Britcon, the Building and civil engineering business has announced that they have expanded their in house expertise with the creation of a Mechanical & Electrical position at their offices in Scunthorpe, North Lancashire and Wakefield in West Yorkshire. Patrick Kenworthy has joined in this new electrical role and will bring
GAP Welfare Services is a division in the GAP Group that specialises in the hire of the environmentally sustainable welfare units. The company has celebrated the delivery of their 1,000th mobile welfare unit. This unit has been supplied by the leading manufacturer, AJC Trailers. GAP is a national hire company
Systemair has announced the launch of Geniox in order to offer a product that can improve the energy efficiency of ventilation systems. Systemair is a leading ventilation company and has launched the new air handling units. It is thought that ventilation accounts for around 40% of a building’s energy consumption,
Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is absolutely vital for a wide range of jobs, but the engineering trade poses significant risks. Thankfully these risks can be mitigated simply by wearing approved health and safety products. Here are some of the essential PPE items that engineers will need to wear in
Any electrical product that has active components are required by law to be properly Electro Magnetic Compatibility, or EMC, tested. As a part of this EMC testing program, certain lighting products are required to go through this testing as a part of the conformity that is required for the CE
ECS Engineering Services have been contacted in regards to the replacement of three Archimedes screw pumps which were operating at the Severn Trent Water’s Mansfield Sewage Treatment Works. NMCNomenca. ECS Engineering Services have been operating for more than 20 years to deliver high standard engineering solutions. The company focuses on
Last week, the UK experienced a heatwave. Across the entire country, temperatures reached as high as 36°C. As the temperatures went through the roof, the demand for air conditioning and other cold room repairs also increased. This data has was found by the refrigeration contractor Synecore. The company found that
Tridonic, one of the leading providers of smart lighting systems in the world, has announced that they are looking to grow their offering of dimmable LED modules. This expansion will come for the spotlights and downlights that are on offer from the company. The Tridonic modules come with the SLE
With little under a month to go until the highly-anticipated 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations come into force, Bureau Veritas is calling on duty holders to step up efforts aimed at reducing the safety risk posed by poor electrics. Due to be published in July, BS 7671
Aerosols and consumer chemicals manufacturing firm James Briggs Ltd has successfully entered a new emerging market. The Oldham based company won a deal with Iranian protective coating specialist firm Dana Chem. This will see it supply the firm with its branded Hycote paint products. The Hycote brand has been made
Britcon, the Building and civil engineering business has announced that they have expanded their in house expertise with the creation of a Mechanical & Electrical position at their offices in Scunthorpe, North Lancashire and Wakefield in West Yorkshire. Patrick Kenworthy has joined in this new electrical role and will bring more than 30 years of experience in building services management to his new position. Patrick is a qualified energy assessor and has an extensive track record for the delivery of complex projects in the public and private sectors. With a particular knowledge base in education health and renewable energy, Patrick will be an asset to Britcon and will be joining the company from Centrica DE&P. In his previous role, Patrick recently completed a 20MW generation plant that was created in Scunthorpe. It is great news for Britcon, the building and civil engineering business that they have such an experienced professional joining the team in this newly created role. The company have expanded their remit significantly for M&E installations. This area commonly represents 50% of the brief for a large number of different projects. With M&E being such a vital part of many building and civil engineering projects, it makes sense for the company to expand their knowledge in this area with the creation of a new in-house role and offer direct energy assessment and dialogue with their subcontract supply chain. The appointments that have been made as a part of this expansion reflect the continuous growth Britcon is striving to achieve. The company is specifically looking for growth in highly complex projects and the specialist expertise that would be required for this. One of the projects that Britcon has expanded for is the new £14 million product line for Kemira Chemicals as well as the £30 million anaerobic digestion plant for ReFood in Dagenham.
GAP Welfare Services is a division in the GAP Group that specialises in the hire of the environmentally sustainable welfare units. The company has celebrated the delivery of their 1,000th mobile welfare unit. This unit has been supplied by the leading manufacturer, AJC Trailers. GAP is a national hire company that offers a wide range of market leading equipment to hire from a network of nationwide depots. AJC has been supplying GAP with mobile welfare units since May 2014. The environmentally sustainable welfare units company currently have a portfolio of different units that are all available to hire. The units measure from the compact 12’ to the popular 16’ unit of the more spacious 20’ set up. The supply of the 1,000th unit is a unique milestone for AJC, who have expressed their enjoyment of the lasting partnership that has been formed between the manufacturing company and the welfare unit hire company. GAP offers their input for the units that they purchase and this feedback has been invaluable for ensuring that the manufacturer continues to improve their products that meets the requirements of the operator and the end user. In order to comply with the company’s Green Action Plan, the units that are manufactured for GAP offers a numerous environmentally friendly features that help to reduce emissions, maintenance, fuel consumption, generator hours and noise pollution. The AJC EasyCabin that are supplied to GAP have recently been awarded the Green Apple Environment Award as part of an international campaign that works to find the best and greenest companies, councils and communities. AJC were in competition against 5400 other nominations in the category for Environmental Best Practice at the Green Apple Awards and will be presented with a trophy and certificate at an award presentation ceremony that will take place in the Houses of Parliament on the 6th November.
Systemair has announced the launch of Geniox in order to offer a product that can improve the energy efficiency of ventilation systems. Systemair is a leading ventilation company and has launched the new air handling units. It is thought that ventilation accounts for around 40% of a building’s energy consumption, this means that there is significant potential in this area of construction to improve. The changes that have taken place in the construction industry means that the new buildings are better insulated in order to save the owner or tenant money on heating. This insulation increases the need for ventilation, which is then required to perform at a higher level to achieve the ideal indoor climate. Ventilation has also been highlighted as one of the focus points of the Ecodesign directive which has come from the European Commission. This directive is implemented in three steps. The first step took place on January 1st 2016 and the next are planned for 2018 and 2020. It is important that energy efficiency remains at the forefront of design and development, therefore any ideas that can improve energy consumption are welcomed. The Geniox air handling unit is delivered in modules and can be assembled by installers on the site. Systemair has offered a delivery solution that reduces delivery and improves the product handling and service for customers. The new system has a different casing to the ones designed by the company previously. The casing of this unit is more aesthetically pleasing and thermally insulated panels have been developed and used in construction in order to have high tightness values and therefore reduce thermal bridging. The casing has also been created to comply with the class D1 and airtightness class L2. These classifications are better than previous units launched by Systemair. Systemair has in the past delivered a number of different brands in air handling units. However, this new range has now been spread across the entire company. The widespread use of this system meant that Systemair is able to deliver an excellent level of service to customers no matter where they are located or what industry they are in.
Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is absolutely vital for a wide range of jobs, but the engineering trade poses significant risks. Thankfully these risks can be mitigated simply by wearing approved health and safety products. Here are some of the essential PPE items that engineers will need to wear in order to ensure they’re safe at all times whilst on the job. Gloves A major safety issue during engineering activities is the very real threat of potentially serious hand and finger injuries. Regular contact with dangerous machinery as well as hazardous substances can be extremely damaging to your hands, so it’s vital that safety gloves are worn at all times. As well as protecting against hazards, an engineer may find themselves working outside with their hands exposed during winter months. During these times, safety gloves can help shield the skin from frost and chills – both of which are a very common occurrence when the temperature starts to drop. High visibility clothing If you’re working on a site, it’s usually a requirement that you wear high visibility clothing. If conditions are bad, or there are machinery drivers or crane operators nearby, you will be able to alert them of your presence simply by wearing high visibility clothing. A full range of high visibility clothing is available, from waistcoats and shirts to trousers and jackets. For extra safety, you should consult the class and retro-reflectivity of your high visibility clothing. There are three classes of high visibility clothing available, with class three providing the largest areas of reflective material, and there are two levels of retro-reflectivity, with level two being the most reflective. So, if you’re after the highest possible levels of protection, seek out class 3/level 2 garments. Sourcing clothing like high visibility hoodies is the way to go if you want to be seen and be safe. Hearing protection Engineers are regularly exposed to high noise levels, especially if they encounter machinery on a daily basis. If you’re an employer, you will probably know that if the noise approaches certain levels which are pre-set, you have a duty to provide your workers with devices such as effective ear plugs and earmuffs. It’s worth remembering, however, that the devices will need to be worn by the workers in order to have any form of effectiveness. So it’s a good idea for employers to provide their employees with a range of different hearing protection devices, so that workers can choose the one that’s most comfortable for them. Be sure to select protectors which don’t cut out more noise than necessary, because this can lead to isolation, and being able to hear the machinery is often an important part of the job. Eye and face protection Everything from gas, radiation, projectiles and even dust can cause serious damage to the eyes and face, so it’s important to have the right PPE items to ensure you stay fully protected. Eye protection tends to come in one of two forms: safety spectacles and safety goggles. The spectacles are easier to use and more lightweight, but goggles offer additional safety measures because they provide you with both lateral and vertical eye protection. To ensure your eyes are fully protected at all times, it’s worth seeking out either goggles or wraparound glasses. To protect yourself from breathing in potentially harmful levels of dust, it’s also a necessity on many sites to wear a face mask. An effective dust mask can be applied to the face simply by using the wraparound straps and will prevent any dust from entering your nasal passageways. Although dust may seem like a small issue whilst on a site, if you breathe too much of it in, it can lead to serious respiratory problems weeks, months or even years down the line. That’s why it’s always best to stock up on face masks, especially if you regularly work on different sites, so if you enter a dusty environment, you’ll always be fully protected.
Any electrical product that has active components are required by law to be properly Electro Magnetic Compatibility, or EMC, tested. As a part of this EMC testing program, certain lighting products are required to go through this testing as a part of the conformity that is required for the CE marking on a product. It being vital to obtain the CE marking on a range of lighting products, the electrical testing of products is an important factor of the development process before a product is put on to the market. The LIA Laboratory is the largest independent test laboratory in the UK for the ISO 17025 requirements and the product certification, or the ISO 17065, on behalf of the National Certification Body. While being at the forefront of this testing market, the LIA are focused on making sure that they stay at the cutting edge of technological developments. By making sure that they have access to state of the art equipment, the laboratory can deliver a wide range of fast and affordable EMC services. Whether the service required is just a quick check or a more comprehensive inspection, LIA have the capacity to test products to ensure that they are operational and safe. LIA offer faster checks as well as checks of one mode voltage, full tests for one mode voltage and tests that can take place for a product with a dimming function. LIA also boast a service which offer assistance with the constraints of the market as well as the reduction of risk and the ability to demonstrate safety and conformity needed with relevant legislation and regulation. The Laboratory that is operated by the Lighting Industry Association work to offer the best service possible while carrying out the tests and inspection, with the cost of the tests starting at £700.
ECS Engineering Services have been contacted in regards to the replacement of three Archimedes screw pumps which were operating at the Severn Trent Water’s Mansfield Sewage Treatment Works. NMCNomenca. ECS Engineering Services have been operating for more than 20 years to deliver high standard engineering solutions. The company focuses on tailor made designs as well as projects that are connected to water, energy and environmental processing and managing. There specialisms made them an ideal candidate for the work that was required in the Mansfield Sewage Treatment Works. The Treatment facility is located near to the River Maun and operates in order to process most of the effluent water that is discarded from farms and homes that are in the surrounding area. The three screw pumps that needed replacing from the inlet station of the facility had been working non stop since the 1970s. The data monitoring the pumps however showed that they were experiencing a drop in efficiency caused by the long term wear and tear of the work being carried out. Each of the pumps needed to be replaced one at a time. Working this way took longer but the plan made sure that the Mansfield facility could continue to operate during the scheme of works. The pumps were found to be beyond any hope to refurbish, and so needed to be replaced completely. The Tier 1 contractor for Severn Trent Water, NMCNomenca, made this decision then looked to contact ECS for their specialist assistance. ECS thought that the work to replace the 13.5 meter long pump would take 8 weeks, with the original pumps removed by crane then recycled before the new pumps were installed. The pumps then needed to be re-screeded by hand in order to make sure that the space was at the optimum for efficiency. ECS have also offered a comprehensive maintenance plan that will support the new installations and protect them in the future in order to maintain the efficiency of the pumps for a good many years to come.
Last week, the UK experienced a heatwave. Across the entire country, temperatures reached as high as 36°C. As the temperatures went through the roof, the demand for air conditioning and other cold room repairs also increased. This data has was found by the refrigeration contractor Synecore. The company found that they saw a 92% increase in the number of callouts they had to fix broken or underperforming air conditioning units or walk in chillers. According to the company, Thursday last week was their busiest day, after the hottest day recorded in June in more than 40 years. The refrigeration contractor’s air conditioning service department were able to deal with the sudden increase in the volume of calls well as managing to successfully accommodate all of their maintenance contract clients as well as fitting in new customers needing assistance in the heat. The massive surge in the emergency calls regarding air conditioning units must have been a steep challenge to overcome however the company managed to live up to their company promise to make sure that an engineer was onsite within 48 hours. This is a massive achievement for Synecore and they deserve the recognition they have been receiving for overcoming such a challenge. The staff of engineers as well as those working in customer service and taking the calls have been praised by the Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Manager of Synecore, Gary Piper. The staff for the company managed to make sure the surge of work was prioritised correctly and that they were able to assist companies and clients. The main focus initially wa to deal with the issues that arose with walk in chillers, as a number of different businesses such as restaurants experienced problems caused by the heatwave. Synecore has also suggested that going forward those with refrigeration systems or air conditioning keep up to the maintenance of the systems in order to make sure it functions safely as well as lasts longer.
Tridonic, one of the leading providers of smart lighting systems in the world, has announced that they are looking to grow their offering of dimmable LED modules. This expansion will come for the spotlights and downlights that are on offer from the company. The Tridonic modules come with the SLE SUNSET EXC. The light that is provided by the SUNSET light creates a more intimate atmosphere with its warmer colour and it has been said that the lighting modules replicate quite closely the light provided by an incandescent lamp. The SUNSET range of lighting module has been announced as the fourth product as part of the SLE EXC series. The other lighting modules that are available as a part of this range is FOOD, ART and FASHION. Each of these modules give off a different light and it allows lighting manufacturers the ability of offer a range of light colours. Tridonic work to offer cutting edge lighting solutions to the market. The company’s research and development market are looking into how the can continue to develop the LED lighting systems as well as how lighting can be connected to other technologies in a drive to “smarter” homes and living. Along with the SLE SUNSET EXC, Tridonic have also revealed that the has created the fourth generation of the DLE ADVANCED module that will provide efficient and flexible LED driver selection. This new product has improved module efficacy by 12% and it is possible that there could also be a reduction in costs too. This could be a leap forward for installing LED driver and lighting systems in construction projects and buildings. The white diffuser that is featured alongside the module makes sure that an even level of light is emitted. This level of light given off can also be altered.
With little under a month to go until the highly-anticipated 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations come into force, Bureau Veritas is calling on duty holders to step up efforts aimed at reducing the safety risk posed by poor electrics. Due to be published in July, BS 7671 – IET Wiring Regulations 18th edition will apply to all new and rewired installations designed after January 2019. The legislation is set to include a number of significant changes in relation to protection against fire, protection against overvoltages and clarity on special location installations, in a bid to optimise safety in domestic, industrial and commercial locations. The more stringent standards will look to address the risks presented by faulty electrical installations and wiring systems, after estimates show that electricity is the leading cause of over 20,000 accidental fires in the UK each year1. In the run up to implementation, global certification firm Bureau Veritas is urging all duty holders to review their existing electrical safety standards and intensify their ‘safety first’ approach to compliance. Nathan Cliff, electrical principal engineer for electrical systems at Bureau Veritas, said: “With poor electrical installations still responsible for five accidents in the UK every single day, it’s no surprise the 18th Edition will force us as an industry to place a greater emphasis on the protection of people. “For duty holders, our advice is clear – do not wait until the regulations take hold to take action. Instead, start by reviewing existing electrical safety protocols to ensure they take a ‘safety first’ approach to protecting employees, students and residents so that best practice is achieved every step of the way.” According to Bureau Veritas, one important aspect for duty holders to consider is that the 18th edition puts a greater onus on a risk assessment when it comes to protection against transient overvoltage (e.g. lightning) required for buildings to protect against the risk of fires and loss of supply. In addition, protection must be provided for high risk and sensitive locations, such as medical locations, heritage buildings, banks, IT centres etc. Nathan adds: “For many, these new regulations will no doubt be hard to decipher and put into practice. However, it’s literally a matter of life and death for duty holders to get to grips with these reforms as soon as they can as achieving compliance now ahead of the January 2019 deadline will, ultimately, help to save lives.” To find out more about Bureau Veritas please call 0345 600 1828 or email info@uk.bureauveritas.com. Alternatively, please visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk
Aerosols and consumer chemicals manufacturing firm James Briggs Ltd has successfully entered a new emerging market. The Oldham based company won a deal with Iranian protective coating specialist firm Dana Chem. This will see it supply the firm with its branded Hycote paint products. The Hycote brand has been made in the Royton area of Greater Manchester since 1982. It includes products for valeting, maintaining and painting vehicles. Although there was some skepticism surrounding the future of British exporting after the EU referendum in June, the weakened pound has increased UK export activity by 8% to its highest rate in the last two years. The manufacturing company says that the its international performance has fallen in line with the wider positive outlook. It is now looking to increase its presence in Europe and further afield. The partnership with Dana Chem has added to a number of international firsts for the firm. Over the last year and a half the company has entered new markets across Southeast Asia and the Middle East throughout the last year and a half. ‘An exciting new era’ James Briggs CEO Tim Pugh said of the deal: “James Briggs has continued to realise its strategy of targeting new international territories, such as Iran, that are receptive to high quality, British-developed products. “While Brexit has meant a necessary realigning of our export activity, our wider strategy has always looked beyond the single market and we’re confident it will continue to serve us well in the near and long-term.“ He continued: “Our partnership with Dana Chem marks the beginning of an exciting new era for James Briggs, and we look forward to expanding our presence in Iran as our partnership and products begin to gain traction.” In August, Applied Graphene Materials (AGM) worked with James Briggs Limited on a joint development programme. The business has developed a form of graphene it says can deliver a six-fold improvement in barrier and anti-corrosion properties. James Briggs is expected to use the product in primers to offer greater protection from weathering.
