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– PLASTIC PLUMBING SYSTEMS, ABOVE GROUND DRAINAGE AND UNDERFLOOR HEATING – ALL INCORPORATED IN ONE STUNNING PROJECT!

If the bowling green on Plymouth Hoe had been waterlogged at the time of that famous bowls match, and Sir Francis Drake had needed somewhere impressive to shelter whilst he waited for the Spanish Armada, he couldn’t have found a more impressive place to stay than ‘The Grand’ on Plymouth Hoe – with its perfect views out to sea!

Polypipe Building Products is delighted that not just one, but several of its impressive products is featuring in a massive £8 million renovation project that is seeing one of Plymouth’s ‘stand out’ buildings converted from one of its favourite hotels into one of its favourite addresses – featuring 24 elegant two and three bedroom apartments for discerning buyers!

The Grade II listed Grand Hotel has stood sentinel on the world famous Plymouth Hoe since it was built back in 1879 and it was run as a hotel right up until 2003. It forms part of Plymouth’s grandiose parade of Italianate buildings that are so recognisable along the seafront. A huge fire in 2003 rendered the hotel unusable and despite the roof being replaced, it stood empty and unused until 2009 when Devington Homes, renowned in the area for its exciting new homes and renovation projects took on the task of restoring it to its former glories – but with a change of use from a hotel to a high class apartment building. The restoration work is being carried out by North Cliff Construction Limited under the eagle eye of Garry Hatton.

“The location of this development and the quality of the apartments we are building meant we needed high quality products to help us achieve the desired effect and finish,” says Garry. “So it was natural that amongst the huge number of products we needed to specify to get to where we wanted, Polypipe Building Products would feature. The building is a superb old building and was built to last – the fact that it survived the fire as well as it did is testament to that – but being a listed building, we needed to retain as much of the fabric of the building as we could and that meant looking for products that helped us to work with and around – quite literally in some cases – the contours of the existing building, and this is where Polypipe’s contributions have been very helpful.”

Plastic plumbing systems are now recognised by most professional heating engineers and plumbers to offer the ideal response to most projects but particularly in complex older buildings where much thicker walls and a myriad of nooks and crannies make working with copper pipe a time consuming, tedious and frankly very expensive option. With totally secure plastic plumbing systems such as those from Polypipe available, utilising polybutelene pipework that offers the flexibility to easily bend around obstructions in older buildings and to run inside new walls formed within the shell of the building – and of course to provide the water carrying system for the leading underfloor heating systems available – even in complex older buildings, renovation becomes that much more attractive and simple.

Polypipe offers underfloor heating systems (UFH) for every application and in The Grand, with floating floors, the Polypipe Floating Floor UFH system has been the obvious response to the requirement for top quality, evenly spread heating throughout the apartments. Many of the apartments benefit from higher ceilings than modern homes can offer, so it’s vital that effective heating is available – that’s exactly what they get from Polypipe UFH – with the floating floor plates laid, and then the polybutelene pipework fitted into the pre-formed grooves of the heat spreader plates to ensure that the available heat traverses the whole floor area giving maximum comfort levels to the occupants of each apartment.

In new apartments such as these, the purchasers expect the highest quality finish and this is equally true for those things you can’t see as those you can. And the heating and hot water is something you take for granted as being Ok when you buy a new home – so as well as top of the range high efficiency boilers, these apartments benefit from Polypipe’s Polyplumb plastic plumbing systems to distribute the hot water to the underfloor heating manifolds and to the hot water outlets around the apartments – in the luxurious bathrooms, en-suite’s and quite beautiful kitchens.

And of course if you’re paying upwards of £300,000 for an apartment, you expect all the grey and waste water to be taken away from your home effectively and this is where Polypipe’s above ground waste products come into play quite perfectly carefully positioned to accept all that’s thrown at it and channel it out to the below ground systems outside the building.

“We’re always pleased when a prestigious project such as this features one of our products but when one features products from three different areas of our business, it’s even more rewarding,” says Polypipe’s Building Products Darren Cockayne. “ It’s clear from the project to date that this will be a landmark project for the Plymouth seafront and we’re all looking forward to seeing the finished building.”

‘The Grand’ should be complete and ready for occupation by summer 2011 and the first sales of apartments have already been completed: “Interest levels are already very high as you would expect from new apartment development with a location like this,” says Devington Homes Lawrence Butler. “It’s the incorporation of quality products like those from Polypipe, within the renovation, that make this the exceptional opportunity it is for potential purchasers of these apartments.”

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ABB Limited, global leader in power and automation technology has appointed Mike Crawford to the position of Country Service Manager – UK and Ireland, in addition to his current role of Senior Vice President for ABB’s Service, Marine and Turbochargers business in the UK.

Towards the end of 2008, ABB’s Executive Committee launched a global service business strategy to capture the growth opportunities associated with service. The aim is for ABB to have a single service organisation in each country where they operate. In this new UK and Ireland position Mike Crawford will be responsible for defining the strategy and setting up a service organisation aimed at ensuring that ABB maximises the opportunities for growth in line with the UK service activities, working closely with all of the UK’s divisions; Power, Automation and Robotics. He will also ensure that the local divisions use common processes, tools and share best practice.

ABB’s service business serves business and industrial companies across the UK and Ireland maintaining and upgrading a wide range of equipment – including control systems, switchgear, transformers, drives, motors, instrumentation and robotics – on which some of the UK’s most demanding industries depend. Mr. Crawford will now be working across all of ABB’s divisions heading up a 500 plus strong workforce across multiple locations in the UK and Ireland.

Mike Crawford is based in Aberdeen which is one of several strategic service centres represented geographically across the UK, with management, sales and service personnel. The service organisation is focused on delivering a comprehensive range of lifecycle services to maintain the performance of ABB’s large installed base of products.

Since joining ABB as a service engineer in 1977, Mike has held a variety of roles in service, projects and general management, where he has developed and deployed a strong portfolio of service products.

ABB’s UK Country Manager Trevor Gregory commented: “I am delighted that Mike has taken up this role. He will focus on the development of a country service organisation that will include the implementation of best practices across the UK business that will enhance customer benefits and improve the overall business performance.”

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Eaton’s EMA wiring accessories and MEM Memera consumer units are being used exclusively on a project to upgrade 15,000 homes in Liverpool. The five-year programme by Liverpool Mutual Homes involves properties, some dating back to the 1920s, which are being fitted out to exceed the Decent Homes Standard for social housing. The electrical content includes individual RCBO protection of every electrical circuit.

The five-year programme began in April 2008 when the newly-formed housing association, Liverpool Mutual Homes, took over responsibility for the housing stock from Liverpool City Council. The programme includes roofing and external cladding, new windows and doors, upgraded thermal insulation, central heating, complete bathroom and kitchen refits and rewiring. Initially work concentrated on ensuring that all homes were warm and dry. The first electrical contracts commenced this year.

LMH and its Consultants, Tweeds, decided to opt for individual RCBO protection of all power and lighting circuits. This offers the maximum levels of user safety required under the 17th Edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations, BS 7671. If a device trips, all other circuits in the property will continue to function normally.

Eaton’s MEM Memera consumer units were selected to satisfy this requirement. These are supplied with the protective devices ready fitted. LMH standardised on an 11-way unit for all properties, regardless of size. The normal circuits – cooker, lighting circuits etc. – are always connected in the same configuration to simplify maintenance. They include a separate kitchen ring circuit. Spare consumer circuit ways are available for use where tenants have additional equipment such as electric showers or stairlifts.

An LMH call centre number is available; if a tenant calls, the operator will normally be able to instruct them on the correct procedure to identify and re-set a tripped RCBO. LMH believes that this will reduce the number, and cost, of call-outs significantly.

Eaton’s EMA moulded accessories are used throughout. These are stylish, robust and cost-effective accessories moulded from polycarbonate with tight-fitting plugs that cover the fixing screws and make for a smart appearance. Switches controlling major appliances such as hobs, fridge/freezers and central heating are engraved to indicate their function.

Eaton has also supplied pendant sets from its Circa ceiling accessory range.

LMH wanted a clearly-defined supply chain for electrical products. It was agreed that all the consumer units and accessories should be sourced from Newey & Eyre’s Liverpool branch via the Regional Distribution Centre in Warrington. Luminaires, smoke alarms and other electrical products were also supplied by Newey & Eyre, thereby offering a single point of supply for all electrical installation products. Eaton and Newey & Eyre each undertook to hold two months’ stock of product.

Consultants for the LMH refurbishment programme are Tweeds Construction Consultancy of Liverpool (a member of the WYG group). Contractors and sub- contractors are appointed on a project-by-project basis from the LMH framework of contractors.

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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.

Stylishly finished in white, the indoor unit is fitted with a unique front panel that heats up like a conventional radiator and releases warm air into the room at a reduced and even flow for added comfort. This innovative feature, of particular value during cold snaps, can be activated at the touch of a ‘radiant’ button on the easy to use remote controller. Operating noise is low at 22dBa in normal operating mode and just 19dBA in radiant mode. As a comparison, the ambient sound in a generally quiet room is on average, about 40dBA. Operational flexibility is ensured by the controller’s built-in weekly timer, which allows a 7 day schedule to be programmed with 4 different actions per day.

