Building News is an information portal for all professional building specifiers. Here you can find all of the latest construction news from around the UK and the rest of the world.

ROCKWOOL® supports contractors in managing flat roofs fire risk

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New whitepaper explores how to improve fire performance in the fifth façade

With roofs maintaining their prominent role in contemporary building design, ROCKWOOL has released a new whitepaper exploring how roofing contractors and specifiers can manage fire risk when planning and installing flat roofs.

The ‘Flat Roofs: Managing fire risk in the fifth façade’ report addresses misconceptions around testing protocols and material fire classification ratings, plus examines the worrying rise in roof fires and the resulting social and economic impact. The whitepaper, which is available to download at www.rockwool.co.uk/fifthfacade then outlines specification best practice for flat roof insulation and how to futureproof the complete building envelope in line with expected changes to Building Regulations.

 

“The role of the roof is an expanding one,” explains Paul Barrett, Head of Product Management at ROCKWOOL. “While previously their primary function was practical, now we’re seeing roof spaces used as an additional communal or leisure space, as well as to house solar PV, plant equipment and rainwater management systems. Yet as the function of the roof has expanded, the focus on fire protection measures hasn’t increased at the same pace.

“This report explores the risks of exposed flat roofs, delves into the effects of recent prominent fires, and then advises roofing contractors and specifiers on how to select materials that will help protect lives and the remaining building structure in case of fire. It’s an essential read for anyone involved in roofing specification.”

To complement its new whitepaper, ROCKWOOL has also developed an accompanying CPD module that expands subjects detailed in the report and delivers a greater depth of education. The module also outlines its range of non-combustible stone wool insulation products that are compatible with a variety of modern flat roof systems.

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A trusted history. A digital future

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It has been a story almost three years in the making, from 2017, with the initial sale by Armstrong World Industries, through to completion of its acquisition by Aurelius Equity Opportunities earlier this year. Now Armstrong Ceiling Solutions, the leading UK manufacturer of mineral fibre ceiling systems, has unveiled its new identity which will take it into 2021 and far beyond. Graham Taylor, director of sales and marketing at the newly renamed Zentia, reintroduces the business behind the brand.

Moving to a new brand identity has been something of a personal journey for me. The Armstrong brand has been a constant through my working life. I have lived and breathed it for more than three decades. Which is why I was truly honoured and excited to be presented with the opportunity to lead the rebranding project for our new business.

We found ourselves in a unique position: with a strong and established past – and a future that’s ours to reimagine. To make the most of this, we needed a brand that builds on our heritage, but also gives us a fresh start, opening up new opportunities for us to explore together with our partners, staff and customers alike.

But the reality of it is, we are still the same people you’ve always done business with; we bring you the same products you’ve always trusted and specified; we will still manufacture in Britain, as we have since 1966; and we will provide the same support you depend on, and that you can continue to rely on with Zentia – a very positive base on which to build.

 

 

Our vision is to take those positive traits you have clearly valued and add more agility and boldness to our approach. We will take bold decisions and act swiftly where required. We will respond to the changing environment and market, whilst fully embracing the digital world.

We were Armstrong; now we are Zentia. We’ve gone from A to Z, introduced a bright and dynamic colour palette and centred our business around our new brand AXIS – four key elements which underpin our new direction. In the process, we’ve created a new brand that marks a pivotal evolution for our business.

Our AXIS is what drives us. It differentiates us and makes us strong. The four components of the Zentia AXIS are Value, Solutions Provider, Responsibility and Continuous Improvement, and they’re the four things that we promise to live, breathe and promote in everything we do and for every customer.

Value

We see that Value is about more than just price. We are driven to create environments that set higher standards for wellbeing, productivity and happiness. At the heart of this is our commitment to deliver quality products and solutions that will inevitably drive excellence through our supply chain and to exceed the expectations of all those involved, as well as the end user.

Solutions Provider

Being a Solutions Provider is about more than having a broad range of products and systems. Range is important, but so is agility and expertise; the ability to not only provide a product but provide a solution. As a complete ceiling solutions provider, this is what every partner can expect from us. We apply our heritage, pride and passion to deliver unrivalled problem-solving support.

