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Polymer specialist REHAU has launched a new range of pre-insulated flexible PE-Xa pipework for use in external plant rooms, biogas plants, swimming pools, district heating schemes and for connections to ground source heat pumps.

Branded RAUVITHERM, it is designed for projects where pipe flexibility and durability are of paramount importance. It features a flexible corrugated outer sleeve and open cell insulation allowing tight bending radii to be achieved around corners or when pulling into house inlets.

The outer sleeve is constructed from robust HDPE to cope with tough on site conditions and the outer layer of insulation is bonded to the sleeve ensuring that the pipe is both watertight and longitudinally stable.

RAUVITHERM uses REHAU’s renowned Everloc compression sleeve jointing system, which has been proven over a million times in underfloor heating and plumbing applications, to deliver a permanent leak free joint. Fitted easily using a compression tool, it can typically be fitted in half the time it takes to install a conventional joint.

RAUVITHERM is available in single pipe versions up to 125mm and twin pipe up to 63mm, and in coil lengths of between 100m and 300m.

RAUVITHERM is an addition to REHAU’s range of pre-insulated pipework which already includes RAUTHERMEX, a closed cell insulated alternative which is designed to deliver optimum thermal insulation for longer heating distances and larger distribution networks

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A forthcoming and important European Commission Directive drawing up new requirements for calculating and expressing air conditioning equipment performance has already been pre empted by Daikin Europe and incorporated in its new Seasonal Inverter RZQ-E range.

The performance of air conditioning equipment, generally expressed in terms of nominal performance, merely hides the significant differences that exist between rated and actual performance. The new EuP Directive seeks to reduce the environmental impact of energy using products within the EU and establishes a framework for their Eco-design. Since more than 80% of a product’s environmental impact is established at the design stage, Eco-design ensures improved environmental performance throughout the life cycle by the incorporation of environmentally conscious systems at the earliest stage of design. All such products will also require a new ‘seasonal efficiency’ rating to be quoted that takes account of multiple cooling and heating temperatures as well as unit operation at partial load instead of just full capacity. It will also consider the power consumed by equipment in auxiliary mode when the compressor is off. This ‘seasonal efficiency’ rating will eventually appear on a new energy label giving users a better idea of anticipated real life performance. The new regulations will come into force around 2013 at which time, all units unable to meet EuP requirements will be banned.

The new Daikin Seasonal Inverter RZQ-E therefore, has been redesigned ‘from the ground up’ with the result that its performance in terms of seasonal efficiency is 20% greater than the current series in real life situations with a 50% improvement over contemporary non inverter systems. Furthermore, it already meets the EU Commission’s 20-20-20 target (20% saving in total energy consumption, a reduction in CO2 emissions to at least 20% of 1990 levels and a 20% use of renewable energy by 2020). The Seasonal Inverter is scheduled for introduction in April 2010 in single and 3 phase models with capacities between 7 and 14kW and offers all the features of the current RZQ Super Inverter range.

Under EU legislation, a total ban on the use of R-22 comes into force in 2015 but prior to that, the use of virgin R-22 is also banned from January 2010. From then on supplies will obviously become increasingly scarce and the growing lack of availability will severely compromise certain maintenance operations such as compressor replacement, leading to longer system down time.

Like the current RZQ range, the new Seasonal Inverter, based on zero ODP and reduced CO2 emission R-410A refrigerant, incorporates all the features of the current Super Inverter range, including the use of Daikin ‘filter less’ technology, offering users of R-22 models a cost effective and efficient replacement and the re-use of existing piping.

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There’s still eight months to go and the organisers of this year’s National Painting and Decorating Show tell us that 80% of the stand space has already been sold.

Last year’s event attracted a record number of visitors, and all of the industry’s leading suppliers have signed up again. These include Akzo Nobel ICI Paints, Crown Paints and PPG. The principal stockists of decorating materials – Crown Decorating Centres, Dulux Decorator Centres, Johnstone Leyland Decorating Centres, and Brewers – are also exhibiting in their own right.

The exhibition takes place on 9th and 10th November at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. Call 020 8645 2433 for more information and register for free tickets on www.paintshow.co.uk

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AMTECH Group has launched LUCKINSlive.com, the first ever free online information service for the entire building services industry, comprising mechanical, electrical and plumbing sectors.

LUCKINSlive is set to become the largest single source of information on up to 750,000 building services products; including brochures, specification sheets, images, videos and more. This information is free to access and is available 24 hours a day -with no login required.

Advanced search functions make it easy to find information and links are provided directly from all AMTECH, Estimation and nes Specification Expert software, so that sourcing information becomes a seamless part of the workflow.

Users can also subscribe to the free ‘Price Watch’ newsletter that provides information on all the latest price movements in the industry, together with industry news, while an upgrade to the full LUCKINSlive service gives access to up-to-date pricing data.

