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Tensar International has won the prestigious Civils 2007 ‘Product of the Year’ award with its innovative new TriAx™ at Civils 2007 (20-22 November, Earls Court 2, London).

Unlike conventional geogrids – comprising square or rectangular apetures – TriAx has a unique triangular structure which offers a multitude of performance benefits for a variety of ground stabilisation applications.

Extensive research has refined TriAx’ unique design features, resulting in a new kind of geogrid that increases aggregate confinement to offer greatly improved soil stabilisation properties. Such performance benefits are ideal for highway projects involving unpaved roads and permanent paved roadways, as well as combating differential settlement on weak or variable sub-grades. Economies are achieved through either savings in aggregate layer thickness or extensions in pavement service life; with cost, time and environmental advantages.

Group Marketing Manager, Tim Oliver, was presented with the award at Civils’ where Tensar were showcasing the features and proposed benefits of its now award-winning product.

“TriAx has been six years in the making and represents, what we believe to be, the most significant innovation in geogrid technology for decades,” says Cliff. “I am delighted to take away this accolade on behalf of the TriAx development team and look forward to seeing the product completely replace our bi-axial geogrids in the coming months.”

Civils’ NCE New Product Awards presented celebrate companies that have developed the most innovative products and services to benefit the civil engineering industry during the past year. Judges asses entries on the following criteria: innovation; design quality; sustainability and safety; fitness for purpose; commercial success; productivity gain and customer satisfaction.

For further information on Tensar’s new TriAx™ geogrid visit www.tensar-triax.co.uk

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The popular Elite ST integrated pumped shower from Mira Showers is now available in a new satin chrome finish as well as the existing white and chrome model.

Integrated pumped showers, such as the Mira Elite, have gained popularity where traditional gravity water systems and low-pressure main supplies fail to give a good shower from a mixer shower. Built into the casing of the Elite is a small pump that boosts the cold water supply to the 9.8kW electric heater to give a showering performance equal to that of an instantaneous electric shower.

The Elite ST also uses the three advanced shower technologies developed for the Mira Sport range. ClearscaleTM provides a 50% improvement in resistance to hard water scaling by using a new dual heater element designed to avoid ‘hot spots’ where lime scale can build up. A delayed shut down flushes hot water from the shower, further reducing the chance of scale, while the Rubclean nozzles minimises the build up of scale in the handset. OptifloTM ensures optimum flow through the shower, even in the summer when warmer ambient temperatures can reduce flow by as much as 50%. SensifloTM ensures that very hot water will not reach the user in the event of water restriction or pressure loss, so giving the user an invaluable extra safety feature.

Using the Logic handset, the new satin chrome finished Elite gives extra choice to retailers, installers and homeowners alike, and carries a two year guarantee.

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ThermabateTM have supplied their preformed cavity closers to a college, for educational purposes. Acton & West London College is a Centre of Vocational Excellence in Construction Crafts : Wood and Plastering Trades and prides itself on providing students with state of the art facilities and first class teaching.

A representative from ThermabateTM visited the college to discuss the use and benefits of the product with the final year students. Course lecturers felt that the exercise was invaluable in re-inforcing the College’s best practice policy by highlighting the importance of using quality, sustainable products in modern methods of construction.

The ThermabateTM insulated cavity closer provides a simple and efficient method of closing cavities around openings in masonry walls. The insulating foam core prevents thermal bridging, while the PVC-U box section forms a positive damp proof barrier and key for the direct application of plaster. It effectively prevents condensation, pattern staining and mould growth frequently associated with traditional methods of closing cavities.

ThermabateTM insulated cavity closer obviates the need for cut bricks or blocks to close cavities and avoids problems encountered when supporting traditional dpc’s and insulation boards during construction.

ThermabateTM ensures a more positive detail around openings and offers a time saving profile when built in. It is suitable for use with timber, metal or plastic window frames and can also be supplied to order in curved sections.

Manufactured under strict controls to ensure BBA compliance, ThermabateTM is also a half hour fire rated product which meets the modern day requirements of Approved Document Part L1 and L2 Building Regulations.

ThermabateTM is committed to supporting further education and by supplying product free of charge it hopes to highlight ThermabateTM cavity closers as a sustainable, modern construction method, whilst helping students gain an understanding of it’s use.

