Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has reduced the cost of providing heating and hot water by 15% by converting from shell-and-tube calorifiers to EasiHeat systems from Spirax Sarco. In addition, up to three weeks’ of maintenance work has been saved each year as the old systems had to be stripped down for regular insurance inspections.

The British Pump Manufacturers’ Associations’ directory and buyers’ guide’ for 2011/12 provides key information about members’ products and services and an update on current directives affecting the pump industry. A new-products section has been added to provide an update to new innovations.

Grundfos offers a pump-refurbishment service that is designed to ensure that the energy and cost savings achieve their full potential. It is estimated that 70 to 80% of commercial buildings that will exist in 2020 are already built, emphasising the importance of refurbishment to achieve energy savings. In some cases, a pump refurbishment can reduce its energy consumption by up to 80%.

Kamco’s ScaleBreaker FX is a vigorous chemical descaling agent that dissolves limescale, rust and corrosion deposits. It can be used to remove scaled from boilers, air-conditioning plant and heat exchangers. The product is circulated through the equipment to be descaled. It reacts immediately, taking deposits into solution. The evolution of carbon dioxide provides visual monitoring of the descaling process.

Des Dolan answers the most frequently asked questions regarding plastic pipework systems

How does a modern stainless steel pipework system when installed and commissioned compare on price against more traditional BS1387 carbon-steel pipework?

Is the proportional balancing of hydronic systems outdated? That’s a question we asked Andy Lucas.

The Grundfos ‘Thinking buildings universe’ web site offers building-services professionals a centralised information point that is a one-stop shop for the applications of pumps for commercial building services. The site has been designed to work as an aide during the planning and specification stages, as well as when the selections have been made and systems are operational. At all points during the development of the new system, potential users provided input on what they expected, needed and wanted from such an information hub.

Are you one of the crowd that regards commissioning as an expensive luxury? Let Graeme Waugh try to convert you.

With EU legislation on the efficiency of electric motors starting to come into effect, and continuing to do so for the next six years, we look at the implications for pumps

Durapipe’s Friatherm plastic pipework system has been specified for a boiler refurbishment at Hurst Community College in Hampshire. The main boiler house was being refurbished, and a replacement was need for the existing copper pipework that had galvanised and stopped performing to the required standards.

Armstrong has launched a series of pre-designed packaged pump solutions that offer specifiers low first installed cost, reduced footprint and the opportunity for outstanding energy efficiency. Pumps, pipework, controls and motive power are fully integrated, and the packages are made off site for fast and efficient installation.

Sontay has introduced a new series of water- and heat-metering products to help building-services specifiers and contractors achieve precise and affordable flow and energy metering. The range includes flow sensors, ultra-sonic flow sensors, water meters, compact heat meters and heat-meter integrators. These devices conform to the requirements of the Measuring Instrument Directive and EN 1434, where applicable.

Smedegaard’s SimFlex A range of glandless circulators provide all the benefits of variable-speed control and also have permanent-magnet technology to make the motors even more efficient. These pumps are designed to run at a slower speed than many similar pumps on the market, reducing noise levels and maintenance.

Des Dolan discusses how plastics are now becoming more accepted by the building-services industry for piped services.

The Grundfos web portal for commercial buildings (URL below) is designed to help simplify pump selection by making available a one-stop shop for commercial build­ing-services professionals. Its scope includes the following.

Oxygen and nitrogen in waterborne systems can be bad news and can ultimately lead to system failure. Jamie Bomber has the solution

Microflex pre-insulated and flexible piping from Watts Industries is part of a renewable-energy system circulating hot water from a central plant room to eight distribution points in the £35 million Gainsborough Education Village in Lincolnshire.

Pump specialist Wilo UK has extended its online information services with a new optimised Wilo-ProductFinder, which can be accessed at the web address below. It is effectively an online catalogue that enables quick and simple access to all product information. Its design is based on customer feedback to ensure that what has been provided is what the marketplace needs.

Variable-slow systems can save serious amounts of energy. Peter Rees review how to exploit their benefits.

Aquaflow Access valves are available with a variety of regulators with different maximum flow rates to suit the needs of specific outlets — reducing the amount of hot water going to waste to cut fuel use and metered water costs. These regulators can also react to changes of pressure in a system so the same flow rate is maintained, reg­ardless of other water use in the system or its proximity to the source of supply. These valves also include a ballstop valve for servicing of outlets. A side service port provides access to the regulator without breaking the pipework or draining the system.

Jean Christophe Carette shares the secrets of successful hydronic balancing.

The use of metal piping for water, waste and drainage applications has declined in recent years as more specifiers and contractors begin to appreciate the many benefits of modern plastic systems. Adam Turk looks at some of the reasons behind this and makes a surprising discovery.

Grundfos has added two new models to its IMpress range of pressurisation sets. These sets have intelligent micro-processor control.

The Terrier push-fit range of thermostatic radiator valves from Pegler can accept several different types of pipe, enabling installers to reduce the number of valves they need to consider. Possibilities include plain or chrome-plates copper tube to BS EN 1057 or PB and PEX plastic pipe to BS 7291 Parts 2 and 3. A simple tool enables pipes to be disconnected.

The Friaphon sound-attenuated drainage systems from Durapipe has been specified for a private opera house in the back garden of Martin Graham, who owns Longborough Festival Opera.

Is proportional balancing still the best approach to commissioning variable volume systems? Martin Lowe, technical manager at Marflow Hydronics, suggests a faster and more practical method.

As part of a major regeneration of the Rathbone Hospital site in Old Swan, Liverpool, A range of Oventrop valves have been installed, including Aquastrom T Plus multi-function domestic-hot water valves to avoid the risk of legionella bacteria growing.

The flexibility and ease of installation of Victaulic’s grooved joint system for pipes is being used to good effect in the Beijing Olympic National Stadium in China.

Pumps last many years, and the rate of technological change is also measured in years. Glynn Williams discusses developments that have a major impact on the performance and energy efficiency of pumps.

As part of the programme of Hounslow Home to achieve the Government’s ‘decent homes’ standard for the London Borough of Hounslow’s 16 500 housing stock, Grundfos variable-speed pumps using differential-pressure control have been installed as part of two plantroom refurbishments.

Hepworth Building Products has extended its Hep2O range with the addition of a universal spigot elbow.

Proportional balancing and variable flow do not go together, but it is taking time for a more effective approach to setting up waterborne systems to be widely adopted.

The Purus connector for connecting and sealing pipes of different diameters is now available in the UK.

BSS Industrial offers its Boss cPVC piping system as an alternative to copper and steel. Installation is said to be simple, with no need for expensive tools.

Warrens has launch an own-brand range of products called Warrior. Some of the first products to be offered include gate, globe, check and ball valves.

Intaeco is a newly established company set up to supply plumbing and heating products with a sustainable-energy focus. Its product range is said to be of particular interest to the renewable-energy market and those with an interest in sustainable building practices.Intaeco is a sister company of Intatec, which specialises in anti-scale taps, showers and valves.

There are many benefits in taking the assembly of piped services off site, as Cal Bailey explains.