Story

View Laidlaw's profile:

Story

The demand for an attractive, versatile and economic spotlight tailored to all display applications is fully met by the new range of Thorn Prospector luminaires. Designed to harness the latest LED and ceramic metal halide lighting technologies the spotlights offer consistent contemporary styling, in a choice of silver grey or white. With a choice of four beam distributions, plus track or pendant models, they are equally adapt at focussing tightly on individual displays, or washing large space with ambient light. The 12W LED option embodies Cree’s ‘True White™’ technology to produce warm-white light (2700K) with superior colour rendering (CRI > 90). The LED is mounted at the focus of the reflector for a concentrated, near-parallel beam. This achieves the lighting level of a 35W lv halogen lamp for just a third of the energy consumption.

View Thorn Lighting's profile:

Story

Introduction

For over 12 years, Chalmor has been leading the way in forecourt energy savings. Chalmor’s Endurance induction lamp fittings offer proven technology; forecourt pioneers that installed this technology ten years ago still report no failures!

Canopy lighting costs and efficiency levels are coming under ever-increasing scrutiny, as companies spend anything between 30 and 60 per cent of their electricity budgets on lighting alone. Most petrol retailers are looking at three main options for their needs. These are inexpensive metal halide lamps, induction lamps and light emitting diodes (LEDs).

How they work

• Metal halide (MH) lamps consist of an arc tube (also called a discharge tube or “burner”) within an outer envelope, or bulb. The arc tube may be made of either quartz or ceramic and contains a starting gas (usually argon), mercury, and MH salts. Traditional quartz MH arc tubes are similar in shape to mercury vapor (MV) arc tubes, but they operate at higher temperatures and pressures. Typically lamps have a life expectancy of 15,000 hrs and very efficient initially, but depreciate heavily over their life.
• Induction is the process of transmitting energy via an electro-magnetic field. The light emitting gas inside the lamps is energized by passing alternating current through a coil, or inductor. Induction lamps are similar to regular fluorescent lamps, but they don’t have electrical contacts to conduct electricity from the fixture to the light-emitting gas inside the lamp. Additionally with a lamp life of greater than 60,000 hours and efficiency maintained throughout their life they are a popular solution.
• LED lighting is based on semiconductor diodes. When a diode is switched on, electrons are able to recombine with holes within the device, releasing energy in the form of photons. This effect is called electroluminescence. The colour of the light is determined by the energy gap of the semiconductor. For commercial lighting, there are two main methods of producing high intensity white-light using LEDs. One is to use individual LEDs that combine red, green, and blue light to produce white light. The other is to use a phosphor material to convert monochromatic light from a blue or Ultraviolet LED to broad-spectrum white light, in a similar way to a fluorescent light lamp. The useful life of an LED is typically 50,000 hours, subject to the environment placed. LED’s are the least efficient of the three, but maintain their performance relativity well throughout their life.

Metal Halide v Induction

Although Metal Halide fittings may appear to be a cheap solution they have three major disadvantages, it is difficult to control fittings in line with occupancy and daylight, lamps are lower efficacy and shorter life compared to the other HID sources.

The below table: Shows typical energy savings achieved by installing Chalmor’s Endurance fitting and Chalmor’s Universal Lighting Controller (UNI –L) against Metal Halide fittings.

View Chalmor's profile:

Story

Sourcing all the elements of a combined waterproofing system from one expert supplier is convenient, saves time and, most importantly, avoids any potential split responsibility issues. This was the approach taken by specialist basement contractors, MGA, in the construction of a very high specification new build London property comprising a multi level basement with swimming pool and gym. All waterproofing system components were supplied by Triton Systems whose team also oversaw their installation.

Because of the ‘variable’ water table classification and the very high value of the property, a combination of three types of waterproofing system was specified.

The complete below ground concrete structure, including the swimming pool, was formed using a watertight concrete system incorporating Triton Super Admix (BS 8102 2009 type B structurally integrated waterproofing).

As a primary method of waterproofing the structure, Triton TT Vapour Membrane (BS 8102 type A barrier waterproofing) was applied to the underside of the ground soffit. TT Vapour Membrane is a liquid applied, single component acrylic modified coating.

Platon cavity drain membranes provided the secondary waterproofing system (BS 8102 2009 type C cavity drained) and were installed to all walls and the floors of the lower level, draining to the Triton Aquachannel drainage conduit and pump system.

View Triton Systems's profile:

Story

FAKRO roof windows have been used at the new £2.85 million Airdferry Resource Centre at Carr Brae, Dornie. Owned by Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association, they were specified by architects Bracewell Stirling whose requirements included non-opening 78 x 140cm windows. A spokesman for Bracewell Stirling explained. “Some of the roof windows were installed to provide natural light within a cantilevered walkway canopy. This links the centre to six elderly residents’ houses so we wanted to ensure that the balcony did not affect the quality of light in the homes. Although not a standard product for FAKRO, the company was able to meet our requirement without problem”.

Meeting non-standard design requirements is a key facet of FAKRO’s service as Senior Specification Manager Adam James explained. “The increasing use of roof windows has encouraged designers to look at different ways in which they can be used. We now receive frequent requests for special window shapes, flashings and colours while conversions are prompting the need for conservation style windows with features such as additional mullion bars. Other commissions have included provision of arc windows for curved roofs, stained glass decoration and special sash and frame colours”.

View Fakro's profile:

Story

Consort has upgraded their successful 1.5kW waterproof heater with the all new QZWP15N. The brand new heater has the added benefits of a replaceable lamp and a more robust construction. This heater is IPX5 rated making to totally weatherproof.

It utilises the high energy, shortwave output of quartz halogen lamps. Short wave high intensity radiant heat, like sunlight, provides warmth that can be felt the moment the heater is switched on. The polished aluminium reflector ensures the heat is directed to a specific area and the glass-free front ensures maximum thermal efficiency and a lamp life of 5,000 hours. It only warms the surfaces that it meets so there is no wasteful heating of air, and the heat is not affected by draughts.

These features make the QZWP15N significantly more environmentally friendly for heating outdoor areas compared to gas heaters, which are far less efficient as much of the heat goes straight up into the atmosphere.

The QZWP15N is clean, silent, and odourless, has very low glare, and is virtually maintenance free. The running costs are very low, working out approximately 1/3rd of the total running costs of gas systems.

The QZWP15N measures 480 mm x 120 mm x 120 mm, weighs 1.7 kg and heats an area of around 9 square metres. The heater is finished in black and fitted with a metal guard and the special bracket supplied can be wall or overhead mounted and adjusted to ensure an ideal installation.

View Consort Claudgen's profile:

Story

 

Stelrad Radiators is celebrating definitive confirmation that it does indeed produce installers’ favourite radiators here in the UK. The result of research carried out earlier this year by a leading sector publication with a random sample of nearly 150 installers came up with some very positive results that seem to suggest that pretty much every installer has installed Stelrad radiators at some stage in their careers – and most of them found it a pleasurable experience! So pleasurable indeed, that they have continued to do so ever since.

The results of the survey were very revealing and supported Stelrad’s four key values in its business. Asked what the most important influencers were on their choice of radiator brand to install in the private replacement market, 42% said that availability from merchant stock was the most important factor, followed by 37% who said that access to a wide range of sizes was important. Only 22% said that price was the key deciding factor and 20% said product design was key. Perhaps most worryingly for the Government, only 11% said that environmental benefits came into play when deciding on the radiators they wanted to install.

Asked if they offered their customers a choice of radiator designs, a perhaps surprising 76% said they did, whilst 24% admitted they didn’t and installed what they thought would be best for that customer.

93% of installers consider the age and condition of the radiators when replacing a boiler and if appropriate recommend replacing them according to the survey.

Asked to list the brand of radiator products they trusted most, 78% mentioned Stelrad, and invited to name five brands, 17% actually mentioned only Stelrad by name. Nearly 90% mentioned Stelrad or an Ideal Stelrad Group brand of radiators in their answers.

“These results are very satisfying,” said Stelrad’s Marketing Director Anna Burns. “We know we’re the UK’s number one which suggests we’re getting something right, but direct responses like this from a decent sized, statistically valid sample, do help us to recognise what is important to our customers and gives us a ‘checkpoint’ to ensure we’re actually responding to what installers out there want, rather than what we think they might want. It’s very pleasing to see that availability and range are the two most important influencers on selection in the merchants. We have instigated a new strategy that sees us with four core values at Stelrad – reliability, availability, range and value for money – and between them they account for the majority of reasons why installers choose a given brand of radiators.

“In addition, the recent launch of ‘The Radiator Book’ – our comprehensive new catalogue of all our products, but with a huge amount of technical information as well, will, we hope, help those installers to have an even better insight into what we offer and the options available to them and their customers, and see us converting even more installers to think ‘Stelrad’ when they walk into their merchant.”

