RINNAI WARMS UP THE BONNY BANKS LOCH LOMOND

  

RINNAI WARMS UP THE BONNY BANKS OF HOLIDAY LODGES ON LOCH LOMOND WITH OFF-GRID LPG CONTINUOUS FLOW HOT WATER HEATING UNITS

 

Rinnai 1600e continuous flow water heaters, powered by LPG, have been installed in accommodation units at an off-grid holiday park on the banks of Scotland’s Loch Lomond, the UK’s biggest body of freshwater at just over 36 kilometres long.

 

The Loch Lomond & Trossachs area is also a highly popular National Park – 1,865 sq. km (720 sq. miles) – and has a boundary length of 350km (220miles). Just over 50% of Scotland’s population lives within an hour’s drive of this National Park

 

The site, towards the southern end of the loch, is popular all-year round, as it is just 40 minutes from Glasgow. The site has a selection of lodges and chalets, many with outdoor hot tubs, accommodating up to 10 people per each unit. There is a leisure centre, swimming pool, restaurants and cafes plus communal areas used for concerts, especially tribute acts.

 

The Rinnai LPG water heaters are powered by LPG but can work just as efficiently on BioLPG – a lower carbon intensive alternative source of fuel. LPG is one of the lowest carbon emitting sources of fuel for the 15% of UK businesses and domiciles that function off-grid. Bio-LPG could be one of the replacements for LPG in the future meaning that off-grid sites can “drop-in” lower carbon fuels of the future and Rinnai continuous flow water heaters will be ready, thus futureproofing their hot water heating provisions.

 

BioLPG consists of renewable materials derived from a diverse mix of sustainable biological feedstocks and processes. Supported through cleaner sourced chemical ingredients BioLPG provides huge benefits in carbon reductions and air quality, compared to traditional off-grid fuels such as heating oil.

 

Further alternative fuel sources such as renewable biofuel Dimethyl ether (DME) can also be employed by Rinnai continuous flow water heaters. Renewable DME is like LPG. It is a molecule-based fuel that can be produced through a wide range of renewable feedstocks which allows for quick and long-term sustainable production.

 

DME combusts cleanly and releases no “soot” emissions. Dimethyl ether has many fuel properties that make it easily used in sites and appliances using heating oil. It has a remarkably high cetane number, which is a measure of the fuel’s ignitibility in compression ignition engines. The energy efficiency and power ratings of DME and heating oil engines are virtually the same. R DME is safe and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 85% better improving local air quality.

Rinnai is pioneering product development to support the green fuels of the future so that
LPG water heaters and boilers today are ready for a greener tomorrow.

 

  Find out more about renewable liquid fuels CLICK HERE AND JOIN our newsletter

Rinnai’s range of products include domestic and commercial heat pumps that offer immediate
property decarbonisation.  Rinnai is determined to provide UK customers with cost effective
low carbon solutions towards domestic and commercial hot water and building heating provision.

 

RINNAI OFFERS CLEAR PATHWAYS TO LOWER CARBON AND DECARBONISATION PLUS CUSTOMER COST REDUCTIONS FOR COMMERCIAL, DOMESTIC AND OFF-GRID HEATING & HOT WATER DELIVERY 

www.rinnai-uk.co.uk/about us/H3 

 

  • Rinnai’s range of decarbonising products – H1/H2/H3 – consists of hot water heating units in gas/BioLPG/DME, hydrogen ready units, electric instantaneous hot water heaters, electric storage cylinders and buffer vessels, a comprehensive range of heat pumps, solar, hydrogen-ready or natural gas in any configuration of hybrid formats for either residential or commercial applications. Rinnai’s H1/2/3 range of products and systems offer contractors, consultants and end users a range of efficient, robust and affordable low carbon/decarbonising appliances which create practical, economic and technically feasible solutions.
  • Rinnai is a world leading manufacturer of hot water heaters and produces over two million units a year, operating on each of the five continents. The brand has gained an established reputation for producing products that offer high performance, cost efficiency and extended working lives.
  • Rinnai products are UKCA certified, A-rated water efficiency, accessed through multiple fuel options and are available for purchase 24/7, 365 days a year. Any unit can be delivered to any UK site within 24 hours.
  • Rinnai offer carbon and cost comparison services that will calculate financial and carbon savings made when investing in a Rinnai system. Rinnai also provide a system design service that will suggest an appropriate system for the property in question.
  • Rinnai offer comprehensive training courses and technical support in all aspects of the water heating industry including detailed CPD’s.
  • The Rinnai range covers all forms of fuels and appliances currently available – electric, gas, hydrogen, BioLPG, DME solar thermal, low GWP heat pumps and electric water heaters More information can be found on Rinnai’s website and its “Help Me Choose” webpage.

