Fujitsu General Air Conditioning UK and wholesaler TF Solutions are celebrating a successful 10-year working partnership. From the launch of its first branch in Stockport in 2001, TF Solutions has grown to 15 branches and is one of the UK’s leading air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump wholesalers. Now part
With pressure for major construction projects growing across the UK, a new report is encouraging mechanical services contractors, specifiers and developers to accelerate the uptake and deployment of offsite construction techniques, particularly when it comes to building services. The UK is currently falling short of its annual target to build
A new £500,000 green energy centre in Merseyside has received the backing of Ideal Heating, as part of the company’s commitment to attract fresh talent into the heating industry. The Green Energy Skills Centre, at St Helens College, will enable heating engineers to learn the skills needed to install, commission
Metso is launching the upgraded Evaporative Cooling Tower, an efficient dry gas cleaning solution designed to cool down hot furnace off-gases by means of evaporation. The Evaporative Cooling Tower, which is normally followed by a hot electrostatic precipitator or a bag filter, cools the gas from about 600-700 °C to
Ideal Heating has received the green light to establish a new £12.5m research and development facility to support low carbon technologies including heat pumps. The company has been granted full planning permission for the UK Technology Centre its headquarters site in Hull. The R&D facility will create a testbed for
Underfloor heating specialists Gaia are designing, supplying and installing energy-efficient underfloor heating in over 250 houses within Taylor Wimpey’s new development in Barham, Suffolk. Taylor Wimpey is a national residential construction company, building more than 15,000 homes across the UK each year. Their new residential development – Churchfields – is
Today, Dyson is launching the ‘Air Purity Pulse Check’ report, a detailed dive into UK attitudes towards the importance of indoor air quality. This in-depth study delves into the views of the public and business leaders, owners and managers on the problem of indoor air pollution. Poor air quality is
Leading heating and hot water solutions provider Baxi has this week hosted the first official visit to its €13 million commercial heat pump R&D and laboratory site in Vilafranca del Penedès, Spain. Baxi is part of the €2.2 billion-turnover BDR Thermea Group, one of the largest producers of heating appliances
Leonardo Hotels’ Hinckley Island select Multitone’s i-Message Cloud based system for next level of sophistication. Leonardo Hotels’ four-star hotel and conference venue at Hinckley Island stands in the heart of the Leicestershire countryside and accommodates up to 1,000 guests. Formerly known as Jury’s Inn, the hotel has relied on Multitone’s
The Building Centre in London is holding a free workshop with panel debates and talks led by experts across the construction industry on 15 November 2023. With the industry under more scrutiny than ever to make sure that greener practices are followed, it is important that commercial plumbing looks towards
Fujitsu General Air Conditioning UK and wholesaler TF Solutions are celebrating a successful 10-year working partnership. From the launch of its first branch in Stockport in 2001, TF Solutions has grown to 15 branches and is one of the UK’s leading air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump wholesalers. Now part of the Travis Perkins Group, the company has been selling Fujitsu equipment for the last decade. Sales and Business Development Director Andy Cherrill said: “It’s important in a partnership that you are working with a great business, great products and great people. With Fujitsu we are lucky to have all three and those are the reasons we have reached our 10-year milestone with them. I’m looking forward to an exciting future, collaborating together for success.” Ian Carroll, Chief Operating Officer at Fujitsu, said: “Congratulations to Andy and all the team at TF Solutions. This 10-year anniversary is a testament to the strength of our partnership. Their confidence in our products and services has helped us grow as a business. We are honoured to be part of this success story and look forward to building on that in the future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With pressure for major construction projects growing across the UK, a new report is encouraging mechanical services contractors, specifiers and developers to accelerate the uptake and deployment of offsite construction techniques, particularly when it comes to building services. The UK is currently falling short of its annual target to build 300,000 new homes in England[1], while 90% of student accommodation rooms for the 2023/24 academic year had already been sold by April 2023[2]. With a 17% increase in hotel construction projects also reported over 2024[3], pressure is on the construction sector to build faster as confidence in city centre building continues to rise.[4] REHAU’s new report, Offsite Trends in Building Services explores how modern methods of construction (MMC) can help tackle this issue. Underlining a skills shortage of 937,000 construction industry vacancies by 2032, it looks specifically at how to implement mechanical service installation into offsite projects to make builds easier and faster.