Responsibility

We take responsibility for our actions and we aim to do more with less. We look at everything we do with an ethical mindset and scrutinise our activity so that we can continually improve our social, economic and environmental values for ourselves, our partners and our stakeholders.

Continuous Improvement

We focus on relentless progress and performance enhancement across our business, our solutions and the environments we help create. One key aspect that helps us do this is our digital-first mindset. As we pioneer digital services and supply chain support, we want to continually improve and make it easier than ever to do business with us.

This is such an exciting time for us as a company – creating a new identity for the business, a new ethos and new mindset. It’s not something that you experience a lot in your professional life, you might even say it’s a once in a lifetime change. It brings more strength, more power and more enthusiasm to our team, and I expect also to the market.

As Zentia, we draw from decades of leadership in the ceiling space, where we’ve become a trusted partner to specifiers, contractors, architects and interior designers who appreciate the exceptional quality of our products and the expertise of our people.

Now, we’re taking what we do well and harnessing technology to ease and add value to what you do. With digital collaboration, specification and support, we’re leading the way into a smarter future – that starts today.

To find out more about Zentia visit: www.zentia.com or follow #AtoZentia on social media.

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Cogent Technology Unveil Rapidbloc Cleanrooms in New Facility

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Cogent Technology has moved into a new 80,000ft² facility in Felixstowe, to serve its clients with world class manufacturing. The new facility features state of the art production lines, including two ISO 14644-1 Class 7 Rapidbloc cleanrooms for its innovative medical and healthcare products.

Rapidbloc Cleanrooms have been developed by Connect 2 Cleanrooms (C2C) to meet the urgent critical demands of some of the world’s fastest moving industries, such as healthcare and advanced manufacturing. Clean production will enable Cogent to grow its product offering and expand services to clients with consumables and accessories that complement existing PCB assembly product ranges.

The two Rapidbloc cleanrooms were designed and built in just 8 weeks, including validation to ISO 14644-1 class 7. This expedited time-scale was important to Cogent as the cleanrooms were able to be coordinated within its wider facility fit-out programme and so production was not interrupted.

A monobloc cleanroom project of this scale would usually have a lead time of up to 4 months, whereas Rapidbloc Cleanrooms generate significant productivity gains to enable a faster return on investment. Rapidbloc cleanroom layouts are fully configurable and as parts are shipped from stock from C2C’s warehouse and distribution hub, on-site assembly is fast and efficient.

Robert Stainer, Commercial Director at Cogent says, “As part of our relocation to a new 80,000ft² facility we are proud to be enhancing our Medical Device manufacturing capabilities with the commissioning of two class 7 cleanrooms validated to ISO 14644-1.

“This investment will not only enable Cogent to meet our current clients’ needs, but also position the team to facilitate the provision of associated device consumables capacity as med tech businesses rethink their supply chain strategies in light of changing attitudes to sourcing.

“The term ‘short supply chain’ is resonating throughout the business world after recent events in 2020. A more robust supply chain is needed for resilience against future events.”

Michael Wright, Managing Director at Connect 2 Cleanrooms says, “Whilst there are now a number of quick build cleanroom solutions on the market, including our own Rapid Room range, none offer the same level flexibility around configuration and specification as Rapidbloc. The choice of size, classification and optional extras is yours, in just 4 to 6 weeks.”

The ultra-clean environments are created using HEPA filtration that is 99.99% efficient at 0.3 micron, whilst the envelope uses UltraTech Versatile panels with QuadCore insulated cores to provide a level of airtightness that controls running costs through enhanced energy performance.

Michael continues, “This modular approach delivers a precision-engineered cleanroom with ISO-compliant performance, within an expedited time frame. Thanks to the use of standard parts and pre-determined design calculations, even the quotation and design stages are expedited, so clients benefit from a rapid response through the entire project.”

Connect 2 Cleanrooms also provided consumables, furniture, monitoring equipment and cleanroom training services.

To find out more about Rapidbloc Cleanrooms, visit www.connect2cleanrooms.com/rapidbloc.

 

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GeoCeramica paving tops off Greenford Quay development

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Brett Landscaping has supplied its GeoCeramica porcelain paving for the roof terraces and public spaces of a major new mixed-use development in London, overlooking the Grand Union Canal.

More than 1400 m2 of GeoCeramica has been installed across the communal areas of the £151 million Greenford Quay development, with 150 m2 used to provide a highly aesthetic finish to the communal roof terrace on the tallest tower in the scheme.

Greenford Quay is one of the UK’s largest ‘Build to Rent’ schemes with 1,965 new homes being built across seven main buildings within wide public realm spaces. The aim of the development is to create a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood at the side of the historic Grand Union canal.

 

 

Project architect HTA Design required a high-quality paving system that would complement the curated gardens across the podium courtyards and upper terraces of the development, and a system that could meet the strict specification requirements for use on tall buildings.

The architect worked with the technical team at Brett Landscaping and chose to use the GeoCeramica range of porcelain paving. The range provides the look and finish of natural stone, while containing modern paving technology suited to the demands of the project.

Brett Landscaping were able to demonstrate that not only would the Fiordi GeoCeramica system provide a finish that met the aesthetic requirements of the upper terraces of the project, but that it could meet the loading requirements and ensure its suitability for the building’s design.

GeoCeramica is a hybrid porcelain and concrete paving flag tile with a pre-bonded cementitious water permeable drainage layer.

For the roof-top areas GeoCeramica has been installed on a pedestal system. This is made possible due to the inherent dead weight of each hybrid flag tile and its individual strength characteristics. The product could meet the technical brief without compromising on the aesthetics offered.

The specification of GeoCeramica provided HTA Design with assurance that the paving would prove durable in all weathers and conditions, at the top of the 14 storey Tillerman’s Court (Block 5) on the scheme.

A further 1200m2 of the GeoCeramica Impasto and Fiordi paving was supplied to provide footpaths and private terraces on the podium landscapes. These provide a high-end finish to the communal amenity gardens at first floor level.

Ajay Vohra, Specification Sales Manager – London and South East, Brett Landscaping said:

“The Greenford Quay project allowed the opportunity for Brett’s GeoCeramica to meet the needs of HTA’s brief and vision for the development for its roof and podium terraces. The elegant range of aesthetics available of this high-quality product, is the future choice and the latest progression in paving and roofing materials.

“At Brett Landscaping we offer high specification paving systems that add value to large public spaces and boost those complex intricate detailed areas. The Brett team provides the expertise, and offer the complete service from conceptual or technical design, right through to sale, supply and installation.”

Ian Hainsworth Senior Landscape Architect at HTA Design:

“Working with Brett allowed us to choose a paving system that met the high aesthetic requirements of this landmark luxury development, without compromising on the structural durability, reliability and quality of the installed system.”

“As former industrial estates are reclaimed and converted to modern living developments, there is a need for architects to design public realms that can offer residents a real sense of wide-open space. Greenford Quay is a landmark example of how new community neighbourhoods can be created through careful use of design and high-quality building materials.”

www.brettpaving.co.uk

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Thorn luminaires help revolutionise facilities at a Samuel Ward Academy in Suffolk

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Working on a brief to deliver a first-class facility for the pupils and teachers, Thorn Lighting has supplied both internal and external illumination for the £10 million education block that has revolutionised facilities at a Samuel Ward Academy in Suffolk. The luminaires were chosen to enhance the overall appearance of the state-of-the-art facility and create flexible and adaptable 21st Century learning environment for pupils, whilst providing a low maintenance, energy efficient solution.

The three-storey building replaced the school’s single-storey blocks A and B, which sat at the front of the building and, in addition to classrooms, the block houses the library, the SEN (special educational needs) resource base, specialist music and art rooms and media suites. Funding for the work came from the Government’s Priority School Build Programme with the building providing high standards in terms of natural daylighting, acoustic performance and the internal environment.

 

Thorn’s Arena LED luminaires illuminate the classrooms throughout the building. Their excellent light quality and sound absorbing features minimise the sound reverberation in the classrooms. Modern concrete walls, hard flooring and large amounts of glass all reflect (rather than absorb) sound. The echo effect created in this way can make it difficult to hear the teacher speak, causing students to raise the noise level even further by chatting amongst themselves. The innovative Arena LED minimises this.

