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The installation of City Multi R2 air conditioning into a state-of-the-art, purpose-built auction house in Dromore, Co. Tyrone is helping to provide a comfortable environment for international bidders from across the globe.

The new system was installed by Air Cool Engineering (NI) Ltd of Limavady, which is a Business Solutions Provider for Mitsubishi Electric. This allows Air Cool Engineering to offer a five year warranty on the air conditioning installation.

The Dromore site is the new headquarters of Euro Auctions Ltd, specialist auctioneers of industrial plant and construction equipment throughout Europe. The huge building houses a 300-seater auditorium for buyers from across the world who bid on a procession of equipment that is paraded in front of them.

When not being used for auctions, the site houses the senior management, administration, sales and marketing departments of Euro Auctions, who also operate sites in the UK and Europe.

Air Cool Engineering worked in partnership with consultant engineers, Patrick McCaul, to realise the vision of Euro Auction owner, Derek Keys for an impressive, futuristic building that provided a healthy, comfortable and controlled environment for bidders and staff alike

“With this being a brand new building, Mr Keys wanted it to have a hi-tech feel to the interior and we have therefore left a lot of the services exposed,” explained Martin Mullan, Air Cool Engineering. “That presented several challenges for our team but meant we were also able to show off our high levels of finishing.”

The two City Multi systems serve 24 indoor units via two Mitsubishi Electric BC control boxes, which allow simultaneous heating and cooling. Five Lossnay heat recovery ventilation systems have also been used to increase energy efficiency even further.

All this provides Euro Auctions with complete control over energy use throughout the building, which was an important aspect of the job.

“The beauty of the City Multi system is the complete flexibility it gives to the design process and the advance controls it offers the building’s owners,” added Mullan.

“The Euro Auction building is made up of many rooms of varying sizes, all with different heating, cooling and ventilation requirements,” he said. “We have put together different Mitsubishi Electric technologies and bespoke control systems to deliver a state-of-the-art system which matches the feel of the building and maintains the optimum temperature, whatever the season.”

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The options available with Eaton’s COPA range of clip-on plate accessories is now much larger with the addition of four metal plates in popular finishes – stainless steel, highly polished, satin bronze and polished brass. The finishes, already popular with Eaton’s AURA flush metal plate and SPECTRA grid switch ranges, will further enhance the appeal of the COPA range, which uses a clip-on cover plate to conceal the fixing screws.

The COPA range, introduced last year, comprises switches, socket-outlets, fused connection units, telephone, TV, radio and satellite outlets, and all the other wiring accessories normally offered by Eaton. The existing moulded cover plates offer a choice of white, matt black, metallic gold, metallic silver, grey and metallic blue finishes. Now the mix-and-match option is increased to ten finishes.

More recently, Eaton introduced a new range of modular communications outlets (TV, radio, satellite, telephone, data, phono and ‘quad’ modules) with plates to match existing Eaton accessory ranges, including all ten COPA finishes. These enable interior designers and installers to satisfy virtually any modern requirement for communications and broadcast media connections, using products that suite with lighting switches, socket-outlets and other accessories in the home or workpla.

Apart from the aesthetic benefits, COPA offers a number of other advantages to interior designers, installers and end users. These include an efficient and cost-effective solution to the need to satisfy Building Regulations Part M for visibility, by using contrasting colours between the plates and surrounding dǸcor, and for ease of use requirements by offering broad rocker switches and outboard switches on sockets as standard.

For the installer, it is possible to fit the basic accessories, test the installation, and leave it safely without the cover plates while other trades continue to work. This avoids the risk of the plates being damaged or stolen, the contractor can benefit from improved cashflow because he does not have to buy the plates at the same time as the accessories, and the choice of plate finish can be left to a late stage.

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aM&T (Automatic Monitoring & Targeting) the combination of automatic meter reading and M&T are high on the list of requirements for Energy Managers and Building Services designers and Clamp-On, Ultrasonic metering can make a significant contribution. However, whilst major projects including BAA Terminal 5 and the ExCeL exhibition centre in London have taken advantage of the associated benefits, general uptake in Building Services design has been slower than expected. Micronics offer a wide range of fixed Clamp-On metering solutions as an alternative to traditional in-line meters, which offer the following benefits:

? No disruption of services or problems associated with system drain down for maintenance
? Minimum downtime and maximum availability
? Significant reductions in meter supply and installation costs for larger meters and retrofit applications.
? No in-line pressure drop and energy losses

The meters can be applied in a stand-alone mode and provide instantaneous flow, totalised energy and volumetric values, communicate selected alarm conditions via relay outputs or be integrated with BEMS, aM&T or Billing systems via M Bus and other industry standard communications.

At Terminal 5 London Heathrow Airport they were incorporated into the design to minimise system downtime and maximise availability of critical environmental systems in both the Terminal and the Energy Centre. Providing a cost-effective metering solution with the benefits of high availability and simple non-disruptive maintenance.

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Substandard work by contractors and the need for properly installed passive protection in hospitals

Over the years, British Fire Consortium member Envirograf, specialists in passive fire protection products, has experienced a number of hospitals with serious shortcomings in their fire safety provisions. Two recent examples, listed below, show how a fire could have easily and quickly spread to other sections of these hospitals.

Safety failures

In the first case, a hospital in Manchester had an inspection by the fire and rescue service. Its report highlighted that the laundry rooms were a key area of concern. The rooms are situated one above the other and have both large and small plastic pipes interconnected to each other. In the event of a fire in one of the rooms, the pipes would be a fast-track route for the fire and smoke to travel. In addition, the laundry is passed by motorised hangers to access chutes from upper floors, and these are left completely open at all times witout an integral fire barrier.

The second case involved a hospital in Kent that failed an inspection by the fire service. The brigade recommended that the hospital make a significant number of improvements or face potential prosecution. Its main cause for concern was that a number of contractors over the years had fitted and replaced services and had left large holes and gaps around the srvices in which a fire could travel. Examples included cables and cable trays passing through fire rated walls with no fire-stopping products being used, and pipes and services in open risers without protection.

The room next to the operating rooms had no fire break walls above the suspended ceilings, while in other rooms the fire barriers that had been fitted had either been damaged by unskilled contractors or completely removed. Holes in previous fire barriers were large enough for a person to crawl through. Temporary partitions that had been in place for many years needed upgrading. The services through the partitions need to be fire-proofed. Electrical trunking passing through escape corridors had no fire breaks.

Many hospitals face similar problems because many of the contractors doing the installation work are not aware or have not been trained in the need for passive fire prevention products.

Installation rigour

The Passive Fire Training Centre in Dover, Kent is a unique facility that highlights the urgent need for life-saving products such as Envirograf products to be used on all new-build and refurbishment properties. The centre also informs tradesmen about the dangers of ignoring this protection and, through the services of the Nationwide Association of Passive Fire Installers and Specifiers (NAPFIS) installers can then become accountable for their work, helping to avoid sloppy workmanship which could later prove to be fatal.

Many building control departments now require properly trained installers to carry out fire-stopping work and as NAPFIS members, these installers can show that they have the knowledge and have been independently assessed.

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The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) has entered into an exclusive agreement with AMTECH Group to provide CIBSE members with access to the new LUCKINSlive.com directory of building services products and services.

LUCKINSlive.com is the first online information centre for the UK building services industry that provides a single source of comprehensive, accurate and up to date information for hundreds and thousands of products. The centre boasts a clear, easy-to-use design, with consistent product presentation, is accessible to all as no log-in is required and includes regular newsletters which are sent to subscribers.

CIBSE Chief Executive, Stephen Matthews commented: “CIBSE members are becoming more and more focused on the need to provide building users with buildings which are as excellent in operation as they are on the drawing board. The only way they can achieve this is to ensure that they specify the right products and that they are competently installed.

“I believe LUCKINSlive.com, which will be accessible via the CIBSE website, will be a resource to which industry professionals will turn on an almost daily basis.”

AMTECH Group Managing Director Mark Tindall added: “LUCKINSlive.com is set to revolutionise the way that building services specifiers and installers access product and industry information. CIBSE’s endorsement is the latest development in a relationship between our organisations that continues to facilitate the work of building services engineers and enhance the service they provide to their clients.”

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A new tool has been introduced by Klauke into the highly successful ‘Mini’ range of battery-hydraulic operated tools. The new EBS12 is a powerful cutter for security seals/ bolts/ solid bars. The hand held tool generates 3.5 tonnes of force to easily cut through materials up to 12mm diameter stainless steel – all at the touch of a button! Providing obvious H&S benefits over traditional manual methods, the tool is supplied in a neat carry case with mains charger and rechargeable NiMH battery pack. With the tool not much larger than a hand held torch, it’s easy to handle. The head of this unique tool can rotate 360o for ease of positioning, and features a battery display indicator to advise when charging is required.

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Heatrae Sadia’s market leading Megaflo HE unvented water heating cylinders are providing powerful energy efficient hot water for hundreds of homes at Poundbury, the new mixed use development on Duchy of Cornwall land in Dorchester, Dorset.

Bringing together a community of shops, businesses and housing, Poundbury is a pioneering and well known example of sustainable urban development. Quality of design and workmanship across Poundbury is carefully controlled by the Duchy of Cornwall and follows principles originally laid down by Prince Charles. All new residential properties, whether in the private or social housing categories, are built to exemplary standards and are required to incorporate energy-conservation features

Poole based Morrish Builders is one of three housebuilders developing at Poundbury. The company has been installing Heatrae Sadia’s Megaflo HE unvented cylinders in a large proportion of properties across the development, ranging from one and two bedroom apartments to five bedroom family homes.

A spokesperson for Heatrae Sadia, said: “Unvented systems are now regarded as the preferred water heating solution for new build homes – MODUS (The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Unvented Systems) has reported increased sales of around 15 per cent every year since 2000 and Megaflo HE is currently our most popular product.

“An unvented hot water storage cylinder is fed directly from the cold water mains, and provides fast filling baths and powerful showers without a loss of performance if more than one tap is used simultaneously. Unvented systems are ideal for modern homeowners who use several bathrooms at the same time and who want frequent showers and constant, but cost effective, hot water on demand.”

Morrish Homes’ marketing manager David Tharby said: “As one of three house builders at Poundbury we have a responsibility to ensure any appliances we install not only match our customers’ expectations but are also energy efficient, in keeping with the principles laid down by the Duchy of Cornwall.

“Megaflo HE incorporates several energy saving features, such as a high performance ‘coil in coil’ heat exchanger, which is placed low in the cylinder to give the maximum amount of stored hot water and fast recovery. It also has foam injected insulation to ensure very low standing heat losses from the cylinder.

“Hot water delivery is something that is important to every homeowner. It can be very disappointing to purchase a new home only to find the hot water supply doesn’t meet expectations. This is even more of an issue in larger family properties, where there is likely to be greater demand for hot water and several taps may need to be used at the same time.” Martin Northeast of Becks Heating & Plumbing of Bournemouth specifies and installs the heating and hot water systems for all Morrish Homes’ properties at Poundbury. He said: “Showers, baths and washing machines all place huge demands on a home’s hot water system, and in our opinion Megaflo HE is the best way to deliver the steady and uninterrupted supply that householders expect.

“Megaflo HE is also our preferred choice from an installation point of view. All connections are colour coded and accessible from the front of the cylinder, so it’s quite simple to achieve a tidy installation.”

Long term reliability is another important issue for Martin. He explained: “I need to know that all the appliances we install are going to be reliable, to ensure homeowners are completely satisfied with their hot water systems and any service calls are reduced. The materials Heatrae Sadia uses are extremely strong and durable, and the 25-year transferable guarantee on the Megaflo HE gives even more peace of mind, as does the level of technical and service support offered.”

Materials are an important concern to Heatrae Sadia. Being manufactured from Duplex stainless steel, Megaflo HE has high resistance to stress corrosion cracking, fatigue and erosion, and has no requirement for a protective coating or sacrificial anode. Other characteristics of Duplex stainless steel include high tensile and yield strengths and low thermal expansion. Heatrae Sadia further reinforces the quality of Megaflo HE by ensuring each cylinder undergoes comprehensive post-weld treatments, helping retain a high corrosion resistance in the welded areas.

In addition to these benefits, Megaflo HE is unique in the marketplace as it features an internal air gap and floating baffle system to accommodate expanded water. This means the cylinder is compact and self contained and the need for an external expansion vessel is eliminated.

The cylinder is designed to be straightforward to install, but Heatrae Sadia also offers a SystemFit option, designed to significantly reduce on-site installation time. Megaflo HE SystemFit models are pre-plumbed and pre-wired to offer simplified installation and consistent electrical and plumbing layout, thus eliminating on-site defects and costly call backs. With demand for unvented hot water systems continuing to grow, Heatrae Sadia has responded by expanding its range by launching solar thermal versions of its Megaflo HE – the unvented Megatech and vented Megalife Solar, designed to be used in conjunction with the solar collector panels and evacuated tube systems available for the UK market.

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Mira Showers – the UK’s leading manufacturer of showering products and accessories – has improved its Verve Bath Shower Mixer (BSM), which has now been certified to BuildCert TMV2. This ensures that it complies with BS EN 1111 and/ or 1287 and so meets the amendments of Part G of the Building Regulations that set maximum temperature limits for water delivered to baths.

It is ideal for those looking for a straightforward, easy solution to adding a shower facility to an existing bath, with the added benefit of providing thermostatic bath fill too. The Verve BSM will also help the new build and social housing sectors obtain building control approval for bathroom installations.

There are two version of the Verve BSM, one designed for wall mount installations, and the second includes deck mount connectors so the BSM can also be mounted on the bath. Highly durable – as a result of a full brass body and metal handles – Verve will work at all pressures from 0.5 to a whopping 5 bar; and is available in a perennially popular chrome finish. It comes with a 5 year guarantee too for added piece of mind.

Controls are also very simple: with one knob controlling flow and another temperature; while a diverter switches water from bath fill to shower. TMV2 approval is the icing on the cake, ensuring that Verve meets new Part G amendments requiring thermostatic temperature control for bath-fill in all new houses.

The Verve BSM valve is sold excluding fittings; which allows for a wider choice of fittings combinations depending on style, function and price requirements.

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