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Custom-built electrical power distribution products from Lewden Electrical Industries provide the ideal solution for projects where an off-the-shelf product will not deliver the required performance.

Lewden’s in-house design and build facilities enable the company to produce bespoke products for use in systems up to 415VAC, built around stock enclosures or using custom-manufactured enclosures to meet the needs of the project. Enclosures are available in a wide range of materials and colours and can be supplied for indoor, outdoor or extreme environments.

Calling on over 50 years experience, Lewden has supplied customised solutions for a wide range of sectors including industrial, commercial, military, marine, leisure and rail applications. Bespoke products include variations on the standard Lewden and Palazzoli ranges, switchgear up to 3500A, process control PLC based control systems, motor control centres and starters, transformers up to 200kVA, power factor correction, socket outlet-based distribution.

Recent projects include the design and manufacture of a mains/generator changeover electrical distribution system for NHS mobile operating theatres; temporary power distribution boxes, featuring a very lightweight design for use in submarines and laboratory electrical testing stations.

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Air conditioning specialist Holborn Building Services Ltd is helping the Nationwide Building Society to upgrade the air conditioning systems in several retail branches, removing the old R22 systems, and replacing them with modern R410a units that offer more energy efficiency and central control.

R22 gas is being phased out because it has ozone-depleting potential yet there are still many thousands of systems in operation across a host of UK industries. Companies such as the Nationwide need to find ways of replacing these systems whilst keeping branch disruption and costs to a minimum.

Holborn has been working with Vinci Facilities, the Facilities Management provider for Nationwide's Retail Branch network, as part of the Building Society's ongoing program of energy saving initiatives and equipment upgrade.

“In most cases, Holborn has only had to replace the outdoor and indoor units and has been able to keep all of the existing piping and wiring,” explains Project Manager, Tim Smith of Vinci Facilities.

“This has meant business as usual inside the branch for Nationwide as we have been able to minimise the disruption to branch staff and also retain the integrity of existing decoration and wall finishes,”  adds Smith.

The use of new R22 gas is now banned and recycled R22 refrigerant is being phased out, so businesses that still rely on these old systems will have to consider ways of replacing these air conditioning units.

Many building and facilities managers will have to factor this replacement into their budgets over the next four years, but as Holborn Building Services Director, Nick Scragg explains, understanding the options available can mean that the impact and costs can be minimsed if the appropriate equipment, installed by an accredited installer is chosen.

“With systems like Mitsubishi Electric's Replace range, many R22 units can simply be removed and the pipework cleaned and reused.  This means that the work can be carried out around retail hours without incurring the additional costs of out of hours working,” adds Scragg. “This reduces the work and helps control replacement costs as well as minimising the impact on the branch, its staff and its customers.”

All of the Mitsubishi Electric equipment that Holborn is installing is listed on the Government's Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) Scheme, allowing Nationwide to offset the capital cost against its annual tax bill.  In addition, Holborn is able to offer extended warranties as it is an Accredited Mitsubishi Electric Installer.

“We are also taking the opportunity to install Mitsubishi's Procon A2M interface controller, which allows the new air conditioning to be connected to a web-based monitoring system,” Scragg says. “Using GPRS communication, this means that Vinci Facilities can remotely apply time schedules and limit set points for the Nationwide to constantly maximise efficiency levels.”
 
The web-based controller offers full data logging which means that the Nationwide can see how equipment is being used in each branch and set limits on upper and lower temperatures.  This helps to reduce energy use further and minimises equipment wear.

In order to establish what is needed for each individual branch, Holborn staff undertake a survey using a state-of-the-art audit tool from Mitsubishi Electric. This produces an energy/carbon reduction assessment, which highlights ways of reducing energy use further.

Holborn's energy assessment can also be used as a basis for an application for interest-free funding from the Carbon Trust for new equipment. Holborn, as registered contractors with the Carbon Trust, can even help with that process by submitting the funding application.

“For Nationwide and Vinci Facilities, the upheaval of R22 replacement is being minimised allowing the branches to operate as usual,” explains Scragg. “The added benefit is that with the modern Mitsubishi Electric equipment they also get much greater control and on-going monitoring to ensure the most cost efficient use of energy.”

The Holborn Group website, www.holborngroup.co.uk has details of all the company's services as well as downloadable case studies, product information and even a film of Holborn at work.

For further information on Mitsubishi Electric's advanced air conditioning and the complete range of Replace models, visit www.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/aircon

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The first 15 of a series of free to download details is now available from Klober via the architectural CAD database website, FastrackCAD. These cover key aspects of roofing, including cold and warm roof ventilation, dry fixing and airtightness, as well as timber frame ventilation. Each drawing is layered and includes an insertion point to manipulate on screen and position at will. Additions to the series will continue throughout 2011. Either go to www.fastrackcad.com for details or use the link from Klober’s new website www.klober.co.uk.

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Cable management specialist Marshall-Tufflex has launched a smart new range of pre-wired office furniture desk units as part of its Underfloor to Desk Solutions range.

The units provide a neat, safe and stylish method of delivering power to desktop devices such as computers and printers, replacing messy and potentially dangerous trailing power cables. Power can be delivered directly from Marshall-Tufflex’s MT32 plug and play 32Amp power distribution system or via Marshall-Tufflex’s Series 507 or any other powertrack sytem.

The system is fully segregated with Clean Earth (CE) and standard versions available, together with optional MCBs and RCD protection. The desk units comply with BS 6396 for Electrical Systems in Office Furniture and with BS 1363-2, where applicable. Colour coding indicates red for 3.15Amp and yellow for 5Amp.

The desk units are also compatible with a range of prefabricated wiring systems using standard 16Amp connectors and compact 32Amp connectors. Units are supplied as standard in black ABS and aluminium. However, aluminium units required with a silver-grey anodised finish are also available by contacting Marshall-Tufflex’s Technical Team.

Full details of the new office furniture desk units are available in Marshall-Tufflex’s newly launched Underfloor to Desk Solutions brochure, a full-colour 40-page brochure which comprehensively outlines where, when and how its underfloor to desk systems (including Series 507) work, with photographs, clearly annotated pictures and exploded diagrams detailing technical, specification and installation information.

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The World is a unique ship serving as a residential community and is owned by its residents. It has a total of 165 residential units including apartments, studio apartments and studios. The owners, from over 40 countries, can live on board the ship or join it as they wish as it slowly circumnavigates the globe stopping for a few days in ports along the way.

When its onboard Engineering Team found it necessary to replace a section of corroded steel pipe supplying water to the ship's laundry unit they contacted GF to obtain a solution. GF were please to recommend their INSTAFLEX PB piping system which would provide a reliable, fast to install and corrosion free solution.

Fortunately the ship had a planned call in the UK and it was possible for the required materials including 80 metres of 75mm pipe and the necessary fittings to be delivered to the docks ready for collection. Also, GF marine specialist, Andy Jenkins, was able to join the ship to discuss the installation and provide the necessary jointing training for The World's Engineering Team.

Due to the location of the existing corroded pipework the lightweight, flexible INSTAFLEX piping system with electrofusion jointing, proved ideal for the maintenance crew to install in the tight confines within the deckhead service ducts. Chief Engineer, Brian Hannah commented that “corrosion of steel piping systems is a continual problem on board ships. Replacing these systems, where possible, with GF INSTAFLEX which is easy to install and corrosion free is the ideal long term solution to this problem. In addition to the laundry area GF materials have also been used to replace piping systems to the swimming pools and the water treatment systems, which were also showing signs of corrosion.”

With corrosion of metal and copper pipework causing increasing problems for on board engineering departments piping systems from GF provide a cost effective long term solution.

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Eaton’s industry-leading Smart split-metered distribution boards will provide energy metering to the latest requirements of the UK Building Regulations, Part L2, in a new energy-efficient college building in North London. MITIE Engineering selected the Smartboards to provide low voltage distribution throughout Barnet College’s new Wood Street campus. Meanwhile, Eaton’s 400A Mempower busbar risers were selected to carry power to riser cupboards on each floor.

