Latest innovations and products in the sustainability sections of the construction industry.

District Heating at Southbank Place Canary Wharf

Evinox Energy are delighted to be working with Canary Wharf Group plc on the Southbank Place development. This outstanding scheme features a district heating system that incorporates a highly efficient energy centre, which will reduce the carbon footprint of the site. The District network will supply residents with thermal energy for heating, cooling and the production of domestic hot water.

Southbank Place is being developed by Braeburn Estates, a joint venture between Canary Wharf Group plc and Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company. When complete it will feature seven new buildings including residential space, state-of-the-art offices and a diverse mix of retail. This 5.25-acre development also features the iconic Shell building and offers some of the best views in London including the London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Whitehall and exceptional vistas of the river.

Heating & Cooling Interface Units

Evinox Energy have supplied ModuSat® heating and cooling interface units, including twin plate units for instantaneous heating and hot water, single plate units for cooling and models that feature an integrated hot water storage tank. The Canary Wharf Group plc decided this was the ideal solution as many apartments require both heating and cooling throughout the home.

Smart Connected Control

The Interface units at Southbank Place feature our SmartTalk® two-way communication technology, which operates using the same hard-wired network as the metering data collection without additional costs. This enables all dwellings to be remotely metered, controlled, interrogated and tested, and enables operation and maintenance routines to be run remotely including the diagnosis of faults. The system picks up a range of alarms such as faulty components, faulty meters, high /low system pressure.
By using our two-way communication system, any HIU performance check can also be carried out remotely, significantly reducing inconvenience, maintenance time and cost.

Credit towards Code for Sustainable Homes

Each home also features an Evinox ViewSmart ENE3 controller, which can display all of the information required to gain credits for the Code for Sustainable Homes. This includes historical consumption data in a graphical format to enable residents to view information about their usage and compare different periods. This removes the requirement to install a separate energy display device to gain credits towards the Code for Sustainable Homes.

For further information about our integrated communal & district heating solutions, please contact us by emailing info@evinoxenergy.co.uk or visit www.evinoxenergy.co.uk
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Westgate Oxford revitalized with Kingspan Kooltherm

The premium thermal performance of Kingspan Kooltherm K106 Cavity Board has led to it being installed as part of the £440 million redevelopment of Westgate Oxford, a retail and leisure destination in the city centre.

Developed by the Westgate Oxford Alliance and constructed by Laing O’Rourke, the development is scheduled to open in October 2017. It has been designed by Glenn Howells Architects to reflect the heritage of the surrounding Oxford architecture, with an articulated brick façade and a focus on long-term robustness, quality and endurance. This concept was carried throughout the project, leading to the selection of the Kingspan Kooltherm K106 Cavity Board to ensure the building achieved a high level of thermal performance within a minimal cavity width.

Installed by Kilnbridge Construction Limited on the stair cores at each level, the rigid insulation board has a thermal conductivity of just 0.018 W/m·K, whilst its water-tight, vapour-open polypropylene fleece outer facing allows it to be installed with a 10 mm residual cavity. This combination makes it ideal for projects such as Westgate Oxford, where developers want to meet demanding U-value targets, without moving away from preferred cavity sizes and reducing the internal space.

The Oxford development is expected to achieve a minimum BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’ for Block 1. Kingspan Kooltherm K106 Cavity Board can assist, both directly and indirectly, towards the award of credits within the Energy and Materials sections of the assessment. All Kooltherm, Therma and KoolDuct insulation products and cavity closers manufactured at Kingspan Insulation’s facilities in Pembridge and Selby are certified to BES 6001 (Framework Standard for the Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products) ‘Excellent’.

Kingspan Kooltherm K106 Cavity Board is BBA certified. Its rigid phenolic fibre-free insulation core is manufactured with a blowing agent that has zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and very low Global Warming Potential (GWP). The insulation boards are non-deleterious, easy to handle and install, and are unaffected by air infiltration.

For further information, please call 01544 387 384, email info@kingspaninsulation.co.uk or visit www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk.
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Zero Waste Goal and CO2 Savings for SFS intec in Latest Sustainability Boost

Leading fastener manufacturer, SFS intec, has strengthened its position as one of the sustainability innovators in the roofing and cladding sector by implementing two new initiatives that significantly reduce the environmental impact of its Leeds HQ and production site.

The company, which is one of the world’s largest producers of fastening systems for the built environment, has just made a major investment to reduce energy consumption within its premises located close to Leeds city centre. Working in conjunction with its OEM customer Kingspan, SFS intec has installed a new ultra-low energy LED lighting system that will save 65 tonnes of CO2 per annum, in addition to providing a much brighter and more comfortable working environment for SFS personnel.

By removing the 349 original light fittings and replacing them with 155 low-energy LED lights, SFS intec is cutting its annual electricity consumption for lighting by nearly three quarters. The new LED lights allow for customised lighting levels which adapt to the amount of natural light entering the building through rooflights and windows.

In a separate programme to reduce its carbon footprint, SFS intec has also appointed a new partner to help it maximise recycling and eliminate landfill waste. Working with waste management specialist ACM Environmental PLC, new processes implemented right across the site will ensure all the company’s cardboard, dry mixed recyclables, wood, scrap metal and general waste is separated and sent to recycling plants, with none sent to landfill.

Luke Wood, QES Manager at SFS intec, who led both sustainability programmes, said “We’re always looking at utilising new technology, services and processes to ensure we’re operating in a sustainable way, guided by the three ‘P’s of sustainability – People, Planet and Profit.

“Cutting our energy consumption and waste help us to minimise our carbon footprint and maintain our position as an environmentally sustainable supply chain partner for all our built environment customers. Our next programme is looking at our consumption of gas for heating and to power our air-handling systems and, when implemented, could deliver even further CO2 savings.

“The fastening systems we manufacture and supply are often used in low and zero carbon buildings, so it is important for our customers to have confidence that each SFS intec product used is manufactured sustainably. That’s where we add value and give the industry a ‘greener’ choice.”

SFS intec manufactures a wide range of fastening systems for all types of roofing and cladding applications. The company is part of the Swiss-based SFS Group which has annual sales in excess of £1.1bn and a history dating back to the 1950s serving customers in the construction, automotive, electronics, industrial and medical products markets.

Full details about SFS intec are available at www.sfsintec.co.uk.
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Leading Eco-Roof company calls for Yorkshire colleges to upskill or risk being left behind

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Huddersfield-based energy efficiency roofing specialist, Ploughcroft, has issued a stark warning to construction colleges across the region: upskill and evolve, or risk being left behind in the fast-moving roofing industry.

With hundreds of students leaving construction colleges to seek employment this summer, Chris Hopkins, Divisional Director at Ploughcroft, is warning the majority of those leavers will be untrained and unprepared for the energy saving construction techniques that consumers now demand.

An industry first

As a consequence, Ploughcroft has taken the initiative to develop its own pioneering, Eco-Roof apprenticeship scheme – which has already been trailed over the last 12-months. This is believed to be an industry first.

This proactive approach from Ploughcroft is essential to provide apprentices with the skills and knowledge required to succeed in the fast-growing energy efficiency industry, and to underpin the cost-effective installation of new roofing schemes.

While under the current college curriculum, the focus quite rightly covers the basic roofing installation essentials, it fails in the view of Chris Hopkins, when it comes to the incorporation of now crucial energy efficient-related skill sets, such as U-Value calculations, condensation risk analysis and heat-loss monthly savings.

This means forward-thinking companies such as Ploughcroft, which lead the way with its unique Eco-Roof product, are unable to find suitably qualified staff, even at entry-level positions, further exacerbating the industry-wide skills shortage. Ploughcroft believes that by ‘future proofing’ the Apprenticeship schemes, this will also have the knock-on effect of attracting the brightest and best to the industry.

Chris Hopkins is now calling for urgent dialogue with course and curriculum planners to collaborate to address this key area. He said “Over the past three years we have seen a rapid growth in our Eco-Roof business, as energy prices continue to rise, and customers become increasingly clued-up when it comes to greener living and the impact it can have on their energy bills.

“However, while consumer demand rises, colleges simply aren’t keeping up. Given there was no existing eco roof apprenticeship scheme in place that covered the type of specialist work we carry out, we’ve been trialing and created our own using my professional teaching and roofing assessor qualifications.

“That said, we can only do so much, and today’s apprentices are the people who will drive the energy efficiency industry forward in years to come. As such it is absolutely essential that colleges – and other construction businesses – continue to evolve, and invest in skills and development.”

One of Ploughcroft’s most successful apprentices is 18-year-old Charlie Oakes, who began his apprenticeship in 2015 when the scheme launched. He says: “Joining the Eco-Roof apprenticeship has been a fantastic experience. Roofing is often seen as industry that lacks innovation, but working at Ploughcroft I’ve found that’s not the case, and I’ve learned a great deal about emerging energy efficiency techniques. This is a huge growth area, and one I’m excited to see developing.”

Ploughcroft’s two-year Eco-Roof apprenticeship offers a mix of on-the-job training and classroom-based learning spanning traditional roofing, as well as a wide range of cutting-edge, energy-efficient construction techniques required to meet the needs of this fast-growing eco-construction sector. It is currently seeking graduates to join its Eco-Roof apprenticeship scheme.

To find out more, visit www.ploughcroft.co.uk.
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Brio puts a curve in it

Brio architectural hardware made an adventurous curved door project a reality for an innovative wedding venue in north Devon.

Tunnels Beaches is a network of hand carved tunnels leading to sheltered beaches and a tidal Victorian bathing pool at Ilfracombe, the location of a breath-taking beach front wedding venue operated by Devon Beach Weddings. The bespoke building curving out of the rock means there are no concerns about the UK weather and whatever turn it takes it is all visible through curved bi-folding glazed doors – whether opened or closed.

The owner had the idea to refurbish and at the same time to extend the upper story of the curved building by 2 metres, installing curved bi-folding glazed doors and thereby increasing capacity from 130 guests to 160. With a full house for weddings in 2017, (120+ weddings booked), over 100 weddings already booked for 2018 and prime dates in 2019 booking fast, the extension was a must.

Awlwood Joinery already had a good relationship with the owners Jamie and Zoe McLintock having worked with them at the Tunnels Beaches Bath House – an old Victorian bath house – which was turned in to wedding accommodation for the venues guests, so when the scheme was mooted to install curving bi-folding doors the McLintock’s turned to David Wray at Awlwood Joinery. “It wasn’t anything we had done before but we are skilled guys and the concept is not beyond the reach of man – after all we can send men to the moon – so we undertook the commission. The architect, RGP of Barnstaple, came up with a scheme and we did as they instructed – but with fewer doors (two sets, opening out). The design included wood cladding and lots of steel.

“We opted for the Brio Weatherfold 4s system after talking to Bob Harrison at Hebden & Holding architectural ironmonger and the Brio team which takes panels up to 1 metre wide. The decision was led by the architect’ plans and the constraints of the timber as you cannot have huge pieces of curved timber so we had to make up the doors from smaller pieces that would eventually be bolted together on site. The actual frame was put together by the owner’s site carpenters.”

David Wray says: “I am very pleased with the results especially with Brio’s new dual point locking mechanism. Most bi-folding doors are locked top and bottom which means reaching up and bending down to operate. The new Brio system is a finger locking mechanism. I am so impressed with it I am using it on all jobs. It may be more expensive but it is well worth the investment for the huge improvement and simplified operation and it looks so much better.

Brio’s 286 Dual Point Lock system launched last year has been joined by Brio’s 288 Lever Furniture to give joiners a deluxe option to offer their customers who now, more than ever, are looking for aesthetics as well as practicality.

Brio’s 286 Dual Point Lock is suitable for Brio’s tough exterior folding system Weatherfold 4s with timber or aluminium panels and for single hinge panels, such as French doors, up to 3.5 metres high, offering an alternative to the standard flushbolts. It is both ultra secure and aesthetically pleasing.

Rather than having the standard flushbolt at the top and the bottom of the door system on the inside of the property the end user can now choose a more sophisticated finish with the 288 lever handle readily accessible in the central part of the door so there is no reaching up or bending down to operate bolts.

“I am also impressed with Brio R&D – they are always coming up with new ideas and fixes. Best on the market. The solutions are effective and the Brio representatives are helpful and thoughtful – that’s a one-off!”

According to David Newton, General Manager UK at Brio, the demand for bi-folding and sliding exterior and interior doors is set to continue apace, with a variety of aesthetic demands from delicate ‘floating’ glass systems to commercial style projects such as this example in North Devon. “What this means in practice is that Brio, with its range of product and flexible attitude, will continue to keep pace with the architect’s need for innovative product that can transform anything they design on paper into reality,” he says.

For more details on the BRIO product range visit www.briouk.com
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Get the right size hot water heating unit & system to fit the site

New from Rinnai, the UK’s leader in continuous flow hot water heating, is a Site Sizing Service designed to give the right amount of hot water delivery to meet existing and planned needs. The new service initiative from Rinnai – available over email, iPhone and site visit – is to give contractors and users the right mix of products and system which fit the needs of the site, rather than a ‘one size fits all approach’ seen with traditional hot water heating systems.

“Every site is different, as all installers know, and the tradition of oversizing a system ‘just in case’ is a very costly way for a site to have hot water on demand. The very basis of our product concept is that the end-user only pays for the fuel to heat the hot water at the point of use. There are very few sites that might need a stored hot water facility – but this is very expensive – its rather like keeping a car’s engine running just in case you want to drive it. It is as simple as that,” says Rinnai head of Operations, Chris Goggin.

He adds, “We are inviting contractors, designers, installers, end-users and consultants to contact us in person to discuss their new installations so that we can recommend the right system specific to the site. Our product can cope with virtually any size of commercial site – hotels, hospitals, schools, office blocks and larger residential properties and we have proven systems configured to cope with the biggest commercial premises – right through to Government departments such as the Welsh Office or 350 plus bed hotels. The complete, bespoke and personalised system is designed for the specific need of the site or user and we have a proven record of adding significant value to our customers.

The Rinnai product range includes the Infinity HDC1600i, a premium condensing hot water heater tested to below 20 ppm NOx, producing the lowest emissions on the market, with 97% gross efficiencies.

Also in this established and proven range of award winning products is the condensing HDC1200 internal and external models which give an energy performance of 107% net efficiency while the larger Rinnai HDC1500 internal and external models have 105% net efficiency. Rinnai Infinity condensing units also exceed all the demands of Part L Building Regulations.

The Rinnai HD50i internal water heater and HD70e external water heater offer greater flexibility at the design stage and can offer an alternative solution where flue runs are problematic or internal space is not available. They are excellent units for refurbishment projects.

Using a modular system of either internal or external Rinnai HD or HDC condensing water heaters and a stainless steel storage vessel, demands in excess of 20,000 litres per hour can be satisfied. Rinnai Infinity Plus Storage packs are delivered direct to site in one complete package.

Rinnai units are ‘renewables ready’ when used as a gas booster to solar thermal or heat pump installations in maximizing renewable heat gains. It is the only booster that ensures a hot shower or bath any time of the day or night. The rest of the time the gas fired unit is inactive minimizing energy usage.

Rinnai’s development and investment in integral smart controls for its appliances enable smart integration with sophisticated BMS systems allowing multi data monitoring which in turn identifies areas where energy, service and breakdown efficiencies can be improved. Each digital remote controller can be individually programmed, to deliver temperature accurate hot water for washing and cleaning however the water heater can only deliver one set temperature at any time. Remote temperature controllers cannot override the master temperature setting made with the DIP switches within the heater ensuring safety. Controllers can also deliver basic fault diagnosis.

Rinnai also fields a common header flue system to streamline manifolded installations of its award-winning Infinity condensing units.

Another simple but effective idea which safeguards against lime scale build up occurring in Rinnai continuous flow water heaters a scale control system continually monitors the appliances for lime scale deposits around the heat exchanger.

Also in the range is the Infinity Solo. This is a Rinnai hot water heating unit which combines the advanced technology of its wall mounted water heaters with a stainless steel storage cylinder all in one. And it boasts very low heat loss figures.

For more information on the RINNAI product range visit www.rinnaiuk.com.
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Osmo introduces a new range of tools

Eco-friendly wood and finish specialist, Osmo UK, introduces a new range of quality tools to its impressive portfolio of products, including an innovative Osmo System Telescopic Handle. The assortment of tools aims to aid users in creating a premium finish to their Osmo projects and ease product application.

Osmo’s new offering of tools includes a wide selection of the highest quality brushes, rollers, scrapers, mops, pads and machines, each of which are specially designed to provide the perfect criteria for the intended appearance or effect that is desired. Whether users are looking to preserve the natural colour of the wood, add a subtle washed effect or highlight the grain of the wood itself, there is a tool for it all.

Whilst protection is assured, the results will also be aesthetically pleasing. Tailored to suit various surfaces and needs, the Osmo tools and accessories collection provides users with the requirements for the best application and maintenance of wooden surfaces.

“Buyers can often fall into the trap of purchasing cheaper tools, however these low-cost alternatives can often compromise the overall finish and quality of the project due to their poor quality and design,” comments Steve Grimwood, Managing Director of Osmo UK. “It is important to Osmo that our products offer a premium and high quality finish and that we are consistently achieving a high level of customer satisfaction. Osmo’s products are high in viscosity and have a thick consistency to ensure the finish is applied thinly and spread evenly. These tools are made from aluminium and are designed to be long lasting.”

The all new Osmo System Telescopic Handle is a universal attachment for the full assortment of application tools including:

  • Osmo Floor Brush
  • Osmo Floor Roller Set
  • Osmo Small Roller & Brush Set
  • Osmo Decking Brush
  • Osmo Decking Brush Set
  • Osmo Pad Holder with Joint

The same handle can also be used in conjunction with the cleaning tools:

  • Osmo Cleaning Kit for Floors
  • Osmo Decking Cleaning Brush
  • Osmo Pad Holder with Joint

Osmo tools are now easier than ever to use, thanks to the Quick-Connect technology that allows for the convenient attachment of the telescopic handle and the SoftTouch Grip, for user comfort. The back-preserving, adjustable length of the handle allows users to effortlessly extend the brush, in order to apply Osmo product on floors, decking and hard to reach areas with ease. The handle simply connects to the joint with a secure fitting and has an adjustable pole which can be extended in length from 120-200cm.

To find more information and for your nearest stockist of the Osmo range of environmentally friendly wooden products and specialist finishes, call Osmo UK direct on 01296 481220 or alternatively visit www.osmouk.com.
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BPN: Tackling inefficiency, one building at a time

Many existing, new and retrofitted buildings exhibit large gaps between design aspirations and in use performance. To meet policy objectives and meet the needs of building owners and occupants, in-use performance needs to improve rapidly and radically. Ambitious new start-up organisation, The Building Performance Network (BPN) hopes to influence change in policy, procurement and practice, both politically and technically across the UK and global Construction markets.

Whilst many people are now aware of performance gaps for energy use and CO2 emissions, fewer people are aware that issues are also evident in technical performance, occupant satisfaction, operating costs, environmental impact and importantly the health of the occupants.

Data is the key to understanding whether we are making the right choices throughout the lifecycle of the building. The UK suffers from a disjointed building performance evaluation sector, where data are inaccessible, study methods are not clear or shared, and decisions are often made on poor or limited data.

The Building Performance Network (BPN) will be an independent not for profit organisation, operating in all building related sectors. It will work to bring together individuals and organisations with an interest in improving building performance in operation. It is founded on the principles of integrity and robustness to ensure that it remains credible and authoritative. It is open to all, not just the existing Building Performance Evaluation industry.

The BPN has the following key objectives:

  • Bring people together with an interest in building performance
  • Understand how building performance data is collected and analysed to ensure members have reliable data on which to base their decisions
  • Move forward the practice of building performance evaluation to make it accurate and useable for the sector
  • Share and make members aware of a wide range of studies undertaken in the UK, creating a data-sharing platform to move the building performance agenda forward
  • Use data to influence change in policy, procurement and practice

The BPN is founded on the principle that participation should be open for all and that the member organisation has an interest in the performance of buildings in-use. It is constituted as an independent, non-profit organisation, which requires some core funding.

Members will be a part of an exclusive collective group of expert organisations shaping the building performance landscape and be seen as a credible collaborator by Government and other organisations with an interest in this field. If you want to support engagement with government in a unified industry approach, have a say in what is proposed as industry standards and enjoy a host of annual benefits then click here to find out how you can become part of this ambitious and fast growing organisation: http://building-performance.network/

Download the prospectus here.
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Kingspan Kooltherm K100 range expands

Kingspan Insulation has announced the launch of two new products to join their innovative new Kooltherm K100 Range, designed to deliver lower U-values with a minimal construction thickness.

Kingspan Kooltherm K112 Framing Board and K107 Pitched Roof Board are the latest products in the range, which was launched last year. Their advanced, fibre-free insulation core has a thermal conductivity of just 0.018 W/m.K across all available board thicknesses, the lowest for any rigid phenolic insulation board. This revolutionary composition offers architects, specifiers and builders the freedom to design and construct buildings with inherently outstanding fabric performance, without having to compromise on internal space.

All the products in the Kooltherm K100 Range are manufactured with a blowing agent that has zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and very low Global Warming Potential (GWP). The insulation boards are non-deleterious, easy to handle and install, and are unaffected by air infiltration.

Kooltherm, Therma and KoolDuct insulation products and cavity closers manufactured at Kingspan Insulation’s facilities in Pembridge and Selby are certified to BES 6001 (Framework Standard for the Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products) ‘Excellent’.

The Kingspan Kooltherm K100 Range is now available on the Kingspan Insulation U-value Calculator, and detailed product brochures are available for download www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk.

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Asia’s first vertical forest will be completed in 2018

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Nanjing Green Towers, promoted by Nanjing Yang Zi State-owned National Investment Group Co.ltd, will be the first Vertical Forest built in Asia.

Located in the Nanjing Pukou District (an area destined to lead the modernization of southern Jiangsu and the development of the Yangtze River economic area), the two towers are characterized by the interchange of green tanks and balconies, following the prototype of Milan’s Vertical Forest.

Along the facades, 600 tall trees, 500 medium-sized trees (for a total amount of 1,100 trees from 23 local species) and 2,500 cascading plants and shrubs will cover a 6,000 Sqm area. A real vertical forest, contributing to regenerate local biodiversity, that will provide a 25 tons of CO2 absorption each year and will produce about 60 kg of Oxygen per day.

The taller tower, 200 metres high, crowned on the top by a green lantern, will host offices – from the 8th floor to the 35th – and it will include a museum, a green architecture school and a private club on the rooftop. The second tower, 108 metres high, will provide a Hyatt hotel with 247 room of different sizes (from 35 sqm to 150 sqm) and a swimming pool on the rooftop. The 20 metres high podium, will  host commercial, recreational and educative functions, including multi-brands shops,a food market, restaurants, conference hall and exhibition spaces.

Nanjiing Vertical Forest project, which is scheduled to be finished in 2018, is the third prototype, after Milan and Lausanne, of a project about urban forestation and demineralisation that Stefano Boeri Architects will develop all over the world and in particular in other Chinese cities such as Shijiazhuang, Liuzhou, Guizhou, Shanghai and Chongqing.

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