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Leading humidification specialist, Condair, has extended its range of electric steam humidifiers to include new IP55 rated models suitable for outdoor installation. The robust enclosures on the Condair RS resistive steam and Condair EL electrode boiler steam humidifiers enable the units to be located on rooftops and exposed to the elements.

Rather than simply installing the standard humidifiers inside a protective housing on a rooftop, the new outdoor humidifiers from Condair have purpose-built IP55-rated casings. This means they take up much less room on a rooftop and are easier to install. Condair’s new outdoor humidifiers are the most compact in the industry with the smallest footprint and incorporate lifting handles to make on-site transportation easier.

The enclosures incorporate a thermostat-controlled heater and fan unit to maintain the internal temperature at an optimum level with outside ambient conditions ranging from -20° to 40°C. An anti-freeze valve will ensure the humidifier completely drains should the unit experience temperatures of less than 6°C during periods of in-operation.

The new Condair outdoor humidifiers can be wall-mounted, allowing them to be attached to an AHU, or free-standing. Lockable doors are removable for easy access and optional internal lighting improves visibility for servicing and maintenance.

Alongside these new enhanced “outdoor” features, the Condair RS and Condair EL steam humidifiers inside the robust outer casing still offer all the innovative features that make these resistive and electrode humidifiers market-leaders. The latest touch-screen control panel gives intuitive control over operation and reporting, and a USB connection allows software to be updated and historic operational information downloaded into Excel.

The Condair RS resistive steam humidifier has an innovative scale-management system that sees limescale detach from the heating elements and fall into a scale-collector tank. This can be occasionally emptied to remove scale from the system without the need for major maintenance downtime. The Condair EL electrode boiler humidifier has advanced water quality management that precisely maintains the mineral content of the boiling cylinder. This avoids the need for excessive flushing of hot water to drain and minimises limescale formation.

The Condair Group is the world’s leading specialist in humidification and evaporative cooling, with energy efficient, hygienic and innovative technologies for commercial, industrial and heritage applications. Condair is represented in the UK by Condair plc, which offers system design, manufacture, supply, installation, commissioning, maintenance and spares. You can find out more by visiting the company’s website at www.condair.co.uk.

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Armourcoat’s new Acoustic Plaster System has been granted the Quiet Mark Award – the international mark of approval from the Noise Abatement Society Charitable Foundation.

Quiet Mark is the international award programme and system of support for brands and consumers. Through its pioneering acoustic tests, the organisation awards its distinctive Purple Q Mark to products and services that show excellence in low-noise and high-performance.

Designed to optimize the acoustics of interior spaces, the Armourcoat Acoustic plaster system offers a clean and smooth mineral surface that can be applied seamlessly over large expanses to both flat and curved surfaces. Comprising of a special mineral wool composite panel that is bonded onto the substrate and finished with a seamless layer, the system presents an elegant marble-based plaster finish while allowing sound energy to pass through the surface.

The Armourcoat system includes a high percentage of pre and post-consumer recycled material, zero VOCs, is class ‘0’ fire-rated, and achieves a class ‘A’ Noise Reduction Coefficient rating for the 50mm system.

Poppy Szkiler, Founder and Managing Director, Quiet Mark, comments: “We welcome Armourcoat to the growing family of global organisations that are prioritising investment in acoustic research to create quieter solutions, as recognised by the Quiet Mark award. Armourcoat’s innovative acoustic plaster system performs to the highest building standards and incorporates special wool composite. This delivers excellent noise reduction properties and minimises the unnecessary intrusion of unwanted sound into our buildings, allowing the creation of a peaceful and supportive aural environment in our homes and places of work.”

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Saniflo is pleased to announce the appointment of Fahim Karim as Specification Sales Manager for the South. This new role will focus predominantly on the Kinedo range of cubicles, enclosure and trays.

Having graduated from Brunel University in Uxbridge with Masters in Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research, Fahim was subsequently attracted to a career in sales and has since spent over 7 years in Specifications.

With experience in selling furniture, bespoke flooring and windows for new build and refurbishment projects he has excellent experience in dealing with architects, designers, developers, contractors and house builders; precisely the professional contacts required in this newly created role.
Outside work Fahim is an avid traveller and has explored the Middle East, Eastern Europe and America in the last few years. He is also a football and basketball fan.

