CIBSE’s new president, John Armstrong, believes that reducing the energy consumption of buildings is increasingly a key role of building-services engineers — with convergence driving the engineering and technology of the future.

An approach to using the fabric of a building to exploit renewable energy has been devised by AmbiRad Group and CA Group. It has the potential to reduce heating costs by half — and more.

An approach to using the fabric of a building to exploit renewable energy has been devised by AmbiRad Group and CA Group. It has the potential to reduce heating costs by half — and more.

Biomass and biofuel boilers were heavily promoted at H&V07 and ISH in Germany. So which is going to determine the future of green heating? Ian Bradley thinks it’s a two horse race — with biofuels nudging ahead.

Designing integrated buildings requires integrated design packages. David Payne explains how CADline has been working on a fully-integrated design and analysis solution for smarter compliance with Part L.

New companies, new products and ever-changing market shifts are all revealed by BSRIA’s latest survey of the UK air-conditioning market. David Garwood has the details.

Airedale’s LogiCool range of packaged chillers for computer suites and server rooms can be matched with direct rack-cooling solutions from leading rack producers and also linked to airside cooling systems from Airedale and other manufacturers.

Recent enhancements to Dunham Bush’s extensive range of fan-coil units include the launch of the Concierge unit for hotel rooms and the introduction of EC motor options for the Panther, Leopard, Puma and Jaguar series.

Andrew Keogh explores how chiller technology is taking on the energy efficiency challenge.

Using EDC International’s Inverter Phase Check modules makes it possible to determine whether problems with inverter-controlled chillers are due to the compressor or the inverter.

Having spawned the 2006 Building Regulations, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive continues to impact on the industry with the development of schemes for inspecting air-conditioning systems over 12 kW of cooling. Hywel Davies explains how new guidance from CIBSE will help the industry.

Terry Farthing reviews how the steady influence of air-distribution systems from Europe have shaped the UK air-conditioning market.

As part of a major refurbishment of John Lewis stores in England and Scotland, Weatherite Building Services has upgraded air-conditioning in the Milton Keynes store.

The energy used by air conditioning is often seen as contributing to the carbon-dioxide emissions that cause global warming. However, comfort cooling and reduced emissions can go together, as John Durbin explains.

Waterloo Air Products is continuing to re-establish itself in the UK air-conditioning market with the recent opening of a northern office, extending its technical capabilities by investing in staff and facilities and developing new products.

Moducel is providing a closely controlled environment for mission-critical computing facilities at Salisbury District Hospital. The facilities are a key part of the hospital’s infrastructure and operate round the clock.

Panasonic’s 2007 range of air-conditioning units includes a sophisticated air-purifying system and inverter technology that reduces energy consumption by 50% during cooling and 64% during heating. These units are said to be ideal for small shops, offices and homes.

The Neo Plasma system for filtering and purifying air used in LG’s Art Cool air-conditioning units comprises seven specialised filters in five separate stages to enhance cleaning power to reduce fine dust, mould, unpleasant odours, cigarette smoke and microscopic contaminants such as mites and pollen. It is also said to help prevent the contaminants which may irritate asthma sufferers.

Daikin’s commitment to the UK was emphasised by Peter Verkempynck, deputy managing director in the UK, to over 600 guests at Daikin UK’s industry conference at the new Wembley Stadium last month. They included customer’s from the company’s D1 network, consultants, specifiers and end users.

To simplify the specification of air-handling systems, Carrier has developed a packaged, complete air-handling system for air flows from 1.8 to over 11 m3/s and cooling capacities up to 190 kW with integrated controls and software.

SAS’s range of integrated service modules bring together equipment such as chilled beams, luminaires and other services, are said to provide an energy-efficient alternative to traditional air conditioning. When suspended from the ceiling plane or in coffers, ISMs leave the concrete soffit exposed, enabling thermal-mass cooling to take place.

Without ductwork, air conditioning is just comfort cooling. But ductwork is not something that can be shoehorned into any space available, as Paul Roxburgh stresses.

Trox UK has supplied and installed a wide range of active chilled beams for a speculative office development in Scotland. This contract for the largest single office scheme in Scotland was worth £450 000 and involved special 300 mm-wide flush-mounted chilled beams through the centre of the landmark Waverleygate office development next to the main railway station in Edinburgh.

Air conditioning for the new Battle Abbey visitor centre is provided by a Daikin mini VRVIII heat-pump inverter system.

LG’s Art Cool range of indoor air-conditioning units now includes Mirror units. They have all the advanced features of the Art Cool range as standard and also allow for digital airflow control to ensure maximum comfort.

The installation of five Breezair evaporative cooling in two areas of Jones Stroud Insulations in Preston has reduced peak summer temperatures from over 35°C to 25°C. The coolers serve the reinforced-tower and carbon areas and were installed by CoSaf Environments. Their success has prompted Jones Stroud Insulations to expand the cooling system to other areas of the factory.

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Waterloo Air Products is continuing to re-establish itself in the UK air-conditioning market with the recent opening of a northern office, extending its technical capabilities by investing in staff and facilities and developing new products.

Moducel is providing a closely controlled environment for mission-critical computing facilities at Salisbury District Hospital. The facilities are a key part of the hospital’s infrastructure and operate round the clock.

Panasonic’s 2007 range of air-conditioning units includes a sophisticated air-purifying system and inverter technology that reduces energy consumption by 50% during cooling and 64% during heating. These units are said to be ideal for small shops, offices and homes.

The Neo Plasma system for filtering and purifying air used in LG’s Art Cool air-conditioning units comprises seven specialised filters in five separate stages to enhance cleaning power to reduce fine dust, mould, unpleasant odours, cigarette smoke and microscopic contaminants such as mites and pollen. It is also said to help prevent the contaminants which may irritate asthma sufferers.

With the driving need for building-services and facilities managers to ensure internal environments are maintained in a sustainable way comes several considerations for dealing with waterborne heating and cooling systems. Pressure losses across balancing valves can ruin the control of a variable-flow water system, resulting in loss of internal climate control and accompanying complications such as irritating excess pipe noise. Peter Rees advocates the tried and tested method of differential pressure control and offers some advice on measuring the pressure across the system.

Doug Robins offers advice on how to realise a control system that will result in a well run and energy efficient building.

Tour & Andersson has introduced a product that is said to have the capability of reducing installation time by at least 20% and commissioning time by over 50%. Called TA-HUB (to imply hydronic user-friendly balancing) the concept also significantly reduces the time required for the maintenance of hydronic system by bringing together control valves for a number of terminal devices to a single location.

Oventrop Hydromat Q automatic flow-regulating valves have been installed to serve mission-critical blade-server racks as part of the refurbishment of mechanical and electrical infrastructure systems of data halls of a leading bank.

Duncan Selby warns against placing too much reliance on differential-pressure control valves in variable-flow systems.

Oventrop valves played a key role in commissioning the water-based services in the new £25 million Sandwell Academy in West Bromwich. The 2-storey academy will specialise in sport and business enterprise.

Belimo’s pressure-independent characterised control valves greatly simplify the design and installation of hydronic systems by delivering a constant preset flow over a wide range of differential pressure such as are encountered in systems with variable-speed pumps.

Crane now offers a manifold commissioning device that enables up to six fan-coil units, or other terminal units, to be commissioned and maintained from one point.

An agreement to develop and promote commissioning within the construction industry has been signed by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers and the Commissioning Specialists Association. The signing of this memorandum of understanding builds on previous work and provides shared access to member benefits and services.

The performance and operating costs of pumps throughout their lift is dramatically affected by how well systems are commissioned. Roy Henderson shares his views on how to achieve effective commissioning.

SAV FloCon modules have been used to provide centralised commissioning of services for new luxury apartments in Dublin and to monitor the supply of energy to each flat.

Monodraught, which is well known for its Windcatcher natural-ventilation system and the Sunpipe system for exploiting natural daylight, has been acquired by VKR Holding, previously known as the VELUX Group. The deal is a 100% sale of the shareholding of Monodraught.

Consulting engineering practice Atelier Ten is calling for an urgent focus on the recruitment, education and training of the next generation of professionals needed to sustain the burgeoning environmental engineering industry.

SAS International has developed three new CPD presentations covering the topics of chilled ceilings, chilled beams and integrated service modules, and architectural metalwork. They have been accredited by RIBA and are recognised by CIBSE.

Engineers on CIBSE’s register of low-carbon consultants can expect to earn up to 10% more than those not on it, according to Mike McNally, UK manager of recruitment consultant Hays Building Services.

Horizon, the SummitSkills project to develop a Sector Skills Agreement for building-services engineering, has reached the second stage of its development — the assessment of current provision (ACP). This stage will help the sector to directly influence training provision to ensure it is fit for purpose.

Bailey, part of NG Bailey, one of the UK's largest building-services providers, has won an RoSPA award for its commitment to health-and-safety management. The award recognises Bailey's outstanding H&S practice, taking into account H&S systems, policies and excellent commitment to performance in this area.

Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, has won this year’s HVCA Gold Award for outstanding services to the construction industry and the built environment.

Announcing the award, Robert Higgs, OBE, chief executive of the Heating & Ventilating Contractors’ Association said that during a political career dating back to 1971, Ken Livingstone had seldom been a stranger to controversy.

Robert Higgs, said, ‘At a time when climate change, global warming, carbon-dioxide emissions and sustainability throughout the built environment are all high on the political — as well as the industry’s — agenda, he can truly be described as being on the side of the angels.’

In response to the suggestion that climate-change issues are by their very nature global, and that what London can do is therefore a mere drop in the ocean, Ken Livingstone counters, ‘The majority of people on the planet live in cities — and cities can lead the way.’

The scale of the recruitment and retention challenge facing the consultancy and engineering sector and the behaviour of recruitment consultancies are to be investigated by a taskforce set up by the Association for Consultancy & Engineering (ACE).

GSH Group has won a contract to provide facilities and energy-management solutions for the London Eye for the next three years. Neil Murray, managing director of GSH in the UK, says, ‘You can’t help but get excited about winning the contract to look after one of the capital city’s most iconic buildings.

Building-services provider SES has won the £7 million M&E design and installation contract for the restoration of 22-26 The Headrow in Leeds city centre. SES begins work on the project in October, joining key building contractor Wates Construction, which started demolition works in February.

Balfour Kilpatrick has been awarded the £5.5 million electrical fit-out contract for the 15-storey Dashwood House in London’s Liverpool Street. Two existing plant level roof floors will be removed and four office floors added to take the building to 17 storeys. The ultimate client is Land Securities, and Balfour Kilpatrick is carrying out the works for Skanska Construction. Work is due for completion in September 2008.

For the fifth year in a row, Briggs & Forrester has won an RoSPA Occupational Safety Award.

Orders for private commercial projects for the year to March 2007 were 21% higher than the previous year and 2% higher than the previous quarter. However, future prospects are less good, with a 10% fall in orders compared to the same period a year earlier. The figures are compiled by the Department of Trade & Industry; all orders are seasonally adjusted and in constant (2000) prices.

Roth, which makes solar thermal solution and multi-layer pipework products, has established a direct presence in the UK. After two years of trading as a distributor, Climate Pipework Systems is now part of the multi-national Roth group.

Air-conditioning manufacturer Airedale has been granted the International Safety Award by the British Safety Council — for the ninth year in a row. Only companies with below-average accident rates are eligible to apply, and winners must also have good safety policies, plans and commitment to health and safety. They must also provide information about significant advances they have made in health and safety for the year.

The London office market is booming, with nearly 600 000 m2 due to be completed this year, double that of last year, according to a new report from project and cost consultancy Davis Langdon. The increasing demand follows the biggest rise in new-build construction activity in Britain in 2006, with London output increasing by 18% — £1.5 billion more than in 2005.

