Story

Housebuilders, designers, stockists and contractors now have a highly contemporary, high quality, yet affordable built-in oven to offer potential homebuyers.

Beko, one of the UK’s leading appliance manufacturers, has launched its new built-in multi-function Pyro oven, designed to appeal to housebuilders and consumers alike. This latest addition to the company’s rapidly expanding Beko Built-in range combines the the quality, reliability and affordability demanded by today’s housebuilders with the state-of-the-art style and features expected by discerning homebuyers.

The Pyro programmable cleaning feature compliments a massive 65 litre oven capacity – a 20% increase in usable oven space. For additional convenience, the oven features a large display programmable electronic timer, telescopic shelf system, push-in/push-out control knobs, a cool door* with four glass layers, maximum oven visibility with a large viewing window and interior light – and fingerprint-free stainless steel – a strong selling point for housebuilders appealing to the family market. In addition, maximum energy efficiency is ensured through the Pyro’s A energy rating. Beko have also considered the impact on the environment; this oven with all its features, delivers a strong story with a rating 20% better than the industry’s ‘A’ standard.

Building on its strong brand position in the free-standing sector on the high street, Beko expanded into the built-in market in April 2009, selling through the kitchen builder and contractor sector, as well as leading retail multiples and independents. In that relatively short period of time, the company has made major inroads into the built-in market: GfK results for the six months from January to June 2010 compared with 2009 show Beko’s share of the built-in sector more than doubled – an impressive improvement given the difficult trading conditions resulting from the recession and subsequent economic downturn.

With its ongoing programme of market research, brand building and new product development, Beko anticipates considerable growth, targetting the recovering housebuilding sector as the economy improves and the housing market stabilises.

From flats of all sizes to large executive family homes, Beko offers housebuilders, kitchen stockists and contractors a one-stop shop for all of their major appliance requirements. Cooking, refrigeration, laundry, dishwashers, and now built-in – Beko offers an extensive choice of products and designs, all developed with affordability, reliability and energy efficiency in mind to help housebuilders cut their costs and maximise their profits, at the same time offering potential homebuyers the best quality appliances available.

View Beko's profile:

Story

A major new independent research study in the USA has concluded that water softeners are amongst the ‘very best’ household energy savers. The research was undertaken over 9 months at a cost of $700,000, and commissioned by the Water Quality Research Foundation – a not-for-profit association that provides public information about water treatment issues. The research findings back the energy saving claims made by the UK’s leading water softener manufacturer – Tapworks – over many years.

The study, undertaken by the renowned independent testing and research facility dedicated to applied science and technology development – the Battelle Institute – reported a number of key findings including that softeners help preserve the efficiency of water heaters and major appliances and keep showers and taps unclogged. The full report can be found at http://www.wqa.org/BattelleReport.

The research found that gas storage tank household water heaters operated on softened water maintained the original factory efficiency rating over a 15 year lifetime. This, whilst those operated on hard water saw as much as a 48% loss of efficiency.

The research also reported that up to 30 pounds of calcium carbonate rock-like scale can accumulate in electric water heaters over time. The scale build up shortens the life of the heating element significantly because of the increased operating temperature of that heating element as it has to heat the scale before it can heat the water.

The study found that instantaneous gas water heaters – similar to combi boilers here in the UK – operated on softened water maintained the original factory efficiency rating over a 15 year lifetime. But the study found that tankless water heaters completely failed to function because of scale ‘plugging’ in the downstream plumbing after only 1.6 years of equivalent hot water use on 26 gpg (440 ppm) hard water. Softened water, the report says, saves 34% of costs compared to operating on 20gpg (340 ppm) and saves 47% compared to operation on 30 gpg (530 ppm) hard water. Considering that many places in the UK have mains water at 500 ppm and higher, this puts the scale of the problem into context – Tutbury in Staffordshire has water measured at 715 ppm, Kingston, near Miltyon Keynes has water at 600 ppm and Middlesbrough and Leamington Spa share the distinction of mains water at 543 ppm.

Showerheads on soft water maintained a brilliant luster and full flow. Faucets and taps on softened water performed ell throughout the study – nearly as well as they did the day they were installed. Faucets and taps on hard water could not maintain the specified 1.25 gallons per minute flow rate because of scale collection of the strainers. The strainers on the faucets using unsoftened water were almost completely plugged after 19 equivalent days of testing.

The evidence with appliances was even more revealing. In the study, dishwashers and washing machines were operated for 30 days and 240 completed wash cycles on softened and hard water sources. The units using softened water were almost completely free of any water scale build up. The appearance of the inside of the units using hard water showed the need for ‘de-liming and cleaning’ due to the significant build up of scale and deposits.

As a consequence of the study, the WQA is now promoting water softeners in the USA as ‘the best energy saving device you can buy’.

Tapworks MD in the UK is Mike Pickavance: “Despite the economic climate in the UK in the last couple of years, we’ve been delighted that sales of our water softeners have been very good and defied the downturn many other manufacturers in our sector have experienced.

“This research report is very encouraging and highlights what we have been saying for many years here in the UK. Although the research has been undertaken in the US there is a direct read across to the UK marketplace.

“It’s a simple fact that 60% of the UK – including most of London and the south east and pretty much all of East Anglia – suffers from hard water and many areas of the UK suffer from exceptionally hard water – which has a number of fairly immediate problems from the rapid scaling up of appliances and heating systems in places that you can’t see, leading to early failures and a need for often extensive maintenance or replacement of parts, far earlier than you would normally expect to have them replaced. And a build up of limescale that people very definitely can see and experience in their washing, on shower screens, showerheads, not to mention the green grey stains in baths, washbasins and sinks and the scale build up in kettles. It’s a very obvious and often unpleasant problem to deal with, but one that can be simply dealt with by investing in a water softener. This latest research suggest that the pay back time typically for the purchase of a water softener is about 1 year. There are no other appliances you can buy that pay for themselves at all – making a water softener a unique investment for people living in hard water areas of the country.”

Another claim made by Tapworks is that investment in a water softener will see significant savings in soaps and detergents usage and the Battelle Study will report on this later in the year along with the effects hard water has on fabrics and laundry.

Tapworks was the first appliance manufacturer in the UK, back in 2008, to be accredited as an officially carbon neutral business. In Tapworks case, an accredited EU Emissions Trading Scheme Verifier measured and evaluated every aspect of the Tapworks UK operation. He confirmed the finding that “it is likely that the annual emissions created in the US manufacture of the UK sold units are covered by the annual emissions saving created by the softener use. It is therefore safe to state categorically that the UK operation of Tapworks has a beneficial impact on the environment.”

This report highlights that by installing a Tapworks water softener, if you live in a hard water area of the you will not only be installing a carbon neutral appliance, you will also be “conservatively saving up to 20% a year on your energy bills because of the reduced demand on electrical energy supply from a power station or gas combusted in the water heating equipment.”

Further details of the full range of Tapworks water softeners can be obtained by calling Tapworks on 01494 480 621 or visiting www.tapworks.co.uk.

View Tapworks's profile:

Story

View Eaton Electrical's profile:

Story

The garden roof in the centre of the Museum of London is one of the oldest installed in London and has been in situ since 1976 when the building was first created on historic London Wall, a few minutes walk north of St Paul’s Cathedral. Its refurbishment was part of a £20.5 million redevelopment of the museum’s lower Galleries of Modern London which retell the story of London and Londoners from 1666 to the present day.

The garden court roof, situated alongside the museum’s Sackler Hall, has now been refurbished and brought into the 21st century with a versatile waterproofing solution that allows the museum to change the emphasis of the landscape design to fit in with any feature display that is taking place in the surrounding galleries if required.

In order for the roof to take shape and refurbishment work to begin, 360 tonnes of soil had to be dug out by hand and removed by wheelbarrow through the museum. Craning of equipment or construction materials was vetoed because of the museum’s location, degree of adjacent offices and its neighbouring community of domestic residents.

The original asphalt roof covering was also removed to expose the concrete deck construction. A major issue for the new waterproofing was the perimeter detailing where the waterproofing had to meet the abutted glazing. This was overcome with using a cold liquid applied waterproofing which is compatible with the new root resistant elastomeric bitumen membrane system installed to the main deck area.

Many of the original garden features were retained for use at other locations around the museum or used again in the creation of the current contemporary design. Large granite and terracotta planters were re-potted with plants to support the new fully inhabited and functional beehive, which has been installed as part of the City of London Festival. All of which can be used as an educational resource for visiting school groups who can learn about how both green roofs and bees benefit the environment.

All works to the roof had to take place with the museum remaining open throughout so a co-ordinated approach between the museum, their project manager Gavin McCourt MRICS, the roofing contractor, Russell Trew Ltd and the waterproofing manufacturer, Bauder Ltd was essential to the success of the installation.

The spectacular Galleries of Modern London are now open to the public and are a real testament to how interactive and advanced a museum can be. Additionally, the museum, as part of its sustainability plan, is looking to refurbish the remaining roofs on the main building, so that there will be a large proportion of differing green roofs, including biodiversity and native species plug planted.

View Bauder's profile:

Story

Space is at a premium at this year's Oil & Renewable Heating Show, with less than 15 stands now remaining. The inaugural event, which takes place on 28 and 29 October at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, will bring together the cream of the oil and renewable sectors.

