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Swish Building Products has retained the green standard BES6001 across its roofline range, with a ‘very good’ rating, delivering instant point wins to house builders under the Code for Sustainable Homes.

In retaining its ‘very good’ rating across its PVC fascia, soffit, cladding and window board ranges, Swish is able to offer developers access to a product offer that gives them maximum points under the Code (tier level 1).

This to date is a unique achievement for a PVC roofline company and means that Swish’s low maintenance range offers the same points as FSC timber under Mat2 and Mat3 of the Code.

Greg Wilde, Swish Building Products, said: “At face value it may not seem much but BES6001 is a hugely important accreditation – it means developers, social housing providers and merchants can demonstrate responsibility and sustainability in the supply chain.

“On the back of this they are able to secure an instant quick win, gaining additional points under the Code for Sustainable Homes.”

Including an assessment of organisational governance, supply chain management and social and environmental impact, the new standard was written into the Code for Sustainable Homes in late 2010. Swish Building Products became one of a handful of building product manufacturers to secure the accreditation last year.

BES6001 ‘pulls’ together a number of other standards to demonstrate a commitment to responsible sourcing of materials. Swish Building Products only secured the new standard after previously securing the quality management standard ISO9001, the environmental management standard ISO14001 and occupational health and safety OHSAS18001.

Swish also had to demonstrate that it had policies and management systems in place to make sure that the raw materials it purchases come from responsibly and sustainably managed sources.

“House builders, and particularly those working in the social sector, can’t afford to lose contracts or miss out on new business, because their sustainability claims don’t stand up to scrutiny. BES6001 and chain of custody forms a critical part in making sure reputations remain intact but moreover that the construction industry and its suppliers move forward together towards a more sustainable future.”

The Swish certification can also be viewed on the Green Book Live website www.greenbooklive.com .

For more information on Swish’s full range of rainwater, roofline and cladding products visit www.swishbp.co.uk or call 01827 317 200.

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Gone are the days when your oil tank simply STORED oil. iTank’s intelligent oil monitoring technology means that now your oil tank can actually work for you in saving you money and reducing your energy consumption!

The brand new ‘iTank’ range from Harlequin Plastics not only monitors your oil levels, but actually ANALYSES both oil usage and spend per day/week/ month and year. iTank’s intelligent technology comes in the form of the market leading ‘i-Track’ Intelligent Oil Monitoring System – the most ACCURATE way to analyse oil usage on the market, with oil levels being calculated over 200 times per day. Furthermore, spend is calculated on actual daily usage i.e. Sunday is compared with Monday.

Worried about running out of oil? iTank’s accurate monitoring technology means that you can see exactly how many days’ fuel you have left in your tank at any given time. Furthermore – iTank is the most secure tank on the market, with iTank Pro models incorporating a Harlequin internal alarm lock (sounds 100db alarm when tampered with), an external Spinsecure tank lock (secures manhole lid) AND i-Track’s remote alarm system, which alerts the householder in the event of an unexpected fuel loss or theft. This same alarm feature is also a useful means of being alerted when you are about to run out of oil.

So… there’s no need to get caught out this winter and even better, you can use iTank to plan your oil purchases wisely according to price trends! Finally, iTank isn’t just an intelligent tank, it’s also a greener tank (and we don’t mean the colour!). By providing you with information on your CO2 emissions, iTank can help you take your first steps in ‘going green’. Still not convinced? You can access all of the information listed from anywhere in your home, thanks to iTank’s portable i-Track receiver unit, which is battery powered and can therefore be placed anywhere in your home and can be moved from room to room without any impact on your readings!

Now… there’s nothing left to do except sit back, relax and let your iTank take care of the fuel worries!

For more information on iTank or to request a brochure, contact Harlequin Plastics at info@harlequinplastics.co.uk or call +44 (0) 28 9261 1077

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Crabtree has developed a new range of energy saving, card-operated switches in response to a number of new required features as defined by its end user customers. The switches complement the company’s popular range of Capital Moulded, Capital Metal Plate and its prestige Platinum Low Profile accessories.

As with other card switches, the device controls energy consumption in hotels and apartments by ensuring that electrical devices are not left on when rooms are unoccupied.  It goes further than many other competitor’s switches however by providing a natural angled entry for the card and illuminating the slot itself, for much easier location and operation, especially at night in a darkened hotel room or corridor. Insertion of the key card turns the neon locator off in line with its energy saving credentials.