Current Luckins data subscribers will automatically be entitled to enhanced product and pricing information available online through LUCKINSlive. The site is also mobile-enabled, allowing information to be accessed on the move, at any time of day.

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Extended PQF series provides more power in fewer cubicles/enclosures.

ABB has further extended its PQF series of microprocessor controlled active power quality filters for active harmonic filtering, load balancing and reactive power compensation to provide more power in fewer cubicles/enclosures. The extensions to the PQF series cover both the PQFS range, designed to solve harmonic and neutral current related problems in commercial buildings and small industrial applications and the PQFM range for active filtering of lower capacity three-phase industrial loads.

Extended PQFS range
The PQFS is a compact wall-mounting unit that has the versatility to work equally well with three-phase, three-wire or three-phase, four-wire systems. It is ideally suited for smaller and medium loads where the equipment is connected between line and neutral or line and line or a mix of all these types.

The unique feature of load balancing between line and neutral enables the PQFS to reduce even the fundamental frequency current in the neutral, normally present due to unbalanced loading between phases, as well as filtering the harmonic currents from the line and neutral conductors.

Previously, the PQFS was available in three power ranges of 30A, 40A and 60A rms. This has been extended with four further power ranges of 70A, 80A, 90A and 100A for both 240V and 415V applications. This provides additional flexibility for an installer to meet their power quality needs with an extremely cost-effective solution based on a minimum of hardware units. For example, a 240A PQFS solution can now be constructed from three 80A units, where four 60A units would be needed.

Extended PQFM range
The PQFM is ideal for lower capacity three-phase industrial loads and can comprise of one master and up to seven slave units. It is suitable for direct connection up to 600 V and is offered in two voltage groups: 208V to 480V (V1) and 480V to 600V (V2). The new models extend the V1 range to cover the power ranges of 70A, 100A, 130A and 150A.

As well as introducing new models in the PQFS and PQFM ranges, ABB has also optimised the hardware in its PQFK range, for active filtering of harmonics for commercial loads. The PQF series also includes the PQFI range for heavy industrial loads.

Standard PQF features
The PQF series incorporates a number of standard features; including individual targeting of harmonics combined with curve setting functionality and closed loop control. This allows achievement of standards such as G5/4, IEEE 519 etc. with optimal filter rating. Reactive power compensation enables the load power factor to be increased to the desired level, while balancing loads between phases helps in reducing the negative sequence current. Other features include a dynamic low loss control system, the highly advanced PQF-Manager user interface with network analysis capability, Modbus communication capability, real time stamp of events, parallel operation of units without de-rating, easy commissioning and so on.

ABB PQF active filter concept
The increasing use of non-linear loads in all types of industrial and commercial applications has resulted in the introduction of potentially harmful harmonics into the power network that can lead to overheating of cables, motors and transformers, damage to sensitive equipment, tripping of circuit breakers and blowing of fuses as well as premature ageing of the installation. ABB PQF active filters provide a reliable and cost-effective solution to this problem by continuously monitoring the current in real time to determine what harmonics are present and then injecting harmonic currents in the network with exactly the opposite phase to the components that are to be filtered. The two harmonics effectively cancel each other out so that the feeding transformer sees a clean sine wave.

ABB PQF active filters are factory assembled and tested, ready to install and use at site. They have a modular construction, which allows easy extension to cater for future load growth. There is also no need to apply a de-rating factor when PQF units are coupled in parallel, which makes it feasible to achieve a high rating within a small footprint. Since the PQF does not operate according to the conventional low harmonic impedance principle employed by passive filters it remains unaffected by changes in network parameters and cannot be overloaded.

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The new Daikin VRV-Q system represents an innovative and highly cost effective upgrade for VRV systems still operating on shortly to be banned R-22 refrigerant.

Scheduled for introduction to the market from February 2010, the Daikin replacement VRV-Q comes in 9 heat pump and heat recovery models with capacities between 5 and 30HP and offers drastically increased efficiencies and hence, reduced energy consumption compared to existing installed equipment.

Ban on R-22 refrigerant

Under EU legislation, a total ban on the use of R-22 will come into force in 2015 but prior to that, the use of virgin R-22 is also banned from January 2010. Clearly, from then on, supplies of R-22 will become increasingly scarce and consequently more expensive and the growing lack in its availability will restrict certain maintenance operation such as compressor replacement with the attendant risk of longer down times.

Current users of R-22 VRV systems are therefore, faced with the dilemma of doing nothing (!) or installing complete new systems in place of their still operational equipment with their associated full installation costs. The advent of Daikin’s new VRV-Q however, using zero ozone depleting and reduced CO2 emission R-410A, now offers these users a technically secure and cost effective option to upgrade.

