Rinnai CPD courses – full programme on hot water heating systems and delivery

Rinnai, the UK’s leading supplier of hot water heating products and systems, has announced its full programme of approved CPD courses which are now freely available to all sectors of the industry – contractors, engineers, specifiers, building services consultants and interior designers.

There are four basic CPD courses: Energy Efficiency On Demand Water Heating; Continuous Flow & The Future Of Water Heating; Continuous Flow and Excellence in Design; Understanding ACOP L8 and Hot Water Design.

All are available in one batch or as individual ‘stand-alone’ topics. Venues for course delivery can be either the Rinnai state-of-the-art Training Suite by accredited tutors. These CIBSE approved courses are free of any charge.

Rinnai supplies the biggest range of continuous flow hot water heater units and systems currently available on the UK market. All products either fully comply or exceed all UK and EU legislation

For more details on RINNAI products visit www.rinnaiuk.com.
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Rinnai hot water delivery systems for large sites and demands

Rinnai offers a range of A-rated energy efficient continuous flow water heating systems that meet all user demand from the biggest sites-as well as reducing fuel costs, maintenance and minimising any possible downtime.

Large commercial building owners, in both public and private sector whether hospitality, healthcare, education or office buildings can benefit from fully modulating continuous flow water heating systems.

Independent comparisons on the Rinnai range showed 7% savings over the lifetime of the appliances (20 years) against certain traditional storage methods.

This follows another independent endorsement of Rinnai energy efficiency claims – ErP Energy Labelling. The ErP A-rating** the Rinnai models have achieved applies over the complete Infinity range – from small domestic models to XXL sized industrial units.

Rinnai is said to be the only manufacturer that can field a complete range of gas fired continuous flow water heaters that exceeds the demands of new legislation on fuel efficiencies and yield outstanding reliability throughout the life of the appliance.

An example of just one of the Rinnai units is the heavy duty condensing models (HDC), the Infinity HDC1600i. This premium condensing water heater which has been tested to below 20 ppm NOx, produces the lowest emissions on the market and has 107% net thermal efficiencies. The Infinity HDC 1600 renewables-ready low NOx series is the first heater of its kind to utilise Rinnai’s own patented pre-mix burner technology. The newly developed down-firing burner allows increased efficiency and reduces NOx gases. The Infinity 1600i low NOx series is available with an output of 58.4 kw producing 16.2 litres of temperature controlled hot water per minute (or 9.73 per hour) raised at 50°C.

The Infinity Plus solution for large commercial operations has been developed to provide never-ending hot water without costly storage and brings together multiple units of the company’s award-winning condensing continuous flow water heaters into single, easily manoeuvrable modules.

The comprehensive Rinnai Infinity PLUS range offers specifiers and end users a system that guarantees a constant flow of safe hot water at precisely the chosen temperature. Operated via an easy to use built-in digital controller, the water heater provides near mains pressure flow for as long as is necessary, without the need for thermostatic mixer valves. For large building operators who have stringent CSR conditions to fulfil, Rinnai hot water systems can help achieve targets.

For commercial buildings, Rinnai’s development and investment in integral smart controls compatible with sophisticated BMS Gateway compatibility allows easy monitoring to optimise the whole hot water heating system.

As for Legionella control, Rinnai has new technology for secondary return DHW systems where there is a pipework of cooling water that could possibly breed Legionella. This innovation comes in the form of a ‘little grey box’ inside which is both a timer channel programme and a temperature controller.

The ‘little grey box’ ensures the timer will over-ride the temperature control for a short period and then revert to safe levels. This combination allows for safe running of water at 42°C core temperature during the day and 60°C at a time when the building is closed. By the time the building opens again, core temperature is back down to 42°C for safe use. It assists in eliminating risk from Legionella bacteria and scalding and is ideal for use in schools, office blocks and sports clubs to name just a few applications.

**In an ErP competitor comparison, the nearest competing brand to Rinnai Infinity units were also found to perform strongly in both XL and XXL load profiles. In the non-condensing product band the competitor could only produce a B rating for its XXL model while Rinnai scored A for its XL Infinity HD50i. It was the same story for the Infinity HD55i and HD55e XL units against the competitor’s corresponding XXL units. This is a defining key performance indicator for specifiers, installers and end users alike, giving confidence they are buying the best energy efficient kit available today.

For more details on RINNAI products visit www.rinnaiuk.com.
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SFS extends specifier support to drive better quality doorsets

Leading door hinge manufacturer SFS has extended its technical support for architects, interior designers and fit-out contractors to help deliver safe, secure and compliant doorsets which take advantage of the latest hinge technology for long term reliable performance and visual appeal.

The company’s new RIBA-Approved CPD seminar is now available for bookings. Its focus on security and access for the disabled provides essential guidance on the design considerations for external and internal doorsets, and why the hinge plays a pivotal role. The 60-minute seminar recaps on the Secured by Design initiative, along with the PAS 024 security standard that underpins this, and provides practical insights into aesthetics, delivering outstanding performance, Part M and disabled access requirements, the demands of Part L and the thermal performance of windows and doors.

In addition to its new CPD seminar, SFS has also made accessing hinge product information easier, with an updated website offering downloads to all hinge technology solutions, along with direct contact information for its skilled technical team.

SFS, which was exclusively invited to share its specification market knowledge, analysis and experience from a manufacturer’s perspective in the 2017 NBS ‘What Specifiers Want’ report, has worked closely with architects and building contractors for three decades. Its strength and depth in the specification market includes a UK-based Specification Team focused on supporting specifiers with writing NBS clauses.

David Wigglesworth, Managing Director of SFS intec’s UK business, who wrote the article in the NBS report, says: “As a designer, manufacturer and supplier of door hinges we’re well positioned to share our technical knowledge with specifiers but we know how important it is to make this information as available and useful as possible. That’s why we’ve invested in our new CPD seminar and refreshed our website.

“We were delighted to be invited to share our insights in the 2017 NBS report which will be enormously beneficial to anyone working in the specification market. The key findings of the NBS survey indicate that access to information is key, which resonates with our ethos and the way our support is structured – designed to help deliver better quality buildings and maximise client satisfaction. This is particularly so given the high proportion of specifiers who value good relationships with manufacturers and having detailed information easily accessible online.”

Expert technical support has been at the core of SFS’s success in serving the door and window market for more than 30 years with a wide range of exterior and interior door hinges, including the market-leading Dynamic 2D range, as well as fasteners for the building envelope. Operating from its UK HQ in Leeds, the company is part of the Swiss-based SFS Group which has annual sales in excess of £1.1bn and a history dating back to the 1950s serving customers in the construction, automotive, electronics, industrial and medical products markets.

Find out more about SFS at www.sfsintec.co.uk and download the NBS ‘What Specifiers Want’ here.
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New-look offices pioneer use of Armstrong’s bespoke metal baffles

Armstrong Ceiling Solutions has marked the first use in the UK of its wood-effect metal baffles, alongside other innovative systems, in a prestigious £3.9 million office refurbishment.

The manufacturer’s VP-500 vertical metal baffles with a US Walnut finish were specified by frequent Armstrong users BPR architects for Blake House (formerly Teal House), a three-storey office building on Cowley Business Park, coincidentally about one mile from Armstrong’s own offices in Uxbridge, Middlesex.

The 300mm-high metal baffles bring a contemporary linear aesthetic to a new lobby extension and refurbished main stairs alongside 2,800m2 of Armstrong’s 600mm x 600mm metal MicroLook tiles in a Prelude 15mm grid in the open-plan office areas, Armstrong’s new Drywall Grid System (DGS) for plasterboard ceilings in staircase areas, and Ultima+ Vector 600mm x 1200mm mineral tiles on a 24mm grid in the core areas.

The new look for client Henry Boot Developments involved increasing the size of the 1990s steel-framed building from 22,000ft2 to 30,000ft2 by adding extra office space to the rear, remodelling the internal core layout and building a new double-height entrance lobby at the front to enhance its dated appearance and attract large corporations as lease holders.

Special attention was also given to the specification of fixtures and fittings and communal spaces, much of which feature black walnut to echo the Armstrong baffles, without over-prescribing the design.

As well as delivering an exciting architectural aesthetic, the Armstrong metal baffles enable easy integration of services and achieve the required acoustical level via the use of perforated sides and an acoustic inlay fleece. They are also highly scratch resistant, manufactured from up to 30% recycled steel and are quick and easy to install.

BPR project architect Ross McMahon said: “We used Armstrong’s wood-effect metal baffles in the new lobby extension. They soften the acoustics in the lobby and the timber effect brings the outside environment of trees inside the building. They also matched the walnut finish with ‘real’ wood used in the interior such as the doors, reception desk and hand rails.”

Ross added: “We specify Armstrong because their product portfolio is comprehensive. We have used and trusted their products over many years and so unless they didn’t provide a particular product that a client requested we would be unlikely to look elsewhere.”

For this particular project Ross added: “We have a long-standing relationship with Armstrong. The sales rep who visited us was very knowledgeable and we were impressed by him. The client likes the softening of the acoustics and is pleased with the aesthetic tying in with the real wood finishes.”

Ian Mitchell of CPC Interiors, who carried out the ceilings package of the Category A fit-out for the principal contractor, Apex Contractors, said: “Our team worked closely with the electrical contractors to ensure the Armstrong baffles and the lights were installed in consideration of the reception desk and seating.

“This was a refurbishment of an existing building to get it ready for future letting. The landlord gained planning to extend the building by approximately 30% which entailed a new escape staircase at the rear of the property. While all necessary approvals and construction of this area was undertaken, works to the existing areas had to continue to keep to the client’s programme.”

More information is accessible via the Armstrong Ceilings website https://www.armstrongceilings.com/commercial/en-gb/ or the manufacturer’s app which is available from both the Apple store as well as the Google Play store, or by clicking on one of the links below with your mobile device www.armstrong.com/CeilingDownloads-Apple or www.armstrong.com/CeilingDownloads-Android.

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Brio CPD for sliding and folding door hardware and tracks

Brio, the leading sliding and folding door architectural ironmongery designer and provider, is hitting the CPD trail with a module designed to familiarise architects and specifiers with the different types of sliding/folding interior and exterior door systems.

Brio has signed up with the RIBA CPD Providers Network to offer specifiers the opportunity to view and understand the different applications of each door system, and where they can be used.

The course, presented by Brio’s expert tutors, also clearly explains terminology; for example, the different applications of bi-fold, bi-passing, bi-parting, multi-directional, single folding and single run doors to name just a few.

The CPD module also sets out the three basic rules for choosing the right sliding door hardware for any job as well as getting to grips with BS EN 1527 for sliding and folding door hardware. Those three basic rules are that top hung sliding door hardware is specified whenever possible, in preference to bottom roller; door weight should be carried by two hangers only; and, sliding door hardware suitable for the door weight should be specified as system capacity is based on a single door, not the sum of the doors.

The CPD also has useful guidance, for example, on what should happen after deciding on the type of system required, informing course delegates what the next steps are to select the fixing requirement – soffit, face fix or other – then indicate the size of the opening, number of panels required and the panel configuration. Whether timber, aluminium or composite, specifiers will need to know the weight per panel and whether the opening is in or out.

Delegates will also hear why it is important to specify ‘regional’ hardware – is it to be used in a coastal or non-coastal area? Architectural ironmongery that can stand up to salt erosion that is robust enough to handle the constant buffeting of strong winds over its lifetime is essential for coastal areas.

The Brio CPD is a worthwhile and interesting module that will leave delegates more confident about specifying the right architectural ironmongery for the job and with a good understanding of the products on the market that can help them turn their design vision into practical reality.

Information on construction health and safety/CDM, sustainability and environmental issues is also covered in the CPD seminars.

For more information please visit www.briouk.com.
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Celuform products included on BIM Store

Cellular PVC fascia, cladding and soffit manufacturer Celuform has joined BIM Store.

BIM, which is short for Building Information Modelling, is a process for creating and managing information on a construction project its lifecycle.

It includes digital descriptions of every aspect of selected products in the Celuform range, making it easier for specifiers to coordinate different aspects of a project.

Celuform, which has been operating for four decades, has established partnerships with some of the key house builders and registered social landlords in the UK.

Owen Thorogood, sales and marketing director for Celuform, said: “Including Celuform soffit and fascia products on BIM Store will make it easier for our customers to manage their projects from end to end.

“Celuform has a reputation for being the specifier’s choice, so adding key products to BIM Store is a natural development.”

You can see the whole range of Celuform content now available on BIM Store here: https://www.bimstore.co.uk/manufacturers/celuform
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Updated Lux Intelligent Savings Calculator Demonstrates Retrofit Emergency Light Testing Savings

Advanced has recently updated the savings calculator on its Lux Intelligent website to demonstrate the savings customers can achieve by retrofitting its cloud-enabled emergency light testing system.

The original savings calculator was born out of Advanced’s confidence in the savings Lux Intelligent could deliver to end users, facilities managers and maintenance companies. Growing requests from the retrofit market prompted the change, as Lux Intelligent can replace old or discontinued systems and can usually be installed on existing wiring with installed lights easily converted.
When lights are tested manually, an engineer must physically walk the building and cut power to the emergency lights, forcing them to operate on their secondary supply. He or she then needs to reinstate the mains power and confirm that the batteries are charging properly. This this is a time-consuming and tedious task that is not always completed accurately or reliably.

Added to that, it is not practical to disable the power for whole areas of a building during normal operational hours, so the process must be staggered or done outside of office hours. Also, in case of a real emergency, no area of a building can be left without emergency lighting for the period after a test while the batteries are recharging.

Automatic testing using Lux Intelligent simplifies the entire process and is incredibly cost-effective, especially when using cloud-based monitoring via mobile or web app, which completely does away with the need for compiling manual reports and simplifies maintenance management.

Commenting on the new retrofit-focused feature Robin Kemp, Lux Intelligent’s National Sales Manager, said: “We developed the savings calculator to show how much people could save by installing Lux Intelligent. We’ve seen a significant growth in installations, driven by Lux’s cloud functionality and ability to cover all a site’s lighting testing needs, so users need only invest in one system. The ease of installation of the system, particularly in retrofit markets, has also grown quickly and the updates reflect this.”

Users can access the updated savings calculator here.
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Charcon Strengthens Specification and Sales Teams

Charcon, the commercial hard landscaping division of Aggregate Industries, has strengthened its service offering with three new appointments across its specification and sales teams.

Andy Johnston joins Charcon as its new Specification Manager. An experienced key accounts manager, Andy brings with him a wealth of experience from the architect and designer sectors. Reporting to the National Specification Manager, Clinton Young, Andy will be responsible for managing existing clients and developing new relationships with architects, specifiers and local authorities in the Midlands and East regions.

Commenting on his new appointment, Andrew says: “Commercial landscaping is a fascinating industry and one which I am proud to now be a part of. Interpreting and understanding our clients’ design intent is at the core of my approach to ensure delivery of tailored and successful projects, time after time.

“It was an easy decision to join the team and the extended Aggregate Industries family. I view Charcon as a progressive and innovative company, with much to offer the landscaping sector. My personal mission is to inform the existing and up and coming architects of the future, who will be shaping our landscapes for decades to come, on the full array of what Charcon has to offer.”

In addition to Andy’s appointment and in response to growing business opportunities in the North and South Central areas, Charcon has also bolstered its sales team by recruiting two Territory Sales Managers.

Luke Walker will be covering the Northern regions. With over 10 years’ experience working in various roles, Luke has developed an extensive knowledge of the market, as well as excellent commercial relationships with key contacts, and is looking forward to the fresh challenge of working for a manufacturer. Michael Drew will be responsible for the South Central region.

Mark Barter, Sales Director for Charcon, comments: “We are delighted with the calibre of new blood joining our business and the insights and experience they collectively bring to Charcon. On the back of Patricia Madingou and Robert Davenhall joining us in February and November respectively, this is our third new specification manager within the past six months and our sales forces has grown significantly.

“By investing in our people, we now have a robust team of specification and territory sales managers operating across the UK, reflecting our commitment to offer a more dedicated and personal service to our clients.”

Charcon offers the commercial sector a comprehensive range of paving, natural stone, kerbing and drainage via its hard landscaping product range. It is also able to offer a full design and support service from project concept to completion, and provides innovative and integrated solutions for architects, civil engineers, landscape professionals, house builders and contractors in almost every aspect of the construction industry.

To find out more, visit www.charcon.com.
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Rinnai Rugby League sponsorship now has its own video game!

Rinnai, the UK’s leader in continuous flow hot water heating delivery systems, has enjoyed a big dividend in its sponsorship of Widnes Vikings rugby league team.

The company’s sponsorship – the Rinnai name appears on the back side of the shorts – is now featured in a video game that is proving a popular success in both the UK and Australia where it has been mass marketed.

“We are absolutely delighted at the amount of media coverage – in print, broadcast and online – that our sponsorship has given our brand name and our range of continuous flow hot water heating units. And now we have a video game that, again, features our name,” says Chris Goggin for the company.

“Rinnai is a worldwide brand name in its field and has taken some major global sponsorships – including the Queensland Reds, The World Club World Cup event held January this year in Tokyo, the World Ice Skating Championships and the US Nascar competition held in Daytona, Las Vegas and other major American venues.

“The Widnes Vikings are also local to our own UK headquarters so it is all an excellent fit. We look forward to working with the team and staff.”

For Widnes Vikings CEO James Rule says “Our business and the success we produce on and off the field is driven by the quality of our people and it has been evident working with Rinnai that we have welcomed into the Widnes Vikings “One Club” family a committed partner staffed by quality people who buy into our vision and who want to play an integral role in moving forward with excellence”.

The sponsorship package has also seen the Rinnai name featured in several ’live’ televised games on Sky Sports and in TV shows such as BBC’s ‘The Super League Show’.

For more information on the RINNAI product range visit www.rinnaiuk.com.
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Makita’s new 10.8v BL rotary hammer CXT is a ‘Mighty Mini’ – big power, small size

  • 16mm in concrete with 4,800 impacts per minute from 1.1 joules
  • SDS-PLUS with one-touch sliding chuck
  • Weighs just 2.0kg including 4.0Ah Lithium-Ion battery

Makita is expanding the increasingly popular 10.8v range of power tools where the superb machine power performance is coupled with the compact physical size of the machines. This valuable combination of power and features, integrated into the smallest possible machine profile, makes this range attractive to any professional tradesman working in confined spaces or for prolonged periods of use where a full size machine would prove cumbersome.

The new Makita HR166D 10.8v BL rotary hammer drill, which features the sophisticated Makita Brushless motor technology, has the appearance and features of its 18v ‘big brother’ version but is a third smaller in overall dimensions. This new rotary hammer will run up to 680rpm and generate up to 4,800 impacts per minute. With 1.1 joules of energy the new HR166D will punch a 16mm hole into concrete; 13mm in wood and 10mm in steel.

The overall body design delivers excellent machine balance with the Brushless motor and driveline positioned directly above the battery, with the rear anti-vibration handle and side-handle providing ideal working control of this powerful but tiny machine. Weighing just 2.0kg with a 4.0Ah battery fitted, this compact and lightweight machine has electric brake, variable speed trigger and a constant speed control, and LED job light.

The SDS-PLUS chuck features the proven Makita one-touch sliding operation. It has two operating modes selected by the rotary switch on the body. It can operate in rotary-only mode for drilling wood or metal and rotary hammer mode bringing the powerful hammer action into play. This ‘mighty mini’ 10.8v BL rotary hammer CXT will quickly become a popular selection for compact power together with Makita’s proven and robust reliability.

It is supplied complete with two 4.0Ah batteries and charger in a Makpac case, or as a body only unit for those operators with adequate numbers of 10.8v batteries.

Two angle drive tools have also been added to the 10.8v range. The new Makita TL064D Angle Impact Driver CXT runs up to 2,000rpm and can deliver up to 3,000 impacts per minute and generates a powerful 60Nm maximum tightening torque.

Weighing just 1.6kg this useful impact driver will drive home an M12 bolt, M8 machine screw, HT bolt and 75mm coarse thread screw. The slimline body with soft-grip handle can accommodate the drive head fitted at 12 different positions for convenient use.

The new Makita TL065D 10.8v Angle Impact Wrench CXT with 3/8” square drive will drive an M12 and M8 high tensile bolt.

Both machines have aluminium drive heads with phosphorescent protection ring, variable speed trigger, electric brake and forward/reverse selection. Where access is restricted these compact and slim angle tools will prove ideal for many applications.

For more news and product information about Makita UK please visit www.makitauk.com. Follow us on Twitter @MakitaUK, Facebook.com/makitauk and google.com/+makitauk
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