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It’s all very well testing electrical installations in line with the IEE Wiring Regulations, but how can you be sure that the test results are accurate? Unless you check your instruments regularly, the answer is that you can’t.

Accuracy should be checked regularly

Unless there’s an obvious problem, few contractors give a thought to the accuracy of the instruments they’re using. But they should – inaccurate test results are worse than no test results at all because they can create the impression that an installation is safe when it isn’t. This is recognised in the guidance notes that accompany the IEE Wiring Regulations, which make it absolutely clear that the accuracy of test equipment must be checked regularly.

It would be easy to think that annual calibration would satisfy this requirement, but that’s not necessarily true. A lot can happen to an instrument over the course of a year and, although modern instruments are remarkably resilient, there’s no doubt that accidents can and do occur which adversely affect calibration.

Impractical to calibrate more than once a year

What’s needed is a way of checking the performance of instruments much more regularly. Returning them to the supplier several times a year for calibration would, however, be both inconvenient and costly.

To solve this problem, Megger has introduced the MTB7671. Unlike some of the other test boxes currently available, the MTB7671 genuinely looks at all key aspects of instrument performance, rather than just focusing on a single aspect of each test.

Loop testers test up to 3000 ohms not 1 ohm

For example, lets look at loop testing. Many test boxes are arranged to allow the instrument that’s being checked to measure the loop impedance of a circuit chosen by the user. Then a 1 ohm resistor is added to the circuit, and the measured result should, of course, show a 1 ohm increase.

This is fine, except that many loop testers can read up to around 3 kilohms! Testing the accuracy right at the bottom of this range provides little information about accuracy at the higher readings. With the MTB7671, this issue doesn’t arise, as the test box checks the accuracy of the instrument at multiple points.

If anyone thinks that accuracy only matters at the low end of a loop tester’s measuring range, they should remember that, in TT systems, acceptable loop impedance values in excess of 100 ohms are sometimes found.

This is just one example of how Megger’s MTB7671 sets a new industry benchmark in testing the testers.

Won’t trip RCD protected supplies

Other examples include RCD testing, where the problem here is not so much with the validity of the results provided by the test box, but with the inconvenience of getting those results.

When used to verify the performance of an RCD tester, all currently available test boxes will trip any RCD protecting the circuit from which they are powered. One solution is to power the test box from a circuit that’s not RCD protected, but often that’s not convenient. Once again, the MTB7671 has addressed this problem, and checks loop testers without any risk of RCD tripping.

Instrument test boxes have an important role to play in guaranteeing the reliable test results needed to ensure the safety of electrical installations. However, not all test boxes are the same. In particular, Megger’s MTB7671 looks at all key aspects performance of insulation test, continuity test, loop test and RCD test instruments. Only an instrument that does this provides users with complete assurance that their test equipment is compliant with all regulations.

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Triton’s new RIBA approved CPD seminar, ‘New Build Basement Waterproofing’, focuses on the specific requirements of waterproofing in new build, below ground structures. Incorporating the requirements of the recently revised Code of Practice BS 8102 (2009) it covers pre-build design considerations , and how each type of waterproofing protection works and the benefits and disadvantages of each.  Triton’s original CPD seminar – ‘Waterproofing Existing Basements’ has also been updated and covers the use of similar methods of waterproofing and how they should be specified in refurbishment works.  More information and registration via www.triton-chemicals.com
There is a particular focus on Type C drained systems which are suited for use in historic or conservation projects as little substrate preparation is required and the system can be easily stripped out.  Drained systems work by continuing to allow the water to enter the building, and then controlling it behind a membrane from where it is diverted to a suitable drainage point.
Triton’s training programme also includes courses on the specification and installation of cavity drained systems, concrete waterproofing systems and damp proofing and timber preservation.
For more information and registration forms please visit www.triton-chemicals.com

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Daikin Europe N.V. has introduced a new EWWD-FZ range of centrifugal chillers that incorporate oil free compressors with magnetic bearings. This compressor technology not only eliminates the need for oil as a lubricant and associated maintenance and reliability issues, it also contributes to making this range one of the most energy efficient on the market.