A total of 26 Smartboards are used in the building which will provide state-of the-art teaching facilities for 4,000 students and 255 staff. The innovative boards incorporate dual metering facilities so that lighting and small power loads can be metered separately in accordance with Building Regulations Part L2.

A major reason for selecting the Eaton boards was the fact that the unique Smart meter provides a separate reading for each of the grouped loads, explains Mark Cordell, MITIE’s Project Manager. Alternative designs generally provide one measurement for the total board load and a separate measurement for one of the grouped loads; this means that values for the second grouped load have to be calculated. Eaton’s Smart meter provides visual readout and remote indication of a range of parameters (including kWh, voltage, current, power factor and maximum demand) for the grouped loads and total board load.

The four-storey Barnet College building has risers at either end. 400A Mempower MP busbar trunking brings power to the riser cupboards at each floor. The five-bar system provides a separate clean earth facility for the computer installations in the building.

A variety of board sizes has been used in Barnet College from 6+4 TPN ways to 14+10 TPN ways. Each riser cubicle includes two Smart boards which provide power for lighting and other services on the adjacent floor areas. Cable feeders supply power to further distribution boards in the core of the building. These will all be linked into a BMS system.

Building Regulations Part L2 call for energy sub-metering so that 90% of the estimated annual consumption can be assigned to specific end-use categories, such as lighting, in new and refurbished buildings. This means that final distribution boards which supply lighting and small power must have separate measurement of both load groups. Eaton has responded with a range of solutions including distribution boards with integral metering and separate meterpacks for use with conventional distribution boards.

Eaton’s split metered distribution boards are available in Type A (single-phase) and Type B (three-phase) form with up to 14+12 outgoing TPN ways. The unique dual-channel Smart summing meter is used in conjunction with a high-integrity 15kA busbar with embedded voltage transducers. This offers a more compact solution than designs which use current transformers, and higher integrity than soft-wired split-busbar designs. The Smartboards incorporate high-integrity clean earth facilities as standard.

Barnet College is one of the largest Further Education colleges in the country with campuses in High Barnet, Colindale and New Southgate offering a wide range of courses for 25,000 learners. The old Wood Street premises were becoming costly to maintain but the new building will offer a modern sustainable, energy-efficient environment. The site is being landscaped in sympathy with the historic Tudor Hall in the centre of Barnet. Main contractor for the project is Vinci Construction UK Limited.

In another educational building project in Barnet, MITIE is installing another 16 of Eaton’s Smart split-metered distribution boards in the new East Barnet Secondary School.

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Brochure introduces a new approach to insulating the loft area of old and new houses.

Rockwool (www.rockwool.co.uk), the world’s leading manufacturer of non-combustible stone wool insulation solutions, has produced a brochure for its new RockPrime loft insulation which is a super fast and highly effective way of insulating the loft area within old and new houses. 

The brochure, available through Rockwool’s website, has been written to help construction and maintenance professionals such as architects, specifiers and builders to understand the characteristics and benefits of blown loft insulation.  

The traditional means of insulating a loft is to use some form of rolled insulation which takes time and can be cumbersome working around the hard to treat lofts such as those with low pitched roofs, intricate nooks and crannies or the complex nature of modern trussed rafter roof constructions. 

In the brochure Rockwool shows how RockPrime blown loft insulation can help to achieve a good coverage between and over obstacles such, as joists and pipework, even into difficult to reach eaves, thus minimising thermal bridges. RockPrime can be installed to any specific thickness to suit required U-values. It is compatible with other insulation types and can also be used in top-up situations. 

The brochure describes how RockPrime blown loft insulation can improve the sound insulation of the building. It also highlights the fact that RockPrime blown loft insulation is Non-Combustible, as defined in UK and Ireland Building Regulations. 

The RockPrime installation process, detailed in the brochure, is done by specially trained contractors in almost half of the time of traditional roll product and causes minimum disturbance to the building occupiers. It requires no heavy lifting, cutting or manual fitting. And although RockPrime blown loft is a skilled installation it is no more expensive than traditional roll insulation yet can still provide the same cost savings. 

RockPrime blown loft insulation is a safe durable material that will remain an effective insulant for the life of the building.  

Andrew Champ, Business Development Director from Rockwool said: ”Insulating the loft is one of the most effective means of reducing energy costs and carbon dioxide emissions from the building. RockPrime blown loft insulation can provide simple solutions to today’s and future demands of the energy regulations”. 

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Hydrex eTrend is the latest addition to the Hydrex family. The new service offered by ELGA Process Water, a Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies company, uses latest technology to track and trend plant performance online.

Hydrex eTrend electronically records parameters from cooling and boiler water treatment monitoring programs, allowing for easy data storage and instant access to the latest critical trends. Trend data is stored centrally and securely online and is reviewed by our chemical specialists. This provides an early opportunity to optimise system performance and to make adjustments in dosing before the system goes out of specification. Additional information such as technical data sheets, site survey reports and certificates, confirming compliance with L8 guidelines and BS 2486, are also stored on the new and secure website.

An advanced Hydrex eTrend⁺ version includes the trending equipment to allow customers to take more frequent readings in addition to the site visits from service engineers.

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Laidlaw Solutions Ltd has again been shortlisted for two prime projects in the 2011 Architectural Ironmongery Specification Awards organised by the GAI and RIBA. The highly acclaimed Bermondsey Square Hotel, described as the epitome of designer chic, is one of four projects being considered for the 'Best Hospitality or Residential Building' while Rose Lodge in Hebburn, a £6.1m specialist centre for adults with learning disabilities, is one of just two shortlisted for 'Best Public Building'. The bi-annual awards, which are being held at the Ironmongers' Hall in Barbican on 30th March, recognise design excellence in the specification of architectural ironmongery.

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The University of Manchester's Energy Management and Building Services team have installed 15 Micronics Heat Meters, utilising Micronics UL2000 Clamp-On, Ultrasonic flow meters as part of their ongoing energy management programme.

The university's heating requirement including LTHW and MTHW is supplied from shared Energy Centres and distributed via a steel pipe network, ranging in size from 200 to 300mm. To comply with current legislation and implement the university's best practice energy management program, the campus is monitored and managed by Energy Cost Centres with Display Energy Certificates required for all areas >1000m² and the University has to account for 90% of the energy flow from the Energy Centres.

Implementing the installation of Heat Meters in an existing distribution network of 200 to 300mm pipe-work would be a major task using in-line meters, which led Chris Cunningham, Assistant Mechanical and Energy Engineer and the team to specify Clamp-On, Ultrasonic flow measurement. Chris says “After considering the various options Clamp-On, ultrasonic flow measurement was clearly the most cost-effective and least disruptive solution for measuring flow in our distribution network. In-line meters would have been more expensive and very disruptive requiring system drain-down and cutting pipe work”.

The meters provide ½ hour consumption data, which is supplied for analysis via the University's data-concentrators and campus Ethernet network, providing energy consumption data for 24hr Laboratories, Conference and Teaching blocks.

Micronics were selected as the supplier due to the University's previous experience using the Micronics Portaflo, portable ultrasonic, Clamp-on flow meter. And a combination of Micronics profile in the market, long-term experience with Ultrasonic Clamp-On technology plus competitive pricing and product performance i.e. best value! Chris has been pleased with the performance of the Micronics products and says the pre and post order service support has also been good, however, he feels the requirement for annual calibration and the associated costs is an area, which requires further consideration. The project has been a success and there are future plans to use the same technology on the University's Chilled Water circuits.

The project has demonstrated how Clamp-On – Ultrasonic technology can be successfully implemented as a cost-effective, minimal disruption solution to provide heat energy measurement and the potential for replication on similar campus sites is significant.

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