Far more energy efficient than fossil fuel based heating systems, Nexura has a COP of 4+ and can be used either in single room format with one indoor unit connected to one outdoor unit or in multiple room format with up to 9 indoor units connected to a single outdoor unit. Indoor units can be built-into enclosures or wall or pedestal mounted.

Extra energy efficiency is achieved via the ‘night set’ mode, which prevents over heating or over cooling and when the timer is switched on, the temperature is set at 2 deg C lower during warming and 0.5 deg C higher during cooling to prevent rapid temperature changes during sleeping hours.

Indoor air purity is ensured by a titanium apatite photo-catalytic filter, which traps microscopic dust particles, breaks down odours and absorbs organic bacteriological and viral contaminants. Overall system control and efficiency is achieved by renowned Daikin inverter technology, enabling compressor speed to be varied according to heating or cooling demand. This provides stable room temperatures, reducing energy consuming stops and starts, returns energy savings some 30% greater than traditional on/off systems and prevents overloading when other household appliances are in use.

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For Ecobuild 2011, Klober will focus on the issue of airtightness of roofs in relation to research undertaken to demonstrate the U-values, levels of airtightness and other measures needed to comply with Approved Document L1A and Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. As the first roofing product manufacturer to publish literature examining the principles of building fabric air permeability, Klober will use Ecobuild to launch its updated 'Taking Control of Air Leakage' brochure and 'SAP Analysis Supplement'. This will outline the benefits of building to low levels of air permeability and examine specific improvements that can be achieved over the TER by using an air permeability of 3 m³/hr per m² as distinct from 10 m³/hr per m² (the default value for TER in England and Wales).

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For a £10.8 million upgrade to the 'London Clinic', the UK’s largest independently-owned hospital located at 114-120 Harley Street, three existing buildings presented distinctly differing interior design requirements. Laidlaw Solutions worked with architects Floyd Slaski to overcome a number of challenges posed by two completely different architectural styles.

The client’s brief was to provide an open plan interior by completely gutting the three buildings. The faÇades of 114 and 118 were retained as a requirement of the Conservation Officer but that of 116 had to be demolished due to differences in floor levels.

A pathology lab and 29 new consulting rooms were provided for, amongst others, gastroenterologists, neurosurgeons and consultants of the London Clinic’s Liver Centre and renowned London Spine Clinic. “The fit out fell into two distinct parts,” says Mike McCann who handled the project for Laidlaw Solutions. “But in both, the architects required a very high level of finish and specification throughout. Laidlaw scheduled over £80,000 worth of hardware.”

In numbers 114-118, the style was modern and contemporary with hardware in Satin Stainless Steel. Elliptical levers and pull handles were selected from the Orbis Premier range together with special sized push plates. These featured insert holes to take 50mm signage discs insert. Locks with 72mm centres from the Orbis Commercial range were also specified.

Roy Chalk, Senior Partner of the Floyd Slaski Partnership commented, “At the Practice we invariably choose to specify Laidlaw ironmongery for our many and very varied projects. Not only are we aware that the Laidlaw range is excellent in both terms of style and quality but also that their before and after sales service is second to none”.

The design features of Orbis Premier provide high quality performance and finish which makes them ideal for such high-profile and heavily trafficked public access areas. In back of house areas standard Orbis Commercial adjustable power closers with cam-action closers were selected.

The doors were manufactured in a stunning American cherry wood especially for the project and the architraves were also of bespoke design. Laidlaw had to provide the channel and arm of the closer in as close a match as possible since it had to be cut into the architrave.

The contrast in hardware for number 120 couldn’t have been greater. Front of house areas had to retain their original Georgian style so to achieve this, the architect chose satin brass knobs and levers with a clean, simple traditional design. A mix of horizontal and upright lock cases with suited cylinders completed the package. All external entrance doors fronting onto Harley Street were fitted with period hardware.

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Following the announcement of HM Government's Comprehensive Spending Review announced earlier this week, OFTEC has welcomed the news that the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) will still be introduced from April 2011. It had been feared that the scheme would be scrapped altogether, but the government has instead pledged £860m funding to support the installation of renewable energy technologies.

OFTEC Director Jeremy Hawksley said, “We have yet to learn the full details of the RHI, but we are pleased to learn that a levy will not be imposed upon oil or other existing heating fuels in order to fund the RHI. The original draft RHI contained incentives for a new generation of blended bio-liquids for heating (B30k) which could replace 100% Kerosene, and we urge the government to include those at the subsidy level which was originally proposed.”

A blend of 30% Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) manufactured from waste cooking oil, and 70% kerosene has been proven to reduce carbon emissions by 28% compared to conventional kerosene which is currently used by the majority of households on oil. Field trials carried out in Norfolk last year used this B30k blend to replace kerosene in around 25 sites, with no adverse effects reported to date.

Over 1.8 million oil heating customers in the British Isles could easily switch over to a lower carbon fuel, without having to replace their existing heating systems. Businesses could benefit too from the switch to bio-liquid heating fuel with minimum capital expenditure.

OFTEC believes that 90% of existing oil customers could transfer to bio-liquid by 2020. However, the amount of incentive is key. Under the original RHI proposals, bio-liquid users would be eligible for grant payments over a 15 year period. This is the minimum level of incentive needed to make bio-liquid economically viable for end users. Otherwise, OFTEC claims that heating oil users – many of whom are in rural areas – will be disadvantaged, and the government will be missing out on a big opportunity to reduce carbon emissions.

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Megger has added two new testing and insulation diagnostics products will be a strong addition to the Megger range of test instruments for the power industry.

• Transformer finger–printing for non–invasive condition monitoring of electromechanical changes.
• DFRA analysis of transformer insulation materials for moisture

Dielectric Frequency Response Analyzers

Pax IDAX range of Dielectric Frequency Response Analyzers are designed for measuring moisture in power transformers as well as testing insulation material in various power system products. The IDAX300 represents the latest generation in the well known IDA/IDAX range of instruments and represents a breakthrough in terms of weight–performance ratio. With its optimized design the test set is three times smaller and lighter and performs insulation characterization twice as fast as its predecessor IDA200.

Sweep Frequency Analysis products

Pax FRAX range of Sweep Frequency Analysis products are designed for detecting electromechanical changes inside power transformers. The products have the highest measurement range and accuracy in the industry and fulfil all recent international standards and recommendations for SFRA testing.

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– new radiator design to benefit from hot Spanish influence!

At the recent Installer Live exhibition at the Ricoh Stadium in Coventry, Europe’s favourite radiator company Stelrad asked visitors to the show to suggest a name for their latest radiator design. The incentive to come up with a great name? Their very own iPad!

During the very successful three day show, they had literally hundreds of suggestions – many of which were interesting…. but not the right approach for a designer radiator marketing campaign! Lorraine Hawes from Stelrad’s marketing team says that some of the names were fun – but clearly not right for the product: “’Alcatraz’ was fun but suggested heating in a prison cell, which wasn’t quite what we were looking for. ‘Executive’s Smile’ seemed to be inspired by the number of radiators we might sell. And ‘Fred’ was altogether too cosy! ’Grillrad’ suggested that we should use it to cook sausage and bacon on as well as heat a room and ‘iRAD’ is probably one we’d get sued for using! ‘Mini Bar’ suggested where that visitor had been the night before and ‘Solitaire’ was just a bit too lonely! ‘Terminator’ was interesting but conjured up visions of someone bursting through the wall behind it, while ‘The Clothes Rail’ might accurately describe what it might become in a home, but we rather hoped it might be seen as an aesthetically pleasing feature rather than a functional piece of metalwork. In the end the judges decide they liked ‘Caliente’ – which is Spanish for heat’.

This was the suggested name of Lynda Douglas from BCosy Heating in Barton-under-Needwood in Staffordshire. And her name selection has won her an iPAD.

“I’m delighted to have won but very surprised,” she said when told of her good fortune. “When you’re at exhibitions you tend to fill forms in and have a go at things but you don’t really expect to win anything! As a firm we install loads of Stelrad radiators so it will be fun to see orders flying in for the one I’ve actually named! I haven’t tended to win too many prizes over the years so I’m really looking forward to getting to grips with my iPad!” Bcosy is a small but perfectly formed heating and plumbing company with four employees – Steve and Lynda Douglas are its directors with Lynda running the office and Steve is an engineer of some repute. Bcosy employs two engineers, Bash and Derek. Steve started the company in November 2007, having been a senior engineer for a manufacturer within the heating industry where Lynda was the service centre supervisor. He moved from the North East to marry Lynda and the rest as they say, is history!

Bcosy carries out installations, repairs and servicing within its immediate operating area – mainly in Staffordshire and Derbyshire – where it has a growing reputation and customer base. The company’s primary customers are several boiler manufacturers with whom they work closely, installing and repairing boilers and heating systems. The business covers a radius of approximately 30 miles across the Midlands – taking in Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire as well as their two key counties.

“We pride ourselves on being small enough to care but big enough to do a professional job!” says Lynda. There’s lots of interesting information on their excellent web site at www.bcosyheating.co.uk .

Full details of the exciting Stelrad Radiator range can be found on their web site at www.stelrad.com where you can download pdfs of a wide range of brochures, or by calling on 0870 849 8058.

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