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The BBA and RDL have joined forces to form a joint venture called Constructive Details Limited. Under this initiative the two companies aim to work together with the industry to provide solutions on the increasingly complicated, technical and often confusing issue of linear thermal bridging.

Linear thermal bridging (described by a psi-value) can now account for up to 30 % of heat loss in a building and with the need to provide more energy efficient buildings on the road to zero carbon, the industry is looking for ways to obtain reliable, favourable and realistic psi-values.

One of the aims by CDL is to facilitate accurate psi-value calculations and we are now pleased to announce the launch of the first Constructive Details handbook of masonry detail junctions developed for the Aircrete Products Association. The Handbook is available electronically via a dedicated “Resources” page on the CDL website and can be downloaded free of charge.

The junctions are for partial fill external wall (16 details) and full fill party wall (5 details). Another handbook of the same junctions but for a fully filled external wall cavity is already under assessment.

The main benefits of using Constructive Details are:

• The details have been optimised to provide significantly lower psi-values than those in the ACD’s, leading to a 60 % improvement of the overall y value
• The handbooks contain a complete set of junctions needed to construct a dwelling allowing optimum thermal bridging performance to be achieved. They match the ones currently featured in Appendix K of SAP 2009 with clear and simple drawings, easy to follow examples for achieving the desired psi-values, checklists for use on site and guidance on the amount of insulation needed
• They are future proofed – providing the E and P numbers for each junction and providing a range of U values for the plain elements to meet current and future performance all the way up to Passivhaus standards
• They use generic products allowing supply chain flexibility and consequent best costs

As Greg Cooper, Chief Executive of the BBA says “The BBA is delighted to have worked in partnership with RDL to produce this handbook. It will undoubtedly enable aircrete block manufacturers to pass on accurate information to their customers and provide house builders with a complete list of thermal details to use in their design and build process”. Dave Baker, Chief Executive of RDL adds “The CDL handbook follows the principles of the Robust Details Part E scheme handbook and should prove to be an invaluable tool for designers and new home builders alike.”

So go ahead and register to be the first to view the CDL Handbook and use our Twitter account @ConstructiveDtl to give us feedback!

For more information on this press release please contact enquiries@constructivedetails.co.uk

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Georg Fischer (GF), one of the world’s leading providers of plastic piping solutions to the construction and public sectors, is celebrating the completion of its work at the new Portsmouth Queen Alexandra Hospital together with the new pathology centre, having been chosen to provide water piping systems to the project. Services included not only providing product but also technical expertise, installation and training capabilities in the use of ABS pipe fittings and valves, prefabricated PE sections and ELGEF electrofusion systems.

ABS had been specified for the chilled water pipework element of the project, while GF was also able to offer PE solutions for the condensed water element of the programme. In order to meet the needs of the contract, GF undertook significant training of partner contractor Haydon Mechanical & Electrical’s staff in order to bring all the pipefitters up to speed in terms of the plastic piping installation techniques required, including butt fusion and solvent cement jointing.

With a high concentration of Glycol in the water, GF had to show that its ABS systems were able to perform technically in a demanding environment, as well as working from an ease of installation perspective. In addition, large diameter PE systems were needed that could withstand the harsh 45°C environment of the condensing water system – and again, GF was felt to offer the perfect technical solution for the build programme.

Challenges for the programme included extremely limited site access and GF worked with logistics contractors to co-ordinate a ‘just in time’ delivery mechanism for pipework. The units were also cut to three metre lengths in order to overcome limited access to some of the floors.

Ian Wright, senior project manager at Haydon Mechanical & Electrical, noted: “We chose to work alongside GF because of its technical expertise and commitment to work alongside and train our team in terms of working with large diameter polyethylene systems. Between ourselves and Georg Fischer, we have formed an extremely effective partnership that delivered the piping systems on time and on budget…”

Georg Fischer’s marketing manager, Simon Alder, commented: “It’s been a privilege to work alongside Haydon and main contractor Carillion plc on the PFI project at Queen Alexandra Hospital. In a challenging environment, we were able to bring innovative, total plastic piping building solutions to the project in what was a great example of the capability of Georg Fischer’s piping systems and its commitment to client service.”

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The customer is always right and, in many cases the customer prefers analogue controls.

