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Humidification specialist, Condair, has appointed Tony Fleming as the Head of Sales Cluster Northern Europe. Tony takes on responsibility for the operations of Condair’s two sales and manufacturing facilities based in the UK and Denmark, as well as the Condair sales offices in Ireland and Sweden.

Tony Fleming comments, “I am delighted to take on this new role of developing Condair’s operations in the key markets of the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia. The Condair Group has made significant investment in these regions as part of its recent global expansion and has seen good growth in all fields of humidification, evaporative cooling and dehumidification.”

Tony’s appointment follows a restructuring of Condair’s regional operations and the association of the UK and Ireland with Scandinavia as “Sales Cluster Northern Europe”. Tony’s previous position at Condair was Technical & Operations Director at Condair plc, for which he was and continues to be based in the Condair office in West Sussex, UK. Alongside his role at Condair, Tony also serves as a Non-Executive Director on the board of BSRIA.

All positions within Condair’s regional operations remain unchanged, including Tim Scott remaining as Sales Director for Condair in 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.

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Low surface temperature radiators – known as LSTs – are increasingly being specified for buildings used by vulnerable people where safe heat is required – for either the young or the elderly. The leading supplier of LST radiators in the UK is Stelrad and the company has recently released two new additions to its already extensive range by adding an LST Standard Deco and LST iPlus Deco design. They both feature its popular Deco horizontal lined fascia to the casings.

LSTs are clearly the safe solution in hospitals, care and nursing homes, doctors and dentists’ surgeries and in universities, colleges, schools and nurseries.

The addition of the Deco fascias is a response to demand from customers to have a ‘designer look’ version of these popular but functional radiators and Stelrad has been happy to respond to this.

LSTs comply with the strict requirements of the NHS Guidance Note for ‘Safe hot water and surface temperature’ and can be installed in commercial and public buildings with total public safety assured. The surface temperature of these LSTs will never exceed 43°C.

For more details, head for www.stelrad.com.

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It’s thought that there are still many millions of old, uncontrolled small circulators operating in heating systems across the UK, and they are using far more energy than they need to.

Especially now that leading pump manufacturer Wilo now offers the new generation of the Wilo-Yonos PICO series small circulators to the UK market. There’s a range of new features that have been added to this popular circulator, targeted primarily at residential homes and properties, for both heating systems and air conditioning equipment.

With this new version, Wilo has succeeded in not only upgrading one of the most established products in the market, but also to an extent, it has been able to reinvent it thanks to new functions built in to it and its ease of use.

Together with these new functions, the compactness of Wilo-Yonos PICO has been dramatically improved to make it even easier to install and make maintenance far easier for the installer.

For more information on the Yonos PICO and the other small pumps in the energy efficient Wilo family of circulators, head for www.wilo.co.uk.

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One hundred years ago John Ashworth Crabtree designed and patented a quick make and quick break switch. This innovation, which safely managed electric arcs that can occur in switching devices, was the beginning of the philosophy that became the culture of electrical safety for Crabtree.

One hundred years later and Crabtree remain at the forefront of electrical safety, this time with digital technology in Arc Fault Detection Devices. Crabtree AFDDs automatically detect and disconnect arc faults and prevent fires occurring in electrical cables and final circuits, providing higher levels of safety for homes and workplaces.

A lot can change in 100 years. Technology develops, new challenges emerge, solutions are found. But despite it all, the earth continues to turn, and those with a passion continue to design and innovate.

For a business that has weathered the storms of time, changed ownership, evolved its working methods and undoubtedly over 100 years, engaged many staff; one thing hasn’t changed, and that is the drive for new product development – a vital ingredient in the success of the brand.

We’re now on the 18th Edition of the Wiring Regulations, but back when the 12th Edition of the wiring regulations was just being published in 1950, Crabtree had been operating for over 30 years. It had launched during that time a number of innovations, including one still used today – British standard 13A twin sockets. Now a staple in homes and businesses across the UK, British standard 13A twin sockets first introduced by Crabtree in 1947.

In 1956, Crabtree introduced its first earth leakage circuit breaker, the voltage operated E.60 range. Earth leakage circuit breakers (or RCDs as we now know them) are standard products these days, but they were new in the 1950s when Crabtree developed this technology for devices that protect people from risks of electric shock. Fast forward 60-odd years to the very latest earth leakage devices and you will find innovative “A Class” Miniature RCBOs that include two-pole switching as standard for even higher levels of personal protection.

Mike Cash, Group Marketing & Channel Manager at Electrium commented: “When Crabtree launched, we had a motto: That which is built soundly endures well. It was inscribed onto the company plaque and rightly so. Crabtree was built soundly enough to provide 100 years of electrical safety for our customers. And with a 100-year solid foundation what else can we do in the years to come?”

For more information go to www.electrium.co.uk/crabtree

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March is set to be a busy month for Saniflo with two important exhibitions. From 5-7 March, catch the experts from Saniflo at Future Build, Excel, London on stand B165. At Future Build, Saniflo will also deliver a talk in the ‘Let’s Talk Specification’ seminar programme. From 11-15 March 2018, visitors to ISH in Frankfurt, Germany, will find Saniflo in Hall 9.0 on stand E62 with the complete range of macerators, pumps & lifting stations; and, in Hall 3.0 on stand C93 with the Kinedo range of shower solutions and some related products, including the new Sanifloor+.

Saniflo – inventors of the macerator with more than 60 years’ experience and the number one in the UK macerator market – is no stranger to exhibitions and consistently exhibit at a variety of industry events across the UK and Europe.

Saniflo UK Head of Marketing and Product Development, Ann Boardman, says: “We are looking forward to welcoming visitors to Future Build and ISH where they will find an extensive range of Saniflo products on display.

“Future Build is a new exhibition for us and an ideal opportunity to connect with our UK customers. This year we are focusing on displaying our range of Kinedo shower cubicles, enclosures and trays, and we will also deliver a talk in the ‘Let’s Talk Specification’ seminar programme.

“ISH is always a valuable event for us, hence why we choose to have a strong presence there. It allows us to have many products on show at one time to reach a high volume of people in a short period of time. It’s important to demonstrate how we innovate to remain ahead of market demand. Saniflo literally has an easy solution for every situation and ISH offers a great opportunity to show that. People can experience for themselves our hassle-free, plug and play range designed to be the best on the market featuring ease of installation and maintenance with new and improved styling and vibration reduction.”

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Interconnection specialist WAGO introduces push-button and lever-actuated variants to its TOPJOB S® terminal block family. Integrators can now choose between push-button, lever and push-in connection methods for additional flexibility on DIN rail installations.

The lever-actuated variant, a world first from WAGO, is equipped with a lever on the field side, and a push-button or operating tool-actuated connection on the factory side. The clamping point on the field side is opened and closed by hand using the lever, allowing installers to tell at a glance which wires in an assembly are terminated. The lever can also be left open, freeing both hands to connect difficult-to-bend conductors with large cross sections.

Versions are available for nominal cross-sections of 2.5 mm², 6 mm² and 16 mm², and in 2- or 3-conductor configurations.

The clamping point of the push-button mechanism is opened with any screwdriver or similar operating tool. Feed-through terminal blocks with push-buttons are available for wire with a cross-section between 0.14 to 25 mm². The push-button terminal block is available in 2-, 3- or 4-conductor variants, which allow push-in connection of solid, seven strand and ferruled conductors.

Both the push button and lever actuators are orange in colour, making them clearly visible for easy identification.

All TOPJOB S rail mounted terminal blocks feature Push-In CAGE CLAMP® spring pressure connection, which is 50 percent quicker to wire compared to screws, and immune to loosening over time. The terminal blocks are also resistant to vibration and overcurrent, and free from maintenance, eliminating the need to periodically check and tighten loose connections while improving overall reliability.

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Leading humidification specialist, Condair, has extended its range of electric steam humidifiers to include new IP55 rated models suitable for outdoor installation. The robust enclosures on the Condair RS resistive steam and Condair EL electrode boiler steam humidifiers enable the units to be located on rooftops and exposed to the elements.

Rather than simply installing the standard humidifiers inside a protective housing on a rooftop, the new outdoor humidifiers from Condair have purpose-built IP55-rated casings. This means they take up much less room on a rooftop and are easier to install. Condair’s new outdoor humidifiers are the most compact in the industry with the smallest footprint and incorporate lifting handles to make on-site transportation easier.

The enclosures incorporate a thermostat-controlled heater and fan unit to maintain the internal temperature at an optimum level with outside ambient conditions ranging from -20° to 40°C. An anti-freeze valve will ensure the humidifier completely drains should the unit experience temperatures of less than 6°C during periods of in-operation.

The new Condair outdoor humidifiers can be wall-mounted, allowing them to be attached to an AHU, or free-standing. Lockable doors are removable for easy access and optional internal lighting improves visibility for servicing and maintenance.

Alongside these new enhanced “outdoor” features, the Condair RS and Condair EL steam humidifiers inside the robust outer casing still offer all the innovative features that make these resistive and electrode humidifiers market-leaders. The latest touch-screen control panel gives intuitive control over operation and reporting, and a USB connection allows software to be updated and historic operational information downloaded into Excel.

The Condair RS resistive steam humidifier has an innovative scale-management system that sees limescale detach from the heating elements and fall into a scale-collector tank. This can be occasionally emptied to remove scale from the system without the need for major maintenance downtime. The Condair EL electrode boiler humidifier has advanced water quality management that precisely maintains the mineral content of the boiling cylinder. This avoids the need for excessive flushing of hot water to drain and minimises limescale formation.

The Condair Group is the world’s leading specialist in humidification and evaporative cooling, with energy efficient, hygienic and innovative technologies for commercial, industrial and heritage applications. Condair is represented in the UK by Condair plc, 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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Armourcoat’s new Acoustic Plaster System has been granted the Quiet Mark Award – the international mark of approval from the Noise Abatement Society Charitable Foundation.

Quiet Mark is the international award programme and system of support for brands and consumers. Through its pioneering acoustic tests, the organisation awards its distinctive Purple Q Mark to products and services that show excellence in low-noise and high-performance.

Designed to optimize the acoustics of interior spaces, the Armourcoat Acoustic plaster system offers a clean and smooth mineral surface that can be applied seamlessly over large expanses to both flat and curved surfaces. Comprising of a special mineral wool composite panel that is bonded onto the substrate and finished with a seamless layer, the system presents an elegant marble-based plaster finish while allowing sound energy to pass through the surface.

The Armourcoat system includes a high percentage of pre and post-consumer recycled material, zero VOCs, is class ‘0’ fire-rated, and achieves a class ‘A’ Noise Reduction Coefficient rating for the 50mm system.

Poppy Szkiler, Founder and Managing Director, Quiet Mark, comments: “We welcome Armourcoat to the growing family of global organisations that are prioritising investment in acoustic research to create quieter solutions, as recognised by the Quiet Mark award. Armourcoat’s innovative acoustic plaster system performs to the highest building standards and incorporates special wool composite. This delivers excellent noise reduction properties and minimises the unnecessary intrusion of unwanted sound into our buildings, allowing the creation of a peaceful and supportive aural environment in our homes and places of work.”

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Saniflo is pleased to announce the appointment of Fahim Karim as Specification Sales Manager for the South. This new role will focus predominantly on the Kinedo range of cubicles, enclosure and trays.

Having graduated from Brunel University in Uxbridge with Masters in Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research, Fahim was subsequently attracted to a career in sales and has since spent over 7 years in Specifications.

With experience in selling furniture, bespoke flooring and windows for new build and refurbishment projects he has excellent experience in dealing with architects, designers, developers, contractors and house builders; precisely the professional contacts required in this newly created role.
Outside work Fahim is an avid traveller and has explored the Middle East, Eastern Europe and America in the last few years. He is also a football and basketball fan.

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Consumer units are often much more about what goes into them than what is already built in. This product information feature from Crabtree, one of Electrium’s leading brands in circuit protection, is a guide to choosing the right consumer unit and what to put in it.

When they say ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’, they may not be talking about consumer units… but the analogy certainly fits!

A correctly selected and installed consumer unit plays a vital role in the safe use of electricity in the home. Its devices protect the installation and more importantly, the users, from faults and risks such as fire, and electrical shock.

Starbreaker consumer units have been designed to be easier, safer and faster to install, whether it’s a first-time installation, a re-fit or an upgrade, the range has been designed to be both backwards compatible as well as future-proofed.

Nothing demonstrates this better than the latest development in the circuit protection market.

New Regulations in the 18th Edition

With the release of the 18th Edition of the wiring regulations, which was published on 1st July 2018, a new type of circuit protection device was included under regulation 421.1.7 regarding AFDDs which stands for Arc Fault Detection Device. Starbreaker consumer units are the only consumer units that can accept AFDDs without the need for special busbars or assemblies, or on site adjustments.

Furthermore, because the busbar hasn’t changed since its launch AFDDs can be instantly fitted to any Starbreaker consumer unit, regardless of its age.

Starbreaker consumer units use an innovative instant self connection system by employing a unique busbar system that devices simply plug into for instant push fit connections that give guaranteed factory quality connections.

This makes the installation of devices easier, safer and faster. AFDDs can be simply plugged into the fully insulated plug in busbar system for an easy installation that meet 18th Edition standards for additional protection against electrically ignited fires.

30mA RCD Protection Extended

Today’s typical domestic installation will have 30mA RCD protection on every circuit, especially as another new regulation in the 18th Edition (regulation 411.3.4) has extended the use of 30mA RCDs to include all lighting circuits in dwellings.

All of which means that each circuit in a consumer unit needs to have several types of protection against a variety of potential faults.

By combining Crabtree AFDDs (Arc Fault Detection Devices) with the new Miniature RCBO (Residual current Circuit Breaker with Overcurrent protection) Crabtree have created a single device, capable of providing protection against all the fault conditions as necessary.

This device includes MCB technology, RCD technology and AFDD technology, providing protection against overcurrent, short circuit, earth leakage and arc fault conditions, all in one DIN mounted plug in 2 pole device that also switches the neutral for even higher levels of safety. They also help designers and installers comply with the 18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations.

It’s important that installers understand that AFDDs detect the types of arc faults that cannot be detected by RCDs or MCBs. These new devices use digital technology to provide additional protection against fires caused by arcs in AC 230V final circuits.

The 30% “Rule”

To help to avoid unwanted tripping of RCDs from PE currents (non fault leakage) the total PE current must be less than 30% of the RCD rating i.e. 30% of 30mA – see regulation 531.3.2.
Designers and installers will have to take account of PE currents when dividing the installation into the necessary number of circuits. Alternatively installers could simply use an individual RCBO on each circuit.

Only Use Manufacturer Approved Parts

Another new regulation, 536.4.203, refers to devices and components that are used in low voltage assemblies, such as consumer units, must only be those that have been declared suitable for that purpose by the manufacturer of the assembly.

Or put another way. Only use manufacturer approved parts, don’t mix brands of devices, or control items. Using unapproved parts will invalidate manufacturer guarantees and may result in an unsafe installation.

Meter Tails

The 18th Edition also includes regulation 522.8.5 which requires every cable to be installed in a way that avoids any mechanical strain and makes sure that there is no strain on the conductors and connections.

Consumer unit meter tails are included in this requirement. This is in addition to any other requirements to provide protection to tails at the point of entry into metal consumer unit enclosures etc.

Health and Safety

Regulation 462.1.201 requires a means of isolation (a main linked switch or circuit breaker) at the origin of every installation and in situations where this will be operated by ordinary persons, e.g. on a consumer unit in a domestic household, the main switch must interrupt both live conductors (L and N) of a single phase supply.

Starbreaker Mini RCBOs and AFDDs  provide this same safety protocol to individual circuits too because they include switched neutral as standard.

Periodic Inspections

The 18th Edition recommends periodic testing and inspection (regulation 135.1).
Testing can be a time consuming and costly activity, but Starbreaker Miniature RCBOs allow IR testing to be carried out without disconnecting and reconnecting circuit cables because they include two pole isolation as standard. Just switch off and test. Easier, safer, faster.

So, whether it’s a brand new installation, an addition or upgrade, Crabtrees’ Starbreaker consumer units and devices (Miniature RCBOs and AFDDs) can be simply plugged into the fully insulated plug self-connecting busbar system.

Providing an easy installation that now includes additional protection against electrically ignited fires.

Get more on the 18th Edition

Be clued up on the 18th Edition and the changes that are coming through by visiting our 18th Edition Area.

We’ll be talking more about AFDDs, Surge Protection, RCD and more.

For more information go to www.electrium.co.uk/18th-edition

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