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The man who is still undeniably Mr Motor Racing here in the UK – the much loved and respected Sir Stirling Moss – has chosen a new Tapworks water softener for his home in London. The new softener was installed recently as part of a programme of renovations and upgrades to the ‘Moss’ home and is already making the ‘gadget friendly’ Sir Stirling a very happy man! The water softener comes with a remote control that can operate up to 100 feet away from the softener itself and Sir Stirling is already eagerly interrogating his new softener from the fourth floor kitchen of his home!

The installation is in the basement of Sir Stirling’s Mayfair home and in quite a tight corner, so the installation was a challenge, without being a problem! Tapworks engineer John Nixon and Service Manager Nick Bampton set about installing the unit at around 9.30am and they were explaining by 1pm to Sir Stirling and Lady Moss how to use the softener’s remote control which was by then up and running.

The location for the softener wasn’t totally straightforward but the Tapworks boys were able to agree a location fairly quickly, join up the pipework and get the unit finally positioned so that Sir Stirling and his wife Susie can load the salt with ease when they need to do so. The water softener is totally automatic with all normal controls being sorted from the remote control unit. The read out on the control told Sir Stirling that it would not need salt for 82 days – he was fascinated by the control unit and very happy with the new softener.

Mains water across London and the south east tends to be pretty hard and damage to appliances and heating systems can be extensive, so installing a water softener is a sensible approach. As well as improving the quality of life, softened water is far better for washing, bathing, reduces wear and tear on washing machines and dish washers, as well as keeping the kettle from furring up. It can reduce energy bills – up to 15% lower bills is common – whilst boilers and heating systems do not suffer from the rigours of hard water leading to limescale encrustation in the heat exchanger of the boiler, in pipework, pumps and radiators. The savings on maintenance can also be significant.

It’s clear that Sir Stirling has made a decision to make life as straightforward as he can and his Tapworks water softener unit will play a big part in ensuring things run smoothly in the years ahead. In the past twelve months Tapworks has seen double the number of large softeners sold – particularly in London and the Southeast – highlighting the value of addressing the problems of limescale build up in larger homes.

“We’re delighted with the new water softener and we’re great fans of softened water,” said Sir Stirling as he relaxed in his kitchen after the installation. “It makes a real difference to everyday life as well as reducing the amount of soap and detergent we need to use. It makes having a shower or a bath much more pleasant and Susie says it’s better for her – so that’s all that matters,” he chuckled, toying with a signed racing helmet he’d been given by Sebastian Vettel.

“We’re delighted Sir Stirling has decided to use one of our softeners in his home,” says Tapworks Janet Dexter. “It was a joy to install the unit in his and Susie’s home – they were so welcoming and happy to witness the new softener being installed. We had tremendous fun there. Sir Stirling is known to be fond of gadgets so it was a no-brainer for him to go with an electronic water softener.”

Absolutely,” said Sir Stirling. “You wouldn’t have a non-electronic kettle or a non-electric washing machine these days. Why consider anything but an electronic water softener? It does a terrific job and you can literally control it from almost anywhere in the house. I’m very impressed by it all!”

Find out more about Tapworks water softeners at www.tapworks.co.uk or call 01494 480 621 for information.

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Klober’s Venduct® Uniplus Solar Panel Support removes any load on roof tiles or slates thus preventing them from breaking under stress. The support itself is made from cast iron and has a hole pattern which enables it to be used flexibly on rafters. It has been designed to be compatible with most clay and concrete roof tiles including plain tiles and natural slates, fibre-cement slates and bitumen shingles. In combination with a Base Slate or a Universal Base Tile there is no need to modify tiles and a choice of two supports is available to suit the roof covering. Usable on pitches from 15°- 65°, panel support adaptors enable it to be used with a wide variety of PV rail systems. The product has been tested by the TÜV Rheinland Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory and by the LGA for load bearing capacity.

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A new range of metering units, designed for easy installation on existing supplies or upgrades, helps to provide energy metering to Part L2 of the UK Building Regulations. Havells’ MMU meter management units comprise a multifunction meter in an IP65 enclosure, with pre-wired split-core current transformers. The range comprises 125A and 250A units with standard multi-function meters or MID meters.

To save installation time and risk of errors, the compact split-core CTs are pre-wired to flying leads which are easily connected to the meter terminals. The meters are fully pre-configured for current transformer ratio and voltage. They have in-line fuses to protect the meter and a CT disconnect feature for safe maintenance.

The meters offer both visual and remote reading capability. Parameters displayed include kW, kVAr, kVA, maximum demand since last reset, kWh (import and export), kVArh (import and export), voltage, frequency, current and THD (total harmonic distortion). For remote monitoring and BMS systems both pulsed output and Modbus communications are offered as standard. The MID meter option offers an approved meter for landlords’ tenant billing applications

The insulated enclosures have a transparent cover for easy viewing of the meter. ‘Glandless’ cable entry avoids the need for stuffing glands. The split core CTs are designed for easy installation even in confined spaces, and have generous tails for connection to the meter. Optional voltage reference connections use ‘Vampire’ insulation-piercing connectors for simplicity and safety.

“Havells recognises that there are some aspects of installation practice that are specific to the UK. These include the energy monitoring requirements of the Building Regulations and requirements for landlords’ metering. We aim to offer solutions to the special needs of the UK market as well as those which are common to all sectors of the market” says Havells’ UK Marketing Manager, Mike Lawrence.

The company, which entered the UK switchgear market in the second half of 2011, has already launched ranges of residential consumer units, Type A and Type B distribution boards and a range of MCCB panelboards.

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Installing the Mira Platinum Pumped Mixer in its guests’ bathrooms has enabled the Headlands Hotel – a four star hotel overlooking one of the UK’s top surfing beaches – to upgrade its showers to the highest standard with a minimum of disruption and cost. Overlooking Fistral Beach in Cornwall, the hotel is in a perfect position to admire the spectacular surf and scenery but, according to owner John Armstrong, the showering had posed a difficulty.

“We’ve been replacing the whole plumbing system in this 110 year old building over the past decade. In this time power showers have become ever more popular and our gravity fed showers had become a continual gripe from customers: they wanted more water. We were considering whether it was practicable to pressurise the whole system, but it seemed that was not a realistic option. Then our local Mira agent drew our attention to digital showers”.

“I didn’t know what he meant at first: “a digital shower”. But these Mira Platinum Digital showers are perfect. We have installed them in 16 rooms so far and the guests have been delighted. We’re also very surprised and pleased because this method of tackling the problem has proved cheaper than the more obvious traditional solution.”

The wireless digital shower enables the user to set their preferred temperature and flow and, because the controls are surface-mounted, it can be retrofitted quickly and simply onto existing tiling. Digital technology and careful design make the Platinum adaptable to local conditions. The wireless controller can be located up to 10 metres away from the shower valve while the pump can be installed where ever convenient within three metres – behind the bath panel, in this case.

“They were easy to fit and easy to set and the back up from Mira was first class too,” remarked Roger Cowl of the installers, County Heating Maintenance, who was so impressed he intends fitting one in his own bathroom.

The digital shower provides thermostatic temperature stability, so showering is safe for all the family, and has separate flow and push button temperature control as well as programmable functions including: Warm – Up mode, Clock display & Eco setting. An additional controller can also be fitted so that the shower can be operated from another room. Supplied without fittings in this case, the Mira Platinum comes as standard with a Mira 360 showerhead complete with Flipstream TechnologyTM – one flip action, four unique sprays.

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FAKRO has announced the award of a Passive House certificate for its quadruple-glazed FTT U8 Thermo roof window. This has by far the best U-value currently available in a standard roof window – just 0.58W/m2K.

Managing Director Noel Shanahan commented, “Fakro has developed a reputation for innovation over the past decade but Passive House certification is the clearest illustration yet of the development work which goes into our products. Achieving such certification provides clear value for architects designing airtight homes.”

The FTT U8 offers other benefits such as a raised pivot point, topSafe® anti-burglary protection, warm spacers to minimize risk of thermal bridging and an operating handle in the base of the sash.

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Micronics Ltd will be exhibiting their comprehensive range of “clamp-on” ultrasonic Liquid flow, Heat and Energy flow meters for industry and commerce including the NEW PF440 Portable “clamp-on” flow meter, which extends the scope of Micronics simple to operate PF330/220 portable range with a rugged enclosure, flow sensor guiderails suitable for external applications and increased logging capacity. Micronics full range of simple to install and accurate flow measurement solutions will be on show including:

A comprehensive range of Portable Transit time and Doppler instruments for clean or dirty, contaminated liquid flow measurement as you would expect from the leading UK manufacturer of portable “clamp-on” instruments. Micronics portables have always been regarded as the simplest to set-up and operate and this essential feature for portable instruments has been maintained throughout the range with great success.

A wide range of Fixed Transit time and Doppler “clamp-on” flow meters for Heat Meter and Liquid flow measurement including the unique U1000, factory preset, “clamp-on” alternative to traditional in-line Hot and Cold water meters. And the U4000 now established as Micronics’s “clamp-on” fixed meter solution for larger Building Services and Industrial applications incorporating the latest digital ultrasonic measurement technology to provide easier set-up and commissioning with enhanced accuracy and reliability in operation. Savings of up to 90% have been established for fixed meter installations in comparison to traditional in-line meter installations!

So if you need to know what's happening through investigation with a temporary, portable solution or need a permanent flow or heat measurement/metering solution a “clamp-on” alternative is a must consider option! And the first step is to visit Micronics at www.micronicsflowmeters.com or Nemex Stand F55.

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When Kent’s Elite Fire Safety Ltd (EFS) were faced with providing fire protection for Charlesville Mansions, a million pound apartment block in a charming red brick mansion within the sought-after conservation area of Barons Court near to Fulham and Kensington High Street, they knew that their selection of fire alarm was critical because damage to the Victorian fabric of the building caused by chasing out precious plasterwork to install wires and cables should be avoided. EFS had worked with Detectomat’s SRC 3000, a radio-linked, wireless solution system, in which each unit transmits data by radio frequency to a receiver before. They knew that it offered the considerable advantages of being wire free, which not only include avoiding damage to historic walls and ceilings but also cost. Because installation is so fast, labour charges are kept to a minimum and there is very little noise and disruption, another important factor in this sought after residential area.

Douglas and Gordon, an up market London estate agent, block and property Management Company, instructed EFS to install independent wireless fire alarms into each of the 5 separate entrances knowing that they would respect the nature and quality of the building.

EFS are based in Kent to provide fire protection for many types of businesses throughout Kent and London including offices, warehouses, schools, manufacturing plants, listed buildings, private residential, private commercial, retail, care homes, local authority premises, hotels and many others.

Sophia Scott, Douglas and Gordon’s Property Manager commented, “Elite Fire Safety carried out their works swiftly and kept disruption for the residents to a minimum. The Detectomat wireless system is much smaller and more discreet than others I have seen and does not detract from the look of the building, I would not hesitate in using Elite or Detectomat’s SRC 3000 again.”

Detectomat’s products offer ranges from design conscious detector covers for residential and commercial applications to conventional, addressable and leading edge wire-free systems, marketed under the company’s “Wireless detect” brand. For further information on Elite Fire Safety or Detectomat’s Wireless detect systems call 01579 321750 or email detectomat@leighandersonassociates.com

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The NHBC’s decision that vapour permeable underlays require supporting high level ventilation illustrated the extent to which condensation in the roofspace has become a problem. Roof ventilation specialist Klober’s ‘Condensation Risk Analysis’ service has therefore become a highly valuable resource as specifiers design ever more airtight buildings. The drive towards thermally efficient construction has made the need for balanced roof ventilation more important than ever as Klober Technical Manager Graham Copson commented “Demand for such information has grown with increased use of ‘non-ventilated’ systems and despite the NHBC ruling the need to assess potential condensation risk is no less critical. Heavy levels of vapour are being created in short periods after which homes are often left unheated for long periods. If ceilings are not adequately sealed moisture carried by warm air is certain to condense”.

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ELGA Process Water introduces fast water system monitoring tool.

ELGA Process Water has introduced a new monitoring tool to help in microbiological control of water systems. Bactiquant®-water is a simple to operate test system that gives a rapid indication of total viable bacteria count – a test which normally takes two or three days – in under an hour. This means that system performance can be monitored on a day-to-day basis, and any deviations from normal conditions can be detected early.

Bacteria from a measured sample volume of water are concentrated by a membrane filter. A fluorescent labelled enzyme substrate is added and the filter unit is incubated for 10-30 minutes allowing bacterial enzymes to react with the substrate to form a fluorescent product. The number of bacteria is estimated by measuring the amount of fluorescence using a hand held fluorometer. The signal produced is directly proportional to the amount of bacteria present, and scientific studies have documented good correlations between Bactiquant®-water and conventional plate counts and microscopic methods.

The Bactiquant®-water package includes sampling equipment, membrane filter, enzyme substrate and fluorometer. It also comes with its own FDA compatible database software which establishes a baseline for normal operation and, using Statistical Process Control based on ISO 11462-1, generates “normal”, “alarm” and “action level” signals. And, of course, ELGA Process Water provides full on-site operator training.

Bactiquant®-water puts water in your control rather than expending resources in detecting and correcting microbiological problems after they have occurred.

Visit www.shop.elgaprocesswater.co.uk for more information.

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