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Wellington House, Aberdeen, is a modern and visually attractive, 2 storey commercial office development by Knight Real Estate in a prime location some 2 miles south of the city centre.

Comprising around 25,000 ft2 of clean and airy grade ‘A’ open plan accommodation complete with high grade finishes, energy efficient glazing and a contemporary styled reception area, the complex also features top of the range Daikin VRV heat recovery air conditioning, installed by Aberdeen based Daikin D1 dealers, Active Air Conditioning Ltd.

The air conditioning comprises 15 REYQ VRV systems with capacities between 33.5 and 44.5kW (cooling) and 37.5 and 50.0kW (heating) supplying a total of 168 Daikin FXSQ concealed ceiling indoor fan coil units. The high quantity of fan coil units provides the developer with very flexible design options for future tenant fit out requirements. Conditioned air, mixed with fresh air within the false ceiling plenum, is supplied to the accommodation areas via low pressure ducting connected to 600mm diameter ceiling mounted swirl diffusers. Internal temperature is maintained at 220C on a year round basis.

Use of VRV heat recovery systems enables heat exhausted from fan coil units operating in cooling mode to be transferred to those areas requiring heating, maximising energy efficiency, reducing electrical consumption and CO2 emissions and resulting in high COPs and EERs at all load conditions. All VRV outdoor condensing units are located in a purpose built compound to the rear of the building.

The air conditioning systems are monitored and controlled on each floor by Daikin Intelligent Touch controllers mounted within lockable cupboards. Future control options are also available to incoming tenants by virtue of wall mounted room temperature controllers located throughout the building to suit design layout requirements.

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Eaton MEM panelboards and distribution boards were specified for the electrical refurbishment programme in one of the best-known buildings in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The programme included replacing more than 30 MEM fused combination switch (FCS) units, installed more than 30 years ago and still working well, by two of the company?s latest MCCB panelboards.

York House Twickenham is a Grade II listed building that houses the Municipal Offices for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The elegant building, dating back to the 17th Century, houses the Mayor?s Parlour, the Council Room, two public halls and committee rooms. Meanwhile the Civic Centre next door, opened in 1990, houses most of the Council Staff.

The programme to upgrade the electrical distribution system in York House involved replacing more than 30 FCS units in the main switchroom and a similar number of distribution boards around the building. These have been replaced by modern MCCB panelboards and MCB distribution boards respectively. At the same time old paper-insulated lead-sheathed sub-mains cables, that had been part of the original 1920s electrical installation, were replaced by modern cables.

The existing fused combination switches were all MEM units, installed in the early 1970s. They have been replaced by two of the latest Eaton MEM panelboards and Series G moulded-case circuit-breakers. MCCBs require little or no maintenance, trip safely to protect a circuit and can be reset safely and easily by staff with limited electrical expertise, explains Paul Cook, Facilities Manager for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The panelboards are designed around the Series G MCCBs. The panelboards and devices are independently certified by KEMA to the international switchgear standard IEC60947-2.

The main panelboard is an 18-way unit with a 250A MCCB incomer. Most of the outgoing circuits have 63A three-phase MCCBs but there is also a 160A MCCB supplying a new kitchen area and a 200A device feeding the existing switchgear. There is 25-30% spare capacity.

The second panelboard is a smaller, six-way, essential services panel feeding computers, emergency lighting, the Council Chamber and one of the large public halls. These can be fed by a newly-refurbished 80kVA diesel generator to ensure that important Council meetings can proceed in the event of a sustained power failure.

New Memshield 2 distribution boards have been used throughout. These are mainly 12-way Type B (three-phase) units and replace two or three old single-phase MCB distribution boards in each location. Single-phase distribution had tended to result in unbalanced loading across the phases says Paul Cook. While the use of MCBs for final circuit protection was forward-thinking in the 1970s, the old distribution boards did not have a main switch for isolation whereas the new Memshield 2 boards all have incoming isolators.

RCBO (combined MCB and residual current) protection is provided on each outgoing power circuit, not only for personal safety but also to reduce the fire risk in the Grade II listed building. 30mA devices are used where personal protection against electric shock is paramount and 100mA devices where fire is the principal risk.

The Grade II listing meant that work had to be carried out with a minimum of structural change. Existing ducts and cable routes had to be utilised wherever possible. This called for weekend working to allow power to be switched off while old cables were withdrawn and new cables drawn in.

A third panelboard has been installed in the neighbouring Civic Centre where the requirements of modern computer installations have outstripped the original electrical provision, necessitated reinforcement of the electricity supply. The EDF substation has been upgraded from 500kVA to 1MVA and the communications centre has an 80kVA UPS system and a new 250kVA emergency generator.

