2018 June

As government moves to decarbonise the UK's heating, MBS looks at a brief history of our move to gas, and why it's going to be such a challenge to find new sources of heat for homes, industry and commercial buildings. 

Denmark and Scotland have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on low carbon heat, heat networks and energy efficient buildings. This agreement will support the Scottish Government’s aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050, with significant reductions in energy consumption and carbon emissions by 2032.

Stephen Lisk, incoming CIBSE president, has called for CIBSE to accelerate its evolution in response to a rapidly changing world.

The Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) has today announced it will go ahead with its application to become a licensed member of the Engineering Council.

The British Pump Manufacturers Association (BPMA) joined 16 other trade bodies at a meeting at the Houses of Parliament to discuss the issue of CE Marks in post-Brexit UK.

The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) Awards 2018 took place on 10th May in Birmingham. BCIA president Jon Belfield commented: “It was a wonderful occasion to celebrate the achievements of the industry’s finest. I would like to offer my congratulations to all of the winners and thank all of the sponsors and media partners for their continued support.”

Malcolm Crofts of DH Crofts has become ECA president. He has held a variety of roles at his company and has been managing director since 2000. Crofts began his career as an apprentice at Crawley College in West Sussex, and worked as an electrical engineer for 15 years before moving up to run what has become a growing electrical engineering business.

Dame Judith Hackitt’s Final Report following the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety is scathing in its assessment of the construction industry.

We’re all waiting to discover what Brexit might mean for UK legislation on energy and emissions. But that shouldn’t distract us from home-grown regulation that will also introduce significant changes – and opportunities. Karen Fletcher reports on a presentation by CIBSE’s Dr Hywel Davies.

This year’s finalists in the Commissioning Specialists Association (CSA) Awards have been revealed after judging on the 2nd May.

Pump House has supplied Woodward & Co (Environmental) Limited in Gloucestershire with a complete solution for supporting the rooftop building services at a new retail store in Sheffield.

In May, Hotel du Vin opened its nineteenth UK hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon. The 46-bedroom boutique hotel is spread across two convertedGrade II Listed Georgian townhouses.

When Portsmouth Aqua (a division of Portsmouth Aviation) were looking to develop a water purification system, they turned to Grundfos Pumps to produce a complete engineering solution. The aim was to deliver a unit that could produce sustainable clean water at the touch of a button.

Wieland Electric has supplied a variety of its Gesis pluggable systems for lighting and power at 15 Bishopsgate, part of the Tower 42 estate in the heart of London. The building by The Tower Limited Partnership will provide Grade A office space (shown).

Beardow & Adams (Adhesives) is a market-leading adhesive manufacturer. Hot melt adhesives take the form of 100% solid materials that are typically molten when hot and solid when cool. The manufacturing process requires the materials to be heated and blended to create a formulated product. These are then cooled and packed, without forming lumps.

Big Foot Systems has supplied a custom plant deck to support a chiller on the asphalt roof of Manchester Royal Infirmary. Big Foot Technical worked with the contractors to design a solution that allowed the chiller to sit above existing pipework whilst allowing the chiller to remain fully accessible for maintenance (pictured)

Arla Foods, one of the biggest names in the dairy sector called on Grundfos’ pump expertise to help support expanding production.

M&E contractors and building services managers looking to maximise space within plant rooms have a checklist of utilities to consider - heating systems are just one of many to juggle. And boilers are just one piece of the plant room jigsaw that needs to slot into place. However, with strict guidance and legislation around the area required for ventilation, access for handling units and clearance in line with manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance for example, it is a headache for many.

Speed is of the essence when it comes to pipe fitting in today’s large-scale projects. Scott James offers his advice on making the right choice.

Hydronic system balancing is one of the more complicated tasks faced by building services engineers and historically heating and chilled water systems were balanced by specialist engineers only.

It is now more readily understood that correct sizing and careful pump selection can make a significant difference to the overall energy and CO2 output, as well as the need to futureproof these designs.

At the end of 2017, construction and services specialist Procare delivered a new operating theatre. MBS looks at the challenges of designing and installing cooling and other services in this challenging environment.