Arena is a direct/indirect luminaire that gives the Academy a modern visual appearance. The fitting is available with a wide range of control options and has been designed for flexibility, offering a choice of infills to adapt the length of the system to match all classroom layouts, Arena is fully compliant with BB93 for optimum classroom performance, utilising high-efficiency LEDs to slash energy consumption.

Thorn’s Piazza robust IP65, wall mounted luminaires have been used for the illumination of the exterior of the building. Piazza has unique photometrics with 3 metre forward light throw and 12 metre spacing that also provides a very low upward light throw with less than 2.5% ULOR. Piazza delivers excellent 116 lm/W efficiency with simple installation.

For more information on Thorn and its products, see the website www.thornlighting.co.uk

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INSTANT HOT WATER WITH ARISTON’s AURES SLIM MULTI

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ARISTON’S AURES SLIM MULTI PROVIDES ELECTRIC HOT WATER IN AN INSTANT

The Aures Slim Multi instantaneous electric water heater from Ariston is the ideal alternative to electric storage water heaters, as it requires no time at all to heat up. Water does not need to be stored – instead, it is warmed up immediately when it comes into contact with a powerful heating element as it flows through the unit, resulting in unlimited availability on demand. As a result, the Aures Slim Multi can be installed throughout a home or property close to point of use.

 Capable of producing hot water to serve multiple taps and showers (one outlet at a time – not simultaneously), the Aures Slim Multi is a wall-mounted unit perfectly suited to applications such as kitchens and bathrooms. It also has an ‘A’ class ErP energy rating, making it the most efficient method of providing water at the point of use. There is no energy loss as a result of water being heated instantaneously, while there is no need to maintain a pre-set temperature when not in use. Units are also easy to install and maintain, requiring only a connection to the water supply and a fused spur.

A front facing 4-step dial and LED indication ensures ease of operation, while allowing the power to be set to the desired level for optimal comfort. The LED indicators highlight the selected power level: ‘low’ (4.5kW), ‘medium’ (5kW) or ‘high’ (9.5kW). The Aures Slim Multi is also equipped with a flow sensor system, which initiates instantaneous water heating when an outlet is opened.

 

 

Other advantages include the plentiful, continuous delivery of hot water not being limited by the capacity of a tank, while small dimensions save valuable wall space – as well as eliminate the need for a storage cylinder. This makes the Aures Slim Multi the perfect water heating option for installation in small, narrow spaces, such as under a kitchen sink. As a result, the unit is suitable for applications including utility rooms, garages and conservatories.

Commenting on the instantaneous electric water heater, Victoria Gutierrez, Marketing Manager at Ariston, said: “Our Aures Slim Multi is proving extremely popular in projects where there is no mains gas supply or hot water storage facility present. Their high-quality construction, aesthetic appeal and level of performance, coupled with their space and energy saving credentials, ensure they are a fantastic means of supplying outlets with instant hot water.”

All internal components can be accessed from the front of the unit for easy maintenance, while a double thermal cut-out ensures safety and added peace of mind. Every Aures Slim Multi electric instantaneous water heater is also supplied with a two-year warranty as standard.

 

Further information about Aures Slim Multi can be viewed here.

 

For more details about Ariston and its range of electric water heaters, visit: www.ariston.com/uk.

 

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Roofspace Solutions’ i-House helps Lovell build better

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Roofspace Solutions’ innovative off-site manufacturing (OSM) product i-HouseTM – which guarantees a waterproof dwelling in five days – is being implemented in a Lovell Homes site in Norwich. The result is a 35% timesaving compared to traditional building methods.

 Leading partnerships housing expert, Lovell Homes, prides itself on transforming communities across the UK. As part of its commitment to innovative residential construction and regeneration projects, it chose to embrace i-HouseTM OSM technology by Roofspace Solutions during the building of its latest development.

Crown Meadows in Norwich comprises two, three- and four-bedroom homes. Construction began in June 2020 and is planned to complete in two years – or possibly sooner as Roofspace Solutions’ i-House can create a watertight standard house shell in under a week, while combining quality, speed and safety.

In addition to speed, Lovell Homes specified i-House in 15 of the 69 Crown Meadows plots as part of its aim to reduce waste and dust, while also minimising the risk of accidents.

 

 A new way of working

The i-House uses a bigger and lighter variant of the aircrete block, which are lifted by crane and assembled in a similar sequence to a timber frame build. This results in a much faster construction process than a traditional build.

Intended for domestic property construction of up to three storeys, i-House consists of inner leaves of external cavity walls, separating walls, floors, lintels, cavity closures, insulation and roof trusses, with the inclusion of soffit and fascia for the internal skin of the property.

Roofspace Solutions is working alongside supplier H+H to design and produce the large-scale Celcon Elements, which are manufactured from the same material as the aircrete blocks. This gives them the same advantages, such as outstanding thermal performance and reduced heat loss at thermal bridges.

Manufactured with a width of 600mm and a thickness of 100mm, Elements are designed to be craned into place onto a bed of mortar on standard foundations. Blocks are joined using thin-joint mortar with 2mm (3mm) joints, providing an extremely airtight finish.

The fact that the solution is manufactured off-site, and larger elements are constructed prior to being delivered to the site in Norwich, means less waste and dust is created for workers. This results in a safer and cleaner working environment. Furthermore, workers on site are not exposed to chemicals.

Crucially, as the homes are watertight in under a week, it has increased Lovell Homes’ construction programme, allowing internal trades to begin their work sooner than with a traditional build.

With the additional consideration of building during the time of Covid-19, the OSM solutions enhance Lovell Homes’ stringent social distancing protocols. At the Crown Meadows site, approximately four builders will be able to build six houses in four weeks, with i-House increasing the output per person.

The i-House package also includes floor cassettes and JJI-Joists provided by Pasquill, sister company of Roofspace Solutions, due consistency of quality and supply and a nationwide delivery service. A total of 60 cassettes will be provided to the same 15 OSM plots on the Crown Meadows development, with each home’s first floor containing an average of 3-4 cassettes.

The Pasquill cassettes, which are made with chipboard and softwood, are ideal components to work alongside the i-House as they facilitate faster timescales and dramatically speed up the erection process. This increasingly popular method allows the contractors to install the floors in one day with little on-site work required.

The cassettes are also installed with Pasquill’s JJI-Joists, also known as I-beams, to create ‘quiet’ floor solutions and consistent dimensions provide extra stability. They do not need insulation to gain compliance with Building Regulation Part E (sound) when installed at 400mm centres and above. They are lightweight, stable, easy to run services through and cost effective.

 

 

Building better results

Paul Terry, Managing Director of Roofspace Solutions, said: “The construction industry is facing many challenges. The only way we will be able to ‘build back better’ and meet government and industry targets for housebuilding is by working together and embracing new technologies.

“The Crown Meadows development is coming along well, and we’re glad that Lovell Homes is already experiencing the time-saving benefits from i-House and Celcon Elements. We’re enjoying working on this project with a developer who has such high standards and look forward to seeing the site completed.”

Chris Gray, Senior Construction Site Manager at Lovell Homes, said: “I believe Crown Meadows will be a much quicker build, from start to finish. Of course, it’s difficult to compare like-for-like, but recently a plot went from being a concrete pad to us laying the roof tiles within two weeks – everything fits like a Lego set!

“Based on the success so far, it’s now our ambition to bring in the development a few months ahead of schedule. For the construction industry, it’s another tool to help us get the job done well and meet the demand for housing – while reducing waste and accidents on site.

“The fact it allows us to make a property watertight so quickly has immediate benefits, such as completing the show home quicker, allowing us to drum up local homebuyer interest sooner. Overall, I think this is a flexible solution that would have really useful applications during the winter or further north, where it typically rains more.”

Roofspace Solutions has been part of the Saint-Gobain Group since 2018, as part of its Off-Site Solutions division.

For more information on i-House, click here

 

 

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Thorn’s IQ Beam – classic good looks with the latest innovation

Thorn Lighting’s new recessed ceiling luminaire, IQ Beam combines integrated features and a clean exterior to create a classic look incorporating the latest in lighting innovations.

IQ Beam is available in two microprism optics and three different lumen packages (up to 4300 lm). Offering up to 140 lm/W of efficacy and a UGR below 19, the MPT version is the perfect performance luminaire for task lighting applications such as office and educational environments. The MPT-F version features an additional micro diffuser foil for enhanced comfort with an efficacy of up to 134 lm/W – ideal for corridor applications.

