Iain Cox, Chair of the Business Sprinkler Alliance, highlights a serious knowledge gap amongst professionals responsible for the implementation of sprinkler systems.

Rinnai has released another whitepaper - “Optimizing Domestic Hot Water Systems for Archetype Care Homes: A Value Engineering Approach” which, within the main body of the analysis, is a case study demonstrating the optimal solution for DHW provision in an archetype care home with specific requirements including a 20% reduction in carbon footprint, OPEX considerations and available space for only 2 heat pumps.

Passivent has been providing natural and hybrid ventilation solutions for over 40 years. Its product range can help deliver many benefits, including improved energy efficiency and air quality, natural daylight and moisture removal in order to create healthier, more comfortable environments.

David Stonehouse, Technical Director at NG Bailey IT Services, explains what building managers need to know about the PSTN switch off.

Chris Goggin explains how “Kaizen” and “Kanban” methodologies provide insight to the high standards of production values that globally renowned Japanese brands embed into the totality of the manufacturing practices.

According to the latest government data, the UK has around 380,000 listed buildings. While owners have the benefit of living or working in property deemed to have special architectural or historical interest and, in some cases, being of national importance, renovating these prestigious buildings in a way that preserves their heritage can be a highly complex process. Tony Pollard, Contracts Manager at Nu Construction, explores the  complexities of renovating listed buildings and the benefits of working with a trusted and established heritage construction specialist.

Stephanie Trotter, OBE, President & Director of CO-Gas Safety, answers some vital questions around carbon monoxide in buildings.

Rinnai’s Tony Gittings looks at the future demand and effects of air cooling on domestic and commercial properties across the UK and Europe. As global temperatures increase, air conditioning units will likely become a requirement for UK and European domiciles and the built environment. What will the effect of air cooling be upon the national electrical grid and UK/ European NetZero ambitions?

Rinnai and Naked Energy have collaborated to introduce a whitepaper as a precursor to a CIBSE certified CPD, the paper entitled Sustainable Synergy: Integrating Heat Pumps and Solar Thermal to Satisfy the Hot Water Needs of an archetype hotel. This paper and CPD can be preregistered for at https://www.rinnai-uk.co.uk/contact-us/Solar-thermal-and-heat-pump.

According to the latest government data, the UK has around 380,000 listed buildings. While owners have the benefit of living or working in property deemed to have special architectural or historical interest and, in some cases, being of national importance, renovating these prestigious buildings in a way that preserves their heritage can be a highly complex process. Tony Pollard, Contracts Manager at Nu Construction, explores the  complexities of renovating listed buildings and the benefits of working with a trusted and established heritage construction specialist.

Peter Wilson, Technical Director at Echo Barrier, and Dusan Durdevic, Associate Director at Urban Thinking, address the dangers of noise pollution, its effect on public health both physically and mentally, and how construction firms need to take noise abatement seriously to avoid disruption to the communities they are developing, or face heavy fines and negative publicity.

Des Duddy, Joint Managing Director at Protrade, analyses the data that indicate Gen Z’s opinion of the construction industry and looks at what needs to happen if construction is to avoid a widening skills gap crisis in the near future.

Following a rising demand for prefabricated building services to reduce issues associated with system compliance and compatibility, Elta is now leading the charge in the ventilation sector with its innovative ‘Prefabricated Solutions’. The new service enables decision makers for ventilation services to create bespoke ventilation units from Elta’s wide range of fans and ancillaries, including its certified smoke range.

In 2020-2021 it was hard to turn a corner without bumping into a freshly ‘qualified’ indoor air quality expert with a magic box supposedly ready to solve all your air quality problems. Customers were willing to listen at the time, even if they didn’t quite get their wallet out.

This new year marks the start of a new era for Elta as it celebrates 50 years in business and accelerates its agenda to move the dial on indoor air quality.

With energy prices continuing to remain volatile, a free service from ABB can help to identify the easiest opportunities to reduce outgoings, as ABB’s Carl Turbitt, HVAC Drives UK Sales Manager, explains.

Clever Coupler is a patent-protected system for use with 22mm and 28mm compression valves and equipment of all types within the HVAC sector. It is being echoed as a game changer.

Upgrading school and college buildings to meet challenging Net Zero goals can go hand-in-hand with making these buildings better places to work and learn. Mike Egan, Business Development Manager, Corporate Solutions for Mitsubishi Electric LES looks at the options.

Variable speed drives (VSDs) are not generally designed to be exposed to the elements of nature and so for a drive operating outdoors we frequently see the highest rated drives specified. However, protection against ingress of dust and water alone is not enough to keep a drive running optimally in all weather, as ABB’s Oliver Woolley explains.

In HVAC applications, integrated pumps are promoted as an efficient and low cost alternative to VSD/ motor configurations, however there’s more to the debate than there might seem, according to Carl Turbitt, HVAC Drives – UK Sales Manager, ABB.

Mark Isles, Sales Director – Build at EnviroVent, discusses the changes the ventilation industry has gone through in the past year and how EnviroVent has enhanced its support package for specifiers and housebuilders to ensure they can meet and exceed the updated building regulations around ventilation.  

Variable speed drives are known culprits for the increasingly widespread problem of harmonics. However, according to ABB’s Chris Plumb, HVAC Drives Key Account Manager UK, new innovations in drive technology have now made them part of the solution.

The team at CMD are excited to inform you that we are moving to a new showroom in London.  After 18 years at 99 Charterhouse Street, Clerkenwell, our last day will be Friday 17 March, and the doors to our new showroom, located at London House, 115 Golden Lane, London, EC1Y 0TJ, will open on Wednesday 29th March.  

MBS is pleased to carry a link to the CSA Index - the Commissioning Specialists Association newsletter - several times a year. If you didn't get a print edition of the magazine you can read it here in PDF form. 

Pete Mills, Commercial Technical Operations Manager for Bosch Commercial & Industrial, outlines why the company has made CO sensors mandatory on cascade systems.

EC fans are promoted as a more energy efficient solution for cooling in facilities such as data centres, but the reality might be more complicated, as Carl Turbitt explains.

HVAC systems comprise an estimated 50 percent of the energy used in buildings. With energy prices spiralling, a free service from ABB can help to identify the easiest opportunities to reduce outgoings, as Carl Turbitt, HVAC Drives UK Sales Manager, explains.

The latest generation of Toshiba’s flagship Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system, SHRM Advance, operates on lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) R-32 refrigerant. The combination of R-32’s lower GWP and reduced refrigerant charge enables SHRM Advance to deliver a significant reduction of up to 80%* in equivalent carbon emissions. 

ABB’s Chris Plumb explores some of the hidden functionality that can help users of variable speed drives (VSDs) to further optimise their HVAC processes, as well as save energy.

The demands on our office buildings have changed over the last few years: flexibility, digitalisation and energy efficiency are what’s important. At the same time, these buildings should create a comfortable, healthy and safe environment for employees.

Are you a low carbon, sustainability, or building-services professional, willing to volunteer to help the Church of England with the challenge of Net Zero Carbon? Or an ecologist, able to input on the management of our precious churchyard habitats?

ABB’s Chris Plumb explores some of the hidden functionality that can help users of variable speed drives (VSDs) to further optimise their HVAC processes, as well as save energy.

We are currently looking for an individual to join our vibrant and dynamic Projects and Small works Teams who is self-motivated and proactive, can work independently and as part of a team and can work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.

Data centres consume huge amounts of energy, much of which goes into cooling. Carl Turbitt, HVAC Drives – UK Sales Manager, ABB, explains how, when it comes to achieving sustainability, variable speed drives (VSDs) are the best-performing technology available.

SAV Systems is proud to announce that the AirMaster AM 1000 has been awarded Passivhaus Component certification in conjunction with their Danish partner, Airmaster A/S. 

Belimo, the leading manufacturer of damper actuators, control valves and sensors for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technology, brings the worlds of “energy control” and “certified energy measurement and billing” together. 

The Altecnic SATK32107 Heat Interface Unit (HIU) records industry beating results during rigorous ‘UK Standard for Heat Interface Units’ test, coordinated by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA).

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) “Air pollution from both outdoor and indoor sources represents the single largest environmental risk to health globally,” and causes seven million deaths a year, worldwide.

ABB’s Carl Turbitt explains how harmonic currents can impact HVAC systems – and what can be done about them.

A thoughtful insight on women within building technology provided by Newcastle College

With more modern technologies at their disposal, building services professionals now have the ability to dramatically reduce CO2 emissions across light commercial and residential air-conditioning installations. Recent innovations, such as Daikin’s VRV 5 system are helping to forge new ground in the area. The leading solution is able to deliver powerful results, alongside strong sustainable performance.

Carl Turbitt, HVAC Drives – UK Sales Manager, ABB, explains why when it comes to deciding between EC fans and a variable speed drive and motor solutions, comparing efficiency alone will not provide the full picture.

James Cooper, Product Manager at ebm-papst UK looks at how to improve BMS Solutions

ABB’s Carl Turbitt explains how it’s never been easier to quickly and cost-effectively plug the knowledge gaps in your organisation – all it needs is an hour of your time.

Steve Bratt, CEO of ECA – Electrical and Engineering Services, a Director of Actuate UK and a member of the Construction Leadership Council Task Force Group expands on the four key strategic areas on Actuate UK’s agenda   

We heard from builder-turned-architect Peter Watson, about the challenges of making sustainability sustainable

Steve Bird, C ENg, CIBSE, ASHRAE, got in touch

The Chancellor's Summer Statement indicates the government has heard the calls of the renewables industry. Max Halliwell asks: What next?

Making the transition to net zero operations is an important priority for every business, says Kirti Rudra of ENGIE

The UK Green Building Council has released their framework for net zero carbon buildings. Beverley Quinn of TUV SUD talks us through it.