Names signed up include Harlequin, Rayburn, Parts Center and Plumb Center. Grant UK will also be there, exhibiting a whole 'green' home heating solution, Mitsubishi Electric will be on hand to explain to benefits of air source heat pumps and visitors to the Worcester Bosch stand will be in with the chance to win a set of Bosch power tools. The Danfoss stand will exhibit an updated version of its BFP oil pumps due for launch in the near future.

Harlequin's John Switzer says, “The Oil & Renewable Heating Show promises to provide installers and technicians with a 'one stop' look at the future of domestic heating in rural locations remote from the gas network. With a wide range of exhibitors present from across the oil heating and renewable industry, there is certainly going to be something of interest for everyone with an interest n domestic heating.

Jonathan Hibbert of Show Organiers A&D Publishing , said “The Oil & Renewable Heating Show will provide solutions for the challenge of meeting carbon emission reductions. It will offer technicians, specifiers and local authorities the chance to find out more about the future of heating.”

View Harlequin's profile:

Story

Improved convenience and versatility are among the key benefits of the latest range of digital earth resistance testers from Megger, which has now been extended to include a new model powered from rechargeable batteries and versions with variable test frequency.

• Extended test range
• Variable test frequency
• Greater kitting options
• Weather and dust proof earth testers

Extended test range

The maximum resistance that can be measured has been increased to 20 kO on the DET4TD and TR and 200 kO the DET4TC and TCR models.

Variable test frequncy

For demanding applications requiring maximum versatility, Megger offers the DET4TC2 tester, which is powered from standard AA batteries, and the DET4TCR2 tester, which uses rechargeable batteries. The DET4TCR2 has an integral charger, and is supplied complete with a mains adaptor.

These instruments support two-, three- and four-pole testing, as well as Attached Rod Technique (ART), stakeless, leakage current and earth noise voltage measurement. They also allow users to select the test frequency from one of four options – 94Hz, 105Hz, 111Hz and 128Hz – making it easy, even in difficult situations, to choose a frequency which minimises the effects of interference.

Competitively priced

Also available are the new DET4TD2 tester and the DET4TR2 tester, the former being designed for use with replaceable batteries, the latter with rechargeable cells. Fully supporting the most popular earth resistance test methods – two-, three- and four-pole testing – these very competitively priced instruments are an ideal choice for use where the exceptional versatility of the DET4TC2 and DET4TC2 models is not needed.

Greater kitting options

Megger’s new earth resistance testers are offered in a wide range of kit options. Basic kits include the instrument, a tough hard carrying case, a stake and wire kit (15m, 10m, 10m and 3m lengths) plus, for rechargeable models, a mains unit. Adaptor kits replace the stake and wire kit with right-angle terminal adaptors to connect bare wires to terminals. Also offered for the DET4TC models are kits for ART and stakeless testing.

All accessories are available separately, which means that users can, if they wish, select the most appropriate combination to suit their own particular needs rather than opting for a pre-configured kit.

View Megger's profile:

Story

Photos copyright Serge Brison

There may be few contemporary commercial building designs today which provoke widespread public praise, but Umicore VMZINC’s new office building in Greinerstraat at its Hoboken plant, south of Antwerp, is clearly an exception. At what is the largest recycling facility for precious metals in the world, a new design approach was taken to regenerate the local environment and to showcase the design flexibility that zinc cladding can provide. The company has thousands of stunning roofing, cladding and rainscreen projects throughout the world to its credit, but none stands comparison with the shape and form of the Hoboken building.

Architects Conix Architects’ brief was to integrate the plant buildings more effectively into the immediate environment. The snake-like form hints at what has been achieved but hardly does it justice. Conix Arcitects’ Christine Conix commented, “The new building is constructed as if it were a folded ribbon and was completely 'wrapped' with zinc standing seam cladding. This undoubtedly adds emphasis to its form”. Conix Partner Architect Sylvie Bruyninckx added, “It became clear at the concept stage that zinc should be used as its flexibility lends itself perfectly to the creation of curves and folds. It encloses the building just like a skin”. The comment hints at the complexity of detailing, described by the contractor as “conceptual extravagance”.

In the UK, growing interest in zinc roofing, cladding and rainwater systems owes much to the metal’s sustainability. It also reflects the fact that zinc can be used with a wide variety of construction materials in either new build or refurbishment. Use of distinctive colours such as black ANTHRA-ZINC®, grey QUARTZ-ZINC® and subtle shades of PIGMENTO® green, red and blue has enabled zinc to develop a clear identity. A thriving recycling record has long been established throughout Western Europe but without the combination of performance and appearance, such growing success could not have been maintained.

The depth and diversity of zinc projects throughout the UK combining aesthetics, sustainability and long-term performance offers tangible proof that it is now in the construction mainstream for both contemporary and traditional styles. If none quite match up to Hoboken, the visual distinctiveness of zinc is common to all.

View VM Zinc's profile:

Story

View Eaton Electrical's profile:

Story

With education projects still among the most prominent in construction, zinc’s continuing increase in popularity is achieving widespread attention. Recent education projects in which VMZINC standing seam and interlocking panel systems have been used include BDP’s £35m University of Wales Newport and Wilson Mason & Partners’ AV Hill building at Manchester University and University of Cumbria Student Gateway. School projects such as Tim Ronalds Architects’ £8.8 million Sevenoaks School Performing Arts Centre and Integrated Design Consultants’ Reading Girls’ School Vocational Skills Centre provide further illustration of the design scope and sustainability that zinc provides.

Zinc’s flexibility gives enormous scope for complex detailing and design diversity. The Sevenoaks School Performing Arts Centre contained a number of notable features including a complex, steeply pitched concert hall roof. VMZINC’s standing seam roofing system in QUARTZ-ZINC® featured throughout the project but the series of 18 metre span timber and steel trusses that support the 12-layer build-up on the concert hall is the most prominent. By contrast, the use of interlocking zinc panels on both the outer skin and as an element of interior design is a feature of The University of Cumbria Student Gateway. Zinc clearly plays a prominent role in a building which is intended to be the flagship for the Lancaster Campus as part of the University of Cumbria.

The Reading Girls’ School Vocational Skills Centre shows a further variation in zinc with diagonal installation of VMZINC’s standing seam cladding in ANTHRA-ZINC®. Pre-weathered colours include dark grey/black ANTHRA-Zinc, mid-grey QUARTZ-ZINC and the subtle PIGMENTO shades of red, green and blue.

View VM Zinc's profile:

Story

The future of controlling room temperature is set to change thanks to the latest technology developed by market leader Pegler Yorkshire. Using its expertise in radiator valve control the company has created a revolutionary new product that can save up to 30% of space heating costs and can significantly contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions.

Room temperature control has successfully been managed by TRVs for many years, yet taking this further, Pegler Yorkshire’s innovative product not only controls temperature but now time, which means the radiator is only on at times actually required by the end user. Developed under the renowned terrier brand, and recommended by the Energy Saving Trust (EST), the terrier i-temp is a programmable radiator control (PRC).

“This is an exciting new product for Pegler Yorkshire,” commented Sindar Singh product marketing manager Pegler Yorkshire. “Significant investment combined with heating experience has been used to develop this innovative PRC to address important issues such as heat wastage, reducing carbon emissions and most importantly saving money.”

The terrier i-temp allows the time and temperature in each room to be fine tuned with no change to the master programmer. This energy saving advancement prevents heat wastage as the end user can focus heat within individual rooms when required. For example a typical user would normally heat the whole house in a number of time periods, but only use rooms at certain points of the day, the terrier i-temp can be set to reflect this ensuring no heat wastage in other rooms which results in inevitable energy saving.

This revolutionary new product is just a simple upgrade to an existing heating system; the PRC simply attaches to most brands of thermostatic radiator valves. It upgrades to the majority of existing TRV bodies, with adaptors provided within the pack. Products available include the terrier i-temp i30 PRC for vertical fitted valves and the i35 PRC for horizontal mounted valves. Both products are available with thermostatic valve bodies if required for a completely new installation.

Innovative products can sometimes be daunting for users however being “end user” friendly has been key for the development of the terrier i-temp that is why programming has been simplified in a walkthrough process, it also offers pre programmes for bedroom and sitting room or a customisation program. Either way the PRC can be installed or programmed within minutes. There are many additional features for example hidden temperature limit for future potential energy saving, window opening detection, set back and comfort settings and child lock features.

This PRC will provide huge benefits for all types of applications both domestic and commercial. It can play a significant role in reducing the carbon emission score for existing housing stock, social housing, care homes and multiple apartments with a central heat source. In addition, compared to other energy saving installation methods, terrier i-temp upgrades to existing valves quickly which will save time and money, its performance payback could be realised within just eight months.

“With heating identified as one of the highest domestic carbon emitters it was apparent that there was a real market niche to address this topical issue,” commented Sindar. “Considerable data collection has taken place with a full energy saving trial conducted, in conjunction with Longhurst Housing Trust. Two identical three bedroom terrace new build houses were used, one fitted with TRV’s and one with terrier i-temp. Results were compelling and demonstrated that terrier i-temp represents significant cost saving benefits on gas usage.”

The terrier i-temp is the first of its kind to be recognised as an Energy Saving Trust recommended product.

View Pegler Yorkshire's profile: