2025 April

Unwanted noise in any building is frustrating, and it can cause high levels of stress, anger, discomfort and even illness. In 2011, the WHO reported that environmental noise exposure causes a loss of more than 1.6 million healthy life years in Western European countries every year, with annoyance and sleep disturbance being key drivers of the onset of noise-associated non-communicable disease (NCD). Indeed, noise exposure has been implicated in major NCDs such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and respiratory disease.¹

On a luxury hotel development complex in the heart of the fashionable Farringdon district near the City of London, Rinnai’s Hybrid water heating H2 array of Low-GWP 50kW heat pump plus bespoke thermal water stores with optimised coil transfer to maximize heat pump performance have been combined with 10 x cascaded Hydrogen blends ready (I2HY20 certified) continuous flow water heaters. 

Rinnai’s Chris Goggin looks in-depth at public information regarding heat pumps and other low carbon products being potentially diluted by recent changes to social media’s stance on fact-checking. The alternative heating and hot water technologies are receiving some adverse media coverage due to misinformation and sometimes disinformation. Installations of any heating and hot water - or air-cooling system, due to their very nature, must be based on accurate site information to facilitate a precise system that delivers the required performance.

Rinnai is guaranteeing customer satisfaction and ensuring optimum value for money by offering a range of market-leading warranties. All appliances are manufactured under strict guidelines of ISO 9001 quality management and ISO 14001 environmental management systems. 

Rinnai has installed its range of I2HY20 Hydrogen blends 20% certified commercial water heaters at a leading bread manufacturing brand in Bradford.  An industrial scale bakery must have access to a consistent flow of clean water for sanitation purposes and to produce dough. 

Jenka Kaslik, Chief Technical Officer at GB NRG, discusses the benefits that installing a commercial rooftop solar PV system can bring to sport and leisure facilities.

NG Bailey has opened applications to its nationwide apprenticeship programme across its Engineering and Services divisions.

The Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) is urging public authorities to place apprenticeships at the centre of new public procurement regulations - ensuring that major construction projects drive long-term skills development rather than prioritising cost-cutting measures.

The Plumbing and Heating Federation has criticised the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) latest 2040 heat pump targets as “completely detached from reality,” warning that without a trained workforce to install them, these targets amount to little more than empty ambitions.

The Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London came alive on 27th February 2025 for the prestigious CIBSE Building Performance Awards. 

Two-thirds of UK commercial real estate (CRE) owners admit they are “not fully compliant” with energy efficiency regulations, according to new research from smart buildings specialist LMG. 

Spirotech has fulfilled an order for 32 bespoke hi-flow SpiroTrap dirt separators for a data centre installation in Hertfordshire.

Kensa has broken ground on an exciting new renewable heating project with the St Ives Community Land Trust, a local not-for-profit group working to provide affordable rental homes, right in the heart of the world-famous town of St Ives, Cornwall.

Star Power recently provided tailored support for Richmond upon Thames College’s (RuTC) engineering facilities.

Andrew Gaskell, Chairman of the Chilled Beams and Ceilings Association, highlights the various environmental and wellbeing benefits of installing a chilled beam system.

In collaboration with Gilbert & Stamper, Zumtobel and its sister brand Thorn Lighting have created a bespoke lighting scheme for Oscar Acoustics’ headquarters, enhancing the building’s industrial aesthetic, supporting its vision for an inspiring workspace that combines style with sustainability.

Emma Foster, Head of Marketing and Product at Methven, argues that there is a great deal of ground to be gained in sustainable construction in both the short and long-term from prioritising practical, cost effective water-saving solutions.

With DEFRA setting strict targets to cut water waste, businesses must rethink how they manage consumption. Richard Braid, Managing Director of Cistermiser and Keraflo, explores some straightforward solutions available that improve efficiency, hygiene and long-term building safety.

 Leisure centres, spas, and swimming pools are among the most energy-intensive facilities to operate says Graham Barker, Sales & Service Director, Riello Burners.

DAB Pumps has launched the
EVOPLUS LITE, an advanced
wet rotor electronic circulator
designed to enhance efficiency,
reliability and comfort in
residential and commercial
heating, cooling and domestic
hot water systems. Engineered
for plug-and-play installation,
the quick-connect power
supply with superseal
technology makes wiring fast
and hassle-free, reducing installation time on-site.

Kooltech’s new Applied Demo Suite in Fareham features a fully operational commercial heat pump connected to all components up to the point of outlet, including bespoke designed K-con thermal store and potable hot water vessels and all associated valves, stats and controls.

Ci Global has announced the launch of its first safety smart sockets, the patented Ci One and Ci Max. These are ready for mass production, and fully certified for use in the UK, UAE, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with other countries to follow shortly.

Qvantum Energy Technology
is partnering with aftersales solutions provider Service Box to offer a nationwide service and maintenance support network to its heat pump customers.

Passivent has supplied a combination of Hybrid Plus2 Aircool ventilators and Hybrid Plus Airstract roof ventilation terminals for a new London primary school to help create a healthier, more comfortable learning environment for children and staff to thrive in.

Putting roadmaps in place to reduce the carbon intensity of heat in our schools will be critical for our Net Zero future, says Neville Radford, National Education Sector Manager at Baxi. The building services industry has a pivotal role to play in helping school estates managers map out their sustainability journey.

Oliver Lawton, Co-Founder of the Copper Sustainability Partnership (CuSP), explains why sustainable plumbing practices are the key to a greener future.

Steve McGregor, Executive Chairman for DMA Group, provides his top
tips for choosing and getting the most out of Computer Aided Facilities Management and other service management platforms. Used well, these digital tools can dramatically improve how buildings operate, saving time and cost and enhancing efficiency. On the other end of the scale, an ill-thought out investment into very expensive technology may have the opposite effect.

Hard facilities management organisations have many moving parts to balance, which require regular communication structures and a unified vision. For EMCOR UK’s Matt Kent, engineering is the golden thread that should run through the industry, to ensure its successful future during a period of recruitment struggles.