For further information or to request a technical manual or product presentation, please telephone 01924 362081.

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Mining is an important industry in Western Australia, contributing to over a third of its Gross State Product and the main resources extracted are nickel, iron ore, and gold. However due to the extreme climate, mining poses many problems; temperatures can reach in excess of 50 degrees and the area has hard water supply which contains high levels of calcium and magnesium. In some locations the water is treated primarily using the process of reverse osmosis which separates the solute from the solvent – however this is not always successful for eliminating limescale.

Scale is so severe in the mining area of Mt Newman that the 150ltr hot water systems on some mine sites regularly ‘explode’ with the force caused from pressure relief valves being heavily blocked with lime scale. The result is a build up of pressure 100 times its capacity and inevitably the permanent damage of the hot water system.

Magnets and wire wind principles, supplied by other companies have been trialled to elevate this ongoing problem, but with very limited success.

Management at a mining camp located north of Mt Newman decided to trial Hydropath patented water conditioning technology to reduce the impact of limescale. However, it was not feasible to fit the unit on the main water pipe into the camp, as the plastic pipes are prone to leaking and this would affect the effectiveness of the unit. Therefore it was fitted to the areas which felt the greatest effects of excessive calcium carbonate including catering areas, laundry rooms and cold water chillers. However, due to the extreme climate in the region, the units needed to be modified to protect them from damage from the elements. This included enclosing them in an IP56 rated weatherproof enclosure covered with an insulated galvanised shield to reduce exposure to direct UV rays and high surface temperatures of up to 70 degrees, which could compromise the effectiveness of the unit.

The Hydroflow HS38 and C45 systems were installed at the site to remove existing scale and prevent new scale from forming. They are patented water conditioning systems from Hydropath which remove limescale by transmitting randomly varying electric fields into the water and the entire plumbing system. The result is the production of nuclei everywhere in the water system. This causes lime scale to form in suspension, which is then washed away with the flow. The treated water is normally able to dissolve existing scale in a few months.

Personnel at the mine experienced numerous advantages following the installation of the Hydropath units. Drinking water has been reported to be more pleasant, elements such as those in washing machines, dishwashers, steamers and kettles are not covered with scale, and essentially hot water systems do not become blocked with limescale causing irreparable damage.

Pete Ramsay, Hydropath’s Australian distributor comments, ‘It has been a challenge educating many decision makers on the effectiveness of Hydropath’s products; with so many alternatives making bold claims on eradicating limescale which have little impact. Hydropath’s HS38 unit is unique as it treats the whole system effectively preventing limescale from adhering to the pipes and removing existing scale without the use of chemicals.’

The units are simple to install, simply clipped onto the exterior of the pipe without the need for plumbing or incision. They are available for domestic and commercial applications in a range of pipe sizes, from plumbing merchants including independent plumbing merchants and larger retailers such as Travis Perkins, Plumbing Trade Supplies (PTS) and online from PlumbWorld.

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The close control EasiCool is now even more efficient with the introduction of R410A to air cooled and water cooled models in the range and a raft of brand new options. These include EC fan upgrades; eco-friendly hot gas re-heat; compact Energy Manager; fully modulating thyristor-controlled electric heating and a suction throttle valve capable of 50-100% modular capacity regulation for precise setpoint control and capacity match.

Quiet and easy to install, the EasiCool is capable of maintaining a precisely controlled air conditioned environment within the smallest possible footprint. Benefiting from a modular construction, the EasiCool offers 6-60kW nominal cooling capacities, with 76 DX (38 air cooled and 38 water cooled) and 34 chilled water models in either upflow or downflow configuration.

Optional EC fans upgrades are now available on both indoor and outdoor units and offer the ultimate in fan efficiency, at full and part load. R410A optimisation offers greater efficiency and a lower refrigerant charge for F Gas compliance.

Hot gas re-heat efficiently re-heats cool air during dehumidification by utilising heat that would normally be rejected by the condenser. The optional Energy Manager offers full power monitoring with the additional option of a Fieldbus card for intelligent interaction with the microprocessor and BMS.

The new options add to the EasiCool’s superior energy efficient technology which includes tandem compressors for improved EER during part load operation and electronic expansion valves which provide up to a 30% increase in operational efficiency and are fully adjustable from the display on the network-capable AireTronix controller. The EasiCool also features intelligent, variable head pressure control ensuring efficient operation of the condenser fans, upgradeable condensers and optimised evaporator coils.

The EasiCool’s anodised aluminium exo-frame fits in one piece through a standard door frame and allows for full service from the front as well as 360° unit maintenance access via detachable panels.

For a complete, flexible cooling solution, a full range of Airedale water chillers is available to complement the EasiCool chilled water models and a full range of Airedale air cooled condensers complement the direct expansion models.

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Easilift Loading Systems has supplied loading bay equipment, including bespoke modular loading pods, for a new cold store opened by Innovate Logistics at Holmewood, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

Innovate Logistics, named Best Temperature Controlled Supply Chain Company of the Year 2007, provides warehousing, stock management and distribution services for chilled, deep chilled, frozen and ambient products, as well as temperature and humidity controlled storage for confectionery products.

Due to a huge growth and demand for the frozen and chilled side of the business, it made the decision to build a third storage and distribution site in Chesterfield. The building has a height of 16.5 metres and a floor area of 3,850 m2.

Easilift equipped each of the building’s four loading bays with individual dock pods, each measuring 3,000mm long x 3,650mm wide. The pods constructed from galvanised steel sections, are clad with 80mm thick cladding wall and roof panels in order to replicate the integrity of the main building envelope.

Inside each pod is an Easilift Poweramp 233 telescopic dock leveller incorporating a 1,000mm long sliding lip to bridge the difference in height and distance between the dock and vehicle floor. It is raised and lowered automatically by the press of a button and immediately brought to the correct height, and has a single axle load capacity of 6,000kg.

Each pod also contains a Combi type dock seal consisting of vertical pad seals and an inflatable head curtain, with an insulated sectional door measuring 2,750mm wide and 3,150mm high, built into the front section of each pod to allow easy loading and unloading.

Accessories supplied by Easilift for each bay include a loading dock light, an LED traffic light, trailer wheel guides and a fully integrated control panel.

Paul Redfern, Easilift’s Sales Engineer For Major Projects, said: “As the building was constructed with the main steel structure external to the cladding, we had to use galvanised steel to create the dock pods.”

Pete Osborne, Managing Director of Innovate Logistics, said: “For this particular project we were looking to work with a team of specialists with similar company ethics to our own, and Easilift matched these requirements. From our extensive experience of working with them at our other sites, we were confident they would provide the ideal loading bay installations for us.”

Easilift Loading Systems provides everything necessary for the safe, efficient and profitable operation of loading bays. This includes dock levellers, shelters, seals, pods, doors, vehicle restraints and lifting platforms, plus a wide range of accessories and safety aids, from dock plates, bumpers and wheel guides, to traffic lights and control systems.

It has an extensive customer list that’s a roll call of some of the biggest names in UK manufacturing, retailing, logistics, distribution and the service sector, with more than 60 per cent of orders represented by repeat business.

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Machinery Movers UK, the new monthly specialist magazine dedicated to the construction & quarry plant and equipment sector, has appointed leading construction industry journalist, Aaron Morby, as editor.

Mr Morby was editor of Construction News from 2000-2007, and deputy editor from 1998-2000, having originally joined as a reporter in 1996.

Under his editorship the weekly magazine was voted International Builder Press 'Magazine of the Year' in 2000, 2002 and 2004, as well as achieving a number of other media industry plaudits.

His building and construction sector media experience covers a period in excess of 20 years and he has held positions as president of the International Building Press networking organisation and chairman of the Top 100 Contractors Breakfast Club, as well as acting as a judge for many industry award schemes.

“This is an exciting opportunity and I'm looking forward to the new challenge”, said Aaron Morby.

“With an already very strong, highly targeted and continually developing circulation base, together with its clearly focused editorial approach, Machinery Movers looks set to become the key plant & equipment publication serving the UK construction and quarrying industries.”

Brian Coogan, publisher of Machinery Movers UK, said: “We are delighted that Aaron, with his extensive construction sector experience and acknowledged reputation and respect within the industry, has taken up our invitation to edit the new UK publication.”

“The launch issue of Machinery Movers UK has been extremely well received by both readers and advertisers alike, with very favourable responses from major equipment manufacturers, plant hirers, construction contractors, quarries and other companies, as well as leading industry trade bodies.”

“As a result subscription take-up is rapidly increasing, particularly with our special introductory offer @ £25.00 for 12 issues, which is still continuing for a limited period.”

“We firmly expect the new UK monthly publication to become as successful as Machinery Movers Ireland, which has already established itself as Ireland's No1 dedicated construction & quarry equipment title,” concluded Brian Coogan.

As part of its continuing development strategy Machinery Movers UK has now opened a UK sales office, with the appointment of Birmingham-based Open Box Publishing to handle UK mainland advertising sales – apart from some existing key accounts which will continue to be serviced direct by publisher, Brian Coogan.

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Significant growth, fuelled by a key acquisition, has triggered a major upgrade of the UK headquarters, in Redhill, Surrey, of global engineering, consulting and construction company Black & Veatch.

Space Airconditioning plc, the Guildford based Daikin distributor and Chelmsford-based climate control specialist Adcock Group have played key roles in a sensitive refurbishment project, that allows B&V to integrate staff into functional and project teams, following the acquisition of MJ Gleeson’s water business, and improve the overall physical environment in the office.

On time – on budget

Space Air – the largest of Daikin’s European network of independent distributors – and the Adcock Group, which handles air conditioning, refrigeration and other climate control contracts for a number of internationally renowned clients, both completed their elements of this strategically important project on time and within budget to pave the way for a smooth transition for Black & Veatch.

Daikin Heat Recovery VRV – an intelligent choice

Design Consultants WPPM uniquely specified Space Air to supply Daikin VRV Heat Recovery Heat Pump Systems for the project, the principal component of new services installed by Adcock. Adcock director, Nigel Claydon, said: “Prior to our total refurbishment project the building had experienced high temperatures during the summer. We removed a radiator heating system and boilers and installed Daikin VRV systems, which comprised 16 outdoor units and 192 ceiling void, ducted fan coil units. We also installed a roof mounted air handling unit and distribution ductwork to each floor and a dedicated fresh air system serving the conference rooms.

The whole building services installation is controlled by Daikin’s “Intelligent Manager” centralised controller incorporating web access and power proportional distribution, which interfaces with all the plant installed, this was also supplied and commissioned by Space Air.”

Nigel Claydon continued: “The contract took 29 weeks, covered 5,000 sqm over four floors and was completed on a floor-by-floor basis. It was a time-sensitive programme but we demonstrated that the project could be completed on time and within budget.”

Quality of environment reflects quality of staff

Globally Black & Veatch has more than 8,000 professionals in 100 offices worldwide. The business delivers projects that improve the quality of peoples’ lives: ensuring clean drinking water in ample supply, dependable flood prevention, conveyance, treatment and safe reuse of wastewater – and much more. An estimated 20% of the world’s population served by community systems drinks water through systems designed, constructed or supported by Black & Veatch.

Malcolm Hallsworth, Communications Manager for Black & Veatch Water Europe, said: “Our people are vital to the continuing success of the business and the Grosvenor House refurbishment provides a quality of environment that reflects the quality of the workforce.”

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Strebel’s Wood Gasifying Boilers are fitted in the UK.

Strebel, specialists in Pellet, Chip and Log Burning Boilers, were recently asked for prices for a Biomass project Ref: The Ty-Newydd Hotel in the Hirwaun Area of Mid Glamorgan. After surveying the site and the available area usable as a plant room, it was quickly realised that a pellet or wood chip boiler was unsuitable. It was impossible to get pellets or chips to the Boiler Room and a silo or fuel store was not an option. Strebel also found that there were issues with keeping the fuel dry.

Strebel offered a solution to the Consultant, Mr Graham Lewis, of the Energy Design Partnership; an alternative, in the form of 2 no. Strebel Turbotec 70Kw Wood Gasifying Log Burning Boilers, manufactured in Austria by Strebel. Not only was the price more attractive, it also meant that keeping the fuel very dry was no longer an issue. The owner of the Hotel, Mr Hillier, already had a log supplier for his open fires in the bar and sitting room areas, so everything started to come together. Carbon Trust provided grants, funding, and allowed the Hotel to install new radiators in a previously electrically heated area. Strebel provided a complete plant room package with the Boilers, a standby 150Kw wall mounted LPG Condensing Boiler, a Thermal Buffer Tank, Calorifiers, Pressurisation Unit, Pumps and Multiple Zone Controllers, all networked together.

Strebel, together with advice from the consultant, provided drawings and wiring diagrams. A superb installation was carried out by RSJ Mechanical from Cardiff, with Electrical Contractor A.J.T. Ltd also making a first class job. The existing LPG Boilers and LPG water heater were left running, while the new plant was being installed, so the Hotel experienced no disruption. Strebel were pleased to hear that all parties involved, expressed a very keen interest in this advanced Wood Gasifying project.

Once the installation was completed Strebel brought in its own commissioning engineers along with biomass specialist Mr Holger Muller from Austria. The Log Boilers and all the plant was up and running and fully commissioned within a day.

It seemed strange to ignite the boilers by lighting a small fire on top of the wood, then once fully burning, completely loading the boiler to the brim with wood to be baked and to be de-gasified. It is awesome to see Wood being burned as Gas, with a pale blue and pink flame being drawn through the boiler. There is practically nothing left when the burn is completed, reducing the very simple cleaning to a minimum.

Over the next few months the Client will see a good saving on his LPG fuel bill whilst also reducing his carbon footprint, and of course, enjoying the benefits of such a simple boiler. Everyone involved looks forward to the next project using this advanced equipment.

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Could be a tricky bit of maths but what I am really trying to answer is: ‘do you get as much from a Robust Details Ltd (RDL) listing as you do from an Agrément Certificate?’

The answer is ‘no’. The Part E Robust Details (RD) scheme was developed in order to provide housebuilders with a means of meeting Requirement E1 in the Building Regulations (England and Wales), covering resistance to the passage of sound between adjacent new build dwellings, without the need for Pre-Completion Testing – acoustic testing just before handover to the purchaser, with potentially costly implications if there was a fail.

The system has worked well and many providers of acoustic insulation systems have obtained RD listings. It is important to point out though that for most specifiers, purchasers and building owners acoustic insulation products will have other aspects of performance that need to be demonstrated, as well as an assurance that the specification of the product that passed the RD testing will not be changed to incorporate, for example, a cheaper component.

The BBA has worked with RDL to develop its RD Data Verification Scheme, linked to benchmark testing of specific components that may be used as part of an RD separating element. This process involves the BBA checking that the test data obtained by the manufacturer agrees with the requirements set out in the RD Handbook.

However, this is not the same as an Agrément Certificate.

When the BBA looks at acoustic insulation products leading to the award of Agrément Certificates, we take several key things into consideration that are not specifically accounted for by the RD scheme.

Under the Building Regulations, RDL’s role is specifically:

To approve new Robust Details as a method of satisfying Building Regulations (Requirement E1)
To manage the use of Robust Details in the house-building industry by enabling builders or their representatives to use them in new, attached homes
To monitor the performance of Robust Details and withdraw any that consistently fail to meet the required standards
To promote the use of Robust Details and publish information to help the industry improve the sound insulation performance of separating walls and floors in new homes
RDL is the only authority able to undertake this role.
The Agrément Certificate assessment involves consideration of all relevant regulations and standards that apply to the product in question, on the other hand including consideration of standards applicable in Scotland and Northern Ireland as well as England and Wales.

We look at the relationship of the acoustic insulation with other materials with which it is likely to be in contact including, for example, underfloor services, and how it should be fixed and how it will perform under long and short-term loading.

This latter aspect is important in helping us to arrive at a durability statement for the system, not something that you will find in the RD scheme. We also look to see that there is a system of factory production control in operation to ensure continuing production of the correct material. Some manufacturers claim that there are low quality foams being offered as part of floating floor systems and this is something that can happen if there is no third party control at the production source. Similarly, in acoustic battens, the quality of the timber is important and without control the temptation will often be there to substitute cheaper timber for the high-quality material that passed the original test.

Every BBA Certificate holder is liable to surveillance normally twice a year to ensure that the approved specification is still being manufactured and it is a condition of BBA approval that control processes are in place to ensure this is the case, even when our inspector is not on the premises.

There is an old rule when buying – caveat emptor or buyer beware, and it is as true in the acoustic insulation sector as anywhere else.

We say proudly that BBA approved products won’t let you down – who else can insert their initials in place of ours and make the same claim?

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