With the higher temperatures associated with climate change, the traditional approach of using outside air for cooling buildings cannot be relied on. DR JALE HAKER and PROF MICHAEL HOLMES consider how buildings can be adapted.

Not only do the communications protocols BACnet and EIB provide the potential for linking controls and sensors from different manufacturers, but thay can also communicate openly with each other. CHRIS GLASOW has the details.

Customised air conditioning can be an insurance policy worth taking out says ROGER PALAMARCZUK

DAVID PEPPER examines the issues solved by considering direct-gas-fired water heaters.

Air conditioning can be provided more efficiently simply by designing it not to remove so much water vapour from the air — as PHILLIP ORD explains

The ability of heat pumps to extract renewable energy from the ground continuously for relatively little energy input gives them a key role to play in the future of space heating. STEWART PURCHASE explains.

Condensing boilers can be installed into existing heating systems without having to change the radiators. PETER GAMMON explains how.

Lightpipes that bring daylight into the heart of a building are an effective way to use renewable energy. Their efficiency has increased to over 50%, and moves are afoot to combine lightpipes with PV energy to provide lighting day and night, as TERRY PAYNE explains.

The ability of computer science to learn from experience and anticipate events can be put to good use in building-management systems, says JAMES PALMER.

Total power failures in a Wetherspoon pub at Wimbledon have been overcome using a solution put together from Sanyo’s GHP gas-power range of VRF equipment.

Sainsbury’s has reduced its refrigeration energy use by 15%, amounting to over £4 million a year, across 456 of its stores. The savings have been obtained by using Parasense energy-monitoring, optimisation and exception equipment. The savings represent 5% of Sainsbury’s total energy use.

The potential to reduce the electricity consumption of the offices of the Carbon Trust in London by 25% has been provided by the installation of an automatic lighting-control system. Carbon Trust is the company set up by the Government to help the UK meet its climate-change obligations.

EWS residential engineers play a key role at the energy-efficient campus of Cable & Wireless at Bracknell by supplying HVAC service and maintenance expertise.

Major reductions in installation time have been achieved using Oventrop’s Cocon 4 control valves on 60 fan-coil units providing air conditioning for a distribution and office building on Kitescroft Business Park in Fareham. They were installed by Encon Special Projects.

Over 120 wall-hung condensing boilers from Broag’s Quinta range will provide heating and hot water for the biggest development of student accommodation in Europe. The £120 million project will provide 2272 beds in 20 buildings. Facilities include a self-contained laundry and social block.

The use of Emerson Network Power air-conditioning systems protects IT equipment in the new office of NUS Consulting at Redhill.

Built to preserve the works of William Wordsworth and his contemporary English poets, the 3-storey Jerwood Collections Centre incorporates the Kingspan KoolDuct system as part of environmental control to protect fragile documents. Built near Dove Cottage at Grasmere in the Lake District, where Wordsworth lived for nine years during his most creative period, this vbisitor centre attracts 75 000 visitors a year.

McQuay UK has completed two major R134a-based cooling contracts in London worth over £750 000. The project includes seven Easdale air-handling units.

Accurate temperature control for an environmental chamber to train athletes in the challenging conditions they could face elsewhere in the world is provided by a Bitzer cooling system. The facility at Nottingham Trent University was used by several athletes as part of their preparations for the recent Olympic Games in Athens. It can accommodate several athletes training on various ergonometers, while doctors carry out physiological studies. The chamber provides accurate control of temperature, humidity and simulated altitude. Temperatures can range from -20 to +40°C.

Historic Sopwell House Hotel in St Albans has recently refurbished its 42 bedrooms with a Fujitsu VRF air-conditioning system to provide both heating and cooling.

This unusual-looking ventilation system serving the premises of Imagelinx is based on fabric ductwork dyed to blend with the interior of the building. Fabric Air supplied two separate systems, each with an airflow of 3.5 m3/s. The channels have linear slot diffusers to deliver air at low velocity. Each system comprises 710 mm-diameter heads 13 m long, with six 12 m channels 350 mm in diameter feeding from the main duct. The complete system provides year-round cooling, heating and air conditioning to maintain accurate conditions in the space.

Airedale has extended its EasiCool range of compact close-control air-conditioning systems with a multi-configured upflow version designed for greater versatility and efficiency.

Oil-free centrifugal chillers using R134a and with cooling capacities from 210 to 2400 kW have been launched by Powermaster. TECS chillers are available as both air-cooled and water-cooled units.

One of the UK’s best-selling range of steam traps, Spirax Sarco’s FT ball float series, has been extended with the FTGS14 version having a stainless-steel base for longer life. It has an extended 5-year warranty.

Reliable earth-loop measurements in electrical circuits with tripping circuit beakers can be achieved using Martindale’s EZ2100 tester, designed to meet the requirements of the 16th edition of the Wiring Regulations.

The expanded Econoflame range of boilers from Stokvis covers heating requirements from 100 to 600 kW. Features include high efficiency and reliability, low noise output and relatively light weight — combined with high construction standards.

Only three types of electronic damper actuator from Siemens’ OpenAir range are needed to cover every normal HVAC application. They are available in types for small, medium and large positioning forces. All incorporate the Siemens cats-eye indication system to provide instant visual conformation of damper position, even if auxiliary switches are fitted. A self-centring system clamps the shaft on all sides, eliminating the risk of slippage.

A range of six calorifiers from MHS Boilers starts with a 60 litre unit with a high-performance output of 290 l/h and goes up to a 500 litre model with a capacity of 1475 l/h at 50°C.