Eco Heat Pumps has been appointed a partner to British Gas in phase 2 of the low-carbon building programme, DTI’s new £50 million capital-grant scheme to boost the installation of micro-generation technologies.

Reducing UK carbon emissions by the equivalent of every vehicle on Britain’s roads today is the object of a wide range of measures proposed in the Energy White Paper published late last month. That objective would reduce carbon emissions by 23 to 33 Mt by 2020.

Hoare Lea has been appointed by Greenwich Millennium Village to develop phases three, four and five of its scheme in London. The practice will design M&E systems and supply specialist building-services design advice, including sustainability, acoustics, fire engineering, lighting, public health and virtual engineering.

CIAT UK and Ozonair Hydronic, both owned by the CIAT Group, have been merged to form a new company CIAT Ozonair.

Energy and environmental sessions featured in a day for teachers and year-nine students from a school in Birmingham held by MITIE at its skills centre in Birmingham. The MITIE team worked with guests from Castle Vale School & Performing Arts Centre on a variety of activities to help students develop new skills and prepare for the world of work. Other activities included designing a school newsletter, interviewing techniques and designing a new school badge.

Sanyo has established a strong European base for manufacturing air-conditioning products with the opening of a state-of-the-art factory in Budapest, Hungary.

Grundfos Group has reported increased turnover and profit for the fifth year in succession.

With the opening of a new warehouse in Stevenage, Victaulic can now ensure delivery of its wide range of non-weld grooved-end piping solutions for fire protection, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning.

Glow-worm has prepared an information pack for specifiers on new developments to its range — including the new Ultracom boiler range.

Ultracom is the fourth generation of Glow-worm high-efficiency boilers. There are combi, open-vent and system models for all sizes of property. These boilers have a back-lit built-in digital programmer with controls comparable to those on DVD players.

Mimicking chimneys on buildings surrounding a £3 million state-of-the-art community facility in Gloucestershire are the terminals of its natural-ventilation system.

As part of the remodelling and extension of the terminal building of Norwich International Airport Nordair-Niche heating systems high-efficiency gas-fired heating and ventilation units have replaced the existing LPHW system, which had virtually reached the end of its life.

Prefabricated pipework modules using Durapipe’s Wefatherm pipework are among a range of pipe and fittings from Durapipe UK being installed in a residential development in Manchester’s Salford Quays. The City Lofts project designed by architects Conran & Partners comprises two buildings, one 19 storeys high and the other nine storeys high.

Energy-monitoring devices installed as part of the installation of five Toshiba SHRM heat-recovery VRF systems in an apartment enables each of the 60 suites to be individually billed for their own energy consumption. Installation work at the new Liffey Valley Clarion Hotel Suites apartment block in Dublin was carried out by G. T. Phelan, an Toshiba Jubilee distributor of 25 year’s standing.

An immediate 15% reduction in fuel consumption is confidently expected following the upgrading of boiler plant in an apartment block in central London with new equipment from Stokvis Energy Systems.

Pumping requirements for the £28 million Biocentre post-graduate facility at the University of Manchester are provided by a range of equipment supplied by Grundfos working with contractor BG Bailey to provide a bespoke solution.

Installation and operational flexibility have been provided for the new store of WH Smith at Meadowhall, Sheffield, by a mixture of Toshiba digital inverter split air-conditioning systems and a larger VRF system.

Energy costs have been reduced by over £67 000 a year at pharmaceutical company Aesica following the installation of GE steam traps. 200 steam traps installed throughout the process plant have reduced energy use by 28%.

As part of the refurbishment of the Taylor Park boat house in St Helens a Broag Quinta 45 boiler has been installed to provide heating so that the centre can be used all year round.

SE Controls was chosen to provide a smoke-ventilation system for the Leftbank residential complex in Manchester. Part of the Spinningfields urban redevelopment programme, it comprises a series of 16-storey high-specification blocks.

The capabilities of Priva’s IP-addressable controllers have enabled the IT network of the College of St Mary Magdalene in Cambridge to be used to gather data relating to services for a new building.

Dalkia has secured a new 15-year contract with Heinz frozen and chilled foods to provide technical facilities services and energy management. Under the contract, Dalkia will significantly upgrade and support the energy plant at the site, which makes the Aunt Bessie’s branded range of frozen foods. It is an extension of the existing 12-year arrangement.

Energy costs for pool and space heating at the public swimming baths in Newcastle could be cut by 30% following the replacement of 25-year-old boiler plant with new plant from Ideal Boilers. The replacement of the boilers at Elswick Park & Pool cost £65 000.

Southend-on-Sea’s famous pier is now equipped with a wire-free fire-protection system from EMS Group as part of refurbishment work following the fire in 2005. This 2 km-long pier was built in the 1880s and has survived collisions with ships and four major fires.

Intelligent panels for detecting fires and controlling smoke dampers have been supplied by Advanced Electronics for the first phase of the redevelopment of King’s Cross St Pancras Underground station in London.

Variable-speed fans in fan convectors installed to provide space heating for St Luke’s Church at Holbrooks, Coventry, enable it to be brought up to temperature very quickly. The fans are then run at a lower speed to maintain the temperature and reduce noise levels.

Enhanced lighting control for the new headquarters of Ridi Lighting is provided by a wide selection of control products from TridonicAtco, enabling Ridi to demonstrate an integrated package of luminaires and TridonicAtco controls to its customers. Indeed, this luminaires and controls package has already been specified for two large projects.

Integrated-service modules and acoustic lighting rafts supplied by SAS international are providing cooling and a range of other services for the redevelopment of Merton College’s campus buildings. In classrooms, laboratories, offices and general study areas, they have provided a modern and robust solution in the new state-of-the-art teaching block.

Significant installation benefits have been realised using the Pyrotenax Multi-Plus LSF cable system in the conversion of a 1920s coachworks in west London into an art gallery for the Louise T. Blouin Institute. The £20 million conversion to a 3200 m2 art gallery provides a showcase for established and emerging contemporary artists and performance art, as well as being the operating base for the Louise Blouin Foundation.

Heating and hot water for 17 new apartments in the Grassmarket area of Edinburgh are provided using an Eco Heat Pumps system drawing energy from 14 boreholes. The apartments have from one to four bedrooms and are being created within Grade B listed buildings.

Automated windows installed at a new £3.8 million primary school in Monmouthshire are helping it achieve a ‘very good’ BREEAM rating. Supplied by WindowMaster, the windows have an anti-entrapment system to prevent pupils being injured as windows close.

To meet the special requirements of the new exhibition hall of the Royal Aircraft Museum at Hendon, Nor-Ray-Vac continuous radiant tube heating has been installed. It replaces gas-fired radiant plaque heaters that were originally specified for the reconstructed Grahame-White Aircraft Factory, but which proved unsuitable. The continuous system delivers low-intensity heat with even distribution to create comfort conditions for visitors and staff but without affecting the valuable aircraft which are displayed in the museum.

One of the most unusual installations carried out by CDL, a Toshiba distributor, is in a driving simulator cab at the Leeds Advanced Driving Simulator Centre at the University of Leeds. It involves a single ducted Toshiba digital inverter split system and will make experimental conditions tolerable in the new specialised movement cab of the simulator.

Nu-Way is launching a biomass boiler for the domestic market. The EcoFlex boiler burns wood pellets and has micro-processor control with indoor and outdoor sensors. There are separate connections for space heating and domestic hot water. Ignition and operation are automatic.

Nu-Way is launching a biomass boiler for the domestic market. The EcoFlex boiler burns wood pellets and has micro-processor control with indoor and outdoor sensors. There are separate connections for space heating and domestic hot water. Ignition and operation are automatic.

Eaton Electric has introduced a range of modular timers, twilight switches and staircase timers for residential and commercial applications. It extends from one-day and 7-day timers to advanced units with software and memory cards for accelerated programming. There are digital one-year timers, a combined 7-day timer and twilight switch and standard and multi-functional staircase timers. Many of these devices are available in compact 18 mm versions for use where enclosure space is limited.

A new combined hardware and web-based approach to monitoring vibration data remotely has been developed by Monitran, which designs and makes vibration sensors. Called VI-sage, it can be used as part of a company’s asset-management and predictive-maintenance routines. VI-sage can also use SMS text messaging and e-mail to notify users if pre-defined vibration levels are reached.

Compact water-cooled chillers available from Hushon provide cooling capacities from 26 to 140 kW from 11 models. They are made in Spain by Hitecsa, and the largest unit is only 1152 mm high, 1256 mm wide and 1006 mm deep.

TSI has launched a newly redesigned range of Airflow Instruments’ anemometers and instruments for measuring indoor air quality. They are designed for building-services contractors, commissioning specialists, facility engineers and research professionals.

Lochinvar, which makes water heaters and boilers, can now supply water-heating solutions that use renewable energy by working with Rayotec, which makes solar panels. The companies are working together to design and supply bespoke solutions combining Lochinvar direct gas-fired water heaters with solar-heating products. These solutions are aimed at commercial and industrial applications.

A range of flush-fit consumer units from Hager is said to be 25% faster to fit in both solid and partition walls and to help installers meet the requirements of Part M of the Building Regulations (relating to the access and use of buildings).

Clyde Energy Solutions has added new biomass boilers to its sustainable-energy range. The Unical Trio is a 3-pass steel boiler matched with the Iwabo wood-pellet burner. Five models provide outputs from 30 to 200 kW.

Hauraton’s Recyfix-HiCap range of high-capacity slot drainage channels facilitate the run off of rainwater from large landscaped tarmac and concrete surfaces. The channels are injection moulded from polyethylene-polypropylene and can be matched with a choice of ductile-iron slots. They include a heel-safe version, and all are suitable for loadings up to F900 Class.

Following major investment in increasing stocks of replacement parts for its gas-fired water heaters and boilers. Lochinvar can deliver almost all spare parts by a specified time on the next working day.

High-output heat pumps for commercial and public-sector applications are now available from Eco Heat Pumps.

EcoLEDLighting has developed a range of downlights using LEDs as the light source. The MR16 range is intended to replace dichroic and halogen units. Their light output is comparable to existing technology, but they consume 80% less energy and are typically 85% cooler.

TAC believes most companies could reduce their utility bills by 20% using its EnergyEdge energy-saving programme to reduce operating costs, improve building performances and environments and make employees more productive.

By gathering information from up to 256 points from a variety of equipment using a single cable to its RS485 or RS232 serial ports and communicating using GPRS, t-mac’s SC unit makes to possible to communicate with remote sites over the Internet using a web browser.

TAC believes most companies could reduce their utility bills by 20% using its EnergyEdge energy-saving programme to reduce operating costs, improve building performances and environments and make employees more productive.

A device to interlock the supply of gas in commercial kitchens with the mechanical ventilation system is available from Caledonian Control Technology. The EMX50 air interlock is certified to meet the requirements of BS6173:2001 by Advantica, a Notified Body.

Hager claims that its Tebis TX bus-based control system for building services is the simplest on the market to install and commission.

‘Dynamic’ breathing insulation for buildings developed by the Environmental Building Partnership (a spinout company from the University of Aberdeen) and supported by CALA is to be trialled at CALA’s Arboretum housing development in Balerno, Edinburgh.

A new range of LST radiators from Bisque is described as lightweight, yet robust in design and easy to install. Thee are three models, all with high-output copper and aluminium emitters with steel casing and aluminium grilles capable of withstanding rigorous cleaning.

Addvent’s new range of in-duct mixed-flow fans are available as 100, 125, 150 and 200 mm models. They are designed to deliver higher working pressures in situations that require high airflow and low noise levels.

Heat recovery is a standard feature of Carrier’s Airosmart range of air-handling units — even for the smallest units. Airflows range from 0.2 to 4.2 m3/s.