Where are your priorities? - Practical Facilities Management

More documents

Recommendations

Info

h.v.a.c. Top quality draught proofing reduces heating costs By Gillian AIlder, Director, Draught Proofing Advisory Association 22 Heat loss through unnecessary draughts can be very expensive in terms of fuel wastage. However, cost-effective top quality draughtproofing of windows and external doors provides worthwhile energy saving, plus increased comfort. To gain maximum benefit heating must be addressed in conjunction with draught proofing. Airtight buildings consume less energy and building maintenance and life cycle costs can be lower, as they are less susceptible to internal moisture deterioration. Less heat is lost at entrance points, and costs for space heating and associated plant are lower. Tests carried out by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) revealed that advanced draught proofing methods are shown to be one of the most profitable ways of reducing heating costs in nondomestic buildings, with payback on investment as low as 1.2 years, with reduction in heating bills of 22%. In respect of draughtproofing, before the 2002 Building Regulations, Part L only applied to new build and did not include existing buildings or change of use. The Regulations now include substantially improving fabric insulation standards for solid elements and glazing and introduce new efficiency requirements for air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation systems for light fittings in both non-domestic and domestic buildings; the introduction of requirements for testing building air tightness and the commissioning of building compliance; registering the energy performance of buildings in use by actual consumers and making consumption data publicly available for comparison against benchmarks. Since draught proofing was included in the Building Regulations, many specifiers are implementing it in their energy efficiency programmes to bring buildings in line with current new build standards. Indeed Building Regulations are set to increase in April 2006 and will include refurbishment. A further review in 2012 is anticipated. The draughtproofing of Keston heats Teaching Primary Care NHS trust As part of Portsmouth City Teaching Primary Care Trust Estates and Facilities Services’ efforts to reduce fuel bills for a wide selection of sites, including special needs care homes, day hospitals and health centres, Keston Boilers was the first choice to satisfy its heating and hot water requirements. The most recent installation is a five-boiler prefabricated rig, designed specifically with adapted controls and wiring to interface with the Trust’s linked BMS software system. Keston configured a fully pre-assembled and preplumbed ‘plug ‘n’ play’ engineered plant to the Trust’s exact specification to simplify fitting and reduce site time. Other Keston units specified by the Trust include a large Duet system with 55kW output, composed of the Keston C55 commercial condensing boiler and a hot water storage tank for maximum performance and minimum power usage. Portsmouth City Teaching PCT Estates and Facilities Services selected Keston’s products for its boiler room replacement rollout, with a special request for a quick turnaround. All Keston’s domestic and commercial condensing boilers are highly energy efficient, SEDBUK A-rated and fully reliable. Products have minimal NOx combustion, which, in turn, provides the user with greatly reduced running costs and virtually no atmospheric pollution. A distinctive small diameter muPVC flue pipe allows for increased flexibility and easy installation. Reader Reply No.: 84043 windows and external doors will undoubtedly play a significant role in meeting the Part L 2 (non domestic buildings) criteria for refurbishment. Whilst energy efficiency in relation to climate change is vital, it is important for industry and commerce to recognise the need to care for its staff and ensure a better working environment. This is all part of corporate social responsibility. There is often a misconception that installing carbon saving measures means higher costs. This is certainly not the case with cost effective draughtproofing with top quality materials approved to British Standards. In the overall energy efficiency strategy the draught proofing of windows and external doors is seen as a key elements in achieving lower energy consumption and CO2 emissions. This in turn may well result in the need for smaller boilers and fewer radiators to maintain the required temperature. The process is now recognised as an essential part of energy efficient design if optimum performance of other energy efficiency measures is to be achieved. It is a simple and economical method of reducing energy loss and controlling air flow, with the added benefit of greatly increasing the comfort levels of the occupants. The Draught Proofing Advisory Association, recognised by Government as the national trade association for this industry, contends that top quality draught proofing should become a basic requirement for all retrofit energy efficiency work to bring all types of building in line with current new build standards. Whilst the Government is constantly tightening Building Regulations for new properties with a view to reducing the UK’s reliance on fossil fuel resources, research has found that these provisions have improved energy efficiency but are often compromised by poor building envelope airtightness. For example, in office buildings tested by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) it was found that up to 30% of the heating/cooling energy was being lost through uncontrolled infiltration leading to draughts, discomfort and poor energy efficiency. In addition, moistureladen air entering the building structure has serious detrimental affects on the building fabric. Once draughts are eliminated, constant climates can be provided: draught proofing keeps the integrity of air conditioned buildings. Airtightness is environmental ‘best practice’ and demonstrates a company’s commitment to conserving energy and reducing CO2 emissions. ln addition to excluding draughts and extremes of weather, draught proofing products keep out dirt, dust and light, together with noise penetration. By reducing airflow, weatherseals can cut down general traffic noise through street facing doors and windows. Additionally sound levels in offices near noisy production lines or factory units can be reduced. Draught proofing products credited with BS 7386 will also control and contain hazardous airborne substances or pollution. Brush seals, in particular, can prevent the ingress of foreign bodies. In an effort to crack down on pollution, tough EU wide targets for industry to cut carbon dioxide emission-s into the atmosphere by 2010 are to be introduced. To provide specifiers with a simple reference to properties, applications and standards of individual products recognised by the Association and to aid selection, a Register of Approved Products has been produced by the Association. This is the first register to list quality draught proofing products suited to the commercial industrial and architectural markets. This independent document offers considerable assistance to architects and designers, builders and others preparing specifications which incorporate draught proofing products. The DPAA has now established a register of installers with the skills to draught-proof commercial and industrial premises. They have agreed to ensure that they only use appropriately skilled and trained staff to carry out any commercial or industrial draught proofing project accepted by them, to the specification. This follows the recent introduction of a 20-year guarantee by manufacturer members of the Draught Proofing Advisory Association. This covers only products made or supplied by members to British Standard. These moves are made to help ensure quality products are installed in the commercial field by experienced installers. Literature on draught proofing applications, and a list of commercial contractors is readily available from the Draught Proofing Advisory Association. Reader Reply No.: 84150 www.practicalfm.co.uk
h.v.a.c. Sheffield’s impressive and popular Winter Garden, an indoor park in the heart of the City Centre, is one of the largest temperate glasshouses in a European city centre. Built into the very core of the Winter Garden, and playing a vital role in keeping its collection of unusual and exotic plants healthy, is an industrial floor heating system from velta. The award-winning Winter Garden measures 70 metres long by 22 metres wide and features wooden arches that are nearly 21 metres high. It houses around 2,500 plants, mainly from the Antony Worrall Thompson’s Kew Grill restaurant solves cigarette smoke problem using Honeywell air cleaners Chef Antony Worrall Thompson’s Kew Grill restaurant in Kew Green, London, has been equipped with a high-tech Honeywell air cleaner by clean air specialists Inn-House Technology of Colchester, Essex. The Honeywell air cleaner removes airborne pollutants including dust, tobacco smoke, allergens and viruses, leaving a healthier environment for everyone - especially those who dislike cigarette smoke or suffer from hay fever. Antony Worrall Thompson says: “It is reported that the air inside a venue where people are smoking can be cleaner and healthier than the air outdoors, when Honeywell air cleaners are fitted.” “I believe in giving smokers and non-smokers freedom of choice,” he says. “But while my Velta Floor Heating helps the garden grow southern hemisphere, including palms from Central America, tree ferns from Australia, and spectacular Norfolk Island Pines. Keeping these semi-tropical specimens in peak condition was a key part of the brief for consulting engineers, Buro Happold - and velta’s industrial floor heating system provided the ideal solution. Because the piping for the velta industrial system is cast into the concrete floor of the structure the whole of the floor area becomes the heating unit. This means that it can be operated at lower temperature than other “afterthought” systems and requires less energy to run, but can still provide heat outputs of up to 250 Watts per square metre. The system is specified as part of the floor construction; it can accommodate the most demanding floor loadings and is straightforward to install. The robust 25mm diameter velta PE-Xa piping for the system is simply clipped to the steel reinforcing bars of the structure before the concrete is poured. Installed by velta on behalf of the electrical and mechanical contractor, Powerminster, the Winter Garden’s system covers 1200 square metres of floor. This whole area is controlled from just four manifolds that are located in the car park below the garden floor, with the heat provided by hot water from Sheffield’s district heating system. Notting Grill restaurant has separate smoking and non-smoking rooms, each with Honeywell electrostatic air cleaners so non-smokers dine in