. One of the reasons for the growth is Government funding from the Education Funding Agency and an increase in major contract wins, particularly in the Hotel sector.

Balfour Beatty Engineering Services is to supply £2.7 million-worth of M&E services to a new leisure centre in Ashington, Northumberland. The project consists of two pools, sauna and spa treatment areas, a gym, sports hall, café and an ultra-modern library with super-fast Internet access.

Automated Building & Energy Controls has reported a 43% growth in its business in the first 11 months since rebranding from ABC in January 2014. It marked a change in the way the business operated and was implemented in response to the importance of the role that energy now has in building-management systems.

M&E contractor LJJ has completed a £5 million project involving electrical services for Firmdale’s 5-star boutique hotel in London. There are 91 guest rooms and suites, 24 luxury apartments, 13 retail units, a restaurants three bars, a gym, a 176-seat/theatre and a roof garden. An original 1950s bowling alley has been imported from Texas and refurbished to create an authentic retro-bowling experience.

Solar power will prosper without subsidies in the UK as early as 2020, especially in the commercial rooftop market, according to a report* that uses the experience of Germany to project the outlook for solar costs in Britain and impacts on utilities. During 2015, solarPV will overtake both gas and coal to become the number-one power-generation technology in terms of annual installations.

Salix has launched £5 million of funding for energy-efficiency and carbon-reduction projects in further-education colleges in England, Scotland and Wales in partnership with the Environmental Association for Universities & Colleges and the Association of Colleges. The funding is intended to act as a catalyst for investment in energy-efficiency technologies that will reduce carbon emissions and create financial savings for further-education colleges.

This 314-bed student-accommodation scheme in Cardiff is one of several such projects wins for ISG totalling £13 million There are also contract wins in Edinburgh and Plymouth.

NBS has started work on its last national BIM (Building Information Modelling) survey before level 2 BIM becomes mandatory on all publically funded projects in 2016. The results are due to be published in the spring of 2015.

SPIE has competed the mechanical services, including air conditioning for luxury apartments in these two Victorian building in Knightsbridge in London. The work was completed at two contracts with a total value of £1.5 million. The average selling price for the apartments was over £1 million.

Interserve has completed building work on the last of three major developments for West Yorkshire to provide a modern working environment for over a thousand police officers and civilian staff. The three facilities cost a total of £114 million to develop and were funded through the Government’s private-finance initiative (PFI) scheme.

Shouksmiths reports a raft of new contract wins worth over £4 million. One is to deliver the £1.2 million contract for M&E services for The Edge student accommodation in Leeds, working with main contractor Tolent Construction. This luxury development will offer 131 spacious studios and one-bed apartments over seven floors. There will be a private gym, launderette, lounge and games zone.

Castle Building Services has been awarded a £2.8 million contract to provide M&E design and installation services for Caol Joint Campus, a primary education facility in Fort William for Highland Council. The contract came shortly after the company opened an office in East Kilbride. The Caol Campus will replace an existing school and community facility. It will comprise two new buildings and a standalone energy centre with a biomass boiler.

The value of starts for commercial construction projects in the latest report from Glenigan Index rose for the third consecutive month compared with the same periods a year earlier. The rises for November, October and September were, respectively, 4, 11 and 12%. Allan Wilén, economics director, commented, ‘These latest figures highlight the importance of rising public-sector confidence to deliver increased activity levels in 2015. Private housing and the commercial and industrial sectors are forecast to be the main engines for growth over the next 12 months.’

Lochinvar, which supplies boilers and water heaters, has opened a multi-purpose training facility at its Banbury UK headquarters. It has been designed to host pre- and post-sales training for contractors, specifiers and end users to broaden technical knowledge and product awareness across the commercial building-services market.

The ESOS (Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme) legislation for the top 10 000 companies could fail for avoidable reasons — according to a report published by the Energy Services & Technology Association (ESTA) and sustainability specialist Cambium. The survey among vendors of energy-efficiency products and services covers the dynamics of the energy-efficiency market created by ESOS and the impact of ESOS on the energy-efficiency supply chain.

Honeywell has released the D15S pressure reducing valve for residential, commercial and industrial potable-water applications.

Control manufacturers are continually assessing their product portfolio to ensure customer requirements are satisfied.

Services and the energy they use are a major contributor to the lifetime costs of a building. Ken Sharpe reports on a ‘summit’ that explored how to service buildings more effectively and with less energy.