2018 November

Mark Farmer discusses why the industry has to change and why it has to happen now.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is urging all electrical professionals to ensure that they are using genuine copies of BS 7671:2018, known as the Wiring Regulations.

Current by GE and Vodafone have developed a digital productivity solution that was a winner at the EG Tech Awards for digital transformation of the real estate sector.

Reanna Evans of NG Bailey has been named as the CIBSE ASHRAE Graduate of the Year 2018. She was recently elected chair of the Building Engineering Services Association’s Future Leaders group and is a mentor and STEM Ambassador for the North West.

University buildings play a key role in attracting and retaining students and staff, according to this month’s MBS round table discussion, sponsored by Trend Controls.

The UK’s first test standard for Heat Interface Units (HIUs), which is managed by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), has been updated in response to growing demand from the industry.

Government is pushing forward on delivery of its Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) as a way to reduce fuel poverty, decarbonise heat and to create jobs. A fund of £320 millions has been set aside to support up to 200 projects by 2021 through grants, loans and other mechanisms.

“At our Round Table discussion this month, the conversation quickly came round to the topic of wellbeing. It seems to be a theme that is working its way across the industry, whether we’re looking at building controls, indoor air quality or heating.

A new commercial development over two plots in Britain’s oldest Science Park in Cambridgeshire has made use of Pump House technology for its rooftop support requirements.

British ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia’s ‘Floating Home’ project has been shortlisted in the Building Awards 2018. 

A primary school in Uxbridge has retired its Aylesbury cold water storage tank valve after 24 years of service, so its successor can now take the strain. The original Aylesbury K-Type delayed-action mechanical float valve had been in constant daily use since the 1990s, meeting all the water needs of the school’s staff and 200+ children.

Lighting control specialist B.E.G. has supplied the presence and motion sensors for John Keats Primary Free School as the products offer the dual benefits of complete lighting flexibility to ensure that the building is fully energy efficient, while helping to create an excellent learning environment.

Having rarely been out of the news, Mosul is attempting to re-build itself after suffering many years of bombardment. This, the second largest city in Iraq, was left virtually without any infrastructure or access to basic resources. Being able to re-establish a reliable water supply to Mosul is going a long way to giving this city back a sense of normality.

Simes Shape LED light fittings provided the perfect solution for the facade lighting of Audrey House, the most prominent building on historic Ely Place in London. Situated adjacent to the historic St Etheldreda’s Church, the building has an ornate period facade and has been extensively redeveloped behind to provide bright, modern office accommodation, with a striking reception area.

A modular wiring system and connectors from Wieland Electric are integral components in the newly constructed Reflector building, a landmark office and residential development situated on Dublin’s Grand Canal Dock.

The Grundfos Product Centre (GPC) is known as the ‘go to’ pump selection tool for industry professionals. It makes choosing the right pump as easy as possible, whether new or replacement. Log onto the Product Centre and select the REPLACEMENT option. Enter the name of the old pump into the search field or enter the pump name and other data into the Classic Search field.

Resource Data Management (RDM) is updating its front-end DMTouch in early 2019. This is a gateway interface to a number of standard and proprietary HVACR and BEMS devices. Users can expect major internal changes, a sleek new graphical interface and new demand-driven functions and features.

Warm air heaters are subject to Lot 21 of the directive and radiant heaters Lot 20. Minimum efficiencies for warm air is now 72% and radiant heaters is now 74%. These criteria apply for new installations and when replacing products. Our ErP compliant range includes the highly efficient RHeco series of energy saving condensing gas fired unit heaters, which has been ErP compliant for years.

Desigo Control Point is the new embedded building management station from Siemens. It consists of touch panels in several sizes and of web servers that enable remote control of buildings from any smart device. Installation and operation are straightforward.The use of native BACnet ensures that third party devices can be integrated and operated.

The New U1000MKII-HM from Micronics is a clamp-on ultrasonic heat meter alternative to traditional inline energy meters, for energy management and billing applications in domestic and commercial projects.

Plumbing and heating engineers have rated highly Rinnai continuous flow systems in a recent survey, identifying the company as having ‘superior quality’ to competitor products.

Rehau has launched Raupiano Plus, a system of polymer pipes, fittings and accessories which offer a superior acoustic soil and waste solution. Raupiano Plus pipes feature a unique multi-layer composition which reduces noise without the need for additional lagging. 

Toshiba’s Estia 5 heat pump is now available and highlighted in a new brochure. After 10 years of continuous research and development in air-to-water heat pump technology, the new series of Estia heat pumps delivers energy efficient, low cost heating and cooling for homes and small commercial properties.

The Rinnai HDC 1200i continuous model for use on all high demand commercial sites is now available.

Aermec has launched the NRV range of modular air/ water chillers that combine the benefits of a single large chiller with the advantages of multiple small chillers.

With the integration of the Belimo Energy Valve into the Belimo Cloud the users create their own account to have full transparency about the energy consumption in the cooling/heating application – from anywhere and whenever they want. Access to the Belimo online services makes life easier and gives the security to always have the best settings for the devices.

AC Smart 5 is the latest generation of LG’s smart control solutions, that offers a flexible user interface and full compatibility. AC Smart 5 boasts enhanced control capabilities that enable users to maximise user comfort and operational efficiency.

The Grundfos for Engineers hub has been developed to keep its engineering partners up-to-date with the latest developments in the industry, and on the wider subject of energy efficient advanced pump technology and fully integrated pump systems.

A smart hub that controls of door, window and safety systems is being launched by GEZE UK at the Smart Buildings Show, (7-8 November 2018) at the Barbican, London. The system can be seen in operation on Stand F3 in Hall 2.

Communal heating systems and district heat networks are considered by the UK Government as one of the most cost-effective ways of reducing carbon emissions from heating, especially as their efficiency and carbon-saving potential increases as they grow and connect to each other. They also provide a unique opportunity to exploit larger-scale, and often lower-cost, renewable and recovered heat sources that otherwise cannot be used.

The heat network industry is beginning to make a much-needed cultural shift from keeping the heat on at any cost to one that focuses on increasing whole system reliability and efficiency. This is part of a more holistic approach to maintenance and operation. 

Currently supplying about 11% of global space and water heating needs, most heat networks today are fuelled by either coal or natural gas, while the national renewable energy share can range from 1% in China to 42% in Denmark.

Recycling our rubbish has become second nature in the UK. But we are missing an opportunity to recycle our heat.

The UK’s total gas consumption has fallen by 20% since 2000. In some parts of the country, more than 50% of electricity supplies are now being generated by renewables; and last year saw the first day since the industrial revolution when none of our electricity came from coal.

As businesses and organisations look to improve their building’s energy performance and cut costs and emissions, heating is a frequent starting place for efficiency measures.

Whether it is a school, hotel, library, gym, small office or even a large domestic property, space is a valuable commodity. Commercial property owners cannot afford to lose the space a bulky heating system or plant room takes up in their building. Owners and operators of these building are looking to get the maximum from the space they have available.

For any installer in the heating and ventilation industries, keeping up with the latest trends can be the difference between the business being successful or not. Quite often, these trends are based upon legislative regulations or guidance from government or industry bodies – it might be amends to Part L of the Building Regulations, initiatives such as the Renewable Heat Incentive, or health and safety updates from OFTEC.

Abtec Building Technologies has recently completed a project to install a connected lighting system at a newly constructed brick factory in the East Midlands. Ibstock Brick, an Ibstock PLC company, has built a new factory capable of producing 100 million bricks a year, helping to address the UK’s housing shortage.

Installations of renewable energy generation have been declining month on month since February 2016. One of the main reasons behind the decline is due to a lack of understanding and inability to evaluate the feasibility of all renewable options available to a specific building.

The importance of the distribution transformer should not be misunderstood – the technology plays a significant, but sometimes underestimated, role in the high voltage energy infrastructure of facilities across the country. Distribution transformers are energised 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Even when then don’t carry a load they ensure buildings receive the correct electricity supply that is safe for use and fit for requirements.

Smart building technology cannot stand still: it has to be able evolve throughout a building’s lifetime if it is to continue adding value. Commercial tenants may need to set up for a completely new way of working as their business changes. New sustainability and energy efficiency targets may be imposed to manage costs and/ or to manifest corporate social responsibility.

Imagine being able to harness the sun’s energy during the day for use during the night. With a battery storage system this is exactly what can happen. During the day a roof mounted photovoltaic system can gather electrical energy from the sun then, at night the occupants can draw on the electrical energy stored in the battery.

Bill Gates is quoted as having said “People don’t know how to want the things we can offer them”. For example, some things we now consider normal were once considered as unnecessary luxuries – early electric lights were switched on/off at the fitting meaning you would bump into furniture as you fumbled for the switch. When it was realised that a switch could be fitted just inside the door, for a time, many people considered this as a needless indulgence.

The ECA Industry Awards 2019 are now open to entries.

Despite the unusually hot temperatures experienced in the UK over an extended period this summer, the failure rate for chillers supported by planned maintenance contracts was no higher than in any other year.

A phrase now truer than ever as the digital age has empowered every consumer to review their experience at every shop, café, and restaurant. These positive or negative reviews may have the ability to make or break a business. This does however raise standards for business owners as they compete to increase customer satisfaction. Now, this culture of improved customer service is spreading to other industries including commercial and residential building landlords.

The built environment is going through a rapid transformation driven by a constant increase in energy prices and new legislation that will impose a greater control of emissions.

UK universities have invested heavily in their building stock. This month’s Round Table, sponsored by Trend Controls, discusses the importance of high quality buildings for this market, and the challenge of operating them efficiently.

In October, Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond announced a £125m funding package that will allow large employers to transfer up to 25% of their Levy funds to smaller supply chain partners from next April. This is a significant step up from the 10%, which started this July.

Press fitting is fast becoming the installation method of choice for installers keen to achieve a professional, speedy and reliable turnaround on both large and small jobs. But despite its simplicity, training is still essential in order to let installers get the best from every application.