2019 November

Manifestos, Green New Deal, energy bills, energy efficiency, housebuilding

Party manifestos 2019

28 November, 2019

As the election draws closer MBS has looked through the party manifestos for our area from the Conservatives, Labour party, Liberal Democrats and the Green Party of England and Wales. 

Ideal Boilers, Charlie Mowbray, boilers, heating, ErP, EcoDesign, Medium Combustion Plant Directive, MPCD, Emission Limit Values, ELV, Nox, SO2, air quality, IAQ, pollution

Looking at law

01 November, 2019

With the latest piece of emission legislation in place for over six months with little fanfare, Charlie Mowbray looks at the implications to both new and existing boilers.

Future Homes Standard, domestic heating, decarbonisation, 2050 target, zero carbon, domestic heating, Part L, Part F, Building Regulations, legislation

The road to change

01 November, 2019

In October, government launched a consultation on the Future Homes Standard. Karen Fletcher looks at the proposals, with a focus on plans for domestic heating.

Remeha, Ryan Kirkwood, boilers, selection, specification, boiler design, refurbishment, replacement, older boilers, Old Bailey, Netherton boilers

Condensed wisdom

01 November, 2019

Ryan Kirkwood looks at how a combination of good boiler selection and efficient design can help overcome installation challenges in older buildings

Vaillant, Craig Dolan, efficiency, heating, hot water, Future of Heating, heat pumps, AroTherm

Heated debate

01 November, 2019

Hot topic of the moment is how to supply heating and hot water to buildings while meeting tougher targets on energy and carbon. Craig Dolan looks at the solutions available.

BCIA, building controls, smart buildings, Jon Belfield, InTandem

Business opportunity

01 November, 2019

Jon Belfield examines and explores how the government's target to have a net-zero carbon economy can be achieved and the opportunities it presents.

J2 Innovations, Chris Irwin, Project Haystack, tagging, cloud, Internet of Things, IoT, protocols, LonWorks, BACnet, KNX, DALI, ASHRAE, open systems

Needle in a haystack

01 November, 2019

Chris Irwin on the search for a truly open approach to building controls – and the project that is bringing the vision closer to reality.

cyber-security, Google, IOT, IT, Katherine Farrington, skills, Smart Buildings, smart-ready, training

Geeks bearing gifts

01 November, 2019

The future of smart buildings promises benefits for those who can tap into the new era of connected systems and the IoT. But Karen Fletcher warns that there is a lot of hard work required for those to want to step into this new world.

Adam Selvey, Ramboll, wellbeing, zero carbon, sustainability

In the face of growing concern about our environment, sustainable buildings expert Adam Selvey considers how we can find a balance between achieving zero carbon buildings and the wellbeing of humans who are in them. 

Queen’s Speech, legislation, construction industry, competence, late payments, fair payments, BESA, RICS, National Federation of Builders, David Frise

Key industry figures have responded to the Queen’s Speech delivered on 14th October in the House of Lords, which set out the government’s priorities for the year ahead.

 Future Homes Consultation, domestic heating, heating, decarbonisation, LGA, planning, new homes, Part L, Part F, Building Regulations

The government launched a consultation on building regulations in October in an attempt to drive greater use of low-carbon technologies and world-leading levels of energy efficiency.

BESA, wellbeing, Nathan Wood, pollution, indoor air quality, IAQ

A new Health & Wellbeing Group has been established by BESA, with Nathan Wood of Farmwood M&E chairing. The new group has already been invited by BSI, EFT Consult and a group of like-minded industry bodies to help draft the UK’s first British Standard (PAS) for the health and wellbeing performance rating of commercial and domestic buildings.

Fusion21, procurement, heating, renewables, framework, schools, Department for Education, Peter Francis

Procurement organisation and social enterprise body Fusion21 has launched a national Heating and Renewables Framework which could be worth up to £500 million over a four-year period. The launch is set for January 2020; submission deadline is 20th November 2019.

Barbour ABI, league tables, top fifty, contractors, Balfour Beatty, HS2, Galliford Try, Mace

Barbour ABI has released its latest top-50 league tables for the construction industry. The total value of the projects it covers is just under £20 billions.

Grundfos, Mads Nipper

Grundfos Pumps has announced that for the first half of 2019 they have had sales growth and increased earnings despite a challenging global market.

 Commissioning Specialists Association (CSA), The Crystal, commissioning, seminar

The Commissioning Specialists Association (CSA) will be hosting a series of seminars in 2020, with the first taking place at The Crystal Building in London on 31st March 2020.

BCIA, Awards

BCIA Awards 2020 launched

01 November, 2019

The 2020 Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) Awards are now open for entries with a number of different awards on offer.

George Clarke, MOBIE, modular construction, modern methods of construction, University of Northumbria

The way homes are designed and delivered in the future could be changed after architect and TV presenter George Clarke’s charity signed a contract with Northumbria University.

 ECS, electricians, registered electricians, ECS cards, competence, training, Wiring Regulations, Wiring Regs, 18th Edition

Over 20,000 ECS cardholders have now signed up for the ECS registered electrician status.

 Baxi Heating, Tom Murray, water heater, hot water, offices, co-working, flexible working

Into hot water

01 November, 2019

Tom Murray explores some of the most important factors relating to water heater specification.

