2016 February

Organisations that had to comply with the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) will have recently completed their energy audits. Yasir Sheikh of Trend Control Systems, examines what companies should do next to address any recommendations for lowering consumption.

Sauter’s ecos504 room controller integrates the automatic control of lighting and sunshades into room-climate regulation. In modern buildings in particular, energy consumption is reduced considerably and comfort for occupants improved.

The speedy retrofit of HVAC controls at the New London Theatre in London, home to ‘War horse’ has been achieved using Sontay’s SonNet wireless sensing system. Carried out with minimal disruption to the day-to-day running of the theatre, the new installation was completed by Concise Controls. It will help improve energy efficiency and increase the flexibility of building use.

It is now widely accepted that good building control strategies support energy efficiency. Ian Ellis of Siemens Building Technologies in the UK highlights how controls can also support better occupant comfort — and productivity.

Philips, a global lighting specialist, and Cisco, which specialises in IT, have formed a global alliance to create new value in energy savings, building efficiency and employee efficiency — made possible by the internet of things (IoT) in modern offices. The alliance brings together Philips’ LED-based connected lighting system and Cisco’s IT network to address a global office market estimated to be worth €1 billion.

The LiveLink light-management system is the result of co-operation between lighting-technology company Trilux and sensor specialist Steinel. The system is based on the DALI standard and offers optimally matched hardware components and intelligent, intuitively operated software tools.

Beckhoff Automation offers a single, compact system that can be used to monitor and manage all aspects of a building — from lighting to heating, cooling and shading. The company describes its technology as open and holistic. Its controls allow numerous protocols to be used, but linked to a single building

This controller from Panasonic has an innovative interface that is easy to use and which offers full functionality with an integrated timer and system controller to manage heating and cooling systems. The digital screen and large, simple buttons of the CZ-64ESMC3 make it much easier to use, even for those without experience of heating and cooling systems.

Bringing lighting control within the scope of a building-management system offers a host of installation and operational benefits. Mike Welch of Control Network Solutions discusses how the Tridium Niagara platform can help offer a cost-effective and energy-saving smart lighting control solution.

Birmingham Airport has reduced its energy consumption by over 10% over the last 15 years — despite nearly doubling the number of passengers handled to over nine million a year. It has the capacity to service 36 million passengers a year on its single runway.

JG Speedfit has prepared a number of videos on its JG Aura heating-controls concept for underfloor heating. They are designed to guide installers through the process of setting up these heating controls, which are easy to operate and effective at saving energy.

As part of its ongoing research into building automation and controls (BACS) and building energy management systems (BEMS), BSRIA has been monitoring some of the key trends that are driving the market. Henry Lawson gives an insight.

The latest addition to Trend Control Systems’ range of IQ4 controllers is the IQ4E Slim range. Trend continues to reduce the footprint of its controllers, and a 70 mm IQ4E Slim compares to the 105 mm of a standard IQ4E I/O module. In addition, vertical connectors mean trunking can be situated immediately alongside a controller, saving even more space.

Schneider Electric’s energy-management software (Energy Server Com’X 510) is a simple energy-management solution that collects and stores a range of energy data. It includes data from electrical distribution devices, smart panels, sensors such as temperature, humidity and CO2, and WAGES (water, air, gas, electricity and steam) metering devices.

Meters are an essential tool in the drive towards reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions and make buildings greener. Mark Rimell of Carlo Gavazzi explains how to develop an effective metering strategy to benchmark energy use and pinpoint waste.

The construction industry has long suffered from a disproportionate focus on the capital cost of a project. Steve Harrison of the Building Controls Industry Association explains why this needs to change and how this year’s Building Services Summit aims to address the challenge.

Sentinel Commercial’s KalGuard electrolytic scale inhibitor is proving to be an effective long-term solution in tackling a loud banging noise that started to come from a of hot-water boiler when it was just five years old. The noise, known as kettling, is caused by an accumulation of limescale deposits on a heat exchanger. A KalGuard unit was installed in 2005, and its anode has been replaced only once — in 2010. The current anode still has 25% life.

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.

Belimo’s replacement actuator for globe valves have customisable parameters and are equipped with a universal valve neck and stem adapter. They can be installed quickly and easily on virtually all valves from manufacturers worldwide.

Many of the problems associated with controlling legionella bacteria in domestic- hot-water systems can be solved by choosing to install a gas-fired continuous-flow system, explains Chris Goggin, associate director with Rinnai UK.

Grundfos Pumps offers a range of diagnostic tools on its web site, Including ‘Energy check’ and ‘Pump audit’. Not only will they establish the performance of a current pump system, but they also provide reports with details on potential savings and payback period, as well as various pump options.

Danfoss describes its Hero flushing bypass manifold as a time-, cost- and space-saving solution that features all the main components needed to install, flush, balance, control and maintain terminal units in HVAC system with variable flow. A cost analysis by the company showed that Hero can achieve a 23% saving in time and cost during installation compared with an option assembled on site.

The refurbishment of the Holiday Inn Express hotel at Edinburgh Airport has its hot-water requirements met by Oventrop Regumaq Cascade units. There are four wall-hung units that heat cold water as required by drawing heat from thermal stores — in this case two electrically heated buffer tanks — through a plate heat exchanger.

This installation of Rinnai direct-fired water heaters at a country club and spa is part of a decentralised system comprising 17 A-rated gas-fired condensing units capable of delivering 20 000 l/h of temperature-controlled hot water. Installed at the Hale Country Club & Spa in Cheshire, the 1500i units serve executive soaker showers, poolside showers and changing-room showers.

To reduce the heat transference from service pipework in 20 Fenchurch Street, London (the ‘Walkie Talkie’ building) 20 000 linear metres of Kingspan Kooltherm FM pipe insulation has been installed, helping to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating and a post-construction score of 80.2%. The building offers 63 000 m2 of office space and is topped with a massive sky garden. The well known concave design was created by Rafael Viñoly.

Pegler Yorkshire’s Warranty Plus initiative covers complete pipework systems, rather than individual components. It was created after in-depth research with contractors showed the need for such a warranty, which took two years to develop. The scheme is designed to ensure more efficient installations and provide reassurance for many years. The 3-stage process offers support for projects over £250 000.

Evinox Energy will be featuring its expertise in communal and district heating at Ecobuild (see below). The company makes its own range of modern heat interface units (HIUs) designed with efficiency and end-user comfort in mind. The company also offers metering and billing solutions, and smart control technology.

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.

Maintaining the low system temperatures required for efficient operation of heat networks presents a design challenge for building-services engineers. Silas Flytkjaer of SAV Systems highlights the importance of effective temperature and pressure control.

Measuring the head losses and pump-duty requirements of plastic pipework revealed some amazing results. Des Dolan of Durapipe discusses the findings.

Hot water for a new toilet and shower block at the Sunbourne Glan y Mor Leisure Park in west Wales is provided by two Rinnai Infinity HDC 1500 continuous-flow units. The facilities cater for campers and touring caravans and also include a launderette.

Against the backdrop of Pipe Center having opened a purpose-built branch and fabrication facility for pipework at Basildon, Gary Franklin gives an insight into the many benefits of this evolving approach to pipe fabrication.

Bookings are now open for one of the industry’s major award evenings, the BCIA Awards of the Building Controls Industry Association. This year’s awards are on Thursday 12 May at a new venue, the Hilton Birmingham Metropole. The evening includes a 3-course meal and entertainment provided by well-known comedian and TV personality Rufus Hound.

Hurley Palmer Flatt, one of the UK’s largest M&E consultancies, has moved its central-London office to 240 Blackfriars as part of its London expansion plan. The company has taken a 10-year lease to occupy 1100 m2 at the Southbank Tower to being together the West End office at British Land’s headquarters at York House and the London City office at Broken Wharf House.

Cundall has supported the construction of this building for the Edinburgh-based charity It’s good 2 give by supply mechanical, electrical and sustainable engineering. Known as Ripple Retreat, this 260 m2 3-bedroom house provides a tranquil holiday retreat on the southern bank of Loch Venachar near Callander for young people and their families affected by cancer.

Loughborough University has launched a dedicated training centre to support the building and industrial-services industry in tacking the challenge of pipework innovation and energy-efficiency installation. Established to raise awareness of BIM (Building Information Modelling) and pipework-related issue, the centre offers CIBSE-accredited CPD training courses for designers, HVAC pipe installers and customers of Tata Steel (one of the companies involved in setting up the Building & Industrial Services Pipework Academy [BISPA]). Other collaborators are CIBSE and the university’s School of Civil & Building Engineering.