IQ Beam can be a direct replacement for standard 600 mm x 600 mm soft ceiling luminaires, it enables both pull-up and lay-in mounting for tremendous flexibility and is suitable for installation into exposed T, plasterboard and concealed grid ceiling systems.  IQ Beam is available with a 3000K or 4000K colour temperature, CRI>80 and a lifetime of 50 000 hours @ L90 Ta 25°C. It can also be ordered with a daylight/motion detection sensor, emergency lighting and DALI dimmable control gear as well as various pre-wiring options.

Perfectly balanced, IQ Beam delivers distinct illumination to provide a brilliant enhancement to any space. For more information on Thorn and its products,.

 

 www.thornlighting.co.uk

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Don’t let water be the ‘log jam’ in housing developments

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Modern Methods of Construction have been highlighted by Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State as the way forward to help resolve the housing crisis and urged Housing Associations and Local Councils to embrace new technology and methods of working.  However, the log jam to completion of new build projects can be connection of the water supply.  Surface mounted meters allowing ‘plug and play’ style installation can be the solution.

The recent change in lifestyle forced upon us by the COVID 19 pandemic has identified the importance of home and local community environment. In the Secretary of State’s speech to the Chartered Institute of Housing, 10th September 2020, Robert Jenrick, highlighted the impact the period of lockdown had on those with poor housing and the homeless.
The slow-down in new home build that resulted from the COVID 19 restrictions needs to be reversed and Jenrick has made MMC ‘central to the delivery of the new Affordable Homes Programme’ and set a minimum target for the use of MMC1.  His aim is for ‘…the UK to be a leader in MMC, driving new jobs, better skills, as well as faster delivery of homes, and those homes, in turn, being better quality and more energy efficient, with all of the benefits of society and social justice that comes with that.’1
Jenrick urged rapid progress on Social and Affordable Housing.  However, utility connections can often be the weakest link in the improved efficiency the MMC provides.
Water supply is perhaps the most important item within the critical path of construction and is probably the most difficult to achieve. Imagine a situation where your services can be fully installed prior to moving on site, with surface mounted meters allowing ‘plug and play’ style installation.

With Groundbreaker water management system, you have exactly that ‘plug and play’ option – no need to imagine.
The only system of its type, it is designed to be installed at any time during the construction period.  Fully compliant with Water Regulations, it provides an accessible, safe and secure location for the water meter and controls to a specific property.
The concept is simple.  Water services are connected to an externally mounted, pre-installed water service control.  The pre-installation and certification of plumbing can facilitate early approval of water services to a plot.  This allows flexibility in the management and scheduling of a connection to the water mains supply.
There is no need for boundary boxes or meter housings in the footpath, and this simplification of the connection allows for improved efficiency and reduces the time required for highway closures.  An added benefit of removing meter housing from the footpath is that there is no disruption to the footpath, so no reinstatement costs.
Using Technology to Future Proof Housing stock
It is good to see that Jenrick has recognised the need to embrace new technology, to future proof housing stock. Utility companies have not been slow in recognising the benefits of a ‘Smart Home’.  The ability to interrogate and manage energy usage at any given time of day or night has been recognised as an effective way for householders to reduce usage and manage costs
Gas and electricity meters located on external building walls have enabled easy upgrades and introduction of countrywide ‘Smart Meter’ programmes.  However, the traditional location of a water meter in a metal-covered hole in the public highway is not conducive to this new way of thinking. A ‘Smart Water Meter’ located in such a situation is exceedingly poor in transmitting a signal even to a local pick up. With Groundbreaker water management system, ‘Smart Water Meter’ technology can be easily installed, as it is introduced across the UK.  Recent field trials of Groundbreaker have proven that the range of such meters can be over 3Km (2 miles) allowing for remote access and the ability to mange the carbon footprint.

www.groundbreaker.co.uk

1.  www.gov.uk/government/speeches/robert-jenricks-speech-to-chartered-institute-of-housing-cih-2020

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Modular construction is the future – but is it missing something?

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Nick Gander, founder of Energy Carbon, explains why low-carbon far-infrared heating perfectly complements sustainable modular construction.

When it comes to housing, the UK has its work cut out.