Crabtree’s card switch is operated by a door entry key card up to 86mm x 54mm x 1mm, and controls the power supply to a room via a suitably rated contactor. The switch requires a mounting box of 25mm minimum depth.

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The new Klober range of GRP dry-fix valley troughs provide a durable, flexible and lightweight alternative to lead. BBA certified, products are suitable for use with natural and man-made slates, concrete and clay tiles, metal and GRP roofs. Standard and narrow valley troughs, soakers and secret joining strips are available in 400mm widths and 3 metre lengths, all of which are usable on pitches of up to 60°. Fire tested to BS476:3 SAB and BS476:7 Class 3, all products have a minimum life expectancy of 20 years.

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The latest products to come onto the UK market from Georg Fischer, whose GF piping systems enjoy a worldwide reputation for quality and reliability, are the COOL-FIT range of piping for chilled water, air conditioning and cold water services in general. To ensure that the new range covers all eventualities in the field GF has split the range into three sections; the core product of COOL-FIT ABS pipe with the addition of the more sophisticated, pre-insulated COOL-FIT Lite and COOL-FIT Plus. All the COOL-FIT products use quick, simple and ever reliable solvent cement jointing and are backed by a very extensive range of accessories to ensure that installation is as simple as possible. Although they are tough, durable and highly corrosion resistant, the light weight of these plastic pipes when compared to traditional materials makes them extremely attractive. As an example they are approximately one sixth the weight of the stainless steel equivalent. Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene is a complex, versatile polymer and GF has chosen an ABS formula for COOL-FIT that gives an optimum combination of toughness and strength making it especially suitable for low temperature applications. The pipes are in a gravel grey colour, available in 5 metre lengths and in sizes from 16mm up to 315mm diameters. Sizes up to 225mm operate to a nominal pressure of 10 bar at 20º degrees and those above, a nominal pressure of 6 bar. The COOL-FIT Lite products are pre-insulated with a layer of Armaflex Class O insulation, blown onto the ABS pipe to ensure a tight and secure fit. Dust, fibre and CFC free, this elastomeric nitrile rubber layer has a vapour barrier to prevent condensation and contains an inhibitor to reduce mould and bacterial growth in addition to providing effective and reliable protection against energy loss.

It can be used with solutions of salt, glycol and alcohol as well as pure water and has a minimum working temperature of -40º degrees Centigrade. Top of the COOL-FIT family tree is the Cool-Fit Plus range. Here, the carrier pipe & fittings are coated with high density polyurethane closed cell foam (PUR) and then a HDPE outer jacket that offers excellent impact resistance and aids installation by simplifying pipe support. It has a minimum working temperature of -50º degrees, is UV resistant making it ideal for outdoor situations and, like the Lite products, is compatible with solutions as well as pure water.

The accessory range for the COOL-FIT system is comprehensive including bends, tees, crosses, sockets, plus adaptors and reducers of many types and a variety of valves. There are even such basic needs as solvent cement, pipe cutters and sealing tape to ensure the utmost simplicity for the installer. The system also has the advantage of the full backing of Georg Fischer Sales Ltd. based in Coventry who can offer on-line technical design advice including calculations of energy loss and temperature differences as well as on-site advice and installation training if these are required. The GF COOL-FIT range is a class act.

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EU statistics reveal that an estimated 400 to 500 arc flash accidents occur in the UK each year, typically resulting in four or five deaths. Colin McAhren of Eaton’s Electrical Sector believes that new technology means many, if not all, of these accidents and deaths are now preventable.

An arc flash accident in a switchboard occurs when a large electrical current passes through ionised air and gasses. Such accidents can be triggered in many ways, but examples are when a metallic tool is dropped across live busbars during maintenance or when a circuit breaker fails during a switching operation. Statistics show that the majority of arc flash accidents relate to LV installations.

The effects of arc flash are dramatic. Almost instantaneously, the temperature rises by around 20,000 °C in the vicinity of the arc. This vaporises copper conductors and, since the volume of the vapour is 67,000 times that of the metal, an explosion results. Secondary effects include the expulsion of molten globules of copper, an intensely bright flash of light and the generation of pressure waves.

Any person in the vicinity of an arc flash accident is at high risk of being injured or killed. It’s clear, therefore, that every effort must be made to eliminate these accidents or at least to minimise their effects. The best approach is to avoid the conditions under which arc flash accidents are most likely to occur, ideally by never working on live equipment. Sometimes, however, live working cannot be avoided and there is always the possibility of “”isolated”” systems being made live accidentally.

A solution often proposed is to equip maintenance workers with personal protective equipment (PPE). Given the range of hazards associated with arc flash accidents, a risk assessment is likely to indicate that the PPE should include a full-body protective suit, substantial gauntlets and a helmet with an integral face shield. This may provide adequate protection, but it doesn’t make it easy for the wearer to work on electrical installations!

Another possibility is to design the switchboard so that arc flash accidents cannot occur, by incorporating features such as insulated arc-free busbar assemblies. Switchboards in Eaton’s Capitole 40 arc-free range do, in fact, take this approach, but they are not an appropriate choice in every application. They are, for example, considerably larger than equivalent switchboards of conventional design.

Fortunately, there is now another solution that, despite its novelty, has already been well proven in practice. This is based on quenching the arc before it can develop its destructive potential. The time scales are very short – the pressure peak is reached just 10 ms after the arc is initiated, and the temperature peak is reached just 5 ms later, so quenching must take place in 5 ms or less.

No circuit breaker can clear a fault this fast, so a more radical approach is needed. That is to place a bolted short-circuit across the supply within milliseconds of an arc being detected. What happens then is that the energy that would otherwise feed the arc is diverted to the short circuit, so that the arc never has a chance to develop. The upstream circuit breaker will subsequently clear the short circuit fault in about 50 ms.

Devices that can place what is, in effect, a bolted short circuit across the supply within around 2 ms of being triggered are now available, and are central to the operation of Eaton’s Arcon arc control system for switchboards. These short circuiting devices must, of course, be used in conjunction with a trigger capable of reacting to an arc in its very earliest stages.

This can be implemented using a photo-detector comprising a flexible fibre optic cable that is routed through all the areas of the switchboard where an arc fault might occur. The cable detects light over its entire length and, when it sees the characteristic light of an arc, it sends a signal to a logic module that also monitors current. If the photo-detector signal is accompanied by a rapid increase in current, the module triggers the short-circuiting device instantly, and the arc is suppressed. This arrangement has proved to be reliable and effective. Not only does it virtually eliminate the risk of arc flash injuries, it also minimises damage to the switchboard, allowing it to be returned to service rapidly and cost-effectively. Further, the arc control system adds little to the size of the switchboard and allows the use of conventional busbars and components in its construction.

Arc flash is a significant hazard in LV installations. As we have seen, there are a number of ways this hazard can be addressed, but most have significant drawbacks or limitations. The latest arc control systems are however exceptions, as they provide solutions that are dependable, convenient and effective.

A certified CPD seminar covering Arc Flash in LV Switchboards is now available from Eaton. Anyone interested should contact Karen Shaw, Marketing Communications Manager, via KarenAShaw@Eaton.com

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Eaton’s catalogue and price list is now easily and instantly accessible to specifiers and contractors working onsite via a new online version optimised for smartphones. The information can be viewed on smartphones such as the iPhone, Blackberry, Android and other handhelds and is accessed through the Electrika quality estimating, ordering and job costing website at www.electrika.com/mobileeaton.

The new website features dedicated sections for Eaton’s commercial and industrial automation, its residential and consumer offering, the low and medium voltage range and its power management products. The site enables users to search for and view thousands of products by part number or description. Users can also browse for the product they need using the easy-to-navigate menus. Information provided on the site includes technical data and dimensions, product descriptions and prices, and information about other technical matters such as the relevant BSEN standards.

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Triton has boosted its best-selling T80 electric shower range with the introduction of the new T80Z Fast-Fit – the ultimate electric shower for the specification market.

Designed with speed of installation and lifetime costs in mind, the T80Z Fast-Fit is the ideal electric shower for the specification market, thanks to a number of innovative features including Triton’s revolutionary new Swing-Fit™ terminal block, which makes the shower simple to wire regardless of electrical cable positioning. The horizontal swing mechanism means even the shortest of cables can be routed quickly and easily into the shower unit, from either the left or the right, without any hassle.

Installation flexibility is further extended by Triton’s unique 180° fully reversible Swivel-Fit™ water inlet, providing more water entry points than any other electric shower on the market. With 8 water entry points and 6 electrical cable entry points, the T80Z Fast-Fit is designed to cope with every desired installation requirement. The size and shape of the unit also means it can be positioned neatly over existing holes for an attractive finish and used to replace all electric showers, even competitor models – reducing the need to retile or redecorate the space.

Other practical features of the T80Z Fast-Fit ensure that specifiers have access to a solution which minimises the cost per job for housing association and local authority contractors. These include a wall template (available with every unit) for marking fixings and connections, a flexible kit to allow an adjustable distance beeteen shower rail brackets, top entry trims that are removable without the need for tools and a matching riser rail kit with adjustable wall fixing centres. Recessed controls, power on illumination and a low water pressure indicator increase its appeal for the end user, whilst a tapered design gives the T80Z fast-Fit an attractive, slimline look.

For new build properties where the Code for Sustainable Homes needs to be taken into account, the eco model has been designed to reduce water usage and bills, thanks to a built-in flow limiter that restricts water flow to 6 litres per minute.

Lorna Fellowes, managing director at Triton said:

“In developing the new T80Z Fast-Fit, we were keen to provide Housing Association and Local Authority specifiers with an electric shower they can install without the need to worry about speed of installation or the lifetime costs associated with the unit. As purse strings continue to tighten and targets need to be met, the T80Z Fast-Fit means housing associations and local authorities can keep cost per job to a minimum.

“As the ninth generation of shower to join the T80 family, Triton now has the most comprehensive electric range available on today’s market for contractors or specifiers tasked with installing or replacing a large number of electric showers. They can rest assured all they need to do it fit and forget.”

The T80Z Fast-Fit is available in popular Chrome and White in 7.5kW to 10.5kW models to suit all style and power needs, plus the 8.5kW white Eco model.

The T80Z Fast-Fit shower is priced from around £130 depending on finish and kW size, meaning installers can benefit from a number of additional features for the same affordable price.

The complete T80Z family has a two year guarantee and forms part of Triton’s next day rapid replenishment service if ordered before 5pm. For further information on Triton’s complete range of products and services for specifiers, visit the dedicated area of Triton’s website at www.tritonshowers.co.uk. Alternatively, download Triton’s free of charge iPhone app from iTunes for handy installation tips and advice, for the latest promotions and information follow @tritonshowers on Twitter or like tritoninstallers on Facebook.

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Redevelopment of the 40-acre Bullring site by the Bullring Alliance is another example of a high profile project featuring prominent use of stainless steel. Aperam UGISAND was used to create an iconic, subtly curving focal point on Spiceal Street adjacent to Selfridge’s. Designed by Chapman Taylor, the striking ‘ribbon concept’ curved roof links three new restaurants with formal and informal seating areas, a striking green wall and improved pedestrian links from St Martin’s Walk to St Martin’s Square. The 110,000m2 scheme has been cited as the catalyst for Birmingham’s transformation into a world class retail capital, and already has over 160 shops, cafes and restaurants.

UGISAND, one from a wide range of surfaces specifically developed for architectural applications, has an immediate and permanent matt appearance so can be used in most environments to suit diverse architectural styles. The product range is available in both ferritic and austenitic grades with the low-reflectance finish being achieved by means of cold rolling. Coils and sheets can be supplied in thicknesses from 0.4 – 1.5mm and widths from 250 – 1250mm providing maximum flexibility.

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Lewden : Palazolli have released their new catalogue for 2011. The new catalogue details many new additions to the popular standard products offered by both brands. The 148 page catalogue reflects the company’s commitment to providing installers and distributors with the very latest solutions for all of their electrical requirements.

Separated into easy to read sections, the catalogue provides valuable advice on technical clocking detail, IP classification and specification and voltage identification. Products include industrial plugs and sockets which includes the popular Multimax range, switched interlocked sockets, RCD’s, the new topTER modular system, a range of enclosures, isolators and switches. There is also a section dedicated to Lewden’s bespoke Custom Build services.

Lewden products are manufactured to meet all relevant UK and European standards and are available through a network of approved stockists/electrical wholesalers throughout the UK and Ireland. For further information contact the Lewden sales team on 0208 539 0237 or email sales@lewden.co.uk.

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