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Consumer units are often much more about what goes into them than what is already built in. This product information feature from Crabtree, one of Electrium’s leading brands in circuit protection, is a guide to choosing the right consumer unit and what to put in it.

When they say ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’, they may not be talking about consumer units… but the analogy certainly fits!

A correctly selected and installed consumer unit plays a vital role in the safe use of electricity in the home. Its devices protect the installation and more importantly, the users, from faults and risks such as fire, and electrical shock.

Starbreaker consumer units have been designed to be easier, safer and faster to install, whether it’s a first-time installation, a re-fit or an upgrade, the range has been designed to be both backwards compatible as well as future-proofed.

Nothing demonstrates this better than the latest development in the circuit protection market.

New Regulations in the 18th Edition

With the release of the 18th Edition of the wiring regulations, which was published on 1st July 2018, a new type of circuit protection device was included under regulation 421.1.7 regarding AFDDs which stands for Arc Fault Detection Device. Starbreaker consumer units are the only consumer units that can accept AFDDs without the need for special busbars or assemblies, or on site adjustments.

Furthermore, because the busbar hasn’t changed since its launch AFDDs can be instantly fitted to any Starbreaker consumer unit, regardless of its age.

Starbreaker consumer units use an innovative instant self connection system by employing a unique busbar system that devices simply plug into for instant push fit connections that give guaranteed factory quality connections.

This makes the installation of devices easier, safer and faster. AFDDs can be simply plugged into the fully insulated plug in busbar system for an easy installation that meet 18th Edition standards for additional protection against electrically ignited fires.

30mA RCD Protection Extended

Today’s typical domestic installation will have 30mA RCD protection on every circuit, especially as another new regulation in the 18th Edition (regulation 411.3.4) has extended the use of 30mA RCDs to include all lighting circuits in dwellings.

All of which means that each circuit in a consumer unit needs to have several types of protection against a variety of potential faults.

By combining Crabtree AFDDs (Arc Fault Detection Devices) with the new Miniature RCBO (Residual current Circuit Breaker with Overcurrent protection) Crabtree have created a single device, capable of providing protection against all the fault conditions as necessary.

This device includes MCB technology, RCD technology and AFDD technology, providing protection against overcurrent, short circuit, earth leakage and arc fault conditions, all in one DIN mounted plug in 2 pole device that also switches the neutral for even higher levels of safety. They also help designers and installers comply with the 18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations.

It’s important that installers understand that AFDDs detect the types of arc faults that cannot be detected by RCDs or MCBs. These new devices use digital technology to provide additional protection against fires caused by arcs in AC 230V final circuits.

The 30% “Rule”

To help to avoid unwanted tripping of RCDs from PE currents (non fault leakage) the total PE current must be less than 30% of the RCD rating i.e. 30% of 30mA – see regulation 531.3.2.
Designers and installers will have to take account of PE currents when dividing the installation into the necessary number of circuits. Alternatively installers could simply use an individual RCBO on each circuit.

Only Use Manufacturer Approved Parts

Another new regulation, 536.4.203, refers to devices and components that are used in low voltage assemblies, such as consumer units, must only be those that have been declared suitable for that purpose by the manufacturer of the assembly.

Or put another way. Only use manufacturer approved parts, don’t mix brands of devices, or control items. Using unapproved parts will invalidate manufacturer guarantees and may result in an unsafe installation.

Meter Tails

The 18th Edition also includes regulation 522.8.5 which requires every cable to be installed in a way that avoids any mechanical strain and makes sure that there is no strain on the conductors and connections.

Consumer unit meter tails are included in this requirement. This is in addition to any other requirements to provide protection to tails at the point of entry into metal consumer unit enclosures etc.

Health and Safety

Regulation 462.1.201 requires a means of isolation (a main linked switch or circuit breaker) at the origin of every installation and in situations where this will be operated by ordinary persons, e.g. on a consumer unit in a domestic household, the main switch must interrupt both live conductors (L and N) of a single phase supply.

Starbreaker Mini RCBOs and AFDDs  provide this same safety protocol to individual circuits too because they include switched neutral as standard.

