"boiler"

application area: commercial gas heatinguse type: condensing gas boilersproject scope: line commercial freestanding chimney for condensing operationadded value: corrosion-resistant, air-tight and waterproof finishBackgroundThe combustion gases from the school's boiler room are exhausted through a freestanding 28-metre brick chimney. The structure was not suitable for the wet operation of condensing boilers. FuranFlex-25 Black was the chosen lining material.The new boiler plant required a 500mm diameter flue liner but the chimney could not accommodate a rigid liner this size. A FuranFlex25 Black liner was therefore specified as it expands into the rectangular flue shape when inflated with steam.Statement of workFuranFlex25 comes as a folded and soft tube. Inflating with steam irreversably hardens the liner fixing it in place. Within a few hours of steaming the liner was ready for connecting to the boilers. The appropriate adaptors/terminals were fitted making the chimney ready for operation.

Well known as one of North Norfolk’s gems, not just because of its historic setting - it’s believed to be Holt’s oldest building - Byfords is the place to go for delicious home-cooked food, from breakfast, lunch and dinner to everything in between.Busy all year round with loyal locals and visitors to the popular upmarket town of Holt, Byfords is so much more than just a restaurant. On entering, guests are shown through the store, jam-packed with savoury pastries, hot food and cakes to take-away, before arriving at the striking but homely vaulted dining-cafe. Those lucky enough to be staying the night or two are shown to a sumptuous B&B suite upstairs.January 2020 saw Byfords renovate the ‘conservatory’ area of the restaurant, adding an impressive open marble-topped serving bar, behind which are positioned coffee machines and everything needed to make the ever-popular hot drinks throughout the day. One element of this key area that also needed upgrading was the water boiler. Used almost non-stop to fill teapots and cafetieres, Byfords looked to upgrade their current boiler to ensure it could meet the restaurant’s needs.General manager Richard Knights explains: “All of our kitchen & Bar products need to be able to meet a high level of demand, along with being reliable, as we don’t want to be replacing appliances every year.” Richard selected an Instanta product after researching boilers and being impressed with the capacity options and dedication to quality manufacture.A SureFlow Counter Top Filtered (CTS11F) boiler was installed, providing the cafe with up to 162 cups of boiling water per hour, with its built-in multi-functional filtration. This filtration can be adjustable for any catering facility in hard water areas to not only ensure the product isn’t affected by limescale build-up but also to keep hot drinks tasting fresh.“The team makes numerous hot drinks throughout the day,” continues Richard, “so it was vital we have a boiler that is up to the task. The tap is at the right height for filling tall teapots and cafetieres and we never have to worry about waiting for the water to be at the right temperature. As it is in a front-of-house location, it’s also great that it looks good! The smart stainless steel styling complements our other products and looks professional.”The positive feedback from Byfords team means Richard wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Instanta to the other restaurants in the Norfolk Passport brand. “When we come across a product that works so well we always share our insights and I’ll certainly be letting the other teams know that they might be missing out on something!”

Demonstrating flexibility and meeting requirements where other manufacturers weren’t able to has seen Instanta products specified at a hospital within the London NHS Trust.Inevitably, patient access to hot water needs careful consideration to ensure any risk of scalding is minimal. A decision was made to ensure water boilers within patient areas have a maximum dispensing temperature of 76°C - lower than the majority of standard water boilers.Not having used Instanta before, but needing a change from the existing supplier that couldn’t offer an adjustable temperature, the technical supervisor researched alternatives and was impressed with Instanta’s wide product range. “On reviewing our existing water boilers, we decided that we needed a product that could actually be modified so its maximum temperature is set at 76°C, an important safety measure for users,” commented the technical supervisor. “We were impressed with Instanta’s range. One of their wall-mounted products was just what we were after, however, its temperature was only adjustable to 80°C.The hospital’s enquiry led to further discussions with Instanta’s operations director and a feasibility study determined that it was indeed possible to modify an existing product; a 6 litre SureFlow Touch Wall Mounted Boiler (WMS6PB) to achieve the facility’s maximum temperature requirement of 76°C.“Instanta’s willingness to help and meet our requirements has been brilliant,” continued the technical supervisor. “As per our request, they made sure the maximum dispensing temperature was set at 76°C. Over the past year we have monitored this closely and we’re pleased to report that it has remained at this temperature, which affords us invaluable peace of mind.” In total, 20 wall-mounted boilers were purchased and placed in areas where patients have access to water heaters.