Ameon, the building-services-engineering company based in Lancashire, has acquired more office space to accommodate a significant increase in staff numbers and expand its headquarters at Whitehills Business Park next to the M55 near Blackpool. The acquisition of premises next to its headquarters in Olympic Court increases the size of its headquarters by 50%.

Training provider Building Engineering Services Training (BEST), a subsidiary of the Building Engineering Services Association has achieved accreditation to the Matrix standard. Matrix is the international quality standard for organisations that deliver training information, advice and guidance in support of individuals in relation to their career choices, learning programmes and work and life goals.

Mansfield Pollard, which specialises in commercial kitchen ventilation, has designed and installed a bespoke extraction system in the new kitchen at Somerset House. The company was approached by Western Blueprint to work on the project.

Adcock Refrigeration & Air Conditioning has secured a new service and maintenance contract for the Emirates Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth. At 170 m high, the Spinnaker Tower is taller than the London Eye, Blackpool and Big Ben. Features include the glass Sky Walk, which is 100 m above sea level.

Mitsubishi Electric has been re-certified with the Carbon Trust Standard after being able to demonstrate how it has been measuring, managing and reducing carbon emissions at its Hatfield headquarters. Holders of the Carbon Trust Standard continue to deliver carbon reductions year on year. The latest assessment of the company’s Hatfield site (pictured) shows a 9.2% reduction in absolute footprint and an 18.1% relative reduction measured against turnover.

Trend Control Systems has announced a significant investment in its energy-services division that enables the company to tackle demand-side energy management even more effectively by remotely managing a customer’s BMS so that it works more efficiently to generate greater energy savings and reduce CO2 emissions.

A mixed picture of construction-industry activity for the end of last year has been reported by major industry analysts. The Markit/CIPS UK construction purchasing managers’ index (PMI) reported a ‘robust and accelerated expansion of overall business activity, thereby indicating a rebound from the slowdown recorded in November’. Glenigan, in contrast, reported new construction activity contracting by 14% in the final quarter of 2015 compared to a year earlier.

Airedale International has returned to its site at Rawdon in Leeds into a redeveloped facility following a major fire in September 2013. The company designs and manufactures high-technology cooling systems for data centres, healthcare, and industrial and commercial environments worldwide. Following the fire, the company recovered by relocating to temporary facilities near Leeds city centre while the old building was demolished and redeveloped.

The ICOM Energy Association has formed a water-treatment working group to address the lack of standards and codes of practice relating to water treatment for non-domestic heating systems. ICOM director Ross Anderson (pictured) explains, ’The first step will be the development of a best-practice guide, but, looking further ahead, we hope to create the basis for a British Standard.’

Behavioural considerations and recognition of the diversity of users is critical to the design of building services and in ensuring the effective management of workspaces, as Sara Kassam of CIBSE explains.

Last year was a traumatic one for those keen on improving energy efficiency and developing renewable energy. Dr Kerry Mashford of the National Energy Foundation looks back.

Building services are often talked about in terms of energy efficiency, cost and functionality, but how they operate has a direct effect on employee productivity. Apart from influencing a businesses’ bottom-line when it comes to fuel bills, ‘bad’ building services can also reduce output, cause employee unhappiness and even days off for ill health. Chris Wollen of Ergro, looks at the common issues and how they can be resolved through good installation and maintenance choices.

OnSide Youth Zones is a registered charity dedicated to providing young people with safe, affordable and inspiring places for them to go in their leisure time. OnSide has established a network of youth facilities across the UK, which includes the newly-completed ‘The Way’ in Wolverhampton.

CentraLine by Honeywell will soon be releasing the first of a new generation of plant controllers combining the Niagara AX software with a proven Honeywell plant controller and the potential to use an extensive library of energy-efficient application modules.

Following a company takeover last year, UK manufacturer Quinn Radiators has rebranded to become QRL Radiator Group. Chief executive David Quinn says, ‘The last year has been one of huge transition for the former Quinn Radiators business, and we’re very proud to officially unveil our new identity.’