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The new 11-storey, 583-bedroom Mint Hotel Tower of London is the largest to be built in the City for 35 years. The highly sustainable design by Bennetts Associates included 2200m2 of VMZINC QUARTZ-ZINC® panels built up in 3 zones. Horizontal, interlocking and spandrel panels were installed with moveable, perforated zinc solar shading screens but due to the close proximity of adjacent buildings, fabrication had to be undertaken by Sotech Architectural FaÇade Systems offsite. The separate metallic element which forms the 'skylounge' sits above adjacent rooflines and in addition to affording stunning views of the Tower of London and other iconic landmarks is a prominent feature in its own right. The pre-weathered QUARTZ-ZINC colour integrates perfectly with the building’s natural stone facades and will retain its consistency for decades while developing the natural, self-protecting patina for which zinc is renowned. The project has been awarded the Future Design Award for sustainability.

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The latest additions to the popular Memera range of consumer units from Eaton’s Electrical Sector have integral energy monitoring facilities, making them a convenient and cost-effective solution for local authorities seeking to improve their performance against National Indicator 186, which targets their CO2 emissions. In properties where energy monitors with real time displays have been installed, it has been found that users are readily achieving sustained reductions in energy usage of between 5% and 20%, by simply changing the way they use electricity.

The Local Government Performance Framework has reduced the central government burden on local authorities, but has increased direct accountability. Underpinning the framework is a series of National Indicators (NIs) against which the performance of the local authorities is now measured. Among these is NI 186, which deals with the per-capita reduction in CO2 emissions in the local authority area, and effectively obliges local authorities to find ways of continually improving their emissions performance.

While CO2 emissions relating to energy used in domestic properties account for a significant proportion of the whole, reducing domestic energy use has, in the past, been difficult. Eaton’s new Memera consumer units with integrated efergy wireless energy monitors can now offer an effective and affordable way of addressing this crucial issue, by encouraging the behavioural changes required to effect these reductions.

Designed primarily for use in new installations and for incorporation during major refurbishment work when a new consumer unit is also being fitted, these new units feature a wireless energy-monitoring transmitter and sensor pre-installed by Eaton. This means that they take should take no longer on site to install than a standard unit and that the inconvenience and potential hazards associated with an unskilled person fitting current sensors around meter tails are also eliminated. In addition, with this arrangement the transmitter is powered internally direct from the consumer unit, and so needs no batteries.

The transmitter sends information wirelessly to an efergy remote display unit that can be mounted in any convenient location up to 40 metres away from the consumer unit. The display shows not only the amount of energy currently being used, but also the cost of that energy – a feature that has been found to provide a big incentive for homeowners to look for ways to economise.

The efergy energy monitoring system also stores historical data about energy costs, usage and CO2 emissions for up to 24 months. This not only makes it easy for homeowners to evaluate the success of their energy- and money-saving efforts over that period, but also could allow local authorities to check on the patterns and trends of energy use in specific properties.

Part of the well-proven and widely used family of Memera consumer units from Eaton, the new versions with integral efergy energy monitoring are available in both main switch isolator controlled and dual RCCB versions. When correctly installed, the consumer units comply fully with all applicable UK standards, and with the requirements of the 17th Edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations.

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Loop Systems’ design for the rejuvenation of the Pioneers’ Museum in Rochdale included installation of 8 bespoke roof windows supplied by FAKRO GB. Being within a conservation area, the specification required windows to have a double mullion bar in RAL7022 to match the existing stone slate roof. Fitting of the windows also had to be flush within the roof line. Although this would ordinarily have been a straightforward process using FAKRO’s EZJ flashing, variations in slate thickness also had to be overcome.

Fakro regularly manufactures roof windows to bespoke requirements in addition to selling most of its extensive range in conservation style. Commissions for special detailing are normally completed quickly, as Fakro Senior Specification Manager Adam James commented. “The growing demand to meet specific design requirements can vary from a non-standard size to a particular frame colour or, as in this case, an additional mullion bar. Fakro has considerable experience of meeting such needs and with our exceptional timber quality and window U-values we are benefitting from a high level of word of mouth recommendation”.

Restoration of the Grade II Listed building attracted Heritage Lottery funding and was undertaken by specialist contractor William Anelay Ltd. The existing stone slate roof was stripped off, the underlying membrane replaced and the roof reinstated together with an upper floor which had been removed in the 70s. The project’s completion will be celebrated with delegates visiting from all over the world during 2012, the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives.

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The demand for an attractive, versatile and economic spotlight tailored to all display applications is fully met by the new range of Thorn Prospector luminaires. Designed to harness the latest LED and ceramic metal halide lighting technologies the spotlights offer consistent contemporary styling, in a choice of silver grey or white. With a choice of four beam distributions, plus track or pendant models, they are equally adapt at focussing tightly on individual displays, or washing large space with ambient light. The 12W LED option embodies Cree’s ‘True White™’ technology to produce warm-white light (2700K) with superior colour rendering (CRI > 90). The LED is mounted at the focus of the reflector for a concentrated, near-parallel beam. This achieves the lighting level of a 35W lv halogen lamp for just a third of the energy consumption.

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Introduction

For over 12 years, Chalmor has been leading the way in forecourt energy savings. Chalmor’s Endurance induction lamp fittings offer proven technology; forecourt pioneers that installed this technology ten years ago still report no failures!

Canopy lighting costs and efficiency levels are coming under ever-increasing scrutiny, as companies spend anything between 30 and 60 per cent of their electricity budgets on lighting alone. Most petrol retailers are looking at three main options for their needs. These are inexpensive metal halide lamps, induction lamps and light emitting diodes (LEDs).

How they work

• Metal halide (MH) lamps consist of an arc tube (also called a discharge tube or “burner”) within an outer envelope, or bulb. The arc tube may be made of either quartz or ceramic and contains a starting gas (usually argon), mercury, and MH salts. Traditional quartz MH arc tubes are similar in shape to mercury vapor (MV) arc tubes, but they operate at higher temperatures and pressures. Typically lamps have a life expectancy of 15,000 hrs and very efficient initially, but depreciate heavily over their life.
• Induction is the process of transmitting energy via an electro-magnetic field. The light emitting gas inside the lamps is energized by passing alternating current through a coil, or inductor. Induction lamps are similar to regular fluorescent lamps, but they don’t have electrical contacts to conduct electricity from the fixture to the light-emitting gas inside the lamp. Additionally with a lamp life of greater than 60,000 hours and efficiency maintained throughout their life they are a popular solution.
• LED lighting is based on semiconductor diodes. When a diode is switched on, electrons are able to recombine with holes within the device, releasing energy in the form of photons. This effect is called electroluminescence. The colour of the light is determined by the energy gap of the semiconductor. For commercial lighting, there are two main methods of producing high intensity white-light using LEDs. One is to use individual LEDs that combine red, green, and blue light to produce white light. The other is to use a phosphor material to convert monochromatic light from a blue or Ultraviolet LED to broad-spectrum white light, in a similar way to a fluorescent light lamp. The useful life of an LED is typically 50,000 hours, subject to the environment placed. LED’s are the least efficient of the three, but maintain their performance relativity well throughout their life.

Metal Halide v Induction

Although Metal Halide fittings may appear to be a cheap solution they have three major disadvantages, it is difficult to control fittings in line with occupancy and daylight, lamps are lower efficacy and shorter life compared to the other HID sources.

The below table: Shows typical energy savings achieved by installing Chalmor’s Endurance fitting and Chalmor’s Universal Lighting Controller (UNI –L) against Metal Halide fittings.

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Sourcing all the elements of a combined waterproofing system from one expert supplier is convenient, saves time and, most importantly, avoids any potential split responsibility issues. This was the approach taken by specialist basement contractors, MGA, in the construction of a very high specification new build London property comprising a multi level basement with swimming pool and gym. All waterproofing system components were supplied by Triton Systems whose team also oversaw their installation.

Because of the ‘variable’ water table classification and the very high value of the property, a combination of three types of waterproofing system was specified.

The complete below ground concrete structure, including the swimming pool, was formed using a watertight concrete system incorporating Triton Super Admix (BS 8102 2009 type B structurally integrated waterproofing).

As a primary method of waterproofing the structure, Triton TT Vapour Membrane (BS 8102 type A barrier waterproofing) was applied to the underside of the ground soffit. TT Vapour Membrane is a liquid applied, single component acrylic modified coating.

Platon cavity drain membranes provided the secondary waterproofing system (BS 8102 2009 type C cavity drained) and were installed to all walls and the floors of the lower level, draining to the Triton Aquachannel drainage conduit and pump system.

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FAKRO roof windows have been used at the new £2.85 million Airdferry Resource Centre at Carr Brae, Dornie. Owned by Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association, they were specified by architects Bracewell Stirling whose requirements included non-opening 78 x 140cm windows. A spokesman for Bracewell Stirling explained. “Some of the roof windows were installed to provide natural light within a cantilevered walkway canopy. This links the centre to six elderly residents’ houses so we wanted to ensure that the balcony did not affect the quality of light in the homes. Although not a standard product for FAKRO, the company was able to meet our requirement without problem”.

Meeting non-standard design requirements is a key facet of FAKRO’s service as Senior Specification Manager Adam James explained. “The increasing use of roof windows has encouraged designers to look at different ways in which they can be used. We now receive frequent requests for special window shapes, flashings and colours while conversions are prompting the need for conservation style windows with features such as additional mullion bars. Other commissions have included provision of arc windows for curved roofs, stained glass decoration and special sash and frame colours”.

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Marley Eternit has welcomed the news that the BRE (Building Research Establishment) has awarded an A+ rating to fibre cement profiled sheeting in its Green Guide to Specification.

The company is the only UK manufacturer of fibre cement profiled sheeting, which therefore means it is the only product of its kind able to achieve an A+ (the lowest environmental impact) in the BRE's Green Guide to Specification.

Being the only fibre cement profiled sheeting range manufactured in the UK also provides customers with a reduced carbon footprint in terms of transportation miles.

An A+ rating is the highest possible ranking for any material, putting it at the top of the list for specifiers looking for roofing and cladding solutions with the very best sustainability credentials.

“We are delighted with the recent announcement by the BRE,” said Lynn Street, Sales Director of Marley Eternit – Profiled Sheeting. “This just confirms what we have long recognised – that our fibre cement profiled sheeting, which is the only range manufactured in the UK, is a real sustainable choice as well as being the best value roofing and cladding solution on the market.”

The BRE Green Guide provides architects and specifiers with advice and guidance on how to make the best environmental choices when selecting building materials.

The BRE assigned the top sustainability ratings for fibre cement because of its low environmental impact, along with the work that has gone into reducing its embodied energy during manufacture.

Fibre cement profiled sheeting’s low maintenance and long life expectancy were also recognised by the BRE. So too was the fact that end-of-life fibre cement is 100 per cent recyclable, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.

Fibre cement profiled sheeting from Marley Eternit is used in a wide variety of sectors including agricultural, commercial, leisure and residential.

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Stelrad Radiators is celebrating definitive confirmation that it does indeed produce installers’ favourite radiators here in the UK. The result of research carried out earlier this year by a leading sector publication with a random sample of nearly 150 installers came up with some very positive results that seem to suggest that pretty much every installer has installed Stelrad radiators at some stage in their careers – and most of them found it a pleasurable experience! So pleasurable indeed, that they have continued to do so ever since.

The results of the survey were very revealing and supported Stelrad’s four key values in its business. Asked what the most important influencers were on their choice of radiator brand to install in the private replacement market, 42% said that availability from merchant stock was the most important factor, followed by 37% who said that access to a wide range of sizes was important. Only 22% said that price was the key deciding factor and 20% said product design was key. Perhaps most worryingly for the Government, only 11% said that environmental benefits came into play when deciding on the radiators they wanted to install.

Asked if they offered their customers a choice of radiator designs, a perhaps surprising 76% said they did, whilst 24% admitted they didn’t and installed what they thought would be best for that customer.

93% of installers consider the age and condition of the radiators when replacing a boiler and if appropriate recommend replacing them according to the survey.

Asked to list the brand of radiator products they trusted most, 78% mentioned Stelrad, and invited to name five brands, 17% actually mentioned only Stelrad by name. Nearly 90% mentioned Stelrad or an Ideal Stelrad Group brand of radiators in their answers.

“These results are very satisfying,” said Stelrad’s Marketing Director Anna Burns. “We know we’re the UK’s number one which suggests we’re getting something right, but direct responses like this from a decent sized, statistically valid sample, do help us to recognise what is important to our customers and gives us a ‘checkpoint’ to ensure we’re actually responding to what installers out there want, rather than what we think they might want. It’s very pleasing to see that availability and range are the two most important influencers on selection in the merchants. We have instigated a new strategy that sees us with four core values at Stelrad – reliability, availability, range and value for money – and between them they account for the majority of reasons why installers choose a given brand of radiators.

“In addition, the recent launch of ‘The Radiator Book’ – our comprehensive new catalogue of all our products, but with a huge amount of technical information as well, will, we hope, help those installers to have an even better insight into what we offer and the options available to them and their customers, and see us converting even more installers to think ‘Stelrad’ when they walk into their merchant.”

Full details of the exciting Stelrad Radiator range can be found on their website at www.stelrad.com where you can download a pdf of “The Radiator Book”, or of course by calling on 0870 849 8058. You can also request your own printed copy of ‘The Radiator Book’ from the website, from their stands at upcoming heating and plumbing shows or by calling Stelrad.

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