The electrical upgrade for York House and the Civic Centre has been designed and managed by its own Facilities Manager, Paul Cook, and the installation work has been carried out by EDF Contracting.

?If the new Eaton MEM equipment serves as well as the old MEM switchgear, that has been in use for more than 30 years, we will be more than happy? says Paul Cook. He chose Eaton MEM panelboards and distribution boards because they are solid and reliable and offer the range of features which were needed. They are also designed with the needs of the installer in mind.

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Invincible II, that?s the name of Thorn?s new range of sealed luminaires for healthcare and industrial cleanrooms. And Invincible they really are… in more ways than one.

Perhaps the most appealing feature of the Invincible II is its low frame profile and lack of external fasteners, which makes it delightfully easy to clean. The smooth, extruded aluminum frame with toughened safety glass shields either a prismatic diffuser or louvre for accurate lighting control. It has an IP65 protection classification (IP54 from above) and a “self regulating breather” which prevents any air and moisture ingress in and around the seals.

Available in standard modular sizes the range employs T16 or TC-L lamps to give maximum light output for minimal energy consumption. Integrated emergency and digital dimmable options add further flexibility.

Invincible II is compatible with most exposed tee, concealed tee, spring tee and solid ceiling systems. Maintenance for the contractor is quick and easy thanks to the front frame?s internal locking mechanism that is simply opened by a suction cup.

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The numerous properties belonging to Bournemouth Borough Council are constantly undergoing repair and maintenance programmes, and as the demand towards more sustainable practice increases, so does the need for products and systems that offer far more than just a short-term solution.

To this end, the housing department at Bournemouth is using Zinsser paints for both the interior and the exterior redecoration of the properties, as Carl Falla, decorating supervisor at the Council, explains: “At Bournemouth, we are dedicated to achieving the Decent Homes Standard, set out by the Government, by 2010. Since 2004, we have been using Zinsser Permawhite Exterior for the fascias and soffits to the external envelope of the properties. For internal areas where mould and mildew have taken hold, such as the kitchens and bathrooms, Zinsser Permawhite Interior Paint has been applied.”

Permawhite guarantees no mould or mildew growth on the paint film for up to five years, and has a 15-year guarantee against blistering and flaking. Formulated to withstand harsh conditions, Permawhite is self-priming and extremely fast drying. It can also be tinted to any pastel or mid-tone colour and provides the added benefit of being low odour.

One of the major aims of the council is to extend the maintenance period between recoats and this is being achieved with Permawhite. Externally this significantly reduces the costs and risks associated with working at height, including the cost and inconvenience of scaffolding and platforms. Internally, Permawhite provides a solution when it is needed, as Carl continues: “Where condensation has occurred, Permawhite is invaluable as it not only covers the problem, but being backed by a five-year guarantee, it reduces the need to redecorate as often. Drying times are much quicker which means that there is minimum disruption to tenants and we have a choice of colours. In all, Zinsser Permawhite offers us the most cost-effective redecorating solution.”

Mould and mildew can occur wherever mould spores find sufficient moisture and food to grow. Mould and mildew cause unsightly stains, generate bad odours, and over time deteriorate the material on which they feed.

Permawhite controls the problem by preventing the growth of bacteria on the cured paint film, while providing a durable and attractive finish. Used internally as a two-coat system, this eliminates the need for sanding, filling and other time-consuming preparation, and for the budget-conscious public sector, this enables specifiers to significantly reduce the costs of labour and materials.

By allowing comprehensive priming protection, the Zinsser range extends the durability of the finish coat. This is achieved through the unique adhesion qualities of the product, which is specially formulated to firmly anchor the product to even the most challenging surfaces without the need for sanding or deglossing. Thus the surface is sealed so effectively that more high quality resin remains on the surface, making the topcoat more durable and impact resistant.

This falls into line with the Council’s own standard – the Bournemouth Standard – which represents a proposed standard of housing reached with the consultation and agreement of the tenants and leaseholders, and which goes beyond that of the Decent Homes initiative. “Part of our Standard is that we promise to deliver value for money,” concludes Carl, “and using Permawhite, that is exactly what we do. Additionally, good maintenance procedure equates to considerable savings over the long term, as value for money products and materials provide greater durability and do not continuously drain maintenance resources.

“With over 300 properties a year to maintain, it is vital that the products used meet all the criteria for sustainability and performance. Using Zinsser Permawhite paint, long lasting durability is assured.”

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With effect from 15th May 2008, AMTECH Group, the UK’s largest building services software company, has acquired NES Specification Expert (SPEX), the market’s leading software for creating and managing specification documents.

“The NES software suite provides a perfect complement to our popular software products within both the AMTECH and Estimation brands,” commented AMTECH Group managing director Mark Tindall. “NES users can be assured of a high level of support from AMTECH and we have some exciting plans to develop the product further. These include integration with other market-leading products and the introduction of powerful new technologies that are being developed within the Group,” he continued.

Compiled and maintained in association with the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and the Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA), NES is an invaluable tool for anyone producing building services specifications. It contains comprehensive, up-to-date specification clauses for use in any form of contract, backed by range of time-saving tools such as audit trail creation, check lists and standard formatting of sections.

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MITA Cable Management Specialists have launched a new range of wire cable trays.

The innovative aemsa cable tray system provides a complete solution for the fast and effective installation of power and data cables.

The design is based on a double transverse wire which gives greater overall strength and loading capacity and incorporates a smooth safety edge, thereby reducing potential to damage cables and providing protection to the hands of the installer.

Aemsa tray is available in 3 depths ? 70mm as standard, 35mm and 105mm. Widths range from 60mm – 600mm with a standard tray length of three metres and a choice of three finishes: electro-zinc, hot dip galvanised or stainless steel.

Ease of installation is a key benefit of aemsa. Any type of bend or junction can be formed/manufactured on site using only side angled bolt cutters and clamps. This provides flexibility in installation, particularly when unexpected obstacles crop up.

Quick fit couplers join tray sections together and avoid the need for special tools, whilst the fast fix brackets and clips used for fixing the trays to ceiling and wall brackets further reduces installation time.

An innovative design and a wide range of brackets and support puts MITA?s aemsa wire cable tray at the forefront of the market.

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World leading mini excavator manufacturer Kubota has achieved a major milestone, with UK sales of their machines now having topped 30,000; becoming the first manufacturer to do so in the British market.

Kubota are providing the opportunity for everyone to share in this success, with the chance to win a KX61-3 mini excavator worth around £20,000.

This special 30,000th machine has been generously donated by Kubota as the superb prize in a charity draw, with proceeds in aid of the Lighthouse Club Benevolent Fund (The Construction Industry Charity).

Tickets cost just £5.00 each and will be available from Kubota Construction Equipment dealers and Lighthouse Club contacts, as well as on Kubota stands at various events around the country, throughout the year, with the actual draw then to take place on Monday 10th November 2008.

Richard Harrison, Kubota UK Sales & Marketing Manager, said: “We are proud to be celebrating record-breaking sales and would like to thank all our customers for making this possible, as well as our nationwide network of specialist construction dealers for their continuing sales effort and outstanding customer support.”

Kubota is the UK, European and world leader in mini excavators and offers the widest range of machines available from a single manufacturer. Customers can select from 18 base models spanning the weight range from 850 kg to 8 tonnes and including the largest selection of increasingly popular zero tail swing machines.

All Kubota minis, from 1.5 tonne upwards, feature their unique 'ANTI-THEFT' system. This complete, easy-to-use security device was the first and is still the only one of its kind fitted as standard equipment by a mini excavator manufacturer.

With a legendary reputation for quality, performance, reliability and excellent resale values, their productivity and versatility make them the ideal tool for many different applications and end-users, from civil engineering to landscaping and plant hire companies to owner operators.

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The latest product to be added to the Ancon range offers protection to exposed edges of columns and walls in areas of high traffic.

Ancon ‘Corner Guards’ are manufactured in standard lengths of 1250mm in either stainless steel, galvanised steel or untreated mild steel. Stainless steel provides the greatest corrosion resistance and, where aesthetics are important, can be supplied with a satin-polished surface finish.

Wavy-tailed U-shaped lugs are welded to the reverse to provide a secure anchorage in concrete. The profile of these lugs has been designed to avoid clashes with reinforcing bars and to aid concrete flow.

Two standard angle sizes of 50 x 50mm and 75 x 75mm suit the majority of applications; both sizes can also be supplied without lugs for surface-fixing.

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Luckins has released a new Purchase Order module to complement the popular Software Toolcase range of software for electrical, HVAC and plumbing contractors.

The new module, which is fully compatible with Software Toolcase Estimating and the Luckins product and price databases, will not only help contractors reduce the administrative cost of materials procurement but will also provide valuable information to help maximise buying power and ultimately improve profit margins.

Using a buying list created from an estimate or data taken directly from the Luckins database, users can create purchase orders priced using the most up-to-date price and discount data. Orders may be linked to a project enabling the contractor to see a constantly updated snapshot of his committed costs.

Once the order has been placed the system enables the contractor to capture delivery information from the supplier’s Goods Received Notes, automatically highlighting over- or under-deliveries and calculating the expected invoice value.

Professionally presented purchase orders will reduce mistakes by suppliers so Software Toolcase Purchase Order comes equipped with a range of standard report formats. Alternatively bespoke formats can be added to suit an individual company’s specific needs.