LG, thermostat, wind chill

The experience that your friend or colleague complaining that they are cold when you feel comfortable or even hot is a common phenomenon and there are many reasons why two people might experience the same temperature differently.

ATCM, water

The answer is obvious. Everyone. The provision of clean, wholesome water at the turn of a tap is second nature, or so we would like to think.

Legrand, cable management

Cable management is an integral part of the specification process. When it comes to specifying cable management systems, there are a number of key areas to consider in addition to cost per unit and installation time.

Mitsubishi Electric, R32, M Series, Jordan Jeewood

Mitsubishi Electric has extended its R32 offering with the extension of its M Series range to include the MFZ-KT range of R32 floor-mounted units. The range offers more choice for customers looking to switch to the lower-GWP refrigerant with the small- to medium-sized split-type applications.

Swegon, Gold, air handling unit, AHU, modular

Swegon has launched two new modular versions of its Gold air handling unit. The Gold Top and Gold L-Concept address a problem encountered all too frequently by design engineers – the shortage of space made available for building services plant.

 Polypipe, MecFlow, PPR, pipe, Clickweld

A new ground-breaking plastic water supply system for the UK commercial market, called MecFlow, has been launched by Polypipe Building Services.

Lochinvar, low NOx, NOx, gas fired, water heater, ErP

Lochinvar has launched a new low NOx emission version of the Charger direct gas-fired commercial water heater to help meet air quality targets.

Grundfos, Product Centre, GPC, sizing tool, online, pumps

Grundfos online sizing tool

01 November, 2019

The Grundfos Product Center (GPC) is a bespoke online search and sizing tool that will help specifiers and installers choose the right pump to meet the requirements of any project. It can also be very helpful for engineers aiming to find out more information about the pumps they already have.

Grundfos, pumps, circulator, UPS3, circulator pump

Since the launch of the UPS3 15-50/60, it has gained a significant following of supporters and those numbers are continuing to grow.

Mitsubishi Electric, London office, energy efficiency, London Plan

Mitsubishi Electric has launched a new London office and a specialist team dedicated to delivering energy efficient HVAC solutions in the capital. The office, located at Sustainable Bankside II in Southwark, demonstrates Mitsubishi Electric’s commitment to supporting the growing construction market in London and is specifically aimed at bolstering its consultative offering.

Dunham-Bush, Charles Darwin School, school, radiant panels, heating, Evolution, sports hall

It was a case of natural selection when Dunham-Bush Evolution radiant panels were installed at the recently refurbished sports hall and gymnasium at the Charles Darwin School in Biggin Hill, Kent.

Grundfos Pumps, pumps, Sligo University hospital, Energy Check, Magna3, TPE3

Grundfos Pumps were delighted to play their part in helping a hospital achieve energy savings by providing the Sligo University Hospital with a detailed Energy Check report. This outlined the energy savings that were achievable by exchanging the hospital’s existing pumps with intelligent MAGNA3 and TPE3 pumps.

Toshiba Carrier, TCUK, Lambeth Palace, library, AquaSnap, chillers, heat pumps

Precious books and manuscripts dating back nearly 1,000 years will be protected in controlled environmental conditions courtesy of high efficiency Carrier AquaSnap chillers and heat pumps in a new world-class library at Lambeth Palace, home of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

 NIBE, heat pumps, domestic, Chipping Homes, Ribble Valley

Developer Chipping Homes has specified air source heat pumps from NIBE for its attractive Fellside development in the picturesque village of Chipping in the Ribble Valley, which comprises 39 family homes.

Elta Fans, Pizza Hut, QUBE, centrifugal, box fan

A nationwide project to upgrade Pizza Hut’s kitchen ventilation systems to a higher performing, energy efficient solution is underway. Project manager Marcus Sawkins of GFMS Services has already upgraded several of the restaurants’ systems with the Elta Fans QUBE Centrifugal Box Fan which is reducing energy usage.

Trox, Birmingham University, laboratories, VAV, Easylab, air management

Trox Easylab air management systems, VAV units, and fume cupboard controllers have been chosen to optimise energy efficiency at the new BREEAM 'Excellent'-rated Collaborative Teaching Laboratory (CTL) at the University of Birmingham.

Hoval, UltraGas, condensing

Hoval has extended the upper range of its popular UltraGas condensing boilers with the launch of the UltraGas (1550) – a 1550kW boiler that features a remarkably small footprint for its output of just 3.3m2. The Hoval UltraGas (1550) is currently available as a single boiler and will be launched as a double boiler in the spring of 2020.

BESA Group Chair Nathan Wood on what the Health & Wellbeing in Buildings Group aims to achieve.

Round table, Swegon, smart buildings, productivity, wellbeing, smart kit, design, installation, operation

Smart from the start

01 November, 2019

This month’s MBS round table, sponsored by Swegon, considered the rise of the smart building and smart kit. 




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New Sustainability Director for Wates Group

Wates Group, a family-owned development, building and property maintenance company, has appointed Cressida Curtis as its new Group Sustainability Director.

Domus Ventilation appoints new contractor sales managers

Ventilation systems manufacturer Domus Ventilation has announced the arrival of three new Contractor Sales Managers.