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Mitsubishi Electric has issued a reminder of the value of regular check ups for heating and cooling systems to ensure that they do not waste money or energy and perform well throughout the coming winter months.

In order to maximise efficiency of performance and ensure that staff stay warm or cool, whatever the British weather produces over the coming months, Mitsubishi Electric is calling on all facility managers and operators of air conditioning to check and see that installed systems are set to work to their optimum running performance.

“It may sound obvious, but its incredible how many people don’t think about how their air conditioning system is performing until they hit a problem,” says Philip Ord, Mitsubishi Electric’s City Multi Product Marketing Manager, referring not only to Mitsubishi Electric’s comprehensive range, but any system currently in use.

“People wouldn’t dream of driving their cars for thousands of miles without regular visits to the garage to make sure that the cars are performing well and an air conditioning system is exactly the same,” adds Philip.

“Filters that are clogged in air handling units result in the system’s performance being reduced and energy wasted. Vents blocked by accident or on purpose can also reduce the performance of the system.”

Regular check ups for systems, just like for people, help you get the most out of your air conditioning and ensure that you save energy and money.

Systems maintained in accordance with manufacturers’ preferred standards will run better, cost less in energy and reduce problems associated with disputes between hot and cold staff.

“We are advising everyone to carry out regular pre-winter checks on installed systems,” concludes Philip.

Mitsubishi Electric offers a full health check and system evaluation service for all City Multi systems. Further details can be obtained by calling the company on 01707 282880.

The drive for better maintenance is one of the key elements of the Green Gateway Initiative™, Mitsubishi Electric’s 10-point plan to help the country save over 3 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2016. For further details visit www.greengatewayinitiative.co.uk.

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The latest Glidden Trade Colour Card is now available, showcasing an extended colour range.

Supporting the brand’s new livery and improved product formulation, the colour card has been updated to include Glidden Trade’s new contemporary colour range of 90 exclusive ICI colours, plus standard BS 4800 and RAL.

The colour card’s design has an improved layout that ensures easy colour selection. It also includes advice on health and safety issues and application case studies. A new fandeck format is also available, which also includes NCS1 and NCS2 ranges.

Craig Frost, senior brand manager for Glidden, said “The range has been extended in response to calls for a wider colour choice from Glidden. We are finding that increasingly, even when projects need to stick to strict budgets, the scope is widening when it comes to colour schemes. By extending the colour range, Glidden can meet both budgetary and design requirements.”

Supported by new in-store POS, the Glidden Trade Colour Card is available directly from merchants, or can be ordered from the ICI Paints website www.icipaints.co.uk or www.glidden.co.uk

Launched just over ten years ago, Glidden Trade has seen tremendous growth in recent years in the UK trade market to become number three in the trade paint market. This investment in colour collateral is aimed at building on this success, with continued activity planned throughout 2007.

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Hepworth Building Products has expanded its range of domestic channel drainage products by introducing the HepFlow Polymer Concrete Channel Drain.

Lightweight and easy to fit, HepFlow Polymer Concrete gives installers a wider choice when specifying applications for domestic driveways and pedestrian areas around residential properties.

The new channel drain is suitable for class A15 applications, so ideal for use around garden paths, walkways, patios, barbecue areas, pool surrounds, laundry rooms, domestic driveways and stepped areas. It comes complete with galvanised grating and fixing mechanism and is 75% lighter than traditional concrete, making for easy installation.

Tony Robinson, Market Development Manager at Hepworth Building Products comments: “The introduction of the HepFlow Polymer Concrete Channel Drain complements our existing range of domestic channel drainage products including the HepFlow Polypropylene Channel Drain and the Hepworth PVC Threshold Drain. All three applications offer a complete and integrated surface water drainage system for domestic applications.

“With no special tools required, fitting a domestic channel drainage system could not be simpler. “

The launch of the HepFlow Polymer Concrete Channel Drain is accompanied by the Domestic Channel Drainage System Product Guide, which highlights features and benefits of the complete range and includes step by step installation instructions. This piece of literature is available to download from www.hepstore.co.uk

The HepFlow Polymer Concrete comes in one metre lengths with an overall depth of 80mm.

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With increasing economic pressure on many businesses, particularly those involved in transport and logistics, the use of double-deck trailers to transport goods is on the increase. Double-deck trailers make environmental as well as economic sense, but taller trailers can mean problems at the loading bay, where a large range of vehicle heights may be difficult to handle. Stertil’s WIS inflatable dock shelter aims to solve many of the problems caused when unusually large trailers meet traditional loading bays.

Although inflatable dock shelters are not new, they have historically been very expensive and therefore difficult to justify, except on temperature-controlled stores or where the dock is in use all day. Stertil has designed a cost-effective inflatable head dock shelter with curtain sides, which operates quickly and provides an ideal solution to the question of whether to install an inflatable or curtain shelter. The WIS inflatable dock shelter is both practical and aesthetically pleasing, with good looks an important part of the design.

The shelter is attractive and built to stay that way, with inflatable seals made from high-grade Cordura, which gives excellent tear resistance, reliable damp and mould resistance and good colour-fastness too. The inflatable seal is virtually air-tight, meaning substantial potential energy savings, as well as an improved working environment.

Inflatable shelters and seals offer a greater degree of weather-resistance over a wider range of vehicles than traditional curtain shelters, which are not designed for thermal efficiency. The top cushion of Stertil’s WIS inflatable shelter sits on the roof of the vehicle rather than against the back, giving access to the whole of the vehicle opening. For a curtain shelter to offer similar sealing range to the same range of vehicles, the head curtain would need to be more than two metres long. This would be too long to offer weather protection to smaller vehicles, as it would be difficult to create a seal against the roofline of the vehicle. Taller vehicles would be likely to catch the curtain and drag it backwards into the bay when reversing, causing considerable wear to the curtain and, significantly, blocking access to the vehicle’s load.

The WIS shelter’s top cushion is a very large 2300mm deep enabling it to cope with a wide range of vehicle heights and types. The shelter is also user-friendly: because the top cushion is inflated by a fan, the shelter can be set into a sequence of operation with the door and traffic light system, freeing up operator time and increasing productivity. Significantly, a major benefit of the Stertil WIS dock shelter is that it can be easily retro-fitted into clients’ loading bays to replace existing curtain shelters.

The WIS inflatable dock shelter is in daily use in hundreds of busy loading bays and has proved a successful and cost-effective quick fix, helping companies to cope with the increasing range of vehicle shapes and sizes they have to handle.

Stertil leads the market in the development, production and marketing of dock equipment. As well as dock shelters, its comprehensive range includes wheel guides; mobile yard ramps; scissor lifts; dock bumpers and vehicle restraint systems and mechanically- and hydraulically-operated dock levellers.

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Leading air conditioning manufacturer Airedale has launched its most efficient chiller yet, the TurboChill air-cooled, high capacity chiller. Central to the design of the TurboChill and key to its superior performance, are revolutionary centrifugal Turbocor compressors optimised with a raft of cutting-edge components. Brilliantly engineered, using Airedale’s vast expertise in cooling technology, the TurboChill minimises environmental impact by lifting efficiency to new heights and pushing down sound levels.

The TurboChill’s ‘seasonal efficiency’ ESEER values of up to 5.7 are virtually 50% higher than those of a traditional screw chiller and unparalleled for an air cooled chiller, greatly reducing operational costs and carbon emissions. The Turbocor compressor itself has an EER of up to 8.0 at part load.

The TurboChill’s intelligent, self-optimising compressors present near silent operation and allow ultra efficient variable speed control, thereby using substantially less power at part load and giving accurate setpoint control and exact capacity match. The TurboChill offers a modular capacity range of 500 – 1100kW and is optimised for R134a.

Featuring the very latest low speed sickle-bladed fans with EC motors, the TurboChill offers two sound ranges – Quiet (SQ) and Super Quiet (SSQ). The friction-free operation of the compressor presents virtually no vibration, enabling the compressor to run in a smooth sound spectrum, and as much as 5 -7 dBA quieter than a similar sized screw compressor.

A very low starting current of just 2A is built into the TurboChill compressor’s variable speed control, removing the transient starting ‘spikes’ of high peak currents normally associated with screw chillers of this capacity. It also means that electrical supply components need not be oversized on site.

The compressor’s reliable, oil-free technology enables the TurboChill to operate up to four compressors on a single circuit, intelligently managed by AireTronix controls and significantly increasing part load efficiencies. With fewer moving parts within the compressor there is no operational ‘wear and tear’ avoiding costly bearing replacement.

The TurboChill’s single pass evaporator offers the same excellent performance and efficiencies as a flooded evaporator but with much lower refrigerant charge, facilitating F Gas compliance. Optimised heat exchange and oil-free operation allow a reduced compression ratio and increased EERs of up to 10%.

Due to its superior energy efficient performance, the TurboChill meets the criteria of Class A Eurovent rating and is included on the Energy Technology List thereby qualifying for the Carbon Trust ECA (Enhanced Capital Allowance) Scheme. Log onto www.eca.gov.uk for more details.

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The HQ Stainless Steel hose assemblies with JG Speedfit and Mapress ends, both in stainless steel. These additions compliment the standard threaded and flanged fittings already being supplied by HYDRAQUIP across the UK for use by OEM’s and installers. Research within the industry also showed that a large majority of hoses used in h&v applications are over spec and HYDRAQUIP are offering a lighter weight version, which still meets the working parameters required by many applications.

HYDRAQUIP are able to offer convoluted stainless steel assemblies in bore sizes from DN6 to DN250 fitted with the appropriate stainless or mild steel fittings in a wide choice of styles, such as threaded, flanged and camlock.

An ex-stock range of Stainless Assemblies are available with stainless steel taper barrel male threaded ends offers the option of either immediate connection or adapting to suit the application. These are available in bore sizes up to DN50.

In addition to the standard fittings HYDRAQUIP are able to offer two other ranges of fittings suitable for building service applications. Assemblies with Stainless Steel MAPRESS fittings, in sizes up to 108mm, are available to suit to a number of applications such as Hot and cold water supply (mains and risers), Industrial applications, Fire sprinkler systems, Gas supply and Air supply. Technical features include; exceptionally high temperature resistance, fire resistant, hygienic, corrosion resistant, diameters from DN06 to DN250mm and offer high stability. Alongside these are the HQ Stainless Steel Push Fit range with John Guest Speedfit connections, suitable for 15 & 22mm tubes.

The HQ range of metallic hoses have a life expectancy of up to 25 years, subject to the application and can therefore offer a fit and forget solution to expansion and final connections.

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Dulux Trade has launched a new CD Rom to help specifiers create aesthetic colour schemes that also meet the duties of the DDA Guidelines. Drawing on Project Rainbow research from ICI, the University of Reading, the RNIB and Guide Dogs for the Blind, the Dulux Trade Colour & Contrast Design Guide allows specifiers to address the visual contrast elements of Part M and BS8300, without compromising on good design.

Project Rainbow led to the development of Part M and BS8300, Key DDA guidance documents. Under Building Regulations Approved Document Part M specifiers are advised to contrast visually adjacent critical surfaces such as walls, ceilings, doors and floors by differentiating the colours used by a light reflectance value (LRV) of more than 30 points. BS8300 suggests minimum visual contrast as 20, preferably 30, points difference in LRV. However, this can lead to monochromatic, unappealing colour schemes and potentially little scope for colour choice.

The Dulux Trade Colour & Contrast Design Guide is designed to offer the specifier the widest colour choice possible within the required parameters. By using the Dulux Trade Colour Palette fandeck, the unique colour notation allows specifiers to identify the LRV of a colour. By utilising the Project Rainbow Research, the guide is able to offer specifiers additional flexibility when it comes to colour scheming.

Once a guideline has been chosen to work within, e.g. Part M, a user can approach a scheme in three ways. The CD Rom contains a series of pre-selected schemes that allows users to apply designs created by Dulux Trade Colour Consultants – based on a selection of the most popular colours from the Dulux Trade Colour Palette. Alternatively, specifiers can build a scheme from a chosen colour tone area, i.e. red or yellow, or from a specific colour notation taken from the Dulux Trade Colour Palette Fandeck or Trade Classic Colour Card name.

Once developed, a visual representation of any colour scheme, together with details of the colour specification, can be saved and printed from the CD Rom. The colour specification has been formatted to enable the user to pass the document to clients or building officers for approval. The user can also link to the Dulux Trade website to order samples of the chosen colours.

The Dulux Trade Colour & Contrast Guide is available from 1st November 2006 free of charge from Dulux Trade. Email: colour_contrast@ici.com or telephone 0870 769 7668 for further details.

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Further information released by Daikin Europe NV, underlines the VRVIII-HR system’s considerable advance on the earlier VRVII-HR model.

VRVIII-HR, which is ideal for use in commercial office complexes, hotels, apartment stores, restaurants and a wide range of public sector buildings, offers important benefits in energy efficiency and cost savings to installers and their end user clients.

Many new features.

Among its many new features is the ability to connect up to 64 indoor units (40 for VRVII) to a single outdoor unit in increments of 2HP up to 48HP. Outdoor unit modules can be configured on a combined ‘multi’ basis between 18 and 48HP or in a ‘stand alone’ version from 8 to 16HP, which makes the latter the largest single unit currently on the market. VRVIII HR also offers indoor unit connection ratios up to 200% for a single outdoor module system and 160 to 130% on double or triple multi modules. Operating range is wide at -50C to 430C in cooling and -200C to 15.50C in heating.

Whereas contemporary VRF systems cease operating during defrost and oil return operations, separate defrosting of each heat exchanger on VRVIII HR multi module outdoor units and of the dual outdoor coil of single modules allows continuous heating to be supplied from the indoor units throughout defrost cycles.

Refrigerant leakage prevention is ensured by the use of brazed joints in place of flanged and flared connections before the shut off valves as well as by brazed pressure sensors and electronic gauges instead of sensors and gauge ports. There is also on average, 10% less refrigerant charge compared to a similar sized VRVII system.

The ‘night quiet’ mode is also important and can be set automatically to cut in 8 hours after peak daytime temperature and run for 10 hours before reverting to normal operating mode. Alternatively, starting and ending times can be input manually via a time clock or both automatic and manual modes can be combined as required. During the night quiet cycle, operating sound can reduce to 45dBA.

Design flexibility is enhanced by the incorporation of a powerful new inverter driven outdoor unit fan, which provides a higher ESP of 78.4Pa (58.8Pa for VRVII). The outdoor unit footprint is less than similar capacity VRVII models and piping lengths are the highest in the industry at 1000m (total system), 165m (maximum run), 90m (maximum level difference) and 90m (longest branch).

In the event of a malfunction automatic back up is provided on outdoor models, enabling a twin compressor single module to operate on a single compressor until the fault is rectified and continuous operation for 8 hours on for example, two out of three multi modules, after the remote controller has been reset.

Automatic charging and checking

Consideration of forthcoming ‘F’ Gas regulations is reflected in VRVIII’s capability for refrigerant containment monitoring during both charging and system operation. This important facility enables the amount of additional refrigerant charging during commissioning to be controlled automatically. Charging ceases as soon as the correct amount of refrigerant is transferred and refrigerant cylinder ‘empty’ status is indicated on the remote controller.

Improved efficiency

Efficiency improvements stem from the application of new technology, resulting in a 3 – 10% increase in airflow rates from the new aero spiral high output dual DC fan and grille assembly and low pressure loss bellmouth. Also, the new 3 wall heat exchanger increases effective coil surface. Friction losses are also reduced by virtue of its high thrust mechanism, which reduces operating noise as well as generating improved efficiency.

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UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) has announced that Hambleside Danelaw will be one of the four finalists of the 2007 Building Exchange competition in Valencia this month for construction companies who are designing and developing new and innovative technologies and solutions.

The news comes as the British roofing products manufacturer reported results from a customer survey which scored the Group at least 8 of 10 in virtually all areas of quality and service.

Hambleside Danelaw has won the opportunity to showcase its cutting-edge products to industry leaders at the 2007 Building Exchange (BEX) event to be held from 18-20 June in Valencia, where the finals of sailing's America's Cup are taking place. The overall winner of the BEX competition will be announced at the event.

Last year the Group won the Queen's Award for Enterprise: Innovation for its highly energy-efficient range of Insulator rooflights which are extremely effective in limiting carbon emissions. The Group has recently been accredited with the Plant Positive mark for its environmentally responsible approach to manufacturing.

UK Trade & Investment chief executive Andrew Cahn said attending the high profile BEX event could potentially generate huge amounts of business for companies looking to expand their business or export to overseas markets.

“Innovation is vital to the future of the construction industry. Each of the finalists was chosen for their commitment to promoting sustainable construction through technology and innovation,” Mr Cahn said. “The UK construction industry provides more than £7billion worth of exports every year and has an international reputation for being a leader in intelligent buildings and sustainable design and construction.”

Customer satisfaction rates remain high

Building on very encouraging results from the previous year, the latest survey of Hambleside Danelaw's customers continue to show that the Group generates a high level of satisfaction among its clients in the three main product areas of rooflights, roofing systems, and roofing and ventilation products.

The quality of the Group's building materials, for example, score from 89 to 96% in the three areas, while overall performance ratings range from 84 to 99%.

One international products supplier remarked in the survey: “Hambleside keep on improving year on year – we will need another box soon after excellent” Another leading supplier to the UK building industry said: “Dealt with Hambleside Danelaw for years; never a problem.”

Chris Avery, Hambleside Danelaw's group managing director, who is attending the BEX event in Valencia, commented: “Hambleside Danelaw's three-way approach to growth through innovative products, excellent customer service and on-going commitment to environmental responsibility has really paid off over the past two years. An increasing number of major players in the industry want to work with us and we are working hard to ensure that our performance remains high in response.”

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