Periodic Inspections

The 18th Edition recommends periodic testing and inspection (regulation 135.1).
Testing can be a time consuming and costly activity, but Starbreaker Miniature RCBOs allow IR testing to be carried out without disconnecting and reconnecting circuit cables because they include two pole isolation as standard. Just switch off and test. Easier, safer, faster.

So, whether it’s a brand new installation, an addition or upgrade, Crabtrees’ Starbreaker consumer units and devices (Miniature RCBOs and AFDDs) can be simply plugged into the fully insulated plug self-connecting busbar system.

Providing an easy installation that now includes additional protection against electrically ignited fires.

Get more on the 18th Edition

Be clued up on the 18th Edition and the changes that are coming through by visiting our 18th Edition Area.

We’ll be talking more about AFDDs, Surge Protection, RCD and more.

For more information go to www.electrium.co.uk/18th-edition

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The brand new MagnaClean DRX is now available.

Its innovative and compact design includes a magnetic belt wrapped around a precision engineered stainless steel case which makes installation and servicing quick and easy.

The MagnaClean DRX has a robust and versatile design

The DRX has joined ADEY’s family of filters which are designed specifically for commercial systems. It will provide essential protection for plant rooms and comes complete with a host of features to provide a versatile solution for heating engineers:

Innovative and compact design which includes magnetic belt technology

• Flexible installation options – for both in-line and side stream applications
• Easy to service
• Effective capture of black iron oxide sludge
• Captures large and small size particles
• Available in sizes 2”, 2 ½”, 3 “ and 4”

To see the DRX’s design for yourself, you can watch a brand new video that is available via the ADEY YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/mOVnVCFNpAs

Along with the rest of ADEY’s range of Commercial filters, you can also download Building Information Modelling (BIM) technical data for the Magnaclean DRX by visiting adey.com / bim-store or via bimstore.co.uk

ADEY’s Commercial Division has also been expanded to support their customers further:

The continued expansion of ADEY’s Commercial Division now means that customers have access to a dedicated and highly-experienced team who are able to offer focused technical insight, help and advice, no matter what the system size, scale or problem.

To request a free site visit where a member of the ADEY team will come out and assess your plant room, just go to www.adey.com/support/customer-support
You can contact ADEY on 01242 546 717 or via info@adey.com

You can also keep up to date with ADEY’s latest activities via their social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn. And if you would like to find out more about the MagnaClean DRX or ADEY’s Commercial range, please visit adey.com

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Arc Fault Detection Devices are a new addition to the 18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations. This product information feature from Crabtree discusses why arcing shouldn’t become an after thought.

The Wiring Regulations define danger as: “Risk of injury to persons from: fire, electric shock, burns, arcing and explosion arising from the use of electrical energy.” Not that this should surprise us, electricity is a dangerous commodity.

In England in 2016/17, there were 13,347 fires from an electrical origin. Electrical fires are continuing to occur at virtually the same rate year on year, even though many of these incidents are preventable.

Perhaps this is partly because buildings have more items of electrical equipment in them than ever before? Electrical fires caused by arc faults typically occur at loose connections, poor terminations, in damaged leads and cables, or through old, weak and failing insulation.

Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs), can decrease the likelihood of electrical fires from these conditions by detecting the arcing conditions before the overheating and ignition of flammable materials. In countries like the USA, where use of AFDDs started some years ago, there’s been a reported reduction of 10% for this type of incident.

Dave Enefer, Product Manager at Crabtree, comments: “The wiring regulations (BS7671) sets out requirements for electrical installations in the UK, including requirements for protection of persons, livestock and property against the risk from fires that may be generated and propagated in electrical installations.

“Designers and installers should ensure that the installation is arranged so that the risk of ignition from high temperatures or electric arc is minimised, and that protection from harmful thermal effects is provided. Protection requirements include protecting against fire caused by insulation faults, arcs and sparks and high temperature.”

Clearly the wiring regulations require certain design and installation standards. It is permitted to use RCDs as a measure for protection against insulation faults, it’s also a requirement to install other circuit protection devices such as MCBs to provide protection from overcurrent and other conditions.

However, those devices cannot detect or disconnect arc faults. AFDDs detect arc faults that will not be detected by RCDs or MCBs due to the fact that the magnitude of such arc faults is often insufficient to operate an RCD or MCB.

Crabtree Arc Fault Detection Devices cater for the all of the above requirements because the AFDD technology is combined with MCB and RCD technology in one single device, providing for all of the requirements of BS7671.

In countries that have already adopted this technology AFDDs are often used in buildings with sleeping accommodation, those made from combustible materials, and locations with rare or irreplaceable items. Imagine how many incidents could be prevented if these devices were installed in all such locations?

What’s an AFDD?

AFDDs work by protecting specifically against arc faults, as they automatically trip a circuit when they detect dangerous electric arcs – thus preventing the outbreak of a fire.

An arc fault occurs when the arc current either flows between active conductors in parallel with the load of the circuit or when it is flowing through the load(s).

Arcing is incredibly dangerous because it creates high intensity heating at the point of the arc, resulting in burning particles that may, over time, ignite surrounding materials. Moreover, repeated arcing creates carbon paths which generate temperatures exceeding 6,000 degC.

It can take time to develop, it can occur immediately or over a longer period, meaning that the onset of an electrical fire due to ignition of the cable insulation or nearby flammable materials is unpredictable.

AFDDs constantly monitor and analyse patterns in voltage waveforms and electrical current, looking out for divergence from normal patterns of waveform that denote a potentially dangerous arc.

They are designed and tested to not respond to arcing under normal operation of equipment, for examples vacuum cleaners and drills, whilst simultaneously continuing to respond to arc faults whilst the equipment is being used.

Electrical fires can be decreased in number by the use of this recognised device that installers can now easily access and install.

You can read more about Crabtree’s AFDD solution via www.electrium.co.uk/products/crabtree

And there is more about Arc Fault Detection Devices and the 18th Edition over at the 18th Edition Area of the Electrium website at www.electrium.co.uk/18th-edition

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Based on a century of experience in wood floor treatment, Bona’s revolutionary new floor care program for both wood and resilient sets a new paradigm in floor care. This new program offers much more than just great detergents; it provides floor care professionals with expert guidance, sustainable products and solutions required to protect and maintain floors, ensuring they remain beautiful for longer.

Developed for professional cleaners, caretakers, building service contractors and traditional wood floor contractors, this innovative program enables the floor owner to more effectively protect their investments, revitalizing the floor surfaces with new, revolutionary methods.

From oiled to finished floors, Bona offers high performing, fast and time saving care and maintenance solutions. A FIBA approved range of products, uniquely designed for sport floors is also included in the program.

As part of the Bona Care Program, Bona offers a unique possibility to restore or redesign worn and damaged rubber, PVC, PU, vinyl and linoleum floors, eliminating the need for full floor replacement. This reduces downtime by an impressive 50%, resulting in considerable savings for the floor owners.

“The new Bona Care Program for wood and resilient floors provides effective processes and professional support, enabling the building service contractors to offer optimal service and care that extends the life of floors and retains their original appearance for longer. We strongly believe that this will be a real game-changer for the industry,” said Davide Cavalleri, Sales Manager Jan San & Rental EMEA/APAC.

The Bona Care Program includes processes and products allowing everything from full renovation and recoating to daily cleaning resulting in a prolonged life of the floor and fresh looks. The program can be used in all types of environments – commercial areas as offices and hotels, to sports halls and airports.

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Triton has introduced Cemflex VB Steel Waterbar, a fully weatherproof BBA certified waterbar that doesn’t need to be protected from rain prior to the concrete pour. It addresses a key challenge in below ground basement construction for installers of quality ICF systems and pre-cast concrete twin wall systems, who need to form a good watertight seal between the ICF blocks or the twin wall panels and the basement slab.

Traditional hydrophilic waterstops have been around for many years and can be used successfully in most applications. However when the blocks forming the structure are not in-filled with concrete for some time, and the waterstop is exposed to rain within the open blocks, this will cause it to start swelling prematurely and result in subsequent underperformance in a very critical location. Attempting to remedy this by the removal of the waterstop is usually impossible due to its location inside the ICF blocks or twin wall panels.

BBA certified Cemflex VB Steel Waterbar is a galvanised steel plate encapsulated in a special patented coating that reacts only with the water within the concrete to provide a watertight joint. It’s designed for use in all non-movement construction joints in reinforced concrete – and is especially suited to ICF or twin wall installations.

Quick and easy to install with no sticky tape to remove prior to use, it can be installed before the concrete is poured by positioning to steelwork, or directly into the fresh concrete after pouring. Cemflex VB Steel Waterbar is 1.25mm thick and supplied in two metre lengths in a choice of 100mm or 150mm widths. Find out more at tritonsystems.co.uk or speak to your local Triton technical manager.

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Podcast Now Available: BNE Product News – BBA – ‘Special Edition’ Interview

In this BNE Product News ‘Brand Leader’ podcast, Alvaro Enguita-Gonzalez – Head of Test at the BBA discusses the BBA Product Excellence Programme (PEP). The interviewer for BusinessNet Explorer is Mick de Leiburne.

Click to play interview on YouTube:

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Months of anticipation and speculation has come to an end as the 18th Edition of the IET wiring regulations has now been published.

BS7671:2018 was released on the 1st July 2018 and will become effective from 1st January 2019, but the new edition can be used immediately.

There are lots of changes in the 18th Edition. These include new and revised regulations, new chapters and restructured sections.

So with the big blue book now available where do you look to discover these changes? Hopefully these headlines will make your task a little easier.

(This is for information only. For the full details designers & installers should purchase a copy of BS 7671:2018 IET Wiring Regulations 18th Edition and follow the requirements & recommendations therein, this information does not constitute design advice)

Extended Scope

The scope has been extended to include an extra category (section 730 catering for electrical shore connections & inland navigation vessels). Section 730 contains the particular requirements for this added special location.

Chapter Changes

Chapter 46 is new and Chapter 53 has been rewritten. Part 6 is restructured & the regulations for inspection & testing move to new chapters and get new regulation numbers.

Definitions

There are several new definitions, and a few existing definitions that have been amended. For example, “Departure” is a new definition.

Departure is explained as an intentional decision to not fully comply with BS7671.This must be accompanied by a declaration from the designer that the safety levels achieved are not less than full compliance with BS7671 would provide.

Energy Efficiency

A new appendix on energy efficiency is included within the 18th edition. Appendix 17 makes recommendations for the design construction & assembly of the installation for optimising efficiencies in the use of electricity.

Only Use Approved Parts

Devices & components used in low voltage assemblies e.g. Consumer Units, Distribution Boards etc. shall only be those that have been declared suitable for that purpose by the manufacturer of the assembly.

If in doubt ask the manufacturer of the assembly to confirm compatibilities.

Note; if a deviation from manufacturer instructions is introduced then the person introducing the deviation becomes the manufacturer.

Arc Fault Detection Devices

AFDDs have been included in Chapter 42. These devices provide additional protection against fires that are caused by arc faults in AC final circuits.

Arc fault detection devices (when used) should be installed at the origin of each final circuit that is are being protected, AFDDS should be installed in consumer units and/ or distribution boards.

Appendix 6

In the schedule of inspections, under the section dealing with consumer units & distribution boards there is a reference to check for the AFDD six monthly test notice, similar to the requirements for RCDs & RCBOs.

Also in the schedule of test results form there is a new tick box for AFDDs which allows the installer to record operation of the manual test button on the AFDDs, again this is similar to RCDs & RCBOs.

Surge Protection

Within the 17th Edition of the Wiring Regulations, the requirements of surge protection were determined through risk assessment methods. Now, overvoltage protection is required in certain circumstances.

For example, where there is risk of serious injury or of loss of life, where many co-located people are affected, where there is an interruption to public services, or commercial / industrial activity. Other requirements are contained in 443.4.

For circumstances where overvoltage protection is not required, a risk assessment can be carried out. If a risk assessment is not carried out, overvoltage protection must be provided.

Before and After

Looking to get more pointers on the 18th Edition?

We have created a few ‘Before and After’ slides to show you how the 18th Edition might affect what you do.

Visit our 18th Edition Area and check them out.

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