2016 June

Membership has its priviledges.

In response to growing legislative pressure to use refrigerants with lower GWPs, Johnson Controls has made the decision to enhance its HFC product lines by confirming that all screw and centrifugal chillers (air-cooled and water-cooled) will be fully future-compatible with R315A. This refrigerant is an HFC/HFO blend and has a GWP of 631. It is suitable as a drop-in replacement for R134a, which has a GWP of 1430. It has a low toxicity and is not flammable.

Refurbishment projects often require effective control of comfort conditions within strict aesthetic constraints. Rinus Groenewald of Unico explains why small-duct high-velocity air-conditioning systems can offer a discreet alternative to other solutions.

Trane’s Sentesis eXcellent range of air-cooled chillers use HFO R1234ze as the refrigerant, which has a GWP of less than one when used in this design. These chillers offer capacities from 500 to 1260 kW. Applications include data centres, hospitals, and large office buildings.

As part of the full structural reconfiguration and refurbishment of 33 Glasshouse Street in central London, AET Flexible Space is supplying underfloor air conditioning. The building has a Grade 2-listed facade and is being refurbished to form larger, open-plan floor plates and Cat A office accommodation on floors three to seven.

Hitachi’s RCIM FSN4 range of mini cassette air-conditioning units has heating outputs from 1.9 to 8.5 kW in a VRF system. The air panel has a new, simple and stylish design. Its dimensions have been reduced by 80 mm compared with the previous 620 mm square, so it can be installed into a 600 mm-square ceiling opening.

Active chilled beams are finding increasing use in office and commercial buildings. They use a variety of solutions for air diffusion, adjustability and efficiency. By combining these in a smart way and adding new thinking, the optimal chilled-beam design can be achieved. Professor Göran Hultmark of Lindab explains.

Facilities-management provider Cloudfm can offer a 10-year warranty on Mitsubishi Electric air-conditioning equipment managed on behalf of its clients. The service comes after Cloudfm became a business solutions partner with Mitsubishi, which enables it to offer an extended 7-year warranty. Cloudfm will underwrite a further 3-year warranty on all new equipment and parts for Mitsubishi Electric air-conditioning products in the UK

Laboratories with fume cupboards can benefit from demand-controlled ventilation — with major savings on the volume of air handled and conditioning it. Ian Thomas of Trox UK explains.

Despite being a relative newcomer to the air-conditioning market, VRF continues to make significant advances. Neil Wooldridge of Toshiba Air Conditioning takes up the story.

Since their introduction to the UK in the 1970s, fan-coil units (FCUs) have provided air conditioning to thousands of commercial buildings. However, there is another option to consider, which delivers energy efficiency and, importantly, flexibility — namely the chilled beam. Yan Evans of Fläkt Woods explains why it’s time to move on from the FCU.

The EC (electronically commutated) motors in Advanced Air’s horizontal fan deck have a chip developed by Nailor, the company’s American parent, which gives a pressure-independent unit and makes the fan-coil self balancing so that no commissioning is required on the air side.

Climate Center claims to be the first distributor to stock the low-GWP refrigerant R32 in every branch — amounting to 45 branches nationwide. R32 is a single-component refrigerant with a GWP of 675, considerably lower than the 2088 for R410A. The investment coincides with Daikin and Toshiba launching R32 air-conditioning ranges.

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.

Whichever market sector David Garwood of BSRIA looks at, especially in London, he sees growth in the air-conditioning sector for the next three years.

IMI Hydronics has created a solution to the problems caused by inaccurate control technology in heating or cooling systems. TA-Modulator is a highly precise pressure-independent balancing and control valve. It is used with a range of digitally configurable actuators, TA-Slider, to deliver the exact amount of energy to ensure perfect comfort and reduced energy costs.

