2017 April

Drainage-ventilation specialist Studor is on target to supply over a million of its products worldwide this year. The company’s products include air-admittance valves and other specialist drainage products through its own ByStudor brand, as well as OsmaVent through Wavin Plastics and the Pleura range through Terrain.

Cable-management specialist Unitrunk has updated and revised its CIBSE-accredited CPD presentation. It introduces fresh insights for consultants, contractors and specifiers as diverse as compliance, testing, value engineering and BIM.

Sontay, which specialises in field control devices, has prepared a series of A5 application leaflets covering a range of applications and situations. They include natural ventilation, data centres, air-handling units, chilled beams and water detection.

Mitsubishi Electric has devised an infographic on the requirements and repercussions of the F-Gas Regulations to help explain why the legislation has been introduced and what people need to do about it. ‘We’ve designed it as a simple way of taking in the main points which will be highly relevant to anyone involved in air conditioning, whether an installer, consultant, designer or building owner,’ explains Graham Temple, marketing manager for split air-conditioning systems.

Following the introduction of a new UK test standard for heat interface units and advances in technology, Evinox Energy has updated its CIBSE-accredited CPD seminar to provide the opportunity to explore district-heating networks in depth.

Infomill has enhanced its PartsArena Pro app, a leading source of heating parts and technical data that has over 2600 licensed users. This app can be accessed offline on iOS, Android and Windows, making it a useful tool for heating engineers whilst out in the field.

Andrews Sykes has added a 1500 kW LPHW boiler package to its industrial fleet, the largest boiler in its fleet. Its introduction follows research by Andrews Boiler Hire that highlights in major projects where large capacities of hot water are required it is often common practice to link several boilers. In many such applications, this high-capacity unit will obviate the need for this proactive, making for a faster and more efficient solution.

HygroMatik’s HPS and LPS adiabatic high- and low-pressure nozzle systems for air-conditioning and ventilation units are designed to provide the highest levels of hygiene. Using HPS or LPS systems in conjunction with reverse osmosis will deliver demineralised water, ensuring that only the cleanest air is delivered. These combined systems offer hygienic optimum humidification and close control with an accuracy of ±1% RH.

Among a series of fan-coil designs from Advanced Air is a remote display module (RDM) It is mounted on the cover of the control box for easy access without having to remove screws or bolts. Commissioning is made much easier, and the fan coil can be commissioned without the BMS being completed. It also provides a cross check between what the BMS is displaying and what is actually happening within the fan-coil unit.

Hitachi’s latest air-conditioning products include its first Summit range using R32 refrigerant. This range of wall-mounted units comprises four units with cooling capacities from 1.8 to 5.0 kW; they also deliver heating.

Flir Systems’ latest additions to Exx-Series of advanced thermal-imaging camera are designed for electrical, mechanical and building applications. There are three models (E75, E85 and E95), all of which are Wi-Fi-enabled and feature intelligent interchangeable lenses, laser-assisted autofocus modes and area-measurement functionality, improvements to the company’s patented MSX imaging technology and a larger 4 in touchscreen.

Halton’s range of air-handling units for commercial kitchens has been awarded Eurovent certification for performance and quality. The accreditation covers the entire range of third-generation pollution-control, supply-air and combined units. An integral part of the process was the certification of Halton’s selection software for AHUs.

The universal truly reversible fan-coil unit developed by Advanced Air can have its handing easily changed in the factory or on site and now incorporates further refinements to speed up the process. Prewired looms for right-hand and left-hand mounting of the control box are included as standard. Push-fit connections ensure that electrical connections are easily and quickly made in production or when changing the handing in the factory or on site.

The Lowara range of Smart Pumps for water-supply and HVAC applications in commercial buildings have highly efficient speed-controlled IE5 motors for maximum energy efficiency and effectiveness. A Smart Pump comprises the pump itself, motor and variable-speed drive.

The OpenAir range of damper actuators from Siemens Building Technologies comprises a comprehensive range of energy-efficient, reliable and flexible devices. They are quick to install and have a very long services life. Torque ratings range from 2 to 35 Nm, combining high positioning forces with low-consumption motors.

Grundfos’s Smart Digital range of dosing pumps includes the XL DDA and DDE pumps to deliver a dosing flow of up to 200 l/h and a pressure of up to 10 bar. Smart Digital XL pumps require little maintenance as the membrane and other robust pump features mean that service intervals are up to 8000 operating hours at 100% operation. At 30% operation, the service intervals are 20 000 h.

Elco’s Trigon XL range of floor-standing gas-fired boilers achieves ultra-low NOx emissions complying with Class 6 (2018) requirements with emissions as low as 34 mg/kWh. The rating helps specifiers when assessing project criteria under BREEAM, with three credits available if a building achieves less than 40 mg/kWh.

Condair’s DL in-duct adiabatic humidifier offers the accuracy of humidity control normally only associated with steam humidifiers, but with the low-energy performance and evaporative-cooling benefit of a cold-water system. It also incorporates many anti-bacterial features that make it one of the most hygienic humidifiers available.

Trend Control Systems has announced the availability of its next-generation IQ Vision monitoring and management system. This successor to the 963 Supervisor integrates Trend controllers, third-party smart devices and Internet protocols into a certified software platform that is designed to manage buildings at an enterprise level, giving building owners and managers the ability to identify issues and optimise their systems.

Bristan, which specialises in equipment for commercial brassware installations, has developed two RIBA-approved CPD seminars aimed at developers, contractors and architects. They are called ‘A leisurely education on brassware specification’ and ‘A clinical view on brassware specification’ and provide an insightful view of specifying brassware for the education and healthcare sectors.

The supply of hot water for the Malvern Hills Caravan Club site is now plentiful and consistent following the installation of four Rinnai continuous-flow water heaters to replace two storage water heaters. The site has 210 pitches and is especially busy from Easter right through to October.

Upgrading the existing oil-fired LPHW and HWS circuits at a hotel operated by Amazing Venues group included the installation of four Mikrofill condensing boilers, two pressurisation packages and three Extreme HWS loading cylinders complete with unvented kits. The design for Stanbrook Abbey Hotel near Worcester was prepared by building-services consultants Energy Performance Solutions.

While comfort is important to a hotel’s guests — and to the hotel itself — the energy associated with delivering that comfort is also important. Martin Passingham of Daikin UK explores innovative total climate-control solutions that reduce energy consumption, whilst creating the perfect indoor environment.

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.

Gas consumption has been reduced by over 60% following the installation of a Dantherm air-handling unit at David Lloyd Leisure in Bristol after an old ventilation system in the swimming-pool hall began to run ineffectively. The DanX XKS system has a highly efficient crossflow heat exchanger to help control humidity and indoor temperature efficiently.

Faced with the installation challenges presented by castellated beams in phase 2 of Newry Leisure Centre in Northern Ireland, Kingspan KoolDuct delivery partner cg3Systems used this ductwork system to achieve a millimetre-perfect HVAC fit-out. This latest addition to Newry Leisure Centre includes 8-court and 4-court sports halls, handball and squash courts, dry changing facilities, fitness suite, soft-play and crèche areas, cafe and other facilities.

False alarms in a Southampton pub and live-music venue caused by smoke detectors responding to water vapour from vaping have been prevented by the installation of Nittan Evolution EV-DP dual-wavelength photo-electric smoke detectors. The Frog & Frigate is renowned for being a very lively venue where visitors are encouraged to get on the tables and sing along with the band. Vaping is permitted in the busy venue.

Leisure centres, especially those with swimming pools, use lots of energy. Steve Jamieson of REL Electrical, shares his experience of how to contain energy consumption and costs.

Briggs & Forrester MEP is planning to expand its residential business from £60 million a year towards £100 million a year by 2020. The group’s overall turnover is £180 million, and the residential business has grown from £40 million to £60 million over the last three years. To better reflect the company’s operations and provide greater sector differentiation for clients, the business has been renamed from Briggs & Forrester MEP to Briggs & Forrester Living.

Skanska has won the £73 million contractor to refurbish 207 Old Street in London, a mixed-use development also known as The Tower. The contract was awarded by Helical. The building is part of a larger scheme called The Bower development on Old Street roundabout and will bring over 15 000 m2 of offices and 680 m2 of retail space to the area.

Land Securities’ commitment to putting sustainable design at the heart of its new head office in Victoria, London, has been recognised with the BREEAM offices refurbishment and fit-out award for 2017.The company chose the 10-year-old building at 80 to 100 Victoria Street for its new head office, demonstrating the resilience of its assets, and reinvigorated it into a high-performing office that is sustainable, energy-efficient and creates a great working experience for its people.

The buildings sector of the construction industry showed a strong start to the year, with the value of non-residential project starts on site in the three months to February being 13% ahead of the same period a year earlier, according to the Glenigan Index for February 2017. There was also a marked improvement in the social-housing sector, with the value of projects starts being 17% higher than a year earlier. In contrast, private residential starts were down by 8%.

Imtech Inviron has been awarded a contract with Hitachi Rail Europe to maintain its new purpose-built £80 million depot near Doncaster railway station. The depot is more than a mile long, and Imtech Inviron will provide all HVAC planned and reactive maintenance, electrical and building-fabric maintenance services.

Promoting the expertise of building-engineering contractors to local authorities, consulting engineers, architects and key end-user groups is a central part of the strategy being pursued by BESA (Building Engineering Services Association) this year. The association has created the new position of key accounts manager to spearhead a programme aimed at creating stronger links between specifiers and BESA members to help ensure projects meet clients’ expectations and commercial objectives. Kevin Kingaby, former Travis Perkins senior executive, has been appointed to the position.

Daikin UK has trained over 550 installers from over 470 companies on the use of the low-GWP refrigerant R32 since the launched of its training course in November 2016. Designed and launched by Daikin UK, the course provides a comprehensive understanding of the installation, commissioning and servicing of R32 systems.

With a view to improving the energy performance of buildings, the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) is urging the industry to work together to make significant changes in how building controls are understood by the wider public and other sector.

Swegon Air Management is combining its two filtration brands (Trion and Envirco) to form a single air-filtration business called Airfiltrera. Trion provides electrostatic filters for manufacturing facilities and commercial buildings — including shopping centres, hotels and restaurants. Envirco has been designing and manufacturing commercial clean rooms for over 50 years.

Idom Merebrook, a multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy based in Manchester, has been appointed to manage the outline design for all M&E works on a high-profile residential development in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. Worth over £9 million, this scheme is on an infill site bordered by Red Lion Street, Church Street and Union Street. It has been granted planning permission by Manchester City Council.

BESA (Building Engineering Services Association) has responded enthusiastically to a major boost for vocational training announced by the Chancellor Philip Hammond in his recent Budget. He announced £500 million to develop new ‘T Levels’ in 15 vocational categories, including engineering and construction. T Levels are designed to give technical subjects equal status alongside A Levels so that students pursuing a vocational route are not disadvantaged in the eyes of potential employees or dissuaded from taking a non-academic path by their parents.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes is to be the guest speaker at this year’s BSRIA Briefing and lunch on 17 November. The event will look at the issue of performance and wellbeing beyond compliance and will be held at The Brewery in London.

Elaine Bissell (right in picture), technical director with multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy Patrick Parsons, has been named engineer of the year for building services at the Women in Construction Awards. This year’s awards were presented by former royal correspondent Jennie Bond

A third of commercial real estate with EPCs (Energy Performance Certificates) rated D and E on the platform of Arbnco (previously CO2 Estates) dropped into the categories of F and G on resimulation. Under the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) legislation coming into force in April 2018, such properties will not be permitted to be let, either via new leases or renewals.

Air-conditioning and energy-solutions provider LG Electronics has appointed Space Air as a distributor to its business in the UK. It is a new company built on the foundations of Space Airconditioning Plc, which went into voluntary administration at the end of 2016. The new company is headed by Neil Afram (second from right in picture), who was managing director of the previous company.

Biology, Technology Come Together to Enhance Performance and Capacity in Next- generation Climate Solutions

Sharing energy bills among the tenants of a building according to the amount of energy each one actually uses is not only fair but can also encourage them to reduce their energy consumption. Matt Gardner of Synapsys Solutions looks at the benefits of apportioned energy and explains why the concept is gaining in popularity.

The rhetoric around skills shortages is becoming increasingly dramatic — but the new apprenticeship regime is a source of real hope, according to Tony Howard.

An accurately assessed Environmental Performance Certificate (EPC), especially one that is not under-estimated, could be the key to not being able to let a building after April 2018 and expensive refurbishment work to improve energy efficiency. Joanne Merry of Carbon2018 takes up the story.

Wieland has supplied its Metalynx2 modular wiring system and a range of components for lighting and power distribution for the new Marlborough Primary School in the Chelsea area of London. This 2-form-entry primary school replaces an old unsuitable Victorian building on the site, which has been demolished.

The new Science Centre at Stowe School in Buckinghamshire is heated by Dunham-Bush BM fan convectors installed in the ceiling voids. This £6 million building has 18 generously sized laboratories (six each for chemistry, biology and physics). There is also a sixth-form study centre and six lecture theatres, one of which can accommodate up to 60 students.

Gibbons Ultraviolet Solutions has played a key role in helping a major financial institution improve indoor air quality at its 23 000 m2 commercial office in central London to comply with the WELL Building Standard and save energy. A CoilCare ultra-violet germicidal irradiation air and surface disinfection system was installed in the air-handling units (AHU) to eradicate contaminants and restore the equipment to original operation condition.

A Daikin water-cooled VRV air-conditioning system has been teamed up with two Guntner adiabatic dry-air coolers to reject heat for the upgrading of the 3000 m2 4-storey building at 63 Kew Road, Richmond, the former UK headquarters of Pepsi Cola. The building is now home to notonthehighstreet.com, an online marketplace for creative small businesses.