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Ability Projects Ltd, Wimborne, Dorset, is supplying of over 750 fan coil units to the landmark Colmore Plaza office complex, Birmingham, developed by Abstract Land on behalf of the Carlyle Group at a cost of £155 million and due for completion early next year.

Billed as ‘the best office building outside London’, the 13 storey Colmore Plaza is designed internally to City of London Grade ‘A’ standards and will add almost 310,000ft2 of much needed office accommodation in the most sought after heart of Birmingham. Each storey will have the capacity to be split between 4 separate tenants and a typical layout could provide cellular offices for 63 personnel plus open plan space for a further 52 – alternatively, cellular office space for 8 plus open plan layout for 204 personnel.

Ability’s fan coil units, installed by Derry Building Services, Newark, Notts, are 4 pipe Trojan 270 chassis types with capacities of 4.7kW (cooling) and 1.7kW (heating), are located in false ceilings and ducted to ceiling level linear strip diffusers, which deliver conditioned air to the office areas.

The Trojan 270 fan coil unit utilise the latest electrically commutated infinitely speed variable, high efficiency EC motor technology and offer significant advantages to the customer in terms of both efficiency and controllability. Increases in UK electricity cost and the unit’s ability to provide substantial reductions in energy consumption and running costs make it particularly attractive for use in commercial heating and air conditioning projects. At a typical fan coil duty point, an Ability EC/DC controlled unit will reduce electrical input by between 50 and 60% and will draw about 50W as against the 110W of a comparable AC type.

The unit is also fitted with a purpose designed condensate high level alarm incorporating a new type of sensor, which uses light refraction to determine if standing water is present in the condensate tray. Since the system is devoid of floats or probes, it is far less prone to lime scale or contaminant build up that can result in eventual failure. The Colmore Plaza fan coil units also feature Trend IQL-II controls plus special isolating switches and flying electrical leads. Noise levels are set at NR38.

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Rockwool, the leading manufacturer of stone wool insulation, is running CPD seminars for architects to advise them of the potential of misinterpreting Approved Document B when it comes to the issue of HVAC pipe penetrations.

Approved Document B, which concerns itself with fire safety in construction, has only two pages dedicated to the issue of HVAC penetrations and suggests the use of proprietary, tested solutions but then dilutes this message by suggesting that other materials can be used. Some of the materials listed in Approved Document B as being non-combustible and suitable for fire stopping melt after seven minutes in a cellulosic fire typical in normal commercial and residential fires. This seriously compromises fire safety which in turn has implications for the recently introduced Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Vanessa Hatton, Marketing Services Manager at Rockwool, explains; “The RR(FS)O effectively means that developers have even more of a duty to ensure that buildings are fire safe. When owners and occupiers conduct surveys to gain RR(FS)O compliance, they may not be aware of dangers posed by untested or poorly fitted firestopping around HVAC penetrations. They also may not be aware of dangers posed by heat transfer through the compartment wall due to unsuitable insulation materials. What appears to be a satisfactory solution may indeed be a serious risk in the event of a fire and could result in injury or death, thereby putting building owners at risk of liability action. Rockwool urges that only tested solutions are specified and that ad-hoc solutions built-up from a variety of materials are avoided.

“By specifying construction products and systems which have been tested and certified as meeting fire performance regulations, and by passing that information on to owners and occupiers, the construction industry can help to improve fire safety as well as helping to make the task of complying with the RR(FS)O quicker and easier and therefore ensure that businesses remain competitive.”

The RR(FS)O, which came into force on October 1st, is new legislation which replaces more than 100 pieces of fire legislation governing the workplace. Fire Certificates no longer have any legality and instead owners and occupiers of offices, factories and other places of business now have a legal obligation for identifying and minimising potential fire risks. Failing to do so could result in criminal liability action in the case of a fire resulting in death or injury.

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Diners and revellers at Regent Inns’ much loved Old Orleans ‘floating’ restaurant can now enjoy the colourful heritage, spicy Cajun/Creole food and highly charged atmosphere of America’s ‘deep south’ in air conditioned comfort provided by Daikin VRV heat pump systems.

Moored alongside the 'Boardwalk' at the Lakeside retail complex in Thurrock, Essex, the restaurant reopened recently after an in depth refit aimed at broadening the appeal of southern American cuisine in surroundings that faithfully reproduce the environment of a Louisiana riverboat.

The restaurant, resplendent in fancy wrought iron work and bold colours and offering a mouth watering selection of authentic New Orleans dishes and cocktails, is the flagship of the attractive Old Orleans brand and the first to be refitted in a £4 million makeover of the entire chain.

An important component of the project’s new mechanical and electrical services, designed and specified by consultants, The Jones Partnership, Swansea, is the top of the range Daikin VRV heat pump air conditioning, installed by Summit Design Ltd, Wooburn, Bucks.

Conditioned air for both the lower deck bar and middle deck restaurant areas is provided by 16 Daikin FXLQ floor standing indoor fan coil units (8 per deck) with nominal capacities of 4.8kW(cooling) and 5.9kW (heating), located around the perimeter walls of each area. A comfortable year round internal temperature is maintained at 220C at 50% RH with airflows between 0.20 and 0.27m3/sec and sound levels between 35 and 40dBA. Energy efficient supply and extract ventilation for the lower and middle deck toilets is provided by Daikin VAM heat recovery ventilation units located within the false ceilings on each deck.

Two RXYQ16 VRV heat pump outdoor condensing units with nominal capacities of 45.0kW (cooling) and 50.0kW (heating) and EERs and COPs of 2.81 and 3.79 respectively, are located in the ‘wheel house’. Overall VRV system control is maintained via a Daikin BACnet Gateway interface with the restaurant building management system with local temperature control via room temperature sensors.

According to the consultants, “Daikin VRV equipment was chosen for this attractive project primarily for its quality, reliability and trouble free installation characteristics. The choice of floor mounted FXLQ indoor units reflects the relatively low ceiling height of each deck, whilst the combination of heat pump and heat recovery units helps to offset the energy used by the decorative lighting sources and reduce the overall carbon footprint of the venue.”

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Well, I’m sure there are a lot of Comic Relief promotions around at the moment but there can’t be as many with the play on words available that this one has.

Feel free to take the mickey – its all for charity after all…

Check www.atgaccess.com for clarification.

We are “The Bollard People”

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Breaking new ground in energy efficiency, Airedale has launched OptiChill, a new range of large capacity, high efficiency, air-cooled screw chillers. OptiChill has a small footprint and offers a raft of options providing a high degree of flexibility to meet a diversity of applications.

Offering 500kW to 1100kW nominal cooling capacities across dual independent refrigeration circuits, OptiChill has been optimised for use with R134a refrigerant. A choice of 52 model permutations is available through the range. Thirteen model sizes each offer a High Efficiency and a High Efficiency Plus range and two low sound level variants in each range.

The very best components are selected for optimum operating efficiency and combine to give EER values of 3.0 at Eurovent conditions and ESEER values above 3.5.

Each of the two high efficiency, top-of-the-range compressors modulate to accurately meet cooling load and are complemented by economisers, electronic expansion valves and super-efficient heat exchangers to enhance system performance and efficiency.

The shell and tube evaporator is the best ever presented by Airedale and offers extremely high evaporating temperatures for a given supply water temperature. Condenser coils have larger surface areas to provide greater heat exchange. Cleverly-designed, sickle-bladed axial fans present a new blade design which gives increased performance at reduced input power and lower noise levels. Optional electronically-commutated fans reduce condenser fan input power and further increase running efficiencies at full and part load.

An inverter-controlled pump offers variable fluid flow, saving energy on pump input power and providing exact flow requirement. The pump can be controlled by an optional electronic metering system via the onboard AireTronix controller to maintain design flow over time.

An optional Chiller Sequence Manager recently launched by Airedale integrates up to eight chillers into a single operating system to provide best-fit, energy-efficient solutions, ensuring equal usage of compressors and allowing remote set point adjustment and alarm management. Energy Manager for power consumption analysis is also an option.

OptiChill meets all the criteria for inclusion on the Energy Technology List, enabling end-users to claim 100% first-year capital allowance. Applications include close control, process and comfort cooling particularly involving large, diverse cooling loads.

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The Mercedes-Benz World – part handling circuit, part museum, part showroom – was developed using Mapei products. This superior building with state-of-the-art construction technology, is the latest in a long line of global projects to add to the extensive portfolio of unique developments where Mapei’s systems have been applied. Mapei products were particularly suitable for this project due to the site conditions and deadlines, meaning only fast-track systems could be used.

Dyson-Briggs & Sons Ltd installed over 11,000m² of ceramic and porcelain, wall and floor tiles throughout this new building, supplied by Solus Ceramics of Birmingham. This new Daimler Chrysler UK owned development was contracted by Warings Contractors Ltd of Hampshire, with Mapei levelling compounds, adhesives, grouts and sealants supplied through Domus Tiles of Surrey, and Mapei screeding systems supplied and installed by PC Flooring of Hampshire.

The major East and West wings of the building were a large operation covering approximately 2000m² in total, including washrooms. The concrete substrate was first primed with Mapei’s MAPEPRIM SP 2-component solvent-free primer to improve the bonding of Mapei’s ULTRAPLAN MAXI onto the concrete floor. Ultraplan Maxi is an ultra-fast hardening, water-mixed, truly self-levelling compound for 1-10mm. ADESILEX P4 was then used to install Solus Porcelain Grey Matt 450x450mm tiles on all floor areas. Adesilex P4 is particularly suitable for these types of applications, as a high performance pourable thick bed adhesive that is rapid-setting – also known as Mapei’s famous ‘Drop & Go’ adhesive. All finishing was completed using Mapei’s ULTRACOLOR ® PLUS grout and MAPESIL AC silicone sealant in ‘Cement Grey’ and ‘Silver Grey’. Ultracolor ® Plus is the well-known fast-setting and drying, flexible, grout for 2-20mm available in a unique range of 26 colours. It has BioBlock ® anti-mould and DropEffect ® water resistant technologies, and was used throughout the building in all tiled areas as it is suitable for both wall and floor application. Mapesil AC silicone sealant is also resistant to mildew, and is available in 26 matching colours plus transparent.

In the East and West wing washroom areas MAPEGUM WPS was also used within this installation system as a fast drying flexible liquid membrane for waterproofing. Wall surfaces covering around 500m² in the washrooms were tiled using KERAFLEX single part flexible cementitious adhesive with no vertical slip and extended open time to fix the Solus Grey Porcelain 300x300mm polished finish tiles onto plasterboard, again incorporating Mapegum WPS as a waterproofer.

The 500m² Atrium was firstly screeded using TOPCEM normal setting and rapid drying shrinkage controlled special hydraulic binder. Topcem was ideally suited as ceramic and stone can be installed after 3 days – providing a fast-track system. ULTRAPLAN ECO was applied on top of this providing a fast hardening, water-mixed self levelling compound with very low TVOC content (Total Volatile Organic Compounds). Adesilex P4, Ultracolor ® Plus and Mapesil AC (Colour, Silver Grey) was again used for installing the Solus GE49 Riven Finish Ceramic Tiles in Cream, 450×225 mm.

The grand ‘Themefield’ area of the museum section was again completed using the same ceramic flooring installation system covering approximately 8000m², with Ultraplan ECO laid directly onto the sand:cement screed. Solus RD48 Ceramic Satin Finish in Grey, and NA46 Ceramic Polished Finish in Black (all 450x450x9) were bonded with Adesilex P4, and finished with grout and sealant in ‘Silver Grey’.

One of the largest and most intricate areas in the building is the Technology Centre. Different sections were laid using Mapei products. The general floor area was laid with Solus SCM 2020 AS Ceramic Matt Finish 200x200x12mm in Grey over 2000m² using KERAQUICK. Keraquick is an S1 rapid setting flexible adhesive suitable for all ceramics, mosaics and natural stones. Ultracolor ® Plus and Mapesil AC in both ‘Cement Grey’ and ‘Silver Grey’ were used throughout wall and floor tile finishing in this area after fixing with Keraquick. Solus SCM2020 Grey Profil Ceramic Tiles with slip-resistant finish were fitted on wet area floors, with Mapegum WPS used initially for waterproofing. Solus Demarcation Tiles SCM2000 and SCM2000B were used at approximately 100m² for specific demarcation floor areas. All walls in this area were again fitted with this same system, adding Mapegum WPS to toilet wall sections. Keraflex was used rather than Keraquick here, to ensure no vertical slip, to bond the Solus CPS103 and CPS101 Grey Satin Finish 200x200x6mm porcelain tiles. A 50m² section of Test Lane walls were tiled with the same system using Ultracolor ® Plus in ‘Silver Grey’.

Finally, general toilet area walls were fixed with Solus NA46 Grey Porcelain Polished tiles at 300x100x9 using the Keraflex system, with Solus Coved Skirting to match their SCH2020AS at 200x200x12.

Schlüter ®- DILEX-EKSN 140GS   movement joint profiles were also incorporated in wall areas throughout the project, to approximately 455lm. The movement joint profile is specially designed to protect tiles which are subjected to high mechanical stresses. The trapezoid-perforated anchoring legs are made of stainless steel, with a soft rubber movement zone. The profile's rubber insert is replaceable, in case of damage, and the stainless steel side sections provide effective edge protection for the tiled surface. Movement joints create a tile field which moves independently from those around it.

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In larger buildings such as taller residential premises – flats and apartment blocks, hotels, hospitals as well as offices and industrial buildings, the pressure provided by the water supplier is often not sufficient to boost the water for all potable water tap connections in the building especially where the pressure provided has been or will be reduced shortly by the water company to reduce leakage rates and help the water companies to achieve their leakage reduction targets.

Where this is the case, pressure boosting systems have to be installed, usually in the basement areas, to guarantee a sufficient and constant water pressure. These systems, designed as individual or multi-pump systems, react to the varying demands of the water supply from the building and adjust the pressure levels utilised to meet those needs on an on-going basis. To achieve this flexibility, the booster systems tend to be made up of several smaller pumps rather than a single larger booster pump. This provides the opportunity for the pumps to rotate in use, with additional capacity available for peak demand times such as early morning and late afternoon.

New generation pressure boosting systems come with automatic electronics with which the pumps can be operated in a very quiet and energy-saving way. Wilo offers one of the most advanced control systems with its ‘CC-Booster’ (‘Comfort Controller’) switchgear. The company is one of the leading suppliers of pumps and pump systems and supplies, and is supplying ‘ready for installation’ pressure boosting systems for potable water supplies across the UK.

The core of the ‘CC-Booster’ is a programmable memory control (SPS) developed by Wilo, which comfortably controls the fully automatic control and pressure boosting systems with up to six individual pumps as standard. The pressure of the water supply system is controlled load-dependent via signal transmitters. The ‘CC-Booster’ has input to a frequency converter, which in turn influences the speed of the base-load pump. As the flow rate demand required alters, the speed of the base load pump is regulated automatically, if the demand exceeds the ability of the base load pump, additional pumps will be sequentially cascaded (on and off) whilst the base load pumps speed regulates to ensure the required set pressure value remains constant. As an alternative, the ‘CC-Booster’ is also available without a frequency converter. In these systems, the pumps are switched on or off, load dependent, in cascade form.

The multifunctional touch-screen in the switch cabinet door, ensures the Wilo ‘Comfort Controller’ is very simple to operate. Pump and system status, as well as the current system pressure are permanently displayed on the screen. A user friendly navigation menu facilitates the operation and the setting of the set points. The backlight ensures the displays are clearly visible at all times, wherever they may be installed. The display has three options – green (normal operation), red (fault) or orange (fault signal acknowledged). The display has flexible graphics capabilities and can be provided with freely programmable symbols for each customer. Up to 15 European and Asian languages can be programmed into the navigation menu. Fault and alarm signals are displayed optionally via short message or can be displayed remotely.

The ‘CC-Booster’ is expandable with other optional modules for remote diagnosis and maintenance as well as being available with a modem, ISDN terminal, GSM modem or web server. The pressure boosting systems can be easily integrated into building management systems using bus systems like Profibus, Modbus, LON or CAN-Bus, as well as through other data protocols like the Ethernet HTML or TCP/IP. This is because the technology of the ‘intelligent building’ can control and monitor functional areas in more and more buildings and, as well as standard modern technology, it can also access control and fire protection systems. Vitally, as well as the increased user convenience this offers, this also considerably reduces operating costs.

Also feasible if required are tailor-made adjustments of the ‘CC-Booster’ to meet the demands of building management systems through the integration of modules for remote set point adjustment, remote signal of the pump status as well as extensive diagnosis functions. All components utilised in the system correspond to international industry standards, to meet the need for world-wide compatibility.

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Coltman Precast Concrete, one of Britain's largest independent suppliers of precast concrete products to the construction industry, has streamlined its sales force to provide customers with an even more effective service back-up.

Mark Proctor, Area Sales Manager for the South of England and South Wales for the past three years, now also covers the South Midlands.

Paul Kendall, was an estimator at Coltman for six years, prior to being appointed Area Sales Manager for the West Midlands and West Wales; following the retirement of Bob Hodgetts.

Perrin Stow joins the company as Area Sales Manager for the North of England and the East Midlands. He was formerly sales manager at a company specialising in precast concrete flooring.

Said Coltman's Sales and Marketing Manager, Robin Horton: “Growing sales, coupled with the retirement of Bob Hodgetts, have prompted us to further strengthen our sales team and reorganise their former territories in order to offer enhanced customer service.”

“All three Area Sales Managers have extensive experience of the construction industry. They work closely with customers from the design stage through to the installation of prestressed flooring and roofing, stairs and staircases and stadium terracing, to ensure that their projects run smoothly and efficiently.”

Coltman produces in excess of 114,250 tonnes of precast concrete each year, consisting of 250,000 square metres of prestressed hollowcore flooring and 4,000 cubic metres of bespoke precast concrete products.

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Leading flexible plumbing and underfloor heating company Uponor Housing Solutions (www.uponorhousingsolutions.co.uk) is pleased to announce the introduction of the RA Manifold range; a unique system that allows thermostatic control of radiators without the need for TRVs. With comfort and controllability in mind, Uponor have designed a range of manifolds that allow control of individual radiators via wall mounted thermostats.

The New Uponor RA Manifold range allows sophisticated controls to be incorporated into a radiator heating system by using thermal actuators mounted on the distribution manifold, similar to underfloor heating. There are a range of benefits associated with manifold plumbing in this way; efficiency being the most relevant in today’s marketplace. The system uses the information returned to the actuators by the strategically placed thermostats; which only open the actuators when the heat is needed, keeping heat fluctuations to a minimum and improving comfort levels. The RA manifold allows each radiator to be manually adjusted or isolated off at source; giving the flexibility to heat selected areas easily. The manifold is designed for radiator systems and can take water temperatures of up to 95degrees; but uniquely this also means that the system can be run in conjunction with Uponor’s UFH, all controlled by Uponor’s New Control System – Radio, alongside UFH.

Increasingly customers are using underfloor heating (UFH) on the ground floor of properties and radiators on the first floor. By using Uponor’s latest control offering it is now possible to view and ‘set’ the radiator and UFH system parameters from the one central point – isolating each individual room/zone; reducing the temperature in times of inactivity or during the evening. It is also possible to use the same radio frequency thermostats for the radiator system and UFH, utilising a choice of three different types of thermostat to suit a range of customer tastes.

Manifold plumbing for a long time has been used by plumbers to isolate runs of pipe utilising a flow and a return at each end of the run. The UK market has always seemed to take its lead form its European counterparts, where manifold plumbing has been the standard practice for many years. Manifold plumbing uses fewer fittings, and therefore reduces the chance of any leaks, and also gives a more balanced flow rate than a standard system. All the first fix equipment is located in a cupboard allowing for all the different loops to be identified, regulated and isolated, keeping them locked away from inexperienced hands.

Uponor feel it is extremely important to be able to provide not just UFH but to ensure a clients radiator needs are also met. It is a common misconception that you either have radiators or UFH – why not have both? When it is cost or practical issues Uponor allows the client to have both heating techniques working in harmony to create the best living environment possible with energy efficiency in mind. Problem arises when cold tap pipework is run through a floor fitted with UFH. Uponor expertise ensures the pipework is mapped out perfectly to give the best performance and uphold all health and safety aspect of running both UFH and manifold plumbing together.

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No matter how much you think you know about finishing wooden floors, BonaKemi claims it can teach you more! The company runs a variety of courses covering sanding, finishing and other skills associated with the installation and renovation of wooden floors and the delegate profile is surprisingly mixed.

“Around 50% of delegates attending our training courses are contractors who have been working in the industry for many years” says Alec Stacey, BonaKemi’s Technical Manager. “With new types of products and techniques being introduced all the time, they tell us it’s important for them to keep up to speed with these new developments if they are to remain competitive.”

BonaKemi believes that no matter how long a contractor has been working in the industry, it’s particularly important to learn about new innovative products. For example, delegates attending the company’s current “Success with Wooden Floors” course learn about the new reactive adhesives which allow you to stick wooden floors down on certain types of subfloor which are incompatible with the more traditional solvent based adhesives; new and highly effective dust containment systems which really add value to an art gallery, museum or health care contract; and how floors can now be oiled and stained in just one day using new low solvent staining systems.

“Our delegates come from all types and sizes of company and so we might find we’re training a mix of self employed individuals alongside a whole team of fitters from a larger company” continues Alec, “Our distributors often send their sales staff too as they feel it’s important for them to fully understand the benefits of the products they are selling and how they should be used.”

From a technical point of view BonaKemi’s course explains how to use lacquers effectively and the problems which are caused, for example, by under-application. The specification process is also covered in detail to ensure contractors will always apply a sufficient number of coats of the most appropriate finish for each individual floor they install or renovate. Using the “We always apply two coats of lacquer” approach will lead to serious problems if the floor is fitted in the entrance hall of a busy commercial building! The course also looks at the importance of preventative maintenance such as fitting adequate matting and the specification of an on-going maintenance and cleaning regime.

There is a full programme of courses for contractors running at BonaKemi’s Centre of Excellence in Milton Keynes throughout 2007. Give the Technical Department a call to find out more about dates and individual course content.

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