Category Archives: Energy
Shouting from the tree tops: The benefits of tree pits
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The specification of trees within an urban area can provide many benefits, including improving inhabitants’ mental and physical wellbeing, to filtering urban pollutants and aiding the offset of carbon emissions.
However, the planting of trees within landscaped or paved exterior public spaces can also present a range of potential complications that must be considered at the very initial design stages. Here Howe Green, explores the wide ranging benefits tree pits and tree grilles offer and the key elements specifiers should consider. Whilst the
planting of trees in urban location can contribute to the reduction of the city or town’s carbon footprint, it is essential any trees or saplings are planted within the provision of a healthy and secure environment.
This will ensure the successful nurture and facilitation of the trees’ long term growth, with adequate root management, access to water and the condition of the soil all essential elements that must be considered.
External tree pits and tree grilles present a popular choice as they can successfully alleviate the potentially negative effects an urban environment can have on a living organism, whilst simultaneously providing inconspicuous access to electrics, valves, pumps and water features.
Tree pits and tree grilles also prevent any potential damage to the urban environment as the tree roots are securely managed within the tree root ball. This eliminates the opportunity for the roots to spread up and across the landscape, where they could cause damage to the flooring and present a dangerous trip hazard.
When specifying tree pit covers for upcoming landscaping projects, professionals should consider solutions manufactured of stainless steel as they provide long term resistance to rust and corrosion. The addition of a top edge seal also prevents dirt, grout or grinding waste ingress for increased longevity and resilience. This style of tree pit also aims to eliminate the requirement for slither cuts of stone, which often leads to recurrent and often costly brea
kages.
However, the structural integrity and design of a stainless steel tree pit shouldn’t hinder safe access to the tree root ball. Here, specifiers should consider solutions that utilise lifting keys, facilitating easy ongoing maintenance of the tree root ball without any additional budget, time or resources.
As each urban landscaping project is different from the next, so too must be the approach to the tree pits or tree grilles installed. Custom made specifications will best meet the specific requirements of each individual project, rather than a standard ‘off the shelf’ offering. A bespoke offering will also ensure the type of stone used and the modules or pattern formations featured within the hard landscaping are seamlessly integrated into the covers, providing the highest quality finish available.
The orientation of the tree pits, whether single, multiple or in a duct formation, should be adapted to meet the bespoke requirements of the project, providing a desired visual style without impacting on the long term growth and success of the trees.
Tree grilles also offer the opportunity for the installation of electrical elements such as up lighters, creating an enhanced visual effect. If using tree grilles, stone thickness must also be considered, whilst load bearing for both grilles and pits must be addressed at the
specification stage. For example, will the solutions be installed in a high footfall pedestrian area, or will there be vehicles regularly travelling through? This is essential to ensuring the solution is fit for purpose throughout the duration of its lifetime.
By working closely with a manufacturer from the very initial specification stages, landscaping professionals can not only achieve the successful implementation of trees into hard landscaped areas, but ensure their long term growth and maintenance whilst achieving the desired visual aesthetic.
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New brand identity for PAM’s Soil and Drain activity
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In May 2021, all customers of Saint-Gobain PAM’s building business received a letter advising that a new company dedicated to the design, manufacture and marketing of cast iron pipes for wastewater and rainwater drainage was created, under the name Saint-Gobain PAM Bâtiment.
The aim was to provide better customer service and clear identification of the business, alongside Saint-Gobain PAM Canalisation, which is dedicated to the drinking water supply, sewerage, irrigation and roadworks markets.
The creation of this independent company also makes sense in terms of its complementarity with the companies of the Saint-Gobain Group in the construction markets.
It enables the company to enhance the value of a historic profession that utilises a noble material that is made from 99% recycled content and can be 100% recycled: cast iron.
With an international stature and its European facilities (industrial sites in Bayard-sur-Marne in France and Telford in the UK, as well as a logistic platform in Köln in Germany), it has grown significantly
in 2021:
– Now has a turnover of €107M
– Activity in more than 50 countries, mainly through prestigious projects in the most demanding office buildings, high-end hotels, hospitals, etc.
To better express this trajectory, a new global brand was needed: PAM Building is officially launched at the beginning of March 2022.
Dedicated to the vast field of construction, PAM Building aims to
unite its 370 employees and all its stakeholders around a strong
motto: safe and sustainable by nature. This motto reflects the reality of its industry: to build safe buildings for its occupants and owners, while creating a long-term positive impact on the environment.
The formalisation of PAM Building is accompanied by a new environmental roadmap that aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 80% by 2030 since the 2017 baseline. This will make cast iron drainage the solution for low impact buildings with its properties make an ideal part of a circular economy, and we will soon be more carbon-efficient, with the introduction of innovations in 2022 and beyond.
Accompanied by a modernised graphic redesign, the company’s image has been radically revitalised. It will of course be applied to an increased digital presence in all countries which will be implemented throughout our business over the coming weeks.
Proud of its centuries of history, PAM Building now has the face it deserves to embody its future innovations, in line with the ambition of sustainable construction. The face of a brand with a future, sure of its commitments and our importance to help make the world a better home.
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NEW SOUTH EAST AREA SALES MANAGER AT CONDAIR
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Darren comments, “I am very happy to have taken on the area sales manager position, across both humidifiers and dehumidifiers, and am now responsible for much of the south east of England, from Kent to Suffolk, including East London. I’m looking forward to getting to know our customers in these regions, and helping them improve their productivity and working environments through enhanced humidity control. It will also be great to be back in front of clients, providing CPD training, either in-house or online.”
David Marshall-George, UK Sales Director at Condair, comments, “It’s great to have Darren join our UK sales team. He is very experienced in all aspects of humidification, and brings with him superb application knowledge from his service-related sales work at Condair.”
Condair Ltd has comprehensive sales coverage across the country with seven sales managers covering all of the UK and Ireland.
The Condair Group is the world’s leading specialist in humidity control and evaporative cooling, with energy efficient, hygienic and innovative technologies for commercial, industrial and heritage applications. Condair is represented in the UK by Condair Ltd, which offers system design, manufacture, supply, installation, commissioning, maintenance and spares. You can find out more by visiting the company’s website at www.condair.co.uk.
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CONDAIR HELPS HARRIER’S PRINT RUN SMOOTHLY
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Harrier Group, a leading UK digital printing firm, has invested in four Condair RS restive steam humidifiers to maintain the perfect production environment in its newly-designed, high-tech print room.
The Condair RS humidifiers were specified by the contractor, Brothwell Irvine, who were commissioned to develop a new state-of-the-art inkjet print room at Harrier’s Newton Abbot site in Devon. Accurate humidity control maintains the integrity of the paper being used. If the atmosphere is too dry, paper can develop tight edges and curl at the corners, whilst too much moisture in the air can cause paper to become wavy as it absorbs water. Any dimensional change can result in print issues, as the machines run at such high speed. This is especially critical as the inkjet printer at Harrier’s Newton Abbot site is running at high volumes 24-hours a day.
Harrier’s Health, Safety and Facilities Manager, Jeremy Rawley, says the units installed in the new room are maintaining the vital humidity levels required of between 40% and 60%. He also points out that speed of delivery and local after-sales service were key factors in choosing Condair, which he describes as a world leader in that type of equipment.
He says: “We already knew the company, as we have a couple of their units in other print rooms. The quality of their equipment is right up there. Paper is susceptible to changes in environmental conditions so humidity is really important. Their service is second to none as well. We work to tough deadlines and one of the key things for us is that Condair could supply the equipment quickly within the required timescale. Having a local service engineer on call to maintain them in tip-top condition is important for us too.”
Paper is a hygroscopic material that adapts to reach a condition of equilibrium with the humidity conditions of the surrounding environment. Any changes in the paper‘s internal moisture content will cause dimensional variations and a loss of flatness. The Condair RS humidifiers monitor the room’s humidity level and provide steam directly to the atmosphere whenever needed. Each humidifier installed at Harrier is capable of delivering up to 8kg/h of steam from its integrated fan unit. Having multiple units installed in the large print room ensures very accurate humidity control, consistently across the complete area.
Harrier has printed photos from its Newton Abbot site for over 30 years and evolved from the UK’s biggest direct-to-consumer photo processing brand, Truprint. The company now prints photos for many of the UK’s most recognised high street stores and app-based printing services, delivering over ¾ billion photos per year.
Dave Marshall-George, Sales Director at Condair, adds: “Humidity must be controlled in the printing industry for the best quality results. The Condair RS is a popular choice for digital print rooms, as it offers very accurate humidity control and has an innovative scale management system. When scale forms on the heating elements, as it will do in any steam humidifier, it breaks off and falls into a scale collector tank located at the bottom of the unit. This tank can be easily emptied, enabling the scale to be removed from the system, without the need for professional servicing.”
The Condair Group is the world’s leading specialist in humidification, dehumidification and evaporative cooling, with technologies for commercial, industrial and heritage applications. The company offers system design, manufacture, supply, installation, commissioning, maintenance and spares. You can find out more by visiting the company’s website at www.condair.co.uk.
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GALLERY OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD
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The new, permanent, exhibition space is a result of the renovation and joining together of two beautiful Victorian galleries located in the ‘White Wing’ area of the Museum. The galleries had been closed for several years as they were in need of renovation.
The Albukhary Foundation Gallery of the Islamic World displays magnificent works of art alongside everyday objects. The aim is to enable the visitor to explore the cultural significance, breadth and impact of the Islamic world in a creative and exciting way. Audio-visuals and specialist lighting bring the culture of the Islamic world to life.
The roof of the White Wing was originally laid in lead but was later replaced with copper in the 1960s. As part of the refurbishment of the two galleries, it was decided to return the roof to its original lead design. The roof timbers and boarding were overhauled, and forty-five tonnes of new lead added.
Ladder access was required to the roof void area to allow for routine maintenance activities. Bilco UK’s SS-50TB Ladder Access Roof Hatches were specified by the architects, HoK. The installation was managed by the Principle Contractor, Coniston Limited, who have a reputation for delivering heritage and conservation projects and a long history of working with the British Museum.
The SS-50TB Roof Hatches were made to order as they were required in a larger non-standard size, 1215mm x 915mm, than the standard stock sizes. The hatches were also manufactured with a PPC finish to blend in with the new roof.
The SS-50TB is engineered with compression spring operators to provide smooth, easy, one-hand operation, regardless of the size of the hatch. An automatic hold-open arm locks the cover in the open position to ensure safe egress and a grip handle allows for easy, one-hand release and closing. This one-hand operation of the SS-50TB, to a fully open or closed position, enables the ladder user to maintain three points of contact at all times.
The SS-50TB is the perfect solution for projects where regular roof access is required and safety is paramount. The roof hatch meets all the requirements of the Manual Handling Operating Regulations (MHOR) 1992.
The Ladder Access Roof Hatches are fitted with a closed-cell EPDM sponge gasket, as standard, to help ensure weather tightness, energy efficiency and to meet Building Regulation Air Leakage targets. The specially designed gasket provides a better seal of the cover to the curb. This ensures the hatches have a Class 1 rating under BS EN 12207:200 and meet the requirements of Part L of the Building Regulations.
A thermally broken cover and frame design provide superior thermal performance. The design of hinges and other features ensures that the hatches are resistant to the effects of ageing and weather in exposed locations – a necessity for a large roof area in Central London!
If you would like to find out more about safe and easy access to roof areas for your next project please call Bilco UK on 01284 701696 or email bilcouk@bilco.com
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SFA Group supports World Water Day
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To commemorate World Water Day on 22 March, Saniflo UK’s parent company, SFA with headquarters in France, is supporting the supply of clean drinking water to families in The Philippines.
Thanks to the support from SFA Group, two families from Laguna now have clean drinking water and electricity for the first time. The project is part of SFA Group recent AquaHome developments in The Philippines.
The lucky recipients are Mr. Jose Estojero & Mrs. Mallen Uson and Mr. Aurelio o. Dino and Mrs. Edna T. Dino who live in Siteo Happy Valley on the Laguna AquaHome development.
Saniflo UK Head of Marketing and Product Management, Ann Boardman, says: “We take clean drinking water and electricity for granted, but for some people it’s an unknown luxury. Now, thanks to the support of the SFA Group, two families’ lives just became easier and more comfortable.”
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Quiet fans from Vortice
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She explains that there are also other new products in development where quiet running noise is part of the design brief. The worst case scenario would be where the householder or commercial premises turns off a ventilation fan because it is too noisy, causing poor indoor air quality as a result.
Marketing Manager Jennifer Quinn said: “Noise itself is considered a pollutant and having noisy fans in occupied areas can lead to increased stress and disturbed concentration levels. VORTICE is passionate about aiding people’s health and wellbeing and decreasing noise is a great way to create a harmonious environment.”
Visit the Vortice website to find out more about its range of quiet fans www.vortice.ltd.uk
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Below Ground Drainage – it’s all about added value!
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ESi provides heating controls for tallest city centre residential development in Second City
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The new leader of the pack in the heating controls sector here in the UK – ESi – has seen its controls specified for a landmark development in the centre of Birmingham.
When City councillors in Birmingham gave permission to developer Moda Living and Glenn Howells Architects to execute their joint vision of a 132-metre skyscraper, which would become the tallest residential building in the city they continued a trend that has seen Birmingham take the lead in developing living spaces close to the city centre. The 42-storey 2one2 Broad Street features a slim rectangular profile thrusting out of a three-storey podium set to house 3,251 square metres of retail space. It’s built on the site of the old Tramps Night Club, close to Brindley Place.
The 481-unit apartment tower, with apartments for rental only, will include a 200-metre outdoor running track on the podium roof, the first of its kind for a residential building in the United Kingdom. Nearly 3,000 square metres of communal and amenity space will be provided within the skyscraper, including a residents’ lounge, dining club area, and wellness zone. The building’s elevators will be tech-savvy, with smart elevators controlled by an app on residents’ phones.
An exterior of floor-to-ceiling windows is interlaced with an enveloping bronze veil that emphasizes the verticality of the project. Inside, units will be split into 30 studios, 163 one-bedrooms, 260 two-bedrooms and 28 three-bedroom layouts. Main contractor for the scheme is John Sisk & Son of Birmingham and M&E Consultant responsible for installation of the heating controls is Imtech Engineering Services.
481 of ESi’s ESRTP4 wired programmable room thermostats adorn the walls of these exciting new apartments. The ESRTP4 is an easy to install-and-use 7 day, 5/2 or 24hr programmable room thermostat which offers up to six time and temperature changes each day with different programmes for weekdays and weekends. The ESRTP4 has all the energy savings features such as TPI, Delayed Start and Optimum Stop and the all-important Landlord Service Interval.
Battery powered for ease of installation, the ESRTP4 has a large, easy-to-read blue backlit LCD display. It is easy to programme and operate because of the built-in programme options that the user can easily change to suit individual heating requirements. It incorporates a real time clock and calendar function which automatically changes between BST/GMT time changes. Time and date are factory-set making time setting or adjustment unnecessary. These room thermostats are OpenTherm compatible.
Daniel Jenkins is ESi’s National Specification Manager: “We’re delighted that our controls have been specified for this prestigious project – the tallest residential building in Birmingham. As ESi Controls further expands into the specification market, we’ve opened our extensive range of competitively priced, reliable and simple heating controls to new projects and clients. Our excellent controls, paired with our dedicated specification team ensure that ESi Controls is the ideal company to provide a comprehensive solution to any residential heating control requirement. We are always eager to discuss our controls and prove our suitability to any residential development.”
ESi became a part of the Swedish Addtech Group earlier in the year and has seen major growth in the business over the past twelve months with the tripling of the size of its head office and warehouse in Buckingham, an increase in the size of its sales force and the addition of major new business wins such as this one. You can find out more about ESi and its extensive product range by heading for www.esicontrols.co.uk.
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CAST IRON CERTAINTY FROM STELRAD…
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The latest addition to the Stelrad Radiator Group portfolio is the new Cast Iron Column range. Traditionally Stelrad has supplied steel radiators and continues to do so with more than two and a half million radiators manufactured each year. But in the past few years, cast iron column radiators – which were first around in Victorian times – have come into vogue again and as always, the company aims to meet the demands of its customers at every level, so it has added a selection of Cast Iron Column radiators to its ever-widening range.
The new Stelrad Radiator Group Cast Iron Column radiator is available now and adds undoubted charisma to any modern or period home with its distinctive, ageless look and its Natural Cast finish. With the added options of either Antique Brass or Brushed Nickel TRVs to provide the ultimate in modern heating control. The classic, clean lines suggest a genuine piece from yesteryear whilst offering the very best in quality and craftsmanship to enhance the very latest in heating technology as it slips effortlessly into the superior elegance of today’s most fashionable of décor.
These radiators are floor standing with in-built feet for extra stability as they are significantly heavier than their steel counterparts. They are available in two heights and a wide variety of widths – a total of twenty sizes available. And as you would expect, they come with a cast iron ten-year warranty.
“We’re pleased to be able to respond to customer demand and
provide this excellent new range of cast iron radiators,” says Stelrad’s Head of Marketing, Chris Harvey. “The arrival of this new range confirms our position as a one stop shop for all things radiators and we’re delighted with the early response to the new range we’ve received from installers and merchants up and down the UK.”
To find out more about Stelrad’s new Cast Iron Column radiators go to www.stelrad.com. For more information call 0800 876 6813 or email marketing@stelrad.com. Alternatively, you can also see regular updates from Stelrad on Twitter @Stelrad and Facebook @StelradRadiators.
