Rinnai – On Yer Bike to raise money for British Heart Foundation

Rinnai, the UK leader in hot water heating units and systems for all commercial and residential sites, has raised several thousand pounds for the British Heart Foundation with its staff team completing the recent London to Brighton Bike Ride.

The Rinnai team was part of the huge 15,000 plus set of enthusiasts cycling the 54-mile course to raise money for the BHF.

No one came first, and no one came last, “We don’t care if you come first or last – if you take part, then you’re a BHF champion,“ said the charity.

The London to Brighton Bike Ride is the British Heart Foundation’s flagship event starting from Clapham Common in London and finishing on the Brighton Seafront.

“We trained hard for the event, but it is still a long, tough ride if you are not a dedicated cyclist – but the whole Rinnai team finished. Conquering Turners Hill and the steep Ditchling Beacon are really quite serious achievements!” says Rinnai Managing Director Tony Gittings.

“It was fantastic – and a relief – to reach the finish line and be greeted with loud applause and then we had our own celebratory party after where we got our collective breath back!”
Rinnai produces the widest and most comprehensive range of continuous flow water heating systems and units for the commercial marketplace.

For more information on the RINNAI product range visit www.rinnaiuk.com.
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Vortice rallies round!

2018 will see Vortice UK join the British rallying calendar, sponsoring S&S rallying team, in a high speed rallying adventure! The S&S rallying team is made up of driver Elliott Stafford and navigator Lewis Sim. Driver Elliott, 22 has been inspired by driving since a young age and will be heavily reliant upon his teammate Lewis, 25 who has the very difficult job of not only navigating but also instructing on where to turn and what lies ahead. The pair who met a year ago at a previous race are both enthusiastic about the rally and excited to gain valuable driving experience.

On June 24th the team will compete in the Red Kite Stages 2018 rally in the Neath Valley, South Wales. The route will include stages that have not been used since Wales Rally GB in 2012 and all the stages will be in NRW forests. The route covers five special stages and covers 45 stage miles in a very compact route, taking in less than 70 road miles and the start will be on hard standing close to Neath town centre.

National Sales Manager Paul Gunner said “I will be attending the race and cheering Elliott and Lewis on! Vortice Italy sponsors the BP Swiss Rally Team so this is a natural extension to our Group sponsorship programme.”

For more information about Vortice and its products, visit www.vortice.ltd.uk.
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New online tool helps designers with HIU specification

Evinox are excited to announce the launch of the ModuSat® Heat Interface Unit Online Selector. Available via the Evinox Energy website, this intuitive tool recommends the ideal HIU(s) for a district or communal heat network development, based on project parameters entered by the user

With over 15 years of experience in the design and manufacture of interface units for heat network systems, Evinox created the Selector with M&E consultants in mind, aiming to provide a tool that is easy to use, and can help with sizing and selection whilst saving time for the specifier.

Helen Gibbons, Evinox Technical and Design Manager comments: “This unique new tool is an extension of the Evinox Heat Network Design Guide that is used by many M&E consultants in the UK. It draws on Evinox’s experience sizing HIU’s for numerous communal heating projects, and also recommendations from the Swedish District Heating Association Technical Provisions F:101, Danish Standard 439 and the CIBSE CP1 – Heat Networks: Code of Practice for the UK ”

“In addition to the heat interface unit sizing and selection functionality, our new tool provides heating and hot water technical performance information specific to the users’ project, complete with Low Temperature Hot Water (LTHW) calculations for the whole heat network, which can act as a useful guide for the design and specification process.”

A well as all the functionality detailed, the user can also save unit selections and calculations for each project and come back at any time to access or edit them or to create a new selection, making this a really useful resource for consultants.

Find out how the ModuSat® Selector can help with the specification of heat interface units and try it out by visiting selector.evinoxenergy.co.uk or contact Evinox at technical.email@evinox.co.uk for further information.
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Saint-Gobain Weber helps to ease Dublin’s student accommodation shortage

(image courtesy of Bennett Construction)

webertherm XM, the lightweight External Wall Insulation (EWI) system by Saint-Gobain Weber, has been specified for a new-build development in the heart of Dublin.