Broad range of industrial applications

The new chillers are designed for a broad spectrum of industrial applications and come in 6 sizes (single circuit, 1 or 2 compressors) with cooling capacities from 320 to 1,050 kW. All units include onboard monitoring and diagnostics, can be easily integrated with external control systems such as building management systems and sequencing panels and are available with a wide variety of options.

Oil free operation improves reliability and efficiency

Oil free magnetic bearings contribute to simplified design and increased reliability. Friction is eliminated, as is the need for additional equipment such as oil pumps, resulting in reduced maintenance and greater reliability. Vibration and sound levels are also reduced significantly, allowing the units to be installed in sound sensitive environments.

The magnetic bearing system and other technologies present in the oil free compressor make it one of the most efficient compressors on the market today. Moreover, the compressor’s integrated variable frequency drive plus a flooded type evaporator, provide outstanding partial load efficiency and significant energy savings (EER up to 6.0 and ESEER up to 9.60). Integrated soft start functionality also greatly reduces start-up current requirements.

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Hamilton Litestat’s new slimline Linea CFX Collection has incorporated a new range of trailing edge push on/off resistive dimmers to provide the market with enhanced performance.

These Trailing Edge Dimmers have been designed to overcome many of the problems that are associated with leading edge dimmers, in that they are virtually noise free and compatible with most electronic transformers. They also offer the additional advantages of thermal protection and built-in overload protection, which prevents them from being damaged in an overload situation. At the same time, they feature unidirectional current detection which enables the dimmer to protect itself whenever a lamp blows and causes a high in rush current.

To prolong lamp life, these dimmers have incorporated a soft-start system which produces a slow fade out that is designed to help prevent lamp damage. Being a Trailing Edge Dimmer, it will work to its maximum without having to be de-rated. This capability enables it to dim 1000w when mounted four up on a double gang plate.

The new slimline Linea CFX plates incorporate split finishes and Hamilton’s registered concealed fixing system avoiding the requirement for ugly screws. This, along with the other features of the system, provide a truly unique solution for wiring applications thereby achieving a very high quality option that can complement the high specification demands of top-end interior projects.

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Triton approved contractors, Midlands based Dampco, used cavity drain membranes from Triton to waterproof the basement beneath a detached Victorian double bay property. There was already a basement beneath 60% of the property and Dampco was contracted to excavate and extend it over a further 30m². There were no existing lightwells and the Dampco team installed five, with the excavated earth being removed via the new ones at the front of the property.

Large areas of underpinning were involved with the earth taken down to achieve a 2.5m head height.   Two internal partition walls were built and some existing internal walls removed to suit the new internal layout.

Dampco used Platon P5 cavity drain membrane on the walls and heavy duty P20 membrane on the floor.  Cavity drain membranes work on the principle of allowing water to continue to penetrate the structure but control it in the air gap and divert it to a suitable drainage point. They do not allow pressure to build up against the internal construction and the air gap behind the membrane allows the structure to breathe. Once the membrane has been fitted, wall surfaces can be dry lined or plastered directly and floors can be screeded or a floating dry board system installed.

Drainage gullies were created on the floor slab beneath the P20 membrane to direct any water ingress to the three drainage system sumps, each containing an Aqua Pump. Any water directed to the sumps will be pumped to rainwater gullies/surface gullies. The walls were battened and boarded and chipboard was laid on the floor with hatches created to access the sumps. A wood floor was then installed again with recessed hatches over the sumps.

As part of the project, Dampco also had to remove the original brick stairs down to the basement and installed a new oak staircase to match the design of other stairways in the property. The new basement has provided a new space to accommodate a TV lounge/games room complete with table tennis table, a music room large enough for a drum kit and a utility room for freezer storage etc.  To create an impression of unity with the rest of the property, the door and door frame at the top of the stairs down to the new basement were removed.

The Dampco team also removed all garden plants from where the new lightwells were built, potted them up and then returned them to the garden when the project was completed!

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The owners of the UK’s first R22 replacement system are still benefiting from lower energy bills nearly five years after the installation of the unique Mitsubishi Electric system.

When the owners of the small office block in Daventry were originally looking to replace their cooling-only air conditioning, they considered a number of options including an upgrade of their boiler and heating plant.

However, after a discussion with Chillaire Limited of Nuneaton and Mitsubishi Electric wholesaler Kooltech Ltd, the owners, St Clements Services Ltd, chose instead to replace the old air conditioning with a heating / cooling City Multi Y Series, using what was then, ground-breaking Replace Technology.

“We were delighted to be a part of what we knew at the time, was the very earliest stages of R22 replacement technology,” explains Chillaire’s Gary Fowler, who led the project for the installer. “The technical support from both Mitsubishi and Kooltech allowed our engineers to keep disruption to a minimum for St Clements who are one of our most respected customers.”

The Replace Multi system allowed Chillaire to keep the existing pipework and wiring and update the indoor and outdoor units, whilst removing the old, environmentally unfriendly R22 refrigerant.

Using the existing pipework significantly reduced the time it took to get the system up and running and allowed the new air conditioning to be installed in days instead of weeks. St Clements also benefit from increased performance and efficiency from the Replace system.

“The speed of installation was a key factor in our decision but increased operational efficiency and excellent core reliability were also needed,” commented Chris Wright, Chief Executive of St Clements.

“The system has met our expectations in full and we have continued to benefit as a result of the efficiency of the system operating in an age of rising electricity prices,” he added.

St Clements have remained a service contract customer for Chillaire since the installation and Gary Fowler has been delighted with the system’s performance. “There have been no issues with this replacement system since we installed it almost five years ago, which just goes to show its reliability,” he added.

Mitsubishi Electric has developed an entire range of R22 replacement solutions since launching its Replace technology in 2005. These can also be used to replace the R22 systems of many other manufacturers.

To help convince system owners of the benefits of upgrading from R22 air conditioning, the company has also developed a unique Audit Tool which compares the running costs and COP levels of today’s, modern systems with old, fixed-speed R22 units. This readily highlights the reduction in monthly energy bills that can be achieved with advanced modern systems.

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A unique combined busbar tap-off unit and fused cut-out distribution board has been developed by Eaton engineers to provide power for dwellings in high-rise apartment blocks. It has been designed in collaboration with engineers from a London Borough for a refurbishment programme Each tap-off unit incorporates the supply authority’s cut-out fuses for up to 21 flats.

Special sliding joints have also been developed so that the in-line tap-off units can be removed easily from the riser if necessary for maintenance or upgrading at some future date.

Traditionally, specifiers call for separate enclosures incorporating R-Type fuses as service cut-out units. These are then connected via multiple cable runs from the ground floor or from busbar risers. By combining the tap-off unit and supply authority’s fuse distribution board into a single unit, installation time is reduced and less space is required.

The approach also means that the cut-out fuses are located outside the flats in a secure enclosure, accessible to authorised persons only. The enclosures are fully shrouded and sealable, and are themselves housed in locked riser cubicles.

The cut-out units were developed initially for 1960s apartment blocks comprising more than 90 flats spread over more than 20 floors. Four Eaton 400A Mempower MP busbar risers, two at each end of the building, distribute power throughout each block. Tap-off units are located at every third floor, providing supplies to that floor and the floors immediately above and below.

To meet supply authority requirements, the enclosures incorporate terminal shrouds and sealing facilities at two points. A common 350mm wide enclosure will house varying options from three to 12 ways while 500mm wide enclosures will house from 15 to 21 ways. The fuse bases are rated for 100A and fitted with 100A BS 1361 30mm diameter RL-Type fuses. The enclosures have removable gland plates top and bottom and are IP54 rated.