In addition a range of analysis tools and reports are provided, enabling the contractor to calculate rebates due, and to analyse his spending over a period by any combination of supplier, manufacturer or project.

In common with all the Software Toolcase range, Purchase Order is designed to be easy and intuitive to use. New users receive full training, ensuring they start to see the benefits of their investment as soon as possible.

Donna Ward, Luckins’ Managing Director, commented: “We understand that reducing administrative costs and ensuring you always buy materials at the correct price can make a significant difference to a contractor’s profit margin. Our customers told us they needed tools to help them achieve these goals and Software Toolcase Purchase Order is our response to their wishes”

Software Toolcase Purchase Order joins the existing range of Software Toolcase modules which includes Estimating, Project Manager (Variations & Valuations), Budget Estimating and Enquiry Manager.

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Energy saving, sustainability, reducing emissions, reducing water usage – these are the hottest topics in a number of sectors as increasingly we become aware of the fragility of the planet’s future and place within it.

It falls to a number of companies that operate within these sectors to invest in the technology and the practical solutions that help us to address these challenges – and one of those is Wilo – one of the leading manufacturers in the pumps and pumping systems sector, a German company that now operates on a global scale and one that is happily building on its traditions of engineering excellence.

It has been looking at these areas for many years, developing and offering some of the most energy efficient, environmentally friendly products in their market sector, that you can buy. So it will come as no surprise that amongst its developments, you’ll find a range of products designed and manufactured to address the issue of rainwater harvesting – a technology area that like so many is far further ahead both in development and consumer acceptance in mainland Europe than it is here in the UK.

The advantage s that Wilo brings to the rainwater harvesting issue is an established understanding of the problem combined with a response to the problem that offers a number of pre-developed solutions that can slot happily into the rainwater harvesting needs of UK contractors, developers and homeowners.

So first of all let’s ask the fundamental question – why do we want to ‘harvest’ rainwater? It’s simply that water is an increasingly valuable resource and whilst it comes from the sky, you never know exactly in what quantity or exactly when it will come. What is happening is really a major waste of expensive, cleaned water.

For years, here in the UK we have happily ‘cleaned’ the water supply before flushing it down the toilet. Do we need to use potable – drinkable water to flush out toilets? To wash our cars? To water our gardens? Clearly the answer is no. Water that falls from the sky is in the main clean and an excellent source of water for those tasks that don’t involve drinking, cooking and personal hygiene. What would make huge sense was if all homes and businesses had two sources of water – one for the aforesaid drinking, cooking and personal hygiene and another for flushing toilets and washing cars and arguably our clothes too. That might happen, but in the meantime, many people are looking at the option of harvesting the rainwater that falls on their roofs, makes its way through a mesh filter, saving it in a tank, usually underground, and pumping it from that tank to be used in a number of non-potable applications. Why? Because it can reduce the demand on the potable water supply provided by the water companies, it can reduce water costs – particularly if you have a metered water supply of course – and can show a significant reduction in the volume of ‘clean’ water used. Its imperative that you have the facility of ‘topping up’ your water needs from the mains should the supply in your harvesting tank fall short for any reasons. It’s a necessary belt and braces solution.

Rainwater harvesting systems are far less obtrusive and can be significantly cheaper to install if they are planned into a building – either domestic or commercial at the outset. Retrofitting a rainwater harvesting system is perfectly possible but planning it into the original building makes a huge amount of sense if you can.

So why is Wilo an option you should consider if you’re sold on the idea of rainwater harvesting? Again, very simply because they have been building and working with contractors in Germany for decades and you have access to years of experience as well as to proven systems that quite simply work well. Whilst in the UK many people thinking of rainwater harvesting as an option will go down the road of looking for all the elements they need to install one, before cobbling them together, with Wilo you get the advice you need to make sure you have a working package – the pumps, the tank, the filters, and all the ancillaries including the clever electronics if you want them. Along with help in understanding the legislation and regulations that are involved in the process.

John Laming is Wilo’s Rainwater harvesting specialist and specification manager: “The technology and the systems exist – it’s just a case of specifying the right system for each job. We can look at each scenario and work out quickly which solution is the right one – assuming it is the right one. We recommend only harvesting rainwater from roof areas – not from other surfaces, such as roads for example. You have to look at the roof area and its collecting ability in conjunction with the number of people in the property you are considering using a system for. A tall office block with a relatively small roof area and huge numbers of people working in it may not be ideally suited for a rainwater harvesting project. Typically in offices, around 60-65% of all water usage is to flush toilets and urinals. It might be ideal for a new home for example, where there’s a large roof area relative to the number of people living in the property – so each opportunity is different and you have to look carefully at each case to see if it’s a viable option. That’s what we do for you before anything else.”

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