The R Series of condensing boilers from Atlantic Boilers achieve condensing operation throughout the year, regardless of the temperature of the heating system — and realise even higher efficiencies on maximum mid-winter load.

A weatherproof housing for Bitzer’s Gemini condensing unit enables it to be installed outdoors.

Seeley has improved the operation of its Breezair industrial evaporative cooling systems with the introduction of a wall-mounted controller. It comprises a 24-hour clock and 7-day programmable timer.

To facilitate meeting air-gap requirements of the Water Regulations, Keraflo has introduce a new version of the delayed-action equilibrium Aylesbury flat valve.

Designed for underfloor heating systems, Heatmiser’s PRT-R2 programmable thermostat has separate settings for weekdays and weekends. A 3 m floor sensor is provided to protect the floor surface from overheating.

Flush-mounting kits for its Invicta 63 range of TP&N boards are now offered by Hager for applications where aesthetics or space are particularly important.

Sontay is now distributing high-quality sensors from Swiss manufacturer Huba Control into the UK building-services market.

Airflow’s Icon range of domestic ventilation fans is now offered in three colours — gold, silver and anthracite grey — as well as glacier white.

An approach to delivering heated fresh air is now offered in the UK by Danish manufacturer IKM. The Comfort range of air convectors introduces outside air through a grilled opening in the wall and heats it using hot water from a wet heating system. There is no need for ducts, fans or electrical connections.

Galvanised-steel curtain-bladed fire dampers from Lindab incorporate the LindabSafe seal on their circular spigots. These dampers are operated by a chain-and-bar fusible link rated at 72°C. The dampers are approved to BS 476 Part 20 1987 (four hours).

A lightweight and fully insulated plenum box is over 75% lighter than a metal equivalent, so that it can simply rest on top of a ceiling grille.

Saunier Duval’s Isofast Condense F35e domestic boiler has a SEDBUK A rating and several innovative features. Among them is a programmable wireless room thermostat.

Specifying enclosures for electrical equipment is aided by an interactive CD from Sarel. Features on the CD include thermal management software, CAD drawings, and estimating tool and product details.

A 20-page brochure on its R410A air-conditioning technology is available from Toshiba Air Conditioning.

Mechanical and electrical engineering is included for the first time in Mizra & Nacey Research’s fees survey reports. These surveys provide up-to-date information on fees across a range of construction professions to help providers and procurers of these services maximise performance and profitability.

A 56-page guide to emergency lighting from the Society of Light & Lighting is intended for specifiers, designers, installers and facilities managers.

The news that a major organisation representing building-services contractors is to debate at a high level the issue of sustainability is a crucial step in its delivery (page 5). Recent discussions with the president of the Heating & Ventilating Contractors’ Association, its vice-president and director clearly show that they all understand the need for sustainability — both from the environmental viewpoint and as a business opportunity. However, environmental concern is the driver on this occasion.

Those who have experienced the very real benefits of partnering are strong advocates of this approach to project management. The article by Donald Leeper, president elect of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, bears eloquent testimony (page 8). His regrets are that partnering is not more widely practised and its benefits not fully realised.

Membership of CIBSE has swelled by nearly 2000 since the beginning of 2004 — taking the membership to a record high of over 17 000. There has been growth in both UK and overseas membership, with overseas representing 25% of total membership.

Sustainability has been identified by Mike Taylor, president of the Heating & Ventilating Contractors’ Association, as one of the greatest challenges facing the building-services industry and the construction industry as a whole. It will be the subject of a special presentation and debate at the next meeting of the association’s council.

Features of the Scottish HEVAR exhibition and seminar event in Glasgow on 16 and 17 March include, for the first time in Scotland, playing host to an HVCA forum — a full morning of technical and business sessions chaired by the association’s director.

Marstair has expanded its interest in chilled-water fan-coil units with the acquisition of the Quartz business from the Vent-Axia group.

An order for packaged chillers for Arsenal’s new Emirates Stadium in London has been netted by Airedale International. The company is supplying nine Ultima air-cooled, ‘super-quiet’ screw chillers with a total cooling capacity of 5250 kW. They will provide cooling to the extensive hospitality accommodation, including executive and ‘Club Level’, a tier of premium seating encircling the stadium.

The operation of a single sprinkler head quickly extinguished a fire that is believed to have started in a paint-mixing vat. Without this intervention, it is quite likely that the outcome would have been considerably different.

Denco’s plans to focus on its core air-conditioning business include moving to new purpose-built factory and office facilities in Hereford and disposing of non-core businesses.

The first of four ammonia (R717) chillers supplied for Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport by York is delivered. Rated at 6.6 MW, the chiller was delivered in three sections, winched into the T5 energy centre and then assembled.

Managing director of Dunphy Combustion Sharon Kuligowski and chairman Malcolm Dunphy pulled out all the stops following the recent floods in Carlisle to make, test and deliver three replacement gas burners to Carlisle College — all within a weekend. The floods created havoc in the basement boiler house. Insurance adjusters confirmed that the burners were destroyed and that replacements would have to be fitted — until when the college was without heating and hot water, right in the middle of term

14 000 spectators at the Monza Grand Prix circuit in Italy can enjoy motor racing in air-conditioned comfort following the installation of 190 hydronic cassettes supplied by Carrier — without increasing the installed chiller capacity. They have been installed in the 600-seat press room, hospitality areas and associated glass-enclosed grandstands, which together cover some 4500 m2.