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Contents » HVAC
  • Fan coils on an economy drive
    Fan coil units are the long-established, well-liked and successful terminal air conditioning system - and there are several good reasons why, says Barry Trewhitt, Product Manager at Trox UK
    Published:  20 March, 2008

    Fan coils have been the most popular terminal air system for more than four decades and, although alternative technologies such as chilled beams are placing them under increasing competitive pressure, there is no reason why they should not retain their pole position.

  • Skills shortage - an industry issue
    Published:  30 January, 2008

    Tony Gittings of LG Air Conditioning looks to the future of the air conditioning industry and predicts a major increase in the need for training provision to keep pace with product developments and technological changes.

  • MHS deliver energy savings
    Published:  30 January, 2008

    An exclusive private golf and country club on the banks of the River Tamar in Cornwall has saved 16% of its energy costs last year, thanks to the installation of two Ultramax 318 gas-fired condensing, high efficiency boilers from MHS.

  • Old meets new
    Published:  30 January, 2008

    After a decade of renovation and a Ł35million budget, Birmingham Town Hall in Victoria Square has re-opened to the public. The Grade I listed building now includes the latest energy efficient heating technology from Jaga Heating Products, providing users with ultimate climatic comfort.

  • Why a total solution is best
    Darren Civil, General Manager for Colt's climate control division, discusses the benefits of looking at integrated designs of natural ventilation, solar shading and air conditioning systems to provide energy and cost savings, while adhering to guidelines set out by the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the Energy Use Products (EUP) Directive.
    Published:  30 January, 2008

    Modern buildings are required to be lighter on both capital and running costs, to have a lower carbon footprint, and at the same time enhance occupier comfort and productivity. The best way to achieve these objectives may not be in adopting one single technology or solution, but a mixture of these. Both the EPB and EUP Directives seem to encourage this approach.

  • District heating can help you go green
    By Peter Rose, Marketing Manager for Alfa Laval limited
    Published:  30 January, 2008

    Two thousand years ago the Romans piped steam and hot water to heat their communal bath houses, greenhouses and homes. One DH installation in France has, apparently, been in continuous use since the 14th Century. The New York City Steam System, which started in 1882, still pumps steam beneath the streets of Manhattan to provide heat and power to over 100,000 buildings, ranging from apartment blocks to small businesses.

  • Meeting the regulations
    Published:  30 January, 2008

    Whatever your current level of awareness of the new EC Regulation on F-Gases may be, the fact is that it applies to almost any building with an air conditioning system that utilises refrigerant and coolants to reduce the interior temperature, especially common in larger workplaces and offices.

  • Making savings in commissioning
    With more and more building legislation facing the commercial and public sectors, Peter Rees, Technical Director at Tour & Andersson, takes a look at the design of waterborne heating and cooling systems and how technical innovation and efficiencies can deliver compliance, with time and cost savings in both installation and commissioning.
    Published:  19 December, 2007

    The Government’s energy white paper has set an aspiration to meet UK long-term reduction targets in the drive towards carbon neutral buildings.  The decision the UK takes on energy policy is critical in meeting these targets. Under the umbrella of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) Part L of the building regulations has already contributed to around 40% improvement in the energy efficiency of commercial and residential buildings.

  • Why chilled beams have hit the roof
    There has been a seismic shift in the way chilled beams are perceived among specifiers and this has led to their sales rocketing, according to Terry Farthing, Head of Communications at Trox (UK)
    Published:  21 November, 2007

    We are witnessing a defining moment in the evolution of the chilled beam with the technology set to overtake fan coil units as the terminal device of choice among air conditioning equipment specifiers. Massive changes in the way the UK terminal unit market has developed over the last three years has benefited the chilled beams sector with multi service chilled beams (MSCBs) proving particularly popular.

  • Energy saving potential
    By Stewart Booth, Operations Director for PIX Transmission
    Published:  21 November, 2007

    An extensive study by PIX Transmission has examined the energy saving potential of raw edged cogged (REC) transmission belts over wrapped belts, when operating under similar conditions in HVAC environments.

  • Reducing downtime in industrial applications
    When heating plant is being installed, repaired or serviced, the managers of industrial premises, such as large factories and processing plants, will want downtime reduced to a bare minimum. In the past this would have proven difficult, even impossible, but the introduction of both prefabricated packages and modular boilers has changed the way heating plant is installed and maintained. Richard Walker, National Sales and Marketing Manager at Potterton Commercial, explains.
    Published:  19 September, 2007

    For the industrial sector, having to ‘down tools’ because a heating system needs to be installed, repaired or serviced isn’t just inconvenient, it also affects productivity – and hence targets, profits and bonuses.

  • CO2 spells an end to hot desking
    High capacity, mission critical IT cooling contains real challenges, but it can be done, as Guy Hutchins, Sales Director of Trox AITCS explains.
    Published:  19 July, 2007

    Carbon dioxide is often seen as the enemy of the environment – a greenhouse gas that is largely responsible for the global warming that is rapidly changing the Earth’s climate. In fact, harnessed properly, it is a highly effective cooling agent that is a friend to the planet and which can offer massive advantages in high capacity applications such as mission critical data cooling.

  • Optimising warmth
    Phil Alcock, Managing Director at Frico Limited, explores the heating solutions available for industrial premises.
    Published:  19 July, 2007

    It is a huge misconception that energy losses and significant fuel costs are simply part and parcel of heating industrial premises. Although attaining the perfect economic balance can prove a challenge, solutions are achievable that create comfortable indoor climates and deliver energy efficiency.

  • Ventilation and the new building regs – not just hot air
    Energy prices are on the rise – an average of 25% - and are forecast to climb higher. This country is now a net importer of gas, with market forces making the consumer actively consider all manner and types of domestic fuel saving and conservation. Changes to Building Regulations have made buildings more airtight and energy efficient. The need for appropriate ventilation is more apparent than ever. This is addressed in Part F of the Building Regulations, but what does it mean for the heating and air movement industry? Kevin Tolson of Applied Energy Products, the company behind the renowned Xpelair brand explains.
    Published:  24 April, 2007

    We have welcomed the planned changes to Part F as they lay down the performance yardsticks that will be the framework of good ventilation practices for many years hence. They also give performance based guidance with suggestions on types of ventilation systems and quoted extraction rates.

  • Commercial Heating : New lease of life for outdoor spaces
    The Government’s ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces becomes total across the UK on 1 July, with England following Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales in implementing the law. It’s likely to alter the traditional landscape of the hospitality scene, but it’s not all bad news, writes Phil Chilton, Commercial Products Manager at Dimplex. Managers adapting to the changing market by using efficient electric heating to create welcoming outdoor spaces stand to reap great rewards.
    Published:  24 April, 2007
  • Ventilation : A win, win Combination
    By Steve Kirkwood, Sales Manager of Breezair Seeley International (Europe) Ltd
    Published:  22 March, 2007

    Ventilation is the process by which fresh air is introduced and stale air is removed from an occupied space to improve air quality. During the past 20 years, demands on industrial ventilation have increased with legislation, in the field of occupational safety and air quality, becoming stricter. When combined with evaporative cooling, industrial spaces have a year-round system that balances ventilation with natural cooling.

  • Regulatory demands grow in buoyant market
    Architects and building operators are coming under increasing regulatory, environmental and social pressures to provide better places in which to live and work. Dr Paul Welsby, Managing Director of Shorts Environmental, looks at the implications for providers of air conditioning equipment in helping to meet these tough demands
    Published:  22 March, 2007

    As an established air conditioning distributor, in looking to expand into the higher-end commercial and VRF (variable refrigerant flow) sector in 2004, like any other business in this position we had to assess two key issues.

  • BAC cooling towers were installed in The Gherkin

    Why cooling towers need joined-up government
    By Robert Macleod-Smith of B.A.C.Balticare
    Published:  22 November, 2006

    The dichotomy surrounding cooling towers and evaporative condensers is that one arm of government is encouraging their use whilst another is doing the opposite.

  • Why demand for the beam is gathering steam
    Published:  22 November, 2006

    Chilled beams have a bright future in the air conditioning sector, according to Terry Farthing, Sales Director of Trox (UK).

  • Calculate cost and count on savings
    By Craig McFadyen of Flakt Woods for over 20 years
    Published:  26 October, 2006

    The target reductions in CO2 emissions in developing countries will inevitably lead to increased pressure on consumers to reduce fuel consumption. This may well lead to increases in energy costs over the normal rate of inflation. Other methods will be also be used by governments to encourage the installation of more efficient capital equipment in order to reduce the consumption of energy.

  • The principles of evaporative cooling
    By Steve Kirkwood, Sales Manager of Breezair Seeley International (Europe) ltd
    Published:  29 August, 2006

    Centuries ago, the ancient Egyptians used evaporative cooling to reduce the temperature inside their buildings. Water saturated cloth sacks were placed in openings in the structure of the building. As warm air entered, it passed through the sacks and was cooled. Evaporative coolers have been used in warmer climates such as the USA, Australia and the Middle East for many years. As the effects of global warming are felt in cooler climates such as Europe and the United Kingdom the use of evaporative coolers is becoming more widespread.

  • Productivity falls as the heat rises
    Published:  25 July, 2006

    The increase in energy prices and demands for businesses to be more energy efficient is challenging building services engineers to look for advanced building and control systems that not only exceed legislation requirements, but also make significant savings on energy bills and improve the internal environment of a commercial or industrial building. Here, John Durbin, Sales Planning Manager at Daikin Airconditioning UK Ltd, discusses the importance of optimum temperature in the working environment and the effect this has on workforce productivity and performance.

  • The impact of Part L
    Published:  25 July, 2006

    Graham Williamson, Business Director of Commercial Heating at Ideal Boilers, discusses the impact that Part L of the Building Regulations have had on the commercial and industrial sector since they were introduced in April this year.

  • Frustration grows over refrigerant handling issue
    Published:  26 June, 2006

    The Government’s new refrigerant law is welcome, but doesn’t go nearly far enough, according to the HVCA’s Stephen Crocker. If a straw poll of the industry was taken today asking people what they considered the most frustrating issue of recent years, the proposed mandatory refrigerant handling scheme would be right up there at the top.

  • VRF versus water and refrigerant flow
    Published:  26 June, 2006

    VRF (variable refrigerant flow) has dominated the air conditioning market for almost a quarter of a century. But that is set to change with the development by Colt of a water and refrigerant flow system, says Darren Civil, the company’s Climate Control General Manager.

  • Taking the heat out of the kitchen
    Published:  31 May, 2006

    CCL Veloduct’s Mark Brown and Andy Watton assess the fan industry’s fast response to changing legislation.

  • A building with high performance wall louvres

    Collaboration is key
    Published:  20 April, 2006

    With changes to Building Regulation legislation due to take effect from April 2006, Bovema UK General Manager, Bill Johnston, is urging everyone from building specifiers and architects through to builders and product designers to work together to ensure that any new buildings are compliant with the revised legislation. Here, Bill looks ahead to the imminent changes and explains how failure of the various industry stakeholders to work more collaboratively could result in some very costly errors.

Poll

There is an obvious need for the industry to be more energy efficient and pay more attention to the ways in which energy is both used and wasted. Do you think we have the products on the market to meet our needs?

  • Yes
  • We're getting there
  • We're a long way off
  • No
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