Story

Hep2O® the premier flexible push-fit plumbing system from Wavin has introduced a new Radiator Outlet Cover, designed to help with the problem of inward and outward air leakage behind radiators.

The innovative Hep2O® HX113 Radiator Outlet Cover is designed to fit securely around a 10mm pipe and is easily installed behind the radiator to cover the area where pipes enter the wall – a place commonly associated with heat loss.

When the pipes are installed into the wall, it is often extremely difficult to seal the gaps left around the pipes post installation. This allows heat to escape and air ingress into the walls results in greater energy consumption, higher fuel bills and unnecessary damage to the environment. The HX113 Radiator Outlet Cover is the perfect solution, stopping leakages by ensuring that the vulnerable area is sealed effectively.

Not only does the Hep2O® Radiator Outlet Cover contribute significantly to achieving a successful air tightness test as required by the April 2006 revision of the Part L Building Regulation, but the new range also ensures the home is heated in an energy efficient and cost effective way.

View Hep20's profile:

Story

Tyco Electronics has released new TVSS (Transient Voltage Surge Suppression) kits for Dorman Smith MCCB panel boards. The new enclosure and mounting kits offer more flexibility and functionality for the popular range and come complete with a Bowthorpe EMP three-phase distribution surge protector.

New Dorman Smith TVSS kits can be easily installed and include a DIN-rail facility to mount a three-pole MCB. All kits provide IP4X protection and feature remote status and site fault indication. Offering unrestricted cableway access the devices can be supplied from panel board through MCB or directly from the first outgoing MCCB.

Dorman Smith TVSS mounting kits are available in three different options including: the Loadbank 125 mounting bracket, which can be easily installed into the existing panel board enclosure; the Loadbank 200 and 250 two module cable way enclosure, which can be accommodated either side of the panel board; and the Loadbank 200 and 250 two module mounting frame, designed to fit to standard cables of two modules high or greater within the Loadbank 200 and 250 system.

The design of the new Dorman Smith TVSS enclosure and mounting kits are part of Tyco Electronics’ continual development and commitment to address current standard EN62305:2006 – protection of structures against lightning.

TE logo, Tyco Electronics, Dorman Smith and Bowthorpe EMP are trademarks.
Other trademarks are property of respective owners.

About Tyco Electronics
Tyco Electronics Ltd. is a leading global provider of engineered electronic components, network solutions, undersea telecommunication systems and wireless systems, with 2007 sales of $13.0 billion to customers in more than 150 countries. We design, manufacture and market products for customers in industries from automotive, appliance and aerospace and defense to telecommunications, computers and consumer electronics. With over 7,000 engineers and worldwide manufacturing, sales and customer service capabilities, Tyco Electronics’ commitment is our customers’ advantage.

About Tyco Electronics – Energy Division
The Energy Division of Tyco Electronics is a global manufacturer of products and systems for the electrical power industry. Its products are extensively employed by power utilities and equipment manufacturers, in rail transport systems and in industry around the world. The Energy Division of Tyco Electronics offers a wide product range from brands such as AMP, Axicom, Dulmison, Raychem, SIMEL, Bowthorpe EMP, Crompton Instruments, Dorman Smith, including cable accessories, connectors and fittings, switching and power management devices, lighting protectors, surge arresters and insulators.

View Tyco Electronics's profile:

Story

At 37 storeys and 104 metres tall, the £80m Sky Plaza’s 349,000 square feet of student accommodation and 4,400 square feet of ancillary retail space is already a focal point of the Leeds skyline. By far the tallest student accommodation building in the world, it is also thought to be the biggest zinc cladding project in the U.K. to date. Carey Jones’ design utilised VMZINC’s rainscreen panel system in ANTHRA-ZINC® for the full extent of the north faÇade. The zinc complements deeply recessed casement windows which are split into horizontal sections every seven floors and met criteria for use of materials with minimal environmental impact.

View VM Zinc's profile:

Story

UK tank manufacturer Harlequin, is reporting strong sales across all markets of its 'Basic' Bunded Oil Tank range, as oil heating technicians and oil tank installers go 'back to basics'.

Launched in Autumn 2008, 'Basic' Bunded Oil Tanks are an evolution of the company's previous Bunded Contract Oil Tanks, but feature an enhanced product specification and an even greater choice of models. Like all Harlequin Bunded Oil Tanks, the 'Basic' range has been engineered to exceed all applicable UK, Irish and European requirements for the storage of heating oil at agricultural, commercial, domestic, industrial and institutional premises, including the requirements of OFTEC's OFS T100 Standard.

As a result of changes to Building Regulations and Standards across the UK, Harlequin now estimates that Bunded Oil Tanks are now a requirement at over 90% of new and replacement domestic oil tank installations in the province. Additionally, OFTEC Technical Instruction Book 3 requires that comparable levels of environmental protection are afforded to oil storage tank installations in the Republic of Ireland.

Not surprisingly, the majority of Harlequin's oil tank sales today consist of Bunded Oil Tanks – and according to the company's Marketing Manager John Switzer, that proportion is increasing all the time. By contrast, the number of old-fashioned Single Skin Oil Tanks sold by the company and which omit the environmental benefits of Bunded Oil Tanks, is in steady decline.

The premise behind Harlequin's 'Basic' range is that each and every oil storage installation is different.

Therefore, oil tank installers and technicians can choose from a range of five popular tank capacities and then add the ancillary equipment they require, without having to pay for equipment they don't. According to the company, the result is a 'compelling' product proposition at many installations, which permits installers and technicians to tailor oil storage tank installations to sitespecific requirements.

“Every Harlequin Basic Bunded Oil Tank is supplied complete with factory fitted, lockable fill, inspection and access points; integral, weatherproof venting; failsafe overfill prevention capability; and a 1″ Bottom Outlet.”, explains John.

“Once installers and technicians have selected their tank, they can choose from a range of useful options and accessories including a bund warning alarm, oil tank fitting kit, Tiger Loop de-aerator and of course an electronic oil tank contents gauge, which is quite simply a 'must have' for many consumers today.

“If however, they require a fully specified Bunded Oil Tank, Harlequin's market leading Standard Range of Bunded Oil Tanks is available. The Standard range consists of no fewer than 46 different models, 12 different capacities and 3 different colourways. Standard Bunded Oil Tanks are additionally supplied as standard with electronic oil tank contents gauge, bund warning alarm, tank fitting kit and a choice of top or bottom outlet.”

“It is difficult to underestimate the significance of the new Basic Bunded Oil Tank range at a time when counting the pennies has never been more important.”, says John. “Through empowering installers and technicians to select the ancillary equipment they require at an oil storage tank installation, it is possible to narrow the price differential between Bunded and Single Skin products.

“Bunded Oil Tanks are proven to significantly reduce the risk of oil pollution at any oil storage installation. Therefore, we would expect that the proportion of environmentally preferred Bunded Tanks being installed will increase still further. That's not just good news for anyone selling or installing Harlequin products. Environmentally responsible fuel storage is good news for the wider oil heating industry and great news for the environment too.”

Harlequin 'Basic' Bunded Oil Tanks are currently in production at the company's ISO9001, ISO14001 and OHSAS18001 Advanced Manufacturing Facility in Moira, Northern Ireland and available from over 1,000 Harlequin Accredited Resellers throughout the British Isles.

View Harlequin's profile:

Story

Klober’s new brochure 'Taking control of air leakage' explains how to develop an effective roof airtightness strategy, with specific reference to the use of vapour permeable membranes, vapour control layers and air barriers. It explains the nine method of assessment categories in the Code for Sustainable Homes, the principles of building fabric air permeability and requirements of Building Regulations and BREEAM. Managing Director David Arendell commented, “Energy and CO2 emissions make the biggest overall contribution to the CSH. As we improve the thermal efficiency of new homes and move towards zero carbon construction, it is inevitable that air leakage will become even more significant”

View Klober's profile:

Story

The campus at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) is now one of the most energy efficient in the country thanks to an installation of solar panels.

Three of the university’s buildings have been equipped with 400 Sharp solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on their roofs, including the students union and library.

The modules, which have been installed by leading renewable technology specialist, Energi Holdings, will generate between them a total of 43,000kWh of electricity per year, which is enough to make over 2,100,000 cups of tea.

Display screens have been fitted in two of the buildings to monitor energy generation and students will be able to use the information for case studies.

The solar PV panels have been linked in with the university’s electrical network and all of the energy generated will be used on site, reducing the amount procured from the national grid.

The panels were switched on at a special launch event which was attended by council dignitaries, university staff and Energi Holdings.

Dr John Hindley, MMU’s environmental sustainability manager, said: “MMU uses more than 28 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year, so onsite energy generation is going to deliver real benefits in terms of both financial savings and reduced carbon emissions.

“The PV panel project is just one element of MMU’s sustainable development strategy. Along with the recently introduced energy rating scheme for university buildings and ‘Zero Waste’ project across halls of residence, MMU’s £120 million Hulme super-campus is aspiring to be the greenest in the UK with aims to have a zero carbon footprint.”

Mark Dickinson, managing director of Energi Holdings, said: “MMU were very ambitious in their carbon reduction plans and the installation will go a long way to helping them meet energy targets.

“This is another example of work we have undertaken across the education sector and universities in particular are looking at increasingly progressive ways of reducing their energy bills and carbon footprints.”

The £480,000 project was part-funded through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme, which gives up to 50 per cent funding to qualifying renewable energy projects.

Energi Holdings is fully accredited under the BRE Global MCS scheme for solar PV installers and are members of the REAL Assurance Scheme.

View Energi's profile:

Story

Chris Thomas – CEO of Electrium and former BEAMA President explains why RCBOs offer the best option for compliance with the 17th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations.

The much anticipated 17th Edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations was published in January. At first glance the implications seem most onerous upon domestic installations where, in the majority of cases, the entire installation will require additional protection by 30 milliamp RCDs.

Presently the majority of domestic properties would have a part of the installation protected by a 30mA RCD which would be contained within a split load consumer unit. The RCD would most likely be protecting circuits such as socket outlets, electric shower and power in the garage or outside. With this type of arrangement when a fault causes the RCD to trip all of the lighting remains on. The benefits of this good practice are already obvious. Even so under the 17th Edition the effects of a single fault – particularly upon a lighting circuit – are now prescribed as a standard design consideration in Chapter 31 (Division of the installation).

However, if under the new regulations all circuits require 30mA RCD protection there could be a situation whereby power to some lighting circuits could be lost even though the lighting circuits are without fault. These circuits should be arranged in such a way as to avoid such risks.

Electrical designers will have to carry out a risk analysis to assess just how many circuits need to be independent and how many can utilise shared RCD devices before specifying a consumer unit. For example, it may be an inconvenience to lose all socket outlets at once but this is probably unlikely to cause another hazard, as would be the case if lighting circuits were affected.

There are other considerations such as smoke alarm circuits. BS5839 part 6 (Code of Practice for design installation and maintenance of fire detection and alarm systems in dwellings) recommends independent circuits for certain grades of mains powered smoke alarms systems, and further recommends that if RCD protection is required then the RCD should serve only that circuit.

The 17th Edition requires every installation to be divided up into as many circuits as necessary to avoid hazards and minimise inconvenience in the event of a fault, and take account of the effect of a single fault, particularly on a lighting circuit. Designers should also reduce the possibilities of unwanted tripping of RCDs and facilitate safe inspection and maintenance as well as providing separate controls for circuits requiring independent controls.

Independently protected circuits throughout is the safest option, alternatively four or five RCBOs in a Split Load Unit would provide independence to essential circuits such as lighting and smoke alarms. Using RCBOs, is by far the best way to divide and conquer the RCD requirements.

View Wylex's profile:

Story

Flag-Soprema’s 100-page technical brochure for its Optigreen green roof systems contains extensive information ranging from preliminary roof inspection and structural assessment to choice of planting, installation and aftercare. It explains how membranes should be used to provide substrate and root barrier protection and examines factors affecting irrigation, drainage, wind uplift and erosion for nine green roof solutions. Advice is given on roof usage, environmental conditions and how to provide a balanced planting medium for plant lists ranging from sedums to shrubs and trees.

View Soprema's profile:

Story

Mira Showers – the UK’s leading manufacturer of showering products and accessories – is bringing about an exciting new ‘revolution’ in the bathroom by literally turning showering on its head. With the launch of the Mira 360 range of showerheads, the company is offering consumers a unique four-in-one shower experience thanks to its innovative FlipstreamTM technology.

Each showerhead is capable of four spray modes which are chosen simply by flipping the head through four turns of 900 each. Each quarter-turn ‘flip’ changes the spray pattern: so users can enjoy the ‘rain’, be invigorated by the ‘burst’, get drenched by the ‘storm’ and luxuriate in the ‘cloud’.

FlipstreamTM technology uses a diverter mechanism in the head to vary the spray pattern according to its position. Axial rotation of the head – which sits on a gimbal (a pivoted support that allows the rotation of an object about a single axis) – actuates an instant change of water flow from one style of spray pattern to the next.

The 360 delivers stockists and installers a great opportunity to ‘sell up’ – either in new shower or retrofit applications – while providing the consumer with a ‘bespoke’ shower experience, depending on taste or mood.

The range is available in three different design models – the 360m, the 360r and 360i – all of which can be used with any system and all pressures, giving the user the opportunity to transform and revitalise their showering.

The 360m is minimalist in design with a contemporary, geometric aesthetic while the 360r is rounded, soft and natural in form with organic flowing curves. The 360m is offered in either chrome (handset) and white (sprayhead), or chrome and black. The 360r also comes in chrome (handset) and white (sprayhead), or white and white. For a bolder design statement, the 360i is iconic and striking with its black/chrome format. All styles feature the same functionality.

The launch of the 360 range sees the showerheads initially offered alongside a dedicated version of the company’s classic fitting kit, featuring slide bar, bracket and hose. Each 360 showerhead comes in eye-catching, ‘interactive’ packaging – which allows the customer to ‘feel the flip’ – to create real stand out in-store while a dedicated microsite, www.mirashowers.co.uk/360, provides full product detail and a short video demonstrating the innovative features of the 360 range.

View Mira Showers's profile:

Story

A completely new range of specialist fluorescent ‘proof’ luminaires has been introduced by Thorn. The X-Force family – whose powers include, super strength, endurance, and the ability to resist harm – goes into battle in the harshest of environments.

Five specific products cater for hot, cold, stormy, corrosive and impact related conditions enabling individual performance requirements to be met. Although fluorescent lamps are sensitive to temperature the HeatForce and ColdForce luminaires are designed with special control gear to operate reliably, and with good light output, at up to 65°C or down to –30°C respectively. StormForce is a rugged exterior luminaire – courtesy of a steel reinforced canopy and gull wing fixing brackets. CorrosionForce, with its PMMA diffuser will resist most trace chemicals in the atmosphere, such as in a processing plant or garage. As the name suggests ImpactForce will withstand a direct impact, up to IK07, and continue to operate.

All X-Force products share the same high build quality, stainless steel toggles and IP65 compliance. Within most families there is a choice of lamp type and ratings, plus digital dimmable ballasts and lighting control accessories so that the amount of light can be scaled precisely to the needs of the application. Emergency and Connect versions can be provided.

Perhaps the most appealing feature of the X-Force is its clean, cigar-shaped lines, which make it ideal for applications ranging from kitchens to car parks.

View Thorn Lighting's profile: