2006 June

IES has launched its alternative to SBEM software (Simplified Building Energy Model) for assessing compliance with the new Building Regulations. VE Compliance has passed all the tests required. Its established thermal-simulation tool called ApacheSim has been developed to offer a more accurate and comprehensive route for assessing compliance with Part L2 2006.

A gas-fired condensing boiler with a 4-star NOx rating in accordance with EU Directive 92/42/EEC has been introduced by Gemonix-UK. Evinox boilers are available in six sizes with wide-ratio modulating outputs up to 484 kW.

One effect of the Energy Technology List and Enhanced Capital Allowances has been to impose higher standards of efficiency for radiant heating — a challenge that Ambi-Rad has responded to.

Andrews has introduced a smaller version of its Maxxflo condensing storage water heater.

Boilers with cast-aluminium heat exchangers from Clyde Combustions deliver outputs from 80 to 630 kW. Modulex and Super Modulex boilers are pre-assembled floor-standing units with pre-mix modulating burners that turn down to 30%.

Cylinders from Glow-worm for unvented domestic hot water come in six sizes from 115 to 300 l. They operate direct from a mains water supply and recover in 20 minutes. Heat loss is as little as 70 W.

Biddle Air Curtains has developed a door curtain using lower water temperatures, such as those available from condensing boilers.

A fine-textured paint finish is now offered by SAS International for its range of metal ceiling panels and tiles. SAS FT negates the chance of lighting hot spots associated with uplighting and glare occurring. It also increases the perceived flatness of a metal ceiling.

The Menvier Planete emergency luminaire from Cooper Lighting & Security is only 45 mm deep. achieved by using super-thin cold-cathode lamp technology.

The availability of condensate pumps for Glow-worm’s range of high-efficiency domestic heating enables them to be installed in locations without access to a gravity drain.

Xpelair now offers a comprehensive range of fans specifically designed for light-industrial applications ranging from commercial kitchens, bakeries, hotels, pubs and schools through to garages, factories and warehouses.

A course on water treatment and preventing legionella has been developed by Logic Certification to enable those involved in installing and maintaining hot- and cold-water storage and service supplies to thoroughly understand how legionella bacteria are formed, the associated health risks and prevention using chemical water treatments. The course will also enable them to understand their duties and obligations as laid out in HSE document L8.

A 27 t boiler is craned into position by M&E contractor SES as part of the £2.5 million of building-services work in the refurbishment of the Pimlico district-heating scheme in London. The contract includes the installation of three new 27 t boilers, two CHP engines and associated equipment to the existing pump house on the north side of the River Thames. Each 17 t CHP engine can produce 2 MW of electricity, and each boiler is rated at 8 MW. They serve 3200 dwellings and 40 commercial premises with heating and hot water.

Following a record turnover of £75 million in its first year of operation since a management buyout, Space Cooling Systems has changed its name and brand image — following growth into other sectors, notably mechanical and electrical. The move aims to build on the company’s success as a refrigeration and air-conditioning contractor.

There are many ways of testing the thermal and acoustic performance of fan-coil units for air-conditioning systems. JULIAN JOWITT compares them.

ALISON NICHOLL discusses the opportunities and challenges of implementing carbon-efficient technologies.

HBG has been appointed for the construction of phase two of the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum in London. The construction period of this £41 million contract starts in June 2006 for completion in July 2008.

The £7 million Widnes Health Care Resource Centre in Halton is one of a range of projects for which the Manchester office of consultant White Young Green has provided design services for Morrisons Construction. It is one of over 40 healthcare centres forming part of a rolling £125 million programme. The work is part of WYG’s appointment for St Helens LIFT (Local Improvement Finance Trust).

Space Air, distributor of Daikin air-conditioning equipment, has signed a new sponsorship deal with Krystal Racing to campaign in the Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Championship. Ex-BSB racer Howie Mainwaring has joined Jay Fernandez in the team. Mike Pensavalle has also joined the team. 98 and 99 in this shot are members of the 3-bike team.

Grundfos has purchased land for its third factory in Hungary. It is at Szekesfehervar and will make KP and AP pumps from the wastewater range. Production will take up to 20 000 m2 with 1000 m2 of office space.

The chairman of BESCA, the competent-persons self-certification scheme for commercial and domestic HVACR work has reacted to calls for the Government office responsible for the Building Regulations to cap further scheme applications to reduce confusion in the industry.

New orders for construction projects in the private-commercial sector continue to surge ahead, according to figures from the Department of Trade & Industry.

A hole in one was the highlight of the annual golf day of contractor Briggs & Forrester at the championship Collingtree Park Golf Club in Northampton. It was the achievement of John Hinton of John Hinton of WSP Consulting Engineers at the par-3 fifth hole.

Consulting engineers Mott MacDonald shared recognition with architects Foster & Partners and Gateshead Council for the design of Sage Gateshead. The project has recently won the RICS North East Renaissance Award for Design & Innovation and the Award for Tourism & Leisure — bringing to 12 the number of awards since its opening in December 2004.

Multi-disciplinary consultancy Buro Happold has opened a new office in Edinburgh. It is in Morrison Street and will be the base for up to 15 multi-disciplinary engineers within the first year. Matthew Smith, group director, is head of the office.

Ambi-Rad has undergone a management buyout for an undisclosed sum. The company says it is Europe’s number-one manufacturer of radiant-tube heating systems for the commercial and industrial markets and a major supplier of warm-air heating systems.

Mitie Engineering has been awarded the M&E contract for the first phase of the £22.4 million redevelopment of Cardonald College in Glasgow. It will include a skills centre to help address the current skills shortage in construction. The first phase will see the creation of a new centre to train skilled workers for the construction industry, allowing the college to increase its intake by 20% in this area and provide much needed vocational training.

Two new NVQs have been introduced for people working in building-services engineering. Building Services Engineering Technology and Project Management NVQs at Levels 3 and 4 are based on standards developed by SummitSkills, the sector skills council for building-services engineering. They are awarded by EAL, the leading awarding body for engineering vocational qualifications.

Robertson Property has scooped a major environmental award for its role in the development of the £13 million Scottish Natural Headquarters in Inverness. The building achieved a score of 84% in the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology for offices, which is said to be the highest score since the system was introduced in 1998.

Rising copper prices are prompting high levels of interest in plastic pipework, according to Durapipe UK. Since the Spring, the company has seen a 20% increase in enquiries for its plastic-pipework systems and attributes the rise in part to the need of specifiers and contractors for alternative materials to help combat the copper crises.

Colt Group has reported record turnover for 2005.

Leeds Rhinos rugby hero Barrie McDermott paid a visit recently to the Morfitts site team, which is nearing completion of a £900 000 contract to install M&E and plumbing services in the new Carnegie Stand at Headlingly Carnegie Stadium in Leeds. Developed with Leeds Metropolitan University and situated at the eastern end of the stadium, this stand will accommodate 4550 spectators. It will also have 12 seminar rooms, a major facility for up to 350 people and a HelpZone. The stand will give the university a permanent base at the stadium and strengthen the strong relationship between the university and Leeds Rugby.

Government plans to exploit the potential for renewable energy have been published in a report launched by ministers from Defra and the DTI. It is the Government’s response to the Biomass Task Force, which made a series of recommendations in October 2005.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since the then president of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, Terry Wyatt, in a landmark presidential address warned the building-services industry that it had no long-term future unless it responded quickly to the pressure for change.

SAV has added centralised control to its commissioning modules for fan-coil units. By centralising the control capability for up to six fan-coil units at the module, site wiring is simplified — with only a single cable being required to connect to the module to the building-management system. It enables commissioning engineers to perform a range of tasks from a central point.

Oventrop has developed a valve that simplifies the commissioning of domestic-hot-water systems and provides significant energy savings by thermostatically controlling temperature and flow in the system.

The commissioning requirements of a new hospital in Lewisham are met by a range of valves from Crane Fluid Systems.

STEVE AVERY explains the thinking behind Carrier setting up its own commissioning team and the benefits of a manufacturing becoming so closely involved with projects.

Not only does the dynamic balancing simplify the commissioning of wet systems, it brings many design, installation and operating benefits. STEPHEN HART explains.

The increasing importance of building services commissioning has been recognised with the launch of the first ever National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in the subject. This is a timely boost for the profession, says ROGER CLARKE

Samsung has launched an R410A version of its Digital Variable Multi VRF air-conditioning system. The launch of DVM2 is the first stage of introducing over a hundred new products during 2006.

Advanced Engineering Technologies has introduced a new controller for fan tile units for its Flexible Space concept featuring Hiross underfloor air conditioning, Nesite raised access flooring and Movinord demountable partitioning.

LG has added new colours, finishes and other features and benefits to its Art Cool range of air-conditioning units. Behind the slim profile and clean lines of Art Cool Wide, Mirror and Standard are efficient, effective and advanced air-conditioning units.

J&J Design System Specialists teamed up with distributor DYSK air conditioning to provide a tailor-made air-conditioning solution for TD Packaging in Swindon, a large contract packer for the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. The solution used Sanyo’s ECOi range to meet fluctuating loads in different production areas.

Air-conditioning and refrigeration distributor Kooltech has placed a £2 million stock order with Mitsubishi to cover summer demand for the M Series and Mr Slim air-conditioning systems.

Carrier is targeting the residential and light-commercial markets for air conditioning with a range of 10 new products. Many more are promised.

Multi-service chilled beams are more than air-conditioning units. They can combine various elements to produce a cost-effective, attractive, easy-to-install unit that maximises siting flexibility and minimises costs — says TERRY FARTHING

Vaillant is entering the UK air-conditioning market with a range of energy-efficient high-wall and cassette split systems. Well known for innovation and service in domestic heating, Vaillant is initially concentrating on the domestic and light-commercial market, before moving into the large-commercial and heavy industrial sectors.

The strength of VRV/VRF air conditioning in the UK has grown as the capability of these systems has evolved. MARK DYER examines this ever-growing market.

JOHN GARBUTT highlights energy-efficiency issue for ductwork in the latest Building Regulations.

With the use of many refrigerants coming under environmental pressure, attention is being focused on ammonia for air-conditioning applications. ROB LAMB explores the issues