Cinema is the perfect Showcase for direct replacement

Cinema is the perfect Showcase for direct replacement

When Showcase Cinemas decided to replace the air handling units at some of its UK sites, Weatherite’s ‘direct replacement’ air handling systems delivered a reliable, cost effective, energy efficient, long lasting solution.

Showcase Cinemas is a major UK cinema chain, owned and operated by National Amusements Inc. Efficient air handling is essential to the comfort of its cinemagoers and staff. Unreliability and the cost of continually replacing components had become a concern with some of the existing air handling units, a number of which were failing in well under the 15 year life cycle expected with this type of equipment.

Showcase Cinemas investigated replacing the equipment with standard proprietary units, however, this proved unviable due to unit size, space constraints and the cost and down time involved in moving M&E services to connect with the new units.

Showcase’s Consultants, Hoare Lea contacted Weatherite who suggested replacing the old AHU’s with ‘bespoke direct replacements’ that match the existing units in terms of size, footprint and positioning of service connections. Using the latest technology, such as EC fans, scroll compressors, high efficiency indirect gas fired heaters and web-enabled Trend control systems, Weatherite’s solution also delivered high operational efficiency and energy savings.

Weatherite also developed bespoke BMS software for the control systems integration which has given National Amusements real time access to each of the AHU’s performance and operational data. The software allows the client to make adjustments remotely, and includes self-diagnostics to aid maintenance of the equipment.

The first Showcase Cinema to be updated with new Weatherite equipment was Walsall, in the West Midlands where 14 AHU’s were installed over a three-day cycle. In conjunction with Elite Air Services Ltd, Showcase’s service and maintenance company, Weatherite carried out the work after the last evening performance, working overnight until the building was handed back ready for the following day’s screenings.

Weatherite also supplied the new centralised control access system and carried out the commissioning with Showcase’s BMS contractor, to ensure everything ran smoothly. The success of the Walsall project has led to further installations in Coventry and Teeside.

The direct replacement approach has delivered many benefits to the client. The new system features ‘like for like’ equipment in terms of air volumes, heating and cooling performance and M&E service connections. It will also substantially reduce ongoing energy costs.

Thanks to the overnight installation process, system downtime was minimised and no business days were lost. The control software provides much greater management information in real time, plus immediate control of the operating system.

For further information please contact Steve Cartledge, Sales Director, Weatherite Manufacturing Limited on
+44 (0) 121 665 2266; email: sales@weatheritegroup.com or visit www.weatheritegroup.com

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Decseal provides police protection in Leeds

Decseal provides police protection in Leeds

A car park built as part of a new £34m police station in Leeds has been structurally protected using Stirling Lloyd’s dual function Decseal waterproofing and anti-skid system.

Some 4,182m² of the advanced resin-based Decseal system has been applied throughout the decks of the two-storey car park which serves West Yorkshire Police’s new divisional headquarters. With almost 400 spaces, the new car park provides parking for the force’s operational vehicles as well as for staff and visitors.

With a proven track record in similar car park applications throughout the UK, the fully reinforced Decseal system incorporates a tough, impermeable waterproofing membrane with no vulnerable joints. It has been designed to cope with the awkward contours and profiles associated with multi storey car park decks and ramps and protects the deck from water and chloride penetration and corrosion as well as providing essential skid and slip resistance for both vehicles and pedestrians.

Construction of the new police headquarters, a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) by main contractor, Interserve, was completed earlier this year. Located in Elland Road, opposite Leeds United’s football ground, the new police station and custody suite have become the nerve centre of police operations in the city.

To find out more, please visit www.stirlinglloyd.com

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Harlow MP reminds residents to stay safe from deadly carbon monoxide

Harlow MP reminds residents to stay safe from deadly carbon monoxide

Harlow MP, Rob Halfon (pictured left), urged people to ensure they stay safe against the potentially fatal dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) as he joined local campaigner, Melissa Matthews (right) to mark the start of this year’s Gas Safety Week.

Rob Halfon MP said: “Too many people continue to put themselves at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning by failing to ensure their appliances work safely and efficiently. I would like to thank local resident Melissa Matthews for all of her work on this issue and I urge Harlow Council and all of the relevant local health authorities to help make Harlow a Carbon Monoxide Awareness town. The more Harlow residents who understand the dangers of CO and how to protect themselves, the more lives that will be saved.”

Melissa is one of a group of women known as the CO Angels, who are each striving to raise more awareness about carbon monoxide poisoning after each losing someone special to this silent killer.

Melissa explains: “Gas Safety Week reminded us all of the need to ensure our homes are gas safe. Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas. As you can’t see it, taste it or smell it, it can claim lives quickly with no warning.”

Even exposure to low levels of the gas over a short amount of time can be lethal; causing long term damage to your health.

During Gas Safety Week Melissa Matthews challenged the residents of Harlow and surrounding areas to fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm before the clocks go back.

The danger is – with no taste or smell – CO is undetectable to the human senses and because symptoms are often mistaken for ailments including flu, food poisoning and even a hangover, its presence can go unnoticed until it’s too late.

Badly fitted, poorly serviced or faulty gas appliances can put occupants at risk from gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. Worryingly CO can also leak from adjoining properties and garages.

The only way to detect its presence is with an audible carbon monoxide alarm. As a smoke alarm alerts you to fire, a properly placed CO alarm detects the lowest levels early, warning you before the gas becomes life threatening so you can take action to stay safe.

The fourth annual Gas Safety Week aimed to bring gas safety to the forefront of people’s minds. Dangerous gas work can kill, so it is vital that gas appliances are safety checked at least once a year. If left unchecked, poorly serviced gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. In the last year alone, 343 people were injured and 10 people died as a result of gas related incidents.

Russell Krämer, chief executive for Gas Safe Register, said: “Every year, far too many people suffer from preventable gas related accidents, such as gas leaks, explosions, fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s great therefore, that we’ve had so much support in raising awareness of gas safety issues, helping to let the 23 million gas consumers in the UK know about the simple checks they can make to stay safe.”

Watch out for the signs:

Early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are often mistaken for other ailments such as flu, a hangover or food poisoning, so its presence can go unnoticed until it’s too late. Symptoms include:

  • Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Breathlessness
  • Headaches
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Collapse

One useful indicator that carbon monoxide may be the cause is if symptoms disappear when you leave your home and reappear when you’re at home.

Follow these simple checks to stay gas safe:

  • Always use a Gas Safe registered engineer when having gas work carried out in your home. You can find a registered engineer in your area by calling Gas Safe Register on 0800 408 5500 or visit www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk
  • Get your gas appliances safety checked at least once a year and serviced in line with the manufacturer’s instructions. This includes your gas boiler, gas cooker and gas fire. Sign up at www.staygassafe.co.uk for a free reminder service.
  • Check the front and back of your engineer’s Gas Safe Register ID card, making sure they are qualified to do the specific type of gas work you require.
  • Install an audible carbon monoxide alarm which will alert you if dangerous levels are present in your home.
  • Check for warning signs your appliances aren’t working correctly, such as lazy yellow or orange flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks on or around the appliance and too much condensation in the room.

For more information or to find a Gas Safe registered engineer visit www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500.

For more advice and information on Sprue’s complete range of carbon monoxide alarms, visit: www.fireangel.co.uk.

To read the experiences of the CO Angels, visit: www.co-angels.co.uk

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Rinnai offers a ‘BMS gateway’ to hot water efficiency – another innovation

Rinnai offers a ‘BMS gateway’ to hot water efficiency – another innovation

Rinnai is introducing yet another product innovation in its continuous drive for the highest possible efficiencies and control over hot water provision in all commercial sites. This pioneering product allows end-users to exercise ultimate control and maximise energy efficiencies in all sizes and types of buildings, even in multi-tenanted sites.

Utilising the BACnet and modbus compatible protocol, Rinnai has introduced a gateway that allows a seamless integration of its continuous flow hot water heating products and systems into Building Management Systems (BMS).

The Rinnai Gateway enables access to its advanced product functionality including temperature control, fault diagnostics and communication, energy monitoring, trend logging and on/off status.

“We have recognised the growing market demand for a reliable and efficient supply of hot water. The Rinnai gateway will provide end-users and FM managers alike with the facility to manage and maintain their hot water supply more efficiently than ever before” says Managing Director Tony Gittings.

The Rinnai smart controller offers on/off status as well as fault codes to facilitate first hit repair. For example, the BMS can communicate a precise error code to the central system meaning that in the event of a breakdown the user can communicate the correct parts and information to the engineer for a first time fix, limiting down time and improving Rinnai service response.

The controller allows the end user to remotely monitor and change system temperatures and also to monitor and adjust burners for maximum efficiencies. In effect, the controls monitor gas usage to dictate business periods and energy savings. Rinnai units modulate the gas supply in relation to the amount of heat input required to optimise gas usage meaning high energy efficiency is delivered at all times. This is monitored and visualised by the controls.

The Rinnai smart controller controls also monitor running hours and service requirements. As Rinnai units are on-demand, operating only when a tap is turned on, suggested service periods can be ascertained from running hours, as well as early warning of scale build up. Rinnai HDC units now contain smart lime scale notification systems to maintain system integrity and prevent in-efficiencies from scale accumulation.

For more details on Rinnai products visit www.rinnaiuk.com

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Evinox Energy Chilled Water meter Kit

Evinox Energy chilled Water meter kit

Perfect for installations that include a communal chilled water system, the new Evinox Energy chilled water meter kit includes all the equipment required to facilitate commissioning, balancing, and flow control of the chilled water circuit, as well as the accurate measurement of energy consumption.

The integrated flushing by-pass allows the chilled water primary circuit to be cleansed and flushed by simply moving the blue lever valve to the off position and the blue T bar lever across the pipe and the apartment circuit. This ensures the Pressure Independent Control Valve (PICV) and meter are protected from the cleansing process of the primaries. The PICV provides flow regulation of the chilled water circuit within the apartment and differential pressure control of the chilled water circuit ensuring that only differential pressure control of the main primary pump set is required.

The PICV also features its own binder points for the commissioning engineer to use when required and the in inbuilt isolation valve has an integral strainer.

The kit includes a MID approved meter head, which is supplied with a wall mounting bracket that enables the meter head to be installed in a position where it can be read easily, normally below the ceiling level. The meter can also be wired directly back to the Evinox ModuSat heat interface unit, allowing the chilled water consumption to be read via our ViewSmart room controller.

The whole chilled water meter kit assembly comes complete with its own sturdy insulation jacket, which allows removal for any maintenance that may be required.

For pre-payment operation with our PaySmart system the assembly can be fitted with an actuator to shut down the chilled water circuit in the event of no credit being available.

For further information about our integrated communal heating solutions, please contact us by emailing info@evinoxenergy.co.uk or visit www.evinoxenergy.co.uk

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Altro provides first class bathroom solution for University of Melbourne

Altro provides first class bathroom solution for University of Melbourne

Altro has delivered an integrated flooring and wall cladding solution for Ormond College at the University of Melbourne. Ormond College is the largest residential college at the University, with more than 400 students and 80 permanent and casual staff.

The college needed practical, easily maintained flooring and wall cladding for new bathroom installations. They selected Altro Aquarius™ safety flooring to provide a surface that would be slip-resistant in wet and dry, shoe and barefoot environments – perfect for their ensuite refurbishment. For the ensuite walls, they selected Altro Whiterock™ wall cladding. Ormond College loved the fact that it is impact resistant and that they no longer needed to worry about repairs to grout, cracks or chips.

They were impressed with the product’s high end look to match their building design whilst providing safe, easy to clean, hygienic and durable surfaces. The bathrooms, being a wet and dry environment, needed flooring that would be safe under both conditions and under bare feet as well as different types of shoes. With a TRRL ≥36 and Class B safety rating, along with Altro’s long warranties, 15 years sustained slip-resistance, and reputation, they knew they were in safe hands.

Dennis Stammer, Maintenance Manager at Ormond College said, “I have experienced Altro in the past and not only do they have excellent customer service but high quality, top of the range products as well. The bathrooms that we installed using Altro safety flooring and Altro Whiterock wall cladding were reasonably priced and of very high quality. I would only recommend and use Altro Aquarius and Altro Whiterock products.”

Altro is a world leading manufacturer and supplier of flooring, walling, ceilings and doorsets. The company supplies hygienic, safe and practical, yet decorative, solutions for all interior environments – without compromising on function or design.

A vast product range features traditional and contemporary, textured and smooth coverings, all in a broad palette of colours. Altro’s customers operate in the education, healthcare, pharmaceutical, retail, leisure, hospitality and food and drink sectors.

Altro is leading the way in sustainable manufacturing and is the first safety flooring manufacturer with the facility to recycle safety flooring in house.

For further information, please visit www.altro.com

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Internorm says Yes to the Build Show

Internorm says Yes to the Build Show

Preparations for the most extensive contractor-based exhibition in a decade have received a massive boost, as fenestration giant Internorm signs up to attend next year’s inaugural Build Show.

As Europe’s largest window brand, Internorm’s commitment to the Build Show highlights the significance of this brand new exhibition. The family-owned company has more than 80 years of experience in the industry and its name is synonymous with quality and reliability.

Experts in high performance, thermally insulated window systems and pioneers in the UPVC sector, Internorm plans to exhibit a range of new additions to its innovative door and window solutions.

Andreas Simmer, Managing Director of Internorm UK, commented: “Windows and doors are a crucial component of any building. As well as their obvious functionality, they also add important aesthetic appeal. Bearing this in mind, ensuring the correct specification is paramount not only for the short term, but for years to come.”

He continued, “The Build Show is a great opportunity for us to share our knowledge with architects, specifiers and end clients, as well as giving us the perfect chance to showcase our extensive range of products.”

Paul Godwin, Managing Director of the Build Show, said: “Our aim for the Build Show is for it to benefit the entire industry, from contractor, to specifier, to supplier. Having Internorm on board is great news as it will give visitors the chance to interact with an industry leader on a face to face basis, creating new and unique opportunities for business and growth.”

Taking place at the Birmingham NEC next year, the Build Show will bring together contractors, specifiers, builders, suppliers, housebuilders, architectural technologists and clients, providing the perfect forum to network, showcase new products and discover opportunities for professional development.

Supported by a comprehensive seminar schedule that is influenced by the Build Show’s partners: the Federation of Master Builders, the Construction Industry Training Board, Glenigan and the Construction Products Association, the Build Show will address the real issues faced by the construction industry today.

Some of the exhibitors already signed up include, VEKA, Festool, VW, Marmox and many more.

For more information about exhibiting or attending, please visit www.buildshow.co.uk

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Stannah Microlifts are celebrating!

Stannah Microlifts are celebrating!

40 years, millions of journeys, 20,000 Microlifts

Light the birthday candles and congratulations all round at Stannah Microlifts. The company is marking its 40th birthday, 20,000th Microlift and 1,000,000s of dumb waiter journeys, improving customer service and manual handling everywhere.

As with most birthdays there will be a party but this time there will be no presents. In fact, in direct opposition to tradition, the birthday boys and girls will be gifting their 20,000th Microlift to a worthy cause.

Stannah Microlifts General Manager, Mark Chapman explains:
‘To celebrate this fantastic achievement we really want to donate the 20,000th lift to benefit a charitable project. Maybe someone out there is trying to raise funds for a service lift and we can provide it. Finding them may not be so easy!’

The search is on for a suitable project that will fall in line with Stannah sponsorship guidelines to ensure any donation or sponsorship supports as many people as possible in a community scheme. It might be a children’s hospice, youth project, activity centre, village hall, care home…the possibilities are endless.

Naturally the company is contacting building professionals who have had contact with Stannah before, as well as widening their search in the trade press, to invite the experts to nominate a project they think would benefit from this free Microlift and would be a befitting home for the 20,000th installation.

So where do Microlift service lifts generally make life easier? Well the bulk are food lifts in restaurants, pubs, hotels and bars moving food and drink all day, every day to help busy staff avoid the stairs with awkward loads and deliver excellent service. There are more unusual uses for dumbwaiters such as moving money in casinos, delivering dentures in dentists, bringing books in the library, whizzing widgets in the factory, shifting shoes in retail, lifting loaves at the bakery, protecting pots at the pottery and transferring toddies at a distillery. Then there’s feeding the five thousand at race courses, football stadia, schools, universities, airports, railway stations – the list goes on.

Where was the first Microlift installed? Records show this may well have been Luigi’s Italian Ristorante in Tavistock Street, London in the early 70s – a duplex pair were installed and renewed twenty years later! Close behind was a lift installed in Mayfield School , St Leonards which, 39 years later, is still used every day and serviced by the London and South East Branch of Stannah in Crayford.

Celebrity lifts? There’s been a few. Not too many we can mention! Microlifts are very popular additions to grand homes; some royal, some show-biz, some theatrical, some in well-known places. There’s the Royal Mint, the Royal Observatory, the Stock Exchange, the Shard, the set of East Enders (Argee Bargee), the Old Vic, Lambeth Palace, Sunninghill Park, Lords Cricket Ground, Twickenham Ruby Ground and many more.

All at sea? Yes, Microlifts certainly are! These indispensable mini-butlers are busy crossing the oceans on , Offshore Patrol Vessels (Trinidad, Tobago, LÉ Samuel Beckett – Irish Navy), Tattershall Castle (moored on Thames), Waverley Steam Ship, HMS Warrior, Sail Training Ships – Tenacious and Lord Nelson.

It’s amazing how useful the Stannah Microlift is in so many different parts of our lives and absolutely vital to some people’s day to day jobs too. For the chef or the retailer, the coffee bar staff or the librarian, their Microlift is essential to the success of their business. And that’s where Stannah lift servicing provides crucial support.

From a UK branch network of eleven service branches, and with more than 360 lift engineers, Stannah provide 365 day maintenance to ensure their Microlifts never let them down.

Naturally over 40 years and 20,000 Microlifts there are hundreds out there and Stannah don’t know where all of them are. Over the next few months they’ll be inviting the people who own or use their dumbwaiters to add them to our ‘map of Microlifts’. Contributors can post a ‘selfie’ with their lift too! It’s a Microlift Quest!

Lastly, Stannah would like to thank everyone who has made this milestone possible: their customers, their trade partners, their suppliers and last, but certainly not least, their fantastic staff – and that includes everyone from the last 40 years! 20,000 Microlifts and counting…1, 2, 3…

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St Modwen and WDS call on Panasonic for great energy savings

St Modwen & WDS call on Panasonic for great energy savings

Panasonic was called upon by Woodhouse Environmental Services Ltd to provide equipment for call centre giant, WDS, to retrofit its busy offices with an energy-efficient Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. Working against strict time and space constraints, Panasonic’s VRF systems coupled with large ducted and wall mounted indoor units were specified for a quick, simple and energy efficient install.

WDS negotiated with the building owners, St Modwen Properties PLC, a multi-million pound property development and investment company, to redevelop one of three buildings at the Discovery Court Business Centre in Bournemouth.

With the brief to remove and replace the old, existing system with a high-performance, easy-to-install HVAC system, the design and build contractor, Woodhouse Environmental Services Ltd, required a product that offered a large selection of different units, providing a maximum performance system to cater for this large building.

WDS Call Centre (a part of the Xerox group) provides customer service solutions to some of the world’s best known technology and communications brands including Tesco mobile, Google and many other blue-chip brands.

This complete system would need to cater for the high density office, providing exceptional heating and cooling efficiencies whilst maintaining close conditions, introducing continuous fresh air and removing stale exhaust air, ensuring a comfortable work environment at ideal temperatures. The install was to be undertaken whilst the tenants were still in residence. This meant that it was imperative for staff disruption levels to be kept to an absolute minimum.

Woodhouse Environmental Services initiated a fast track install programme between June 2013 and October 2013, splitting the renovation into three phases to cover each ‘zone’ of the building, satisfying a tight budget, and remaining within the allocated time.

In the first phase, Panasonic’s integrated VRF and heat recovery ventilation systems were installed to replace the existing air cooled chilled water system operating on R22 along with a ducted fan coil system, which no longer provided the efficient and reliable service in this demanding application. Specifying Panasonic’s VRF unit made for an all-round easy-to-use system, whilst it’s clever, innovative integrated technologies meant wasted energy was avoided and significant savings could be made on the buildings annual energy bills. Additional extras including an energy monitoring touch screen control with multi-zone temperature adjustment, making this Panasonic system the efficient, ideal replacement that was so desired.

As part of the second and third phases, Panasonic’s ducted indoor and wall mounted units were also incorporated in the building refurbishment. Not only were these systems integrated to provide fresh air input and stale air removal, but they also fitted the outlined noise criteria. Panasonic was able to supply all of this equipment on short notice so as not to delay the project.

As a result, Panasonic proved to provide the most energy efficient units on the market, suitable for this large-scale project. With approximately 250 members of staff based in each zone, the quick turn-around, replacing the old systems and fitting brand new Panasonic equipment, meant staff were able to move straight back into the refurbished offices immediately on completion.

For further information please visit www.aircon.panasonic.eu.

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Multikwik bathroom drainage covers all the bases

Multikwik bathroom drainage covers all the bases

Multikwik now offers a complete range of shower and wet room drainage solutions – from feature-packed shower gullies, continuous channel drainage to sophisticated linear drainage. All products in the range combine modern design and easy installation features that will make it the logical choice for specifiers and installers alike.

The Linnum range of linear drainage is slimline and unobtrusive to the overall bathroom design, yet it’s simple and quick to install. The channel can be adjusted to suit the majority of floor voids down to a minimum of 95mm, so it fits even where there are shallow floor voids. It can be adapted to accommodate tiles from 7mm to 16mm in thickness and offers a choice of two waste outlet adaptors, compression or solvent, for great installation versatility.

To meet the current trends of sleek and sophisticated bathroom finishes, the Linnum range includes a choice of grate designs in stainless steel and glass to suit any design. It comes in three different lengths – 650mm, 750mm, and 950mm – to fit different sized areas of the bathroom.

Multikwik’s stainless steel continuous channel drainage is ideally suited for changing room, swimming pools or gym applications. Despite its compact height, it can cope with flow rates of up to 0.8 l/s. Its discreet stainless steel grate offers an unobtrusive finish.

Multikwik’s trapped shower gullies for tiled and vinyl floors are the latest addition to the floor drainage range. Both versions offer a choice of grate designs, offering different styles and material options and come with the choice of 50mm or 75mm water seal depths. In addition, the tiled trapped shower gully can be adjusted to the majority of floor void heights, by cutting the adjustable riser to the required height.

For design and installation queries, Multikwik’s team of plumbing design engineers can offer full technical advice and support.

Full details of the Multikwik range, along with comprehensive, downloadable literature, case studies, technical information and nearest stockist information can be found on the company’s website at multikwik.com or by calling 01622 852654.

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