BSRIA has produced another publication in its series which looks at megatrends affecting the global economy, and a particular view on what they mean for buildings. In its latest report, Megatrends: Demographics, author Henry Lawson looks at the growth and movement of the Earth’s population. Trends considered include numbers of people living alone; urbanisation; the impact of an ageing workforce and the growing number of women entering the workforce around the world. It is a fascinating look at an important topic which is already having an impact on how buildings are designed, built and used.

Siemens Building Technologies offers a selection of internally and externally threaded ball valves from 15mm to 50mm. Siemens offers a complete range of ball valves, suitable for applications in cold- and hot-water systems. As with the rest of the Acvatix range, the products have been designed for robust performance and easy installation. The variety of ball valves available in this range makes for easy selection and application. The valves can be combined with the range of Siemens OpenAir damper actuators using mounting kits

Reznor, part of Nortek Global HVAC (UK) offers the AB range of industrial air curtains. It is ideal for exceptionally high doors. AB Industrial air curtains provide a barrier of high velocity air that block incoming winds and stop warm air escaping by delivering a barrier of heated air across the width of the doorway. Units can be fitted within existing or new buildings and are ideal for doorways creating a more cost efficient and comfortable indoor environment. Models are available, for door widths from 2m to 6m and up to 6m high.

Viessmann has eliminated the need for a separate low loss header and connecting pipework for its Vitodens 200-W commercial wall boiler (49 to 150 kW) by incorporating the header in a new pump connection set. This patented new solution for larger single boiler installations is more compact than having a standalone header, more keenly priced, and quicker and easier to install.

Condensate can be a real problem when it cannot be removed by a natural gravity fall. For example, due to the location, kitchen cupboard layout or doorway preventing straightforward access to a drain; a condensate pump, such as the Grundfos Conlift, provides an easy and convenient solution.

As part of its continuing commitment to supporting the heating industry, Spirotech has extended its popular training programme to include graduates. Among the latest to be given an insight into the benefits of deaeration and dirt separation were a group of post-graduates from Vital Energi.

While offsite construction is not a new concept, it has recently seen a resurgence within the UK construction market – and one that is expected to continue. In line with this, REHAU has produced a new dedicated guide on the subject aimed at M&E contractors and building services engineers to help them negotiate offsite construction and get the best out of this way of working.

With the growth of increasingly complex projects, offsite build is providing a vital solution that is helping to overcome some of the challenges. These pre-engineered solutions tick all the boxes in terms of the coordination of a range of elements from planning and design, through to fabrication, the actual assembly of components, plus all required testing.