Eclipse Magnetics offers a universal flush adaptor attachment to enable installers to carry out routine system flushes quickly and easily by attaching flushing equipment to its BoilerMag boiler filter, using the filter as the access point. This adaptor can be attached to the back of the BoilerMag port block in just a few seconds and is compatible with screw-fit or female cam-lock hoses — so that a wide range of flushing equipment can be used.

Marflow Hydronics has further developed its web site to enable customers to download relevant technical information, including BIM models, via a new product-downloads section. In addition, all product pages can be captured in PDF format and used as a data sheet.

Belimo’s replacement actuators 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.

Efficient management of building energy performance requires access to current, meaningful data about the performance of building-services systems. Elio Galluzzi of SAV Systems explains why the solution begins with commissioning.

Giacomini has introduced a balancing-valve set to complement its HIUs (heat interface units) for multi-dwelling properties. These valve sets are designed to optimise the efficiency of communal heating systems by carefully balancing the heating network throughout.

As part of major renovation of the heating-distribution and complex ventilation system of the Happyland leisure centre in Klosterneuburg, Austria, 45 Belimo EPIVs (electronic pressure-independent control valves, the orange units in the picture) were installed on eight distribution circuits during operation to avoid loss of revenue.

Commissioning is the key to ensuring that every heat interface unit (HIU) in a district-heating system delivers. Neil Parry of Altecnic discusses the issues involved.

Andrew Watkin, chairman of the Commissioning Specialists’ Association looks forward to the second year of the association’s awards.

Reznor has developed a new range of air conditioners and heat pumps for commercial/light-commercial applications. The range consists of mini-split systems, multi-split systems and VRF systems.

Resource Data Management (RDM) has released a major software update for the Intuitive TDB programmable logic controller. Software v3.0 for the Intuitive TDB, which has built-in PLC software and free desktop editing PLC software, features a completely new web graphical user interface, upgraded display features, new unit measurement controls, remote monitoring integration and more.

BG Energy Solutions, which specialises in delivering intelligent building controls solutions, has been awarded Trend Technology Centre (TTC) accreditation. BGES joins around 50 building-controls companies in the UK that have achieved TTC status. The company has over 21 years’ experience integrating Trend Control systems across a wide range of sectors.

RDM Electrical & Mechanical Services has been awarded a third contract for the design and build of the new £450 million Swansea University Bay Campus being developed by regeneration specialist St Modwen. This latest contract is worth £4.5 million and is for further works on the M&E elements of the campus in partnership with contractor Vinci Construction UK and St Modwen.

Airedale International Air Conditioning’s new state-of-the-art facility in Rawdon, Leeds, built following a major fire in September 2013, was formally opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal last month. The 23 000 m2 premises have a BREEAM ‘Very good’ rating and feature one of the largest and most extensive R&D facilities in Europe.

The Glen Dimplex Group has acquired Ability Projects, which specialises in the design, manufacture and supply of fan-coil units and digital control technology. Ability also offers a range of heat-recovery units and twin/single fan units.

Former BBC presenter and engineer Kate Bellingham (pictured) is to host a series of panel discussions at this year’s Building Services Summit. The event will focus on how the construction sector can deliver buildings that operate more effectively and efficiently in the long term.

M&E contractor LJJ has been awards a £3.5 million contract as part of the £16 million development of a 96-bed luxury care and assisted-living scheme by Signature Senior Lifestyle in Sunninghill, Berkshire. The scheme continues LJJ’s relationship with Signature Senior Lifestyle following three previous projects in Brentwood, Marlow and Kingston upon Thames.

Adcock Refrigeration & Air Conditioning has been accredited with ISO 9001 certification from The British Assessment Bureau for installation, service and maintenance of refrigeration and climate-control equipment. This accreditation is awarded to organisations that demonstrate that they have a quality-management system in place to ensure consistency and improvement which leads to high levels of performance and customer satisfaction.

Positive workload forecasts were returned by all nations and regions in the latest RIBA future trends workload index, reversing the recent downward trend. The balance figure rose significant in March 2016 to +31, up from +21 in February. Practices in the North of England were the most optimistic.

Contributing to the restoration of Leeds City College’s historic Printworks building winning an award were M&E works designed and built by G&H Building Services. Sewell Construction received the award for the ‘Committed to heritage and refurbishment’ category in the ‘Committed to construction in Humber & West Yorkshire awards 2016’. The awards are run by the Chartered Institute of Building.

Building-services provider JS Wright has won a deal to fit out 161 mixed-tenure apartments on a former hospital site in north London. The development will comprise purpose-built and existing Grade 2-listed buildings at the £110 million Woodside Square development in Muswell Hill on the site of St Luke’s Hospital, which was in use from 1930 to 2011.

The recently opened regional office in Birmingham of electrical-engineering firm Quartzelec is already delivering its first major order. It is a £1.2 million M&E contract for the new, technically advanced St Luke’s health facility in Market Harborough.

Bouygues Energies & Services has won a 5-year contract to deliver total FM service at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). The site employs over 650 scientists and is in south West London. The wide-ranging contract includes M&E maintenance.

The Lighting Industry Association’s new state-of-the-art 1160 m2 purpose-built laboratories have won a bid to undertake testing as part of LightingEurope’s compliant-lighting initiative. The objective of the initiative is to support the placing of compliant lighting products on the European market through effective market surveillance, safe and good-quality lighting products for consumers in Europe — as well as a level playing field and fair competition for industry players.

CIBSE’s president for 2015/16, John Field, is looking to raise the profile and recognition of building-services engineers at the heart of modern life. He is making it a priority for his term as president to raise the profile of the vital work the industry does by making buildings perform better and to empower others to raise their game.

Consultant engineers Anderson Green have moved to new and larger offices in Leeds following sustained growth over the last 18 months. The new office has doubled the amount of space.

Engineering consultancy Grontmij UK has been rebranded Sweco, marking the completion of its acquisition by this European architecture and engineering consultancy. Grontmij was acquired last October by Sweco, which has its headquarters in Stockholm.

The value of construction projects starting on site in the three months to April was 23% up on the preceding three months and also 23% up on the same three months a year earlier — according to the latest figures from Glenigan. There was firm growth in non-residential and residential starts, with private housing, industrial and commercial particularly strong. A sharp rebound in civil-engineering projects also boosted overall starts.

Major changes in the legislation for ventilating schools are imminent. Gary Morgan of Eco-Airvent helps readers update their understanding.

There are various options to consider when it is time to upgrade the cooling capabilities of a legacy data centre, but in most cases refurbishment isn’t one of them — as Pat Gillan of Weatherite Air Conditioning explains.

Dr Kerry Mashford, chief executive of the National Energy Foundation, shares some personal views on energy issues and the UK remaining in the European Union or leaving it.

The winners of the 2016 BCIA Awards were announced at a gala dinner on 12 May at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in Birmingham. The well-established BCIA Awards recognise and reward excellence in the building-controls industry and have become the most prestigious trophies in the controls sector.

An energy check carried out by Grundfos Pumps for a well-known name in the brewery industry showed a potential energy saving of nearly 150 MWh could be achieved by changing just two pumps. The payback period was just six months.

Following a dilapidation survey of Leasowes High School in Halesowen by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council inefficient LPHW and HWS equipment has been replaced. The existing atmospheric boilers were replaced with six Ethos 130 kW wall-mounted condensing boilers from Mikrofill to give system that can modulate from 780 kW down to 13 kW.

Wieland Electric’s Metalynx2 structured wiring and Gesis plug-and-play system made short work of the connection of power and light throughout the refurbishment of Lacon London, an 8-story commercial building in the Holborn area of London. The Wieland system also resulted in no waste on site.

Carrier has supplied three high-performance screw chillers for the refurbishment of PwC’s headquarters at 1 Embankment Place in London, helping achieve what is believed to be the highest-ever BREEAM rating for new-build and existing buildings — 96 out of a possible 100, a rating of ‘Outstanding.’