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The new ABB Busch-ComfortTouch panel offers the sophistication of intelligent building control in an easy-to-use, one touch display. Suitable for hotels, housing and commercial properties, it combines state-of-the-art control with exciting new energy efficiency and security features, providing users with full control of all living areas and building functions from one location.

The ComfortTouch panel gives users a single point of control for a range of functions including lighting, security, temperature and humidity. An intuitive colour coding system that distinguishes different aspects of the building – yellow for light, amber for heating, blue for blinds, orange for climate control and purple for living scenarios – makes the system easier to use for those with little or no experience.

The control panel allows users to operate or dim the lights, adjust blinds, regulate the room temperature or create scenes from a combination of the functions listed. For further ease of use, a all functions can also be controlled remotely where there is line-of-sight between the panel and the remote control pad.

Another key feature is the panel’s energy monitoring function. The Busch-ComfortTouch panel provides access to energy consumption data, enabling property owners to monitor and reduce energy use by identifying areas for improved lighting efficiency, energy consumption and security.

The security function makes it possible to simulate presence within buildings, applying realistic living patterns even when nobody is there. The security system is designed to detect when doors or windows have been left unlocked and can even detect breakages. Once an alarm has been raised, an alert is sent to the user’s mobile phone informing the user of the problem. The panel can also be linked to external monitoring systems, such as surveillance cameras, to monitor and record parts of a building directly from the touch panel.

with a built in MP3 player, The Busch-ComfortTouch makes it possible to create audio files or play films. Users can monitor the weather, look at the latest traffic reports, track up-to-date news, access their e-mails and even use the panel as an alarm clock. The panel can also be used to leave voice or written messages for other users to view.

The Busch-ComfortTouch is available in a black or cream coloured, high quality polished finish. Users can customise the screen colours to suit their own personal preferences. Once installed the touch panel will work in tandem with ABB’s KNX intelligent installation system as a source of control within a building. The number of control functions available through the ComfortTouch is up to the individual to decide when they are installing the system.

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Megger’s new KC series of test leads, which were developed in conjunction with leading manufacturers of wind turbines, provide a complete and convenient solution to the problem of finding reliable test leads that are long enough to be used for testing the continuity of lightning protection conductors in wind turbine blades.

• Choice of three lengths
• Long lead Kelvin clip terminated
• Short lead terminated with duplex spikes

Another first for Megger

Believed to be the first commercially available products of their type that have been specifically designed for wind turbine applications, Megger’s new test leads eliminate the need for engineers and technicians involved in wind turbine testing to fabricate their own test leads – a time consuming and inconvenient process – or to resort to makeshift arrangements that may deliver uncertain results.

KC-series wind turbine test leads are available 100 m, 50 m and 30 m versions, and are equally suitable for use on site or in the manufacturing plant. For convenience and ease of handling, they are supplied as standard on a heavy-duty cable reel that is fitted with a friction brake to avoid tangles when paying out the cable.

New DLRO10HD makes an ideal partner

KC-series leads are ideally suited for use with Megger DLRO10HD low-resistance digital ohmmeters, which combine robust construction with a high test current capability. They also have an IP65 protection rating with the lid closed, and an IP54 rating when the lid is open and tests are being performed, which means that they can be safely used outdoors even when it is raining.

While these features make DLRO10HD ohmmeters an excellent choice for wind turbine applications, KC-series leads can also be used successfully with most modern types of low-resistance ohmmeter.

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Specialist Glazing System company Fendor, working in close cooperation with the consultants and main contractor, has developed a window system that offers a revolution in terms of both performance and the living environment for a new secure unit at Rampton high secure Hospital.

The new High Security Learning Disability Unit at RamptonHospital in Nottinghamshire has been built by Laing O’Rourke with Gilling Dod Architects being the architectural practice leading the design team. Knowing Fendor's expertise in relation to supplying window systems meeting the highest standards of security, the main contractor approached the company to take a radical approach to meeting the facility's needs.

As a result, Fendor has supplied double glazed curtain walling for communal areas, as well as double glazed windows to patients' rooms and other vulnerable locations, offering a wide range of attributes. These include full anti-ligature protection and patient control over ventilation, as well as high levels of natural light and resistance to attack.

Project Architect Mark Cowpland from Gilling Dod, comments: “In recent years at RamptonHospitalthey have used a polycarbonate glazed window, which meant there were no thermal properties and there were also condensation issues. So with the Learning Disability Unit we were re-introducing glass into the facility for the first time in over 30 years.

“Although it was not clear exactly what the client wanted at the beginning, we were given the brief that there was to be natural ventilation, operated by the service user themselves, and as much daylight as possible; while it should also meet Part L2 of the Building Regulations. Laing O'Rourke brought Fendor on board early and the manufacturer helped us work up a design, supplying numerous window sections and samples of glazing for testing.

“Fendor was therefore an integral part of the design team and has performed very well, while the windows themselves meet all of our aspirations on safety, security and energy as well as natural light and ventilation.”

For the Therapeutic Core building there were 27 areas of AlphaLine Aluminium curtain walling installed with SwingVent opening windows on actuators. Fendor also supplied steel glazed doors and 26 Steel SwingVent windows incorporating anti escape top hung vents.

In Houses A, B, C & D, the manufacturer fitted 22 high security SwingVent bedroom windows that were fully anti ligature and anti-pass. These windows are a special composite steel and aluminium frame. They were triple glazed with a laminated glass centre pane protected by a 'sacrificial' polycarbonate inner layer. The opening vents are operated by the patient via an internal anti ligature control knob, which is on a continuous turn mechanism to prevent potential damage to the operating gear by the patients. Fendor further supplied nine steel entrances for each building, incorporating doors and anti-escape top hung SwingVents.

The installation teams had to be fully vetted for working in secure areas, and were trained by Fendor to ensure quality standards were maintained throughout the contract.

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Daikin Europe NV has introduced a new air to air heat pump system for heating and cooling residential premises and small offices. Designated Nexura FVXG, the system comes in three sizes with heating capacities from 4.5 to 8.1kW and cooling capacities from 3.0 to 5.6kW.

Daikin Europe N.V. has extended its range of low temperature air to water heat pumps with a stylish new indoor unit (hydrobox) and hot water cylinder. The new floor standing system benefits from reduced installation times plus improved domestic hot water (DHW) COPs and allows the cylinder to be mounted on top of the hydrobox. The result is a single box, sleek and attractive solution for heating and DHW production.

The new integrated design option comes in heating only or heating and cooling versions and is compatible with the existing Daikin Altherma range of low temperature split outdoor units. Capacities range from 6 kW to 16 kW. Dimensioning software makes it easy to select the best configuration for optimum performance.

Compact footprint, easy installation and maintenance

One of the most energy efficient heating solutions on the market today, the Daikin Altherma low temperature system can produce 3 to 5 kW of heat for every 1 kW of electricity used by extracting heat from the ambient outside air. It is capable of comfortably heating homes in outdoor temperatures down to -20°C and supports optional domestic hot water production and comfort cooling. The new floor standing units features a highly insulated integrated unvented stainless steel DHW cylinder. Key benefits of this system include the ability to produce domestic hot water at temperatures of 600 C, simplified and drastically reduced installation requirements due to its use of times pre assembled components and ‘plug and play’ couplings. Its small footprint makes it suitable for use in areas where space is at a premium, whilst its easy to remove panel simplifies maintenance and in the event of ceiling clearance limitations, enables the optional split installation of the indoor unit and DHW cylinder.

A programmable commissioning function for under floor heating gradually increases system water temperature in time blocks of up to 72 hours to allow for complete screed drying

Improved economy and performance

The Daikin Altherma low temperature floor standing unit also offers performance improvements, a larger DHW coil and better insulation, improving heat-up times by 33% and performance by 20%, resulting in a DHW COP of 2.0.

The DHW cylinder is available in 200 litre and 260 litre versions, a unique reheat function extending tank capacity and allowing a lower overall tank temperature without

compromising comfort. When additional hot water capacity is needed during the day, the heat pump can reheat the tank more efficiently to a lower temperature. In addition, a single electric heater serves as both DHW booster and back-up for room heating.

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Britain has stormed to victory at the IFD World Championship for Young Roofers' 2010 in Belfast by installing Hambleside Danelaw's roofing and ventilation products on the competition rig.

Unlike Rooney and co, the British team beat off the Germans to win the pitched roof gold medal in a fierce contest which attracted 24 two-man teams from 12 countries.

Gold medallists, Martin McAllister and Matthew Timby, used Hambleside Danelaw's lightweight polyethylene dry soaker for plain clay and concrete tiles and rigid underlay support trays – all manufactured by the British company.

Hambleside Danelaw dry soakers are quick and simple to install. Made from lightweight high density polyethylene they are available for both tile and slate roofs in right and left handed versions. They offer thermal stability and resistance to UV light, acid rain and cracking under temperature change.

The rigid underlay support trays are ideally suited for eaves refurbishment, but can also be used on new build. The rigid PVC unit provides an immediate and cost effective solution to situations where damage to the roof underlay or felt has occurred.

The ease of installation of both products helped to facilitate the accurate build quality that the judges were looking for at the world championships.

These Hambleside Danelaw products form part of a complete dry fix solution of roofing products from the sustainability award-winning manufacturer. The range includes Dry Fix Valley Troughs and Bonding Gutters which are BBA approved.

Specifiers will note that many of the company's roofing and ventilation products are included in the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) Procurement Guide for construction materials. This means:

• using less raw material
• avoiding and reducing waste
• re-using materials
• recovering wastes by recycling into new applications.

Using WRAP approved products therefore has a beneficial impact on the environment.

Chris Avery, Hambleside Danelaw's Vice Chairman, said: “As a British manufacturer, Hambleside Danelaw is delighted that a young generation of skilled construction workers are being trained in this country to match the highest standards in the world.

'The Young Roofers' World Championships and Roofing Industry Showcase is the ideal forum to show the innovation and sustainability of our roofing products and it is great that they have helped to win a gold medal for Britain.”

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Wiring accessories with clip-on cover plates that meet the visibility requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act combined with significant installation benefits are being used in a new school in the London Borough of Lambeth. Approximately 14,000 of Eaton’s COPA accessories were installed in the first phase of the project, which opened in April, and another 16,000 will be installed in Phase 2, due for completion in September 2010.

Five years ago Stockwell Park High School, situated in one of the most deprived areas of London, was underperforming. This has all changed. The school received an “outstanding” rating in a recent OFSTED report. The school is being totally rebuilt under the Government’s Building Schools for the Future programme and will eventually provide the latest educational facilities for 1200 pupils, a 33% increase on the present capacity.

Stockwell Park High School makes full use of modern IT equipment for teachers and pupils. This called for extensive provision of socket-outlets and data connection facilities. Teaching areas have one or more “teaching walls” equipped with conventional whiteboards and interactive projection facilities. Socket-outlets and data connection units are installed in wall boxes and two-compartment trunking and below floor access units.

A novel element of the design is “feature strips” inside the main doorways. These are brightly-coloured vertical service pillars which house the main lighting control switch and a variety of other control and communication devices including power and data outlets, WiFi access points, CO2 alarms, window controls, thermostats and public address equipment.

Architects, Sheppard Robson, specified that electrical accessories should contrast with their surroundings to ensure compliance with the visibility requirements of the Building Regulations Part M and the Disability Discrimination Act. After considering various options, Richard Gilbert, Project Manager for electrical and mechanical services contractor, EIC Ltd. of Alcester, selected Eaton’s COPA clip-on plate accessories.

“We wanted accessories with separate cover plates so that we could install them and then leave them for decoration to take place before we clip on the cover plates” explains Richard Gilbert. Eaton’s COPA accessories satisfied both the visibility and installation requirements. A grey finish was selected. This satisfied the visibility requirements and matched the finish of other internal fittings.

The plates are clearly visible whether they are installed in white walls, UPVC trunking or in the coloured feature strips. COPA accessories span the whole range of devices including lighting switches, power accessories and datacom outlets. At Stockwell Park High School there is extensive use of twin switched socket-outlets, spur connection units, lighting switches and data connection plates. In addition, Eaton metalclad twin switched socket-outlets are installed on the floor slab below the service access traps.

COPA accessories are available with a choice of ten different plate finishes. They are designed for ease of installation and can be fully installed, tested and left energised before the cover plates are fitted. This means not only that decorators can paint right up to the accessories without damaging or splashing the cover plates but that installation of the plates themselves can be left to the last moment before handover. Cover plates can be removed safely at a later date to permit redecoration.

Stockwell Park High School is designed by Sheppard Robson Architects and is being built by Wilmott Dixon. In addition to the main teaching areas, it will include a modern ampitheatre, multi-use games area and sports hall. There are ICT suites, a special educational needs (SEN) unit and an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) unit.

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Ariston has supplied a GENUS HE 30kW combination boiler which is providing heating and domestic hot water for JSB.SWIM’s new teaching pool facility. Jackie Butler has been teaching swimming for over 15 years and last year invested in a new, purpose-built, 6.8m x 3.3m pool adjacent to her home in the Beacon Hill area of Newark. Here, she teaches swimming to all ages, from babies to adults including special needs and, with wheelchair access to the pool and changing facilities, can also accommodate pupils with disabilities.

The SEDBUK Band A rated GENUS HE 30kW boiler was selected by Cooper Plumbing of Mansfield due to its build quality, high level of energy efficiency and the excellent back-up provided by Ariston. A spokesman commented: “We have fitted a number of these boilers in the past and have always been highly satisfied. We have found them simple to commission and have had absolutely no problems with them once fitted.” The boiler supplies space heating, via an air handling unit and radiators, as well as hot water to the pool, the changing room shower and the wash hand basin in the separate toilet. It is located in the plantroom which adjoins the pool room and is fitted with a rear-facing. room-sealed, fanned flue. All Ariston boilers are designed to be completely adaptable to every possible flue situation, with a wide range of flue pipe accessories available.

The GENUS HE boiler offers a number of significant operational benefits not available with other central heating boilers on the market: the energy saving AUTO function, which provides energy savings greater than those normally associated with high efficiency boilers; the sophisticated TIMER function, the INFO function showing status, history and diagnostic information in clear scrolling text and the COMFORT function which provides almost instantaneous hot water.

The AUTO Function provides intelligent management of the indoor temperature by automatically selecting the ideal temperature for the central heating circuit, gradually increasing the temperature of the system water and eliminating peaks in the flow until the room reaches the desired temperature. Temperature control is therefore achieved smoothly, without turning the boiler on and off, eliminating thermal stress and resulting in higher levels of energy efficiency.

GENUS HE’s digital TIMER function allows the user to set the operating period via 24 hour and 7 day programmes in 15 minute bands, with two zone temperature management as standard. Digital status indication, operating history and diagnostic error information generated by the INFO function is displayed on an LCD screen on the front of the boiler, making it particularly user-friendly. This function also allows the installer to key in his contact details for call-out and maintenance purposes. The COMFORT function delivers almost instantaneous domestic hot water by using the pre-heat process, reducing the waiting period to just 5 seconds.

In addition to SEDBUK Band A rating, indicating maximum energy efficiency, the GENUS HE boiler range also features, low NOX and an impressive 5 year guarantee as standard. Whilst operating with a simple room thermostat in this installation the GENUS HE range is compatible with a wide range of accessories. When used in conjunction with the AUTO function these products result in even higher levels of energy efficiency.

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The new £9.7 million Bournville school consolidated the existing Infant and Junior Schools into one, doing away with buildings dating from the 1930's and 40's. Sustainability criteria required achievement of a BREEAM 'Very Good' rating, so Flag-Soprema worked closely alongside Approved Contractor Central Cladding Systems to secure specification of its Flagon TPO single ply membrane for the roof waterproofing. As the first TPO to achieve a BRE Green Guide A+ rating, a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating, EPC B-Rating (with a score of 36) and a recycled content of 22% were achieved.

Flag-Soprema TPO liners all have a life expectancy in excess of 30 years.

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New from Thorn, unique in its styling, Adelie is a highly distinctive post top mounted luminaire. It combines a ring of 32 x 1.1W LEDs with a funnel shaped canopy to create a soft indirect light in parks and building surrounds.

Adelie is crafted from sandy grey aluminium with a white reflector to direct the cool light (5300K) down without glare. The surface is Teflon-coated, to ensure that it remains both water and stain repellent (sealed to IP65).

The circular LED compartment has a ribbed base, with distinctive red decoration ring, to dissipate heat and prolong life (up to 50,000 hours). It is topped with a PMMA lens, inclined to allow water run off.

A dedicated 3m tapered aluminium column blends perfectly with the lantern continuing the design theme through column and lantern. The slim section control gear, pre-wired with 3.5m cable, is positioned in the column base to save depth and allow easy access.

It is these features that help the Adelie blend especially well with modern architectural styles. From a distance the lit shape is similar to a ‘flying saucer’ that appears to hover in space.

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Enhanced testing safety, even in demanding applications, is offered by the latest versions of the MIT and S1, 5 kV and 10 kV Megger insulation testers. All models now meet the requirements for use in CAT IV 600 V applications, in line with IEC 61010–1.

This means that the new instruments are suitable for performing measurements at the source of supply in low–voltage installations and offer immunity to high–voltage transients up to 8 kV – double the rating of their predecessors.

Another crucial benefit is that, for instruments of this class, Megger is the only supplier to fully specify the performance of the guard terminal. This specification shows that, unlike many of its competitors, Megger has achieved these important safety enhancements without compromising guard terminal performance.

As a result of this, combined with the high current capability of the testers, users can be sure of achieving fast, accurate results even in the presence of high levels of surface leakage in the equipment under test. This is important as it enhances the ability of the instrument to provide reliable information to assist in the diagnosis of faults.

Megger has also upgraded the PC based software supplied with the instruments to the latest Power DB Lite package. This allows test results to be loaded directly into test forms and certificates that are uniform in layout and appearance with the test documentation produced by many of the other power instruments in the Megger range.

Megger high–voltage insulation testers offering CATIV 600V capability are the MIT510/2 5 kV insulation tester, the MIT520/2 5 kV diagnostic insulation tester and the MIT1020/2 10 kV diagnostic insulation tester, along with their high–current S1–range counterparts, which deliver a test current of up to 5mA compared with 3mA for products in the MIT range.

The CATIV 600V rating also applies to the S1–554/2 5 kV high noise immunity tester and S1–1054/2 10 kV high noise immunity tester, which are particularly well suited for use in substation switch yards and other areas where extremely high levels of electrical noise may be present and S1–552/2 5kV high current tester and S1–1052/2 10 kV high current tester which as designed to cope with capacitive loads

To complement the new versions of its insulation testers, Megger is now supplying them, as standard, with insulated test leads rated at 5kV or 10kV depending on the type of instrument. Compact uninsulated crocodile–clip style leads continue to be available as an option.

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