Story

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.

View Klober's profile:

Story

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.

View Georg Fischer's profile:

Story

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

“

View Eaton Electrical's profile:

Story

Redevelopment of the 40-acre Bullring site by the Bullring Alliance is another example of a high profile project featuring prominent use of stainless steel. Aperam UGISAND was used to create an iconic, subtly curving focal point on Spiceal Street adjacent to Selfridge’s. Designed by Chapman Taylor, the striking ‘ribbon concept’ curved roof links three new restaurants with formal and informal seating areas, a striking green wall and improved pedestrian links from St Martin’s Walk to St Martin’s Square. The 110,000m2 scheme has been cited as the catalyst for Birmingham’s transformation into a world class retail capital, and already has over 160 shops, cafes and restaurants.

UGISAND, one from a wide range of surfaces specifically developed for architectural applications, has an immediate and permanent matt appearance so can be used in most environments to suit diverse architectural styles. The product range is available in both ferritic and austenitic grades with the low-reflectance finish being achieved by means of cold rolling. Coils and sheets can be supplied in thicknesses from 0.4 – 1.5mm and widths from 250 – 1250mm providing maximum flexibility.

View Aperam's profile:

Story

Triton has boosted its best-selling T80 electric shower range with the introduction of the new T80Z Fast-Fit – the ultimate electric shower for the specification market.

Designed with speed of installation and lifetime costs in mind, the T80Z Fast-Fit is the ideal electric shower for the specification market, thanks to a number of innovative features including Triton’s revolutionary new Swing-Fit™ terminal block, which makes the shower simple to wire regardless of electrical cable positioning. The horizontal swing mechanism means even the shortest of cables can be routed quickly and easily into the shower unit, from either the left or the right, without any hassle.

Installation flexibility is further extended by Triton’s unique 180° fully reversible Swivel-Fit™ water inlet, providing more water entry points than any other electric shower on the market. With 8 water entry points and 6 electrical cable entry points, the T80Z Fast-Fit is designed to cope with every desired installation requirement. The size and shape of the unit also means it can be positioned neatly over existing holes for an attractive finish and used to replace all electric showers, even competitor models – reducing the need to retile or redecorate the space.

Other practical features of the T80Z Fast-Fit ensure that specifiers have access to a solution which minimises the cost per job for housing association and local authority contractors. These include a wall template (available with every unit) for marking fixings and connections, a flexible kit to allow an adjustable distance beeteen shower rail brackets, top entry trims that are removable without the need for tools and a matching riser rail kit with adjustable wall fixing centres. Recessed controls, power on illumination and a low water pressure indicator increase its appeal for the end user, whilst a tapered design gives the T80Z fast-Fit an attractive, slimline look.

For new build properties where the Code for Sustainable Homes needs to be taken into account, the eco model has been designed to reduce water usage and bills, thanks to a built-in flow limiter that restricts water flow to 6 litres per minute.

Lorna Fellowes, managing director at Triton said:

“In developing the new T80Z Fast-Fit, we were keen to provide Housing Association and Local Authority specifiers with an electric shower they can install without the need to worry about speed of installation or the lifetime costs associated with the unit. As purse strings continue to tighten and targets need to be met, the T80Z Fast-Fit means housing associations and local authorities can keep cost per job to a minimum.

“As the ninth generation of shower to join the T80 family, Triton now has the most comprehensive electric range available on today’s market for contractors or specifiers tasked with installing or replacing a large number of electric showers. They can rest assured all they need to do it fit and forget.”

The T80Z Fast-Fit is available in popular Chrome and White in 7.5kW to 10.5kW models to suit all style and power needs, plus the 8.5kW white Eco model.

The T80Z Fast-Fit shower is priced from around £130 depending on finish and kW size, meaning installers can benefit from a number of additional features for the same affordable price.

The complete T80Z family has a two year guarantee and forms part of Triton’s next day rapid replenishment service if ordered before 5pm. For further information on Triton’s complete range of products and services for specifiers, visit the dedicated area of Triton’s website at www.tritonshowers.co.uk. Alternatively, download Triton’s free of charge iPhone app from iTunes for handy installation tips and advice, for the latest promotions and information follow @tritonshowers on Twitter or like tritoninstallers on Facebook.

View Triton's profile:

Story

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.

View Eaton Electrical's profile:

Story

‘The rain in Spain’ may well ‘fall mainly on the plain’, but in the UK it mainly falls on the roof and has to find its way effectively, from there via the guttering, down downpipes into the drains and soakaways that most homes have, before finding its way safely to the council’s drainage infrastructure or the local streams and runaways then heading to a nearby river. And in the UK, especially with changing weather patterns that are tending to see us get our rain less often, but in greater quantity, the rainwater goods have to be up to the task.

