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Dulux Trade is proud to have taken part in the construction industry's first virtual sustainability exhibition called 'Sustainability Now'.

This unique virtual event highlighted the essential issues that matter right now for those creating a sustainable built environment.

Exhibitors were thought leaders in sustainability. Key issues such as energy performance certificates, the Code for Sustainable Homes and energy were covered.

Visitors to the virtual Dulux Trade stand:

• Read about a new era in paint sustainability and performance. The recently launched Ecosure paint range offers the perfect balance of both.
• Discovered how using the Diamond Range can extend maintenance cycles.
• Saw how up to 20% less light energy can be used by specifying unique and innovative Dulux Trade Light & Space colours.
• Read about 'Natural Paints'.
• Learnt about the Environmental Wash System, which provides an environmentally responsible way of washing out brushes and rollers.

An exhibition visitor commented “Extremely professional and very impressive. I think that Sustainability Now is leading the way in providing accessible and relevant information in a format which is suitable for national dissemination.”

James Green, Trade Communications Manager for Dulux Trade commented “Sustainability Now was an excellent opportunity for us to demonstrate our leadership in sustainability amongst the paint manufacturers. We are committed to developing products with sustainability built in without compromising on the products' quality. The Ecosure paint range from Dulux Trade, which has been launched recently, represents an approach to meeting sustainability that's grounded in scientific rigour and was developed in conjunction with leading independent sustainability experts 'Forum for the Future'. The Environmental Impact Analyser (an analytical tool), devised by 'Forum for the Future' – is used to measure the environmental impact of the range.”

What is a virtual exhibition?
A virtual exhibition is a conference that is held completely online, by using the latest in virtual event technology. It runs directly from your internet browser without the need for any downloads or installations. As with a real conference or exhibition, you can explore booths, attend seminars and chat to exhibitors and peers in real time.

Who attended?
Attendees consisted of architects, clients, consultants, engineers and house builders involved in sustainable projects, interested in learning about zero carbon developments and the implications of recent legislature to their businesses.

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The traditional frustrations and time delays associated with procurement, on-site deliveries and subsequent invoicing, are now a thing of the past. Vixensoft have developed a unique solution for building services contractors designed to modernise purchasing and speed client invoicing.

ViXEN Remote Requisitions introduces the use of mobile data communication into the purchase order process, enabling your engineers to access materials databases on-site via a PDA, laptop or remote PC. Using this facility, your engineers can then send a purchase order requisition electronically to the office, be kept automatically updated on-site of their requisition progress and instantly notify office staff of materials delivery. The system is entirely flexible and can be configured to meet specific work flow procedures.

Breaking the use of ViXEN Remote Requisitions into stages, below is an illustration of how this revolutionary solution may typically be used to benefit your procurement process and, in turn, your business:

Stage 1
A subset materials database is created from your central Price File Database for remote access by your engineers on-site.

Stage 2
A purchase order requisition is raised by an engineer on-site using the subset database on his PDA. The requisition is then sent via GPRS link from the PDA (or via the Internet from the remote PC) to the back-office system Requisitions Module.

Stage 3
The requisition is checked, amended and/or authorised before being posted to the Purchase Order module. The purchase order is then raised and sent to the supplier, the system automatically updating the Purchase Order Ledger and Job Costing modules with committed costs. The engineer is automatically updated on his PDA with the purchase order details and progress.

Stage 4
On receipt of the ordered materials on-site, the engineer sends an electronic delivery note from his PDA which automatically updates the office system. Without having to wait for a hard copy of the delivery note or the supplier invoice, delivered materials can be checked against the purchase order and actual costs posted to speed client invoicing.

ViXEN Remote Requisitions is part of a fully integrated system of Estimating, Purchase Order, Job Costing & Purchase Ledger modules, allowing for automatic system updating. The solution benefits include:

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Calling out to all racing fanatics – CHUNDER in the Park 7, the annual charity event organised by HYDRAQUIP is only months away and to ensure you are there register your team today. 35 teams, 210+ drivers, 3 hour endurance!

