2019 August

Geoff Prudence shares the current trends within the FM sector and why mental health needs to be a priority.

Richard Venga explains how air conditioning installers may well be IT-cooling installers without even realising it. And how they can make the most of today’s cooling technologies.

As employee wellbeing and productivity rise up the agenda, Paul Arnold looks at the role of boilers in finding the sweet spot for office comfort and wellbeing.

Trevor Dann explains the benefits of remote diagnostics and energy management for the data centre cooling market.

Jon Belfield, President of the Building Controls Industry Association, discusses the importance of end-user engagement in creating the ideal work environment.

The idea that an investment in BMS should deliver more than HVAC control is fairly well established and now you don’t need to be running a building with a big plant room to be able to demand flexible building management control.

Smart buildings can generate many operational advantages but are businesses making the most of their potential? Jonathan Feaver explains how organisations can derive real financial, operational and occupant-based benefits from BEMS data.

Karen Fletcher speaks to a company at the front line of changes in the air conditioning sector and learns how it is staying ahead of the game with an eye firmly on the future.

The UK’s primary F Gas register Refcom played a key role in the first World Refrigeration Day (WRD) as co-host with the Institute of Refrigeration (IoR) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

From October 1st, 2019, new rules on VAT will come into force that look set to have a significant impact on the cash flow of many businesses in the building services sector.

Trustees of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has formally agreed to join the global declaration of an environment and climate emergency. The Institute also pledged to support the government’s 2050 net zero emissions target.

Home energy improvements for low-income households will only be carried out by trusted tradesmen under new government plans.

Government is offering a share of £1.25 million to firms that devise new technologies that allow local authorities to monitor progress on housebuilding projects.

John Norfolk has been elected to serve as President of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) for 2019/20.

BESA has launched a scheme to allow ventilation hygiene specialists demonstrate competence as part of an industry-wide campaign to improve safety in buildings.

The International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) has signed a ground-breaking memorandum of understanding with the China International Contractors Association (CHINCA). The MoU will improve collaboration between international and Chinese businesses, facilitate skills transfer and increase the use of FIDIC contracts.

Companies that recruit apprentices can see a return on investment (RoI) as soon as year two of the apprenticeship programme, according to new figures from The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP).

Andrew Eldred, ECA director of Employment and Skills offers his thoughts on the call for a move to direct employment in the construction industry – and why it’s vital for training.

Project of the Year sponsored by BSRIA Instrument Solutions

With the need to balance efficiency, productivity and safety in the workplace a common challenge, Roy Marsden looks at the benefits of specifying a hot water dispenser over a standard kettle in light commercial environments such as the high-traffic workplace.

Papworth’s first association with the field of medicine began back in 1918, when it was designated as a specialist TB treatment centre. Over the years it gained a pioneering reputation as a centre of excellence for transplants. Their success was formally recognised when it was granted a Royal title in 2017.

Banbury-based Lochinvar has supplied three high efficiency, condensing boilers to the newly refurbished Baltic Chambers in Glasgow. Originally built by the Victorian developer Duncan McNaughton, it is a familiar landmark close to Glasgow Central railway station. The six-storey building retains many of its original features including its striking façade with ornate stonework and mosaic floor tiled entrance foyer.

Five Thision L Eco 120kW boilers from Elco Heating Solutions have been installed at Cromwell Junior and Infants School, Birmingham, as part of the complete refurbishment of the plant room. The new boilers have been arranged back to back on a cascade frame with a pre-fabricated header system – maximising the output in a restricted area.

For the redevelopment project at 21 Dartmouth Street, London, a premium occupant experience was essential to complement the enviable location. The installation of a Trox air conditioning solution, including Trox X-Cube air handling units (AHUs), and X-Aircontrol modules, with the X-Aircontrol Zonemaster, is enabling the building to achieve outstanding levels of efficiency alongside elite levels of comfort.

The M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool is now able to deliver energy efficient cooling to audiences of up to 11,000 thanks to the installation of 46 e-Series modular chillers from Mitsubishi Electric.

Rinnai continuous flow hot water heating units have replaced a vastly oversized and an almost-redundant traditional style of system at the Coombe Hay Care Home in Scarborough.

Carrier has introduced a new high efficiency water-to-water heat pump for harnessing energy from rivers, lakes and industrial process applications that can deliver high temperature water up to 65oC for sanitary use or radiator heating.

Today the Grundfos Product Centre (GPC) is well-known as the ‘go to’ pump selection tool of choice for an increasing number of industry professionals. This could be because much thought and consideration went into its design to deliver an online tool that would make choosing the right pump solution as straightforward as possible.

Johnson Controls has unveiled its new Facility Explorer service at this year’s Niagara Forum in London.

Viega has launched a new industrial sector brochure detailing its product solutions for a range of specialist applications. This clear and concise guide provides an overview of Viega piping and press connection technology and how it can help meet the specific requirements of industrial, manufacturing and engineering environments.

Getting hold of a specific internal OEM pump can add a significant amount of time, delay and cost to a job. In response to this, Grundfos Pumps have created a smartphone app, the GO Replace (available on both iOS and Android), that uses a look-up database to confirm if their new UPS3 domestic circulator will be a suitable replacement.

Panasonic has introduced the R32 Big PACi Series. The series, available in 20kW and 25kW capacities uses R32 refrigerant, includes a water heat exchanger option and supports Panasonic’s ‘full switch to R32’ initiative and its commitment to Environmental Vision 2050.

Artic Building Services were awarded the contract to replace the existing chiller at Olympus KeyMed. Artic offered a turnkey project to supply and install a new economical Airedale TurboChill chiller which includes a maintenance-free Turbocor compressor

According to the BSRIA World Heat Pump Study 2019, the worldwide heat pump market recorded sales in units of slightly over 3 million units which was a slight decline from 2017. Following a record year in 2017 with sales jumping 18%, in 2018 the global market was down by 3.3% in volume terms.

New applications are no longer being accepted for the CRO (Construction Related Occupation) route for Medical Equipment Installers or Fire Sprinkler Installers.

ZED Pods, manufacturers rapid-build, modular homes, have received planning permission from Bristol City Council for 11 houses. The scheme, including nine one bedroom pods and 2 two bedroom pods, will be the first development to be built as part of the five-year Bristol Housing Festival.

Glasgow-based prop-tech company Arbnco has launched a new R&D division, Arbn Labs which will focus on developing solutions for some of the biggest challenges in the built environment.

Our expert panel considers the ‘Branson’ challenge and highlights the developments, opportunities and challenges facing the air conditioning and refrigeration sector. Sponsored by Daikin Applied (UK)