Rainwater goods have traditionally been metal – usually cast iron – however these days, on most new build, self-build, refurbishment and replacement projects, the rainwater goods are plastic-based systems, uPVC or similar materials.

And the increasing popularity of these modern rainwater systems is not coincidental. The benefits of a plastic system are many and obvious and when you’re looking for benefits of any system in the building industry, it’s best to have benefits for both the homeowner and the installer. For starters they are very lightweight but extremely durable, with lower initial outlay and lower maintenance costs. It makes it easier to sell to the property owner and easier to sell to the installation company. Its pretty inconceivable that in this day and age, many homeowners are going to insist on a new rainwater system that demands the erection of scaffolding to fix it to the building unless the roof is being replaced as well.

New lightweight rainwater systems can be easily fitted to most homes using ladders quite safely. And if a piece of guttering or a bracket slips out of an installers grasp, the likely damage on the way down to ground level is minimal if anything at all.

In addition there’s the speed of installation using modern lightweight systems. Assuming soffits and boards are in decent condition, removal of an elderly rainwater system and replacement with a new plastic system is for most standard homes these days, a day’s job, possibly a few hours more.

But what about the look of plastic rainwater systems….don’t they look, well, plasticky? The choice of profiles is huge so you can choose rainwater systems in a number of colours, a number of profiles and a number of finishes to slot neatly into any new building or replacement guttering and downpipe scenario. And even if you like the look of authentic cast iron guttering but don’t like the weight problems, and the maintenance and cost issues – there’s a solution for that too. Use a cast iron ‘look-a-like’ rainwater system such as Polypipe’s Elegance rainwater system, which once on a building, to the eye looks exactly like cast iron guttering and down pipes. So you can have ‘cast iron’ drainage systems with none of the degradation drawbacks you get with the real thing. You get a lightweight, low maintenance solution at a lower cost that’s quick to install, comes ready to fit without the need to paint it or apply protective coatings, and is fully compatible with other modern rainwater systems.

Polypipe Building Products offers its enhanced and extended Elegance cast iron effect uPVC rainwater system with the addition of the unique notched gutter concept for its Ogee profile to add to the original half round profile. The Elegance range has been designed in such a way that each profile in the range utilises a common downpipe, making installation and ordering very simple. In addition it has launched a new range of soil and vent products in a matching cast iron effect finish.

The new notched Ogee profile guttering provides a secure fit and counters the problem of gutters becoming dislodged from their retaining clips during warm weather due to heat expansion, help making leaky joints a thing of the past. The leading edge of the gutter is notched and the system uses a flexible band clip to secure the gutter. The lugs on the gutter are simply matched to the band clip and snapped into place.

In addition to the notches, Polypipe has included grooves midway between the notches which act as cutting markers when cutting the lengths of guttering. These benefits, in addition to the lightweight construction of the guttering system, make handling, assembly and installation as simple as possible for installers.

Simon Green is Polypipe’s Category Director for the drainage and water management side of the business: “We’re excited to be able to offer the Elegance range with the new Ogee profile which closely resembles the profile found on original cast iron installations and the range is being extended with new fittings available soon,” he says. “This will make it easy to preserve the traditional look of a period home when replacing the original guttering, but with the knowledge that it will give a more secure fit, be simpler to install, give rise to far lower maintenance and be far lighter than the original.”

The compatible soil and vent range is based on the Polypipe 110mm soil pipe, supplied in 3 metre lengths with a selection of sockets, bends and a vent terminal. The range uses Polypipe’s popular push-fit system, again for quick and easy installation.

CASE STUDY :

WORCESTERSHIRE HOME GETS TOP NOTCH REPLACEMENT GUTTERING

One of the first homes in the UK to benefit from Polypipe’s Elegance Ogee rainwater system was the home of Steve Parsons in rural Worcestershire.

Following a major downpour in the Worcestershire countryside, the elderly cast iron guttering on Steve Parson’s house became detached from the fascia boards over his bedroom window. When he tried to temporarily straighten and reattach the now flapping piece of guttering, it became detached either side of the original problem as well, swinging alarmingly in the air and Steve realised – despite not being ‘Mr Practical’ – that the cast iron guttering – which was far heavier than he had anticipated before heading up the ladder to sort it out – could literally fall off, damaging the house and from his precarious position up the ladder – him! It was time to call in the experts!

The house, a solid four bedroom detached red brick house, stood out in the countryside, open to the elements. It had been built by a farmer who had retired, sold the farm and built a retirement home at the end of one of his former fields. That was in 1954.

Now in 2010, the guttering needed replacing. Having been nearly decapitated by the old guttering, Steve had no desire to replace the old cast iron guttering and downpipes with new cast iron, and was impressed by the latest Elegance uPVC cast iron look alike system from by Polypipe. The Elegance Ogee notched – which to him had a little more class, looked just right for the property and the decision was made.

“I’m impressed both by the way it looks and that the guys who fitted it, who had not worked with this system before, managed to get it up and in place so quickly,” said Steve.

Full details of the new extended Elegance rainwater range can be found on its own dedicated web site at www.polypipe.com/elegance and Elegance is available from merchants now.

View Polypipe's profile:

Story

Easy application, durable, non-slip surface for baths and showers from MX Group

The significant dangers of people slipping over in the shower, in the bath or on wet tiles and bathroom floors has been addressed by the launch of the new MX Anti Slip Kit. Launched by the MX Group, one of the leading shower accessory manufacturers in the UK, the new product offers a complete kit to make a shower or bath ‘anti slip’.

The specially formulated and easy-to-apply no-slip surface instantly creates safety in wet showers and bath tubs and can be applied to tiles and floors as well. It’s hygienic and low maintenance, solvent free, environmentally friendly, colourless, durable but easily removable if required.

The MX Anti Slip kit is ideal for retrofitting to baths and showers in retirement homes, nursing and care homes, sheltered housing, hospitals, clinics and rehabilitation facilities, swimming pools, sports centres, saunas, steam baths and of course in homes across the country. The product is already recommended by a number of hotel groups keen to ensure the safety of their guests. In an increasingly litigious world, this product offers an inexpensive option to avoid claims from people willing to go to law for damages as a result of accidents that can be easily avoided.

Group Marketing Manager Sasha Davies says like most great products it’s a very simple one: “Slipping over in the bath or shower is a worryingly common occurrence – we’ve all done it at some stage in our lives, but for elderly or vulnerable people the consequences can be very serious and for commercial customers such as hotel groups that are keen to ensure that their guests remain safe during their stays, it’s a simple, easy to apply solution to the problem that makes huge sense. The MX Anti Slip Kit comes with literally everything that’s needed to apply the coating and simple to follow instructions to help you maximise on the safety that the product offers. The kits are available now through all good builders and plumbers merchants.

Visit www.mx-group.com for information on the MX Group and its wide range of products that include shower trays, enclosures, electric and thermostatic showers and shower accessories.

The new MX Anti Slip Kit has a number of independent test certificates across Europe already:

• TUV Rheinland Certificate 60024739
• Tested by EMPA (Swiss Material Testing and Research Institute) in accordance with bfu (Swiss council for Accident

Prevention) regulation 9729:2007 for floor coatings with greater slip resistance (barefoot area); EMPA test report 451829 from 23 March 2009

• NF EN 000 recommendation
• TNO tested
• Slip-proof according to DIN 51097 Class C

View MX Group's profile:

Story

Lewden : Palazolli have released their new catalogue for 2011. The new catalogue details many new additions to the popular standard products offered by both brands. The 148 page catalogue reflects the company’s commitment to providing installers and distributors with the very latest solutions for all of their electrical requirements.

Separated into easy to read sections, the catalogue provides valuable advice on technical clocking detail, IP classification and specification and voltage identification. Products include industrial plugs and sockets which includes the popular Multimax range, switched interlocked sockets, RCD’s, the new topTER modular system, a range of enclosures, isolators and switches. There is also a section dedicated to Lewden’s bespoke Custom Build services.

Lewden products are manufactured to meet all relevant UK and European standards and are available through a network of approved stockists/electrical wholesalers throughout the UK and Ireland. For further information contact the Lewden sales team on 0208 539 0237 or email sales@lewden.co.uk.

View Lewden's profile:

Story

Polypipe TDI’s range of loft hatches is manufactured to comply with all Building Regulations requirements for insulated loft hatches with a clear opening of 600mm x 532mm. They include injection moulded Rigid Polypropylene outer hatches with no welded corners, attractive moulded ceiling architrave surround and trap door sculpture, offer easy access for loft ladders, are simple to fit, and come supplied in a box with fitting instructions.

For details, contact Polypipe TDI on 01629 733177 or visit www.polypipe.com/tdi

View Polypipe's profile: