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Wilo has launched its new CAT5 Booster set into the marketplace. UK water regulations – G6.1e – states that non-domestic hose union taps cannot be fitted directly to the water supply. It is essential to incorporate a backflow prevention device to ensure no back flow and syphonage leading to contamination of the potable water supply by bacteria returning up the hose pipe into the mains water supply.

The new Wilo CAT5 booster set incorporates a 115 litre polypropylene break tank which is supplied complete with a WRAS approved AB air gap. The overflow and weir are screened to enable connection to hygienic systems.

Applications for this equipment include such uses as non domestic hose union taps, bin and vehicle washdown, garden irrigation, laboratories, mortuary and embalming equipment, butchery and slaughter-house equipment.

The units are supplied with either a single fixed speed pump or a variable speed pump as specified. The single speed sets are controlled via a pressure switch, DOL motor starter and a run on timer, whilst the variable speed sets are controlled via a pressure transducer and motor mounted inverter.

The booster set monitors the system pressure and as demand increases the pressure will fall and the pump will start and continue to run, until demand has stopped and pressure increases to the set point. The fixed speed booster sets have a run on timer that overrides the pressure switch for a set period to minimise the number of starts per hour.

AND NEW PRESSURISATION UNITS LAUNCHED TOO……

Wilo has announced the release of a new series of Pressurisation Units for closed heating and chilled water systems for use in commercial and industrial premises. They are available in four ranges to suit every installation – from open pack base mounted, comfort wall and floor mounted and twin systems able to control both heating and chilled systems. Each range has one and two pump models available with a selection of pumps to suit a range of static requirements.

Wilo pressurisation units are designed to keep sealed MTHW (up to 90°C) , LTHW and chilled water systems at a predetermined pressure by topping the system up with wholesome water via an AB air gap.

Available in three different static head options – 35, 60 or 80 metres, these units are unique and amongst the first units of their type to be BACNet compatible making it possible to incorporate them within building management systems and to do so simply utilising a single cable interface. In addition the display on the units is backlit – essential for many installations where they tend to get installed in the darkest recesses of the plant room. With two lines of text on the interface the units are simple to interrogate unlike those units which flag up feedback using codes that may need to be interpreted. A final benefit is the simple installation making these units ideal replacement units.

Wilo can help you to select the correct pressurisation unit and expansion vessels for your system in accordance with BS7074 if you provide them with the following information: the static height of the building above the pressurisation unit in metres; the system content (litres) If unknown, provide the boiler power (Kw) which can then be used to estimate the system content; the flow and return temperatures; glycol content – percentage; and the final working pressure.

For more information on either of these quality units, visit www.wilo.co.uk or call Sales on 01283 523000.

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Blending classic style with contemporary design, London Syon Park, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel features Glass Rocks cascades from Chelsom in each of the 137 luxury guestrooms.

Suspended within ornate moulded recesses, the bespoke fittings comprise individual rocks of polished Venetian glass, threaded onto drop wires which hang from polished stainless steel ceiling plates. Each luminaire uses six 35W MR16 lamps which are low energy halogen-equivalent lamps giving sparkle and drama, without the excessive heat and high energy use of conventional halogen.

Themed to reflect the 18th Century “Syon Pleasure Ground” designed by Capability Brown, the hotel aims to offer its guests the best of both worlds – a tranquil escape in the quality surroundings of the Syon House Estate, home to the Duke of Northumberland, teamed with contemporary state of the art amenities for which Waldorf Astoria is renowned.

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The latest addition to Klober’s brand leading range of Permo underlays is Permo RS Extreme. This has been designed specifically for use on roofs such as monopitch extensions where existing windows preclude a tile or slate’s minimum recommended pitch. Permo RS can be laid at 10° and is therefore ideal for plain tiles, normally laid at 35 – 40°. Stability at high temperatures also means it can be used with in-roof solar panels systems.

Permo RS is light in weight, tear-resistant and has double, self-adhesive strips which provide a permanent seal of overlaps and immediate weatherproofing protection against wind, rain and snow. Highly vapour permeable, it can also be used with Klober airtightness products such as Permo Extreme Sealant for bonding to eaves flashings or for sealing transverse seams and T-joints.

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Kohler Mira has announced the appointment of Liz Hazeldene as Managing Director, following the recent retirement of Dave Hill, with immediate effect. Liz has been with Kohler Mira for 12 years, most recently in the role of Business Director for Rada – the commercial arm of Kohler Mira in the UK – which experienced one of its most successful years of trading in 2013.

Jim Westdorp, Group President of Kohler Kitchen & Bath, said: “The board is pleased to welcome Liz Hazeldene in her new role. With the UK economy showing signs of a sustained recovery, Kohler Mira has an exciting opportunity to grow both here in the UK and with the Rada brand overseas. Liz brings us the opportunity to continue to execute the core values of Kohler and Kohler Mira, bringing the continuity of a winning team and the vision and strategy to take the business forward into new opportunities”.

Liz joined Kohler Mira in 2002 where she spent five years in Product Marketing, four in Sales and most recently three as Rada Business Director. Prior to joining Kohler Mira, Liz worked variously in timber merchanting and at Polycell and Dulux; with responsibilities including product marketing, media buying, web and online strategies.

She brings with her a wealth of experience and will be responsible for leading the ambitious growth plans the group has over the next five years and beyond.
Liz will report to Chris Baldwin, President – Global Faucets and the appointment is the result of a global executive search including both internal and external candidates. Jim Westdorp concluded, “On behalf of the board, I want to thank Dave Hill for his dedication and many outstanding contributions in his 18 years with the company. We believe Liz has the right background and drive to lead Kohler Mira forward and create boundless opportunities for the group.”

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Hard on the heels of reducing Flight shower tray prices by up to 50% – thanks to cost-savings arising from a new purpose-built UK factory – Mira Showers has enhanced the market-leading range with subtle design changes that keep it at the forefront of modern bathroom style.

To fit in with the latest aesthetics, the latest models now have an ultra-sleek look, with no pattern on the floor, and tighter corners throughout the top surface to give a sharp, contemporary appearance. To cap it off, the waste now has a solid, colour-matched cover that is strong enough to stand on and which adds to the clean, minimalist finish.

To match the shower tray, the new additional riser kit has also been improved while retaining the same easy-to-fit qualities of the original design. The fascia panels now fit under the shower tray rather than on its front face while the quad panels are now shorter and in a new style but are still supplied as a single wrap-around strip. An extra central leg for additional support reinforces the riser, making it more robust. The original flexible-height-panel riser kit is still available.

All the features that have made the Flight shower trays such a success are retained – their durability, strength and ease of installation. Manufactured from hard-wearing acrylic resin stone, Mira Flight shower trays are extremely light – 20% lighter than similar products made from acrylic capped resin stone.

This material also ensures that the trays are very tough, resisting chipping and scratches to retain their integrity throughout their life.

They incorporate the BioCote® finish which not only reduces bacteria and mould by up to 99.9% but also protects against discolouration. Unlike other forms of protection BioCote® will never wear off or wash away. Installation is kept convenient as a waste is still included with the tray. Flight Trays have an overall height of 90mm with while upstand products add a further 24mm.

The Flight range also has strong environmental credentials because of the technology it employs and the large proportion of recycled material it incorporates. The back skin of all of the Mira trays is made from 90% recycled acrylic and the Flight ranges uses less material than other brands due to its unique patented back-hat design, which saves weight, reduces material and provides rigidity. The company’s recycling policy ensures that all acrylic off cuts are sold and fed back into the industry while the custom built pallets are used and re-used until failure and then re-cycled.

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In response to market demand, Mira Showers – the UK’s market-leading manufacturer of showers and showering accessories – has developed an anti-slip version of its ever-popular Flight Low shower tray, the Flight Safe. Meeting and exceeding the highest standards of slip resistance, this tray incorporates two integral finishes – Mira Safe anti-slip and the anti-bacterial BioCote® – that will never wear or peel off or wash away so the tray will retain its anti-slip and anti-bacterial properties for its whole life.

Unlike other anti-slip finishes, Flight Safe is intended for the vulnerable user but with a subtle design – there are no raised areas or stick-on roundels, for instance. And while the look is very understated, the Flight Safe exceeded the most stringent anti-slip test – Class C DIN 51097 – when independently certified.

This test consists of making the tray slippery with soap and water and then inclining the tray until the barefoot subject slips off. To gain Class C, the subject must remain standing when the tray is at an angle of 24o but, with Flight Safe, the subject was still standing when the tray was tilting at 30o. This test not only shows how well the tray performs but also provides third party certification that will deter any potential litigation.

Developed for anywhere that might cater for the less able, the tray shares the same contemporary aesthetic as the Flight Low range so there is no element of styling that is ‘discriminatory’. And, at just 40mm as opposed to the standard 90mm height, it is ideal for creating the ‘minimalist ‘wet room’ look. Durable and easy to maintain, Mira Flight Safe is made from acrylic resin stone so it resists chipping and scratches to retain its integrity throughout its life while being also very light – it is 20% lighter than equivalent products made from acrylic capped resin stone. The BioCote® finish stops discolouration, reduces bacteria and mould by up to 99.9% while the tray’s high flow vortex waste ensures that that waste effectively cleans itself.

To simplify installation, Mira provides an optional riser kit where the tray is to be installed on a solid floor that has strong ‘push-fit’ legs and the option of integral upstand variants that will ensure a watertight fit. Like the rest of the Flight Low range, this tray also has strong environmental credentials because of the technology it employs and the large proportion of recycled material it incorporates, For example The back skin of all of the Mira trays is made from 90% recycled acrylic.

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The man who is still undeniably Mr Motor Racing here in the UK – the much loved and respected Sir Stirling Moss – has chosen a new Tapworks water softener for his home in London. The new softener was installed recently as part of a programme of renovations and upgrades to the ‘Moss’ home and is already making the ‘gadget friendly’ Sir Stirling a very happy man! The water softener comes with a remote control that can operate up to 100 feet away from the softener itself and Sir Stirling is already eagerly interrogating his new softener from the fourth floor kitchen of his home!

The installation is in the basement of Sir Stirling’s Mayfair home and in quite a tight corner, so the installation was a challenge, without being a problem! Tapworks engineer John Nixon and Service Manager Nick Bampton set about installing the unit at around 9.30am and they were explaining by 1pm to Sir Stirling and Lady Moss how to use the softener’s remote control which was by then up and running.

The location for the softener wasn’t totally straightforward but the Tapworks boys were able to agree a location fairly quickly, join up the pipework and get the unit finally positioned so that Sir Stirling and his wife Susie can load the salt with ease when they need to do so. The water softener is totally automatic with all normal controls being sorted from the remote control unit. The read out on the control told Sir Stirling that it would not need salt for 82 days – he was fascinated by the control unit and very happy with the new softener.

Mains water across London and the south east tends to be pretty hard and damage to appliances and heating systems can be extensive, so installing a water softener is a sensible approach. As well as improving the quality of life, softened water is far better for washing, bathing, reduces wear and tear on washing machines and dish washers, as well as keeping the kettle from furring up. It can reduce energy bills – up to 15% lower bills is common – whilst boilers and heating systems do not suffer from the rigours of hard water leading to limescale encrustation in the heat exchanger of the boiler, in pipework, pumps and radiators. The savings on maintenance can also be significant.

It’s clear that Sir Stirling has made a decision to make life as straightforward as he can and his Tapworks water softener unit will play a big part in ensuring things run smoothly in the years ahead. In the past twelve months Tapworks has seen double the number of large softeners sold – particularly in London and the Southeast – highlighting the value of addressing the problems of limescale build up in larger homes.

“We’re delighted with the new water softener and we’re great fans of softened water,” said Sir Stirling as he relaxed in his kitchen after the installation. “It makes a real difference to everyday life as well as reducing the amount of soap and detergent we need to use. It makes having a shower or a bath much more pleasant and Susie says it’s better for her – so that’s all that matters,” he chuckled, toying with a signed racing helmet he’d been given by Sebastian Vettel.

“We’re delighted Sir Stirling has decided to use one of our softeners in his home,” says Tapworks Janet Dexter. “It was a joy to install the unit in his and Susie’s home – they were so welcoming and happy to witness the new softener being installed. We had tremendous fun there. Sir Stirling is known to be fond of gadgets so it was a no-brainer for him to go with an electronic water softener.”

Absolutely,” said Sir Stirling. “You wouldn’t have a non-electronic kettle or a non-electric washing machine these days. Why consider anything but an electronic water softener? It does a terrific job and you can literally control it from almost anywhere in the house. I’m very impressed by it all!”

Find out more about Tapworks water softeners at www.tapworks.co.uk or call 01494 480 621 for information.

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Klober’s Venduct® Uniplus Solar Panel Support removes any load on roof tiles or slates thus preventing them from breaking under stress. The support itself is made from cast iron and has a hole pattern which enables it to be used flexibly on rafters. It has been designed to be compatible with most clay and concrete roof tiles including plain tiles and natural slates, fibre-cement slates and bitumen shingles. In combination with a Base Slate or a Universal Base Tile there is no need to modify tiles and a choice of two supports is available to suit the roof covering. Usable on pitches from 15°- 65°, panel support adaptors enable it to be used with a wide variety of PV rail systems. The product has been tested by the TÜV Rheinland Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory and by the LGA for load bearing capacity.

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A new range of metering units, designed for easy installation on existing supplies or upgrades, helps to provide energy metering to Part L2 of the UK Building Regulations. Havells’ MMU meter management units comprise a multifunction meter in an IP65 enclosure, with pre-wired split-core current transformers. The range comprises 125A and 250A units with standard multi-function meters or MID meters.

To save installation time and risk of errors, the compact split-core CTs are pre-wired to flying leads which are easily connected to the meter terminals. The meters are fully pre-configured for current transformer ratio and voltage. They have in-line fuses to protect the meter and a CT disconnect feature for safe maintenance.

The meters offer both visual and remote reading capability. Parameters displayed include kW, kVAr, kVA, maximum demand since last reset, kWh (import and export), kVArh (import and export), voltage, frequency, current and THD (total harmonic distortion). For remote monitoring and BMS systems both pulsed output and Modbus communications are offered as standard. The MID meter option offers an approved meter for landlords’ tenant billing applications

The insulated enclosures have a transparent cover for easy viewing of the meter. ‘Glandless’ cable entry avoids the need for stuffing glands. The split core CTs are designed for easy installation even in confined spaces, and have generous tails for connection to the meter. Optional voltage reference connections use ‘Vampire’ insulation-piercing connectors for simplicity and safety.

“Havells recognises that there are some aspects of installation practice that are specific to the UK. These include the energy monitoring requirements of the Building Regulations and requirements for landlords’ metering. We aim to offer solutions to the special needs of the UK market as well as those which are common to all sectors of the market” says Havells’ UK Marketing Manager, Mike Lawrence.

The company, which entered the UK switchgear market in the second half of 2011, has already launched ranges of residential consumer units, Type A and Type B distribution boards and a range of MCCB panelboards.

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Installing the Mira Platinum Pumped Mixer in its guests’ bathrooms has enabled the Headlands Hotel – a four star hotel overlooking one of the UK’s top surfing beaches – to upgrade its showers to the highest standard with a minimum of disruption and cost. Overlooking Fistral Beach in Cornwall, the hotel is in a perfect position to admire the spectacular surf and scenery but, according to owner John Armstrong, the showering had posed a difficulty.

“We’ve been replacing the whole plumbing system in this 110 year old building over the past decade. In this time power showers have become ever more popular and our gravity fed showers had become a continual gripe from customers: they wanted more water. We were considering whether it was practicable to pressurise the whole system, but it seemed that was not a realistic option. Then our local Mira agent drew our attention to digital showers”.

“I didn’t know what he meant at first: “a digital shower”. But these Mira Platinum Digital showers are perfect. We have installed them in 16 rooms so far and the guests have been delighted. We’re also very surprised and pleased because this method of tackling the problem has proved cheaper than the more obvious traditional solution.”

The wireless digital shower enables the user to set their preferred temperature and flow and, because the controls are surface-mounted, it can be retrofitted quickly and simply onto existing tiling. Digital technology and careful design make the Platinum adaptable to local conditions. The wireless controller can be located up to 10 metres away from the shower valve while the pump can be installed where ever convenient within three metres – behind the bath panel, in this case.

“They were easy to fit and easy to set and the back up from Mira was first class too,” remarked Roger Cowl of the installers, County Heating Maintenance, who was so impressed he intends fitting one in his own bathroom.

The digital shower provides thermostatic temperature stability, so showering is safe for all the family, and has separate flow and push button temperature control as well as programmable functions including: Warm – Up mode, Clock display & Eco setting. An additional controller can also be fitted so that the shower can be operated from another room. Supplied without fittings in this case, the Mira Platinum comes as standard with a Mira 360 showerhead complete with Flipstream TechnologyTM – one flip action, four unique sprays.

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