It’s estimated the country needs to be building nearly 350,000 homes every year to meet rising demand – which is a huge step up from where we are at the moment.
We need more housing, more quickly – and that requires the construction sector to become a lot more productive.  But if that wasn’t challenging enough, we have to achieve all that while drastically reducing the built environment’s ecological impact too – both in terms of the construction process, and buildings’ carbon footprints over their lifetime.  That might sound like an impossible square to circle, especially given the rapidly shortening time we have to do it in. It’s only thirty years until 2050, by which time the UK’s committed to reaching net zero.  But it’s possible we’ve been looking the solution in the face for decades and not realised it.

Modular construction
Modular construction is nothing new. Millions of British people, in fact, grew up in prefabricated housing built after the Second World War.
But thanks to enormous advances in technology, modern modular buildings are a world away from the flimsy prefabs of the past – and offer a quicker, cheaper and much more sustainable alternative to conventional brick-built construction.
Modular construction is green because it tends to produce much less waste, and also because whole buildings can be disassembled and used again if necessary.
However, many modular buildings still aren’t as green as they could be – and that’s because very often how they’re heated gets overlooked.
How green are the green alternatives?
If you take a sustainably-constructed building, then fit it with a heating system that’s not environmentally friendly, you’ve not got a sustainable building any more.
In the decade ahead, we’re likely to see a drastic reduction in the use of worst-offending power sources like coal, oil and gas, and the old-fashioned heating systems that use them.
However, some alternatives that look very green on the surface aren’t anywhere near as sustainable as they seem once you start digging a little deeper.
Air-source heat pump technology is often presented as the future of heating, but it’s got significant downsides – they’re very expensive, require specialist technicians to install and maintain, have short lifespans, and in some cases the refrigerant they use can itself contribute to global warming.

 

 

Far-infrared
A much better solution – and one that’s very in keeping with the speed and ease of modular construction – is far-infrared.
Infrared radiation is produced by the sun. It’s measured in microns, with ‘near’ infrared sitting between 0.76 and 1.56 microns, ‘mid’ infrared measuring between 1.5 and 4 microns, and anything above 4 microns classed as far-infrared.
Between 8 and 10 microns, to be precise, is the most beneficial to the human body – and it’s exactly this sort of infra-red radiation that the products we supply at Energy Carbon provide.
Fit it … Forget it
Traditional heating systems work on a convection system. Radiators or electric storage heaters draw cold air from the floor, and heat it so that it rises to the ceiling, where it cools, falls to the floor and the process continues in a loop – which can result in poor air quality, as dust particles rise.
Convection can be slow, expensive, and, often, totally ineffective – all you have to do is open the front door, and the heat escapes, taking you right back to square one.  This mix of hot and cold air can also create moisture that causes mould and mildew, and, more importantly, health issues for occupants.
Far-infrared heating is different. Far-infrared does not create moisture as it is not heating the air. The radiant heat warms objects in the room instead of the air itself.
The objects in turn release their own heat, and the room is kept at a far more even, comfortable temperature. With no convection roll, you get a dramatic drop in the amount of dust particles and or mould, which can alleviate allergen-induced asthma.
Additionally, occupants ‘feel’ the energy themselves, much the same as they feel the warmth from the sun. This feeling of warmth allows the heating to run at around 1-2 degrees lower than conventional heating, thus saving further energy.
The far-infrared solution Energy Carbon provides was originally developed by students at the University of Stuttgart.
They had worked for six years trying to create an energy-efficient heating system which was effective, easy to install, and completely safe.
Using industry waste materials, the students engineered a far-infrared heating system which is sustainable, had great carbon-reducing credentials, and produced radiant heat which could travel up to three and a half metres.
The technology is now widely used across Germany, and over 100,000 linear metres of it have been fitted to date.

What’s more, where alternatives need extra skilled trades and engineers to install and maintain, our heating products are incredibly simple to install into the walls or ceilings of a room, using existing trades and requiring no ongoing yearly maintenance.
Fit it … Forget it.

In short, we think far-infrared is the future of heating in modular construction – and if you’d like to learn more, get in touch with Energy Carbon today.

Call 0203 507 1659,

or email hello@energycarbon.co.uk

www.energycarbon.co.uk

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