2015 December

ActiveFM solutions from Resource Data Management (RDM) have been designed to give customers the tools and flexibility they need to create monitoring solutions that specifically match their individual requirement. There are four ActiveFM solutions to choose from — W1, W2, W3 and W4. Each solution includes essential alarm monitoring and due diligence.

The OpenAir range from Siemens offers energy-efficient damper actuators with torque ratings from 2 to 35 Nm. They offer high positioning forces with low-consumption motors, leading to energy saving operation.

Gastite, which offers an easily installed piping method for natural gas and LPG, has moved to a purpose-built facility at Shepshed near Loughborough in response to a continued increase in demand for its products and services. The 2800 m2 location houses offices, manufacturing and a warehouse.

Toshiba has expanded its UK distribution network with the appointment of Alpha Air Building Management Systems as a distributor of its full range of air-conditioning products. Pictured are Steven Shoubridge (left), who heads Alpha Air, and David Livingstone.

Following extensive testing by Kiwa Group, the Kingspan Kooltherm FM pipe insulation system has been granted BDA Agrement BAP 15-036/01/C. This independent certification confirms that the product will perform as expected when installed in accordance with the certificate guidelines. The document is also recognised by the NHBC and LABC, so it can help to streamline procedures and approvals.

Veltem has signed an agreement with Flakt Woods to provide air-distribution products on projects in England and Wales. The agreement will allow Veltem to use its expert knowledge and experience to promote and push the expansive Flakt Woods range of air-diffusion products.

Testing of Pegler Yorkshire’s Tectite push-fit system for pipework has shown substantial reductions in installation time compared with threaded joints and press-fit. The tests involved creating a prefabricated module containing three separate services and using all three jointing techniques.

Airflow Developments has announced RIBA approval of its two latest CPDs; one of them is also CIBSE approved. These comprehensive presentations collate all relevant ventilation legislation for those designing and specifying compliant ventilation within residential and non-residential buildings.

‘Legionella’ is the topic of BSRIA’s second topic guide, which is available to download free from its web site. Topic guides are designed to be at-a-glance publications to introduce readers to key industry topics and suggested further reading.

Conor Logan, Colt’s technical manager and chairman of the Smoke Control Association will present a webinar to cover the guidance and the latest important revision by the Smoke Control Association (revision 2) to its ‘Guidance on smoke control to common escape routes in apartment buildings (flats and maisonettes)’, which is currently available at the link below.

Chiller technologies and the role they can play in helping to reduce energy consumption and energy costs in buildings is the subject of Mitsubishi Electric’s CPD-accredited industry guide. Legislation such as the F Gas Regulations is forcing many businesses to assess their cooling systems and rising energy costs.

Flakt Woods’ latest distribution catalogue runs to 276 pages. As well as products, there are fan performance curves, technical data, drawings, 3D wiring — and much more.

Jaga’s LST (low surface temperature) radiators are now available with a specialised arthritic TRV adaptor. It fits onto the head of the radiator’s TRV to provide a better grip for people with loss of dexterity in their hands.

All models in Rinnai’s range of Energysaver fan-convection powered-flue gas-fired space heaters are specifically designed for schools, community centres, libraries, conservatories and churches. The Energysaver 559T and 1004T models deliver energy-efficient and consistent warm air without the use of central ductwork or running heating circuits for radiators. They are quick and easy to install.

Swegon UK’s Titanium range of plug-and-play energy-recovery units offers flow rates from 0.24 to 4.25 m3/s and efficiencies of up to 96%. There are four variants (Flat, Global, Mural and Total). All models have an intelligent built-in control system that enables individual units to be monitored and adjusted remotely through a dedicated app or connect to a BMS via the Modbus protocol.

Nuaire has added a larger rectangular version to its Ductmaster Thermal range. It measures 220 x 90 mm. There are three other ducts in the range — two circular ducts of 125 and 150 mm and a rectangular version of 204 x 60 mm.

Real-time web-based energy-measurement technology is available on CP Electronics’ latest range of Rapid lighting-control modules (LCMs) and DALI gateway pluggable and DIN-rail variants. The actual energy consumption of each luminaire is monitored, rather than an average for it.

Rinnai’s Energysaver fanned-convection powered-flue gas-fired space heaters have been designed for schools, community centres, libraries, conservatories, churches and other large enclosed spaces. They offer high efficiencies in operation and contribute to significantly reduced running costs.

Tridonic has expanded its product portfolio in the Tunable-White segment with the addition of the square Talexx engine QLE Premium LED module. It has been designed specifically for area luminaires in healthcare facilities, offices and educational establishments. People who spend many hours in artificial lighting will be the main beneficiaries.

