The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) have announced that, from July 1st 2023, they will no longer attend all alarm signals generated from an automatic fire alarm system. Instead, the Call Challenge approach will be invoked with an aim to reduce the number of false alarms their crews attend.
Highbourne Group has appointed Robbie Bell, who spent almost 10 years in a similar role at Screwfix earlier in his career, as its new CFO. Robbie replaces Interim CFO Harvey Ainley and begins work immediately for the UK leader in the plumbing, heating and renewable energy market. Highbourne’s brand portfolio
A consortium of businesses led by smart energy tech pioneers Chameleon Technology has secured Government funding to develop innovative heat pump optimisation technology designed to encourage consumer adoption of the cleaner and greener heating upgrade. Chameleon Technology, alongside partners Evergreen Energy, University of Salford – Energy House, EnAppSys and TalkTalk
Signify’s Nico van der Merwe explains how energy efficiency measures such as the retrofitting of smart LEDs can provide green impacts across society in combination with the switch to renewable energy. The IPCC Climate Change 2023 report has offered the world a stark reminder of what is at stake if
Honeywell’s Advanced Visual Docking Guidance System to help enhance operations and improve overall safety at one of the busiest airports in Italy Honeywell and GE.S.A.C., operator of Napoli International Airport (NAP) have recently announced that Honeywell’s Advanced Visual Docking Guidance System (A-VDGS) has been selected to be deployed at its
Parliamentarians and experts from across the heating industry gathered in the Cholmondeley Room at the House of Lords on 24 April, to explore the findings of Vaillant’s installer survey report looking into attitudes towards heat pump training, and for the launch of Vaillant Aspire, the new learning pathway designed to
Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions is pleased to welcome the All in One units, available in T-CAP and High Performance, of its latest Aquarea K Generation heat pumps to market. With reduced noise levels and enhanced comfort and efficiency, the new generation of Aquarea heat pumps offer extensive technological advancements
Introducing the Dyson HEPA Big+Quiet Formaldehyde purifier – Dyson’s quietest most powerful purifier yet. Designed for professional use, the Dyson HEPA Big+Quiet Formaldehyde addresses issues around air quality in shared spaces, taking indoor purification further – literally Dyson’s quietest yet most powerful purifier: The Dyson HEPA Big+Quiet Formaldehyde purifier is
● Integrated ramp management system paired with cyber-secure airfield solutions provides enhanced arrival readiness, docking process support, turnaround and departure management ● Smart visual docking system allows for more precise and informed decision-making across gate operations Honeywell announced the launch of an updated suite of airside solutions, boasting enhancements to its gate
Beny, a provider of renewable energy solutions, has launched a smart home energy solution for the European market. The solution integrates a smart energy management system, microinverters, a DLB system, and a charging station, creating an intelligent and connected home. The Beny Cloud provides intelligent monitoring and operation, offering real-time
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) have announced that, from July 1st 2023, they will no longer attend all alarm signals generated from an automatic fire alarm system. Instead, the Call Challenge approach will be invoked with an aim to reduce the number of false alarms their crews attend. In a bid to reduce false alarm call outs, fire services have successfully trialled and implemented similar approaches across England, and, following a rigorous public and private sector consultation, the SFRS have decided to implement a “Call Challenge” approach when responding to automatic fire alarm signals. Fire and rescue service teams across the UK are responsible for providing immediate assistance and support to those in need, but in recent years there has been an ever-increasing number of false alarms occurring adding to an already stretched fire service. In Scotland alone, the SFRS crews are called to an average of 28,000 false alarms each year and investigating each incident can involve several firefighters and up to two fire appliances as part of the response. To put this into context, this equates to 252,000 firefighters needlessly being called to unwanted fire alarm signals each year, when their time could be better spent tackling real fires, training or carrying out community safety work. The Call Challenge process is invoked whenever a single smoke detector becomes active and generates a fire signal, received either directly by the SFRS control room, or via an Alarm Receiving Company (ARC). Duty holders on site are immediately contacted and asked a series of questions to determine the nature and severity of an incident to determine a positive visual confirmation of fire. This ensures that it is a genuine emergency and requires an immediate response from a fire appliance and its crew. False alarms can be caused by a range of factors, but the vast majority are triggered by automatic fire alarm systems (AFAS). An AFAS provides an early warning of fire and is one of the most effective ways to keep a business, staff and public safe in the event of a fire. However, a significant number of signals from these systems are not actual fires – instead false alarms caused by factors such as cooking fumes or dust from building works, reported by sensors as smoke. The false alarms can also be triggered by a lack of maintenance or regular testing of the fire system. In a recent webinar released by the SFRS, with guest speaker Colin Todd, who holds an MBE for his services to the Fire Industry, three key points were raised. Firstly, building owners have a responsibility under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 to maintain the facilities and equipment provided and failure to do this could lead to prosecution. Second that staff and other building occupants should be made aware of how to respond safely to AFAS activations in each premises and finally that building insurance might be affected by the new approach by the SFRS, depending on which type of fire alarm system and devices are installed. In the webinar, it was recommended that Duty Holders should consider the use of true multi-sensors to reduce false fire alarms. These devices are recommended due to the way in which they operate – i.e., combining more than one trigger such as smoke, heat and CO, to quickly confirm the presence of a real fire. For this reason, the SFRS have pledged to always attend automatically to an alarm signal from an intelligent multi-sensor. The British Standard for fire system design, BS 5839 Part 1, defines a multi-sensor as a fire sensor that monitors more than one physical and/or chemical phenomenon associated with fire. Building upon this, through their combined research project the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and The Fire Industry Association (FIA) proved that advanced multi-sensors which detect multiple criteria can outperform more basic models particularly in reducing false alarms. In general, it was found that the more sophisticated the optical heat multi-sensors were, the less prone they were to common causes of false alarms, whilst their ability to detect real fires was not compromised. This research will most likely further the development of product standards and codes of practice for smoke and multi-sensor detectors. Commenting on this announcement from the SFRS, Nathan Hudson from Hochiki Europe said “Research shows false alarms are causing millions of pounds in disruption to the UK economy every year, causing complacency in staff and the public, and are wasting valuable resources for fire services. As per the recent SFRS webinar with guest speaker Colin Todd, MBE, the correct and compliant installation of true multi-sensors mean false alarms can be reduced. Our ACC true multi-sensor, which is approved to EN54 Part 29, uses a combined sensing element response, where the smoke element is enhanced directly by the heat element. This makes it an ideal replacement for those building owners now faced with having to update their systems to make them eligible for automatic attendance. And for complete flexibility, with its 24 approved modes of operation, our ACD multi-sensor can be completely tailored to the safety needs of the building and therefore help to dramatically reduce false alarms. Whichever solution, we would always recommend duty holders to work with a reputable fire safety company who can advise on the best course of action to reduce false alarms.” It is important to note, that the SFRS have said that the Call Challenge approach does not apply to those premises where there is a “sleeping risk” such as hospitals, care homes, hotels, or domestic dwellings. These premises are exempt and can therefore expect the current level of emergency response. To learn more about the Call Challenge announced by the SFRS and to find out about Hochiki’s range of true multi-sensors visit: https://web.hochikieurope.com/call_challenge Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Highbourne Group has appointed Robbie Bell, who spent almost 10 years in a similar role at Screwfix earlier in his career, as its new CFO. Robbie replaces Interim CFO Harvey Ainley and begins work immediately for the UK leader in the plumbing, heating and renewable energy market. Highbourne’s brand portfolio includes some of the biggest names in the sector, including City Plumbing, The Bathroom Showroom, PTS, DHS, The Underfloor Heating Store, Plumbworld and PlumbNation. CEO Dave Evans said: “We are delighted to welcome Robbie Bell to our Senior Leadership Team. We believe he is the perfect appointment as we look to lead industry change and continue to grow our business. Those are things that require an experienced CFO capable of making a big impact, and Robbie brings this.” Robbie joins from Holland & Barrett, where he was also CFO, having held similar roles at Welcome Break and a number of large retailers. During his time at Screwfix, he saw trade counters grow from 50 to 600, overseeing sales growth of over £1bn. He said: “It’s an exciting time to be re-joining the sector and I’m looking forward to supporting Highbourne in their strategic ambitions. “I have already been impressed by Highbourne’s business plans and by CEO Dave Evans, HIG Capital and the Senior Leadership Team.”
A consortium of businesses led by smart energy tech pioneers Chameleon Technology has secured Government funding to develop innovative heat pump optimisation technology designed to encourage consumer adoption of the cleaner and greener heating upgrade. Chameleon Technology, alongside partners Evergreen Energy, University of Salford – Energy House, EnAppSys and TalkTalk Telecoms, has been awarded £763k funding by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to deliver the Total Home Optimisation Management (THOM) project. THOM will see a collaborative approach to testing heat pump optimisation as part of the government’s Heat Pump Ready Programme, which aims to increase public awareness of the cost saving and environmental benefits of heat pumps. Heat pump installation is currently a long and involved process. Through the development of tools that are simpler to engage with and use, the THOM project aims to mitigate and ease some of the burden. Investment in the technology will lead to increased uptake of heat pumps by consumers being better equipped with a greater awareness of their own energy and heating needs. The project involves Chameleon Technology working closely with its partners to utilise smart energy insights from existing data within the home to improve access to heat pump technology and embed the heat pump as part of a wider smart home set-up serving a more flexible grid. The project will create a heat pump specialist Home Energy Management System (HEMS) supported by a full-package software solution, to help customers understand and maximise the benefits of their heat pumps whilst reducing energy bills and carbon emissions. Smart meter and occupancy data from within the home will be used to develop insights into the fabric efficiency before installation, with all outcomes gathered into AI solutions to streamline the heat pump installation, reduce any survey requirements, improve system performance and offer minimum impact to the energy consumer. This will increase the customer and installer confidence over the technology in each installation. Currently, heat pump installations are not happening at the rate required to meet the Government’s target rate of 600,000 installations per year by 2028. In 2021, less than two per cent of UK homes had low-carbon heating systems, with around only 50,000 heat pumps installed that year. For households looking to upgrade outdated, inefficient domestic boilers, the heat pump installation journey involves several engineer visits to assess the feasibility of a heat pump and correctly size the system. This evaluation process doesn’t always take into account the widely varying routines and lifestyles of different customers. Chameleon Technology and project partners are developing a fully integrated app to integrate smart meter data, router data (for room occupancy) and smart thermostat data, with internal data analytics to provide comprehensive and accurate individual home energy usage insights. The app, which will be designed to be engaging and intuitive for consumers, allows the user to gain insights into their personal household energy usage, adjust and manage their home energy set-up, and provide a simpler route for the sizing and installation of a heat pump. Following the introduction of an ivie Bud IHD, data can be gathered, allowing efficiency to be calculated with the resultant score tested against known requirements for a heat pump. Testing is to be conducted on customer groups and under a controlled environment using the University of Salford Energy House to evaluate and increase the overall performance of the solution. Mike Woodhall, CEO of Chameleon Technology commented: “More must be done to get the UK on track to achieve the Government’s Net Zero targets. This innovative collaboration is just one of the many ways in which the heat pump programme can really gather the momentum it needs to deliver decarbonised heating – a key pillar in the realisation of Net Zero. Supporting the pursuit of these eco targets, as well as making a meaningful shift towards flexible energy, is critical for reducing environmental impacts. The move towards Net Zero remains a key objective for Chameleon Technology. Our technology is designed to make measures such as heat pumps as accessible as possible, as our mission is to help the consumer to get to Net Zero by making it easy for everyone to participate.” Added Stephane Lee Favier, Chief Product Officer of Chameleon: “Our app will offer a quicker and smoother user experience to determine the right heat pump for the right home and inform the customer about the efficiency of the property. Using smart data insights in the app will enable a suitable heat pump to be sized, and cut energy costs after install due to greater efficiencies with time-of-use tariffs and user habits. Optimisation offers the customer features that maintain their comfort, and automatically schedule energy consumption outside peak times to reduce the load on the national grid, taking a significant step towards flexible energy consumption.” Helen Boothman, Managing Director of Evergreen Energy said: “The THOM project will accelerate our Home Energy Management System (HEMS) capabilities, optimising the heat pump alongside solar PV, battery storage and a customer’s EV to save them more on their bills.” David Farmer of The University of Salford – Energy House Labs commented: “Installing air source heat pumps that are inefficient or difficult to control could damage consumer confidence and the delivery of a Net Zero housing stock. This project represents an important step in demonstrating the potential for data to improve the rollout of domestic low and zero carbon technologies.” Susie Buckridge of TalkTalk Telecomms said: “When it comes to Net Zero we face significant challenges, including how to adapt our houses to run on low carbon technologies. This project is all about using data to help consumers make the right choices, so that this massive transition is easier.” Phil Hewitt of EnAppSys (Part of the Montel Group) added: “Consumers will be at the heart of the energy transition. Through engagement and smart control of heat pumps the consumer can help the country consume energy in a more efficient manner. EnAppSys is excited to be working with our fellow team members on the
Signify’s Nico van der Merwe explains how energy efficiency measures such as the retrofitting of smart LEDs can provide green impacts across society in combination with the switch to renewable energy. The IPCC Climate Change 2023 report has offered the world a stark reminder of what is at stake if we fail to take urgent climate action – the trick is how. In consecutive COP meetings, we have yet to see the necessary leap forward in progress that will keep global warming within the science-based 1.5ºC target. At COP27, the time had come for global powers to produce a workplan based on the Paris Agreement that would account for climate mitigation, emissions reduction, adaptation, and financing. Instead, the conference concluded with talk of phasing down rather than phasing out coal, and little mention of oil and gas. The transition to green energy and green economy can take root in our cities. The time has come to focus on solutions and action rather than problems and potential. In Egypt, Signify had a clear message to bring one of those solutions into sharp focus: energy efficiency now. Energy efficiency has clear and tangible benefits and there is one area in which cities can take quick action to reduce both emissions and costs – lighting. Whether it be lighting up the homes, city streets, offices, factories or other commercial and municipal buildings, lighting has huge potential to lower a city’s carbon footprint and to do so quickly. The path to energy efficiency Approximately 35 per cent of the world’s lighting points are still conventional. In Europe and the US, which lag behind much of Asia in the switch to greener lighting, this figure is even higher at 50 per cent. What it also demonstrates, though, is the huge potential for transition in the coming years. If we apply the 10/20/70 model, where 10 per cent of our efforts are inspiration, 20 per cent aspiration, and 70 per cent perspiration, the time has come to give full focus to perspiration and getting the job done. At COP27, a financing agreement for climate loss and damage was agreed but without an increase in the speed and urgency of climate action, the loss and damage suffered will be beyond what anybody can afford. With the adoption of technology such as smart LED lighting, cities are not only taking immediate action to improve the quality of their environment, they are becoming more economical for the future in terms of the social, financial and ecological benefits they’re providing. For example, World Council on City Data shows LED implementation can reduce night-time traffic incidents by about 30 per cent, and reduce street crime by 20 per cent. Business models for technology suppliers into cities also need to shift, from invoicing for hardware to leasing hardware and services and taking away much, if not all, of the upfront costs that can prove prohibitive to green lighting projects. Lighting-as-a-service, for example, brings forward lifetime benefits that are divided over a certain number of years through a service agreement, reducing the need for big upfront capital investment and budget requirements. These service agreements illustrate that it’s as important that the business model is sustainable for the long term as the product is. With the EU’s Green Deal, the UK’s ten-point plan and other equivalent funds around the world emerging, there is a lot of focus currently on what I’d call “the supply side” – the supply side of the energy mix, where there are calls for alternative gas, the scaling of renewables, and even nuclear and hydrogen (though it will take longer to come to fruition). This is important for heavy industry, where we need energy-intensive sectors to keep investing in the markets they’re in, rather than move out to geographies where fossil fuels are cheaper. I believe there must be more focus on the demand side itself where the potential for quicker acceleration on efficiency exists. Importantly, the demand side industries provide both active and passive energy efficiency technologies and solutions. Those like Signify in lighting or building management sensor companies are facilitating the green transition with active digital technologies that will help us finally make the shift away from fossil fuel. They are also the drivers of economic growth and the green economy. But as well as the digital solutions, it is important to recognise the part played by the demand-side industries in the more passive parts of the efficiency process such as insulation and triple-glazing. These will similarly drive growth and provide many jobs for the future, particularly around retrofitting. Why start with lighting In Europe, 50 per cent of the current install base is still conventional lighting technology across places like offices, schools and warehouses. That provides a huge opportunity to improve energy efficiency through lighting networks – an improvement that can be made both quickly unobtrusively because it doesn’t require the breaking open of existing infrastructure to any great degree. Smart LED lighting has the highest relative cost saving of any replacement technology. In Europe, this amounts to a saving of 65 billion euros depending on energy rates, and also brings the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 51 million tonnes. Meanwhile, switching all the light points in the UK alone, could reduce CO2 emissions by 3.9 million tonnes, the amount of emissions that 175 million trees could sequester in a year. Making the switch would also generate electricity savings of 16.1 TWh, which is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of more than 4.3 million households. In both cases, those savings bring the potential to bolster capacity in energy networks for other purposes. Cities are facing pressure to electrify public services and amenities, such as transport and heating, as part of their climate action push. The average electricity consumption for a European household is approximately 3,400kW/h – roughly the same amount of electricity it would take to charge an electric vehicle to travel 10,000 miles in the course of a year. By transitioning to LED lighting
Honeywell’s Advanced Visual Docking Guidance System to help enhance operations and improve overall safety at one of the busiest airports in Italy Honeywell and GE.S.A.C., operator of Napoli International Airport (NAP) have recently announced that Honeywell’s Advanced Visual Docking Guidance System (A-VDGS) has been selected to be deployed at its gates. The guidance system, which enables aircrafts to safely and efficiently come to parking positions after landing to improve turnaround management performance, is the result of a tender process that saw Honeywell excel, from a technical and economic point of view. The docking technology will allow NAP to increase operational efficiency and enhance the customer experience and overall airport safety. “Today’s airports increasingly rely on efficient gate assignment and real-time views of gate activity to optimise performance,” said Alexander Cowen, general manager, Global Airports, Honeywell. “We’ve worked with Napoli Airport to enhance its indoor airport operations or terminal, and now it’s time to deliver our technologies for airside. With our proprietary A-VDGS, Napoli will increase its capability of safe gate operations, benefitting both travelers and airlines.” Honeywell is set to deploy the A-VDGS units at four contact parking stands. A-VDGS will be integrated to help optimise gate usage and airport operations by capturing real-time aircraft gate arrival and departure times, as well as increase the capability of the airport’s existing passenger terminal resources. Combining highly specialised, customised hardware and software components, the system will be integrated into a one-gate ecosystem, meeting the airport’s concept of operation (ConOps). Additionally, through advanced safety algorithms that can detect moving or stationary objects up to 100 metres, A-VDGS provides enhanced guidance to pilots to help detect obstacles that could pose risks to an aircraft, allowing for efficient docking. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Parliamentarians and experts from across the heating industry gathered in the Cholmondeley Room at the House of Lords on 24 April, to explore the findings of Vaillant’s installer survey report looking into attitudes towards heat pump training, and for the launch of Vaillant Aspire, the new learning pathway designed to upskill heating engineers to fit heat pumps. The event – Aspiring to a Green Future – was hosted by Baroness Parminter, Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee, who was joined by key speakers Dr Alan Whitehead MP, Lord Callanan and Vaillant’s Director of Technologies and Training, Mark Wilkins. In her opening remarks, Baroness Parminter highlighted the House of Lords recent review of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) which found that a lack of heat pump installers remains a key barrier to the uptake of low carbon technology in the UK. Referring to the launch of Aspire as a ‘positive step forward’ in tackling this issue, the Baroness also voiced that she was ‘delighted’ to support Vaillant’s work in this area, including Vaillant’s recent survey of installers to better understand their attitudes on upskilling to fit heat pumps. Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Net Zero, Dr Alan Whitehead, also welcomed the launch of Aspire as a robust response to the challenges in rolling out heat pumps in the UK. Making it clear that the UK needs to be committed to supporting the deployment of heat pumps in the short and medium term, he stated that heat pumps are ‘crucial’ to the decarbonisation of domestic heating. Dr Whitehead also outlined Labour’s position on heat pumps, commenting that supporting homeowners with insulation and fabric efficiencies was a top priority through its comprehensive Home Retrofit Programme. With an aim of making 19 million UK homes more energy efficient, the programme would provide support for ‘whole home treatment’ to prepare domestic housing for low carbon heating systems. He said: “Making heat pumps core to the net zero agenda was an important first step, however we now need to look at what the key blockers to progress are. This includes the lack of qualified installers available to install them; the cost of heat pumps which is something we can look to address through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme; and finally, availability of the product itself. The scaling-up of heat pump production here in the UK is vital to ensuring security of supply and meeting domestic demand. “I’m therefore delighted to be here today, as Vaillant is helping to address all these challenges through its new heat pump production line in Belper, to the launch of this bespoke learning pathway to support the upskilling and reskilling of traditional gas boiler installers. What innovative businesses, such as Vaillant, need now is clear direction and a partnership-based approach from Government. The low carbon heating sector presents enormous opportunities for the future, and we must ensure this potential is fulfilled.” Mark Wilkins, Vaillant’s Technologies, and Training Director presented the key findings of Vaillant’s recent installer survey, which helped to develop the Aspire learning pathway. Vaillant surveyed more than 1,100 installers to get a deeper understanding of their barriers and motivators behind reskilling to install heat pumps. Encouragingly, the majority of those who took part in the survey recognised a need to train, with 87% of installers answering ‘yes’ or ‘maybe’ when asked if they were interested in undertaking air source heat pump training in the next 12 months. The top three motivators of these installers looking to undertake heat pump training were future-proofing their business or career development, the benefits for the environment by supporting the net zero agenda, and personal financial benefits from installing a diverse range of heating technologies. Mark commented: “It’s clear that the target of installing 600K heat pumps by 2028 will be a significant challenge, and part of that challenge is building a community of expert installers. Vaillant estimates that to achieve this target we would need 40,000 installers working full-time on heat pumps only. However, as most installers will also still be servicing and maintaining gas boilers at least in the short to medium term, Vaillant estimates up to 100K installers will need to be trained to meet the 600K heat pump target. The launch of Aspire will be a significant step in achieving this goal, to ensure that consumers can find appropriately skilled installers for heat pump installations, as well as traditional heating systems. “Vaillant’s Installer Survey: Aspiring to a Green Future revealed one of the biggest barriers to undertaking heat pump training was a lack of support from Government. This was prior to the launch of the Heat Training Grant, which Vaillant is delighted to be supporting in order to provide our installers with £500 towards heat pump training. I’m also incredibly pleased that we were able to hold this event in Parliament with messages of support from Government Ministers, and positive feedback about our new Aspire training offer.” Out of the 994 installers surveyed by Vaillant who expressed an interest in upskilling, 55% felt that they would prefer ‘entirely in-person training’ when it came to air source heat pumps, whilst ‘a combination of in-person and online’ was preferred by 40% of those surveyed. Mark added: “Aspire is a pioneering learning pathway that is bespoke to each individual and their current skill set, with a mix of online and face-to-face modules held in one of our six Centres of Excellence. We are also working with higher-learning facilities across the UK to upskill college lecturers, as this ensures that the next generation of heating engineers receive relevant training reflective of this new, low carbon landscape. It’s important that we recognise NAPIT and MCS too, for supporting this Aspire pathway with accreditation – fundamental for installers when they are putting their heat pump training into practice.” Guests were treated to a House of Lords afternoon tea, whilst Lord Callanan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance) gave the closing remarks. He said: “We want to see
Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions is pleased to welcome the All in One units, available in T-CAP and High Performance, of its latest Aquarea K Generation heat pumps to market. With reduced noise levels and enhanced comfort and efficiency, the new generation of Aquarea heat pumps offer extensive technological advancements whilst retaining the strengths of the Panasonic Aquarea range. Aquarea K Generation is a groundbreaking low-energy system for heating, cooling and domestic hot water production that delivers outstanding performance. The new units boast a compact indoor design and have an excellent SCOP of up to 5.12, providing outstanding efficiency and is ideal for new installations and well-insulated homes. K Generation units utilise R32 refrigeration. It retains the refrigerant connection between indoor and outdoor units and provides water outlet temperatures of up to 60°C even when outdoor temperatures are as low as -10°C. The new heat pumps have been recognised in the 2022 Good Design Awards. As well as recognising the performance efficiencies of the units, the judges commended the outdoor unit’s design which blends into the landscape and contributes to the improvement of the surrounding environment. Panasonic’s Aquarea All in One Heat Pump is a compact, easy-to-install system with a footprint of 598 x 600mm. It can be neatly lined up with other big appliances like a refrigerator or washing machine to reduce the space required for installation. Thanks to its low height, it can also be installed with a ventilation unit on top. Supplying efficient heating, the unit generates domestic hot water and stores it inside a 185L stainless steel tank with U-Vacua™ insulation to reduce energy losses. T-CAP The Aquarea K Generation is now available in T-CAP ranges from 9 to 12kW single phase, designed to keep total capacity even at extremely cold outdoor temperatures, for both retrofit and new builds. The T-CAP line-up is excellent for replacing gas or oil boilers and for connecting to new underfloor heating, High Performance Panasonic’s Aquarea K Generation All in One High Performance is available in capacities 3.2 to 9kW. It warms the home effectively and efficiently, even with extreme outdoor temperatures, as well as cools a space in summer and brings hot water all year-round. This solution is ideal for new installations and low consumption homes, offering outstanding efficiency and energy savings with minimised CO2 emissions. To find out more please visit www.aircon.panasonic.eu. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Introducing the Dyson HEPA Big+Quiet Formaldehyde purifier – Dyson’s quietest most powerful purifier yet. Designed for professional use, the Dyson HEPA Big+Quiet Formaldehyde addresses issues around air quality in shared spaces, taking indoor purification further – literally Dyson’s quietest yet most powerful purifier: The Dyson HEPA Big+Quiet Formaldehyde purifier is borne of Dyson’s longstanding expertise in airflow, acoustics, filtration and compressors. Cone Aerodynamics: Dyson engineered airflow delivery system, offering more than double the airflow of previous Dyson purifiers, at up to 87 litres of airflow per second of purified air. CO2 sensor: Reports CO2 in real time, indicating to occupiers of shared spaces when to ventilate. Re-engineered motor bucket: Ensures quiet operation – meticulous re-engineering incorporating ingenious acoustic solutions including a Helmholtz cavity and labyrinth seal. Three-phase filtration system: Capturing up to 99.95% of ultrafine particles[1], removing odours and gases like NO2, Benzene and VOCs and permanently destroying formaldehyde[2]. [1] Markets to insert local caveat from Claims Matrix ref. filter efficacy [2] Markets to insert local caveat from Claims Matrix ref. formaldehyde destruction. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
● Integrated ramp management system paired with cyber-secure airfield solutions provides enhanced arrival readiness, docking process support, turnaround and departure management ● Smart visual docking system allows for more precise and informed decision-making across gate operations Honeywell announced the launch of an updated suite of airside solutions, boasting enhancements to its gate and turnaround and airfield lighting portfolios, including the Honeywell NAVITAS™ Smart Visual Docking system. To help airports maintain a smoother traveler experience amidst increasing air traffic, the latest solutions help optimise gate operations and improve situational awareness for pilots and airside operations teams, resulting in faster turnaround times for aircraft. The latest solutions were unveiled at the 2023 Airport Show in Dubai. As the number of air travelers continues to increase[i], the air travel industry needs continued innovation to keep up with the demand. However, the industry has faced a shortage of staff since pandemic conditions started, like air traffic controllers, with 1,200[ii] fewer controllers today than a decade ago. These challenges are reflected in on-time departure rates of less than 70%[iii] for U.S. flights in December 2022. “Honeywell provides the latest technology solutions that help airports be more resilient, efficient and sustainable, topics that are more critical than ever as we approach the busy summer travel season,” Alex Cowen, general manager, Global Airports, Honeywell Building Technologies. “The Honeywell solutions are designed to meet the challenges that impede efficiency and safety, such as ramp obstacles, adverse weather conditions, maintenance and management of gate downtime and capacity optimisation like airport congestion.” The expanded range of solutions include: To learn more about Honeywell’s latest solutions, please click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Beny, a provider of renewable energy solutions, has launched a smart home energy solution for the European market. The solution integrates a smart energy management system, microinverters, a DLB system, and a charging station, creating an intelligent and connected home. The Beny Cloud provides intelligent monitoring and operation, offering real-time monitoring, precise message push notifications, intelligent alerts, remote control, and upgrading capabilities. With the Beny Cloud, users can monitor the operational status of the inverter equipment, automatically calculate power generation and efficiency, and detect faulty power stations for on-site maintenance. This system is built on a secure, reliable, and user-friendly cloud computing platform. The BYM600W microinverter is ideal for European balcony projects due to its exceptional performance. With a maximum industry input current of 18A and support for a DC:AC ratio of up to 1.5 times, it is perfect for homeowners seeking the latest in energy-efficient technology. The product’s original parallel optimizers enhance parallel effects, and its key components are designed to withstand high temperatures above 105. The core control chip is automotive-grade, ensuring full output even in environments with temperatures ranging from 50℃ to 55℃, and can still achieve 60% output at 70℃. The product has undergone rigorous aging and quality reliability testing, with an MTBF of ≥30 years, and comes with a maximum warranty of 25 years. Beny‘s innovative, integrated solution combines photovoltaic, energy storage, and charging to meet the growing demand for home charging stations due to the increasing popularity of new energy vehicles. The DLB device, which is compatible with any photovoltaic inverter and batteries available in the market, makes this full-house smart solution possible. By integrating photovoltaic and energy storage systems, Beny’s solution offers numerous benefits, including cost savings, increased reliability, and sustainability. As the technology continues to improve and become more widely adopted, it is likely that more homes and businesses will opt for PV+ESS solutions. In conclusion, Beny’s full-house smart solution is an innovative and versatile option for those looking to invest in a reliable and sustainable energy source for their homes or businesses. The DLB device’s compatibility with a wide range of photovoltaic inverters and batteries makes it a flexible and cost-effective solution for various applications. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