a smoke-free atmosphere even when seated with smokers, the Kew Grill is a much smaller venue with one long dining room. Therefore smoking is allowed only after 10pm, when the Honeywell unit removes smoke and other pollutants. “The cleaner is located at one end of the room, so we try to seat smokers towards that end.” The Honeywell units actively remove pollutants and supply the clean air over a large area, unlike ventilators which only move air and unlike air conditioners which only cool air and adjust humidity. Millions of Honeywell air cleaners are in daily use worldwide, in cafes, bars, restaurants, offices, hotels, leisure centres and other venues. By providing clean air, staffs are happier, less prone to illness and hay fever, and enjoy a smoke-free workplace. Customers are more comfortable, so stay longer and spend more. The air cleaners work in two ways. First, larger particles are trapped by a mesh filter. Tiny particles remaining receive an electrostatic charge and are attracted onto aluminium plates, like iron filings onto a magnet. Honeywell air cleaners are available in various sizes and designs to suit the room size, layout and decor, in surface-mounted, recessed and even portable types that can be wheeled from room to room. Reader Reply No.: 84133 The Winter Garden was designed by architects Pringle Richards Sharratt with Interserve Building as the main contractor, and has won recognition from the Concrete Society and the Institution of Civil Engineers. Since its opening in 2003 the Winter Garden has won several accolades recognising the quality of its maintenance and management, including three European Federation of Interior Landscaping Groups (eFIG) awards, and the coveted Civic Trust Green Flag award. Peter Johnson of velta said, “We are very pleased to have been associated with the prestigious building, not least because it demonstrates very clearly that the velta industrial system is an exceptionally efficient and economical way of heating large open spaces.” After 700,000 installations, and nearly 40 years of innovation and development in the floor heating market, velta has established leadership with the widest range of floor heating and cooling systems for domestic, commercial and large industrial projects. The velta portfolio also includes solutions for sports halls, including sprung floor installations, and exterior systems to prevent snow and ice build-up. The company offers a complete design, supply, installation (system and screed) and warranty service - a true one-stop-shop for any size of floor heating or cooling project. Reader Reply No.: 84129 ICS to work round DEFRA staff A two-year project to refurbish the London headquarters of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs includes a £300,000 contract to update its building management system and associated controls. Integrated Control Systems, of Wokingham, has already started work on the first of eight phases of the redevelopment at Nobel House, Smith Square, all to be undertaken while the building remains occupied and operational. The contract calls for the provision of controls for new plant such as boilers, chillers and some air handling units together with the refurbishment and upgrade of other existing items that are to be retained and integrated into the new BMS. The system will also monitor and control the operation of more than 100 fan coil units and associated perimeter radiators to be installed across the 39 zones that have been created within the eight floors of open plan and cellular offices, a mezzanine level and atrium. Tridium technology is to be employed to ensure the maximum benefits are obtained from the totally open system, including remote access through the Internet. ICS will be required to strictly schedule their operations to guarantee minimum disruption to the Defra staff as the work progresses around them. The contract was awarded by Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil. Reader Reply No.: 84143 www.practicalfm.co.uk 23
Page 1 and 2: www.practicalfm.co.uk volume 8 issu
Page 3 and 4: ANSI Electric Strikes Electric Stri
Page 5 and 6: Sometimes you can't help feeling a
Page 7 and 8: news... Blade servers with underflo
Page 9 and 10: news... Woodwood shows its strength
Page 11 and 12: news... Portakabin has proved that
Page 13 and 14: news... Maximum energy control A Co
Page 15 and 16: news... Quiet and efficient electri
Page 17 and 18: news... Out of hours flooring keeps
Page 19 and 20: efurbishment MSL Retail Property Ca
Page 21 and 22: efurbishment The unique coating sys
Page 23: efurbishment A Health and Safety Ex
Page 27 and 28: h.v.a.c. Delivery, installation and
Page 29 and 30: h.v.a.c. Creda Heating welcomes new
Page 31 and 32: ❲❊❏■❳❪ ❏▼❱❲❳
Page 33 and 34: health & safety Drugs related litte
Page 35 and 36: health & safety Kee Klamp wins case
Page 37 and 38: health & safety OCS Technical’s s
Page 39 and 40: Fresh faces at Lotus Professional L
Page 41 and 42: usiness news... Allan McMullen chie
Page 43 and 44: Unitek - bringing power to the UK A
Page 45 and 46: Visit us on Stand E13 at the Total
Page 47 and 48: security focus Man Guarding Service
Page 49 and 50: RR: 84018
Page 51 and 52: security focus Are You Looking F
Page 53 and 54: RR: 84058
Page 55 and 56: PROTECTING PEOPLE & SITES that matt
Page 57 and 58: Fibreglass grating wins gold at 200
Page 59: Total Workplace Management The even

Where are your priorities? - Practical Facilities Management

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?