Toshiba’s SMMS-e VRF heat-pump air-conditioning system features three core technologies to contribute to an ESEER (European Seasonally Adjusted Energy Efficiency Rating) higher than seven. With the SMMS-e, it is possible to connect up to 60 hp in a single system, with up to 64 connectable indoor units, considerably more than the previous 48 hp. Maximum pipework length is 1000 m, double the previous length.

Lochinvar has upgraded its popular CPM range of condensing, gas-fired, stainless-steel, wall-hung boilers in line with the requirements of the European Eco-design of the Energy related Products (ErP) Directive. Lot 11 of this directive requires that integrated glandless circulating pumps have a maximum Energy Efficiency Index (EEI) no higher than 0.23. The revamped boilers all contain an A-rated integral fully modulating pump.

Sontay’s AV-622 air-velocity transmitter has its own built-in self-test feature and enables the user to manually over-ride the output to 0%, 50% or 100% to aid commissioning. The device comes in a flame-retardant housing with Sontay’s uniform style plant housing for fitting to ductwork

Additions to the Acvatix range of ball valves from Siemens Building Technologies enables the company to offer valves in sizes from 15 to 50 mm with internal and external threads. These valves are suitable for hot- and cold-water systems and have been designed for robust performance and easy installation.

Airedale has developed an air-cooled DX inverter-driven variant of its SmartCool precision air-conditioning system. SmartCool SV DX i-drive PAC covers cooling capacities from 5 to 83 kW and delivers very precise air-supply temperatures up to 26°C under variable heat load and outside temperatures from -20 to +50°C.

In response to the aesthetics demands of the high-end residential market and a trend for industrial styling by architects, Waterloo Air Products has devised a specialist range of grilles and diffusers. There are three types of product. Plasterline linear grilles can, as the name suggests and the picture makes clear, be integrated into a building’s design. Linear diffusers are offered with a huge range of finishes and colours, including special effects such as various woods, carbon fibre, animal prints, leather and marbles. Finally, the Urban Grille is designed for projects where exposed ductwork is a feature of a building’s design.

New interior and exterior luminaires for the £26 million redevelopment of the Barclaycard Arena formerly known as the National Indoor Arena were supplied by Reggiani Lighting UK. Lighting designer LADP worked closely with Reggiani’s design team to devise a scheme to provide illumination throughout this sporting and entertainment venue.

The surges in demand for hot water at the Old Bank Hotel in Oxford are now handled by a Stokvis Econoplate plate heat exchanger and a pair of 500 l stainless-steel buffer vessels, installed to replace direct-fired water heaters. The system was specified and installed by H&E Engineers, a specialist in maintenance services based in nearby Kidlington. This hotel has 42 luxury bedroom suites.

The newly refurbished Heal’s building on Tottenham Court Road in London includes a heating and cooling systems from Panasonic to serve office spaces spread over five storeys. Occupants include Netflix and Deliveroo. Consultants Cundall worked with Easy Air Conditioning on the design and installation of the systems.

The energy-efficiency capabilities of LED lighting in the new 1800 m2 facility of Southampton Freight Services (SFS) are maximised by a control system devised by BEG. The new facility includes two warehouses. One is fully racked for bonded storage, and the other is designed to accommodate the fast-moving ‘in-transit’ operation.

Durham Cathedral has chosen Remeha boilers to provide efficient space heating for its newly refurbished monastic rooms. The three Gas 310 Eco Pro boilers have been installed in the latest phase of the Open Treasure development programme, a project which is part funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, to restore some of the most spectacular areas of the cathedral to transform them into new exhibitions spaces.

The building-services systems of the new £237 million Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool includes over 70 Grundfos speed-controlled pumps and booster sets, as well as pressurisation units and ancillary equipment. The system is supported by BACnet technology, a communications protocol used by building-management systems worldwide.

The centrepiece in what is said to be Europe’s biggest-ever zoo development is replicating a tropical environment — helped by bespoke engineering by Gilberts of Blackpool. The 31 500 m3 Monsoon Forest at Chester Zoo is part of the part of the £40 million 60 000 m2 Island project and the largest indoor zoo exhibit in the UK.

The first UK installation of Rhoss EXP hybrid cooling-and-heating technology from Klima-Therm has been completed at the Creative Industries Centre at Kingston College, London. This heat-pump-based chiller was specified by consultant Hamson JPA for its energy efficiency and ability to provide simultaneous chilled water and hot water, linked to whole-building energy harvesting. It was installed by Lowe & Oliver.

Numerous users of AET’s Flexible Space underfloor air-conditioning systems are benefiting from improved operation and energy efficiency following major controls upgrades. They include clients such as Jaguar Land Rover, Tag Farnborough and Bloomberg.

Scarborough Hospital’s campaign to achieve substantial energy savings has been boosted by the delivery of a 776 kW(e) CHP engine to power the new low-carbon energy system. When finished, the system will deliver over £500 000 in energy savings a year and reduce CO2 emissions by over 2100 t a year.

Lindab’s Solus chilled-beam system has been chosen to deliver energy-efficient climate control for a landmark building in Sweden — the Round House in the Munksjöstaden district. Pairing Solus with renewable-energy sources such as free cooling and ground-source heat pumps can achieve energy savings of up to 45%. The system includes nearly 600 Solus chilled beams and the entire ducting system. Pascal VAV system are being used in areas where the heating load can change very quickly, such as conference rooms.

Paul Sands of Stokvis Energy Systems explores the many benefits of plate heat exchangers for delivering domestic hot water and how to get the best from them.

Particulates are one of the main pollutants in air, both outdoors and indoors. Removing them can be an energy-intensive process. Tom Winsper of Vokes Air looks at the issues to be considered.

Building-services specialist JS Wright, based in Birmingham, has marked its 125th anniversary this year by becoming the official sponsor of rising local boxing star Tommy Langford. This 26-year-old middleweight has notched up 14 straight wins without losing a single round since turning professional in 2012. He is currently fifth in the world rankings.

After some 45 years in the HVAC industry, the last 16 of which have been with Daikin distributor Space Air, Mike Nankivell has announced his retirement at the end of 2015. One of the principal reasons is to avoid the substantial daily journey from his home in Kent to Guildford on medical advice.

Comedian and actor Rufus Hound is to present the 2016 awards of the Building Controls Industry Association. He has appeared on television shows such a ‘Celebrity juice’, ‘Never mind the Buzzcocks’ and ‘Doctor Who’. In 2013, he won the ‘Strictly come dancing’ Christmas special.

aBusinesses in the future need to think hard about who is given information about a building via systems such as BIM (Building Information Modelling). That was a major concern expressed at CIBSE’s Building Performance Conference last month (November). Concerns were expressed about how much ancillary information contractors might have that could one day be exploited and how easy it is to access detailed BIM information that could make a building vulnerable. People, as well as technology, need to be treated as a security problem.

Building-services company Mansfield Pollard has been named outstanding employer of the year at the 2015 Yorkshire Post excellence in business awards, which saw entries from over 250 organisations. Keys to the success include the company’s focus on personalised learning and development, strong internal communications and formalised processes that enable team members to make input into the development of the organisation and its business.

The construction industry has returned to growth after six months of contraction, according to the latest figures from industry analyst Glenigan. The value of projects starting on site in October was higher than a year earlier for the first time since March. The fastest rise was in residential building, with the value of starts up 9% on a year earlier. There was also a 19% rise in social-housing starts, the strongest expansion since the start of 2014.

WEMS, which specialises in wireless building energy management systems, has acquired Aimteq Energy Management, one of the UK’s longest-established systems-integration companies. The acquisition brings together the skills and experience in the energy-solutions market, making possible an enhanced service offering — including bureau services.

Reprezent 107.3FM, London’s youth-led radio station, is enjoying air-conditioned comfort thanks to the free installation of an air-conditioning system by TechniCool Air Conditioning and donated by Daikin UK. With a listenership of 120 000, the station is the ‘voice of young London’ and campaigns on issues such as mental health, housing and youth unemployment. It has helped thousands of young people develop their skills and talents, represent youth issues and increase their employability.

‘Big Data’ has the potential to have a significant efficient on how much energy buildings use and how they use that energy. That was one of the messages from Chris Pountney, a principal engineer with AECOM, at this year’s BSRIA Briefing last month (November), which majored on the importance and impact of the data explosion.

BSS Industrial has formally opened its new flagship headquarters at Enderby near Leicester. Called Boss Court, it was opened by a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of staff by managing director Chris Hufflet (centre left) and Frank Elvins (centre right0, CEO of Travis Perkins’ contract merchanting division. The business had spent 116 years in its previous Fleet House offices in central Leicester, and the new office is just five miles away.

Imtech Inviron is to continue supporting the University of Lincoln until 2017, having been awarded a contract extension. The site-based team, led by contract manager Chris Broome, has been working with the university since 2009. During this time the university has invested over £150 million in its Brayford Pool Campus to provide students with industry-standard state-of-the-art teaching spaces.

Government proposals to phase out unabated coal-fired power stations by 2025 and build new gas-fired power stations have received a wide range of mixed, but strong, reactions. Speaking at a meeting of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Amber Rudd, Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change, set out her vision for an energy system that puts consumers first, delivers more competition, reduced the burden on bill payers and ensures enough electricity to power the nation.

Solar-thermal water heating is an effective way of reducing carbon emissions and energy costs in commercial and public sector buildings. Jonathan Tedstone of Andrews Water Heaters explains how to maximise the benefits of this renewable technology.