Last years event saw nearly 200 drivers make up in excess of 30 teams to compete in this hard fought three hour endurance around the 1200mtr Buckmore Park Circuit in Kent. This was the sixth time that HYDRAQUIP has run CHUNDER and in doing so have helped raise in excess of £30,000 for the charities supported by local radio station MERCURY fm. In keeping it local, the stations' support extends to charities in the Sussex, Surrey and Kent areas that do not receive the same financial support as some of the household groups and without it would struggle to continue their good work. Over the years the event has had the support of both local and national companies and individuals who have donated prizes and their time to help raise the monies.

All monies raised will be donated to MERCURY fm's charity trust which supports local charities. With your help and support, this years total will take the grand total past £35K to date, so put the date in your diary and make this another memorable event for those who need our help.

Companies or individuals that can offer an item for the raffle are requested to contact Geoff Kelley at HYDRAQUIP (geoff@hydraquip.co.uk)

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Passive fire protection (PFP) is vital in the safe design of modern buildings. To be beneficial, products must meet the daily demands placed upon them and also perform effectively when required, reducing the spread of fire and smoke, and giving occupants more time to evacuate the building.

Bostik has over 120 years' experience in manufacturing safe and effective product ranges and is the UK's leading manufacturer of sealants and adhesives for the construction, glazing, furniture manufacture, packaging, and HVAC markets.

Bostik's Idenden range is the UK's leading brand of adhesion, sealing and protection products specifically developed for the thermal insulation industry. Within this range, Bostik offers specifically developed flame resistant and fire protection products including Fire & Acoustic Sealant, Fireseal Silicone, Intucrylic Sealant and Intustrip.

Seal of Approval
The sealants in Bostik's range inhibit smoke and fire by filling gaps such as service penetrations in the walls and floors of structures. The Fire and Acoustic Sealant, Intucrylic Sealant and Intustrip are all intumescent sealants that swell in the event of a fire to form an insulating char, resistant to the passage of smoke, gases and flames.

The Fire & Acoustic sealant also has the added benefit of reducing sound when sealing and bonding plasterboard and other insulation boards.

Fireseal Silicone can be used as a flexible service penetration seal for metal pipes and cables and provides up to four hours fire resistance in joints up to 100mm wide. Fireseal Silicone provides an excellent cold smoke seal and its low smoke emission and low level toxic fumes make it ideal for use in public areas.

Bostik's fire protection products are tested to BS476: part 20 1987, giving up to four hours fire resistance. Intustrip, a pre-formed strip sealant developed for use as a compression seal provides up to 30 minutes fire resistance in a suitable assembly, and has also been independently tested to BS476: Part 7 – Class 1, part 6 – Pass, and Building Regulations – Class 0.

Adhering to Safety Standards
Bostik's Idenden range of adhesives is recommended for use in fire protection systems to bond fibrous insulation materials to a wide range of surfaces such as galvanised ducting, unpainted steel, concrete and brickwork. The waterborne fire resistant structural adhesive dries to form a non-combustible film that provides a two-hour fire rating.

Bostik's specialist fire resistant coating also offers two hours proven fire resistance as well as Class 0 compliance. Designed for coating applications in the installation of pre-coated and plain mineral fibre batts, it is also suitable for coating cables and pipes in large service openings in fire-rated compartments.

The Idenden range includes a number of other products that provide flame resistance and Class 0 compliance, including: fire resistant mortar which cures quickly to form a load bearing seal; duct sealants; aluminium foil tapes; and a number of protective sealer and vapour barrier coatings.

Commenting on the range, marketing manager, Richard Sellman, says: “Building owners and those responsible for the maintenance of buildings have a duty of care to all those who occupy or use the building, in particular to the means of escape such as stairways and corridors. Bostik's specially developed fire protection products can delay the spread of smoke and flames, giving occupants more time to escape should a fire break out.”

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Marley Eternit’s popular Hydropanel internal partition board is not only suitable for painting, papering and tiling over but it is now available in a smaller, lighter, one-man size.

Hydropanel was originally launched in three dimensions (1,200×2,500mm, 600×2,500mm and 1,200×3,000mm) but so versatile is it proving for dry construction, that Marley Eternit has now extended the range to include a 900×1,200mm one-man board weighing just 13.2kg

Hydropanel is a high performance board for use in buildings ranging from homes to hospitals and offices to leisure centres. It can be used throughout buildings, on their walls, ceilings and floors, and its smooth surface finished with paint, render, wallpaper or other decorative systems compatible with the board.

Hydropanel has exceptional proven performance offering resistance to fire, impact, water and sound. The high dimensional stability of the board also reinforces the building structure. Easy to handle and work, the boards are simply screw fixed using standard tools to a variety of timber or metal fixing systems.

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Hamilton Litestat’s Cheriton Victorian wiring accessory range, which was supplied through Rexel Senate Eastbourne, has been featured at a major harbour front development at Grosvenor Quay, which lies at the heart of the prestigious Sovereign Harbour marina complex in Eastbourne, East Sussex. This comprehensive range of decorative wiring accessories has enabled the electrical contractor Chris Bartholomew Electrical Contractors Ltd to incorporate all the required accessories, including specials and multi-media, to address the more sophisticated demands of these luxury 2 and 3 bedroom apartments.

Property developer, Durham Construction selected these high quality accessories as part of its drive to provide aesthetically pleasing, top-end properties that are able to meet the lifestyle requirements of potential purchasers. To this end these apartments have also been pre-wired using Cat 5e and Coax to accommodate a compact residential infrastructure system which is able to facilitate the use of a fully integrated multi-room audio and entertainment system. To maintain continuity of design throughout the project, Hamilton Litestat has provided special Cheriton plates which are able to incorporate the grid frames and modules for the CHRIS system.

Barry Mepham, sales manager for the Grosvenor Quay properties at the Marina New Homes Partnership said, “Attention to detail has ensured that these high specification apartments are able to attract the more discerning buyer. The use of Hamilton’s Cheriton plates not only provides the all important quality edge to complement the interior styling, but also ensures continuity of design as the special accessory plates are an exact match to those that are used for the standard switches and sockets. This focus on aesthetics is important in this type of luxury accommodation as it adds value, helping to establish a product differential when compared with lower specification properties.”

According to the site’s electrical contractor Chris Bartholomew of Chris Bartholomew Electrical Contractors Ltd, “Most manufacturers don’t provide a complete range which makes it more complicated to provide the client’s required wiring solution. With Hamilton’s Cheriton Victorian range it offers a full range of products, in a wide range of finishes, and with the option of box or grid fix, it makes it extremely easy to get the job done in the most appropriate way without having to compromise.”

Hamilton’s wiring accessories have been supplied through the Eastbourne branch of Rexel Senate. The branch manager Paul Long said “. We found Hamilton Litestat most helpful as well as being extremely competitive in their pricing. We appreciated their ‘don’t say no’ attitude along with their ability to provide specials to suit the exact needs of the project, such as the media plates and those that have been modified for the CHRIS modules. By developing a good working relationship with this manufacturer, we have been able to support our client in winning their bid for this valuable contract”

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Space Air has recently revamped its popular residential show room at the Guildford HQ in Surrey. Following the success of the showrooms original opening in 2005 and the interest shown in the ‘as installed’ “Altherma”’ system on the Space Air stand at Ecobuild 2008 and the Ideal Home show. The revamped showroom features fully operational models of the DAIKIN residential product range; heat recovery ventilation, air-to-air split and multi split systems and the latest air-to-water heat pump system, ‘Altherma’.

Space Air’s Managing Director, Neil Afram commented “Although heat pump systems have been around for many years, they are a relatively new concept to the UK residential market and most home-owners are not familiar with this technology. The showroom is intended to provide clear, accurate data for the consumer, reassuring them with the look and feel of the systems. For many this is a large investment for their heating / cooling or heating and hot water needs and visitors can gain a much better perspective on the products-before they buy.”

The showroom features various wall and floor mounted fan coil units, above ceiling concealed units and cassettes, as they would appear within a home. The ‘Altherma’ system has been displayed in a cut-away airing cupboard, connecting to a variety of wet central heating emitters. All of the DAIKIN residential range easily conveys the distinctive functions that are considered to be particularly important to the home-owner, such as silent operation, stylish compact designs, energy efficiency and low carbon alternatives and simple but comprehensive controls.

For those considering heat recovery ventilation for the home, a Daikin HRV system is displayed on a wall in the form of a schematic drawing but with all the actual hardware in position. This particular system has been specially developed for the home-owner, by Space Air, and features push-fit components. No special installation skills are required and so, apart from the electrical connections this particular system could be considered a DIY product, subject to following the clear guidelines drawn up by Space Air design engineers. Daikin’s Siesta 7 ‘FS’ photocatalytic air purifiers can be seen fully working and viewed in cut-away form so that the seven filtration processes are clearly visible.

Existing dealer installers, consultants, architects, interior designers or, of course, end-users are welcome to visit the showroom at any time during normal working hours by appointment. A member of the Space Air sales team can accompany visitors and demonstrate the fully operational systems.

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With only three tools required to fit the consumer unit, this is our fastest fitting unit ever. The angled fixing points allow for easy adjustment when aligning. The flexible fixing points accommodate uneven walls, and the wide range of fixing points available offers a wide choice of mounting arrangements.

The meter tail kit accessory allows you to save time when installing 25mm2 and 35mm2 meter tails by simply connecting to the direct terminal block. This removes the need to bend incoming cables into the consumer unit and the flexible links provided with the kit reduce stress on the incomer.

A removable top wall allows easy cable entry, just lay the cables in place. Guides built into the wall and base ensure that the cables are kept away from sharp edges. The two foam strips provided ensure that the consumer unit seals to the IP4X standard.

Increased space between the terminal bars and devices and no restrictions under the din rail. Combined with the din-rail removable clip, featured on all Hager MCBs, which allows for device removal without releasing the bus bar, results in a

The terminal bars are top mounted allowing for easy wiring alignment with devices. The earth bar is centralised with outgoing circuits.

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Cityroofs’ solutions transform living space on podiums, balconies and terraces. Using Aquadyne technology, green roofs and facades are created using panels manufactured entirely from recycled plastic. The Aquadyne sheet acts as wick, water store and diffuser, primarily to assist with storm attenuation drainage. Its properties enable plants to be grown, fed and irrigated, the soil-less structure creating herbaceous growth without the risk of soil slippage. Dense, evergreen, self-seeding, non-invasive varieties with creeping root structures such as birds’ foot trefoil or rupturewort require little more than annual inspection.

Whilst independent tests have shown that 22 sq m of Aquadyne will save approximately 1 tonne of CO2, it is also extremely lightweight when saturated Such lightweight green roof structures can remain green all year round with irrigation but if preferred, traditional sedums can be used without irrigation, retained water being taken from the roof deck to the roots by capillary action.

Non-irrigated modular systems can collect sufficient rainwater in their reservoir to support growth for 3 weeks or more. Used with the Dreen range of paving products, designs can be created for hard and soft landscaping and mixed use environments. Aquadyne’s high inherent strength enables it to be used for storm attenuation under Pardak slabs too. Designed for vehicular traffic, Pardak avoids need for visible surface drainage in shared pedestrian / car environments.

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Daikin Sky Air FVQ floor standing heat pump units are specially designed for quick and easy installation in high ceiling stores and offices. Extremely quiet in operation, the units include a built-in high efficiency, long life filter which reduces maintenance time and cost.

Sky Air FVQ heat pump units are ideal for use in applications where there is no false ceiling or where cassette, concealed ceiling or traditional ceiling units cannot be installed. The units also include several features that enhance comfort. They are quiet in operation, with sound levels as low as 36 dB(A), which is comparable to a quiet room. A choice of two fan speeds is also available – high or low — and the special Daikin dry programme reduces humidity in the room without variations in room temperature.

The horizontal auto swing feature moves the flaps slowly from left to right to distribute air effectively throughout the entire room whilst the vertical air flow pattern can be adjusted manually to match cooling or heating requirements in different sized or irregularly shaped rooms.

Easy usage is ensured via the remote controller mounted as standard on the front of the unit. Furthermore, the LCD control panel can be detached and used as a wired remote controller, enabling the indoor unit to be controlled from a remote location.

Innovative Daikin inverter technology enables the power to be modulated to suit actual requirements by monitoring and adjusting the ambient temperature. The inverter also shortens system start-up time, enabling the required room temperature to be reached more quickly. As soon as that temperature is reached, the inverter ensures that it is constantly maintained.

The indoor unit is equipped with a high efficiency, long life filter, the remote controller indicating the need for filter replacement, thereby ensuring optimum operation and reducing maintenance time and cost.

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