Fan-coil units for the 21st century

Users of the web site of “Modern Building Services” are being offered a 10% discount for a seminar to launch a new guide in the Knowledge Series of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers. “Fan coil units : solutions for the 21st century” explains how chilled-water FCUs are a highly effective means of providing air conditioning for buildings. The event is on Monday 19 May at CIBSE's headquarters at Balham in South London.

One of keys to successful balancing is ensuring that the differential pressure across control valves does not vary too much, especially in variable-flow systems. Differential-pressure-control valves such as T&A’s STAP valves sized according to the system, meet this requirement.

Achieving perfect hydronic control

Jean Christophe Carette shares the secrets of successful hydronic balancing.

In praise of plastics for pipework — Adam Turk

Why support for traditional metal piping is leaking away

The use of metal piping for water, waste and drainage applications has declined in recent years as more specifiers and contractors begin to appreciate the many benefits of modern plastic systems. Adam Turk looks at some of the reasons behind this and makes a surprising discovery.

Grundfos IMpress units can now also maintain the glycol concentration in a system.

Pressurisation units automatically maintain glycol concentration

Grundfos has added two new models to its IMpress range of pressurisation sets. These sets have intelligent micro-processor control.

Push-fit TRVs can take a wide range of pipe materials

The Terrier push-fit range of thermostatic radiator valves from Pegler can accept several different types of pipe, enabling installers to reduce the number of valves they need to consider. Possibilities include plain or chrome-plates copper tube to BS EN 1057 or PB and PEX plastic pipe to BS 7291 Parts 2 and 3. A simple tool enables pipes to be disconnected.

Ensuring that the noise of pipework does not distract from performances at Longborough Festival Opera is the use of Friaphon sound-attenuated drainage.

Friaphon drainage pipework hits the right note at the opera

The Friaphon sound-attenuated drainage systems from Durapipe has been specified for a private opera house in the back garden of Martin Graham, who owns Longborough Festival Opera.

Embracing change in commissioning variable-flow systems — Martin Lowe.

Effective commissioning for variable-volume systems

Is proportional balancing still the best approach to commissioning variable volume systems? Martin Lowe, technical manager at Marflow Hydronics, suggests a faster and more practical method.

Redevelopment at Rathbone Hospital in Old Swan, Liverpool, has used Oventrop valves to achieve efficient and safe operation of the DHW system.

Oventrop’s Aquastrom T Plus valve controls DHW at Rathbone Hospital

As part of a major regeneration of the Rathbone Hospital site in Old Swan, Liverpool, A range of Oventrop valves have been installed, including Aquastrom T Plus multi-function domestic-hot water valves to avoid the risk of legionella bacteria growing.

The use of Victaulic’s grooved joint pipe system is improving seismic stability and saving time in the construction of the Beijing Olympics’ National Stadium.

Victaulic piping is put through its paces at Olympic stadium

The flexibility and ease of installation of Victaulic’s grooved joint system for pipes is being used to good effect in the Beijing Olympic National Stadium in China.

Energy-efficient motors with variable-speed capability are key features in reducing the life-cycle cost of pumps.

Pump technology keeps driving forward

Pumps last many years, and the rate of technological change is also measured in years. Glynn Williams discusses developments that have a major impact on the performance and energy efficiency of pumps.

Grundfos variable-speed pumps set the pace in refurbishments

As part of the programme of Hounslow Home to achieve the Government’s ‘decent homes’ standard for the London Borough of Hounslow’s 16 500 housing stock, Grundfos variable-speed pumps using differential-pressure control have been installed as part of two plantroom refurbishments.

Installing radiators in systems with 10 mm barrier pipe is made quicker and easier using the Hep2O spigot elbow from Hepworth Building Products.

Hep2O gives installers the elbow

Hepworth Building Products has extended its Hep2O range with the addition of a universal spigot elbow.

By delivering a preset flow, regardless of changes in differential pressure Frese’s Optima pressure-independent control valve (right) and automatic balancing valve (left) provide an effective approach to setting up systems with incorporating variable-speed pumps.

Moving beyond proportional balancing

Proportional balancing and variable flow do not go together, but it is taking time for a more effective approach to setting up waterborne systems to be widely adopted.

Now available in the UK is the Purus range of connectors for pipes of different sizes.

Connector joins pipes of different sizes

The Purus connector for connecting and sealing pipes of different diameters is now available in the UK.

BSS Industrial has introduced its own brand of plastic piping system.

BSS Industrial offers Boss plastic pipework system

BSS Industrial offers its Boss cPVC piping system as an alternative to copper and steel. Installation is said to be simple, with no need for expensive tools.

Over 60 own-brand valves are now offered by Warrens in its Warrior range.

Warrens launches own-brand valves

Warrens has launch an own-brand range of products called Warrior. Some of the first products to be offered include gate, globe, check and ball valves.

Components for renewable energy market

Intaeco is a newly established company set up to supply plumbing and heating products with a sustainable-energy focus. Its product range is said to be of particular interest to the renewable-energy market and those with an interest in sustainable building practices.Intaeco is a sister company of Intatec, which specialises in anti-scale taps, showers and valves.

Avoiding hot working — Cal Bailey.

Thinking off site

There are many benefits in taking the assembly of piped services off site, as Cal Bailey explains.

Up to 16 different light levels can be programmed and stored in the ballast memory using the DALI protocol for controlling lighting, enabling different scenes to be called up quickly in rooms such as this.

The future is bright for DALI

Steve Buckley explains how the drive to cut carbon footprints has led to DALI lighting control becoming more relevant across the board.

The replacement of the lighting-control system in the Edinburgh International Conference Centre has made possible far more effective control and reduced energy and maintenance costs

Edinburgh International Conference Centre takes more control of its lighting and save energy

Dynalite Europe has installed a lighting-control system incorporating its Mapview energy-management software to replace an existing system in the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

Fig. 1: A good example of lamp information on packaging, showing how compact fluorescent lamps are regarded as being one of the most energy-efficient lighting sources.

The CFL versus GLS debate

Richard Forster delves into the issues comparing compact fluorescent and tungsten-filament lamps — and in doing so challenges conventional perceptions concerning efficiency and mercury.

Electricity costs in the Southwark training centre of the London Fire Brigade have been cut by 25% following the installation of an Ex-Or lighting-control system.

Ex-Or cuts costs for the London Fire Brigade

25% has been lopped off the electricity bill of the main training centre of the London Fire Brigade in Southwark following the installation of Ex-Or lighting controls.

These emergency packs give emergency-lighting capability to Megaman’s low-energy downlighters and can be installed above the false ceiling by threading them through the downlighter aperture.

Emergency pack adds emergency lighting capability to Megaman low-energy downlighters

Megaman’s emergency pack for use with its integral compact fluorescent lamps incorporates an emergency module, batteries and an LED indicator to provide a system that is easy to connect.

The capabilities of LEDs for lighting are demonstrated by this installation for Buckingham Palace created by Philips Lighting using Luxeon power LEDs. (Photo: Edmund Sumner)

The whats and watts of LED lighting

For the first time in over a hundred years, the look and feel of general lighting solutions are poised to change as LED technology develops. Steve Landau sets the scene.

The light distribution from RIDI’s Aida-Vario luminaires can be adjusted to particular requirements.

Suspended luminaires provide adjustable light distribution

Ridi’s Aida-Vario range of suspended luminaires for recessed ceiling grids is designed to meet the requirements of CIBSE LG3a and LG7 lighting codes. These fittings can be lowered to maximise ceiling illumination or fully recessed.

Synapsys has enabled B&Q to integrate DALI lighting systems with the building-management system in several stores.

B&Q does it with Synapsys

To optimise the use of natural light in its stores, B&Q has installed the Synapsys IP (SIP) DALI system to integrate DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) lighting devices with the building-management system.

Contributing to minimising the energy consumption of this office development near St Paul’s Cathedral are Simmtronic fully addressable lighting control systems.

Simmtronic controls the light in Cheapside office development

Simmtronic Specs3 fully addressable lighting-control systems are being installed by Haden Young in the Cat A fitout of 150 Cheapside — a 19 000 m2 corporate office development overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Cost-effective dimming for fluorescent lighting

Hamilton Litestat has added to its GridIt wiring-accessories a 1 to 10 V grid module for use with analogue regulated fluorescent ballasts. This manually operated high-frequency ballast controller provides an effective and economical way to dim fluorescent lamps.

High-pressure sodium lamp has very long life

Greenstock now offers a long-life high-pressure-sodium lamp from Aura. It has a 48 000 h life, based on a 12 h switching life. Light output is said to be 22% higher than standard SON lamps at 147 lm/W, with a 15% depreciation over its life.

The Crompton Modulay range of luminaires is now available with high-frequency control gear and triphosphor lamps to improve energy efficiency.

Efficiency boost for Crompton Modulay recessed luminaires

Cooper Lighting & Safety has added high-frequency control gear and triphosphor lamps to the Crompton Modulay range of recessed luminaires to improve energy efficiency.

The elements of the natural-ventilation system of the ruralZED house (roof cowl with passive heat exchanger, inlet and exhaust ducts, and grilles) are all visible in this picture.

The affordable Code 6 house has arrived

Delivering to Code 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes requires a fundamental and joined-up rethink of how homes are designed and built. One example was in evidence at the recent EcoBuild exhibition.

With Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, zero carbon, being the standard to be achieved by 2016, leading lights in the industry have been addressing the issue of how to achieve this requirement in an affordable manner.

An impressive example of how the code can be met was very prominent at the recent EcoBuild exhibition at Earls Court in London with what was promoted as ‘the UK’s first affordable and commercial viable Code 6 house’.

Affordable heating and low carbon-dioxide emissions — Tony Barnes.

Bringing home the heat-pump message

Tony Barnes shares his experience of the application of ground-source heat pumps for domestic heating and reducing carbon emissions.

