2006 February
Understanding the requirements of the new Building Regulations
19 February, 2006
The 2006 Building Regulations present new challenges and opportunities for building-services engineers. JOHN FIELD is chairman of the Carbon Task Group of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers and outlines their scope.
Trox invests in test chamber for fan-coil units
19 February, 2006
Trox (UK) has invested £40 000 in a new facility to test fan-coil units. to the requirements of BS 4856 Part 1 1972.
Chilled beams help transform prison into luxury hotel
19 February, 2006
Part of the transformation of a former prison into a luxury Malmaison Hotel includes the installation of 77 chilled beams to convert the former cells of A-Wing t Oxford Castle into opulent bedrooms. Trox (UK) supplied these passive beams in a contract worth £100 000 and customised their design to blend in with their surroundings. Trox also supplied a range of fan-coil units, attenuators and grilles for the project.
Multi-service chilled beams achieve slimmer profile
19 February, 2006
Frenger has supplied multi-service chilled beams for Saffron House in London that are just 140 mm deep. This listed building has minimal slab-to-slab height. As a speculative office development, it required exceptional heating and cooling capacities from the shallowest possible depth.
New standards of quietness and flexibility for fan-coil units
19 February, 2006
Carrier’s quietest fan-coil unit to date is the Atmosphera, designed for concealing above ceilings.
Assessing the performance of chilled ceilings
19 February, 2006
With the environment in which they are installed having a significant effect on the performance of chilled ceilings and beams, WILLIAM BOOTH explains the benefits of mock-up testing.
Balancing for variable-speed pumps
19 February, 2006
Maximising the energy-saving potential of variable-speed pumping systems in air-conditioning systems using fan-coil units demands action up close — says LARS FABRICUS.
Cool by design — services all in one
19 February, 2006
Integrated service modules based on chilled ceilings have the potential to transform building design and project management. explains. ANDREW JACKSON.
Breezair air cooler takes control of high summer temperatures
19 February, 2006
Excessive indoor temperatures in the group head office of Garden & Leisure have been brought under control by installing a Breezair evaporative air cooler from Seeley International.
An Internet-based approach to using existing instrumentation as part of remote management for energy monitoring and plant maintenance is offered by t-mac Technologies.
Phase 3 of the London Bioscience Innovation Centre, comprising 23 new office suites with adjoining laboratories, are fully air conditioned by five Daikin VRVII heat-recovery systems.
Ex-Or takes charge at Guildford College of Law
19 February, 2006
Sophisticated lighting-management and control systems from Ex-Or were specified for the showcase 2-storey extension to the learning resource centre of Guildford College of Law.
Fan-convector heaters for condensing boilers
19 February, 2006
Biddle has enhanced the design of its Forceflow fan-convector heaters to operate with lower water temperatures — such as those delivered by condensing boilers.
EcoCooling enlarges the scope of evaporative cooling
19 February, 2006
EcoCooling has added side- and top-discharge evaporative coolers to its ECP range. They are designed for the commercial and industrial market to provide a simple, safe and low-cost cooling for people and processes.
Boosting the efficiency of ventilation units
19 February, 2006
Packaged ventilation units from Eurex Energy incorporate a thermal wheel to exchange energy between the two air streams. There are three models in the RotOvent series, offering airflows from 10 to 180 l/s.
19 February, 2006
Against the background of the forthcoming Building Regulations, Dimplex has enhanced its approach to electric space heating to achieve carbon savings of up to 10% over conventional off-peak heaters.
Putting simplicity into heat metering
19 February, 2006
The HCM4 heat-calculating meter from Meters UK uses digital high-accuracy sensors (DHAS) to measure pipe temperature, avoiding the problems associated with platinum-resistance sensors and their complex installation requirements. DHAS sensors can be strapped onto pipes, rather than placed in designated pipework pockets.
Simmtronic installs lighting controls for Manchester development
19 February, 2006
Simmtronic has supplied the fully addressable digital lighting-controls system for a new corporate office building on the new Spinningfields development in Manchester. Due for completion in March, 2 Hardman Street is an 8-storey building offering 13 300 m2 of office space and a basement car park.
Every little helps save energy at Tesco supermarket
19 February, 2006
As part of its continuous drive to save energy, Tesco has incorporated rooflights, Sunpipes and a wind turbine at its new store at Diss in Norfolk. Airtightness services are being provided by BSRIA as part of continuing collaboration for over 13 years to achieve airtightness specifications way below those required by the Building Regulations.
Groundwater provides renewable energy for underfloor heating and cooling
19 February, 2006
Renewable energy from an underground aquifer serves an underfloor heating/cooling system in a recently completed school project in Holland. The Velta Contec system serves an area of 14 600 m2 in the Harlemmermeer Lyceum at Hoofddorp near Rotterdam.
SE Controls delivers natural-ventilation for Brighton library
19 February, 2006
A natural-ventilation system from SE Controls has been specified for the Jubilee Library in Brighton. It has been designed by architects Bennetts Associates with Lomax Cassidy & Edwards as part of a £45-million scheme to transform a run-down area in the heart of Brighton with the creation of a new square, hotel, residential, retail and leisure buildings. The library itself has been designed to represent the future of public libraries.
An upgrade route for fan convectors
19 February, 2006
To enable old, balanced-flue heating systems to be replaced with its powered-flue units, Rinnai UK has developed a flue-conversion kit.
19 February, 2006
IAN ADAMS offers advice on how building services contractors, facilities managers and building owners can take a tactical approach in preparation for the introduction of the new Building Regulations.
19 February, 2006
With the performance of the entire building being what the new Building Regulations seeks to maximise, building-simulation software comes into its own. DAVID McCEWAN explains how such software is the key to integrated design.
Developing the next generation in home heating
19 February, 2006
Microgen Energy and Dutch boiler manufacturer are working together to commercialise an alternative to the traditional heating boiler. The microCHP appliance produces electricity and heat and could achieve energy savings of 25% for an average household. Remeha is represented in the UK by Broag.
19 February, 2006
ANT WILSON of FaberMaunsell outlines the effect of energy-efficiency issues in the new Building Regulations for building-services engineers
19 February, 2006
The statistics of carbon emissions from buildings show just why the forthcoming Building Regulations are so timely.DR GARRY FELGATE explains how the Carbon Trust can help
The route to more efficient lighting
19 February, 2006
The Government’s long awaited changes to Part L of the Building Regulations will set more onerous limits on the energy efficiency of lighting in domestic and non-domestic buildings. Just what’s involved is explained by HUGH KING.
Commissioning systems with variable-speed pumps
19 February, 2006
With the growing use of variable-speed pumps comes the demise of proportional balancing. DUNCAN SELBY discusses this new world of commissioning.
Delivering Part L to apartments
19 February, 2006
Multi-apartment buildings and multi-storey flats need a centralised approach to energy-efficient plant and exploiting renewable energy, while still permitting individual control and metering for each dwelling. JOHN COOPER explains how this could be achieved.
Hire company swings into action when school boilers fail
19 February, 2006
Within 24 hours of Watkins Hire receiving a call from the consultant to a school suffering from boiler failure, a mobile solution delivering 350 kW had been delivered and made operational.
EWS helps Walsall keep its cool
19 February, 2006
The responsibility of ensuring that air conditioning serving a range of sites of Walsall Council runs optimally and with energy efficiency as a key driver is the task of EWS, part of the Eaton-Williams Group. The brief covers the Civic Centre, the Council House and 10 other satellite sites across the town, including the Central Library and Bloxwich Leisure Centre.
Air conditioning for ferry-company headquarters is under the surface
19 February, 2006
Problems with restricted headroom during the refurbishment of the headquarters of Cobelfret Ferries UK have been overcome using the Flexible Space Systems from Advanced Ergonomic Technologies. The company’s headquarters is at Purfleet in Essex, and it operates a core fleet of 21 vessels specifically designed for short-distance roll-on, roll-off operation.
Liebherr’s British HQ heated by continuous radiant tubes
19 February, 2006
Space heating for the 18 m-high 5000 m2 factory of Liebherr-Great Britain at Biggleswade is provided by a Nor-Ray-Vac continuous-radiant-tube system designed by Ambi-Rad.
Weymouth hotel upgrades with Stokvis systems
19 February, 2006
The problems of aging boiler plant at the Crown Hotel in Weymouth have led its replacement with equipment from Stokvis. The new installation comprises two Econoflame R307 modulating boilers and the splitting of the supply of hot water into two separate zones.
Monodraught adds solar energy to light a power station
19 February, 2006
The requirement for electric lighting at a power station in Lincolnshire has been reduced following the installation of 16 Monodraught Sunpipes 530 mm in diameter. West Burton Power Station has a generating capacity of 2 GW, and the Sunpipes were installed to bring natural light into the control room, which operates 24 hours a day, to replace the need for electric light during the day.
Fast delivery time wins boiler contract
19 February, 2006
The ability to deliver two cast-iron boilers in two weeks, each with an output of 590 kW, led to Ferroli winning a contract to replace three outdated coal-fired boilers at an educational site in Wigan.
Swimming has been restored to the activities at the Kingswood Centre in West Runton on the Norfolk coast following the installation of a new heating system.
Crane valves reach new heights
19 February, 2006
Britain’s tallest residential building, the 47-storey Beetham Tower in Manchester, has its hydronic balancing and isolation requirements served by Crane Valves.
Dunphy burners serve hospital during refurbishment work
19 February, 2006
While renewing and refurbishing its coal-fired energy centre Doncaster Royal Infirmary has installed three prefabricated and temporary burner/boiler units to main the supply of heat and steam.
Epson co-operates with Airedale to exploit free cooling for clean rooms
19 February, 2006
To reduce the electrical energy required for cooling clean rooms in Epson’s 42 000 m2 facility at Telford, two existing Airedale chillers have been replaced with three Airedale Ultima 750 kW FreeCool chillers.
Samsung appoints new air-conditioning distributor
19 February, 2006
Samsung Electronics has expanded its distribution channel for air-conditioning products with the appointment of United Refrigeration UK as a distributor.
LG continues to dominate global air-conditioning sales
19 February, 2006
LG is the world’s largest manufacturer of air-conditioning products for the sixth consecutive year, according to independent auditors. The company has sold over 10 million units in consecutive years.
19 February, 2006
Pipework-fittings specialists Watts UK and Watts Martin Orgee have combined forces under the new name Watts Industries UK Ltd. The complementary businesses will operate as a fully integrated division of Watts Industries Group.
New apprentice scheme shows benefits for SES
19 February, 2006
Less than six months after SES launched its revamped apprentice scheme to 28 budding engineers, the benefits are being seen at sites across the country.
Building-services engineers set up recruitment company
19 February, 2006
Following some 20 years working in the building-services industry, Darren Warmington has set up a new recruitment company specialising in building-services vacancies. He has worked as a site-based engineer and designer in both consultancy and contracting and has a number of years’ recruitment experience in design consultancy and project management.
WYG wins design role for £38 million educational project
19 February, 2006
Design services for the £38 million Macclesfield Learning Zone project are being provided by the Manchester office of White Young Green. This world-class educational campus will comprise a new college, new joint sixth-form college, new school for Henbury High School, new joint sports centre, the European Centre for Aerospace Training and the integration of Park Lane Special School.
Axair Climate enlarges project portfolio
19 February, 2006
Axair Climate has established a partnership with Fujitsu to launch a new range of split air conditioners in the UK. The move further strengthens the packaged side of the business of Axair Climate. The company’s product portfolio includes Condair, Defensor, Hitachi and Blue Box, and it already has successful trading inks with Fujitsu elsewhere in Europe.
Yorkshire contractor works on its biggest contract
19 February, 2006
Yorkshire-based building-services group JH Shouksmith & Sons has win its largest-ever contract. Worth £3.6 million, it is for mechanical and electrical work for student accommodation in Leeds.
Thermal Transfer wins major healthcare project
19 February, 2006
Thermal Transfer has secured a £5.25 million contract for the design and build of a new sterilising suite for medical instrument and manufacturing facility for Vernon-Carus.
Briggs & Forrester performs key
19 February, 2006
roles in hospital project
Built environment professionals remain positive on future of Net Zero
A recent survey by global climate tech firm IES has revealed that nearly three-quarters of UK built environment professionals believe achieving a Net Zero built environment by 2050 is within reach.
BESA research suggests clients are yet to engage with new building safety regime
Construction clients are failing to engage with the new building safety regime, according to research carried out by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA).