Full details of the exciting Stelrad Radiator range can be found on their website at www.stelrad.com where you can download a pdf of “The Radiator Book”, or of course by calling on 0870 849 8058. You can also request your own printed copy of ‘The Radiator Book’ from the website, from their stands at upcoming heating and plumbing shows or by calling Stelrad.

View Stelrad's profile:

Story

Marley Eternit has welcomed the news that the BRE (Building Research Establishment) has awarded an A+ rating to fibre cement profiled sheeting in its Green Guide to Specification.

The company is the only UK manufacturer of fibre cement profiled sheeting, which therefore means it is the only product of its kind able to achieve an A+ (the lowest environmental impact) in the BRE's Green Guide to Specification.

Being the only fibre cement profiled sheeting range manufactured in the UK also provides customers with a reduced carbon footprint in terms of transportation miles.

An A+ rating is the highest possible ranking for any material, putting it at the top of the list for specifiers looking for roofing and cladding solutions with the very best sustainability credentials.

“We are delighted with the recent announcement by the BRE,” said Lynn Street, Sales Director of Marley Eternit – Profiled Sheeting. “This just confirms what we have long recognised – that our fibre cement profiled sheeting, which is the only range manufactured in the UK, is a real sustainable choice as well as being the best value roofing and cladding solution on the market.”

The BRE Green Guide provides architects and specifiers with advice and guidance on how to make the best environmental choices when selecting building materials.

The BRE assigned the top sustainability ratings for fibre cement because of its low environmental impact, along with the work that has gone into reducing its embodied energy during manufacture.

Fibre cement profiled sheeting’s low maintenance and long life expectancy were also recognised by the BRE. So too was the fact that end-of-life fibre cement is 100 per cent recyclable, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.

Fibre cement profiled sheeting from Marley Eternit is used in a wide variety of sectors including agricultural, commercial, leisure and residential.

View Marley Eternit's profile:

Story

Megger’s SVERKER 760 protection relay test set can now optionally be ordered with a rugged protective case that makes it even easier and more convenient to store, transport and use. The case, which is constructed entirely from non-conductive materials, incorporates a robust hinged carrying handle, and is also fitted with an second extendable handle and wheels, allowing it to be moved around easily and with a minimum of effort.

• More portable
• More manouverable
• Better protected
• Easy to move

To allow unimpeded access to the instrument, the lid of the case can be removed completely and, as a further aid to convenience, provision is made within the case for the storage of test leads. When closed, the new case has an IP67 ingress protection rating to safeguard the instrument against damage by water, dust or other contaminants while it is being stored or transported.

Efficient testing

The SVERKER 760 single-phase protective relay test set for which the new case is suitable are designed to maximise testing efficiency while minimising complexity. It features logical front panel layouts that make setting up straight forward, and it has easy to read displays that can be used to show Z, R, X, S, P, Q, phase angle etc., as well as time, voltage and current.

As a further aid to testing efficiency, the voltmeter function of the instruments can be configured as a second ammeter, which is particularly useful when testing differential relays, and the display incorporates a freeze function for capturing short duration voltage and current transients.

View Megger's profile:

Story

Reliable humidity and temperature controls are essential in ensuring the high performance of many building automation applications. To ensure accurate and stable measurement data, Vaisala introduces two new humidity and temperature transmitters, designed for use in cleanrooms and demanding HVAC applications specifically.

The new Vaisala HUMICAP® Humidity and Temperature Transmitters HMT120 and HMT130 complement Vaisala’s existing offering of relative humidity measurement instruments that covers all applications from ventilation to process control.

In addition to delivering accurate and reliable long term measurement data, the new transmitters are durable, easy-to-use and easy-to-install. In addition, their smooth enclosure finish is resistant to dust and most chemical cleaning agents, which means that the transmitters are ideal for installation in critical environments with very high level of air quality requirements.

“The HMT120/130 are ideal in more demanding HVAC applications, such as outdoor and high humidity environments. They incorporate Vaisala's state-of-the-art HUMICAP® humidity sensor technology with guaranteed high measurement performance, which for the user means less maintenance and trouble free operation”, says Ulla Mattila, Regional Market Manager for Vaisala's Building Automation business.

Designed for both indoor and outdoor use, the transmitters can be either wall-mounted or used with a remote probe for installations inside air handling units, air ducts, and difficult to reach places. Calibration and maintenance are made simple, quick and cost-effective by making the transmitters' relative humidity probes fully interchangeable. As a result, the probes can be replaced without having to remove and re-adjust the transmitter.

For further information and detailed product specifications, please go to www.vaisala.com/hmt120.

View Vaisala's profile: