Latest innovations and products in the interiors section of the construction industry.

Intelligent home air solutions with Polypipe Ventilation’s new HRX-aQ MVHR systems

Polypipe Ventilation has announced its next generation of Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) appliances – the Silavent HRX-aQ, which intelligently manages air conditions for maximum homeowner comfort, whilst also being easier to design-in.

Properties come in different design styles, fabrics, locations and orientations, all of which have an impact on their thermal behaviour. Furthermore, occupants’ comfort levels can vary significantly, with one person’s comfortable temperature being another’s overheating point. The HRX-aQ has been designed by Polypipe Ventilation to take these factors into account, matching ventilation rates to the internal environment and occupants’ requirements for maximum comfort, whilst also being the quietest and most compact Silavent MVHR unit available.

This is achieved through advanced AMIE (Air Management for Indoor Environments) technology including features such as digital humidity control, automated summer bypass and accurate system balancing.

Unlike conventional humidity sensors, the HRX-aQ enables occupants to have direct control over managing the humidity levels in their home to suit personal comfort levels. By accurately measuring air humidity, the HRX-aQ’s extract speed automatically changes from background to boost as the level of humidity increases, thereby providing optimal ventilation performance.

Similarly, the HRX-aQ features advanced bypass control, programmable by occupants based on time or temperature. In standard mode the MVHR units work by warming fresh air drawn into the building using the heat from waste stale air extracted from the kitchen and wet rooms. In conjunction with multiple time controlled bypass options (night time free cooling), the HRX-aQ also detects when the air temperature reaches a pre-set level and intelligently activates the bypass mechanism allowing in cooler, fresh and filtered air.

Control of these features is achieved via a compact Bluebrain control, which also provides homeowners with helpful maintenance reminders for cleaning and replacing filters to ensure performance of the unit is maximised and air quality maintained.

From just 199mm in depth the HRX-aQ MVHR unit is the smallest Silavent ceiling/void mounted unit of its type and weighs down to just 7.9kg, making it compact and light enough to be easily installed in the most restrictive of ceiling voids. This is particularly important for many new build developments where space is at a premium. The unit which incorporates 204x60mm off-set socket connections, can be simply designed-in with a straight in-and-out duct run, making the specification and design process much quicker and simpler. This also enables any duct crossover to be more easily designed and allows the unit to be directly fitted to Polypipe Ventilation’s Domus 204x60mm ducting, for an air-tight connection.

The HRX-aQ is also exceptionally quiet. With background (normal) ventilation down to 24dB(A) (typically no louder than a whisper), the HRX-aQ is one of the quietest MVHR units in the market. Manufactured from high density EPP (expanded polypropylene) material for optimum sound reduction, combined with integral flow straighteners for reduced internal resistance, the highly efficient HRX-aQ ensures that break out and induct noise is minimised.

As with Polypipe Ventilation’s previous Silavent MVHR ranges, the new HRX-aQ remains extremely efficient. When used with a kitchen and one wet room, at typical installation, the HRX-aQ provides an 88% heat exchange performance and boasts a very low Specific Fan Power down to 0.66W/(l/s).

There are eight HRX-aQ models available to suit a wide range of residential properties, including units with a specialist heat exchanger technology to further improve air quality and provide comfortable humidity levels. HRX-aQ ‘Total Heat’ exchangers will not just extract wasted heat from wet rooms but also the latent energy in the humidity. By specifying this heat exchanger, the HRX-aQ will become an Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) system, allowing optimal air comfort.

These specialist heat exchangers will also remove the need for a condensate drain; providing extra flexibility on where to site the unit.

Through a process called diffusion, the HRX-aQ ‘Total Heat’ technology allows for the exchange of heat and optimum levels of moisture to be transferred, so that the incoming air is able to harmoniously react with the home environment – whether it be summer or winter.

The Silavent HRX-aQ has been designed to work most efficiently when used with Polypipe’s Domus duct systems, including its new Flow Control Plenum and High Efficiency Green Line Bends, which reduce duct bend resistance by up to 60%. Domus duct systems offer improved system performance through the exacting tolerances and engineered fit of the system, whereby pressure drops are minimised and air leakage virtually eliminated.

Polypipe Ventilation has a well deserved reputation for quality, supported by excellent technical support, from a market leading manufacturer and designer. It is well placed to offer immediate, practical solutions to Building Regulations Parts F & L. The company continues to provide differentiated solutions in the private and social housing sectors, transforming the way developers, specifiers, installers, home owners and distributors meet emerging environmental standards.

For further information on the Silavent HRX-aQ MVHR appliances, please go to www.bluebrain.co.uk or call on 03443 715523. Polypipe Ventilation’s full range of systems can be seen at www.polypipe.com/ventilation.
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Luxury car showroom specifies COMPAC quartz

The largest Rolls-Royce showroom in the world is in Abu Dhabi and features COMPAC large format quartz tiles for the flooring area throughout the showrooms’ display area.

This state-of-the-art facility, measures 900 square meters and houses five Rolls-Royce cars, a coffee bar and a “client configuration lounge” including colour and trim samples to allow clients to customise their cars.

COMPAC quartz in a Nacarado finish was specified for the showroom flooring due to its luxurious finish which complements the showrooms ultra-modern design and of course the beauty of the cars.
Its high performance capabilities were also a key factor – COMPAC’s renowned engineering skills have achieved virtually zero porosity and an extraordinary hard surface which has a high resistance to abrasions, heat and staining, importantly, it is easy to clean and maintain.

Delivering excellent whole life costings, quartz surfaces from COMPAC will enhance any project and provides the designer with a stunning and versatile material to work with.

For more information please visit www.compac.es.
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Classic on show at Tate Modern extension

The Tate Modern extension, designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron, is being hailed as the most important new cultural building in the UK since the British Library in 1998.

The ten story building’s twisting, pyramid-like shape features the world’s first gallery spaces dedicated to live art, film and installations – its height responding to the chimney of the existing Tate Modern building which was originally designed as a power station.

For the buildings washroom facilities, Kemmlit’s floor to ceiling Classic Cell cubicle system in a black finish was specified.

Classic Cell with its straight profiled lines, is a timeless design classic and features 42mm thick smooth surfaced welted doors with special inlays which guarantee a high degree of privacy and noise reduction.

The doors are designed with narrow gaps between the ceiling and the floor.

Concealed edges and recessed leg supports produce an elegant yet functional design, Its robust construction makes it the ideal choice for all types of washroom applications.

Classic Cell which is available in a range of colours including a new solid black crystal coat varnish finish, is part of an extensive range of high performance cubicle and locker systems from Kemmlit UK.

For more information please visit www.kemmlituk.com.
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Former Chocolate Factory Transformed

The former Terry’s chocolate factory in York is been transformed into an exclusive housing development called “The Residence”, offering luxury living in a historic setting. This prominent 5 storey Grade II listed building is being carefully converted into over 170 stunning and spacious apartments and penthouses.

Evinox Energy worked closely with The PJ Livesey Group to provide a comprehensive district heating solution to suit this unique development. This includes the primary network design, prefabricated plant room skid, heat interface units, and ongoing service and maintenance of the plant room and HIU’s. In addition, Evinox will also provide a billing and full revenue management service, including fully itemised energy bills for residents and a billing app to manage their account online.

District Heating System

The district heat network that has been installed at the chocolate factory re-development, supplies the residents with thermal energy for heating and production of domestic hot water. The use of this type of system ensures that the listed façade of the building is maintained with no requirement for individual boilers and flues or a gas network around the building.

A district network offers considerable energy savings when compared to individual gas fired boilers, and greatly reduced carbon emissions for the scheme as a whole, which was very attractive to the developer The P J Livesey Group.

Evinox Energy specialise in Communal and District heating solutions. Contact us today on 01372 722277 or visit www.evinoxenergy.co.uk for further information.
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New Altro Showroom London created by Ab Rogers Design

Leading flooring and walling solutions company Altro has worked with internationally renowned Ab Rogers Design to create an inspiring, interactive new showroom that showcases a multitude of colourful and creative possibilities, and challenges perceptions of flooring and walling products.

The innovative space was created by Ab Rogers Design in collaboration with Altro to celebrate the colour and creative flexibility of Altro’s products. “The showroom immerses you in the essence of Altro, exploring its ethos as a manufacturer of inspirational products,” explains Ab Rogers. “It was exciting to have this huge palette of products from which to create a gallery of Altro and to work with a client who understands our fascination with colour and the powerful effect it can have on an environment.”

The Altro Showroom London has been created as an interactive space, with Altro’s many and varied products available to see, touch and take away, and a range of digital tools to help bring ideas to life. Resources include Altro’s digital kiosk where you can scan product samples, find out more about ranges and colour options and then email the information to your own account – perfect if you don’t want to carry samples around with you.

Altro’s new Space visualiser tool allows you to select Altro flooring and wall cladding solutions and place them into different 3D environments, including a bathroom and commercial kitchen. The Altro Space visualiser allows you to see how Altro products and shades look like in-situ and from all angles, meaning you can choose the right options for your installation with even more confidence.

As you would expect from a company renowned for the quality of its customer care, there are also friendly, knowledgeable Altro staff on hand to discuss everything from design trends to technical product details whenever you visit the Altro Showroom London. You can also book the showroom for meetings.

Altro’s CEO Richard Kahn is delighted to see the long-planned concept brought to life. He said: “We chose to work with Ab Rogers Design as they create spaces that enhance physical and emotional wellbeing, that transform people’s environments – completely aligned with Altro’s ethos. They have used Altro products for years and we knew they understood all that Altro has to offer. Their design is a celebration of the possibilities that can be achieved with our products and solutions.”

Visitors to Clerkenwell Design Week in May were the first to experience all that the Altro Showroom London has to offer. Architects, designers, existing and new customers had plenty to say about the new resource, describing it as “playful and inventive”, “exciting and creative”, “fun and inviting”, “captivating and inspirational.” They said that “focusing on the visual and tactile experience is a great shortcut to developing a specification”, and that “it’s a comfortable space I could spend time in to experiment with Altro products.”

The Altro Showroom London is at 15 Clerkenwell Green. It is open Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.00pm, and at other times by appointment. Drop in to see us, or call 020 7490 8237. Visit www.altro.co.uk for more information.
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Rinnai PHEX solo success showcase of continuous flow water heating for domestic and commercial installations

Rinnai scored a big success at PHEX 2016 with its Solo recirculator water heating range, an industry-leading A class commercial and domestic hot water heating unit suited to all domestic and commercial sites and installations.

The Rinnai Infinity Solo condensing and low NOX water heater is the first of its kind to combine the advanced technology of wall mounted continuous flow water heaters with a stainless steel storage cylinder, all in one compact footprint.

“Rinnai innovation and advanced technology is now a known alternative to traditional technologies. The show established that the Rinnai brand is now synonymous with the values of quality and cost effectiveness, it was incredibly satisfying to speak to so many installers and users who have become brand fans” says Rinnai’s Chris Goggin.

The design parameters of the Solo empowers specifiers, designers, installers and engineers to benefit from unique Rinnai technology in applications where it was not previously possible. For example, the Infinity Solo with both 35kW and 54kW sized appliances, ensures sites with a smaller gas meter can readily use this technology. The larger Infinity Solo model will also act as a high-efficiency alternative to gas fired storage appliances that exist in today’s market.

The cylinder is stainless steel and this reduces the weight compared to glass lined models, and makes transportation and installation a lot easier. As well as the difference in weight, the cylinders also have extremely low heat loss figures (as low as 1.41kW/h day), so the user pays less to maintain the heat within the tank.

One other benefit of the Infinity Solo using a stainless steel cylinder is that the life expectancy of the material is far greater than that of a glass-lined equivalent as glass suffers from thermal shock causing it to crack after a period of time.

The Infinity Solo range is also renewables compatible and supplied pre-fitted with a coil, meaning that the primary energy source will always be from renewable gains and the complementary Rinnai water heater will only apply the precise amount of gas to boost the difference in temperature.

Rinnai manufactures the energy efficient Infinity range of gas fired continuous flow water heaters and space heaters. The Infinity brand carries the widest range of condensing water heaters on the market today with the most impressive efficiencies in operation, leading the field in technological innovation.

The company’s technically advanced condensing hot water heating units are precision engineered to provide simple, effective solutions for all types of commercial applications from caravan parks, restaurants and laundries to factories and office buildings as well as social and domestic housing projects. The units are renewable-ready (suitable for use as a temperature booster for solar thermal and heat-pump).

Rinnai also offers a complete design and selection survey to assist with any domestic or commercial project.

Rinnai personnel reported that throughout PHEX 2016 the Infinity Solo had the most enquiries of all products on the stand.

For more details on RINNAI products visit www.rinnaiuk.com.
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Redring introduces five-year guarantee on Selectronic Premier range

Redring’s Selectronic Premier care shower range is now available with a class-leading conditional five-year warranty.

The UK’s number one care shower, which achieved the highest A class energy efficiency rating in line with the Energy-related Products Directive, will be supplied with the warranty on new purchases, providing guaranteed performance and peace of mind to specifiers and end-users.

The thermostatic shower has been a popular choice in the care sector for over 25 years, due to its ability to deliver water at a constant and safe temperature. Large one-touch buttons offer easy control, and audio feedback allows all changes to be clearly communicated to the user.

The inclusion of smart data logger technology means that showering patterns can be tracked at all times to save energy and monitor usage, and a unique fault-finder system allows problems to be easily diagnosed and solved.

The introduction of the five-year guarantee coincides with the launch of a new Selectronic product brochure, complete with full details of the range and an information leaflet to explain the benefits of Selectronic to carers and end-users.

The new guarantee provides two additional years, above the existing three-year warranty and is conditional on the purchase being registered with Redring within 30 days, via the warranty card supplied in pack.

For further information on the Selectronic Premier range or to download the new brochure, please visit www.redring.co.uk.
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More than just academic: The importance of lighting controls solutions tailored for education applications

Important legislative changes have impacted on the use of lighting control systems within the education sector. Contractors must now provide controls which deliver greater energy savings in line with increasingly stringent regulations around sustainability. Additionally, these must be designed to meet each institution’s precise operational requirements, making decision-making around lighting and controls more complex.

Meanwhile, lighting controls have become significantly more sophisticated in functionality and quality. This allows specifiers and installers to select the most appropriate products for each customer, with expectation from end users around lighting controls increasing considerably.

There is now greater emphasis within BREEAM on consultation to truly understand client needs. Similarly, the implementation of BIM requirements means specifiers, armed with this in-depth understanding, must select fully compliant products.

A valuable lesson

As in any sector, it makes sense to select a lighting controls partner with significant experience in educational projects. Where schools and educational facilities differ from commercial spaces or offices is that the primary objective is to create an environment optimal for learning.

Budgetary constraints in the education sector cover both initial cost of purchase and delivering ongoing reduction in energy usage.

For instance, occupancy-sensing controls ensure lighting is used only when required, creating a well-lit classroom suited to effective learning while minimising unnecessary energy consumption and cost.

The best of both worlds

Typically, there will be three or four banks of lighting in a classroom – one close to windows, with another at the front where the whiteboard is. A lighting control system adjusts lighting accordingly to account for varying levels of artificial and natural light.

Typically, this means the lights nearest to the windows will be dimmable, and on a sunny day may dim down to as low as 25% of full output. Further into the space, depending how far the daylight penetrates, other rows may dim down to, say, 75% – or even remain at 100% output.

With widespread use of interactive whiteboards and projectors, dimmer switches help focus students’ attention as these can be used to dim light elsewhere within the teaching space.

Many classrooms, particularly in secondary schools, are used by numerous teaching staff and support staff outside teaching hours. This means the control interface must be easy to use by individuals unfamiliar with that classroom and with varying degrees of technical competence.

Versatility

Classrooms are often also used for extra-curricular and community-based activities. To optimise energy use, it makes sense to implement flexible systems which can cater for this. The absence of such measures can lead to wasteful energy consumption and increased cost, as lights are left on when only a few classrooms, connecting corridors and stairways are in use.

Similarly, rooms in universities and colleges are occupied sporadically, highlighting the need for automated systems ensuring lights are kept on only when in use. Selecting the right occupancy detection can deliver significant savings. In a classroom, for instance, a single microwave detector may offer the same control as two or more PIR detectors, reducing capital costs and cabling requirements.

The same applies to corridors, where the directional qualities of occupancy detectors can provide maximum coverage with the minimum number of sensors.

Conclusion

Lighting controls are continually evolving to meet the precise needs of the education sector. Correctly chosen solutions can help create the optimal learning environment. Seeking advice from those with specialist knowledge and experience in these crucial areas can help ensure clients receive the best solution.

The new Vitesse Plus, a seven-channel lighting control system by CP Electronics, has been specially designed with BIM and EFA guidelines in mind, as well as a growing need to find a cost-effective solution which is easy to set up. Features such as graduated dimming and corridor hold are simple to set up and control, with photocell detectors making adjustments that take advantage of natural light levels.

To find out more visit www.cpelectronics.co.uk.
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Ticking the right boxes for social housing

When it comes to ventilation social housing has very specific needs. It is therefore important to select fans designed especially for the sector. Jenny Smith, Marketing Manager at Vent-Axia explains:

Keeping tenants happy is an important part of being a landlord. After all an unhappy tenant equals an unhappy landlord. At Vent-Axia we understand landlords’ concerns and design products to help ensure tenants and landlords alike are happy.

Happy landlords

For landlords this means a fan which offers simple specification, low maintenance and reliability. For example, the new Lo-Carbon Revive from Vent-Axia is designed to be versatile since it has a choice of run speeds for multiple installation options and can be ducted or through the wall, making specification easy. Plus Revive is low maintenance since its market-leading Multi-Vortex™ technology does not require a filter, while the highly sculpted interior actively repels dust, avoiding clogging, thus helping avoid call backs. Revive also boasts reliability backed by up to seven years’ warranty.

Happy installers

Installers need to be able to fit multiple fans on multiple sites as quickly and easily as possible. Featuring Smart Sense™ intelligent technology Revive is quick and easy to install with the fan featuring a simple alpha numeric LED display which is clear and easy to read and a three-button menu for commissioning and data gathering. Smart Sense™ technology even tells the LED display which orientation to use depending on whether it is wall or ceiling mounted. All of which saves time on site and reduces installation complications.

Happy tenants

But to ensure happy landlords you need happy tenants. A noisy fan will not only disturb tenants, it will make them aware the fan is running, this could potentially cause tenants to tamper with the fan to turn it off to avoid added energy costs. This can result in poor indoor air quality (IAQ) causing condensation and mould and subsequent damage to the fabric of a building, causing costly redecorating. Revive is designed therefore to be powerful enough to remove moist air to ensure good IAQ, but also quiet enough not to disturb while remaining energy efficient.

Revive’s Smart Sense™ technology can also provide real-time data via an intuitive interface to communicate the fan’s energy efficiency so landlords can reassure tenants of the low-running costs. Meanwhile, nuisance tripping is another reason tenants avoid using fans, Revive’s Smart Sense™ therefore features an ambient response humidistat to avoid this.

With tenant satisfaction vital, Revive’s innovative Multi-Vortex™ technology has a high-pressure hybrid impellor that is powerful and efficient, yet quiet. The fan operates discreetly removing moisture and stale air, leaving a comfortable home environment. Performing to its design intent with a tile-like grille, Revive draws air into the fan via its bell mouth design allowing air to enter the fan fluidly and silently. This offers tenants a quiet, unobtrusive fan without a spinning impeller visible, so they will hardly notice it. The tile-like grille also stays cleaner than open-grilled alternatives.

Meanwhile, Revive’s Smart Sense™ also allows multiple configurations so the fan can be commissioned to meet the needs of the property and the tenant. Quick and easy to select, it offers a bespoke solution where performance or noise is key.

However, despite the latest fans offering energy efficient, quiet comfort some tenants may still have concerns. To help Revive’s Smart Sense™ therefore includes a Day Logger which tracks how many days a fan has been running to ensure it is used as intended.

Landlords can also use the Day Logger to track energy use and interrogate the fan on how many days a fan has been on humidity boost mode, pull cord boost mode, or trickle. This information can help build a profile of tenant activity aiding landlords in investigating humidity problems. This allows landlords to work with tenants to ensure a healthy indoor environment.

For more information please visit www.vent-axia.com.
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Stannah lift products star in spectacular new entrance to Leeds Station

Opened on 3rd January 2016, the new southern entrance to Leeds Station features four Stannah escalators and two passenger lifts.

Following multiple escalator and lift installations at the Midlands hub of Birmingham New Street and Grand Central for Network Rail and Mace, Stannah were again the chosen supplier and installer of all vertical transport within the southern entrance building (known as the LSSE scheme.), this time working with main contractor Carillion to fulfil the brief. The work was completed by the Stannah Escalator & Moving Walkway Department and Stannah Major Projects team in just twelve weeks.

Funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Leeds Council, the Department for Transport and Network Rail, the new extension provides an attractive new accessible entrance and additional concourse built in the River Aire. The building was created to diminish congestion at this busy commuter station into and out of West Yorkshire and the North of England, making it an attractive route for tourists again. Up to 20,000 passengers (or 20% of current footfall) are estimated to benefit from using the new entrance, shortening commute times and providing easy access from the south of Leeds.

The four escalators provide continuous vertical transportation for ambulant people. Those travellers with heavy luggage, child buggies or wheelchair-users are well provided for with two bespoke 13-person traction passenger lifts located just inside the entrance.

The tight restraints on the site meant some of the features of the lift equipment had to be modified to achieve the design and vision without compromising safety.

The escalators are to NR specification with some additional features bespoke to the Leeds station project. These features were based on the tight restraints of the site and the designers risk assessment required to mitigate those risks.

This included special software so that all the machines operate to a special design philosophy when stopped in an emergency situation, including installing an additional stop button on each machine during mid travel. Bespoke manufacture of the machines at 35 degrees instead of the standard NR specification of 30 degrees, and the reduction of the speed of the machines from the standard NR .65m/s to .05m/s all result in safe, efficient travel within the constraints of an unusual and stunning building design. With no room for housing external controllers these became an integral part of the escalators.

The lifts had restricted space so machine room-less traction equipment was installed to enable the largest capacity possible within the tight footprint of the new building.

The new pedestrian entrance will be of great benefit to people living and working south of the river, and will open up new travel opportunities providing a further stimulus to redevelopment and expansion of the city centre, and will support the continued regeneration of the southern quarter of the city.

Stannah continue to add to their portfolio of high-profile rail projects, helping Network Rail achieve their target of ‘Step-free access’ across the rail network.

The North West England and North Wales Stannah service branch, part of Stannah’s nationwide branch network, will be maintaining the lifts and escalators to ensure the safe flow of people and goods through this new entrance.

See more at www.stannahlifts.co.uk/news-and-resources/news-centre/
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