[5] Steve Richmond, Head of Marketing and Technical, REHAU Building Solutions, said: “Building at pace within tight footprints and using traditional methods is undoubtedly difficult, necessitating new approaches such as MMC. This new report details what is possible and how different offsite methods suit specific projects and help provide simpler, faster and high-quality builds for contractors, all within a factory-controlled environment.” With high-rise construction increasingly necessary in high-density urban areas, REHAU’s guide highlights how the company can help with the challenge of building at height in smaller spaces. At the same time, it uncovers obstacles that contractors, specifiers and developers must overcome when using offsite construction methods to ensure quality work. The guide includes information on key components that can be assembled at the factory and transported and assembled onsite for a high-quality build. This includes modular shafts, pre-wall constructions, bathroom pods and polymer risers, as well as relatively new technologies such as thermally activated building structures (TABS), which can provide both heating and cooling. “There have already been many exciting innovations across the globe to further improve offsite construction methods that we have included within this new guide,” Steve concludes. “Like all fields, MMC is continually developing, and the hope is that through this whitepaper, readers can find out more about these innovative methods and solutions, and best put MMC techniques into practice to meet market demand.” To download REHAU’s report, ‘Offsite Trends for Building Services’, CLICK HERE. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new £500,000 green energy centre in Merseyside has received the backing of Ideal Heating, as part of the company’s commitment to attract fresh talent into the heating industry. The Green Energy Skills Centre, at St Helens College, will enable heating engineers to learn the skills needed to install, commission and service air source heat pumps. It will also provide a showpiece learning environment for students at the college, supporting a broader focus on green skills and energy. As an Employer Partner, Ideal Heating has equipped the facility with a range of its market-leading products, including its Logic Air heat pump and hot water cylinder, helping installers gain experience and confidence at working with these heating solutions. It forms part of commitment from Ideal Heating to support installers in the transition to low carbon heating solutions, such as heat pumps, as well as to help to attract young people into the industry. Lewis Litherland, a Renewable Energy Lecturer at St Helens College, worked as an engineer for British Gas before making the switch into education. He said: “I’m very passionate about creating a centre like this in St Helens, as I’ve come from a similar economic background to many of our students, and I’ve been fortunate to have fallen into an industry that has provided me with great opportunities. “So, if I can play a part in providing this for more young people in a similar position, it would be a great personal achievement for me.” The Green Energy Skills Centre has been launched to meet a growing demand for skilled and qualified workers for renewable energy industries to support the drive to a net zero economy. Decarbonising homes is crucial to meet the UK Government’s 2050 net zero target but, despite this, there remains a major shortage of skilled low carbon heating engineers. Working with partners such as St Helens College, Ideal Heating is helping re-train thousands of installers to fit and maintain heat pumps. Andrew Johnson, Training Director for Ideal Heating’s parent company Groupe Atlantic, said: “To tackle the skills gap which exists in the heating industry effectively, we need a two-pronged approach. “The way we heat our homes is changing and it’s so important that existing installers learn the skills required to work with heat pumps and other low carbon solutions. “We also need to focus on attracting more young talent into the industry. They are our installers of the future and, without them, we simply won’t succeed in this low carbon transition.” The Green Energy Skills Centre is now up and running, offering a range of BPEC-accredited training courses for heat pumps. Ideal Heating’s own Expert Academy training arm is re-skilling thousands of installers to become low carbon engineers. Ideal Heating opened its National Training and Technology Centre in East Yorkshire earlier this year, as the centrepiece of the company’s UK-wide training operations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Metso is launching the upgraded Evaporative Cooling Tower, an efficient dry gas cleaning solution designed to cool down hot furnace off-gases by means of evaporation. The Evaporative Cooling Tower, which is normally followed by a hot electrostatic precipitator or a bag filter, cools the gas from about 600-700 °C to about 200-350 °C. The tower operates dry, meaning that all water added is evaporated. The small droplets in the tower evaporate rapidly, which reduces the retention time and length needed to ensure complete evaporation. “We are excited to introduce the enhanced Metso Evaporative Cooling Tower. Its unique design enables efficient and even cooling. We have many decades of experience with cooling towers, and we have now improved both the design and the process control. The advanced model-based automatic control, for instance, allows for accurate control of cooling during startup and varying process conditions; this is important for protecting both the tower and the downstream equipment,” explains Leif Skilling, Director, Gas Cleaning at Metso. Benefits of the Metso Evaporative Cooling Tower Metso has 60 years of experience with evaporative cooling towers and about 30 units sold. This extensive knowledge is incorporated in the new version of the Metso Evaporative Cooling Tower. The Evaporative Cooling Tower can treat gases from any type of metallurgical furnace. It has commonly been used for example with Peirce Smith converters and anode furnaces. In addition to the furnaces, Metso can also supply excellent hood systems for the gas uptake, where, e.g., the converter hood system provides adjustable dilution air intake, giving the operator control of both gas composition and temperature. More information about the Evaporative Cooling Tower is available on our website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ideal Heating has received the green light to establish a new £12.5m research and development facility to support low carbon technologies including heat pumps. The company has been granted full planning permission for the UK Technology Centre its headquarters site in Hull. The R&D facility will create a testbed for product development and advancements in the heating solutions to help decarbonise UK homes and business premises. The state-of-the-art facility will also see the UK market leader expand its R&D team. The facility represents a significant investment from Ideal Heating and will play key role in the company’s transition to low carbon heating solutions, including heat pumps. Pre-construction work on the site of the UK Technology Centre is expected to begin by the end of this year, with the main part of the facility due to be completed by the end of 2024. The R&D centre is set to be operational in 2025. Ideal Heating Engineering Director Helen Villamuera said: “Our UK Technology Centre is part of a major £60m investment we’re making in our Hull site, to support heat pump manufacturing, distribution and innovation in heating technologies. “From the outset, Hull City Council has been fully supportive of our plans, which will create highly skilled jobs and expand our existing R&D capabilities at our site in Hull. “We’re delighted to have secured full planning permission for the UK Technology Centre. We will now begin a competitive tender process to appoint a contractor to deliver this project.” The two-storey building, with an additional partial storey to accommodate plant rooms for the centre, will help to develop and refine the low carbon heating technologies, including heat pumps, needed to decarbonise UK’s 25 million homes. The Government has set ambitious targets for head pump deployment, including for 600,000 heat pumps to be installed in domestic properties annually by 2028. The UK Technology Centre will provide a purpose-designed new home for Ideal Heating’s expert R&D team, which has an increasing range of engineering roles related to design, development, electronics, simulation and product testing disciplines. Laboratory facilities within the 38,000 sq ft (3,500 sq m) building will enable Ideal Heating’s R&D team to simulate a range of scenarios and conditions to test new innovations and advancements. The centre will also house environmental chambers, a heat pump testing area, workshop spaces and a training room. In designing the building, Ideal Heating has practiced what it preaches. The R&D facility features roof-mounted solar panels to generate renewable electricity for the building, with air source heat pumps serving the mechanical heating system. LED lighting and controls will help reduce energy consumption within the building and high-performance building fabrics will reduce heat loss. The R&D facility is one of a series of major investments at Ideal Heating’s Hull site. Construction work has been completed on a heat pump production facility and expanded distribution centre, totalling £20m of investment. Ideal Heating also announced recently it had started producing its new monobloc heat pump, Logic Air, in Hull as the company supports the rollout of renewable heating products. Ideal Heating has also opened a £2.2m National Training and Technology Centre in Hessle, on the outskirts of Hull, with capacity for up to 5,000 installers every year to learn the skills needed to supply and maintain heat pumps. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Underfloor heating specialists Gaia are designing, supplying and installing energy-efficient underfloor heating in over 250 houses within Taylor Wimpey’s new development in Barham, Suffolk. Taylor Wimpey is a national residential construction company, building more than 15,000 homes across the UK each year. Their new residential development – Churchfields – is located in the Suffolk village of Barham and will provide 257 homes. Suffolk-based underfloor heating experts Gaia are delivering wet underfloor heating systems for the new-build homes, after Taylor Wimpey opted to fit low-carbon and future-proof heating solutions in the development. “Gaia HQ is local to the Churchfields site, so once we heard Taylor Wimpey were looking for low-carbon heating, we approached their team to provide a full design and quotation. Not only are our wet underfloor heating systems low-carbon, but they’re future-proof too – which is ideal for meeting new regulations!” says Steven Rooney, Director at Gaia Underfloor Heating. The new regulations implemented by the UK government mean that carbon intensive gas boilers will soon be unsuitable for future homes and should be replaced with low-carbon alternatives. To adhere to the new legislation, Taylor Wimpey have chosen air source heat pumps which are known as the ideal pairing for wet underfloor heating – to create a low-carbon heating system. When used together, underfloor heating and heat pumps can be 40% more efficient than a gas boiler and radiator system. Plus, underfloor heating runs at a lower temperature than radiators, so consumes significantly less energy for the same warmth. “The energy efficiency of combining underfloor heating with heat pumps is a significant benefit for the future residents of the Churchfields development. It’s more cost-effective and produces a more comfortable, even warmth too” adds Steven. Gaia are delivering the design, supply and installation of wet underfloor heating systems on the ground floor of the residential units, as well as their expert guidance from the concept stage through to delivery and aftercare. “We have extensive experience working with housing developments across the UK and are proud to be providing underfloor heating for this project. It’s great to work with another significant national developer like Taylor Wimpey and we’re looking forward to seeing the completed site” concludes Steven. The Churchfields development features two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes which are surrounded by green open space and convenient amenities. Construction began in September 2023 and is due to be completed in 2028. Gaia specialise in the design, supply and installation of underfloor heating for residential, commercial and industrial projects across the UK and Ireland. Trusted by architects, contractors, M&E consultants, builders and developers, they have worked with some of the UK’s leading housing developers.For more information about Gaia, visit www.gaia.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Today, Dyson is launching the ‘Air Purity Pulse Check’ report, a detailed dive into UK attitudes towards the importance of indoor air quality. This in-depth study delves into the views of the public and business leaders, owners and managers on the problem of indoor air pollution. Poor air quality is a worldwide issue and is recognised by the UK government as ‘the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK’. The Air Purity Pulse Check found that over half of people polled are concerned about poor air quality impacting health, yet only 59% of people polled believe their own homes have good air quality. A growing consumer concern The report finds that nearly half (48%) of people polled think indoor air quality is more important than outdoor. Younger, working age respondents are more likely to be more concerned about indoor air quality, with over half (54%) of people between the ages of 25 to 34 years old and 51% of people between the ages 35 to 44 years old saying it concerns them more than outside air quality. When it comes to poor air quality’s effects on health, the UK public is even more worried: 55% of those surveyed say that they are concerned about poor air quality impacting their health and, of that group, 80% of respondents say they have become more concerned about this in the past three years. A study by Imperial College London found that 97% of UK homes exceed at least one of the World Health Organisation’s limits on three key air pollutants. People are taking steps with their indoor air quality at home, with 70% of people polled saying they have taken steps such as investing in air purifiers to improve home air quality. Tim Jones CEng MIET, Lead Research Engineer at Dyson, commented: “Despite indoor air quality being much more prevalent in our lives, people are far more aware of the impacts of poor outdoor air quality. At Dyson, we believe that it’s time to make the invisible visible and the Air Purity Pulse Check report aims to do exactly this. “The past five years have changed our relationship with air quality, as we spend the majority of our time indoors. In particular, the public r has been made much more aware of the air circulating in their indoor spaces, whether in a shared or private space. Despite its importance, indoor air pollution is largely invisible so has flown under the radar. This in-depth study illustrates the current views and opinions of the public and business owners, creating a ‘pulse check’ on the nation when it comes to indoor air quality.” Workplace woes The majority (90%) of UK leaders, managers and owners believe that air quality in the workplace is important. This directly correlates with the public, with 90% saying that air quality in the workplace is important to them as well. However, there is clearly a mismatch between what is considered important by decision-makers and what actions they are taking: only 65% of managers say that air quality in the workplace is a business priority, and half of people polled say that the organisations they work for have invested in indoor air quality. The findings demonstrate that indoor air quality should be a business priority to aid staff wellbeing and retention. Two thirds (66%) of people polled said they would be uncomfortable working somewhere with poor air quality and nearly half (46%) said air quality would be a consideration when deciding to take a job. Hospitality Data The report showcases that air quality is hugely important to nearly two thirds of pub goers and more than half of consumers polled would consider air quality when choosing a venue (54%), which rises to three fifths (61%) in people aged between 25 to 34 years old. Indeed, the same amount (54%) of respondents say that an official rating from a specialist indoor air quality evaluator or air purifiers would improve their confidence in the air quality at pubs, clubs and restaurants. Despite this, hospitality managers do not place the same value on air quality as its patrons: 79% of hospitality managers say air quality is important to them, which is the lowest percentage of any sector measured. Only half (48%) of hospitality managers polled said their businesses have already invested in air quality at their establishments, with more than half of hospitality managers responding that their business plans to invest in air quality in the future. Gyms & Spas Data Air quality is important in all indoor environments and this is especially true in the health and wellness sector. The majority (84%) of health and wellness managers think that air quality is an important consideration for their businesses. In fact, poor air quality could make over half (55%) of respondents swap gyms. Despite this, only 55% of gym and spa managers say their venues have invested in air quality, pointing to a gap between attitudes and action. Air purifiers and official ratings from independent air quality evaluators are most likely to increase visitor confidence in air quality at gyms and spas, chosen by 25% and 31% of respondents respectively. Healthcare Sector It is of no surprise that of the UK managers asked whether air quality is important to them in the workplace, the health sector managers came out on top (97%). Almost all (94%) health sector managers polled responded that air quality is a growing concern for them. The importance placed on air quality is translated to the public as well: 89% of people polled say that air quality is important to them when it comes to hospitals and other health facilities. This correlates positively with age, scoring 76% with 16 to 24 year olds and 95% with those aged over 55 years old. Education Sector It is vital for air quality to be prioritised in educational environments to ensure they are providing the best learning environment for those within them. The majority of consumers of education (87%) and education leaders (98%)
Leading heating and hot water solutions provider Baxi has this week hosted the first official visit to its €13 million commercial heat pump R&D and laboratory site in Vilafranca del Penedès, Spain. Baxi is part of the €2.2 billion-turnover BDR Thermea Group, one of the largest producers of heating appliances worldwide. The 7,000m² Baxi factory, located near Barcelona and opened just last year, is focused on developing and producing commercial heat pump technology. The site boasts complete in-house capabilities spanning R&D, logistics, manufacturing and assembly, and including climatic testing chambers and a controls desk. During the visit, guests were provided with an exclusive preview of the new Remeha Effenca commercial heat pump series that was designed and produced at Vilafranca and is currently undergoing final testing. The new range, which includes high temperature R290 refrigerant air source heat pumps (ASHPs), will launch imminently in the UK with full Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). Harriet Evans, Renewables Director at Baxi said: “The focus on low carbon design is now critical in line with ambitious government decarbonisation targets. Heat pumps, which decarbonise heating at the point of use, are a big part of how we as a company are supporting our commercial and residential customers through the energy transition. We are proud to demonstrate our full in-house capabilities and competencies at Vilafranca, and of the wide expertise and support we have within Group in this technology. We are excited to be expanding our Remeha ASHP range in the very near future with both medium and high temperature ASHPs – watch this space!” BDR Thermea’s acquisition in 2021 of Barcelona-based Hitecsa, an important manufacturer in the Spanish market for commercial and industrial climate control systems, has enabled the Group to offer the entire range of heat pump solutions to suit all customer needs, from residential to large commercial applications. In the UK, Baxi launched its first Remeha commercial heat pump in 2022. The company recently announced its latest commercial ASHP project, a collaboration with Oakes Energy Services to decarbonise a series of school swimming pool buildings for the Priory Federation of Academies Trust. Heat pump production capacity at Vilafranca has scaled up by 50% in the last twelve months, with plans to triple in the next five years via new commercial heat pump solutions in development. For more information, www.baxi.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leonardo Hotels’ Hinckley Island select Multitone’s i-Message Cloud based system for next level of sophistication. Leonardo Hotels’ four-star hotel and conference venue at Hinckley Island stands in the heart of the Leicestershire countryside and accommodates up to 1,000 guests. Formerly known as Jury’s Inn, the hotel has relied on Multitone’s solutions for more than a decade, to ensure that team communications are seamless. The need for more sophisticated and streamlined comms The Multitone Access 5000 DECT mobile telephony system had reached end-of-life and the hotel management were keen to replace it with the latest technology, providing a more sophisticated and streamlined communication system. A large hotel and conference venue must service the needs of its guests promptly, as well as handling issues such as fire alarm activation discreetly and efficiently. It is crucial that guests are not troubled unnecessarily by incidents such as false alarms. Multitone’s i-Message helps Leonardo to step up Following a review of Multitone’s multiple technologies, Leonardo Hotels opted for the specialist’s fully managed cloud based i-Message unified communications platform, providing mobile telephony across the site’s Wi-Fi infrastructure, plus integration with the fire alarms and fixed telephone system. Multitone i-Message cloud runs on Amazon Web Services and acts as both a communications hub and a control centre, processing data from myriad sources, facilitating communication between disparate devices, executing automations and providing the administration interface for a number of Multitone solutions. The Leonardo Hotel staff team at Hinckley Island are delighted with the new system. Nathan Whitehead, Deputy General Manager, said: “The old Multitone system was always reliable, but we have replaced the ‘bricks’ we used to handle, which worked only in public areas, with smart new handsets which are much easier to carry and use, and work in all areas of the hotel. The staff really like the ‘social media’ style of messaging that they use as well as voice calls.” Peter Lomax, Multitone’s Sales and Marketing Director added: “Multitone is delighted to continue supporting Leonardo Hotels with our new i-Message platform. This highly resilient platform is part of Multitone’s critical messaging solutions portfolio in use across not only hospitality and retail establishments, but also a large proportion of UK based hospitals and emergency services.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Building Centre in London is holding a free workshop with panel debates and talks led by experts across the construction industry on 15 November 2023. With the industry under more scrutiny than ever to make sure that greener practices are followed, it is important that commercial plumbing looks towards the future to find efficient and productive ways of reducing its carbon footprint. Potential methods of which include the use of bio-based polymers and new pipework materials. Visitors to the event, titled ‘The Future of Sustainable Plumbing’, will be able to network and discuss ways that the industry can continue to strive for a sustainable future. Alongside this, expert speakers will be discussing many of the current hot topics that are currently important within the space. These expert speakers will be covering a wide array of topics, including Laing O’Rourke’s Jim Jaffa and Christos Pavlou highlighting the latest design trends in piping installations that are striving to make products more efficient. Franz Huelle from REHAU will be discussing the latest innovations in pipework solutions in the industry, whilst Andreas Frank from Borealis will present about renewable feedstock for polymers, which sees vegetable oils being used as a bio-based polymers feedstock. Alongside this, Julia Torrubia and Margarita Kobrina from Atelier Ten will be talking about the impact of plumbing on the whole life cycle of carbon, an important part of the wider picture of sustainability. Other speakers at the event include Lucy Sherburn from Fairheat, who will give an overview of the new technical requirements set to be introduced under upcoming heat network regulations and Hydrotec’s Amar Lakhani will discuss the chemical-free disinfection of plumbing pipework. Located within the Building Centre in Central London, REHAU’s hub will play host to the event, with a variety of products and solutions on show. There will be an opportunity to experience some of these solutions for today’s challenges being faced in the commercial plumbing industry right now. The event is completely free to attend and looks set to be an insightful meeting of many key industry people and companies, who can look to come together to help guide the commercial plumbing industry into the future. To register for the event, CLICK HERE. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