Airedale sets new levels of energy efficiency for air-cooled chillers

Airedale International Air Conditioning has taken a major step forward in energy-efficient chilled-water air conditioning with the development of a range of chillers based on the Danfoss Turbocor compressor combined with a series of energy-efficiency features engineered by Airedale.

Why cutting corners does not cut costs

Nathan Hudson believes that the most obvious ways of saving money on electrical-distribution systems are usually not the best.

Top firms support new CIBSE flexible training initiative

A number of top firms in the industry have signed up for a new flexible learning programme aimed at addressing the growing shortage of qualified building-services engineers, launched by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.

Fun days at Buro Happold offices in Bath, London and Birmingham raised £1383 for the engineering charity RedR

Buro Happold supports RedR Day

Buro Happold raised £1383 for the charity RedR (Register of Engineers for Disaster Relief) with a company-wide ‘wear red for RedR Day’ in February. This was the second time the price has run a RedR Day since the scheme started three years ago.

Dalkia has retained its contract with the Welsh Assembly Government covering 90 buildings in its property portfolio.

Dalkia widens its involvement with the Welsh Assembly Government

Dalkia has reinforced its position in public-sector property manager by retaining its contract with the Welsh Assembly Government. This contract will allow Dalkia to provide flexible and effective services to the WAG, building on its long-term relationship with the Welsh regional government.

How much tax relief does it take to change a light bulb

The extension of Enhanced Capital Allowances to include electrical systems may be one of the most important changes under the new system, according to property tax and finance specialist Davis Langdon Crosher & James.

Modern Building Services adds CV-posting service to its web site

Modern Building Services has launched a new service to simplify the task of matching the staffing needs of companies in the building-services industry and engineers. A new area on our web site enables engineers in the industry to post their CV and those looking for staff to access those CVs.

The biggest contract ever for JS Wright of Birmingham — the £21 million Park Plaza County Hall Hotel in London.

JS Wright completes its highest-value contract

Birmingham building-services provider JS Wright has completed the £4.6 million fit-out of the 14-storey Park Plaza County Hall Hotel near the London Eye. The 2-year project was the biggest in JS Wright’s 118-year history and has resulted in the company’s work in London accounting for 70% of its forecast turnover of £19 million for 2007/8.

South Bank University to become a low-carbon centre of excellence

The UK’s first centre of excellence in low-carbon technologies for buildings is set to open at London South Bank University. The Centre of Efficient & Renewable Energy in Buildings will open in 2009. It will be a unique resource for teaching, research and demonstration of low-carbon energy technologies in the built environment.

CBI publishes guide to Energy Performance Certificates

Against the background of the introduction of Energy Performance Certificates for buildings, the CBI has launched a guide for business, with commercial real-estate advisor CB Richard Ellis.

Soaring steel prices put pressure on ductwork

The price of ductwork systems could rise by 10 to 15% as a result of rising steel prices, according to the Association of Ductwork Contractors & Allied Services (ADCAS). The association represents ductwork suppliers and suppliers of associated components and warns that the impact of rising steel prices cannot be avoided.

A 3-year maintenance contract for Prêt a Manger shops throughout the country has been awarded to M. J. Quinn Integrated Services.

Prêt a Manger awards new maintenance contract to M. J. Quinn

Prêt a Manger has appointed specialist maintenance provider M. J. Quinn Integrated Services to look after air conditioning, refrigerated display cabinets and general refrigeration in its 160 shops throughout the UK

Grundfos opens news factory in Mexico

Grundfos has opened a £12 million 1700 m2 factory in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

Mathematical modelling of WindowMaster natural ventilation combined with mechanical ventilation has demonstrated the potential for large energy savings in shopping centres.

Research reveals energy-saving potential of natural ventilation in shopping centres

There is huge potential to save energy in shopping centres using a combination of natural and mechanical ventilation to maintain indoor environmental quality, according to a new study. The beneficial effects of natural ventilation in buildings such as schools have been well documented, but until now there has been little work on how the system can be applied to large areas with a mixture of enclosed areas and common internal open spaces — such as shopping centres.

ACE calls for engineering disciplines to be added to skills-shortages list

The Association for Consultancy & Engineering has continued its drive to have more engineering disciplines included on the Government’s list of professions suffering from skills shortages.

RAC09 is building on the success of the 2007 event with support from five major industry associations.

Industry pledges support for RAC09 exhibition

Five major trade associations are supporting RAC09 at the NEC from 24 to 26 February 2009 and being promoted as the premier event for low-carbon cooling solutions.

The £4.2 million M&E contract for a new hospital in Clackmannshire has been awarded to Balfour Kilpatrick.

Balfour Kilpatrick wins Scottish hospital contract

Balfour Kilpatrick has been awarded a £4.5 million contract to design, supply and install mechanical and electrical services for a new community hospital by Robertson Capital Projects.

HVCA looks to a single organisation for mechanical and electrical contractors

Following consultation with members, the council of the Heating & Ventilating Contractors’ Association has pledged its support to the development of a single organisation to represent mechanical and electrical contractors — brought about by the convergence of the HVCA and the Electrical Contractors’ Association.