2016 December

Hoval Group has acquired Yados, a leading provider of local- and district-heating solutions in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Hoval has maintained a small shareholding in the company since its was founded in 2009 and has now purchased 100% of the shares.

To enhance professional development and the understanding of cable cleats, Ellis has launched an online learning platform. The company has taken its UK-accredited CPD (Continuing Professional Development) course ‘Cable cleats: a device for short-circuit protection’ online for use by engineering professionals.

AmbiRad, Europe’s leading developer and manufacturer of energy-efficient radiant and warm-air heating systems, has developed Nor-Ray-Vac, a gas-fired continuous radiant tube heating system designed specifically for the building it is required to heat. - The Nor-Ray-Vac system is designed to provide uniform heat coverage over the entire floor area.

Gripple’s QT Trapeze Plus fixing provides a fast and easy method of installing suspended pipes and electrical services. It enables quick-twist attachment to a Gripple Universal Bracket.

Vaillant’s uniSTOR range of unvented stainless-steel cylinders offers capacities from 120 to 800 l, making them suitable for large residential and commercial projects — particularly the cylinders with capacities of 500 and 800 l. These larger cylinders come with the option of a 7.5 kW immersion heater.

The WEMS MX flexible I/O system for building energy management systems now has a host of new additions. At the core of the system, WEMS has introduced a range of hybrid (wireless or wired) communication modules . Also added are BACnet gateways so these modules can be used with third-party BMSs, such as those provided by Tridium, Trend, Schneider or Cylon.

SIG Performance Technology’s Fusi intelligent wet underfloor heating system is supplied as a fully integrated package designed to overcome the common challenges encountered with the design and installation of traditional wet systems. Fusi provides a single-point contact solution that is Part E compliant and offers a number of design, installation and cost benefits — from floor slab to floor finish.

Biddle describes its SensAir air curtain as ‘the next generation of comfort air curtain’ Designed with built-in intelligence, these units respond to indoor and outdoor temperatures in the door opening by self-adjusting comfort settings to supply conditioned air and make significant energy savings.

Daikin describes its EWAD-TZ B range of air-cooled chillers as ‘pushing the boundaries of design to meet the challenges of green-building efficiencies and new legislation though the application of advanced technologies, resulting in a host of new features’. The refrigerant is R134a.

Advanced Air has developed a range of fan-coil units aimed at the trend to leaving services exposed and not having a false ceiling. These units are streamlined to match the high aesthetic standard required. For example, all pipework and electrical connections are in one area at the rear of the unit to shorten the distance between the FCU and the centralised distribution network of pipes and cables.

Heatrae Sadia has responded to installer demand by adding an extra sensor pocket to its Megaflo Eco indirect range of hot-water cylinders. This feature enables additional control for boilers connected to an energy-management system or requiring a temperature signal to regulate hot-water production.

Pentair describes its Raychem HWAT systems as the intelligent and safe way to supply instant hot water at the tap. The single-pipe direct hot-water service incorporates a smart self-regulating heating cable to provide a proven and precise method of delivering hot water at a constant temperature throughout an entire network. It eliminates the need to recirculate water and eradicates dead legs.

Following the introduction of air-conditioning units and heat pumps using R32 under the Bluevolution technology range in Europe, Daikin has introduced a SkyAir Seasonal Smart system cassette variant. The SkyAir Bluevolution cassette updates the company’s original Round Flow cassette design for light-commercial applications. With a 15% lower refrigerant charge, this cassette has no need for an annual refrigerant check.

Lochinvar’s Herald range of floor-standing commercial boilers comprises eight models with outputs from 41 to 221 kW and a 5:1 turndown ratio. They have 316L stainless-steel heat exchangers that greatly improves resistance to corrosion and are supported by a 10-year warranty. NOx emissions are 39 mg/kWh, which qualifies for the maximum three BREEAM points.

Hoval’s extensive PowerBloc range of CHP (combined heat and power) units offer electrical outputs from 20 to 520 kW and heat outputs from 43 to 687 kW. These units deliver combined efficiencies of over 90% when running at optimal output and are fully compliant with CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme targets.

Smith’s has announced a collaboration with Minib, one of the leading manufacturers of fan convectors in the Czech Republic. The partnership will enable Smith’s to broaden its portfolio of fan convectors in different strategic markets to grow the commercial sales of both companies by co-promoting their products in their respective markets.

Touchscreen technology is a key feature of Carlo Gavazzi’s EM340 3-phase energy meter — making standard user operations such as page scrolling, programming and parameter checks simpler and faster than using a keypad. The EM340 has a 3x8 digit backlit LCD data display and integrated keypad. It is suited to active energy metering and cost allocation in applications up to 65 A (direct connection) and dual tariff management.

Hamworthy Heating’s Varmax range of floor-standing stainless-steel boilers is designed for applications requiring high outputs. There are eight single models with outputs from 120 to 450 kW and four dual models with outputs from 550 to 900 kW. They have Class 6 NOx emissions (<40 mg/kWh).

AmbiRad has entered the 3D digital world of design by securing the equivalent of BIM (Building Information Modelling) Level 2 compliance for the Nor-Ray-Vac continuous radiant heating system. Nick Winton, divisional manager, says, ‘We are committed to ensuring the complete range of Nor-Ray-Vac product components are BIM compliant. Technical information is now available to download through BIMstore.’

Rehau, which manufactures the Compact Data and Profile Data cable-management systems, has developed a new web site that is optimised for computers and mobile devices. It provides a mass of information for specifiers and contractors.

BSRIA’s guide to the airtightness of floor plenums deals with the use of a raised access floor being used to distribute conditioned air to the spaces above. It is important that conditioned air flows into the occupied zone and does not leak into cavities, risers, stairwells, heating trenches or other occupied zones. Air leakage from a floor plenum can be a serious energy-efficiency issue and a source of discomfort to people.

The Grundfos Product Center is the latest in product-selection support tools provided by Grundfos over the last 30 years. It provides a range of starting points in the search for a particular pump.

Stokvis’s new web site is very straightforward to navigate and extremely easy to access via a smartphone or tablet — even one with a relatively small screen.

The topical subject of wellbeing in buildings is discussed in a free downloadable guide from BSRIA. These topic guides are designed to be ‘at-a-glance’ publications to introduce readers to key industry topics and suggesting further reading. The guide (TG10/2016 At a glance — wellbeing) details factors such as thermal comfort, noise and indoor air-quality.

All that is visible of the Daikin VRV IV i-series air-conditioning installation outside the Leon Restaurant in Fenchurch Street, London, is a discreet grille. The condensing unit that would normally be outside is inside the building and rejects the heat through a short run of duct.

The versatility of Rinnai’s range of gas-fired continuous-flow water heats is demonstrated by a variety of projects that includes hotels, a leisure park and — wait for it — a horse washer. There is no need to store hot water, and digital temperature control ensures the temperature of delivered water does not vary as outlets are tuned on and off. For safety, the water is cut off should the temperature rise by 3 K above the chosen set point.

Samsung has developed an Android app for its circular 360 air-conditioning cassette to show what it will look like in situ. The app uses augmented reality to superimpose this cassette onto any ceiling and adjust position, colour, and size of the unit for a realistic view of the product in situ.

Hospitality areas in Liverpool FC’s new main stand at Anfield incorporate Gilberts’ grilles and diffusers on the recommendation of consultant Jacobs Engineering. They were installed by M&E contractor Imtech as part of the design-and-build project for Carillion under the first phase of the club’s stadium expansion programme.

Oventrop UK teamed up with Totus Engineering to design efficient and effective temperature control for the new critical-care unit and main entrance at Torbay Hospital. The new 14-bed ward, main entrance and shop replace the 30-year-old 10-bed unit.

A large-scale ground-source heat-pump system delivers heating for the Hallam House new-build housing development at Beeswing near Dumfries. There is no mains gas for the development, which comprises five purpose-built supported-housing properties and a dedicated staff base.

Klima-Therm has delivered a high-efficiency cooing solution for a computer server room at Salisbury District Hospital that uses fresh air to augment mechanical cooling. The system replaced two traditional CRAC (computer-room air-conditioning) units originally designed for indoor application but installed outdoors and partially weatherproofed.

Weatherite has designed and manufactured two specialist air-handling units to provide controlled conditions in isolation rooms in a Glasgow hospital. Both units at Raigmore Hospital provide 100% run and standby capability and can be swapped over in operation during maintenance and service work to ensure continuity of room conditions.

The original steel pipework delivering district heating to two social-housing developments in Sheffield has been replaced with Rehau’s Rauvitherm pre-insulated polymer pipework. Sheffield City Council has district-heating systems dating back to the 1970s, and pipework in some of the original networks is in need of renewal.

The rebuilding of the Cavendish Close Junior School in a Derby suburb under the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) includes a building management system from Trend Control System to maximise energy efficiency and help create optimum comfort for pupils and staff. According to The Carbon Trust, reducing energy consumption could help the average secondary school save £21 500 a year in energy bills.

Bournemouth University’s new Fusion Building includes a solar photo-voltaic array of 95 kW comprising 267 SunPower modules of 345 W each. The system was designed and installed by Photon Energy and also includes SMA 3-phase inverters. The solarPV installation is one of a number of measures that has enabled the building to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.

The first UK installation of free-cooling Tonon chillers supplied by Cool-Therm is providing high-efficiency air conditioning for the science building at the University of Lincoln. Two 165 kW chillers, based on R410A, have replaced two chillers that had reach the end of their working life.

An award-winning regeneration project in the National Housebuilder Awards uses Vortice System 1 centrifugal Quadro fans to provide ventilation for homes with two to five bedrooms. Branston Leas in Burton upon Trent by St Modwen Homes was named the best regeneration project in the UK for the many measurable economic, environmental and educational improvements that the development has brought to the local area.

Waterloo Air Products has supplied over a kilometre of its air-distribution products throughout The Monument Building, a major commercial development in central London. Next to the Monument to the Great Fire of London, the 10-storey development has over 8700 m2 of office and retail space. It was designed by Make Architects and built by Skanska.

The Vinden Partnership has given an upbeat response to the latest Markit/CIPS UK Construction PMI showing business activity in October increasing at its fastest pace since March. Chris Duffill, director with The Vinden Partnership, points to the October figure being 52.6, up slightly from September’s 52.3 and above the threshold for growth of 50.

SPIE UK’s approved-contractor status with Boots UK ;has seen work carried out at the Perth branch in Scotland (pictured). The project included installing a new dispensary with power and data/communications, a shop front (including doors and windows) and a new sales floor that required replacing existing wiring with busbar trunking throughout. SPIE is also managing the replacement of store distribution boards and main LV panels.

Claimed to be the biggest community-owned solar roof is this installation at CTG, a Banbury-based site of UTC Aerospace Systems. It has an electrical output of 712 kW from its 2590 panels and will generate over 593 MWh a year. CO2 emissions of 5800 t will be avoided over the 20 years of the project’s lifetime.

The Building Services Engineering Association (BESA) has launched a ‘wiki’ to help it develop the building-services industry’s first technical guidance and standards for systems in tall buildings. Responding to the surge in demand for detailed information about the specific challenges of designing systems for the growing number of existing and planned high structures, BESA is supported by CIBSE and the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) in its aim to capture all the available knowledge on this subject.

Servest, a facilities-management provider, has acquired building-services contractor Arthur McKay as part of its growth and diversification strategy. Arthur McKay has offices throughout the UK and delivers services ranging from M&E to networks and FM services. The acquisition will help Servest expand and develop its technical expertise and extend its geographical reach.

Imtech Inviron has added another international law firm to its client portfolio. The 3–year contract with Berwin Leighton Paisner will see the company managing the technical services at the 12–storey Adelaide House in the City of London. The contract is serviced by a team of engineers, supported by Imtech Inviron’s internal 24-hour helpdesk, which is instrumental in providing clients with efficient and planned reactive maintenance.

80% of electrical and building-services engineering firms enjoyed increased or level turnover during the third quarter of 2016, according to a survey from the Electrical Contractors’ Association. The findings cover the three months from July to September, almost immediately after the Brexit referendum. The responses indicate that, overall, there was only a modest pre- and post-referendum impact on the sector.

Tamsin Tweddell (centre), a senior partner at Max Fordham was named ‘Woman of the year’ at the recent Building Awards. The prize acknowledges and rewards stand-out achievement by a woman in the construction industry, in an effort to highlight positive role models to enhance the sector's appeal for other women.

Space Airconditioning, one of the UK’s longest-established independent air-conditioning distributors has been placed into administration. On 11 November, Neil Afram, Space Air’s founder and managing director, announced, ‘It is with great sadness and regret that after more than 36 years as an independent Daikin distributor, we have been forced to cease trading and place the company into the hands of administrators.’

Synecore was named ‘M&E contractor of the year’ at the Electrical Industry Awards. Based in Detling, Kent, the company provides professional electrical design and installation, commercial refrigeration, air conditioning and ventilation for the hospitality, leisure and retail industry.

Following the announcement that the sector skills organisation SummitSkills is to close from March 2017, two organisations that helped to set it up have responded. They are the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA).

The Copyright Building, a major development in the East End of London was topped out recently in an event hosted by Derwent London and Skanska. Over 120 people came together to congratulate the project team on completing the building’s main structure. Works are expected to be completed in autumn 2017.

21 apprentices at NG Bailey have received their graduation certificated at a special event at the company’s headquarters new Ilkley in Yorkshire. They have also secured full-time employment with the company. David Hurcombe, chief executive, said, ‘It makes me proud to see how our apprentices have developed their technical skills and knowledge, as well as how they have grown as individuals as they have progressed through the programme.’