Salthaven Apartments, Tower Road, Poole, DorsetThe Salthaven apartments in Dorset aimed to deliver luxury living for occupants. Bayview Developments not only constructed beautiful homes for them, but also opted for highly energy efficient heating within the new development.Each of the 12 two or three bed apartments have been fitted with their own individual exhaust air heat pump (EAHP). This technology has been installed in buildings across continental Europe for many years but is now being used more commonly within the UK. Bayview Developments were looking to exceed their planning requirements by reducing carbon emissions and providing cost savings for occupants. NIBE’s innovative EAHPs were therefore the ideal solution.The solution to the projectA NIBE F730 EAHP system removed the need for gas boilers, something Bayview were keen to do given the UK’s net zero targets and commitment to phase out the technology. As heat pump technology is powered by electricity, no gas has been installed at the site.The NIBE F730 unit can be found in the utility room cupboard of each apartment and is comprised of a ventilation system, a hot water cylinder and a heat pump – a complete ‘all-in-one’ product. It works by drawing warm air from the kitchen and bathroom to feed the heat pump, which extracts the heat energy. The recovered energy from the ventilation system is used to drive the heat pump process, which heats the underfloor heating and provides water for the integrated 180litre hot water cylinder. The stale air from the ventilation system is then released outside, whilst fresh air from outdoors is introduced via wall inlets with cleanable filters. The efficient system minimises energy consumption by combing ventilation heat recovery with heat pump technology, that is perfect for well insulated new build properties such as these.The ResultsThe EAHP systems meet the average annual heat demand of 6019 kWh for each individual flat whilst also providing instant hot water. Occupants are able to schedule their heating to suit their timetable and energy tariffs, and therefore benefit from lower energy bills. The system performance factor (SPF) measures 3.33 – this means the system is very efficient as every kW of electricity used to run the unit produces approximately 3 kW of heat energy.NIBE utilised connected electricity meters in 3 apartments to remotely monitor the systems performance across a 12-month period. NIBE was thus able to see how the systems met energy demand consistently for residents, keeping them comfortable and warm throughout the year.Energy consumption data shown in Figure 1 visualises electricity consumption data from the monitored apartments throughout the year. This data also covers the provision of all heat pump controls and continuous mechanical ventilation.Figure 1: 2022 Energy Consumption data for monitored apartments.The all-in-one system has shown a noticeable reduction in energy bills for each apartment too, with all 3 monitored apartments experiencing both monthly and cumulative cost reductions in their energy bills as shown in Figures 2 and 3. This comes with the additional peace of mind that consumers will be kept cool in the summer months with ventilation with no increase in costs.Figure 2 and 3: Monthly and Cumulative Heating Bills for Apartment 11 with the NIBE F730 heat pump compared to a natural gas boiler.The occupants of Apartment 11 are saving on average £130 on their annual heating bills with the heat pump system in comparison to a natural gas boiler, even with the additional provision of mechanical ventilation. We expect that these savings will continue to increase as the Government seeks to rebalance green levies to decrease electricity prices.Sunstone Energy Ltd, the installer for this project, told us how easy the control system is to use for this heat pump, allowing for heating and hot water to be available at any time during the day. The building also benefits from insulation, underfloor heating, smart controls, double glazing, hot water cylinders and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR).TestimonialVictoria and John are both residents of the Tower Road apartment complex and have been comfortably living with the exhaust air source heat pump system for a year. They added “We are delighted so far with the new heating system, and love that it has been providing us with heating and hot water throughout the year, keeping us warm in the cold winter months. The heat pump works just as well as our older systems and it is great to know that we’re also doing our bit for the environment in the process.”About the installerSunstone Energy Ltd takes responsibility for delivering complete renewable solutions appropriate to their client’s properties. Their expertise includes the installation of ground source and air source heat pumps, underfloor heating, solar panels, biomass boilers and MVHR.  

INSTANTA TOUCH-FREE SOLUTIONS HELP ROYAL UNITED HOSPITAL PRIORITISE HEALTH AND HYGIENE IN THE WORKPLACE.ROYAL UNITED HOSPITAL CASE STUDY OVERVIEWProviding care for more than 500,000 people in Bath and Somerset, Royal United Hospital is one of the area’s biggest and busiest hospitals. An innovative and forward-thinking hospital, the RUH provides constant emergency care as well as comprehensive specialised care to patients, with work being underway on the new Dyson Cancer Centre which will act as a cancer service hub for half a million people.The RUH installed touch-free Instanta boilers across the site to ensure key staff areas are COVID-secure with staff hygiene and health being a top priority. “Anything that reduces touch points in a healthcare setting is valuable. We are a major hospital in the area so it’s important to prioritise the safety of our staff and patients.”Owen Margetts, Interim Deputy Head of Estates/Senior Estates Officer | Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust THE BRIEFEmergency and specialised healthcare provider Royal United Hospital is located in Bath, Somerset.A part of Zip Water, Instanta has a long-standing and valued relationship with the RUH. Beginning with a free trial of the Zip HydroBoil in 2010, the RUH has been using our products for over 10 years. This led Owen Margetts, Senior Estates Officer, to ask us for a touch-free solution to help them reduce the risk of virus transmission in areas where hygiene is now of utmost importance. THE SOLUTIONAlongside the initial HydroBoil situated in the estate tea room, an additional two Instanta touch-free boilers were installed on the RUH wards. Offering 100% contactless access to boiling water, the Instanta Sureflow Touch Free Boiler enables staff to fill their mugs by simply hovering their hand over the clever infrared sensor. This touch-free technology is advantageous in a health care environment as it reduces touch points, therefore minimising the risk of cross-contamination in this essential, life-saving facility. THE RESULTS“We are very happy with the new Instanta Touch Free Boiler. The product has been an ideal solution for the workplace, especially where health and hygiene are a top priority. It is easy to use and very reliable in a healthcare setting.The touch-free technology has been amazing because it means we don’t have to worry about wiping down the appliance each time it’s used - saving time and also providing peace of mind to our employees.We would definitely recommend the Instanta touch-free range. We have had Instanta products for over a decade now and will continue to do so thanks to the product’s consistent performance and reliability.”Owen Margetts, Interim Deputy Head of Estates/Senior Estates Officer | Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

application area: commercial heatinguse type: industrial condensing boilersproject scope: preserve rectangular flue shape and maintain lined diameteradded value: quick and efficient installation with minimal downtime and disruption to the building structureBackgroundTwo new high efficiency condensing boilers fitted into the basement of a nine-story office block (Dublin Civic Offices, Ireland) using two separate brick lined chimneys that rose through the nine floors and exited on the rooftop.The brick chimneys posed a problem as the chambers measered 300mm x 450mm no standard 350mm flue liner would fit. Due to the pliability of Furnflex, the liner was able to take up an oval shape in the chamber giving it the full 350mm required. This building is an extremely busy high-profile office block therefore minimum disruption to day to day business was required.Statement of workFollowing an onsite survey, Furanflex was deemed the ideal solution to line both chimneys. The installations were carried out over two weekends, one for each chimney, with no disruption to the office operations. The project completed on time and within budget.

In Autumn 2018, the heating system for a rural property in Hampshire was upgraded during which a Grant VortexAir air source heat pump/ oil boiler hybrid was installed. The installation of this innovative heating product now keeps the household warm, cleverly combining renewable energy with the trusted elements of an oil boiler.

PROJECTWith the UK market for high specification homes in desirable locations continuing to grow this year, Abode was the natural choice to supply the prestigious Limsi Grove Cala Homes development in Hertford. Designed to cater for the executive market, 41 exceptional 3,4 and 5 bedroomed detached family homes have been meticulously designed to complement a conservation area and provide the best in town and country living, offering modernity and low maintenance. With properties on the market at £834,950-£1,359,950, choosing the best suppliers was key.  PRODUCTSTwo styles of undermounted sinks from Abode’s classic R50 stainless steel range were selected for installation with solid surfaces for a premium look and feel in the kitchen (AW5015) and utility room (AW5014). The classic Matrix R50 under-mount stainless steel sink collection offers a range of 0.7mm thick 18/10 grade steel bowls that will suit every kitchen environment and budget. Other options include the AW5015 large single bowl, and LH or RH 1.5 bowl sinks. All Abode stainless steel sinks are made from 304 grade stainless steel, which is highly durable with excellent corrosion resistance.  The kitchens in the Limsi Grove development were supplied with AW5015 large single bowl sinks which were combined with an Abode Pronteau Prothia 3 IN 1 hot water tap (PT1142) in Chrome or Matt Black. This ensured a practical working area for the end user with domestic hot, cold and 98° instant steaming hot water, making the tap fully compliant with Part G (3) of UK building regulations.  The Pronteau Prothia 3 IN 1 tap is available in two contemporary spout choices, swan neck and quad and 5 on trend colourways: Chrome, Matt Black, Urban Copper, Brushed Nickel and Brushed Brass, an option to satisfy all decors  Developers also benefit from the quick to install, Proboil.2X intelligent hot water boiler which can be fitted quickly and easily in the wet zone. Furthermore, Abode’s Proboil hot water products comply with all LVD/EMC/ROHS standards according to CE and UKCA. Both Proboil boiler models (2L or 4L) have WRAS certification to further reinforce the company’s ability to design and make safe and stylish tap solutions. All Pronteau taps are either WRAS or KIWA approved or have approvals pending.  DESIGN COMMENT Paul Illingworth, Design Manager at Abode says, “We are proud to support superior homes in superb locations through our comprehensive range of contemporary sinks and taps. Our extensive trend-mapping and research into the UK kitchen market allows us to pinpoint key lifestyle trends and given that online research by consumers is now specific as opposed to just browsing, we know that home buyers demand practical luxury. Considering this, our main areas of focus major on all elements of luxury interior design including safety, efficiency, flexibility and reliability. This is why we were pleased to elevate the quality of life for end users at Limsi Grove with larger sinks which can accommodate bigger pots and pans especially in conjunction with a steaming hot water tap for enhanced cooking.”

Edinburgh based football club, Heart of Midlothian Football Club (Hearts FC) is a city institution and its Tynecastle stadium is classed as a ‘must-visit’ destination for any football-mad tourist. The recent multimillion pound redevelopment has seen it undergo a major transformation to ensure visitors have the most memorable and safe experience possible.It’s no surprise that football fans want refreshments while at the stadium, so the concourse houses a number of food and drink kiosks around the ground. Something that can be found at each and every kiosk is an Instanta InstaTap – and with 30 new machines purchased as part of the refurbishment programme, that takes the total up to 50 so far.“We originally started using Instanta about three years ago”, comments Graeme Pacitti, head of hospitality and catering operations, “after the competitor product we were using back then just kept breaking down. We looked around for a replacement and narrowed it down to two products, but went with Instanta because we liked the idea of being with a British manufacturer. It means if we do need to contact the team, it’s very quick and efficient.” Graeme is impressed with not only how the Instanta products work, but also how well they fit in to the kiosks. “We have both under-counter and counter-top water boilers, and they fit the compact space very well, but still deliver the high volumes we require on match days. They also look good and are extremely reliable.” Ben McCosh of Arumba Coffee, who supplies the stadium with its catering machines, adds: “The Instanta machines deliver what they promise. Match days are hectic, with a lot of pressure on the refreshment kiosks, but the water boilers don’t let the team down.”

Keen to provide a safe and comfortable environment for their customers, Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff chose Yeoman Shield fire rated door protection products to help maintain and protect the condition of important fire doors.Owned by Live Nation, the concert and event venue receives over half a million visitors yearly resulting in the doors, situated both back and front of house, experiencing damage and unsightly marking from pedestrians and the movement of trolleys and equipment, etc. Not only can this have a detrimental effect on aesthetics but more importantly on the functioning of the fire door.To help protect from such damage Yeoman Shield’s directly employed fixing operatives installed door edge protectors as well as protective push plates to doors in back of house areas such as workshop, cutting room, and boiler cellars etc.Front of house doors, such as the entrances to the auditorium, which experience a huge amount of pedestrian traffic passing through, also had door edge protectors fitted along with half height door protection panels. Vulnerable glazing beads, were replaced with Yeoman Shield fire rated PVCu clad beads completing a comprehensive and durable door protection system that will withstand impact from hands, feet, bags and equipment well into the future.Manufactured from Yeoman Shield’s HessianEx material, the fire rated door protection products were supplied in black for a striking contrast to the colour schemes already in place within the arena.“I was impressed with the standard of work that was carried out by Yeoman Shield’s fixing operatives.“The doors certainly look cleaner and smarter and with the issuing of fire certificate evidence for all the products installed I am confident we will use Yeoman Shield products again.” Commented Marcus.

"Being able to use our standard house design was key – LPG boilers fitted perfectly, which meant we didn’t have to redesign each property." Chris McTague Engineering Manager at Taylor Wimpey Midlands

From the beginning, architects DLR Group designed Metea Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois, to light up education, both literally and figuratively. The sprawling campus with room for 3,000 students is broken down into a handful of more intimate, human-scale learning spaces, called “think tanks”, where interaction with faculty is encouraged. Two interior courtyards, open to the sky, offer fresh air during free periods. Shaped a bit like a bow tie, Metea combines three concepts – mind, in the midsection, and body and soul on either end – to offer students a truly 21st century school experience.Lighting up Metea in the literal sense comes largely from the extensive use of Kalwall translucent curtain wall throughout the school. Upon coming through the school’s main entrance, visitors are struck by the cheerful, airy, daylighted lobby. Controlled daylight also pours into the school’s innermost areas, traditionally a structure’s darkest, from the courtyards. Kalwall introduces daylight into the vast commons area that serves as the students’ lunchroom. In the gymnasium, Kalwall’s shadowless, glare-free light enhances ball handling in team events; sunlight does not glance off the shiny court surface. The diffuse-light-transmitting panels also prevent glare off computer screens, easing eyestrain. And in a dramatic demonstration of Kalwall’s superb flexibility, the design includes occasional, narrow, horizontal runs of clear glass – some serving as clerestories – adding visual interest as well as clear views to the outside.At 464,000 square feet, Metea could have been an energy-consumption nightmare, adding significantly to its $125 million total project cost. But innovations such as demand control ventilation, energy recovery wheels, and high efficiency boilers will save Indian Prairie School District 204, the state’s fifth largest, thousands of utility dollars every year and pay for themselves in just a few years. In fact, the building’s design is targeted to be 19 percent more efficient than ASHRAE 90.1 requires. Because translucent Kalwall admits so much controlled daylight, the school’s exterior light harvesting system, which monitors indoor light levels, can actually turn off electric lights in public spaces automatically when they are not needed. The harvesting system alone is expected to save the district over £16,000 a year in operational costs with a payback of under seven years.Illinois can get very cold in the winter and quite toasty in the summer. Highly insulating Kalwall helps there, too, keeping temperature extremes outside and lessening the need for and cost of heating and cooling. During the manufacturing process, standard 2-3/4” and optional 4” Kalwall sandwich panels can be infilled with various densities of specialized, translucent insulation. Architects and designers can achieve a thermal insulation value of up to R-20 (0.05 Btu/hr/ft²/F).At Metea Valley High School, DLR Group chose to include Verti-kal™, a unique design variation on the standard shoji or square grid layouts of Kalwall Translucent Systems. The panels incorporate internal, continuous supports to provide a vertical emphasis. As with all Kalwall translucent systems, Verti-kal distributes diffused daylight throughout the school, even on cloudy days, drastically reducing the amount of artificial lighting required and eliminating shadows and glare as well as stark contrasts of light and shade. Verti-Kal can be supplied in panels up to 5 ft. (1.5 m) wide and up to 12 ft. (3.6 m) high, minimizing the number of joints. The unique format creates an entirely different look while still utilizing the most highly insulating, diffuse-light-transmitting, structural composite technology.Any school system must concern itself with maintenance costs, and Kalwall excels there as well. The panels are vandal-resistant and self cleaning; dirt simply washes off with each rainfall. After dark, the diffuse, translucent properties of Kalwall contain interior lighting and prevent direct-beam light pollution. Instead, the exterior surface of the building simply glows beautifully, boosting Metea Valley High School’s aesthetics and welcoming both students and the surrounding community to a true masterpiece of daylighting.Photography: James Steinkamp

Gwinear Primary School in Cornwall has upgraded its heating system and switched to renewables by installing a Grant Vortex oil boiler which is using HVO biofuel, becoming the first school in the UK to use this fossil free liquid fuel.

A Grant Aerona³ air source heat pump has been installed at a home in Wiltshire, replacing the biomass boiler that was previously heating the property. Working together with an underfloor heating system, the Aerona³ heat pump is operating efficiently to deliver warmth and comfort throughout the home.

The 'HOOLA' in Tidal Basin Road in East London, gateway to the soon-to-be regenerated Royal Victoria Docks area, has transformed a brownfield site into two rippling 23 and 24 storey glass towers, that offer 360 apartments with a mix of studios, along with one, two and three-bedroom units.The buildings are super-insulated and the concrete frame will act as a heat sink – absorbing heat on warm days and releasing it back into apartments when it cools. An innovative link-up with the neighbouring ExCel Exhibition Centre will also see excess heat piped directly into the two towers. This will provide all the necessary heating and hot water requirements and significantly reduce maintenance costs by doing away with the need for individual boilers. A critical design requirement for such a super-insulated building was the avoidance of any risk of thermal bridging at the many concrete-to-concrete balcony connectivity points – so highly efficient structural thermal breaks were required throughout. The preferred solution was the Schöck Isokorb® T type K for cantilever balconies.Luke Smerdon-White, Technical Director at Thorp, takes up the story: "We had to design, manufacture and deliver 1410 precast concrete balcony sections that had to then be cast integrally with the in situ concrete structure." "The exposed front-face is curved, with almost 50 different dimensional configurations, while the internal face has a facetted line that had to correlate with the glazing line and opening doors."

Top-of-the-range lab solution for a major new production siteNext to the company’s headquarters in Aalen, 70km east of Stuttgart in Southern Germany, Papierfabrik Palm – one of the leading European manufacturers of papers for the printing industry, corrugated base papers and corrugated packaging – has built a brand-new paper mill. Its scale alone sets it in a category of its own: Palm invested half a billion Euros into the project, and to supply the production process with the required amount of steam, the site relies of the two largest water boilers in the world.This new paper mill, though, is just one of many milestones. Founded in 1872, Papierfabrik Palm operates in the meantime 33 production sites. In 2020, the company generated 1.5 billion Euros in global revenues. In terms of size and success, Palm epitomises the ‘hidden champions’ of the German economy ­– family-owned businesses that have combined highly professional management with ambitious international growth strategies to expand far beyond the usual bounda­ries of the category. In addition – and today more than ever – Papierfabrik Palm is ideally positioned to reap the benefits of sustainability: since its inception, the company has been using exclusively recycled raw materials.

University of West LondonLocated in the heart of England’s Capital, the University of West London (UWL) is committed to playing a leading role in tackling the global climate crisis by becoming net zero carbon by 2030. The University reported a 60% reduction in carbon emissions in 2021 compared to 2005. However, with a long way still to go before it is able to operate at net zero, UWL welcomed a £5 million award from the Government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) in 2021. With aspirations to retrofit its main sites in Ealing and Brentford, the funding unlocked a major opportunity to improve air quality around the borough whilst taking a big step towards meeting its net zero pledge by 2030.The SolutionUWL contracted Ameresco as principal contractor and designer, who partnered with NIBE Energy Systems and JKN Renewables, Ltd. The first and main challenge was to design a ground source heat pump (GSHP) system for the university without disrupting the main car park on the campus to reduce the impact on students. This, in turn, resulted in an innovative solution, combining a ground source heat pump system working with boreholes and solar PVT panels. The designed system not only supplies 222 kW of PV electricity generation but, crucially, acts as a collector system for the GSHP, capturing naturally occurring energy in the air to drive the heat pump process, and therefore reducing the number of boreholes required. The old gas boilers previously heating the campus were replaced with 584 solar PVT panels in combination with 34 169-meter boreholes to provide 900 kW of heating and hot water throughout the site. Further reducing disruption across the campus, JKN Renewables carried out an off-site build, with the pre-built PVT and plant room modules being delivered on time despite constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The heat pumps and solar PVT were supplied by NIBE Energy Systems, and JKN Renewables undertook the design, installation and commissioning of the system.The ResultsThis transformation really highlights the benefits of combining multiple technologies to deliver efficient, low-carbon solutions. Whilst the full capacity could have been delivered using boreholes, which would have been a less costly option, the University welcomed the installation of PVT as an innovative and space-saving option.The major project will save an estimated 500 tonnes of carbon each year, and 9,460 tonnes across the equipment’s lifetime. It will also save 3,116,738 kWh of gas-derived energy per year (equivalent to 70 heated homes) whilst improving local air quality.The project is thought to be one of the world’s largest PVT projects, and positions UWL as a leader in higher education for addressing the climate crisis. The project was recognised by the Energy Managers Association’s (EMA) Energy Management Awards, receiving the Highly Commended designation in the Decarbonisation Project Category.Testimonial“We have invested more than £150 million in our campus recently to create an inspiring social and learning environment for our students. But we know all this great work will be for nothing, unless we do our bit to tackle climate change. We have been taking a leading role in our community to tackle the global climate crisis… Recently, the university declared a climate emergency and pledged to become a zero net carbon institution by 2030. A big step to meeting this pledge, has been our decarbonisation program, that has seen the university harness the latest renewable technology to create our own energy and introduced energy saving measures across the campus. Backed by more than £5 million of Government funding, the project is the largest of its kind in the higher education sector, and really underlines our ambition to be one of the most sustainable universities in the UK.”Anthony WoodmanProfessor, deputy vice chancellor and provost for health of the University of West LondonAbout the installerJKN Renewables are specialists in low energy heating, cooling and hot water systems. They provide design, consultancy and installation services to both domestic and commercial sectors, with a range of experience in the renewable heating sector. They pride themselves on providing expert advice and quality installations of ground and air source heat pumps, underfloor heating and solar thermal.See a full video of the project here

There are two options to compensate for the heat loss in hot water distribution pipes: using a temperature maintenance cable or a re-circulation pipe. Which option is more sensible from an energy point of view, when using a condensing boiler for hot water generation? A study by the Technical University in Dresden addresses the question of which option is more energy-efficient.The results presented show that a single pipe hot water system that compensates for heat losses with a self-regulating temperature maintenance cable is a better solution.

Challenge  Extending one of London’s Architectural treasures was never going to be an easy task, but at PUDLO we were ready and willing to shoulder the responsibility.The scheme comprised a contiguous bored pile wall tight to Imperial College and Albert Court on either side of the excavation and load-bearing piles within the basement structure. A significant portion of the work was on the underground construction – three storeys below the building and extending out beneath the southern landscaped area. This massive undercroft houses the boiler house, loading bays, lifts, plant, ancillary accommodation, service routes and storage facilities, as well as extensive private car parking for the neighbouring residents. SolutionTo create the links with the existing building, the 1m-thick hall walls have had to be underpinned with piled, steel and concrete goalposts to allow the original concrete foundations to be cut away. This 150-year-old concrete looked in very good condition and has been left visible as a piece of living archaeology in the depths of the service areas. During the 24-month Royal Albert Hall contract, over 1000m3 of ready mixed concrete, modified with integral waterproofer PUDLO, was used by specialist frame and underground works contractors John Doyle Construction to ensure the waterproofing of perimeter walls, capping beams, lift shafts and floors.Designed to the specification of consultants, Building Design Partnership, the watertight concrete was required to meet stringent standards. Of the products then available that satisfied these conditions, PUDLO was the material of choice.ResultPUDLO concrete additive has played a vital waterproofing role in the major extension and refurbishment programme at London’s Royal Albert Hall, which was completed in 2004. The terrace of steps leading from the Albert Hall to Prince Consort Road was excavated to provide an underground car park, storage and air handling equipment and offloading facilities with direct access through a tunnel, to the performing arena within the Albert Hall.According to John Doyle Construction’s Technical Director, Peter Goring said, “Very close attention is always given to the construction materials in use and the test procedures that prove their reliability and performance. But when you are working on a national monument like the Royal Albert Hall the sense of responsibility becomes more acute. That was certainly the case with this very high-profile contract. The required watertight performance of the raft, perimeter walls and slab edges of the five underground storeys that formed the bulk of our work behind and below the level of the hall’s impressive South Steps, took on added significance. Quality assurance, mix design and precise delivery and installation of the concrete were all pivotal to a satisfactory conclusion to the job as a whole. We were also assured by the presence of the PUDLO site inspectors during and after installation.This was a great opportunity for us to work on, and one that we are incredibly proud to be a part of. To sustain such an iconic piece of British heritage is an immense achievement for us and all involved in this project. We hope that the Royal Albert Hall continues to deliver amazing performances for the world to see.

Nearly forty years after the lights were switched off at Battersea Power Station, a decommissioned Grade II listed coal-fired power station, located on the south bank of the River Thames, this much loved London landmark recently re-opened to the public following a transformational eight-year restorationApple Inc. will be leasing approximately 500,000 sq ft. across 6 floors of the central Boiler House and plans to move all of its 1,400 London employees to the new venue. This will make Apple by far the largest tenant at Battersea Power Station.221m² of Stravifloor Channel, a resilient high-performance floating floor based on floor channels containing steel springs as resilient supports was installed to decouple the acoustically critical listening, screening and control room spaces at Battersea Power Station.The added insulation material between the channels contributes to the acoustic optimization of the spaces by preventing the so-called standing wave effect to take place within the air void.During the installation of the acoustic floating floor, careful attention was paid to the many service penetrations as improper installation would most certainly lead to rigid connection which in turn affect the system’s performance.

The Spa at South Lodge, in the heart of the West Sussex countryside, is the picture-perfect, luxury destination for those seeking ultimate relaxation in complete comfort, far away from the pressures and strains of modern life. Designed by Hove-based architectural firm, Felce and Guy, this prestigious 44,000 sq. ft building sits harmoniously in its beautiful, natural setting with external facing bricks from Vandersanden selected to provide regular form, nuanced colours and natural texture for the project. Located in Lower Beeding, near Horsham, The Spa at South Lodge is a purpose-built spa within the grounds of an award winning 5-star hotel. It features a state-of-the-art gym and spin studio, indoor pool, outdoor hydrotherapy pool and wild swimming pool, a thermal suite and treatment rooms for members, hotel residents and spa day guests. In addition, The Spa at South Lodge includes the Ridgeview Beauty Bar and Botanica, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant. Felce and Guy were commissioned to provide a full architectural design, then appointed as lead consultant and contract administrator to oversee the build carried out by main contractor, Beard Construction. The firm’s design balances the specific needs of the hotel and The Spa at South Lodge’s facilities with a sensitivity to the context of the countryside setting and close proximity to the main hotel. The resultant architecture sympathetically responds to these surroundings with the building deep-set into the landscape, minimising its scale, yet taking full advantage of the extensive views available to guests over the South Downs. As the landscape falls away, leading to natural water forms, so too does the new building with external terracing leading out to a vitality pool and down to an external swim pond. After reviewing and testing different samples in advance, Felce and Guy selected Vandersanden’s Lithium brick in a 50mm size for the project. This attractive, hand-formed facing brick comprises a sanded-coated and grained structure in a muted base grey colour with accompanying shades of buff and black to match the stonework colours of the main building at South Lodge Hotel. Over 100,000 bricks were sourced and supplied for the project by specialist brick distributor, N R Taylor of Lingfield, with the thinness of the brick helping to further reduce the visual scale of the Spa building. The horizontal lines of the brickwork act as a softening counterpoint to the vertical natural green oak cladding and large glass panelling that also feature as key elements in The Spa at South Lodge design. Elsewhere, the Lithium brick has been used in the copings, landscaping and dividing walls which create external contours and help to separate the terraces outside of the building. “The Vandersanden brick works with the other materials in the design to present a very organic aesthetic for The Spa at South Lodge,” says John Chapman of Felce and Guy. “It perfectly complements both the dark sandstone used in the original hotel and its mix of greys and brown as well as the natural surroundings. The straight, clean-lines and regular shape of the Vandersanden brick, together with the raked joint we’ve used, has helped emphasise the horizontality of the building and works especially well with the textured finish of the timber panels. As a practice, we set very high expectations which the Vandersanden bricks have undoubtedly satisfied.” In addition to a curving, meadow-grass roof, which helps to attenuate rainwater flow, the Spa at South Lodge benefits from other sustainable technologies and finishes. A biomass boiler system has been installed, and all drainage is contained on site, using reed bed technology. The existing ponds within the hotel grounds have been modified and extended to benefit the local ecology. Vandersanden itself is building a sustainable future for its business, having already invested in renewable solar and wind energy technologies at its major European production plants and committed to a pathway which will see the manufacture of CO2-neutral bricks by 2050. Underlining the significance of the project to the hotel and its management, every member of staff laid one brick as part of their contribution to The Spa at South Lodge. To find out more about the bricks used in this project or to see the wide range of high-quality bricks available from Vandersanden, click on the 'View more' link 

Severn Trent Water’s new £60m operations centre in Coventry, which aims to set new industry standards with one of the lowest carbon footprints for any UK office building, incorporates equally eco-friendly Armourcoat polished plaster.Designed by Birmingham-based Webb Gray Architects, and built by BAM Construction, this highly-sophisticated energy efficient building featuring the latest eco-technology. Designed for low-energy and low-carbon consumption, the offices include thermal adaptive cooling, biomass boilers, photovoltaic panels, solar panels and rainwater harvesting; justifiably achieving a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating.Armourcoat was used within the reception and main atrium space, to create a stunning and original design statement. Totaling nearly four hundred square metres of hand-applied decorative plaster, Webb Gray specified colourfade artwork for feature panels and curved walls using Armourcoat Spatulata. For the 30-metre high atrium panels, artisan plasterers blended over seventy colours of paste to achieve the seamless finish. Known as ‘stucco lustro veneziano’, Spatulata is a superfine stucco paste that is trowel applied in a series of fine layers to create a highly polished decorative surface. In keeping with the eco specification, the product contains 40% pre-consumer recycled marble.The project also included the use of ‘Anti-Crack’ - an innovative substrate preparation system from Armourcoat which ensures fast-track construction and a tough, unrivalled backing for Armourcoat polished plaster wall finishes. This cost effective, skim-coat plaster is designed for application in 3-4mm layers over plasterboard surfaces. Its use eliminates the need for taping, jointing and sealing the plasterboard surface and provides a first class substrate for Armourcoat finishes.

The striking interior was designed by LaVita Style and features Perlata providing a rich, yet elegant finish to the walls in the reception area and corridors. The design uses light and shade to reveal subtle textures and tones resonating a calm and reassuring atmosphere. Working to a soft colour palette the use of additional custom ArmourFX Granite polished plaster panels to the front desk creates a stunning first impression.Lucy Walker, interior designer at Lavita Style Ltd comments “We chose Armourcoat for this project for their specialist expertise and creativity and were absolutely delighted with the end results. We wanted to create a striking yet welcoming reception and waiting area and this was achieved through Perlata’s beautiful finish in a range of tones and colours. Armourcoat realised our vision throughout the whole design process and delivered seamlessly. I would certainly choose Armourcoat for any future projects”The new dental practice, White & Co is part of the innovative redevelopment work to convert the Grade II* listed legendary landmark into a unique blend of residential, commercial, and cultural spaces. Armourcoat has also been specified in various other projects within this exciting development including the Boiler House and Switch House West where Armourcoat Tactite was applied within various bathrooms, ensuites and powder rooms and Embassy Gardens which included Armourcoat Koncrete finishes to entrance areas and columnsClient: White & Co, Battersea Power Station, London Designer: La Vita Style @lavitastyleltd Contractor: Apollo Interiors Photography: Mark Bolton @markboltonphoto

When Booking.com decided to move their offices to a prime location in Central London, they required a full fit-out. They appointed HLW International, who specified Billi Taps for their main kitchen area, and another tea-point within the office space. Booking.com opted for Billi Quadra Plus 15. With a drainage font in chrome and a gloss finish, the tap delivers instant boiling and chilled water from an XL lever tap at just a touch of a finger, and hot and ambient from a second sink mixer tap – all this from a single under counter boiler unit.

National Trust owned, Saltram House is a magnificent stately home in Plymouth. Home to the Parker family for several generations, Saltram comprises an elegant Georgian façade built around a much earlier building. One of many National Trust premises to get a renewable makeover as part of a general drive to improve the environmental credentials of its buildings, Saltram is now home to a biomass system. Plumbed together using Geberit Mapress Carbon Steel, the new heating consists of 220kW and 95kW boilers fuelled by pellets.

Building performance is crucial if the UK is to meet its ambitious net zero targets. But there’s a big challenge ahead. There are 29 million homes in the UK and buildings generate one third of the UK’s CO2 emissions, 50% of which relate to heating.To address this, the government has announced a clear regulatory roadmap introducing ever-stricter thermal performance requirements.But there’s a bigger issue that tougher thermal performance measures alone will not address. Industry research suggests 27 million homes are not delivering the performance stated on their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). That’s because EPCs require no physical measurement on site, assumptions are made based on answers to questions such as whether a property has insulation or a condensing boiler. It does not account for any of the variables that influence actual performance, such as build and install quality or location. This means homes are less energy-efficient, use more carbon and are more expensive to run than their EPC suggests. As a result, the Government’s EPC Action Plan will see EPCs shift from being a notional tick-box exercise to a genuine, evidence-based record of a building’s actual performance.That leaves the construction industry with a problem. How will it ensure buildings actually perform as designed?A genuine, evidence-based recordThe only way to address the issue is to measure real energy performance, but this has been difficult and costly – until now. Knauf Insulation and Knauf Energy Solutions have undertaken two pilot projects which have combined accurate measurement and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology with a quality-controlled retrofit of Mineral Wool insulation to deliver impressive results.The solutionThe two companies have invested in six years of research and development. The result is ground-breaking sensor technology that accurately measures the real energy performance of a home, which is used alongside quality-assured installation of retrofit measures to create buildings that perform as intended.Until now real performance could only be measured via expensive, lengthy, and invasive co-heating tests. By contrast, Knauf Energy Solutions sensors can be fitted unobtrusively to occupied buildings, making the technology discreet, scalable, and cost-efficient.Over 12 weeks, the sensors capture an accurate picture of the building’s performance using machine learning to combine energy meter readings with humidity, temperature, CO2 levels, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and weather data. It then calculates the heat lost through the building roof, walls, and floors to create an accurate picture of each home’s thermal performance. It essentially gives an ‘mpg’ for a home or building.The sensors can be used to ensure new buildings are performing as designed and specified. Or they can inform ‘smart retrofits’ that improve existing buildings’ energy performance and track the subsequent energy bill savings.Retrofits that deliver resultsKnauf Insulation and Knauf Energy Solutions have undertaken the UK’s largest ever real performance retrofit project, to upgrade the thermal performance of 28 homes on a 1970s social housing estate run by Great Places Housing Group in Trafford, Manchester. Early investigation showed the existing insulation had been incorrectly installed and had degraded. Adding to the complexity, the homes also contained unusual build features, such as a stagger between terraces meaning one wall acted as both a party and external wall, each with different thermal characteristics. The companies built a full-scale mock-up of the junction to develop clear protocols for the removal of existing insulation and installation of Knauf Insulation Mineral Wool products. This innovation has enabled the successful installation of Supafil® Party Wall in a staggered party wall – a world first which can be replicated in tens of thousands of other ‘hard to treat’ properties with similar staggers across the country.The second project took place in Eccles, Salford, where the 12 houses had been built to Part L1A in 2014.Sensors were used to benchmark the thermal performance of the properties before commencing quality-controlled refurbishment programmes on both estates, using Knauf Insulation products including Supafil® 34, Supafil® Party Wall, Loft Roll 40 and Rocksilk® RS100.The retrofits were ‘cost-optimal’ delivering results usually targeted by whole-house retrofits with only fabric improvements. To achieve this, the standard of installation was key. Contractors were chosen and managed for quality, and included approved Supafil® contractors, who are certified and actively monitored by Knauf Insulation. Supafil® 34 was injected directly into the cavity using a calibrated blowing machine, ensuring each cavity was fully filled so the specified thermal performance could be achieved. Loft installations were carefully designed and installed so the Loft Roll 40 met up with the Supafil® to provide continuity of insulation and minimise thermal bridging.The two pilot projects delivered impressive results.Trafford31% average fabric efficiency improvement per homeOne home experienced a 51% improvement£411 average annual bill reduction for residentsAverage space heat demand: 65.57 kWh/m2yearAverage CO2g/m2/year: 14.23Eccles17% average fabric efficiency improvement per home28% improvement in one semi-detached homeMoist air leakage risks corrected, preventing sustained structural deteriorationAverage space heat demand: 32.79 kWh/m2yearAverage CO2g/m2/year: 6.78The need for a fabric first approachAccurate measurement alone will not create net zero homes – despite the improvements, all 28 homes in Trafford retained EPC ratings of grade D or E. Similarly in Eccles, the EPC ratings remained mostly static. The refurbishments simply brought their real-world performance in line with the theoretical EPC performance.But the project does show that Knauf Insulation and Knauf Energy Solutions have developed a viable solution for measuring real performance that can be used to underpin net-zero housebuilding and retrofitting by taking a fabric first approach.Bringing benefits to the whole supply chainBefore the refurbishment, residents on the Trafford estate regularly complained their homes were cold and expensive to heat, despite being insulated. In fact, a survey by energy supplier E.ON found this is common, with 49% of landlords saying they didn’t know how to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. This new technology not only gives landlords that information, but by making real-world measurement viable at scale for the first time, it brings benefits to the whole supply chain:Housebuilders can ensure quality control and compliance with the ‘fuel and energy performance’ aspects of the New Homes Ombudsman scheme.Builders and developers can measure thermal performance with certainty and demonstrate they’re delivering for their clients.Tenants and purchasers will enjoy better thermal performance, lower energy bills and a more comfortable living environment, and they can also assess the operating costs of prospective homes.The government, councils, housing associations and landlords can verify the return on investment on refurbishments.Ultimately if we are to achieve net-zero, we must first accurately measure building performance. By combining the use of sensor technology with a quality-controlled insulation installation or retrofit, we can close the performance gap of every building – new and existing. The building fabric component of an EPC will be based on real evidence and homeowners and tenants can save money with lower energy bills.Low carbon insulation for low carbon homesKnauf Insulation undertakes Life Cycle Assessments to evaluate the embodied carbon of its products. Its products can be considered low in embodied carbon, with transparent evidence available in Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) across its ranges.Knauf Insulation has proactively reduced the embodied carbon in its products over the years, as part of a broader set of activities to reduce its environmental impact. Specific actions to minimise its carbon footprint include the introduction of ECOSE® Technology, its unique bio-based binder, which is 70% less energy-intensive to manufacture than traditional binders, as well as initiatives to reduce road miles in both sourcing and distribution. Its Glass Mineral Wool products are manufactured using up to 80% recycled glass collected from the local communities around its factories, and the finished products are compressed by up to 10:1 to fit more product into each lorry reducing transport emissions.“From day one, Knauf Insulation brought a level of quality control we haven’t previouslyexperienced in other projects. The measurement service is the first time wehave been offered any certainty that our homes have actually been improved.”Sarah McClelland, Environmental Manager, Great Places

Metal pipe boxing from the Pendock Profiles range is concealing heating pipework, electrical cabling and ventilation ducting at Phoenix Point in Thamesmead as part of a refurbishment and upgrade programme of homes at the striking, cylindrical high rise building.Originally built in 2008 on the site of a boiler house used for a community heating scheme, the 8 storey, circular building provides a mix of one and 2 bedroom flats. The Pendock aluminium boxing is used extensively in the refurbishment and is located below the walkway on each tier, following the form of the structure to conceal building services, as well as acting as a mounting point for lighting.

The Medical Assessment Unit (MAU Ward) was having continuous issues with its old countertop water boiler. Due to excessive scale damage it was repeatedly out-of-use and the taste of the water it dispensed was increasingly unpleasant. Kevin Ferguson, Assistant Practitioner on the ward, was on the look-out for an alternative drinking water solution.