The success of the new units has led to further orders from the same authority and interest has been shown by other local authorities and private developers.

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Anticipation is growing for the 2010 Brick Awards which look like being the most successful event in the Awards’ history, with the highest number of entries ever received.

The Awards, which first took place in 1977, are one of the top design and construction awards in the country – and the definitive showcase for what clay brick can do. There are 15 awards split into three categories: housing, building and landscape, and technical and craft.  There is also the Supreme Award – the Brick Development Association Building of the Year, judged to be the best overall project from the 15 award winners.

The calibre of entries was extremely high, making the judging process very difficult for the judging panel, chaired by Bob Allies of Allies and Morrison.  The shortlist can be viewed on the Brick Development Association website, http://www.brick.org.uk/awards/2010.

The Awards will be presented at London’s Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel on 3rd November.  To book tickets and/or tables at the awards, please contact The Brick Development Association on 020 7323 7030 or email brick@brick.org.uk.

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The unique Lossnay heat recovery ventilation system from Mitsubishi Electric has been re-approved and re-listed on the Government’s Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme making energy efficiency more financially achievable in almost any situation.

The ECA scheme enables a business to claim the complete capital allowance on their spending on qualifying plant and machinery, with Lossnay listed under the ‘energy saving plant and equipment’ scheme.

Changes to the product criteria for air to air heat exchangers previously removed all heat recovery ventilation products with moving parts from the Energy Technology List. However Mitsubishi Electric’s commercial (RX5) and residential (DC) Lossnay systems now qualify under new definitions of the product criteria because of their special Hypercore.

This Hypercore is the secret of the Lossnay system with a unique, specially-designed, paper heat exchanger at its core. This allows the highly efficient transfer of heat energy through the supply and extract airflows, and enables Lossnay products to surpass the minimum performance criteria required to list the product on the ECA scheme.

“Businesses can now write off the whole of the capital cost of their investment in these technologies against taxable profits in the period during which they make the investment,” explains Philip Ord, Product Marketing Manager for Mitsubishi Electric. “This can deliver a cash flow boost, a shortened payback period and allows companies to benefit immediately from reduced energy bills.”

Developed and refined over the past 30 years, the Lossnay system has perfected the recovery of waste energy. The unit reduces overall energy costs by extracting stale air and then recovering its heating or cooling energy to either warm or cool the incoming fresh air.

By utilising this recovered energy, the Lossnay system can also save up to 30 per cent on initial capital costs of the heating and cooling plant.

The microscopically small pores in the Hypercore at the heart of Lossnay have been reduced in size even further in the latest Lossnay models allowing improved exclusion of unwanted odours from gases such as ammonia and hydrogen, whilst aiding the transfer of moisture for improved energy efficiency.

The ECA scheme is designed to promote the use of the most energy efficient products to UK businesses in a selection of key product areas.

With the introduction of Part F and L2 of the Building Regulations and with new Part L3 due at the end of the year, modern buildings are becoming more airtight, in addition to needing to be more energy efficient.

However some basic ventilation systems still mean that all of the energy spent heating or cooling an interior is simply thrown away when fresh air from the outside is introduced. The Lossnay product range fully meets these challenges due to its unique design and efficient heat recovery.

Both residential and commercial Lossnay units extract up to 70 per cent of the energy from the outgoing air which means the incoming fresh air needs much less energy to make it match the room temperature.

The Residential DC Lossnay system has also recently achieved SAP Appendix Q Best practice; the product was independently tested and validated to this important and prestigious standard by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) at their test facilities in Hertfordshire, England.

“In our built environment, we face increasing demands for energy conservation yet at the same time occupants rightly expect the highest standards of air quality,” explains Ord. “The ECA listing of Lossnay makes fresh air achievable for almost any building whilst ensuring the best levels of energy efficiency possible.”

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