 

RINNAI FULL PRODUCT AVAILABILITY 24/7 FOR NEXT DAY DELIVERY of

ALL HOT WATER HEATING UNIT MODELS INCLUDING 48-58kW UNITS-

 

20%                REDUCTION of opex cost,

30%                REDUCTION of initial cost

15%                REDUCTION in carbon

75%                REDUCTION of space

 

CLICK HERE for the Rinnai Website

Or email engineer@rinaiuk.com 

Or CLICK HERE for more information on the RINNAI product range

 

 

 

 

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We need to look at lifespans, not one-use buildings

Urban Splash commercial property conversion in Plymouth (image Urban Splash)

 

David Connacher, Marketing Manager at West Fraser, discusses the need to design and construct buildings that can be adapted and transformed

Across millennia, buildings have been altered to meet changing needs. Recent centuries have seen Georgian and Victorian houses become highly sought-after for their flexibility, enduring character and build quality. The potential of old factory and mill buildings has also been recognised with developers, such as Urban Splash, building their brands on converting such structures into state-of-the-art accommodation, retail and office spaces.

 

This transformative process succeeds due to a building’s adaptability and durability. It is a concept Sir Alexander John Gordon, a former president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, addressed more widely in 1971 when he argued for long life, loose fit, low energy buildings.

 

These holistic principles readily translate into today’s language of sustainability but, while low energy design has moved up the agenda, the concept of long life and loose fit is less evident. The notional lifespan of new homes is just 60 years*; the construction and demolition of some commercial and office buildings may occur in a timeframe of as little as 20 years. We cannot continue to design such one-use, short-lived buildings; we must consider lifespan. To do this, we must deconstruct the design process and create buildings adaptable to functions that may not initially be obvious.

 

Designers, cost consultants and clients should remember that it is easy to be seduced by the immediate gain of introducing systems and technology without considering the longer-term validity of these interventions. Poor material choices and over‐specification can result in a lack of flexibility and structures that are neither durable nor open to future adaptation.

 

Despite attitudes to buildings and spaces being shaken profoundly by the coronavirus pandemic, mindsets must shift. A room is just a room and could, in many buildings, be purposed in numerous ways: sitting room, bedroom, study, office, showroom, workplace, classroom, shop, gallery, studio.

 

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE WEST FRASER WEBSITE

or for further infomation call 01786 812 921

 

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Beautifully engineered glass doors balance fire safety with aesthetics

A range of fire rated glass doors developed by Promat provides architects, specifiers and clients with a stylish solution that meets their passive fire protection objectives without compromising aesthetic or daylighting goals.

Three highly specialised door systems – PYROSEC® Door, PYROSEC® Slimlite and Promat E Door – have been engineered by Promat with the aim of maximising the door’s glass area and minimising the framing. They enable interior spaces to be designed in a way that facilitates high levels of natural light transmission within rooms and clear visibility between them, whilst being compliant with the fire containment and evacuation strategy.

All three systems feature high quality fire rated glass framed within horizontal and vertical frame members, stiles and rails that are manufactured in stainless steel. This combination of materials, coupled with Promat’s design expertise, has proved to be effective at resisting fire in third party testing, meaning specifiers can confidently choose glass doors with up to EI60 (integrity and insulation) protection, subject to the door’s size and design parameters.

Promat’s fire rated glass doors are designed to offer safety with style, enabling architects to meet the aesthetic and operational ambitions of clients seeking a modern design for their commercial or public buildings. They can be incorporated into fire rated glass screens, partitions and other features created using the Promat SYSTEMGLAS® fire resistant glazing system, which offers steel, timber, over-clad, paintable and concealed framing options.

The slim framing means clean sightlines can be achieved whilst also delivering bright and airy spaces. Such environments can be important in maintaining the health and wellbeing of building users as one research study on an office building by Northwestern Medicine and the University of Illinois illustrates. Researchers found that employees exposed to natural light sleep longer and better than those who are not, and those who work near windows are exposed to 176% more natural light than those who do not.

In addition to their physical resistance to heat and flames, fire rated glass doors play another important role in delivering safer buildings because they offer easier visibility for emergency services in the event of a fire. And Promat glass fire doors can also be specified to incorporate closer devices that are triggered in the event of a fire to offer a reactive barrier to prevent the spread of fire, heat and smoke.

Cath McLean, Sales Manager for Glass at Promat UK said, “Glass doors are often preferred to more typical fire doors, such as timber doors, because they present less of a visual barrier between individual rooms and communal spaces and allow light transmission to be higher. But the creation of more open and connected spaces has to go hand in hand with fire safety, and this is why we’ve created these three glass door options.”

The longest established of the Promat glass door systems is the PYROSEC® Door. This is a robust, stylish and dependable system available in a single or double leaf configuration, designed with slim stainless steel frame members whilst providing 30 minutes (EI30) or 60 minutes (EI60) integrity and insulation fire protection.

Where the aesthetic goal is to reduce the framing visibility to the absolute minimum whilst also achieving a fire rating of EI30 or EI60, PYROSEC® Slimlite is ideal. This provides assured fire protection despite having super-slim framing using sections just 20mm wide, making it suitable for building designs which demand the cleanest sightlines with maximum vision and light transmission.

Both of these integrity and insulation (EI) glazed fire doors can be complemented with side screens, with over panels possible also with PYROSEC® Doors, where supported by test data. They enable clear butt-joint glazing to be achieved and can be specified with a variety of optional fittings, including deadlocks, concealed electric latches, overhead fire door closers and surface mounted magnetic locks.

The third option in the range is the PROMAT® E Door, an elegant integrity-only fire rated solution which is available in a single or double leaf configuration with unlimited potential for side panels. This door features minimal stainless steel frame members in a design tested to provide 30 minutes (E30) and 60 minutes (E60) fire protection and it can feature a full height back to back handle or “through glass” pull handle.

Whichever glass door option is specified, they all come with clear traceability. They are manufactured by Promat and installed only by approved installers, and once fitted, they all benefit from compliance checking by Promat’s passive fire protection specialists. This is part of Promat UK’s 360-degree Wheel of Assurance, which provides additional peace of mind in the fire glass supply chain and supports the golden thread.

CLICK HERE to find out more about Promat UK’s stylish glass fire doors

 

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Mapei eco-system completes floor installation

A Mapei eco-system has been used to complete a floor installation at a new 5 FE secondary school in North West London.  The design and construction of the five-form entry secondary school was completed by BAM.  A series of Mapei EMICODE: EC1 Plus certified products were used to install DESSO carpet tiles and Tarkett safety flooring throughout the building.  The installation was completed by Active Flooring.

The new sustainable, state-of-the-art school maximises the footprint of the urban site, whilst providing a modern, pupil-focused learning environment.  It will provide 1,150 places for pupils in years 7 to 13, with an interlinked sixth form block. Facilities include science laboratories, a library, sports hall, main hall and sixth form common room, whilst the roof of the sixth-form block also houses a multi-use games area (MUGA).  Rooftop solar panels contribute to the school’s green energy and the entrance is marked by a majestic weeping willow tree, around which the school layout was designed. The floor specification included DESSO carpet tiles throughout general classrooms, Tarkett Safetred Wood in the main hall, Tarkett Granit Safe T.  in changing rooms and shower blocks, and Tarkett Safetred Universal in the school kitchen.

During the floor installation, Active Flooring installed Mapeproof One Coat two-component, single coat damp proof membrane and then levelled and smoothed subfloors with Latexplan Trade – a protein-free, low odour levelling and smoothing compound with high compressive strength.  Two all-in-one universal Mapei adhesives were used to complete the installation: Ultrabond Eco V4 Evolution – a strong, rapid initial tack formulation with a long open time and Ultrabond Eco VS90 Plus – a hard-set, highly shear resistant, wet-bed dispersion adhesive.  All Mapei product specified benefit from EMICODE: EC1 Plus formulations, with very low VOC’s, promoting a safe application and environment.

For more information please CLICK HERE to email MAPEI

or CLICK HERE  to visit the MAPEI website

 

 

 

 

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Distech Controls Celebrates Atrius Industry Awards Success

 

Atrius® Sustainability, offered as part of the Distech Controls portfolio, was praised by judges for its ease of use for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting and the market-leading release of its free entry-level offering, Atrius® Sustainability Starter.

Distech Controls™, an innovation leader connecting people with intelligent building solutions, is delighted to announce that Atrius, also part of Acuity Brands’ Intelligent Spaces Group (ISG), has won two awards from leading sustainability media companies Environment + Energy (E+E) Leader and ESG Investing. This is the second year running that Atrius has won the E+E Leader award.

Offered globally to Distech Controls’ extensive network of System Integrators, this carbon accounting and ESG reporting software, Atrius Sustainability, was recognised by both programmes as one of the best solutions available today thanks to the brand’s commitment to ongoing innovation and market responsiveness. Demonstrations of this include the release of its free, entry-level version of the platform, Atrius Sustainability Starter; its ability to provide third-party assurance of carbon emissions data to both Starter and Enterprise customers; and its data-agnostic architecture which allows users to precisely tailor the application to suit their individual needs.

E+E Leader included Atrius Sustainability as one of its Top Products of 2024 in the Software and Cloud category. Judges commended the platform for its ease of use in tracking and reporting scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions data across organizations’ building portfolios. E+E Leader also hailed Atrius Sustainability Starter as a market leader and praised it for being the first product of its kind to provide fully assured carbon accounting capabilities to small and medium businesses (SMBs) at no cost. ESG Investing additionally named Atrius Sustainability as this year’s runner-up and finalist in the Best Specialist ESG Data Provider and Best ESG & Climate Reporting Platform categories, respectively.

“Receiving both of these awards for the second year in a row validates our relentless pursuit to help customers make the most of their sustainability insights,” said Lauren Scott, Vice President, Marketing and Sustainability, Acuity Brands. “We all have a part to play in reducing carbon emissions, and we’re proud that both of these prestigious programs have once again recognised Atrius’ outstanding track record in keeping organizations up-to-date with evolving ESG reporting needs and tracking their progress on sustainability goals.”

Smarter, safer and greener buildings

The mission of Acuity Brands’ Intelligent Spaces business is to make buildings smarter, safer and greener through its strategy of connecting the edge to the cloud. Distech Controls has the best edge HVAC and refrigeration control devices on the market, while Atrius’ cloud applications focus on extracting value from building data faster and easier, including sustainability reporting, energy management, indoor wayfinding, and real-time asset tracking.

The demands of customers and buildings are rapidly evolving, driving momentum towards the creation of optimised and autonomous spaces. Whether customers start from a controls-first approach or from cloud applications, the ISG portfolio of software, sensors and controls help them lower their operational costs and reduce their carbon footprint.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

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SFS publishes new NVELOPE® Capability brochure

SFS Group Fastening Technology has launched a brochure outlining its NVELOPE® Capability range which supports rainscreen subframe systems, as well as the myriad design solutions to meet virtually any project’s requirements.

 

The 132-page publication offers information on the manufacturer’s advanced fixing and rainscreen subframe systems for the building envelope, with the contents page listing the latest additions to the range, Introducing SFS ConnectSuite®, Project Builder and Thermal Builder, Drawing Overlay and Cutting Service, Specification and Approvals.

 

Also included on the contents page are Thermal Solutions, Corrosion in Subframe Systems, Fire Safety, NVELOPE® Systems, Cavity Fire Barriers, Bracket Options and First Level Fixings.  Profiles (Rails), Second and Third Level Fixings as well as Hanger Options and, importantly, Accessories.

 

Then, on page 6, the reader is offered guidance on how to use the NVELOPE® Capability brochure, which has been designed to help find the most appropriate rainscreen solutions quickly. Hence there are explicit instructions: “To do this; identify the right NVELOPE® subframe system for your decorative panel type.  Identify the right bracket for the situation.  Select the level 1 fixings.  Identify the right profile and cutting service options.  Select the level 2 fixings. Select the level 3 fixings.  Choose any accessories you may need.”

 

At the end of this page, the specifier is invited to “make it really simple and use the Project Builder tool to do all the hard work” by visiting the company’s website at www.uk.sfs.com for further information.

 

Through familiarising themselves with the brochure, construction professionals will gain an insight into the holistic approach SFS takes to ensuring rainscreen systems are correctly installed; ensuring optimisation of thermal performance, material usage, safety and other criteria.

 

Overall, the brochure is solutions orientated and user-friendly, with full colour photography and beautifully executed drawings throughout to showcase products and expertise, supported by technical data and relevant product codes to ensure ordering is straightforward.

 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL 0330 0555888  
OR CLICK HERE FOR THE SFS WEBSITE

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Halspan to showcase innovative fire door systems & fire asset management services at Fire Safety Event 

 

 Halspan, a global market leader in fire safety solutions,

 

is excited to announce its participation in the unmissable

 

Fire Safety Event (FSE) 2024 from 30 April to 02 May,

 

at the NEC in Birmingham, UK. 

 

For more than 25 years, Halspan has been at the forefront of protecting property and saving lives through pioneering fire door safety products and services.

Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, with offices in London, Dubai, and Delhi, Halspan is a world-leading supplier of fully certified fire door safety products for prominent buildings globally.

 

Halspan’s FSE showcase 

 

At FSE 2024, Halspan’s dedicated team of friendly experts will showcase a comprehensive offering of fully compliant fire door systems and fire asset management services to thousands of industry professionals. Delegates can see first-hand how Halspan’s innovative products and services can help to meet and exceed the highest regulatory standards today.

At Halspan’s stand, visitors can explore the revolutionary Halspan® Verified fire door systems, incorporating fully certified door blanks, seals, and essential hardware, which undergo rigorous testing to meet international standards in over 65 countries.

Halspan® Verified will be demonstrated alongside the Halspan® Tracker fire asset management app with expert overviews of Halspan® Inspection Services to ensure ongoing compliance and enhance building fire safety management.

 

Andy Wallace, Halspan MD said:

 

“Halspan is thrilled to participate in FSE 2024 and showcase our complete fire door safety solutions including our new Halspan® Verified fire door systems and the Halspan® Tracker fire asset management app. Our revolutionary quality assurance scheme and software ensures compliance and mitigates risks at every stage of the Golden Thread and is a must-see for FSE.”

“From production to testing to installation and ongoing maintenance, Halspan® Tracker brings about complete peace of mind.”

 

 

Simon Kelly, Ops Manager Halspan® Inspection Services, said:

“If you are unsure about your role as a responsible person, Halspan has the answer. Our range of reliable door products and Halspan® Inspection Services keep buildings and occupants safe today and tomorrow.”

“Having Halspan at the core of a fire door is an assurance of quality and integrity. When you partner with us you are backed by a team of experts to help you navigate global regulations and stay compliant – come meet us at stand 5D/150 at FSE 2024!”

 

 

Find Halspan at FSE 2024 

Visit Halspan Ltd. at Stand 5D/150 during FSE 2024 to learn more about our cutting-edge fire safety solutions.   

 

Don’t miss the Halspan Hang Out at 4 pm every day at Stand 5D/150. Enjoy the chance to unwind and connect with the friendly fire industry professionals and enjoy complimentary refreshments.  

 

CLICK HERE NOW TO REGISTER

 

VISIT our stand and get Halspan’s free FSE merchandise

 

 

 

 

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EJOT Colorfast chosen for Kingspan’s highly sustainable new Asian factory

 

More than 120,000 EJOT Colorfast self-drilling fasteners have helped Kingspan to create a thermally superior, visually-appealing building envelope for its first purpose-built manufacturing plant in South East Asia.

The 16,000 sq. m factory at Phu My Town in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, Vietnam, will enable Kingspan to grow its presence in the wider Asian region by providing a state-of-the-art plant to manufacture its market-leading Quadcore and mineral fibre insulated panels. It marks a strategically important step in the development of the Kingspan Group, helping it to unlock the potential of a new and expanding market with a total investment of more than £21 million, and this is reflected in the building’s very high specification.

As a ‘greenfield manufacturing facility’, which means it was created on a site where minimal or no existing infrastructure was present, architects IntES and Kingspan were able to take advantage of a ‘blank canvas’ to design and build a facility with exceptional eco-credentials. This included adopting LEED Platinum Version 4, one of the world’s most demanding green building standards, which will support Kingspan’s goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions during the plant’s operation in line with its 10-year global sustainability programme, Planet Passionate.

How Colorfast supports zero carbon goals

EJOT Colorfast fasteners in White and Poppy Red were used to achieve a visually appealing, high quality result.

Installed by main contractor TUAN LE Construction, the building envelope features a total roof area of 14,500 sq. m, formed using Kingspan Quadcore KS1000RW insulated panels and KS1000DLTR (Day-Lite Trapezoidal Rooflight) polycarbonate rooflights.

All of the 120,000+ fasteners used to create the envelope were EJOT fasteners, mainly Colorfast (CF19 JT3 D6H) which feature a 19mm aluminium/EPDM vulcanised sealing washer and utilise EJOT’s JT3 bi-metallic self-drilling screw. These were coloured in White for the main roof fix and Poppy Red with storm washers for the rooflight detail. EJOfast fasteners with a 15mm washer (CF15 JF3 2 5.5 x 25) were used for the side and end laps, while CF19 JT6 2H 6.3 x 30/10 secured the rooflight laps.

The reasons for their specification, however, went far beyond the simple functional objective to attach the roof to a structure. Colorfast was able to make a positive contribution to the long term performance of the building envelope and, hence, the sustainability of the factory as a whole.

As an FM Approved fastener, Colorfast has been independently assessed and its performance verified under a globally-recognised certification scheme. The stringent testing undertaken by FM Approvals considers fasteners within a complete assembly, rather than in isolation, which was extremely important to the architects on this project. They sought assurance that the products would deliver on their promise to comfortably match the design life of the envelope’s panels and minimise thermal transfer once the building was operational.

Key to Colorfast’s performance is its ability to provide a consistent seal above the sheet, maximising insulation and air-tightness as well as reducing the risk of water ingress. The fastener’s head is formed by over-moulding a nylon compound which is precisely formulated to offer reliable UV stability for lasting visual aesthetics. The head can be matched to around 400 colours in line with recognised colour matching system such as RAL, NCS and Pantone, as well as the British Standards (BS) colour palette – the colour system on which Colorfast was first developed.

Thermal insulation optimised

The JT3 Colorfast fasteners were specified in bi-metallic stainless steel as this material is more suitable for the hot, humid Vietnamese climate than carbon steel fasteners. Stainless steel has the obvious longevity benefit in that it is more resistant to corrosion, but this material choice also offers lower thermal transmission values, meaning heat transfer from the outside to in and vice versa is reduced.

Colorfast’s nylon moulded head provides further resistance to thermal transmission, which would not have been the case if powder coated or painted screws were used. The small gains achieved at individual fixing locations added up to a significant benefit over the thousands of penetrations across the roof’s surface.

The end result was the creation of a building which will benefit from a stable internal environment with the lowest levels of energy consumption. This is not only important to the Vietnamese government, which has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, but also to Kingspan as it creates the infrastructure and production facilities required to meet its Planet Passionate goals.

This programme aims to have a positive impact on three big global challenges, climate change, circularity and protection of the natural world, and will support Kingspan to achieve its own net zero carbon deadline of 2030.

In addition to strategies for reducing water consumption, cutting landfill waste and utilising only renewable energy to power its operations, the specification of Kingspan’s existing facilities and new buildings will be enhanced. One of the ways this will be achieved is through the use of advanced building materials and components as the new Phu My Town factory demonstrates.

Supporting the expanding SE Asian market

The Colorfast and Kingspan combination used here has enormous potential to be applied in other industrial and commercial projects across South East Asia to support governments and businesses to achieve their sustainable building goals. It is particularly suitable for cold storage facilities and data centres where the internal climate is critical to the efficient running of the building, two sectors that are fuelling a rapidly growing construction industry.

Vietnam is the best performing construction market in the Asia Pacific region with a growth rate of 5.59% according to figures from the first half of 2022. The country is actively encouraging inward investment through an ongoing programme to study and develop the necessary mechanisms, policies and solutions aimed at encouraging and attracting foreign investment into its real estate market.

EJOT Group is one of the European companies responding to serve this growing market, not only in Vietnam but across South East Asia. The Group has already recently invested in opening an office in Singapore and it will shortly be creating a presence in Vietnam to offer local support backed with global technical expertise.

This model has been instrumental in Colorfast’s evolution from its initial purpose as a UK market-focused product when it launched over 30 years ago, into a fastener with appeal in construction markets around the world. One of the reasons for this is the increased adoption of European building performance standards, which have traditionally been regarded as the world’s most demanding, in other continents, particularly Australasia.

 

CLICK HERE to find out more about EJOT Colorfast

 

 

 

 

 

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WHAT WILL THE PROPOSED 23% REDUCTION IN ELECTRICITY COSTS REALLY MEAN?

 

As the UK moves towards a general election both the opposition party and current UK government are viewing energy costs as a weapon that can be used to attract electoral ballots. Both parties are reviewing their approach to truncating domestic and commercial energy costs.  

 

The current opposition party has made public proposals to reduce electrical costs by 23% to moderate UK customer energy costs. Rinnai has produced modelling and a set of calculations that are based on an accommodation block and feature four separate appliances in a heating hot water delivery system as below -:

 

  1. R290 Commercial heat pump System = 6x 50kW R290 HPs + 6x 800L HP Buffers.

  2. R290 Commercial heat pump system + Electric storage water heater = 4x 95kW iMAX HPs + 2x 800L HP Buffers + 2x 800L E-cylinders electric water heaters e/w 60kW Immersions.

  3. Heat Pump + gas fired continuous flow water heater System = 4x 95kW iMAX + 2x 800L HP Buffers + 4x N1600 continuous flow water heaters + 2x 800L cylinders.

  4. Gas-fired continuous flow waters = 8x N1600 continuous flow water heaters + 2x 1000L cylinders.

 

Following is a set of calculations based on the proposed 23% reduction in electrical costs the opposition party suggested as future policy using the above systems and appliances.

This analysis was carried out to understand how the operating cost of each system differs when using forecasted electricity costs, which suggest a reduction of 23% in national grid consumed electricity, compared to the current government forecasted national grid figures.

The below graph represents the current governments costs when used in an accommodation block application.

 

please note that HP equates to Heat Pump and WH translates as Water Heater (system)

A Rinnai R290 heat pump will cost £105,192.60; a heat pump and electric cylinder will cost £165, 664.60; a heat pump and water heater system will cost £89,731.90 whilst a natural gas system will produce costs of £79, 980. 61. All costs are measured over a 5-year period.

 

Below is another graph that represents the costs related to Rinnai products considering the 23% reduction in electric costs the opposition party are forecasting. A Rinnai R290 heat pump will cost £80,998.30; a heat pump and electric cylinder will charge customers £127,561.74; a heat pump and water heater will cost UK customers £76,291.29, whilst a natural gas system will cost £79,980.61. Again, all costs are also based on 5-year period.

Under the current opposition party proposals to reduce electricity costs by 23% a clear beneficial increase is denoted in customer fiscal outlay over a 5-year period.  In both graphs the costs relating to the natural gas system stay static and can therefore be overlooked.

Costs of operating a R290 heat pump over 5 years is presently £105,192.60 and under current opposition plans to reduce electrical costs by 23% will be £80,998.30.

A heat pump and electrical cylinder over 5 years presently costs UK customers £165, 664.60. Under opposition plans to offer reductions in electrical costs the same product will cost £127,561.74.

Whilst a heat pump and water heater using the same metric as above currently costs £89,731.90. After reducing electrical costs by 23% the exact same product will require £76,291.29 over a 5-year period.

Clear reductions over a 5-year period are clear when observing heat pump and hybrid systems. Widespread electrification is a main objective by UK policy makers who aim to impose the cheapest electricity costs on UK households by 2035. Investing in a domestic or commercial application electric hybrid heating and hot water system could potentially result in huge reductions of operational costs.

One strong conclusion to be drawn from these figures is that all sites, consultants, contractors and end users should consider all factors before making a commitment to a system or appliances arrangement.

Contractors, consultants and installers who recognize the complexity of the current energy market should form partnerships with those organizations which have arranged their entire product offering to meet and exceed current and future energy policy.

CLICK HERE

To take advantage of Rinnai services for calculating capital expenditure, operational expenditure and carbon

Alternatively contact us today

0300 373 0660

 

RINNAI’S H3 DECARBONISATION OFFERS PATHWAYS & CUSTOMER COST REDUCTIONS

FOR COMMERCIAL, DOMESTIC AND OFF-GRID HEATING & HOT WATER DELIVERY

 

Rinnai’s H3 range of decarbonising products include hydrogen / BioLPG ready technology, hybrid systems, and a wide range of LOW GWP heat pumps and solar thermal. Also, within Rinnai’s H3 range is Infinity hydrogen blend ready and BioLPG ready continuous flow water heaters which are stacked with a multitude of features that ensure long life, robust & durable use, customer satisfaction and product efficiency.

Rinnai’s range of decarbonising products – H1/H2/H3 – consists of heat pump, solar, hydrogen in any configuration, hybrid formats for either residential or commercial applications. Rinnai’s H3 range of products offer contractors, consultants and end users a range of efficient, robust and affordable decarbonising appliances which create practical, economic and technically feasible solutions. The range covers all forms of fuels and appliances currently available – electric, gas, hydrogen, BioLPG, DME solar thermal, low GWP heat pumps and electric water heaters.

Rinnai H1 continuous water heaters and boilers offer practical and economic decarbonization delivered through technological innovation in hydrogen and renewable liquid gas ready technology.

Rinnai’s H1 option is centred on hydrogen, as it is anticipated that clean hydrogen fuels will become internationally energy market-relevant in the future; Rinnai water heaters are hydrogen 20% blends ready and include the world’s first 100% hydrogen-ready hot water heating technology.

Rinnai H2 – Decarbonization simplified with renewable gas-ready units, Solar Thermal and Heat Pump Hybrids. Rinnai H2 is designed to introduce a practical and low-cost option which may suit specific sites and enable multiple decarbonisation pathways with the addition of high performance.

Rinnai H3 – Low-GWP heat pump technology made easy – Rinnai heat pumps are available for domestic and commercial usage with an extensive range of 4 – 115kW appliances.

Rinnai’s H3 heat pumps utilise R32 refrigerant and have favourable COP and SCOP.

Rinnai is a world leading manufacturer of hot water heaters and produces over two million units a year, operating on each of the five continents. The brand has gained an established reputation for producing products that offer high performance, cost efficiency and extended working lives.

Rinnai’s commercial and domestic continuous flow water heaters offer a limitless supply of instantaneous temperature controlled hot water and all units are designed to align with present and future energy sources. Rinnai condensing water heaters accept either existing fuel or hydrogen gas blends. Rinnai units are also suited for off-grid customers who require LPG and BioLPG or DME.

Rinnai products are UKCA certified, A-rated water efficiency, accessed through multiple fuel options and are available for purchase 24/7, 365 days a year. Any unit can be delivered to any UK site within 24 hours. Rinnai offer carbon and cost comparison services that will calculate financial and carbon savings made when investing in a Rinnai system. Rinnai also provide a system design service that will suggest an appropriate system for the property in question. Rinnai offer comprehensive training courses and technical support in all aspects of the water heating industry including detailed CPD’s. More information can be found on Rinnai’s website and its “Help Me Choose” webpage.

Visit www.rinnai-uk.co.uk

for more information on the RINNAI product range

Or email engineer@rinaiuk.com 

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West Fraser’s CaberShieldPlus – builders’ questions answered

 

What is CaberShieldPlus?

It’s a chipboard flooring panel, in 18mm or 22mm thickness, with a useful permanent waterproof, protective layer on the top and bottom of the panel.

 

Is 60 days exposure proven? And what does it mean?

Yes, previously boasting 42 days, this panel is now BBA-certified for 60 days exposure to the elements. BBA certification means that the product has undergone extensive testing, so it is safe and proven and meets a top-quality standard.

 

Once CaberShieldPlus is fixed and sealed, as long as installation instructions were followed, the boards can be left exposed for up to 60 days. The floor will remain strong and secure and be protected from water, mess from other trades, foot traffic and bad weather; the builder has 60 days to get the building watertight!

 

How does a contractor get BBA approval?

The panel must be installed as per West Fraser’s installation guides and CaberFix D4 adhesive needs to be used. The panel board has not been tested with any other adhesive and, therefore, using anything else will void the guarantee. CaberFix D4 is a one-bottle solution foaming adhesive that fixes the board to joists, T&G joints, seals the edges and any cutouts.

 

From August 2024, training is required for the use of substances containing diisocyanates.  Free training for the use of PU adhesives in accordance with REACH regulations can be access here: https://uk.westfraser.com/safe-handling-training-for-pu-adhesives/

 

Where can the builder buy CaberShieldPlus and CaberFix D4?

You’ll find both in most builders’ merchants across the UK. Stockists of West Fraser products can be found at https://uk.westfraser.com/stockists/ and installation guides are downloadable at https://uk.westfraser.com/resources/help-advice/installation-instructions/

 

What are the benefits of using a product like CaberShieldPlus?

The system has been specifically designed for buildings where the roof still has not been installed or before the building is watertight. With a permanent, waterproof coating on both sides, the flooring is BBA-certified for exposure to construction work and the elements for 60 days when fixed with CaberFix D4 adhesive. After work is complete, the floor is easily cleaned.

 

How does CaberFix D4 glue stack up against cheaper alternatives?

CaberFix D4 glue is of high quality and fully tested and approved by the BBA.  It is important to remember that users will only receive the BBA guarantee when using CaberShieldPlus and CaberFix D4 together.

 

What percentage of the boards are made from recycled material?

The CaberFloor range of flooring is approximately 70% recycled wood. 30% fresh wood is used to give the board its stability and structural properties.

 

Samples of all West Fraser construction panels, which are manufactured in Scotland, can be ordered on the website Uk.westfraser.com.  Head to the housebuilder page on the website to download a selection of tools including a fully-interactive guide to all West Fraser products and a checklist to make sure you have everything you need for your build.

 

For further information, call 01786 812 921 or visit Uk.westfraser.com

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