With so much innovation in the cooling industry, Matthew Griffin explores five key comparisons to consider when specifying for your project.

Renovating an older building for modern times can present challenges when considering air conditioning but today’s technology can provide the answer, says Neil Bilton.

Andrew Slater considers the potential impact on specifications of taking into account the true value of wellbeing.

Siemens Building Technologies’ new fine dust sensor for buildings addresses IAQ issues and the health and wellbeing of occupants.

Clivet has linked up with The Big Incentive and is now offering the opportunity to qualify for a free trip to Venice for those who spend over £10,000 on its products, which includes it ElfoRoom, ElfoPack and ElfoFresh ranges. Becoming a member of the incentive scheme is easy and free – simply sign up online (see link below) and buy Clivet air conditioning or heating products.

Nortek offers ErP-compliant products for a range of heating and cooling applications. We also offer Airmix, a high induction air distribution system. This is an innovative concept that is quick and easy to install, reliable and inexpensive in operation. The result is very evenly distributed conditioned air at low air velocities and low noise levels, virtually eliminating excess heat stratification and the need for air re-circulation fans.

Cooltherm has formed an exclusive partnership with Geoclima after 25 years of working in partnership to bring the UK chiller and heat pump technologies. Cooltherm and Geoclima have won numerous awards for their projects and products. Geoclima has been developing special chillers for air conditioning and refrigeration systems, with a focus on efficiency and sustainability. This exclusivity partnership will further cement the product and design support for our clients in the UK, now with up to a 5-year warranty available.

Titon has introduced the new Inline Mixed Flow Fan range, which is suitable for bathrooms, kitchens and other residential applications. Capable of supplying or extracting air, depending on individual requirements, the fan can be fitted in a loft or ceiling. Available in diameters of 100mm, 125mm, 150mm and 160mm, the new unit also boasts three speeds and has been designed with small installers and end users in mind.

The Rinnai Infinity Solo range is an efficient heavy-duty gas-fired recirculatory water heater with an insulated stainless steel storage cylinder.

Star Refrigeration unveiled the new Envi range of eco-friendly, industrial CO2 refrigeration packages that provide long-term solutions for smaller scale industrial applications for temperature controlled storage, food and drink manufacturing, inline freezing and chilling, building services, industrial processes, data centres and leisure and ice applications.

Toshiba Air Conditioning has two new compact models of single-fan inverter-based VRF outdoor condensing units, for use in applications with restricted space.

Specifiers across both the heating and hot water service industry and wider construction profession will find the latest downloadable publication from Stokvis Energy Systems an invaluable resource when seeking to improve the energy efficiency of buildings.

Rinnai’s continuous flow hot water systems offer a solution designed to support building managers and maintenance teams in the fight against Legionella risk.

Combining the pump, motor, tank, sensor, drive and non-return valve in one neat package, the Grundfos SCALA2 is the perfect solution to water pressure issues. Automatically adjusting its performance to meet both inlet pressure and water consumption demands, it will provide the perfect pressure for up to 8 water outlets – even with multiple taps and showers running at the same time.

BSRIA has extended its scope of UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accreditation to include Heat Interface Unit (HIU) testing in accordance with BESA UK HIU Test Regime Technical Specification – December 2016.

The Grundfos Pump School has re-opened its doors for a new ‘term’ in 2018 and is now offering a choice of 11 courses covering topics that relate to a wide range of applications including fire, dosing and wastewater.

Weatherite’s new WispAir AHU range is a response to industry requirements for quick turnaround of quotations and a competitivelypriced, quality finished product. The WispAir range further enhances Weatherite’s range of HVAC solutions.

LG Electronics Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions division offers several engineering tools focused on HVAC, during the overall life-cycle of a building, relating to three categories.

"It’s been a tough week for the construction industry. Not only did we discover more about the awful management practices at Carillion, but Dame Judith Hackitt’s final report on the Independent Review of Fire Regulations and Fire Safety did not pull any punches when it came to our sector’s working practices: Ignorant; indifferent; inadequate.

Rehau has created a brochure to introduce its innovative Thermally Activated Building Structures (TABS) technology to architects and specifiers looking for an environmentally-friendly heating and cooling system solution.