The Carrier AquaSnap Puron is the first air-cooled chiller for large commercial applications designed specifically to operate with refrigerant R410A.

As an architect,specifier or facilities manager,you will have a range of responsibilities in the design,construction and smooth operation of commercial premises.But if you’re involved in the planning or operation of a building in a rural area,there’s an added dimension – specifying the right energy source to heat and power what could be a range of facilities.

There is a tendency for many organisations to see a move to purpose built new offices as being a better option than improving their current workplace or refurbishing other existing space.All too often this is because they assume that they can’t deal with change in an old building,be it a need to implement new technology or accommodate business growth.

Disabled access at a grade II listed town hall has been improved in time for a town

Saint-Gobain Pipelines have dug a Cheshire waste water site out of a tricky trenching situation by

A Vitaulic grooved pipe jointing system is being used in the

Industry experts will address key issues facing the cooling industry, as part of the free Seminar Programme being held alongside RAC 05, which is being held at the NEC, Birmingham from

A brownfield site in Wales has set a precedent for success after achieving a BREEAM 2002 excellent rating,with the help of energy experts Passivent Ltd.

BEAMAEnergy has formed the Domestic Water Treatment Association (DWTA),

The 2004 CIBSE National Conference on delivering sustainable construction is now available

Cablofil wire mesh cable tray is helping bring power to the people as part of an IT

Delegates at a seminar held at BRE have voiced their concerns

PRIVA Building Intelligence is breaking its own records by supplying two Marks and Spencer stores

A challenging lighting installation at the Ministry of Defence’s Main Building in Whitehall has been successfully completed using a fitfor-

Surface temperature plays a critical role in building and maintenance inspections,and can tell you a lot about the condition of structural elements,plumbing installations,and HVAC and electrical systems.While often invisible to the eye,air leakage, moisture accumulation,blockages in pipes,structural features behind walls,and overheating electrical circuits,can all be detected and visibly documented with handheld infrared thermometers and thermal imaging cameras.By scanning surfaces with such inspection tools,you can quickly locate temperature variations,which are often indications of underlying problems,and document them with detailed images in reports.

Finding the funding to install energy efficient plant and controls is a challenge for many organisations.

Building Energy Management Systems(BEMS)have been a major success story in UK commercial buildings over the last 20 years.They combine energy saving control techniques,such as optimum start and dead bands,with communication and information systems that allow active management of the building services and the capability to achieve and maintain a high level of energy efficiency.However,in far too many buildings this technology is too complex for users to understand and maintain.As a result,many systems have fallen into disuse.At a time when energy costs for many organisations are spiralling upwards,a situation where the plant is permanently running in hand will have a disastrous effect on the energy efficiency of many buildings today. Many of the issues with programmable BEMS arise first in the control strategy.Energy efficient control strategies,such as,optimum start, close control of temperatures,plant sequencing,etc,are typically available with all BEMS.Yet,rarely is it specified where and when these application techniques should be used.The system’s installer will not spend any more time programming and commissioning a BEMS than is absolutely necessary,with the result that a simpler,less efficient solution is often implemented. This approach also breeds inconsistency,since the same plant will not necessarily be programmed to control in the same way between different installations.In comparison,the standardised modular controls approach offers clear advantages.

That's the uncompromising title of a publication whose sponsors include the Swedish Ventilation Trade Association.Co-author, Professor Anders Svensson,claims:"There is,sad to say, evidence to back up this dramatic statement".

As further steps are being taken to meet government targets to reduce CO2 emissions,building services are coming under pressure to be more energy efficient.This has led to some debate about whether certain products require insulation,and confusion as to what is required to comply with BS 5422: 2001,requirements that are likely to become if anything tighter and more firmly embedded in the law following the current review of Part L.

The once humble fan coil is likely to see an increase in

The Eden Project has launched a funding application which would enable the adoption of biomass heating,following a Buro Happold study which identified that the Eden Project site could provide the boost needed to generate a local biomass supply network.

The 5th annual National Training Awards for the heating,

Integrated Control Systems have fitted an extensive building

A major air conditioning installation involving Mitsubishi Electric’s VRF system has been completed in Birmingham by air conditioning and mechanical services company,AC2000.

Following new research data from Hawaii that shows an acceleration in the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,

The LG Air Conditioning Product Accumulator incentive

With evidence that so-called Dutch auctions are growing in use, the

Daikin Airconditioning UK Ltd, has won the ‘Environmental Pioneer – Air Conditioning’ category of the newly introduced Cooling

Two health and social services trusts in Northern Ireland

Carrier UK has won the order to air condition the

Pubs across the country are reconsidering their smoking policies

Fläkt Woods has become the first fan manufacturer in the world to be able to apply CE marking to their safety critical products.

The second Building Performance event (6-7 October,London Olympia) offers new ways to reduce costs at each stage of a building's life cycle,make them more productive to occupiers,valuable to owners and sustainable for the environment.The event also covers crucial issues including energy efficiency,total costs of occupancy,partnering, security,outsourcing and FM,so as to keep demanding clients happy with new routes forward.This event will also help visitors stay abreast of new legislation,techniques,competitors and best practice. The adjoining two-day Conference,Building Performance is Business Performance(0830-1630hrs),hosts an influential line up of industry leaders.Day one,focuses on ‘Increasing productivity and returns whilst lowering lifetime cost’ with speakers such as Richard Saxon MBE,Ken Shuttleworth,Roger Madelin,Roger Zogolovich,Nigel Griffiths MP and Paul Morrell of Davis Langdon amongst others,debating today’s key issues on increasing profits and improving value offered by design and within controversial PFI projects.It also offers insight to the future with ‘The new and next of building performance’ from Dr Chris Luebkeman Director of Global Foresight at Arup.

A new Industry Education and Training Group (which replaces the CIBSE Education and Learning Group)has been formed by CIBSE to improve communications and cooperation between building services employers and the colleges and universities that educate future employees.The group will be a forum for discussion and formulating strategies regarding building services education and training.As an organisation that encompasses all sectors of the building services industry and academia,CIBSE is ideally placed to fulfil this role.

A new business-friendly guide published by Envirowise aims to assist chief executives and management teams across the UK deal with new hazardous waste rules which came into force in July 2004.

Many contractors in the construction industry could face massive tax bills going back over six years as a result of an Inland Revenue crackdown on self-employed workers in the sector warns ACCA(the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants).

Exodus Controls,the latest member of the Fitzgerald Lighting Group has recently provided the Smartswitch system to the Royal Albert Hall.

York has landed one of the most prestigious contracts in the UK -to provide air conditioning chillers to cool London Heathrow Airport’s brand new Terminal 5 (T5),currently the largest construction project in Europe.York’s unrivalled expertise in the design,manufacture and factory testing of high capacity ammonia chillers and its ability to provide local engineering and service support were key factors in its successful bid for this £2.7m installation.

In a recent report by the House of Commons Work and Pension Committee it was stated that the number of field health and safety inspectors should increase by 100%.

The organisers of Athens 2004 have ignored the progress made at Sydney 2000 and missed a valuable opportunity to showcase their country’s environmental commitment by failing to incorporate any renewable energy systems,such as solar photovoltaics(PV),in the Olympics’residential and athletic developments.

Visitors to the Building Performance event (London Olympia,6-7 October 2004)will not only meet companies whose expertise and services cover the latest building services technology but also hear leading edge speakers discuss sustainability solutions in action,how they have won more business and increased their and their clients' profits.They'll recognise that without proven bottom line benefits, the uptake of sustainable buildings is unlikely to catch on.

The second Building Performance column looks at the content of the hard-hitting ‘Building Performance is Business Performance’ conference programme; but first, we explore the business of security within buildings and ask exhibitors and industry leaders how it will affect the industry going forward.

When the Olympic Games open in Athens,Carrier equipment with a multi-million dollar value will be working unobtrusively to keep competitors,officials and spectators comfortable.This equates to almost half the value of the total air conditioning placed for the building infrastructure of the Games.

Paul Boateng,Chief Secretary for the Treasury and Cabinet member,has confirmed Ministerial support to establish a task force to consider the problems facing building and construction companies caused by the use of retentions and poor payment practices.The move has been warmly welcomed by the Specialist Engineering Contractors Group(SEC).In a letter to Claire Curtis-Thomas MP,who has been lobbying the Government for action on the issue of retentions,Mr Boateng stated that he is well aware of the problems caused by late or withheld payments and that the task force should identify and examine good payment practices.He added that this examination should include consideration of how this can facilitate the move away from the use of retentions,as part of the improvement agenda.

The European Commission released statistics on 15 July 2004,which show that the UK reduced greenhouse emissions by 3% in 2002,and emissions are down by 15% since 1990.Regrettably,other European nations have not been so compliant with the Kyoto Protocol,and some have even increased emissions.

Bitzer UK has acquired Jerome Engineering (Vessels)Limited of Grays in Essex for an undisclosed sum.The acquisition was completed on 30 June 2004.

Lighting designers Phoenix Large/lightmatters have used Sill narrow beam projectors to illuminate Ireland’s Boyne Bridge to spectacular effect,winning ‘highly commended’ at this year’s Lighting Design Awards.

The latest set of KPI’s for M&E contractors have just been released by BSRIA.Out of the 18 aspects monitored,a total of 17 have improved in the 2004 results.Included are two headline measures – overall satisfaction and quality of O&M manuals.There has been a general decline in client satisfaction with the quality of O&M manuals over the previous two years but in 2004 the trend has turned with clients scoring eight or more in 44 percent of cases(compared with 38 percent last year).

