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SILKA elements from Xella are BBA-certified, large format calcium silicate blocks manufactured in sizes of up to 1000 mm x 645 mm and a choice of thicknesses. Their use enables up to four times as many square metres to be laid per day while non-standard, factory-cut sizes eradicate on-site cutting and waste. Suitable for load bearing and non-load bearing walls, SILKA elements offer a practical, cost-effective alternative to blockwork and steel or concrete frame due to their mean compressive strength of 25N/mm2. With a high volume:weight ratio they also provide excellent sound insulation, heat accumulation characteristics and fire resistance. Xella routinely supplies calculations and working drawings for projects in which each cut block is identified according to its designated location. Laid by crane into a thin joint mortar, blocks have a smooth finish suitable to receive a plaster skim or tiles.

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Visitors to the exciting Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, just a stone's throw from Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory, can't fail to be impressed by the museum's 'spaceship like' modern exterior. The museum is dedicated to the 16th century Tudor Navy warship Mary Rose. The hull and a small selection of the 19,000 artefacts recovered with the ship were on display shortly after the raising in 1982. In September 2009 the ship hall was closed to allow the start of construction of a new museum that was opened at the end of May 2013. The conservation of the Mary Rose hull should be complete by 2016.

The construction was challenging with the museum having to be built over a sealed “hotbox”, which housed the hull, without disruption to the vitally important hull conservation spray process. In April 2013 the polyethylene glycol sprays were turned off and the process of controlled air drying began. In 2016 the “hotbox” will be removed and for the first time since 1545 the ship will be revealed dry. The museum displays many thousands of the artefacts recovered from within the ship. The Mary Rose Trust has created a world-leading museum in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard for the Mary Rose and the Tudor Navy, and an international centre for maritime archaeology, education and research.

Every major building such as the Mary Rose museum, depends heavily on the installed specialist machinery and systems that ensure the building environment is maintained within design conservation and visitor comfort parameters. Of major importance, located in dedicated plant rooms, are the pumps.

Engineering on the Mary Rose project were Ramboll UK, whilst the prime building contractor was Warings (Bouygues UK). The pumps selected from the huge Wilo range were supplied via Pipe Center, Southampton.

The pumps are situated in one of the neatest plant rooms you'll see, a benefit of being able to plan a new building such as this from scratch. The plant room incorporates Wilo pumps for the boiler circulation, secondary heating system, secondary hot water system, for chilled water circulation and a secondary chilled water system. The design of the building incorporates a dual duty approach, with two identical pumps operating alongside each other, sharing the load, to ensure guaranteed functionality at all times. The equipment supplied by Wilo for the project also includes two pressurisation units, in line with the design intent to reduce the risk of system failure and subsequent disruption to visitor flow.

“It was an exciting project for Wilo to be involved in,” says Area Sales Manager, Anette Scheepers. “Pumps are vital to all projects but these flagship projects make involvement very rewarding. We were able to provide the pumps specified and deliver them in real time so that the project ran smoothly.”

“We're very proud of the museum and delighted with the huge amount of media coverage we received when it was launched in late May, 2013,” says Sally Tyrrell from the Mary Rose Trust. “Visitor levels have been high and we're very much on the map as a key visitor attraction down on the south coast with people coming from right across the world to see the historic ship and the artefacts on show here. Being one of the major attractions in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard – with HMS Victory and HMS Warrior – the Mary Rose Museum has become an important tourist hub for this part of the world. Our visitors, quite understandably only see the exhibits on display, and are totally unaware of the considerable design and financial investment in the building, which has led to a memorable visitor friendly experience. We are very much aware of the investment and the individual contributions of many companies in making this a wonderful museum – and it's companies like Wilo that have contributed to the success we are now experiencing, even though our thousands of visitors will not see the plant room with the 'heart beat' of the museum's complex systems.”

Wilo pumps are renowned across the world for their reliability and efficiency levels. Here in the UK, Wilo is seeing its market share grow year on year and its involvement in 'stand out' projects like this is increasing as a result. The company has recently been shortlisted in the UK Pump Industry Awards 2014 in the 'manufacturer of the year' and the 'project of the year' categories. Find out more about these excellent pumps at www.wilo.co.uk.

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The Venduct® Duo Solar Outlet Kit is the latest addition to Klober's Solar-Line range of solar thermal and PV installation accessories. It provides an ideal solution for passing twin cables through the roof and makes the penetration fully weathertight. The outer casing can be twisted to vary the cables' entry angle, thereby removing any risk of distortion. The Duo Outlet Kit is factory-assembled and is therefore quick and easy to install. Available in a choice of 3 sizes and 4 colours it can be used for any large, medium or small format tile or slate.

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Mira Showers – the UK’s leading manufacturer of showering products and accessories – has enhanced its innovative range of digital showers with the introduction of the Platinum Dual that offers users both a deluge head and a handset that can be used together or independently.

Further luxury is also possible for consumers combining their shower and bath tub with the bath fill function which eliminates the need for taps, creating a clean minimalist look.

Platinum Dual is programmable so that a number of functions can be set – such as maximum temperature, flow rate, and added features such as a warm up mode and eco mode – while a clock display and a shower timer setting means that the user can keep an eye on the time and their water usage.

Installation is swift and simple as both ceiling and rear fed fittings are available and there is a choice of valves for every situation: a high pressure valve for mains pressurised systems or combination boilers, or a pumped valve for low pressure or gravity fed systems.

The wireless controllers operate by radio frequency and can be sited up to 10 metres away from the valve – and so located to suit the convenience of the customer, such as under a bath or in the loft. Customers can also have more than one controller, so they can turn on their Dual shower from, say, the bedroom and without stepping into the shower cubicle.

With the introduction of the Platinum Dual, Mira has extended the choices available to consumers while ensuring that the sophistication of the product does not hamper the simplicity of installation.

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Maintaining the energy efficiency of buildings is a challenge at the best of times but with the entrances of two state-of-the-art buildings at the University of St Andrews facing the full force of strong North Sea winds, the university turned to revolutionary Airbloc air curtains to ensure significant cost savings and up to an 80% reduction in heat loss.

With more than 9000 students and staff passing through the doors of this internationally renowned university every day, heating and air conditioning demands would be greatly increased through the opening and closing of doors. Situated above the main entrances, the AC and ACR series of air curtains from Airbloc proved to be the ideal cost-effective and energy efficient solution for the Gateway Building and new multi-storey Medical Science Building which both face the sea.

Working with specialist contractor Alliance Electrical, Airbloc supplied 3 x ACR120HE12-SM recessed air curtains with high capacity fans for the Gateway Building. The powerful fans and extremely efficient energy controller SmartElec were used to provide a stronger barrier while keeping the energy consumption to a minimum. The units were powder coated to a special RAL 7040 colour grey coding to suit the steelwork.

In the Medical Sciences Building, Airbloc supplied 2 x high capacity AC2000HE24W-SM air curtains. Measuring 2 metres long, these surface mounted units were installed in the lobby of the main entrance to provide strong effective air curtaining and tackle the drafts from the extreme exposure to the sea.

The advanced SmartElec energy controller utilises a built-in digital sensor that constantly 'reads' the actual temperature of the air leaving the air curtain. The sophisticated device simultaneously modulates the electric elements to obtain a given set point temperature, thus creating a barrier to the elements and greatly reducing the amount of electricity used.

The Airbloc electric coil design uses rapid response technology to get to temperature quickly offering tighter control over the traditional sheathed elements. They are BMS compatible and were connected to a bespoke over run facility which included door controls and PIR sensors that allowed the air curtain to activate only when the doors were in use. The Airbloc system was installed under the University's Salix invest to save fund, which has the highest spend in the whole UK public sector.

The Gateway Building has a reception just inside from the entrance and they were provided with run-on controls for quiet periods of low foot traffic so that they could use the units as heating boosters in very cold weather.

By specifying Airbloc's leading technology, this leading university will be able to reduce its carbon emissions considerably and ensure excellent climate comfort for its students and staff.

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Following new technical brochures on roofing and faÇade systems in 2013, VMZINC’s first of 2014 highlights key recent zinc projects in the UK and Ireland. THE VMZINC Gallery contains 35 pages of photography featuring diverse building designs of housing, transport infrastructure, education, sport, leisure and commercial developments. Specific aspects of interest include the tallest building yet to feature a zinc roofing system, use of zinc as an acoustic barrier on a key London rail project and heritage ornamentation on a listed art gallery. Go to http://www.vmzinc.co.uk/documentation9/details/38.html to view and download or call 01992 822288 for a copy.

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Amtech Group has confirmed that the keynote speakers for its two-day ‘Crystal Clear BIM’ conference at the Crystal Building in London will be Roy Evans of the BIM Task Group GSL Workgroup and Professor David Philp, head of BIM with the Cabinet Office and with international construction company Mace.

Reflecting the conference’s focus on the practical implementation of BIM, Roy Evans will talk on ‘The importance of catering for FM from conception to handover’ on the first day (17th June), while Professor Philp will provide an overview of the Government Construction Strategy with regards to BIM on day two (18th June).

Throughout, the conference will take a ‘no-nonsense’, ‘no BIM wash’ approach, concentrating on BIM in a real life context and providing accurate, sensible advice. It will address the needs of those who are already in the process of implementing BIM and those who are looking for guidance on where to begin.

Other speakers will include:

• Ismena Clout, Chair of the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM)
• Nick Tune, Director BRE Wales & South West, CEO BRE Canada, Director/Business Manager Building Smart UK
• Steve Race, Architect and former BIM Regional Ambassador, Construction Industry Council
• Ben Haldin, CEO Fulcro
• David Throssell, UK BIM Technical Manager, Skanska
• Gary Ross, Director of BIM Solutions, Amtech Group
• Alexandra Grounds, BIM Director – Applied BIM technologies, Amtech Group

There will also be opportunities to examine the unique architecture of the Crystal Building, one of the world’s greenest buildings.

For full details and to book a place, call Amtech on 0800 028 28 28 or visit www.amtech.co.uk/conference

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UGINOX BRIGHT, PATINA and TOP are terne-coated stainless steels which take on the natural patina of aged lead sheet. This has prompted English Heritage to endorse them as an acceptable alternative to lead. Such nickel-free ferritic grades are invariably lower in cost per square metre than copper and zinc, their inherent strength enabling them to be used at gauges as thin as 0.4mm. Overall weight savings can therefore be as much as 35%. All require minimal cleaning and maintenance and offer complete resistance to underside corrosion in non-ventilated situations.

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Pumps play an essential role in keeping buildings working and are broadly responsible for around 20% of all the energy consumed on the planet. All buildings have pumps operating as part of the heartbeat of their operation – providing heating, cooling, air conditioning and moving sewage and greywater. They are at the heart of the majority of processes in our factories and manufacturing plants, play a vital role in our public buildings and ensure that the wider sanitation systems in the country and indeed the world, continue to operate efficiently.

The advent of high efficiency pumps and pumping systems is of course a huge step forward, partly driven by legislation and partly driven by common sense and a desire to use less energy, pay lower energy bills and to a degree to reduce carbon emissions. To assess the benefits of new pump technology, it’s useful to look at a major new build project where new pumps have been specified and installed across a wide range of areas and integrated with the building management system to maximise on the benefits these high efficiency pumps can offer a building owner.

Palm Papers – a German company with seven paper mills across Europe has recently built a new plant in Kings Lynn. An impressive new base for its work in the UK and Ireland, it’s one of the world’s largest and most efficient newsprint paper mills producing 400,000 tonnes of newsprint a year with a working width of 10.63 metres, producing around 2,000 metres of paper per minute.

The production of paper from recycled paper is an established and energy and cost efficient method of producing paper and saves hugely on the use of virgin wood from managed sources. Not only are the forests conserved, but making paper from recycled paper saves around half the energy and one third of the water needed for paper from wood pulp. In addition the effluent and waste produced is far lower.

The new building sits on a 50 acre site in north Norfolk. It represents a huge investment in environmentally friendly technologies and it’s a building that sets new standards when it comes to environmental performance.

The total pump infrastructure in the building has been supplied by Wilo. Heating, cooling, water supply, sanitation – all supplied by Wilo in a project valued to them at around €400,000.

A paper mill is responsible for a serious amount of wastewater so a dedicated private sewage facility was built as part of the project. From this, approximately 96% of the wastewater can be recycled, meaning very little water needs to be sourced from the nearby River Ouse and the water that is put back into the river is actually cleaner than the water taken from the river originally.

Wastewater from the plant is dealt with by five Wilo-EMU FA08 submersible pumps and two Wilo-EMU FA10 pumps. These are specially designed to pump waste water containing solids and for sewage plants and pumping stations for water management and industrial applications.

Wilo-EMU FA submersible pumps are also used for rainwater collection and drainage on the site – a total of twelve pumps – Wilo-EMU FA20s and 30s each pumping up to 900m3/h. Four relays control three pumps each and are connected by MODBUS to the building automation system.

In the building, the air conditioning and process cooling use Wilo pumps as well. The 2.3MW cooling requirements are dealt with by two quantum refrigeration compressors. Wilo-Veroline IPL and IPE in line pumps are utilised for chilled water distribution. In the laboratories cold water distribution is controlled by two Wilo-Stratos CAN pumps – integrated via an IF module lined to the building automation system. These pumps are based on the ECM – electronically commutated motors – which offer double the efficiency of an electronically controlled pump with a conventional drive. Wilo-Stratos high efficiency pumps have been optimised to the operating conditions of the air conditioning refrigeration area. They are capable of operating happily under a wide range of liquid temperatures – from -10°C to +110°C, protected by a cataphoretic coating to guard against corrosion.

Only the most energy efficient pumps were considered for the project with Wilo-Stratos and Wilo-Stratos ECO installed. The heating system comprises five sub-divisions – a total of 13 circuits which are also controlled by the building automation system.

To provide the required levels of water pressure around the buildings, Wilo Comfort-Vario pumps are installed, which with four pumps provides a flow of 25m3/h at a head of 80 metres. Once again this system is monitored and controlled by the building automation system.

This integrated pumping system illustrates the energy efficiency benefits of utilising high efficiency pumps, delivering significant operational benefits and savings – not just in the lower energy bills they deliver but in the lower maintenance costs associated with them because of their high reliability levels and in-built protection – this ensures the pumps run with minimal interference and maintenance. The lower life cycle costs associated with selecting Wilo pumps is a vital benefit to any major organisation looking to incorporate this number of pumps in an integrated system that needs to operate constantly with the minimum of fuss.

Full details of the Wilo pumps utilised in the project can be found by visiting www.wilo.co.uk.

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Two new timber buildings at Ockendon Academy have seen use of 53 FAKRO Electro roof windows with blinds. 16 were installed in the 7-classroom English block while 37 were used on the larger ‘Ockendon Studio School’, a self-contained 6th form facility for year 12 and 13 students. Cabinco, which specialises in eco building,and the construction of sustainable school buildings in particular, was main contractor for both projects.

Designs focussed heavily on the provision of large, open plan teaching areas. As a result, it was particularly important to maximise availability of natural light and with both buildings having low pitch roofs the roof windows play a crucial role.

Simon Lawrence, Director of Cabinco explained their reasons for using FAKRO windows. “Selection was based on a number of factors in addition to local availability. We had specific technical issues to address including a requirement for wall operated electrical operation throughout. We received the support of FAKRO’s technical team to produce flashing details specific to the roof construction. Based on past dealings, we were already aware that the windows were of a high quality and had confidence that such requirements would be met without difficulty”.

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