So Theben has added a surface- mounting controller with traditional clock and rotary controls to its range of OpenTherm compatible devices. At its heart, if course, is a digital microprocessor.

The unit regulates temperature by room sensing or weather compensation. As well as room heating the RAMSES 786 OT will control hot water temperature. It is suitable for radiators and underfloor heating No mains power required, data is transferred and power drawn via an extra low voltage OpenTherm bus via an OpenTherm compatible boiler.

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Gone are the days when your oil tank simply STORED oil. iTank’s intelligent oil monitoring technology means that now your oil tank can actually work for you in saving you money and reducing your energy consumption!

The brand new ‘iTank’ range from Harlequin Plastics not only monitors your oil levels, but actually ANALYSES both oil usage and spend per day/week/ month and year. iTank’s intelligent technology comes in the form of the market leading ‘i-Track’ Intelligent Oil Monitoring System – the most ACCURATE way to analyse oil usage on the market, with oil levels being calculated over 200 times per day. Furthermore, spend is calculated on actual daily usage i.e. Sunday is compared with Monday.

Worried about running out of oil? iTank’s accurate monitoring technology means that you can see exactly how many days’ fuel you have left in your tank at any given time. Furthermore – iTank is the most secure tank on the market, with iTank Pro models incorporating a Harlequin internal alarm lock (sounds 100db alarm when tampered with), an external Spinsecure tank lock (secures manhole lid) AND i-Track’s remote alarm system, which alerts the householder in the event of an unexpected fuel loss or theft. This same alarm feature is also a useful means of being alerted when you are about to run out of oil.

So… there’s no need to get caught out this winter and even better, you can use iTank to plan your oil purchases wisely according to price trends! Finally, iTank isn’t just an intelligent tank, it’s also a greener tank (and we don’t mean the colour!). By providing you with information on your CO2 emissions, iTank can help you take your first steps in ‘going green’. Still not convinced? You can access all of the information listed from anywhere in your home, thanks to iTank’s portable i-Track receiver unit, which is battery powered and can therefore be placed anywhere in your home and can be moved from room to room without any impact on your readings!

Now… there’s nothing left to do except sit back, relax and let your iTank take care of the fuel worries!

For more information on iTank or to request a brochure, contact Harlequin Plastics at info@harlequinplastics.co.uk or call +44 (0) 28 9261 1077

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Swish Building Products has retained the green standard BES6001 across its roofline range, with a ‘very good’ rating, delivering instant point wins to house builders under the Code for Sustainable Homes.

In retaining its ‘very good’ rating across its PVC fascia, soffit, cladding and window board ranges, Swish is able to offer developers access to a product offer that gives them maximum points under the Code (tier level 1).

This to date is a unique achievement for a PVC roofline company and means that Swish’s low maintenance range offers the same points as FSC timber under Mat2 and Mat3 of the Code.

Greg Wilde, Swish Building Products, said: “At face value it may not seem much but BES6001 is a hugely important accreditation – it means developers, social housing providers and merchants can demonstrate responsibility and sustainability in the supply chain.

“On the back of this they are able to secure an instant quick win, gaining additional points under the Code for Sustainable Homes.”

Including an assessment of organisational governance, supply chain management and social and environmental impact, the new standard was written into the Code for Sustainable Homes in late 2010. Swish Building Products became one of a handful of building product manufacturers to secure the accreditation last year.

BES6001 ‘pulls’ together a number of other standards to demonstrate a commitment to responsible sourcing of materials. Swish Building Products only secured the new standard after previously securing the quality management standard ISO9001, the environmental management standard ISO14001 and occupational health and safety OHSAS18001.

Swish also had to demonstrate that it had policies and management systems in place to make sure that the raw materials it purchases come from responsibly and sustainably managed sources.

“House builders, and particularly those working in the social sector, can’t afford to lose contracts or miss out on new business, because their sustainability claims don’t stand up to scrutiny. BES6001 and chain of custody forms a critical part in making sure reputations remain intact but moreover that the construction industry and its suppliers move forward together towards a more sustainable future.”

The Swish certification can also be viewed on the Green Book Live website www.greenbooklive.com .

For more information on Swish’s full range of rainwater, roofline and cladding products visit www.swishbp.co.uk or call 01827 317 200.

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Crabtree has developed a new range of energy saving, card-operated switches in response to a number of new required features as defined by its end user customers. The switches complement the company’s popular range of Capital Moulded, Capital Metal Plate and its prestige Platinum Low Profile accessories.

As with other card switches, the device controls energy consumption in hotels and apartments by ensuring that electrical devices are not left on when rooms are unoccupied.  It goes further than many other competitor’s switches however by providing a natural angled entry for the card and illuminating the slot itself, for much easier location and operation, especially at night in a darkened hotel room or corridor. Insertion of the key card turns the neon locator off in line with its energy saving credentials.

Crabtree’s card switch is operated by a door entry key card up to 86mm x 54mm x 1mm, and controls the power supply to a room via a suitably rated contactor. The switch requires a mounting box of 25mm minimum depth.

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EU statistics reveal that an estimated 400 to 500 arc flash accidents occur in the UK each year, typically resulting in four or five deaths. Colin McAhren of Eaton’s Electrical Sector believes that new technology means many, if not all, of these accidents and deaths are now preventable.

An arc flash accident in a switchboard occurs when a large electrical current passes through ionised air and gasses. Such accidents can be triggered in many ways, but examples are when a metallic tool is dropped across live busbars during maintenance or when a circuit breaker fails during a switching operation. Statistics show that the majority of arc flash accidents relate to LV installations.

The effects of arc flash are dramatic. Almost instantaneously, the temperature rises by around 20,000 °C in the vicinity of the arc. This vaporises copper conductors and, since the volume of the vapour is 67,000 times that of the metal, an explosion results. Secondary effects include the expulsion of molten globules of copper, an intensely bright flash of light and the generation of pressure waves.

Any person in the vicinity of an arc flash accident is at high risk of being injured or killed. It’s clear, therefore, that every effort must be made to eliminate these accidents or at least to minimise their effects. The best approach is to avoid the conditions under which arc flash accidents are most likely to occur, ideally by never working on live equipment. Sometimes, however, live working cannot be avoided and there is always the possibility of “”isolated”” systems being made live accidentally.

A solution often proposed is to equip maintenance workers with personal protective equipment (PPE). Given the range of hazards associated with arc flash accidents, a risk assessment is likely to indicate that the PPE should include a full-body protective suit, substantial gauntlets and a helmet with an integral face shield. This may provide adequate protection, but it doesn’t make it easy for the wearer to work on electrical installations!

Another possibility is to design the switchboard so that arc flash accidents cannot occur, by incorporating features such as insulated arc-free busbar assemblies. Switchboards in Eaton’s Capitole 40 arc-free range do, in fact, take this approach, but they are not an appropriate choice in every application. They are, for example, considerably larger than equivalent switchboards of conventional design.

Fortunately, there is now another solution that, despite its novelty, has already been well proven in practice. This is based on quenching the arc before it can develop its destructive potential. The time scales are very short – the pressure peak is reached just 10 ms after the arc is initiated, and the temperature peak is reached just 5 ms later, so quenching must take place in 5 ms or less.

No circuit breaker can clear a fault this fast, so a more radical approach is needed. That is to place a bolted short-circuit across the supply within milliseconds of an arc being detected. What happens then is that the energy that would otherwise feed the arc is diverted to the short circuit, so that the arc never has a chance to develop. The upstream circuit breaker will subsequently clear the short circuit fault in about 50 ms.

Devices that can place what is, in effect, a bolted short circuit across the supply within around 2 ms of being triggered are now available, and are central to the operation of Eaton’s Arcon arc control system for switchboards. These short circuiting devices must, of course, be used in conjunction with a trigger capable of reacting to an arc in its very earliest stages.

This can be implemented using a photo-detector comprising a flexible fibre optic cable that is routed through all the areas of the switchboard where an arc fault might occur. The cable detects light over its entire length and, when it sees the characteristic light of an arc, it sends a signal to a logic module that also monitors current. If the photo-detector signal is accompanied by a rapid increase in current, the module triggers the short-circuiting device instantly, and the arc is suppressed. This arrangement has proved to be reliable and effective. Not only does it virtually eliminate the risk of arc flash injuries, it also minimises damage to the switchboard, allowing it to be returned to service rapidly and cost-effectively. Further, the arc control system adds little to the size of the switchboard and allows the use of conventional busbars and components in its construction.

Arc flash is a significant hazard in LV installations. As we have seen, there are a number of ways this hazard can be addressed, but most have significant drawbacks or limitations. The latest arc control systems are however exceptions, as they provide solutions that are dependable, convenient and effective.

A certified CPD seminar covering Arc Flash in LV Switchboards is now available from Eaton. Anyone interested should contact Karen Shaw, Marketing Communications Manager, via KarenAShaw@Eaton.com

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The latest products to come onto the UK market from Georg Fischer, whose GF piping systems enjoy a worldwide reputation for quality and reliability, are the COOL-FIT range of piping for chilled water, air conditioning and cold water services in general. To ensure that the new range covers all eventualities in the field GF has split the range into three sections; the core product of COOL-FIT ABS pipe with the addition of the more sophisticated, pre-insulated COOL-FIT Lite and COOL-FIT Plus. All the COOL-FIT products use quick, simple and ever reliable solvent cement jointing and are backed by a very extensive range of accessories to ensure that installation is as simple as possible. Although they are tough, durable and highly corrosion resistant, the light weight of these plastic pipes when compared to traditional materials makes them extremely attractive. As an example they are approximately one sixth the weight of the stainless steel equivalent. Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene is a complex, versatile polymer and GF has chosen an ABS formula for COOL-FIT that gives an optimum combination of toughness and strength making it especially suitable for low temperature applications. The pipes are in a gravel grey colour, available in 5 metre lengths and in sizes from 16mm up to 315mm diameters. Sizes up to 225mm operate to a nominal pressure of 10 bar at 20º degrees and those above, a nominal pressure of 6 bar. The COOL-FIT Lite products are pre-insulated with a layer of Armaflex Class O insulation, blown onto the ABS pipe to ensure a tight and secure fit. Dust, fibre and CFC free, this elastomeric nitrile rubber layer has a vapour barrier to prevent condensation and contains an inhibitor to reduce mould and bacterial growth in addition to providing effective and reliable protection against energy loss.

It can be used with solutions of salt, glycol and alcohol as well as pure water and has a minimum working temperature of -40º degrees Centigrade. Top of the COOL-FIT family tree is the Cool-Fit Plus range. Here, the carrier pipe & fittings are coated with high density polyurethane closed cell foam (PUR) and then a HDPE outer jacket that offers excellent impact resistance and aids installation by simplifying pipe support. It has a minimum working temperature of -50º degrees, is UV resistant making it ideal for outdoor situations and, like the Lite products, is compatible with solutions as well as pure water.

The accessory range for the COOL-FIT system is comprehensive including bends, tees, crosses, sockets, plus adaptors and reducers of many types and a variety of valves. There are even such basic needs as solvent cement, pipe cutters and sealing tape to ensure the utmost simplicity for the installer. The system also has the advantage of the full backing of Georg Fischer Sales Ltd. based in Coventry who can offer on-line technical design advice including calculations of energy loss and temperature differences as well as on-site advice and installation training if these are required. The GF COOL-FIT range is a class act.

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The new Klober range of GRP dry-fix valley troughs provide a durable, flexible and lightweight alternative to lead. BBA certified, products are suitable for use with natural and man-made slates, concrete and clay tiles, metal and GRP roofs. Standard and narrow valley troughs, soakers and secret joining strips are available in 400mm widths and 3 metre lengths, all of which are usable on pitches of up to 60°. Fire tested to BS476:3 SAB and BS476:7 Class 3, all products have a minimum life expectancy of 20 years.

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Eaton’s catalogue and price list is now easily and instantly accessible to specifiers and contractors working onsite via a new online version optimised for smartphones. The information can be viewed on smartphones such as the iPhone, Blackberry, Android and other handhelds and is accessed through the Electrika quality estimating, ordering and job costing website at www.electrika.com/mobileeaton.

The new website features dedicated sections for Eaton’s commercial and industrial automation, its residential and consumer offering, the low and medium voltage range and its power management products. The site enables users to search for and view thousands of products by part number or description. Users can also browse for the product they need using the easy-to-navigate menus. Information provided on the site includes technical data and dimensions, product descriptions and prices, and information about other technical matters such as the relevant BSEN standards.

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