The Heating and Ventilating Contractors’ Association(HVCA)is on record as saying that the single most important development in its 100-year history has been the decision to make it mandatory for all HVCA members to complete an independent third-party inspection and assessment,undertaken by BM TRADA,a certification body active in the construction industry.

Over 90 delegates attended the CIBSE Combined Heat and Power Group's inaugural conference in London at the end of May.The event provided an overview of where CHP currently stands as a viable building service,where it might be going and which technologies might take it there.With a wide range of papers from expert speakers,the event provided a forum for debate that has been lacking in recent years. Explaining the role of the group to the audience,CHP Group Chairman Phil Jones said:"Anybody with an interest in CHP should join the group.Membership is free and we aim to keep people in touch with developments in all forms of CHP including new technologies such as fuel cells and micro-CHP.Members will also get a regular e-newsletter and access to our website."

A report published by the Institution of Civil Engineers(ICE)reveals that up to 2,300 new waste treatment facilities must be operational by 2020 to avoid a major crisis involving millions of tonnes of untreated waste.The introduction of these facilities,which could total up to £30 billion pounds,create thousands of jobs,and take five years to come on-line,are being stalled by a combination of public animosity,government prevarication and industry nervousness. Nigel Mattravers,Vice Chairman of ICE's Waste Management Board, says:"The annual volume of waste in this country is increasing every year,and every year we see more campaigns preventing the introduction of desperately needed facilities.Private companies are constantly fighting an uphill battle against local government and UK residents over the siting of plants and unless circumstances are improved,these companies may begin to turn away from an increasingly unprofitable industry.The general public need to be educated to allay their fears about the dangers of these facilities and understand that refusing them may lead to the much larger problem of millions of tonnes of rubbish with simply nowhere to go."

Lochinvar has supplied a gas-fired water heater and boiler to the Royal Infirmary in Doncaster.

Airedale International Air Conditioning has recently supplied

In the first of a series of columns in BSEE, companies taking part in this year’s Building Performance event (at London Olympia, 6-7 October) this year shed some light on the benefits of the cutting edge approach and the value imparted by a common language and intelligence shared between control, security, energy management, HVAC and other systems integral to better building performance.

Energy management company Efficient Air has appointed Gareth Fox as Sales & Marketing Manager.He will help to develop the company’s growing portfolio of blue chip clients,liaise with designers, suppliers and installers of energy management equipment,as well as the company's nationwide network of associates.

Paddy Hastings has joined BSRIA as Business Manager for FM Engineering.Paddy was previously Technical Services Manager for Nokia UK Ltd with responsibilities for all M&E services planned maintenance,energy and environmental management,refurbishments,space planning and CAFM system management.

Tony Morgan has been appointed President of the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA)in a ceremony at the opening of the ECA Electrical Industry Conference in Vilamoura,Portugal.

Leading mechanical and electrical services provider, EIC Ltd has

Hoare Lea Consulting Engineers are delighted to announce that David Sworder has become a Partner.

Heatrae Sadia Heating has appointed Paul Rivett as Managing Director,following the retirement of Brian Norton on 31 March.

Grundfos Pumps Ltd have appointed Ashley McLernon,as Area Sales Manager,Water Services for Northern Ireland.

The new President of CIBSE,Graham Manly,identified four main aspects of concern to the building services industry and how they can tackled in his Presidential Address 'The Tools for the Job' which was delivered to an invited audience on 6 May 2004.

Waterwise Technology has installed its latest ACG-02 ozone generator in a water treatment plant in the Natural History Museum’s Palaeontology Building in London.The installation forms part of a recent upgrade of the museum’s cooling towers to the latest fully hygienic stainless steel design with increased capacity.

Exposure limits for electromagnetic fields have been reduced by 80% in response to concerns that vulnerable people might be at risk.The National Radiation Protection Board (NRPB)said the safety thresholds for exposure to power lines,mobile phones and radio transmitters should be reduced to bring Britain into line with international guidelines.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics show a significant increase in the number of people setting up as self- employed builders,plumbers and electricians.This increase must not be at the expense of standards of training and technical competence warned the Electrical Contractors Association(ECA).

Mitsubishi Electric has announced that it is breaking ties with AMP Air Conditioning Ltd with effect from 31 March 2005.

This year's CIBSE National Conference with associated exhibition will now take place on 29-30 September at the International Hotel,a prestige venue in London's Docklands right next to Canary Wharf.The event was originally planned to co-locate with Clima Expo at ExCel,but since that exhibition has now been cancelled CIBSE is able to hold the event at an even better location without changing the dates.

Air Coolers at the Mokai II power generation plant, now being built in Israel, will be powered by Brook Crompton motors, following delivery of nearly 100 18.5KW motors specifically for the task.