2017 November

Boiler replacement is widely acknowledged as a quick win to improved heating reliability and efficiency. So why do we hear of some boilers failing to deliver the projected performance and savings? It all comes down to ensuring good system design, says Chris Meir.

Ensuring that office heating operates effectively and efficiently is not simply a case of setting thermostats. The entire HVAC system must be designed and balanced to control heating throughout a building. Greg Tracy explains how this can be achieved.

Air quality, indoor and outdoor, has been rising up the agenda again. It was discussed at some length at October’s BESA National Conference, raised there by London deputy mayor for environment and sustainability Shirley Rodrigues as well as by technical experts.

The British Pump Manufacturers Association (BPMA) is supporting its European counterpart, Europump, in a call that installers and buyers should beware when purchasing the increasingly popular booster sets.

Lord Rupert Redesdale, founder of the Energy Managers Association, offered a stark warning about energy shortages when he spoke exclusively to MBS in October.

In October, Claire Perry MP the minister of state for climate change and industry, introduced the Government’s Clean Growth Strategy document. The Strategy has been developed as part of the UK’s obligations under the Climate Change Act.

The British Pump Manufacturers Association (BPMA) is hosting its 18th annual Awards on 22nd March 2018. And the call for entries is now going out.

A panel of industry experts strongly urges building owners and managers to look beyond the requirements of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) if they want better long-term building performance.

The latest research from BSRIA shows that China is set to lead world demand for fans and ventilation, but Europe will also see a lift and steady growth over the next seven years.

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has reorganised its management and staff in order to focus resources on increasing value to members.

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) held its first annual conference in London on 19th October. Speaking at the conference, London’s deputy mayor for sustainability and energy, Shirley Rodrigues, outlined the new London Plan and said: “Buildings are critical to making London greener, and the work that BESA and its members are doing is vital to delivering that.”

A new system that allows clients and main contractors to verify the skills of electrical staff has been launched by the JIB. It is an online verification tool that complements the new Registered Electrician status

Combat HVAC provided the heating solution for the new Classic Motor Cars 40,000sqft facility, designed for the restoration and sale of classic, high-end motor vehicles such as Jaguar. Requirements were to provide high levels of efficiency but also due to the sophisticated vehicles, it was crucial that the equipment mirrored that style. Installed were Combat's CTUA suspended warm air heaters consisting of two CTUA60 in the body shop, two CTUA60 in the trim area and two CTUA40 in the customer showroom along with six Combat energy efficient HVE fans.

The Combat NRG Controller maximises fuel saving using self-learning optimisation. This controller varies the heating start up time to ensure that the building comes up to the required temperature precisely at the beginning of every programmed "on" period.

The SWEP Brazed Plate Heat Exchanger range has been certified by the North American Airconditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute. AHRI is a widely trusted source in testing and verifying performance certified heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and commercial refrigeration equipment and components.

Gilberts Blackpool, Britain’s leading independent air movement specialist, has further expanded its fabrication capacity with the installation of a new press brake. The new machinery doubles Gilberts’ capability to bend sheet metal at its 90,000 sq ft headquarters, and compliments the addition already this year of a new laser cutter.

CIAT’s 2017 International Roadshow finished its UK leg in style with an event at Twickenham Stadium, attended by leading heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors, installers, end users and building services consultants from across the capital and beyond.

Stulz now offers a WPA mini chiller with integrated free cooling. It has been designed specifically for data centres with low cooling requirements and industrial chilling.

Panasonic has announced a complete All-In-One H Generation range of air to water heat pumps. This compact and super-efficient series spans six capacities from 3kW-16kW and is an ideal solution for any application.

The water pressure in our homes isn’t always what it should be however, and today the Grundfos SCALA2 delivers the perfect boost. These WRAS approved units are the perfect choice for residential buildings with up to three floors and 8 tap outlets. Their flexibility makes them the ideal and only boosting partner that you will need to deliver the water delivery results that are required around the home.

UK-based Cool Energy UK is bringing IceCold technology to the UK market. This is a solution for refrigerant-based HVAC equipment that uses oil within the refrigerant.

Elco Heating Solutions has launched the Trigon XL WH – a new condensing direct gas-fired water heater capable of instantaneously supplying large volumes of hot water in commercial applications.

When Whatley & Co from Pewsey in Wiltshire were called to a lift a borehole pump for a customer who was experiencing problems with their water supply, they checked their records and realised that they had fitted the original Grundfos submersible SP4 pump way back in 1983.

More than 500 apartments in the £9 billion revamp of London’s iconic Battersea Power Station have utility cupboards pre-fabricated with a cable management solution from Marshall-Tufflex.

Liverpool-based Steven Hunt & Associates has won a multi-million pound contract to work on the iconic Tobacco Warehouse, as part of the 125 acre Ten Streets regeneration at Liverpool’s North Docks.

The GRAHAM-Bam Healthcare Partnership (GBHP) has handed over the new £85 million, 30,000m2 inpatient ward block, completing the second phase of the £261 million redevelopment of Ulster Hospital for South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust. The state-of-the-art building has taken an innovative approach to its design to transform patient care, with emphasis on using natural resources to aid recovery, including natural light and fresh air.

Victaulic announces its new fire protection mobile truck tour of the UK. Travelling across the UK, the truck will stop at various locations in order to showcase Victaulic’s grooved piping system solutions.

Pump House has provided an external rooftop access ramp solution for a proposed route out of a building down onto the flat roof.

Polymer solutions specialist Rehau has supplied its PE-Xa pipework to Oakley Court in Gerrard Cross through installer BeGreen. The luxury domestic development is using a renewables-based underfloor heating system, and the pipework is a vital element in delivering comfort for occupants.

The Queensferry Crossing, near Edinburgh, attracted global attention when it opened recently. With its impressive span of 1.7 miles (2.7km), this is the longest bridge of its type in the world. Many clever engineering techniques were employed during its construction and this structure will overcome many of the issues that beset its predecessor, such as being able to cope during high winds.

Swegon has opened a new hire centre this year in Coalville, near Leicester. The company has also recently added a new range of energy-efficient electric, diesel and bio-fuel heaters to their ever expanding product range.

A high-end residential project in the heart of London demonstrates the advantages of a KNX. Barts Square is a multi-phase development of residential and office accommodation in central London on land formerly occupied by St Bartholomew’s Hospital.

Viessmann has been named as ‘Best Buy’ boiler brand by consumer magazine Which? Viessmann was praised by Which? as the ‘most reliable’ of all brands.

JS Air Curtains has introduced the Zen range, which means that fascia panels can be custom-made in many different materials; screen printed to carry logos or images; and manufactured to incorporate elements such as clocks and LED displays.

Engineered heating solutions can answer the challenges of installations that aren’t suitable for off-the-shelf products. They offer the flexibility required to meet the heating needs of ‘problem’ buildings, explains Danny Packham.

Plant room space restrictions can cause problems when replacing old atmospheric boilers. Jonathan Grist explains what to look out for.

Thanks to legislation such as the Building Regulations and the Energy-related Products (ErP) Directive, we have long seen a development towards highly efficient heating products. But there is more to an efficient boiler than just its theoretical efficiency figures according to its data sheet – correct setup, operation, service and maintenance are just as important, explains Stuart Turner.

With the growing popularity of hot yoga in the UK, building services engineers are increasingly likely to be asked to design appropriate climate control solutions. John Barker of Humidity Solutions considers the key criteria

Whilst radiators are primarily associated with residential developments and replacement heating systems in homes up and down the country, radiators are still providing a significant option for building designers in the commercial property sector. Chris Harvey explains.

BG Energy Solutions (BGES) has developed a real-time energy optimisation solution, Vista

Carlo Gavazzi has appointed award winning digitalenergy as a partner. The company will offer the Carlo Gavazzi Energy Management range which compliments its own Energy Software Solution.

Aimteq has completed installation of a Schneider BMS at a new £10.8 million defence logistics centre for BAE systems. The project provides control of functions such as domestic hot water, radiant heating and the site’s cold store for carbon fibre material.

BEG has developed a wellness multi-sensor that controls lighting based on time, presence and circadian rhythm. The product provides lighting control with occupant wellbeing.

Andy Bartlett explains why the market can expect to see controls intelligence pushed further out into the network beyond the head-end, and what this means for end-users.

Businesses constantly adapt the working environment to optimise performance. Building controls have to be equally flexible, easy to reconfigure and able to deliver control quickly and effectively. Alan Hickman discusses these challenges and how the latest controls technology can ease the strain of change as the new normal for buildings.

Although updating a building management system is a valuable investment for energy efficiency, it’s not always feasible to update an entire BMS at once. Ian Ellis explains that today’s controls technologies make it possible to focus on better control for a single function, for example the fan coils or VAV units, in a building.

Only a systems integrator that understands all the capabilities of a building energy management system can fully exploit its potential. Alan Johnstone examines the importance of choosing the right partner.

Malcolm Anson, President of the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) is urging the industry to embrace wellbeing in our business culture to boost productivity in the workplace.

As a media partner, Modern Building Services would like to invite all our readers to join us at EMEX on stand B14.

The government must move quickly to clear up the confusion surrounding funding for apprentice training, according to the President of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA).

If you are part of the booster set supply chain, you have legal obligations to ensure that the products which you place on the market are fully compliant with EU legislation. In this article, Steve Schofield urges users to buy with confidence.