The Daikin solution

Daikin’s innovative solution allows all existing VRV R-22 piping as well as the possibility of indoor units installed since 1996 and controllers to be retained – only the outdoor units and heat recovery BS branch selector boxes need to be replaced. A phased replacement programme with costs spread over a period of time and minimal business disruption is therefore possible.

The upgrade is achievable because VRV-Q is designed to operate at the lower pressures required by existing R-22 piping without compromising high efficiency levels. With a COP of 3.98 and an EER of 4.00, the higher efficiency of an R-410A, 10HP system for example, is in fact, around 50% higher than its R-22 equivalent.

In the past, oil and contaminants in existing piping could cause equipment malfunction, requiring the copper piping to be replaced whenever a system with a different refrigerant was installed. VRV-Q however, incorporates new Daikin technology whereby the contamination in the R-22 piping is captured and retained. During subsequent recharging of the system, new R-410A refrigerant circulates through the copper piping and collects any residual contamination. The refrigerant, including the remaining oil from the R-22 system is filtered in the outdoor unit in which the contamination is also then deposited. This process needs to be carried only once and generally takes about one hour. Daikin is the first manufacturer to date, to offer this automatic refrigerant charging and piping cleaning function.

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Landfill charges have a significant negative effect on the bottom line for building companies across Britain, but two major projects being run by Carillion Construction in Wales have showed over recent months how massive savings can be made – reducing costs and cutting the company’s carbon footprint.

Seventy six tonnes of building components have been saved from going in the skip thanks to the work of Plastic Surgeon: the repair specialist having been tasked with carrying out various snagging operations at the Ferrara Quay and South Quay developments; both in Swansea.

The scope of the works encompasses almost all of the specialist skills offered by Plastic Surgeon and the products saved from going to landfill include internal and external doors, windows, worksurfaces, wood laminate flooring, baths, basins, shower trays, and various types of tiling.

At Ferrara Quay the company has repaired more than 300 internal doors as well as a significant number of the wood veneered fire doors that form the corridor entrance to each dwelling. The repairs – often more than one per door – generally involved carefully filling to restore the profile, before they were rubbed down and the colour or wood effect could be restored by hand.

Then in the kitchens Plastic Surgeon’s involvement concerned filling and colour matching high gloss cupboard doors. In many cases getting the sheen or reflectance right so that the area of the repair would not be distinguishable took longer than colour matching repairs to the granite worktops. Meanwhile, scratches and other damage to the stainless steel splash-backs were simply polished out in a process similar to that which the Finishers use for glass.

While the 458 internal doors repaired across the two projects saw a total waste saving approaching 10 tonnes, a heavier individual weight meant the 149 entrance doors actually beat this figure.

With natural granite being the densest material dealt with, the worktops added another 2.7 tonnes to the figures, while the 29 baths repaired prevented nearly another tonne of waste, as well as considerable bulk, filling the skips.

Overall the 20 different categories of product or component saved – which also included a fireplace and a large number of fascia panels on the apartments’ balconies – has brought the tonnage for the job up to the current total of 76 tonnes.

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JS Humidifiers has supplied and installed two Neptronic SKE resistive steam humidifiers and reverse osmosis water treatment systems to leading data centre, Citadel 100, in Dublin.

The steam humidifiers can supply up to 140 litres of moisture every hour to help control the humidity around the 7,500m2 data halls and the water treatment systems remove most of the minerals from the supply water prior to boiling.

George McDonald, technical manager at Citadel 100, comments, “We need to maintain 50% relative humidity in the data halls to prevent static build-up and maintain a healthy environment. Without the humidifiers the atmosphere can drop to 25%rH which is a risk to both people working in the area and the equipment.

“The humidifiers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 80% capacity. The Neptronic SKE humidifiers have performed well since they’ve been installed and we’ve been able to fit and forget them with absolutely no issues.

George continues, “The reverse osmosis water filters have also been very effective. Previously we had to service the humidification system every one and a half months to empty to the limescale from the boiling chambers. This took about a day to do. However, with the reverse osmosis filters in place we only have to service the units once every six months.”

The Neptronic SKE has 98% metal construction and has been designed to keep consumable components to an absolute minimum. The heating elements are made from scale-resistive Incoloy 825 super alloy, which when heated causes any limescale that does build up to crack from the surface in small manageable pieces. These are then mostly washed to drain during normal operation.

When combined with a PureFlo 100 reverse osmosis water treatment system, which removes 90% of the minerals from the supply water, the maintenance requirements of a Neptronic SKE are dramatically reduced as very little limescale builds up in the boiling chamber. This is in stark contrast to electrode boiler type steam humidifiers, which regularly require expensive replacement boiling chambers to combat limescale build-up.

JS Humidifiers is the UK’s largest humidification company with the widest range of products and offers a service of advice, design, supply, installation and maintenance. It also offers a comprehensive range of humidifier spares, not only for JS equipment but also for a large range of different manufacturers’ humidifiers, mostly available ex-stock.

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