Providing accommodation for 471 students, the Binary Hub, Dublin’s largest Purpose Built Student Accommodation, will ease pressure on the city’s student housing shortage.

The Binary Hub was opened in 2016 by the Student Housing Company working with main contractor Bennett Construction Limited, an international family owned business with offices and projects in Dublin, London, Germany and Abu Dhabi. The luxury development provides ‘cluster apartments’ with between 4 – 8 bedrooms and ensuite shower rooms. In the heart of the city it is well placed to serve Trinity College and the National College of Art & Design. The building has been meticulously designed to ensure it is stylish, safe and convenient. The accommodation is complete with all facilities including a gym, laundry, study rooms, bike store, landscaped gardens and 24-hour maintenance and security support. The Binary Hub is owned and managed by aparto student, a new student housing group launched in January 2017.

Working within the requirements of current Irish construction regulations, Bennett Construction took the opportunity to work with a number of innovative materials and systems. This included using a Sandwich Panel System (SPS) for the main structure. SPS features two steel plates bonded with a core of insulation.

Fabricated off-site and cut and shaped to fine tolerances, the SPS panels are craned swiftly into place and bolted to the structural steelwork. SPS is approved by many regulatory authorities and used in a wide variety of industrial and commercial structures. The SPS system is much lighter and faster to erect than reinforced concrete; has a lower carbon footprint and offers enhanced insulation properties.

SPS wall and flooring panels were used in the construction of the Binary Hub with webertherm XM external wall insulation system applied to the façade, achieving a high quality, cost efficient build, with improved speed of construction and high thermal performance.

The application of webertherm XM has contributed to a striking, stylish and modern appearance to the Binary Hub and will make a significant contribution to the creation of a high performance and sustainable building.

The application of BBA and NSAI Agrément accredited webertherm XM EWI system provides efficient thermal insulation. In this project Weber calculated a high energy efficient target U-Value of 0.16W/m²K, with the render coat and decorative finish offering a durable, water shedding capacity to protect the building fabric. The system specified 140mm mineral fibre insulation applied to the SPS system which has been covered with a 6mm meshcloth reinforced coat of weberend LAC, a polymer-modified, cement-based mortar. This is applied in two passes before weber PR310 primer is applied, followed by webersil TF decorative finish to achieve a textured render finish in Chalk.

“A project of this scale hasn’t been constructed in Ireland in a number of years,” explains Michael Keogh, contracts manager, Bennett Construction. “And building student accommodation to such a high standard makes a very positive statement in the industry, and will bring benefits to so many.”

The project, with tight boundaries, was not without its challenges. The site is one of archaeological significance and Bennett’s had to accommodate and manage a team of archaeologists allowing full excavation of the ruins of a distillery dating back to the 1700’s. The foundations, which date from 1750-1820, of one of the biggest distilleries of its time were uncovered, recorded and photographed. The site was excavated to its original levels in readiness for the construction of the Binary Hub.

For more information about this project, or for technical support including award winning training courses, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 330 070, or visit www.netweber.co.uk.
A free download of the Weber App for iPhone and iPad users is also available from iTunes and from Google Play for Android smartphones and tablet users. Follow Saint-Gobain Weber on Twitter @SGWeberUK for the latest company news and updates.
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Opening the door to contemporary colour

A new approach to creating beautiful designer doors with an original colour aesthetic is now possible thanks to the new W-Tec 3D+ hinge by SFS.

This ground-breaking hinge allows designers to rethink the visual impact of the hinge within the doorset, providing the option to colour contrast for bold aesthetics, or harmonise the hinge’s colour to complement the door and frame.

European designed and built, W-Tec 3D+ is a highly engineered premium quality hinge which offers unparalleled levels of stability and three-dimensional mechanical adjustability to enable precise installation and long-term reliability. It can also be used for fire doors with a rating of up to 60 minutes, subject to appropriate doorset testing.

It is the perfect solution for aesthetically-led heavyweight timber doors up to 200kg in weight which are fitted into timber or steel frames and are typically suited to high-end commercial, hospitality and residential applications. The scope of applications for doorsets built with W-Tec 3D+ hinges is expanding all the time, with luxury hotels in Mallorca and Turkey just two of the projects which are already benefiting.

SFS manufactures W-Tec 3D+ hinges in any RAL colour to deliver a visually stunning result in contrast or for colour match. Two versions are available for standard and slim doors, both providing reliable stability and durability through SFS’s unique patented 7-axis kinematic mechanism. This utilises three levers to handle the weight of the door in an innovative way which keeps the door straight and prevents elliptical movement when opening and closing. The result is minimum wear and tear, even when door closers are fitted, over a long service life.

W-Tec 3D+ is part of a range of high performance door hinges by SFS which provide solutions for every kind of door. This includes the Easy 3D hinge, a stainless steel hinge range that is popular amongst timber door manufacturers and installers across Europe because of the high degree of mechanically adjustability it offers in three dimensions whilst fitted in situ.

For PVC-U, aluminium and composite doors, SFS is renowned for its Dynamic hinge ranges which help create high performance rebated doorsets thanks to their profile-specific sash plates.

Find out more about the SFS door hinges range at www.sfsintec.co.uk.
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‘Smart Design’ boxes ward off the legionella threat

Chris Goggin of Rinnai looks at how smart design and control options can design out legionella proliferation

Legionella control and risk avoidance thereof are top of the list when designing heating and hot water systems.

The whole supply chain – manufacturers and distributors through contractors to end-users – need to plan and design systems to eliminate the risk of Legionella. It is one area where avoidance and prevention are the only sensible action to take to avoid problems further down the road.

Our modern lifestyle demands that hot water is available on tap at any time, day or night. So how can installers and designers reduce the fear of Legionella breaking out – and give peace of mind to customers and end-users?

Quite simple – limit the volume of storage on your hot water system.

A glance through the Health & Safety Executive ‘Approved Code of Practice’ highlights the vast amount of detailed maintenance needed to keep a stored hot water system Legionella free; the level of work involved is time consuming, expensive and must be adhered to religiously.

According to the HSE stored hot water systems present an enhanced risk for the proliferation of Legionella, especially at the base of calorifiers where the incoming water merges with the existing hot water.

Legionella bacteria multiply where temperatures are between 20-45°C. Water at the base of the calorifier is liable to collect sedimented organic and mineral deposits, which support bacterial growth, including Legionella, which is then distributed throughout the system.

To ensure total safety, therefore, the whole water contents of the calorifier, including at the base, must be heated to a temperature of 60˚C for one hour each day.

A lot of these problems are solved by choosing to install a continuous flow hot water heating system. With a gas-fired continuous flow system there is no cylinder to cause problems because the cold water enters the water heater directly from the mains and is immediately heated to advisory levels.

With Rinnai continuous flow units water temperature for distribution is accurate to ±1˚C. The fact that there is no stratification as there is no storage ensures permanent even temperature. There is no requirement to heat a volume of water just to ensure the elimination of Legionella bacteria as the minimum temperature that a continuous flow unit achieves exceeds advisory levels.

However, when considering design parameters that incorporate secondary return systems pipework and dead legs can act as water storage. ACOP L8 (Legionella Guidance) highlights that (continuous forms of instantaneous) systems installed close to the point of use have a greatly reduced risk of legionella proliferation. Despite this in many instances commercial applications are designed around a secondary hot water return.

So, when the taps or shower heads stop running, after use, the pipework will be full of cooling water capable of breeding Legionella bacteria; therefore you do have stored water and appropriate safeguards must be put in place.

So, what is a smart design consideration to eliminate any risk of Legionella bacteria multiplying in a hot water system without keeping water circulating constantly at 60 degrees? The technology is available in the form of smart controls linked to the water heating system, inside which is a timer channel programme and a temperature controller. The timer will over-ride the temperature control for a short period and then revert back to safe levels. This combination allows for safe running of water at 42°C core temperature during the day and thermal shock the system at 60°C intermittently at times when the building is not in use. By the time the building opens again, core temperature is back down to 42°C for safe use.

Some parts of the hot water system, such as rarely used shower heads or terminal fittings, will require regular maintenance and frequent checks to ensure the hot water system is operating correctly.

It is a very simple technology that takes advantage of innate high-tech controls within the water heater, it eliminates risk from Legionella bacteria and is ideal for use in care homes, hospitals and sports clubs – any large or small scale site.

 

For more information on the RINNAI product range visit www.rinnaiuk.com
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New RIBA-assessed flowing floor screeds CPD by Saint-Gobain Weber

Saint-Gobain Weber, the leading manufacturer of innovative high performance products, systems and technologies for the construction industry, is pleased to introduce their new CPD: ‘Introduction into Flowing Floor Screeds’.

In the industrial environment speed, strength and durability are key to a successful floor installation. Weber’s technically superior range of industrial floor screeds provide these essential attributes creating stronger, smoother, longer lasting floors. The speed of application is up to ten times faster than traditional screeds and the fast drying/curing properties allow forklift traffic or resin to be applied within 24 hours. In the commercial and residential sector Weber’s range of floor screed products have been designed for optimum speed that are capable of achieving a smooth surface that is ready for foot traffic after only a few hours and can be covered with a soft floor covering in just 24 hours. A variety of ancillary products support both ranges and include water-borne primer, glass fibre net, dB matting for impact sound reduction on floors, and a highly moisture tolerant, epoxy resin damp proof system.

This comprehensive CPD presentation covers many subjects from why and where to use floor systems; the attributes of commercial floors; design considerations; the demands of the finished floor that will have an influence on specification, through to renovation, fast-track construction and drying times.

“New content has been designed into this CPD which we know is essential for architects, main contractors, interior designers and applicators,” says Tracey Dempster, head of marketing, Saint-Gobain Weber. “This includes quality control procedures; the benefits of cementitious screeds over traditional screeds; moisture consideration and acoustic flooring system solutions. We’ve also included an application video showing our weberfloor 4310 fibre flow pump-applied, fibre-reinforced smoothing compound as we know this is of essential interest to both designers and applicators.”

British Standards are fully explained in the new Weber CPD and cover use and application of floor screeds; manufacturers’ test data and certification; compliance to an ISO 9001 or ISO 14001 quality system and workmanship on site which is covered by BS 800 part 9.

Now available in PowerPoint format, this one hour long RIBA-Assessed CPD can be presented by Weber’s Specification Team at your premises or at a Saint-Gobain facility or Technical Academy anywhere in the UK. This service is free of charge and available on request.

Weber floor screeds are manufactured in the UK ensuring efficient availability and lead times, adding to the company’s environmental and sustainability policies, reduced CO₂ emissions and transportation costs.

For more information about this CPD, to make a booking, or for technical support including award winning training courses, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 330 070, or visit www.netweber.co.uk. Alternatively, bookings can be made by email: mail@netweber.co.uk

A free download of the Weber App for iPhone and iPad users is also available from iTunes and from Google Play for Android smartphones and tablet users. Follow Saint-Gobain Weber on Twitter @SGWeberUK for the latest company news and updates.

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Material prices continue to rocket

More than half of small building firms say that rising material prices are squeezing their margins and the same percentage have had to pass these price increases onto consumers, according to the latest research by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Small and medium-sized (SME) building firms were asked which materials are in shortest supply and have the longest wait times. The average results were as follows (in order of longest to shortest wait times):

  • Bricks were in shortest supply with the longest reported wait time being more than one year
  • Roof tiles were second with the longest reported wait time being up to six months
  • Insulation was third with the longest reported wait time being up to four months
  • Slate was fourth with the longest reported wait time being up to six months
  • Windows were fifth with the longest reported wait time being more than one year
  • Blocks were sixth with the longest reported wait time being up to four months
  • Porcelain products were seventh with the longest reported wait time being more than one year
  • Plasterboard was eighth with the longest reported wait time being up to two months
  • Timber was ninth with the longest reported wait time being up to two months
  • Boilers were tenth, with the longest reported wait time being more than one year

SME building firms were also asked by what percentage different materials have increased over the past 12 months. On average, the following rises were reported:

  • Insulation increased by 16%
  • Bricks increased by 9%
  • Timber increased by 8%
  • Roof tiles increased by 8%
  • Slate increased by 8%
  • Windows increased by 7%
  • Blocks increased by 7%
  • Plasterboard increased by 7%
  • Boilers increased by 7%
  • Porcelain products increased by 6%

The impact of these material price increases includes:

  • More than half of construction SMEs (56%) have had their margins squeezed, this has gone up from one third (32%) reporting this in July 2017
  • Half of firms (49%) have been forced to pass material price increases onto their clients, making building projects more expensive for consumers, this has gone up from less than one quarter (22%) reporting this in July 2017
  • A third of firms (30%) have recommended that clients use alternative materials or products to those originally specified, this has gone up from one in ten reporting this in July 2017
  • Nearly one fifth (17%) of builders report making losses on their building projects due to material price increases, this has gone up from one in ten reporting this in July 2017

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said “Material prices have rocketed over the past year. The reason for this could include the impact of the depreciation of sterling following the EU referendum still feeding through. High demand due to buoyant international markets could also be contributing to price increases. What’s particularly worrying is that when prices have increased mid-project, almost one fifth of builders have absorbed the increase and therefore made a loss. Also, if material price increases weren’t enough of a headache for building firms, they are also experiencing material shortages with wait times ticking up across a range of materials and products. Worst case scenarios include firms waiting for more than one year for a new order of bricks.”

“The rise in material prices is not just a problem for the country’s construction firms – it is also a problem for home owners. Half of firms have been forced to pass these price increases onto their clients, meaning building projects are becoming more and more expensive. This problem has worsened recently with more than twice as many firms passing material prices on to their clients now compared with nine months ago. What’s more, home owners should be prepared to have to use alternative materials or products to their first choice. One third of firms have recommended that their clients should use alternative materials or products to those originally specified. Now more than ever, it’s important that builders and their clients keep the lines of communication open in order to stay within time and within budget. Specified products or materials may need to be swapped for alternatives or clients will need to accept the additional cost.”

“We are calling on builders merchants to give their customers as much advance warning of forthcoming material prices increases or wait times as possible so that firms can warn their customers and plan ahead. We are also advising builders to price jobs and draft contracts with these material price rises in mind. The FMB’s latest State of Trade Survey shows that almost ninety per cent of building firms are expecting further rises over the next sixth months. This makes quoting for jobs difficult but if builders flag the issue to their client from the outset, and include a note in the contract that prices may be subject to increases, they shouldn’t be left short. What we don’t want is for the number of building firms making losses on projects to increase as this could result in firms going to the wall. A large number of collapsing construction companies will have a terrible knock-on effect in the wider economy.”

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Armstrong Ceilings offers community groups a New Beginning

The use of its new Dune eVo tile on a recent, volunteer-run project has prompted Armstrong Ceiling Solutions to launch a competition via social media which gives a community organisation the chance to win a new ceiling.

The next-generation, ultra-green Dune eVo tile was specified by Maber architects for a new bunkhouse for the Drum Hill Scout Campsite in Derbyshire. The tile, which is 100% recyclable, provides class-leading visuals and improved acoustic performance through a new surface which is both brighter and smoother.

As the new bunkhouse signifies a new beginning for the delighted Derbyshire scouts now Armstrong wants to offer the same opportunity to other community groups through its #eVoNewBeginnings campaign.

As Scout Felix Hughes (pictured right with Explorer Scout Libby Halford) said: “I think it’s a really nice place. It looks a lot better than the old one and it’s a lot more friendly and inviting. It will make a big difference because there is now a lot more opportunity to do stuff than there used to be.
The competition prize is up to 250m2 of Dune eVo tiles and grid plus up to three days of free installation by a member of Armstrong’s national network of approved Omega installers.* The competition is open to any non-commercial project in the UK and Ireland that serves the community

The #eVoNewBeginnings campaign will run on the manufacturer’s social media sites (Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest) throughout May (when the Drum Hill bunkhouse is officially opened) as well as June (Dune eVo’s first-year anniversary), with competition entries judged by two internal and one external judge from Armstrong’s charity of choice Rays of Sunshine. The winner will be the one that most captured their imagination.

Scout Leader and associate director at Maber Lee Smith said of the new Dune eVo tile: “I think it’s another advancement for the ceiling tile in terms of the specification and the acoustic delivery.”

“As a long-time specifier over the past 12 years working in architecture I trust and know the Armstrong product range will deliver what we want, giving us quality and robustness within our budget range.”

On volunteering his time and expertise, he said: “The project is difficult to value due to the generosity of numerous local companies and volunteers giving their free time. If we had approached a main contractor to deliver it would probably be in the region of £600,000 to £700,000 to deliver the scheme.”

Kevin Leahy of Peveril Interiors who installed Dune eVo at the scout bunkhouse, said: “It has been a rewarding project for us. The Scouts association is giving young people from all backgrounds shared experiences that will really equip them with skills that will last a lifetime. To play a small part in that feels pretty good.

“Adding the new Dune eVo tile to the range has gone down really well with both the clients who value the aesthetics and performance and our installation teams who value the new tougher edge which gives a much better installation experience.”

Volunteer camp site manager and project manager Lesley Upton said: “I think it’s amazing what can be done by volunteers giving their time and companies supporting us to provide an outstanding building.”

She said Dune eVo’s recyclability had played a “really important” role. “We need to stop using new resources all the time and use the stuff that we have got on this planet.”

To be in with a chance of winning a #eVoNewBeginnings for your community space, complete a short entry form about the project, detailing why it should win and uploading a photo of the existing building, at www.new-beginnings.com.
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Rinnai is happy motoring aboard the Bedroam bus

Rinnai, the leader in continuous flow gas fired water heater systems, has had one its products featured on prime-time television, being a fleeting start of the small screen. The Rinnai product, a 17e, was on Channel 4’s “Amazing Spaces” presented by George Clarke

‘Bedroam’ is the brainchild of Ollie Kemp, a farmer, motor racing competitor and enthusiast from Melbourne, Yorkshire. He realized there was a lack of onsite accommodation at events that would allow competitors to stay close to their expensive and irreplaceable racing gear and has been quick to come up with an innovative idea.

The constructive and enterprising result of Ollie Kemp’s well observed discontent is the Bedroam bus, complete with 18 Japanese-style pod bedrooms. As well as using it himself for motorsport meets, Bedroam is available to hire. “If you can’t get a hotel when you’re going to a wedding or don’t want to camp at a festival then this is the perfect solution,” he told George Clarke of ‘Amazing Spaces’. Ollie’s industrious endeavouring has resulted with his new business being inundated with bookings.

The Bedroam has two fully-equipped and fully-functional bathrooms with shower, toilet and sink. Sinks and showers are supplied with safe temperature controlled hot water from Rinnai Infinity water heaters working on LPG, complete with MC91 controller, via motion sensor-operated taps. Two Rinnai Infinity 17e external units fitted to the back of the bus drawing water from a bespoke designed tank designed and supplied by Barratt Tanks of Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire.

Bedroam also features a range of added contemporary mod-cons for both indoor comfort and outdoor accessibility. Air conditioning, flat screen TVs, comfortable communal area and a multifunctional outdoor space provided by an enclosed awning are also included.

“I first saw the units in operation at an event where there were luxury mobile showers powered by Rinnai products. On my return, I researched Rinnai online and spoke to my friend Andy, a registered Gas Safe engineer also based in Melbourne, who then ordered and undertook the installation.” Andy Dixon, who runs his own plumbing and heating service, explains:

“The units had to go on the back of the bus as Ollie was struggling to find enough space inside. As the bus has an air con system, I had already put a cooling radiator off the back, so the two Rinnai units sat very handily behind that simply hung on a metal grid attached to the back of the bus.

“Piping was easy. I used plastic pipework for both hot and cold outlets running to a little plant room where the back seats of the bus were originally which is directly beneath the bathrooms from where the water is pumped to the header tank via a small 12V.

“Rinnai’s technical guys were very helpful when I phoned them initially for some advice and installation of the units was really easy. I will definitely be using Rinnai again,” says Andy.

The most recent event for the Bedroam was a River Rat Race, which involves contestants doing a 6-kilometer run with obstacles followed by a river swim. The organisers used the Bedroam for their HQ and for the principal runners to shower. They were very happy as the boilers provided more than enough hot water for everybody. An impressive example of efficiency in performance when considering multiple runners would have required showers at separate times throughout the day and night.

“Demand for the Bedroam is phenomenal and I am thinking about building more, maybe even franchising the concept. Rinnai will definitely be used if and when I go ahead with that,’ concludes Ollie.

For more information on the RINNAI product range visit www.rinnaiuk.com
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