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For Ecobuild 2011, rolled zinc market leader VMZINC will be exhibiting its new G3 range of standing seam ridge and eaves flashing accessories. Also being shown are standing seam, interlocking panel and overlapping panel systems in 5 pre-weathered colours. These include PIGMENTO® green, blue and red, all of which are used with the compact warm roof VMZINC PLUS system which will be a further product displayed. VMZINC PLUS needs no underside ventilation and is available in conjunction with cellular glass, mineral wool, PIR insulation or composite boards in straight or curved profiles.

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Eaton’s EMA wiring accessories and MEM Memera consumer units are being used exclusively on a project to upgrade 15,000 homes in Liverpool. The five-year programme by Liverpool Mutual Homes involves properties, some dating back to the 1920s, which are being fitted out to exceed the Decent Homes Standard for social housing. The electrical content includes individual RCBO protection of every electrical circuit.

The five-year programme began in April 2008 when the newly-formed housing association, Liverpool Mutual Homes, took over responsibility for the housing stock from Liverpool City Council. The programme includes roofing and external cladding, new windows and doors, upgraded thermal insulation, central heating, complete bathroom and kitchen refits and rewiring. Initially work concentrated on ensuring that all homes were warm and dry. The first electrical contracts commenced this year.

LMH and its Consultants, Tweeds, decided to opt for individual RCBO protection of all power and lighting circuits. This offers the maximum levels of user safety required under the 17th Edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations, BS 7671. If a device trips, all other circuits in the property will continue to function normally.

Eaton’s MEM Memera consumer units were selected to satisfy this requirement. These are supplied with the protective devices ready fitted. LMH standardised on an 11-way unit for all properties, regardless of size. The normal circuits – cooker, lighting circuits etc. – are always connected in the same configuration to simplify maintenance. They include a separate kitchen ring circuit. Spare consumer circuit ways are available for use where tenants have additional equipment such as electric showers or stairlifts.

An LMH call centre number is available; if a tenant calls, the operator will normally be able to instruct them on the correct procedure to identify and re-set a tripped RCBO. LMH believes that this will reduce the number, and cost, of call-outs significantly.

Eaton’s EMA moulded accessories are used throughout. These are stylish, robust and cost-effective accessories moulded from polycarbonate with tight-fitting plugs that cover the fixing screws and make for a smart appearance. Switches controlling major appliances such as hobs, fridge/freezers and central heating are engraved to indicate their function.

Eaton has also supplied pendant sets from its Circa ceiling accessory range.

LMH wanted a clearly-defined supply chain for electrical products. It was agreed that all the consumer units and accessories should be sourced from Newey & Eyre’s Liverpool branch via the Regional Distribution Centre in Warrington. Luminaires, smoke alarms and other electrical products were also supplied by Newey & Eyre, thereby offering a single point of supply for all electrical installation products. Eaton and Newey & Eyre each undertook to hold two months’ stock of product.

Consultants for the LMH refurbishment programme are Tweeds Construction Consultancy of Liverpool (a member of the WYG group). Contractors and sub- contractors are appointed on a project-by-project basis from the LMH framework of contractors.

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For Ecobuild 2011, Klober will focus on the issue of airtightness of roofs in relation to research undertaken to demonstrate the U-values, levels of airtightness and other measures needed to comply with Approved Document L1A and Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. As the first roofing product manufacturer to publish literature examining the principles of building fabric air permeability, Klober will use Ecobuild to launch its updated 'Taking Control of Air Leakage' brochure and 'SAP Analysis Supplement'. This will outline the benefits of building to low levels of air permeability and examine specific improvements that can be achieved over the TER by using an air permeability of 3 m³/hr per m² as distinct from 10 m³/hr per m² (the default value for TER in England and Wales).

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Daikin Europe NV has introduced a new air to air heat pump system for heating and cooling residential premises and small offices. Designated Nexura FVXG, the system comes in three sizes with heating capacities from 4.5 to 8.1kW and cooling capacities from 3.0 to 5.6kW.

Stylishly finished in white, the indoor unit is fitted with a unique front panel that heats up like a conventional radiator and releases warm air into the room at a reduced and even flow for added comfort. This innovative feature, of particular value during cold snaps, can be activated at the touch of a ‘radiant’ button on the easy to use remote controller. Operating noise is low at 22dBa in normal operating mode and just 19dBA in radiant mode. As a comparison, the ambient sound in a generally quiet room is on average, about 40dBA. Operational flexibility is ensured by the controller’s built-in weekly timer, which allows a 7 day schedule to be programmed with 4 different actions per day.

Far more energy efficient than fossil fuel based heating systems, Nexura has a COP of 4+ and can be used either in single room format with one indoor unit connected to one outdoor unit or in multiple room format with up to 9 indoor units connected to a single outdoor unit. Indoor units can be built-into enclosures or wall or pedestal mounted.

Extra energy efficiency is achieved via the ‘night set’ mode, which prevents over heating or over cooling and when the timer is switched on, the temperature is set at 2 deg C lower during warming and 0.5 deg C higher during cooling to prevent rapid temperature changes during sleeping hours.

Indoor air purity is ensured by a titanium apatite photo-catalytic filter, which traps microscopic dust particles, breaks down odours and absorbs organic bacteriological and viral contaminants. Overall system control and efficiency is achieved by renowned Daikin inverter technology, enabling compressor speed to be varied according to heating or cooling demand. This provides stable room temperatures, reducing energy consuming stops and starts, returns energy savings some 30% greater than traditional on/off systems and prevents overloading when other household appliances are in use.

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Megger has added two new testing and insulation diagnostics products will be a strong addition to the Megger range of test instruments for the power industry.

• Transformer finger–printing for non–invasive condition monitoring of electromechanical changes.
• DFRA analysis of transformer insulation materials for moisture

Dielectric Frequency Response Analyzers

Pax IDAX range of Dielectric Frequency Response Analyzers are designed for measuring moisture in power transformers as well as testing insulation material in various power system products. The IDAX300 represents the latest generation in the well known IDA/IDAX range of instruments and represents a breakthrough in terms of weight–performance ratio. With its optimized design the test set is three times smaller and lighter and performs insulation characterization twice as fast as its predecessor IDA200.

Sweep Frequency Analysis products

Pax FRAX range of Sweep Frequency Analysis products are designed for detecting electromechanical changes inside power transformers. The products have the highest measurement range and accuracy in the industry and fulfil all recent international standards and recommendations for SFRA testing.

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Following the announcement of HM Government's Comprehensive Spending Review announced earlier this week, OFTEC has welcomed the news that the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) will still be introduced from April 2011. It had been feared that the scheme would be scrapped altogether, but the government has instead pledged £860m funding to support the installation of renewable energy technologies.

OFTEC Director Jeremy Hawksley said, “We have yet to learn the full details of the RHI, but we are pleased to learn that a levy will not be imposed upon oil or other existing heating fuels in order to fund the RHI. The original draft RHI contained incentives for a new generation of blended bio-liquids for heating (B30k) which could replace 100% Kerosene, and we urge the government to include those at the subsidy level which was originally proposed.”

A blend of 30% Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) manufactured from waste cooking oil, and 70% kerosene has been proven to reduce carbon emissions by 28% compared to conventional kerosene which is currently used by the majority of households on oil. Field trials carried out in Norfolk last year used this B30k blend to replace kerosene in around 25 sites, with no adverse effects reported to date.

Over 1.8 million oil heating customers in the British Isles could easily switch over to a lower carbon fuel, without having to replace their existing heating systems. Businesses could benefit too from the switch to bio-liquid heating fuel with minimum capital expenditure.

OFTEC believes that 90% of existing oil customers could transfer to bio-liquid by 2020. However, the amount of incentive is key. Under the original RHI proposals, bio-liquid users would be eligible for grant payments over a 15 year period. This is the minimum level of incentive needed to make bio-liquid economically viable for end users. Otherwise, OFTEC claims that heating oil users – many of whom are in rural areas – will be disadvantaged, and the government will be missing out on a big opportunity to reduce carbon emissions.

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For a £10.8 million upgrade to the 'London Clinic', the UK’s largest independently-owned hospital located at 114-120 Harley Street, three existing buildings presented distinctly differing interior design requirements. Laidlaw Solutions worked with architects Floyd Slaski to overcome a number of challenges posed by two completely different architectural styles.

The client’s brief was to provide an open plan interior by completely gutting the three buildings. The faÇades of 114 and 118 were retained as a requirement of the Conservation Officer but that of 116 had to be demolished due to differences in floor levels.

A pathology lab and 29 new consulting rooms were provided for, amongst others, gastroenterologists, neurosurgeons and consultants of the London Clinic’s Liver Centre and renowned London Spine Clinic. “The fit out fell into two distinct parts,” says Mike McCann who handled the project for Laidlaw Solutions. “But in both, the architects required a very high level of finish and specification throughout. Laidlaw scheduled over £80,000 worth of hardware.”

In numbers 114-118, the style was modern and contemporary with hardware in Satin Stainless Steel. Elliptical levers and pull handles were selected from the Orbis Premier range together with special sized push plates. These featured insert holes to take 50mm signage discs insert. Locks with 72mm centres from the Orbis Commercial range were also specified.

Roy Chalk, Senior Partner of the Floyd Slaski Partnership commented, “At the Practice we invariably choose to specify Laidlaw ironmongery for our many and very varied projects. Not only are we aware that the Laidlaw range is excellent in both terms of style and quality but also that their before and after sales service is second to none”.

The design features of Orbis Premier provide high quality performance and finish which makes them ideal for such high-profile and heavily trafficked public access areas. In back of house areas standard Orbis Commercial adjustable power closers with cam-action closers were selected.

The doors were manufactured in a stunning American cherry wood especially for the project and the architraves were also of bespoke design. Laidlaw had to provide the channel and arm of the closer in as close a match as possible since it had to be cut into the architrave.

The contrast in hardware for number 120 couldn’t have been greater. Front of house areas had to retain their original Georgian style so to achieve this, the architect chose satin brass knobs and levers with a clean, simple traditional design. A mix of horizontal and upright lock cases with suited cylinders completed the package. All external entrance doors fronting onto Harley Street were fitted with period hardware.

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– new radiator design to benefit from hot Spanish influence!

At the recent Installer Live exhibition at the Ricoh Stadium in Coventry, Europe’s favourite radiator company Stelrad asked visitors to the show to suggest a name for their latest radiator design. The incentive to come up with a great name? Their very own iPad!

During the very successful three day show, they had literally hundreds of suggestions – many of which were interesting…. but not the right approach for a designer radiator marketing campaign! Lorraine Hawes from Stelrad’s marketing team says that some of the names were fun – but clearly not right for the product: “’Alcatraz’ was fun but suggested heating in a prison cell, which wasn’t quite what we were looking for. ‘Executive’s Smile’ seemed to be inspired by the number of radiators we might sell. And ‘Fred’ was altogether too cosy! ’Grillrad’ suggested that we should use it to cook sausage and bacon on as well as heat a room and ‘iRAD’ is probably one we’d get sued for using! ‘Mini Bar’ suggested where that visitor had been the night before and ‘Solitaire’ was just a bit too lonely! ‘Terminator’ was interesting but conjured up visions of someone bursting through the wall behind it, while ‘The Clothes Rail’ might accurately describe what it might become in a home, but we rather hoped it might be seen as an aesthetically pleasing feature rather than a functional piece of metalwork. In the end the judges decide they liked ‘Caliente’ – which is Spanish for heat’.

This was the suggested name of Lynda Douglas from BCosy Heating in Barton-under-Needwood in Staffordshire. And her name selection has won her an iPAD.

“I’m delighted to have won but very surprised,” she said when told of her good fortune. “When you’re at exhibitions you tend to fill forms in and have a go at things but you don’t really expect to win anything! As a firm we install loads of Stelrad radiators so it will be fun to see orders flying in for the one I’ve actually named! I haven’t tended to win too many prizes over the years so I’m really looking forward to getting to grips with my iPad!” Bcosy is a small but perfectly formed heating and plumbing company with four employees – Steve and Lynda Douglas are its directors with Lynda running the office and Steve is an engineer of some repute. Bcosy employs two engineers, Bash and Derek. Steve started the company in November 2007, having been a senior engineer for a manufacturer within the heating industry where Lynda was the service centre supervisor. He moved from the North East to marry Lynda and the rest as they say, is history!

Bcosy carries out installations, repairs and servicing within its immediate operating area – mainly in Staffordshire and Derbyshire – where it has a growing reputation and customer base. The company’s primary customers are several boiler manufacturers with whom they work closely, installing and repairing boilers and heating systems. The business covers a radius of approximately 30 miles across the Midlands – taking in Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire as well as their two key counties.

“We pride ourselves on being small enough to care but big enough to do a professional job!” says Lynda. There’s lots of interesting information on their excellent web site at www.bcosyheating.co.uk .

Full details of the exciting Stelrad Radiator range can be found on their web site at www.stelrad.com where you can download pdfs of a wide range of brochures, or by calling on 0870 849 8058.

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For the design of their office extension, Huddersfield architectural consultants 'Design Line' wanted to make use of natural light as effectively as possible. They opted to use FAKRO FTP-W Centre Pivot roof windows with Ridge Flashing to provide an ideal skyward outlook and overcome any planning objection to the use of traditional vertical windows. The gutter line at the ridge was just 50mm, so there was no need for dry lining or plastering above the windows. Windows are positioned sensitively within the roof line and the combination provides an attractive feature in its own right.

Sean Brockbank of Design Line commented, “With other manufacturers’ roof windows we could not have used the ridge line in this way. The amount of natural light we were able to bring into the office meant that we had no need for traditional windows, and this provided added security”. FAKRO Ridge Flashing can be used with either slates or profiled tiles and a similar module is also available for mansard combinations.

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