BFM November 2017 by Abbey Publishing

NOVEMBER 2017 www.bfmmagazine.co.uk building & facilities facilities management management

CLEANING & HYGIENE | HVAC | INTERIORS | LIGHTING

Case Study: Edgbaston Priory Tennis Club See page 10

INSIDE:

SAY GOODBYE TO COLD STORE SHUTDOWNS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PAGE 20

SCOTTISH PUBLIC SECTOR

ENERGY CHAMPIONS

Public Sector Energy Event SCOTLAND

AWARDS 2018

12 April 2018 – HAMPDEN PARK, GLASGOW SUPPORTED BY: THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT, tHE CARBON TRUST & The Supplier Development Programme The first in a series of regional Public Sector Energy Events will kick off in Scotland on 12 April 2018 in Glasgow, at the home of Scottish football – Hampden Park – Glasgow.

WHY EXHIBIT •

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The best way to meet top quality public sector energy professionals from Government, Local Authorities, NHS, Education & Housing Associations in a relaxed and intimate environment Highly targeted & cost-effective – cheaper than many journals will charge for a full page of advertising The awards will be an extra incentive for visitors to attend Free lunch, coffee/tea Full delegate list, including no-shows Full page advertisement/advertorial in our event guide given to all visitors Your details on our website page for this event

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Sustainable Development Manager - NHS Lothian Energy Officer - Renfrewshire Council Sustainability Officer - NHS National Services Scotland Energy Team Leader - Clackmannanshire Council Energy Manager - Health Facilities Scotland Energy Manager - NHS Ayrshire & Arran Carbon Reduction Officer - Inverclyde Council Energy Manager - NHS GG&C Energy Manager - University of Glasgow Estates Officer - NHS Borders Senior Utilities Manager - MOD DIO and more..

The event is supported by the Scottish Government, the Carbon Trust & the Supplier Development Programme.

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This event will also co-host the Scottish Public Sector Energy Champions Awards. These awards are an added incentive for visitors. If you work with a Public Sector organisation, why not encourage them to enter, as this will give increased publicity to your organisation.

• • • •

VISITOR INFORMATION

Here are just some of those preregistered to date: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Estates Manager - Glasgow Caledonian University Environment Performance Manager - Scottish Parliament Head of Strategic Projects - Orkney Islands Council Energy Officer - Falkirk Council Energy Manager - Aberdeen City Council Climate Change Manager - Fife Council Asset Mmngt Officer - West Highland Housing Association Energy Manager - University of Strathclyde Technical Manager - Paisley Housing Association Energy Manager - East Ayrshire Council Head of Facilities Management - City of Glasgow College Energy Manager - West Lothian Council Environment Manager - NHS Grampian

STAND DETAILS • • • •

All stands are 3m wide x 2m deep. Floor space only - no shell scheme. If larger stand required please check. Exhibitors to supply own stands. Table and chairs supplied. Electric supply limited - check for details

STAND COSTS •

3m x 2m Stand - Space only --- £1,200

SPONSORSHIP There are several sponsorship opportunities available including headline sponsorship of the event, delegate bags sponsorship etc.

Should you wish to make a booking or if you require any further information please contact: Ralph Scrivens E: ralph@energymanagermagazine.co.uk Tel: 01933 316931

On the cover:. Case Study: Edgbaston Priory Tennis Club See page 10 for more details. www.nortekhvac.com

November 2017

BFM Team Business Development Director

James Scrivens james@abbeypublishing.co.uk

Contents News

Plasloc supplies screening and hoarding solutions for ‘big four’ firm’s HQ

Production

Cleaning & Hygiene

Say goodbye to cold store shutdowns

Sarah Daviner sarah@abbeypublishing.co.uk Accounts Manager

Katie Brehm accounts@abbeypublishing.co.uk

HVAC

10 BFM is published digitally 10 times a year b y Abbey Publishing Ltd. To receive a copy free of charge, contact our offices. Tel: 01933 316931 Email: bfm@abbeypublishing.co.uk www.bfmmagazine.co.uk www.abbeypublishing.co.uk

Case Study: Edgbaston Priory Tennis Club

Energy Management

Interiors

Make Your Office Work For You

Complete Energy Solutions for Facility Managers

www.twitter.com/ BFM_Magazine

Subscriptions are available via www.bfmmagazine.co.uk/subscribe No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without prior permission from the publishers. The publishers do not accept any responsibility for, or necessarily agree with, any views expressed in articles, letters or supplied advertisements. Some manufacturers and suppliers have made a contribution toward the cost of reproducing some photographs in this magazine.

Lighting

How human-centric lighting can help shift workers

All contents © Abbey Publishing Ltd 2017 ISSN: 1470-5281

Building & Facilities Management – November 2017

Special Feature

Untidiness named the main contributor to unproductivity in the wokplace

News

Plasloc supplies screening and hoarding solutions for ‘big four’ firm’s HQ

lasloc has supplied Ernst & Young (EY), recognised as one of the ‘big four’ professional service companies, with screening in the form of a curved demo wall for its London-based headquarters. The wall is in the main reception of the company’s headquarters and is in place during a period of construction work at the offices. Steve Matthews, the founder of Plasloc, comments on the installation: “Being such a successful and well-known company, it was important that the reception area of Ernst & Young looks sleek and professional in appearance despite the ongoing building work. We are pleased that our screens allowed the company to achieve this. “At Plasloc we pride ourselves on going the extra mile to provide our clients with partitions that blend seamlessly not just with their environment but also with the day-today running of their businesses. At EY, our team worked diligently to install the screening outside of office hours, minimising the disruption caused to members of staff and allowing the company to function as normal.” The screens installed by Plasloc at EY could not be secured at the base or top of the structure. Instead, a free-standing screen was needed and so Plasloc drew on the expertise of their in-house design team. Steve comments further: “Our team produced a design created specifically for this project. We then sent this proposal to structural engineers to ensure its safety before installing the screen.” As well as safety, Plasloc also prioritises the easy removal of its products and, as part of this project, flooring and joinery protection was installed to make sure that the temporary screens left no lasting impressions or damage on the building. Plasloc specialises in producing environmentally friendly screening 4

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Steve Matthews, Plasloc Managing Director

and hoarding solutions and can add Ernst & Jones to an extensive list of well-known clients which includes the likes of Amazon, Burberry, Tesco and the Royal Mail. The company was founded by Steve Matthews, who identified a gap in the market for a cost-effective, sustainable, and innovative hoardings solution. Having worked in the construction industry for many years, Steve

found himself unhappy with the quality of traditional plywood and composite panel hoardings that were wasteful, costly, often unsafe; and time consuming on install. His solution was Plasloc, a patented freestanding PVCu internal and external cladding system designed for a quality, quick installation and easy removal. For more information please call 01626 356 995 or visit www.plasloc.com

NIC further expands their FM team

IC Services Group Ltd is pleased to announce the appointment of Gary Haman to their FM Team. Gary has worked delivering FM/ Bundled Services (hard and soft) in the retail sector for over 15 years and is a key appointment to further strengthen NICs continuing expanding range of bundled services they offer. Gary said “I am excited to start a new challenge with NIC Services Group and look forward to working

with their established FM team to further develop and support their already extensive knowledge in FM/ Bundled services. I am fortunate to be joining such a respected company that prides itself in quality bundled service delivery in the industry.” www.nicgroup.co.uk

Building & Facilities Management – November 2017

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Its supplier engagement day will include presentations, opportunities to speak directly with its procurement team and a recruitment stand for apprentices. Work for the scheme is expected to include improvements to flood walls, the relocation of the Caldene Bridge, widening of the river channel at key locations and the strengthening and waterproofing of buildings next to the river. “We look forward to welcoming a wide range of contractors to the event on the 28th November,” said Jamie Dalgleish from VBA. “A significant amount of work is up for grabs across a wide range of trade categories. From masonry, drainage installation and soft landscaping to fencing, rendering and tree surgery, there’s a large variety of opportunities to work on this vital flood scheme for the village.” The event will take place from 10:00 am to 19:00 pm on Tuesday 28th November at Mytholmroyd Community Centre. Tickets are free. To register your attendance please click here: https:// www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ vba-supplier-engagementday-tickets-39722615412

England

Frankfurt am Main

DU: 02.01.2018

BA is set to host a supplier engagement day on 28th November at Mytholmroyd Community Centre. The event is designed to give contractors and the community the chance to meet face-toface with representatives of the VBA group to discuss upcoming work for a flood defence scheme in West Yorkshire. Local businesses and the community are also welcome to attend. The £20m project follows a detailed investigation carried out by the Environment Agency and is aimed at preventing a repeat of the devastating floods that struck the Mytholmroyd area in 2015, causing damage to houses and businesses. Hosted in partnership with leading procurement provider Constructionline, the event is being held to discuss opportunities to secure work on the scheme with local construction material suppliers and subcontractors. Hoteliers and accommodation providers are also encouraged to attend. A joint venture comprising VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and Atkins, VBA provides specialist services in designing and constructing sustainable flood and coastal defences.

18. – 23. 3. 2018

The world’s leading trade fair for lighting and building services technology

Secure and connected: Feeling good about the future

65882-008_LB_Sicherheit_Building_Facilities_Managment_88x270 • CMYK • jw: 09.10.2017

VBA looking for contractors for flood defence scheme in West Yorkshire

Light + Building focuses on security technology for buildings. Find out more at the SECURE! special show and the parallel Intersec Forum, as well as from numerous manufacturers. Inspiring tomorrow. www.light-building.com info@uk.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +44 (0) 14 83 48 39 83

News

Ian Anfield, Managing Director of Hudson Contract

Tribunal system overrun with claims since scrapping of fees

he Supreme Court has ruled that workplace tribunal fees, introduced in 2013, are unlawful. This is now forcing the government to repay more than £27m to thousands of claimants, who were charged up to £1,200 to take unfair dismal, discrimination and other workplace claims to tribunal. As a result of the notable changes to fees, cases are once again being brought before an employment tribunal without the need for the applicant to pay any kind of fee resulting in a significant rise in cases. Ian Anfield, Managing Director of leading CIS workplace audit and contract solutions provider, Hudson Contract, explains what this means for employers and lawyers involved in employment tribunal cases. Here, he comments: “There’s trouble ahead for the system and for the many thousands of employers who will be faced with an ongoing torrent of costly, stressful and often-bogus attempts to win an employment tribunal pay out, and only lawyers will benefit from this. “The introduction of tribunal fees

saved UK PLC at least £180m a year in the legal cost of defending spurious claims,” Ian explains. “The aim of tribunal fees, along with extending the employment period before staff could claim unfair dismissal to two years, was to protect employers from spurious claims, encouraging firms to hire additional staff, and looking at employment figures it seems to have worked. “We are already seeing a huge increase in activity at Hudson Contract with no-win-no-fee lawyers and unions once again playing the employment tribunal card at every opportunity. “Experience tells us that if we deal with things correctly, work within our robust processes, and treat people fairly, we and our clients have little to fear because they are fully protected by Hudson Contract: we fight any employment tribunal cases on their behalf, picking up the stress and eliminating all financial risk. “From now on, though, I hope our clients will continue to be vigilant, treating sub-contractors like subcontractors, using the Hudson Contract processes correctly, and

by directly employing those over whom they need control and an exclusive personal service. “As for those who use selfemployed labour without a robust set of procedures in place, they can now dread a call from their local union representative almost as much as they do from HMRC.” Find out more about Hudson Contract and the potential impact the changes to employment tribunal fees could have on your business in this video: https://www.hudsoncontract. co.uk/services/employment-law/

Compressed Air Pressure and Leak Testing Guide

CAS has made its “Pressure and Leak Testing of Compressed Air Systems Best Practice Guideline” free to download from its website www.bcas.org.uk. Says Tim Preece, BCAS Technical Officer, “One of the major ways that you can reduce the energy consumption and therefore cost of a compressed air system is by identifying leaks and taking action to reduce them. A 3mm hole for example could cost your organisation over £600 per year in wasted energy. “This best practice guide covers the most commonly encountered commissioning situations where you need to establish the compressed air system’s safety and efficiency.” The 18-page guide outlines 6

News

the importance of choosing the right supplier and assessing their competence, agreeing an acceptable leakage rate and the procedures for testing both new and existing installations. Continues Preece, “It is vital to have an ongoing leak test and repair programme. To monitor the leakage rate, you should consider installing permanent flow metering, which is also an effective way of identifying any changes in consumption which need further investigation.” BCAS has made a number of its best practice guides for compressed air systems free to download. They include industry specific guides, advice about standards and legislation and best practice guides for maintenance and installation.

Building & Facilities Management – November 2017

Altecnic expands its UK sales operations

ltecnic, the UK and Ireland’s leading provider of high-quality heating and plumbing products, has appointed Gary Swann as the new Sales Manager for Northern Ireland. Part of the Caleffi group, Altecnic has an enviable track record for bringing approved and accredited products to market, particularly in critical areas of safety such as thermostatic mixing valves. The market for Caleffi products combined with Altecnic’s market leading service has led to rapid growth across the UK. To cater for the increasing customerbase specifically in Northern Ireland, Gary Swann will cover the region from his base in Carrickfergus. “I have been involved in the plumbing and heating industry for almost 20 years in various roles,” comments Gary, “recently joining Altecnic from another company in the HVAC industry where I was a Technical Sales Representative.” Gary has enjoyed a long and successful career having been

promoted through various levels of HVAC product sales, including bathrooms, renewables and specialising in the electrical and plumbing trade. With such a broad background it is unsurprising that Gary has developed a wealth of knowledge and experience working on large volume projects as well as delivering presentations to architects, specifiers and installers. For the last decade, Gary has also been involved in the natural gas industry in Northern Ireland, most recently as a Sales Manager. Not only has this involved a high level of customer service but being responsible for new build, social housing and owner occupier connections has also led to a broadbased understanding of domestic heating system installations and understanding customer needs. “I am looking forward to bringing to Altecnic the same drive and enthusiasm that helped me when introducing new products into the local market,” says Gary.

News

(From left to right) Altecnic’s new Sales Manager for Northern Ireland Gary Swann, OEM National Sales Manager Mark Mogey and Country Manager for Northern Ireland Chris Reilly

Mark Mogey, OEM National Sales Manager at Altecnic, comments: “Gary is a great addition to the team having developed key contacts with various stakeholder groups including the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, plumbing and heating installers, OEMs and merchants. All of these customers and more will benefit from Gary’s experience combined with Caleffi’s excellent products and Altecnic’s legendary service.” www.altecnic.co.uk

Places at the Building Services Forum are going fast: Book yours now

ith tickets selling fast for the inaugural Building Services Forum, members of the industry are encouraged to book now to avoid disappointment. The Forum, taking place on 8 February 2018 at the Building Centre in London, will provide a hub for sharing expertise and knowledge between industry members. Delegates will experience a one day CPD accredited seminar programme delivered by keynote speakers, along with plenty of opportunity to network with industry peers and discover business solutions at table top stands. The seminar programme will cover pivotal topics ranging from cyber security to the latest legislation regulations and developing intelligent and interactive HVAC pipe networks. Iain Gordon, president of KNX UK and managing director of integration specialist GES Digital Ltd, comments: www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine

“The Building Services Forum will provide an excellent platform to educate both individuals and businesses as to the potential for growth within the controls arena. “With research indicating a huge growth in this sector over the next 5 years, building owners and the service providers involved can’t ignore that this is the future in the built environment.” Michelle Agha–Hossein of BSRIA will be presenting ‘Building from Wellbeing’. Michelle says: “We are delighted to support the inaugural Building Services Forum. As one of BSRIA’s four core values, being innovative is vital to a forward thinking industry and we would encourage building services professionals to attend this event to pick up some of the latest building services thinking.” Book your ticket now and discover solutions to future-proof your

business. Your ticket will include: • An inspiring full day’s CPD accredited seminar programme • Networking opportunities with sponsors, exhibitors and speaker companies • The latest product and technology innovations • Breakfast, lunch and refreshments • Break-out sessions For more information and to book your early bird ticket at just £149 (ends 30 November), visit: www.buildingservicesforum.london News

News

CIBSE Yorkshire Awards win for Airedale

iredale International wins CIBSE Yorkshire Region Manufacturers Award for its multiple-award-winning Artus™ – hybrid low energy fan coil unit. Friday, 10 November 2017 was a chance to entertain, reward and highlight the excellent work by Yorkshire-based organisations. Nearly 400 people from all parts of the construction industry gathered at the New Dock entertainment suite, Royal Armouries, Leeds. The evening featured three fantastic speakers. These included, Kayley Lockhead, (From NG Bailey) who spoke about STEER Group mentoring, resulting in over 40 offers of support on the night. Martin Brown (from Fairsnape) then identified the different ways in which we can all develop sustainability within the built environment, going beyond energy efficiency. Finally, Prof Peter Head CBE FREng FRSA shared projects that he is involved with to achieve sustainable development around the world. Following on from the guest speakers, awarding took place in 12 categories. These ranged from Yorkshire Region Project of the Year to the CIBSE Yorkshire Region Student Award, where their college or University nominated students. Airedale is humbled and proud to have won the CIBSE Yorkshire Region Manufacturers Award category

for its multiple-award-winning Artus™ – hybrid low energy fan coil unit. A system conceptualised, designed and manufactured in partnership with Arup consultancy. Artus™ has already won two awards in 2017 and continues to impress judges with its potential, challenging existing solutions and meeting industry needs. Tony Cole, Managing Director, Airedale commented, “We are thrilled to be crowned CIBSE Yorkshire Region Manufacturers of the Year. It means so much to us to receive this prestigious accolade.” “As the judges commented, the category was beyond strong. That makes it all the more pleasing and humbling to have won the award. It is certainly a testament to the talented female and male problem-solvers that we employ here at Airedale, and who have brought this product to market.” Airedale’s winning product, the Artus™ Hybrid Fan Coil Unit, offers a fully-packaged, plug-and-play, single-supplier system and a host of benefits. These include self-access, reduced ceiling clutter and minimised ceiling void heights. As the unit is fully-packaged, there is no need for the specification of ancillary controls. Artus™ unlocks multiple benefits for a range of users. From building developers, M&E consultants, contractors, and commissioning/FM engineers, Artus™ is a high-quality,

low-energy system, compact, Part L building regulation compliant and BREEAM credit contributing. Artus™ uses just 1/3 of the specific fan power of a typical fan coil unit (FCU). It is perfect for both; cost-sensitive new-builds, height constrained refurbishments and energy conscious end-users. With sustainability, innovation and efficiency at its heart, Artus™ combines the flexibility of traditional fan coil units with the low-energy usage of chilled beams, at a cost, comparable with FCUs. Available now, Artus™ will solve the biggest complaints in comfort cooling, including; energy efficiency, draughts and dead spots, space claim of secondary ductwork, unit footprint, cluttered ceiling void services, and restrictive access for maintenance and installation. www.airedale.com/Artus

Ayrshire College partners with neighbouring HALO

he HALO, Kilmarnock, and its neighbour, Ayrshire College, are partnering to encourage leadingedge, practical learning in enterprise and innovation, cyber resilience and digital security to support the creation of a future workforce of digitally skilled young people from Ayrshire. The HALO and Ayrshire College have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in which they have agreed to combine knowledge, resources, networks and efforts to support the creation of the HALO Enterprise and Innovation Centre 8

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(HEIC) and the cyber security/ digital hub that are planned as part of the impressive regeneration project. This is the second of two key educational partnerships for The HALO which is also working with the University of the West of Scotland. Part of the HEIC will be an experiential learning space designed and equipped for the digital age. The Centre will house spin-out and start-up businesses within the new well-connected town centre offices which are due for completion in summer 2019. The

HEIC will be part of a national and international network of Government and industry-inspired cyber centres making Scotland a leader in digital knowledge and understanding. The partnership also aims to explore and promote new approaches to stimulating selfdiscovery, self-motivation and self-confidence, particularly among young people, in the communities served by the college. Marie Macklin C.B.E., who is leading The HALO initiative, said: “This is the second of two critical

Building & Facilities Management – November 2017

Ardmac and Penketh Group help Kier to open new Manchester office

eading UK and international interior fit-out contractor Ardmac and bespoke office furnishing company Penketh Group have worked with Kier to complete the fit-out for its new Finance Shared Service Centre (FSSC) office in Manchester. Ardmac were appointed to enhance the space and do the Cat A and Cat B fit-out work. They brought in Penketh Group to supply a furniture solution within a set budget. The brand new office includes a reception area, meeting suites, hot desk areas, open plan and informal meeting spaces as well as breakout areas across five floors in Fountain Street, Manchester. Cutting edge furniture solutions were used including clever soft seating landscapes of curved and straight units, stylish chairs for informal meeting spaces, practical and durable bench desk systems and clever, flexible fliptop tables for the meeting suites. Tracy Johnson, Project Design Co-ordinator for Kier Finance Shared Service Centre, said: “We were delighted with the service Penketh Group provided. The team offered a friendly, professional and seamless installation with excellent after care. “A dynamic space which promotes productivity has been created and

the team is thoroughly enjoying their new workplace.” John Prendergast, Regional Director of Ardmac, said: “Penketh Group delivered an extremely polished and professional install from start to finish. At every level of the project, from the pre-construction stage to the design and delivery, the team were friendly, helpful, flexible and well resourced. Our client was also delighted with the quality of their products.” Paul Mann, Sales Director of Penketh Group, said: “We were delighted to work with Ardmac on their project with Kier to help them create a forward thinking and dynamic workplace for their team. “We developed a good working relationship with Ardmac during the fit-out of our own new Manchester Showroom in Bruntwood’s flagship Neo building and they invited us to supply a furniture solution within a set budget for their project with Kier.

educational relationships for The HALO to be recognised as one of Scotland’s key cyber centres. Our proposals to make The HALO a leading location for learning and developing digital skills represent an ideal opportunity to combine the knowledge and teaching expertise of Ayrshire College and the University of the West of Scotland. “ Heather Dunk, Principal and Chief Executive of Ayrshire College, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the HALO initiative. This will provide opportunities for our students and staff from a range of industry sectors to support economic development in Ayrshire. We look

forward to developing ideas for the digital hub and using HALO to stimulate enterprise and innovation opportunities for our students. “By developing the talents of our students we will be supporting the digital skills workforce pipeline and preparing students for jobs in the digital skills and cyber security industries as well as a range of other key sectors. “Our partnership with HALO will build on our existing strengths and support our ambitions

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“The emphasis was on creating spaces that would not only encourage productivity amongst employees but also promote wellbeing with spaces designed to support the way we work today.” Penketh Group, which has offices in Manchester and the Wirral, works with clients to create outstanding working environments. Its services include Furniture and Interiors, AV and Technology, Managed Print Solutions and Business Supplies. Penketh Group is led by Managing Director Mark Penketh. www.penkethgroup.com www.kier.co.uk www.ardmac.com

for social inclusion, economic growth and innovation.” www.haloscotland.com www.ayrshire.ac.uk News

HVAC

Case Study: Edgbaston Priory Tennis Club

reating a year round tennis facility available for the use of both professionals and amateurs alike, this new indoor tennis centre has been designed with an emphasis on natural daylight, reducing energy consumption levels. To further the buildings eco-credentials, AmbiRad worked with a specialist contractor Kershaw Mechanical Services Ltd on a stand alone, energy efficient radiant tube heating system, which would provide a heating zone for each court in the scenario where few courts could be in use at any one time. Traditional sports hall design presents particular challenges when it comes to maintaining a comfortable environment. In one vast, open space, the requirements of all users, from athletes to spectators, must be fully satisfied. The aim is to create an environment without stiffness where occupants can exercise vigorously in complete comfort. Achieving universal comfort and low energy consumption therefore demands a heating system that: • Offers a rapid response to changed conditions • Has frugal energy consumption • Can be ‘zoned’ to heat only those areas in use • Operates at low noise levels to comply with BB93 • Will not compromise the fabric of the building EU and UK legislation also has an impact on the choice of HVAC system. Becoming ever stringent, it requires modern heating systems to optimise fuel efficiency and produce lower greenhouse gas emissions. While conventional boiler and distributed radiator or under floor systems frequently fail to provide the flexibility or speed of response needed in today’s multi-use halls, highly economical radiant tube heating is an effective solution. In fact, no other heating system currently in use in sports halls can 10

HVAC

Forming part of the £11 million development of the Edgbaston Priory Tennis Club, six new indoor tennis courts required a low energy heating system, which could provide zonal heating and reduced energy consumption without sacrificing comfort for the players. Used at hundreds of sporting facilities across the UK, Nor-Ray-Vac continuous radiant tube heating from AmbiRad, part of Nortek Global HVAC (UK) Ltd proved to be the most efficient system for the centre, providing considerable cost savings over its lifecycle. match it for energy efficiency. Since radiant tube heaters burn fuel at the point of use, heat distribution losses are eliminated and there is no requirement for a separate plant area. The warming effect can be felt within just a few minutes of switch-on, even on the coldest days. Mounted at high level, the heaters are well out of the way of sports equipment and can be covered with safety grilles to protect them from high flying balls, for example.

The ideal solution for sports halls Like the sun, radiant tube heating emits infrared rays, which warm only people and objects in their path. This type of heating is therefore ideal for sports halls because it ensures even heat coverage throughout the space and the comfort of the building occupants, regardless of their level of activity. No energy is wasted heating the volume of air – an important factor in buildings which are typically around 600m² with roof heights of 8-10m. Similarly, heating 5,000m³+ of air to ensure people are warm at the lowest 2-3 metres is not feasible in terms of fuel-efficiency. Radiant tube heating’s big advantage is that air remains relatively cool and conducive for active sports. Air does absorb some of the heat given off by people and the building fabric at low level,

but it is not heated directly so the occupants are comfortable. If they should feel too warm, the close control possible with radiant tube heating means that temperatures reduce immediately once the system is turned down or switched off. For the 83m x 51m facility, Nortek provided the Nor-Ray-Vac system with 24 x 24 LR burners designed in six zones to provide a zone per tennis court and suspended at 7m above the finished floor level. These were all connected to two off vacuum discharge fans remotely mounted on the roof. The Nor-Ray-Vac radiant heating system is ideal for sports facilities as it not only offers a rapid response to changing conditions but also because it does not have to operate 24/7, providing the end user with low operating costs. Additional benefits of the stand-alone system for the club are the low air temperatures making it conducive to sports activity and offering no risk of stuffy conditions. This energy efficient system combusts the fuel at the point of use, resulting in no distribution losses and virtually instantaneous heat. In complying with the requirements of the European Gas Appliance directive (EN777) they have reduced running costs and qualify for inclusion on the Energy Technology List and thus qualifies for Enhanced Capital Allowance. Following the handover of the facility in 2012 the new indoor

Building & Facilities Management – November 2017

HVAC

tennis centre at Edgbaston Priory is now providing members and the community with a world-class facility as well as new additional features including squash courts, gym and leisure facilities.

Benefits of Radiant Heat / Nor Ray Vac in Sports Facilities • Achieves a comfortable environmental temperature with approx. 5°C lower air temperature, ideal for active sports • Condensation on walls or floors should always be eliminated, as this can be dangerous and poses a threat to player safety. NorRay-Vac eliminates condensation and moisture by directly heating walls and other surfaces. • Radiant tube heaters mounted overhead, produce infrared radiant heat that is directed downward by a reflector. The infrared heat passes through the air without heating it and falls on people, floors and equipment below by creating a comfortable all round radiant warmth at low level, without wastefully heating the whole volume of the building or the roof space. www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine

• Maximises efficiency, as the fuel is combusted at the point of use, thus eliminating any distribution losses • The objective of a radiant heating system is to ensure that the people in the building are comfortably warm. • The human body experiences a sensation of comfortable warmth when it is giving heat to its surroundings. If the body emits too much heat it feels cold. Conversely, if the body cannot emit sufficient heat it feels too hot. By the correct application of radiant heating system comfort levels can be optimised. • Radiant heat warms objects and surfaces, increasing the mean radiant temperature and reducing the body’s loss of heat to its surroundings. In addition by eliminating air movement, convective loss of heat from the body will also be reduced. • By heating without air movement, increases player comfort and is essential for badminton • Warms muscles prior to strenuous activity • Provides rapid response times to changed conditions.

Radiant tube space heating is proven to meet the HVAC challenge posed by sports halls, reducing fuel consumption without affecting comfort levels to deliver sustainable cost savings over the long term. When designing an AmbiRad NorRay-Vac system, Nortek Global HVAC considers the following criteria: • Heat loss of the building for the required thermal environment • Local climate conditions • The type of activity conducted within the building • Specific architectural features relating to the structure Installation Summary: • AmbiRad Nor-Ray-Vac continuous radiant tube system • Uniform blanket heat coverage • Highly efficient with rapid heat recovery times • Zoning capabilities • Operative temperature; 16˚C – for sport activity • Potential savings of 75% equivalent to 2,170 metric tonnes of CO² Trademarks AmbiRad, Reznor, Airbloc, NordairNiche and Benson used under license. www.nortekhvac.com HVAC

HVAC

Leading UK refrigeration consultancy company shortlisted for two honours at NACRHP Awards

tar Technical Solutions, one of the UK’s foremost refrigeration, hvac and heating consultancies, has been announced as a finalist for the National ACR & Heat Pump Awards 2018. Star Technical Solutions (STS), the consultancy arm of the Star Refrigeration group of companies, is celebrating being shortlisted for two awards at the National ACR & Heat Pump Awards 2018. The winners will be announced at The Titanic Hotel in Liverpool on January 18th 2018. The consultancy’s plant optimisation and energy management system, Ethos, has been nominated for Refrigeration Product of the Year and ACR Product of the Year. Exclusive to STS, the game changing software remotely monitors refrigeration plants across the UK, analyses data and makes recommendations for improving efficiency and saving electricity. The system has already achieved significant energy savings for refrigeration end-users from a variety of industries including temperature controlled storage and distribution, food manufacture and brewing. Anne Flanagan, Business Development Manager for Ethos said, “We are thrilled to be shortlisted for not one but two awards at next year’s National ACR & Heat Pump Awards. “ “We identified a gap in the market for a specialist energy management and system performance optimisation solution for cooling and heating equipment. Using our expert knowledge of the refrigeration industry gained over nearly 50 years, we set out to address the often large potential for energy savings - for industrial sites energy consumed by the refrigeration plant can typically account for 60% - 90% of the business’ overall energy costs- and a consequent significant element of their carbon footprint.” 12

HVAC

“We look forward to attending the event in Liverpool, which encourages industry collaboration and celebrates the hard work and achievements of the heating and cooling sector.” Ethos represents a completely new way of looking at system performance and energy efficiency. It takes an indepth look at the energy aspect of the plant rather than general values such as ambient temperatures and power usage. Most energy management systems used today employ basic statistical analysis to provide energy consumption figures without analysing the reasons behind poor performance or guidance on how to improve it. Flanagan, says “The method behind the Ethos system is unique. It creates a model of the customer’s plant and compares this to the actual operating parameters to assess the inefficiencies and from this to provide insight into what exactly needs to be changed and how much money might be saved as a result.” Ethos has achieved savings between 10% and 30% without any significant capital investment from customers. STS’s consultants developed the software behind Ethos to perform complex calculations using the data measured from the system. The refrigeration experts then use the data analysis to deliver recommendations on maintenance, energy consumption reduction and future plan investment. Using simple language that anyone can understand, Ethos offers endusers with a profound insight of their plants performance and efficiency. Darrin Leslie, Factory Manager of Campbell’s Prime Meat said, “In August 2016, we planned to expand our production facility. We were not sure whether our existing refrigeration plant had sufficient capacity to handle the additional cooling duty required. Rather than taking a risk or buying additional equipment

that maybe wasn’t necessary we employed Star Technical Solutions (STS) to assess our site’s cooling demand over a 2 week period. The assessment revealed that our existing equipment could comfortably handle the new production load.” “Star’s appraisal allowed us to capitalise on surplus capacity and avoid the unnecessary purchase of new equipment.” To enable the service, STS install sensors and an Ethos panel to the cooling/heating system. This sends information via the built-in 4G mobile connection to a web portal. This information is displayed on a computer or mobile phone in the form of an online dashboard which gives details on plant performance and current operating conditions. The prestigious event brings together around 300 professionals from the heat pump, air conditioning and refrigeration industry for an entertaining awards evening. This year the brand new venue is the stunning Titanic Hotel in Liverpool, which as a former warehouse has an impressive history. Find out more about the NACRHP 2018 Awards Ceremony here: http:// www.acrheatpumpawards.uk/ To find out more about Star Technical Solutions and why the company has been nominated, go to: http://www.star-ts.co.uk/ services/ethos-homepage.aspx

Building & Facilities Management – November 2017

ICS Cool Energy unveils guide to demystify upcoming changes to 2018 chiller legislation

ith a number of significant changes to the way industrial cooling systems are specified set to come into effect from the 1st January 2018, temperature control specialist ICS Cool Energy has launched a new guide aimed at demystifying the changes in full for UK manufacturers. The guide, which is free to access, covers a number of key areas relating to the latest phase of amendments to the European Commission’s EcoDesign Directive. These include a breakdown of the new Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for both process and comfort chillers, as well as potential Brexit impact, ‘repair’ vs ‘replace’ arguments, and SME financing options for new equipment. Manufacturers who fail to adhere to the legislative changes when investing in new cooling equipment risk being fined, and having to replace non-compliant equipment installed after 1st January 2018 at their own expense; which is likely to be significant. With the MEPS set to

become even stricter in January 2021, fully understanding the implications as early as possible is critical. However, the changes also present a valuable opportunity for manufacturers to reap the benefits of integrating high-efficiency temperature control equipment into their manufacturing operations, such as lower running costs and reduced CO2 emissions. Richard Metcalfe, Sales Director at ICS Cool Energy, commented: “There is no escaping the fact that manufacturing is an energyintensive process. While energy consumption may be seen as a necessary evil by some, the fact of the matter is that unless it is controlled, it will have a serious long-term environmental impact. “Process cooling equipment can account for up to 60 per cent of a plant’s total life cycle cost, and this has not gone unnoticed by lawmakers. As such, from 1st Jan 2018 as part of the latest phase of amendments to the European Commission’s

HVAC

EcoDesign Directive, industrial cooling and refrigeration equipment will be required to meet new, stringent minimum levels of energy-efficiency. “Our new guide aims to demystify the changes in full for UK manufacturers, covering the most important questions, and providing key action points for ease of compliance and minimum disruption to business. With the legislative spotlight well and truly on industrial cooling equipment, now is the time for manufacturers to get to grips with the facts and start planning ahead.” To download a copy of Demystifying the 2018 Changes to Chiller Legislation, please click here. www.icscoolenergy.com/lp/ecodesign-compliance-e-guide-lp/ For more information about ICS Cool Energy, please visit www.icscoolenergy.com email info@icscoolenergy.com or call 0800 774 7426.

Energy-saving pre-filter technology at HVACR 2018

ulti-specialist engineering contractor, ECEX, is planning a powerful presence at the HVACR Show at London’s ExCeL Centre from 23 to 25 January 2018. The highlight of the company’s impressive stand will be ECEX Air Intake Screens. These longlasting external protection filters can be retrofitted to air handling units, chillers, dry air coolers, condensers, cooling towers, air intakes and other HVAC systems. ECEX is the industry leader in Air Intake Screens, which comprise a long-lasting, easy-clean polymer mesh that prevent airborne debris www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine

such as leaves, feathers, dust, road grit and pollen from clogging internal coil fins, perishable filters and other components. The mesh traps airborne debris before it can enter and clog condenser coils and air intakes, but has a negligible impact on air flow. The screens can be cleaned quickly and easily using a soft brush or hose. ECEX Air Intake Screens maximise airflow to the equipment, which boosts efficiency, shrinks running costs, cuts maintenance time for engineers and reduces energy consumption. They also dramatically cut the

risk of breakdown to externallysited HVAC equipment, especially in Autumn with the falling of leaves, and in Summer or Spring, the start of the pollen season, because this scourge of hay fever sufferers everywhere poses a clear and present danger to vital HVAC components. Visit ECEX on stand number B38. www.ecex.co.uk HVAC

Energy Management

Complete Energy Solutions for Facility Managers

Dr. Alex Mardapittas, CEO of leading energy storage and voltage optimisation brand Powerstar, discusses the importance of multifaceted technologies as a way to maximise and future proof energy efficiency investments.

nvestments into energy efficiency solutions continue to become increasingly important to businesses as energy costs continue to rise and more legislation, regulations and government incentives are established to tackle CO2 emissions and aid the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transition into a low carbon economy. Newer innovations, such as energy storage, feature regularly in the news and promise many advantages but this does not preclude the more established technologies, like voltage optimisation (VO) from being a valuable solution. Despite not being a new technology, voltage optimisation is still an effective way for a business to reduce its energy consumption and consequently, carbon emissions, whilst offering benefits such as improvements to Power Factor and harmonics. Voltage optimisation was developed to optimise power from the National 14

Energy Management

Grid, which is generally supplied at a higher voltage than necessary. The average supply delivered within the UK is 242V, but can be as high as 253V whilst the optimum for most electrical equipment sits around 220V due to design characteristics. VO reduces this oversupply to a more favourable level, therefore preventing the problems typically associated with excessive voltage. Problems caused from overvoltage can be costly, both in terms of financials and opportunity. From ongoing costs such as higher than necessary electricity bills to the increased replacement investment as the lifespan of electrical equipment decreases due to excessive strain. The avoidable inconveniences caused result in wasted energy and higher carbon emissions, an unattractive proposition for any business attempting to conform to CSR. Implementing VO eases these problems by lowering the incoming voltage to an optimal level. Generally speaking there are two types of voltage optimisation systems, fixed and electronic-dynamic. Fixed systems reduce the incoming voltage by a predetermined set amount, whereas electronic-dynamic systems

dynamically alter the incoming voltage level to provide a stabilised voltage to unstable supplies. VO can be applied to almost every sector and offer all the aforementioned advantages, with savings even possible on newer plant equipment. Aside from voltage optimisation, the more modern and arguably desirable technology experiencing growth in the energy efficiency market is battery-based energy storage. This technology has the capability to store energy from the National Grid during the cheaper, low demand tariffs or directly from renewable sources in order to discharge when required. The most well-known benefit of battery-based energy storage technology is its ability to deliver cost savings. By using stored energy during peak tariffs facilities can significantly reduce Distribution Use of System (DUoS) and Transmission Use of System (TUNoS) charges, of which by 2020 are expected to account for 40% of a companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electricity bill. Energy storage technologies also allow companies to generate additional revenue by helping businesses partake in grid contracts, such as Demand Side Response (DSR) schemes which are provided

Building & Facilities Management â&#x20AC;&#x201C; November 2017

Energy Management

to businesses by the National Grid for helping to balance demand. Although, perhaps the most important benefit that more specialist energy storage solutions can provide is full Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) capabilities. UPS is a reliable and responsive form of backup and is quickly becoming an important requirement for many companies across the UK due to the fact that the security of supply is decreasing as latest statistics have revealed that 986 blackouts or brownouts occurred throughout 2016, a 46% increase on the 2015 rates. UPS functionality in systems such as Powerstar’s energy storage solution VIRTUE, affords facility managers the confidence that operations won’t be affected by a loss of power by knowing that when the support is triggered, the batteries will respond automatically within a three-millisecond timeframe, providing electricity to the sensitive load during a period of up to two hours. This not only offers security of supply, it also eliminates costly shutdown periods, potentially wasted stock and valuable human resource to get the systems back online. In the case of Powerstar, both the mentioned technologies can be combined to deliver a tailored complete energy saving solution to facility managers that offers power resilience, process optimisation, harmonic reduction, power quality improvements and an additional source of revenue. In order to maximise the benefits of any energy efficiency solution, it is vital that the supplier understands the bespoke requirements of a facility. Any party deliberating installing a system should always ensure the supplier can deliver a concept to completion service, with full energy analysis and monitoring of a site’s electrical supply to ensure the delivery of a fit for purpose solution designed, developed and commissioned with the customers’ needs in mind. Powerstar is a market leader in the industry, delivering a range of bespoke solutions that are designed and manufactured in the UK. For more information visit the Powerstar website at www.powerstar.com www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine

Insite Energy calls for greater protection for heat network customers Insite Energy is calling for tougher regulations to protect consumers whose homes are attached to heat networks. The company warns that rising numbers of complaints are proving that self-regulation is inadequate and the time has come for change.

eter Westwood, Managing Director of Insite Energy, said: “District heating is in danger of getting itself a bad name. Increasing numbers of heat network end-users are complaining about poor service, exorbitant costs, and unreasonably long contracts. If we don’t address these issues, the UK will fall further behind other developed countries in adopting a heating technology which cuts carbon emissions and reduces energy bills.” These concerns are voiced at a time when there are mainstream media reports of heat network endusers facing heating costs two or three times higher than those for identical levels of energy consumption in flats or houses with their own boiler. There are also reports of one contract locking residents to the same heat supplier for 40 years and another for 80 years. Mr Westwood commented: “Some industry insiders believe it’s better to rely on self-governance, through the voluntary Heat Trust scheme, rather than invite government intervention. We disagree. Although Heat Trust serves some useful purposes, consumer protection is not one of them. Safeguards for customers need enshrining in law. If we don’t take action soon, customers will begin to shun residential developments with district heat networks and investors will lose faith in the sector.” Heat networks are important because centrally-generated supplies of space-heating and domestic hot water are more energy efficient and environmentally-friendly than having individual heat-generators, such

as boilers, in each home. Heating accounts for about 45% of the UK’s energy consumption and 30% of carbon emissions. The Committee on Climate Change estimates that if 20% of UK heating requirements can be met by low-carbon heat networks by 2050, they could help achieve a 450% reduction in heating emissions. Currently only 2% of the UK’s heat is supplied via heat networks, compared to 6% in France, 10% in Germany, and 63% in Denmark. Mr Westwood said: “It is Insite Energy’s considered opinion that there is the need for a regulator to set standards for good practice, measure performance, and eliminate poor performance by introducing penalties. It is difficult to imagine the Heat Trust willingly dispensing punitive action to its own members. Regulation and enforcement really has to be independent.” http:// www.insite-energy.co.uk/ Energy Management

Lighting

How human-centric lighting can help shift workers Greenlite Group’s MD Bob Hall explains how we can support night staff and boost productivity by providing the right lighting solution

s you turn out the light and huddle down in bed tonight, spare a thought for the three million plus night workers, beavering away across Britain. Whilst we slip gently into sleep, they are wide-awake. From A&E medics saving lives, to midwives birthing babies, night cleaners and the drivers who keep our transport network up and running, a massive one in eight employees now works between 9pm and 6am.

The cost of night shifts But, while shift work brings the advantage of flexibility and often better pay, research increasingly shows that regularly working nights can come at a price. It leads to a disjointed lifestyle, which heaps pressure on our already hectic family lives and can cause tension within our relationships; so much so that shift workers are thought to have higher divorce rates. The impact is physical too. Wideranging studies have linked shift work to heart disease, obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and insomnia. The World Health Organisation has even classed it as a possible carcinogen, because of the disruptive effect it has on our Circadian rhythm, the 24 hour internal clock that tells our bodies when to be alert, when to eat and when to sleep.

Lighting support Nevertheless, society and our economy needs shift workers to keep it ticking over 24/7. So, how can we use the advances in lighting to support 16

Lighting

employees who work unnatural hours, help them work efficiently and ensure they remain as healthy as possible? Greenlite Group suggests installing human-centric lighting, which uses a broad colour spectrum and range of intensity to support people’s natural rhythms. Used wisely, humancentric lighting may aid our body clocks, helping us feel alert when we need to, and improving our mood and productivity in the process. In comparison with traditional incandescent bulbs, human-centric LED lighting offers a more flexible, bespoke solution. The light intensity and colour can be finely tuned and adjusted across a far broader range throughout a 24 period, to suit the specific needs of the staff. This makes it ideal for a shift work setting, which involves the need for people to be wide awake when their bodies would naturally crave sleep. For example, staff clocking on for a night shift can benefit from more intense light in a cooler colour, which supresses the production of melatonin and helps stimulate their brains and bodies. The solution will vary according to the situation – staff working regular night

shifts will benefit from a different lighting pattern to those who are only nocturnal on occasion.

Improved safety and productivity A well-lit work environment will help staff be more alert and productive, not to mention happier and less likely to make mistakes or suffer accidents. It also stands to reason that if a night worker is stimulated into an alert state during the night shift, their body will then be ready to wind down into much-needed sleep during the day. This restorative ‘off duty’ sleep is vital for any employee’s mental and physical wellbeing, plus it creates a happy circle, because they’ll function efficiently and safely when they clock back onto work. Put simply, by exposing shift workers to the right lighting at the right time, we can help them develop a pattern of wakefulness and sleep that supports their working schedule. Human-centric lighting systems can help staff perform efficiently and safely, improving productivity in the process. www.greenlitegroup.co.uk

Building & Facilities Management – November 2017

Lighting

New CPD Training for Emergency Lighting and ‘Stay Put’ Lighting from Lux Intelligent

reated against a backdrop of changing emergency lighting standards, including the new category of ‘stay put’ lighting, the new training module is designed to bring end users, facilities managers and engineers fully up to date with current requirements and help them ensure compliance. On top of this, it will provide them with the tools they need to ensure their emergency lighting is more efficient, thus saving them money and time. ‘Stay put’ lighting is more formally known as Emergency Safety Lighting and was introduced into BS5266 last year, expanding the reach of the standard from purely escape and emergency lighting. The basis of the addition is that it is often unnecessary or inappropriate for everyone to evacuate during a power failure/ non-emergency mains failure - for those that choose to remain/stay put, adequate lighting is required. www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine

Lux Intelligent manufacturer Advanced has launched a new CPD training module focusing on emergency lighting testing compliance. Typical examples are for the elderly and very young in care situations, where it is easier to ensure safety and continue care and comfort within the premises; and in other public areas, for example retail spaces, where it may be suitable to evacuate the public, but for staff to remain/stay put. When lights are tested manually, an engineer must physically walk the building and cut power to the emergency lights, forcing them to operate on their secondary supply. He or she then needs to reinstate the mains power and confirm that the batteries are charging properly. This is a time-consuming and tedious task that is not always completed accurately or reliably. Added to that, it is not practical to disable the power for whole

areas of a building during normal operational hours, so the process must be staggered or done outside of office hours. Also, in case of a real emergency, no area of a building can be left without emergency lighting for the period after a test while the batteries are recharging. Advanced offers its own, automatic emergency lighting test system, Lux Intelligent, which simplifies the entire process and is incredibly cost-effective, especially when using cloud-based monitoring via mobile or web app, which completely does away with the need for compiling manual reports and simplifies maintenance management. Anyone interested in booking the training should e-mail marketing@advancedco.com. Lighting

Lighting

Surge in solar lights the way in 2017

nprecedented demand for sustainable street furniture has sparked a record number of orders for solar bollards this year, latest figures from a leading street furniture specialist have revealed. Nottingham-based Townscape Products has completed projects in excess of £70,000 so far this year, as demand for solar bollards has skyrocketed. The firm, which manufactures and installs street furniture across the UK, introduced its range of solar bollards in 2016 and has seen demand for the product from councils and architects across the country increase ever since. Speaking about the huge upsurge in demand for solar products, Jonathan Goss, managing director at Townscape Products, said increasing pressure to reduce cost and improve sustainability were the key driving factors behind the growing clamour for solar solutions. He said: “Our solar technology

is now advanced enough to revolutionise the way bollards can be used. Thanks to motion-sensor technology installed in our solar bollards, they can adjust between providing low-level lighting and brighter lighting when approached. “This helps increase safety as the bollards can provide lighting in poorly lit areas. It also helps ensure these bollards offer greater visibility for traffic at night time – minimising the risk of collision. With the bollards charged through daylight hours, there is no cost associated with providing the lighting – making them a very cost-effective option. “I’d go as far as to say that within the next 10 years, the majority of the bollards we see on our streets will be solar bollards – it’s the clear direction of travel within our industry. When you see the additional safety, sustainability and cost benefits they provide, that shouldn’t be surprising.” Solar bollards do not require any electrical connections, and can provide

lighting visible at 10 and 20 metres depending on their light setting. They are powered by ultra violet light, as opposed to sunshine, which ensures they charge effectively on overcast days. A fully-charged solar bollard from Townscape can provide lighting for 10 days before it needs to be charged again. www.townscapeproducts.co.uk.

Casambi teams up with DANLERS

asambi, the world’s leading provider of smart wireless lighting control technologies, announces a partnership with DANLERS enabling wireless Bluetooth control of the new range of energy saving occupancy sensors with daylight control manufactured by DANLERS in the UK. Through the combination of Casambi intelligent software and DANLERS high quality controls, there is the potential for energy saving of up to 60% to be realised, depending on the application. Casambi enables Bluetooth mesh network based lighting control without needing a wired gateway or Wi-Fi network connection. The platform already offers existing support for presence sensors which can be used to control individual or groups of smart luminaires and light bulbs automatically when an area is occupied. 18

Lighting

In response to changing daylight levels throughout the day, end users of DANLERS Casambi-enabled PIR sensors will be able to quickly and easily manage settings via Casambi’s updated app rather than rely making changes from the sensor device. As part of the Casambi system, users can also adjust colour temperature automatically to desired levels in a smooth and even manner. Timo Pakkala, CEO of Casambi, commented: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with DANLERS to allow seamless control of its daylight linked products with a high degree of accuracy. This alliance demonstrates the scale of control our innovative lighting platform delivers in the pursuit of energy conservation by

using occupancy and daylight sensors.” “Our customers are looking to take advantage of ambient light and maximise energy efficiency. By using DANLERS products along with the new version of the Casambi app, they are empowered with a retrofit solution that helps them easily control lighting and without needing to buy any additional hardware or software,” commented Julian Kay, Managing Director at DANLERS. www.casambi.com www.danlers.com

Building & Facilities Management – November 2017

Lighting

Luminex Provides Show-Critical Networking Solution for Queensferry Crossing Bridge Reveal

.C. Entertainment Technologies Ltd. recently supplied Edinburgh-based rental & production company, Black Light, with Luminex GigaCore switches to provide a dual redundancy fibre network for the stunning ‘reveal’ of the new £1.35bn Queensferry Crossing bridge. The lighting scheme, designed by event production company JMP Productions and supplied by Black Light, was switched on by First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon to commemorate the completion of one of the biggest infrastructure projects in Scotland in a generation. With the structure spanning 1.7 miles / 2.7 kilometres over the River Forth, and the launch event attracting a huge amount of media interest, Black Light needed to ensure that the technical infrastructure for the

ambitious lighting scheme performed seamlessly. The ultra-reliable system they chose consisted of Luminex GigaCore network switches, plus 1km of fibre-optic cabling, to deliver control data to the 60 wash/beam lighting fixtures positioned along the central reservation of the bridge. With the entertainment and event industries increasingly reliant on networking solutions, the Luminex range of high performance Ethernet devices are designed to offer the security of redundant backup cabling for showcritical connections in a simple, robust, “plug and play” manner. AC-ET is the exclusive UK

Image: © Ryan Buchanan

distributor for the Luminex range. See selected models on the ACET stand at PLASA Focus Glasgow on 17th / 18th January 2018. Alternatively, for more details or to arrange your personal demonstration, please contact AC-ET on +44 (0)1494 446000 / sales@ac-et.com, or visit www.ac-et.com/lighting.

Titan and ARC 2 provide a fresh lighting look for premier fresh food provider

ualight together with resellers Cross Group help the UK’s premier fresh produce provider – Total Produce to update their lighting and reduce their energy costs, creating a bright, safe and comfortable working environment. Total Produce, the UK’s premier fresh produce provider, trade out of 21 locations across the UK in addition to over 100 international

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facilities. Joe Conway, the Cross Group, outlines the project, “This recent project in Spalding consists of an LED upgrade in the extension to the existing depot and LED throughout the new refrigerated process and storage areas.” Joe continues “There was an ideal Nualight solution for each area. Titan and Arc 2 met all the criteria, providing superior light performance and potential lighting energy savings of up to 60% in the existing areas, which were previously utilising fluorescent fittings. In the new areas, the Arc 2 and Titan products were supplied with on-board sensors and controls to harvest future savings.” Conor Keown, Total Produce, Head of Facilities Management, concludes, “At Total Produce we are committed to reducing

our environmental footprint and this initiative is part of that effort. The LED lighting will save on energy costs and so far, the installation is meeting expectations. In addition, the enhanced light level provides a bright and safer working environment.” John Sutton, Senior Product Manager, Nualight, “This project is another great example of how LED lighting can be applied to warehouse and storage areas to the benefit of business owners, by reducing operational costs and to workers with the increased light quality, it is good to know we have helped Total Produce in their commitment to reducing their environmental footprint.” To read the full case study or for further information on Nualight industrial solutions visit www.nualight.com Lighting

Cleaning & Hygiene

Say goodbye to cold store shutdowns Advanced Engineering launches FroZone™ for efficient sub-zero cleaning

dvanced Engineering, the UK’s leading manufacturer of ACR cleaning products has added a new cleaner to its range – FroZone™ – specially developed for lowtemperature cleaning. Sub-zero refrigerators and freezers use a lot of energy, so keeping them at optimal performance is incredibly important. Even a small drop in efficiency can noticeably increase energy usage. Dirt and debris build-up on external heat transfers can increase the condensing temperature or reduce evaporating temperature by several degrees: adversely affecting freezer contents and increasing energy use 20

Cleaning & Hygiene

by 10% or more. It can also cause health and safety issues including the contamination of produce from mould and mildew. Unlike standard floor cleaners which freeze at 0°C, FroZone™ is specially-formulated to work at subzero temperatures of up to -25°C, enabling on the spot cleaning… without waiting for the temperature to rise. This significantly reduces the time necessary for cleaning, while minimising downtime and disruption. And, by cutting through all the grease and grime, FroZone™ eliminates the risk of freezer shutdown.

Its non-metal corrosive formula ensures it’s safe to use on aluminium, stainless steel and copper surfaces – meaning it can be used to clean freezer heat exchanger surfaces – with no risk of damage. Not only does it make easy work of freezer walls and floors – areas too often overlooked in maintenance – but it is NSF® registered, making it perfect for cleaning in and around food processing areas without the worry of contamination. With the effective power of FroZone it’s easier than ever to maintain standards, eliminate contamination, and keep equipment at peak performance – all while reducing energy consumption. For more information about FroZone™, call Advanced Engineering on 01256 460300 or visit advancedengineering.co.uk.

Building & Facilities Management – November 2017

Contemporary venue sector wins for Cleanology

ondon-based cleaning services provider, Cleanology, is celebrating three striking business wins across the capital’s contemporary venue sector. The new contracts include high-end conference and office spaces, and a modern, design-led, pop-up bar group. Chief Executive Dominic Ponniah described the new contracts as thrilling, adding that the growing – and extremely versatile – venue sector reflected the entrepreneurial nature of the company. He said: “Our three new clients illustrate the changing face of the venue industry. Contemporary London is an exciting place to be doing business. Work and social lives are becoming more flexible, and the venue sector is at the heart of that transformation. As a local company, it’s exhilarating to be part of that modernization and growth. “Cleaning venues is one of Cleanology’s specialisms. At County Hall, for example, we were able to offer a bespoke strategy for cleaning the 1920s parquet floor, and we

have adapted our working methods to suit the requirements of a busy and high-profile events space.” Work.Life is designed for modern working life. Individuals and businesses can book desk spaces or meeting rooms with stylish, contemporary interiors by award winning designers, across four sites in London and one in Reading. Elliot Gold, Co-Founder of Work. Life, said Cleanology had shown all the right qualities: “As a fastgrowing co-working business where quality of service to our members is key, we were looking for a cleaning partner that could be flexible and cost-effective, without compromising on quality. With their impressive track record in this sector, Cleanology ticked all the boxes.” Over the summer, Pergola created two glamorous rooftop bars, one set atop the former BBC TV Centre in White City, and the other in the bustling Paddington Basin. The first, Pergola on the Roof, featured a Hamptons theme. It took 3,000 bookings before it had even opened,

Cleaning & Hygiene

and went on to be voted 2017’s number one pop up bar by Vogue magazine. Incipio Events, which envisioned and managed the two venues, has plans for a winter-theme at Pergola Paddington Central, and is also applying its unique design to two year-round eateries – The Prince in West Brompton, and Cornerhouse, in White City Place. Meanwhile, ETC Venues’ iconic, flagship County Hall site provides conference and corporate events services to high profile clients looking for style and attention to detail. It offers some of the best views over the capital, and has recently expanded to two floors, covering 68,000 sq ft. It is the largest event space for hire in London and a highly symbolic venue. www.cleanology.com

Eminent European award for focus on training

ulius Rutherfoord & Co has won the ‘Commitment to and investment in training’ award at the European Cleaning & Hygiene Awards 2017. The awards, which recognise standards of excellence in the professional cleaning sector Europe-wide, took place at a gala dinner in Rome on 9 November. The judging criteria looked for evidence of a commitment to training that goes beyond the basic skills to do the job. Entrants needed to provide examples of how their training programme encompasses elements that enable their employees to develop personally, expand their knowledge, progress within their environment and in turn enhance the service www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine

they are offering to their clients. All staff start Julius Rutherfoord & Co’s Career Path to Success programme within its British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) Accredited Training Academy, at its home in Battersea. Employees continue to receive ‘on the job’ training that is tailored to meet the specific needs of its discerning clients. Every training session is carried out, recorded, and reported on through Julius Rutherfoord & Co’s bespoke contract management app. This award-winning app enables trainers to carry out site-specific coaching, on a scheduled basis. For complete transparency a record of the training is instantly reported to the client, giving them peace of mind that

their cleaning operatives are up-todate on everything from the latest cleaning methodology, to health and safety law and best practice. Julius Rutherfoord and Co was shortlisted in three other categories at the awards. These were ‘Excellence in Client and Contractor Partnerships’ (with client, the Design Museum); ‘Workforce – Excellence in Employee Relationships, Training, Diversity and Inclusion, Rewards Programmes’; and ‘Best Use of Technology by Contractors in their Cleaning Programme.’ www.julius-r.co.uk Cleaning & Hygiene

Cleaning & Hygiene

TASKI’s Silent Vacuum Revolution Targets New Heights of Efficiency

iversey is launching the new TASKI AERO tub vacuum cleaner range into the professional cleaning market. Combining patented ultra-silent, whisper technology with an advanced selection of features, the AERO aims to deliver the highest standard of cleaning quality and operational efficiency. The new range consists of four streamlined and agile models which satisfy the rigorous requirements of frequent professional cleaning at any time, and in any environment – significantly increasing the productivity of operators. The TASKI AERO vacuum range is designed to answer industry demands for the most competitive total cost of ownership package available. The TASKI AERO range offers a powerful combination of innovation and rugged functionality. Developed from an extensive process of evaluation and customer consultation, all features are based on reliable, tried and trusted technologies. Highly adaptable to meet the needs of individual customers, the AERO is the best product fit throughout the private and public sectors; for building service and government contractors; as well as for those involved in hospitality and healthcare. The AERO 8 and the AERO15 categories – which have eight and fifteen litre tank capacities respectively – both offer a midclass and a performance model. The TASKI AERO 8 and 15 MIDclass models, are compact and modular, robust and highly-efficient, providing long life in regular use. Extremely reliable, they each have a 585W state-of-the-art vacuum motor which provides the same cleaning performance as comparable vacuums with 1000W of power, or more. The power is delivered via an ingenious airflow system – including TASKI’S patented whisper technology – which together make the AERO exceptionally quiet to operate at any time of the day or night, with a peak 22

Cleaning & Hygiene

noise rating of 66 decibels. The TASKI AERO is a market leader in ergonomic design, offering a number of features, such as a foot pedal switch and a high-quality accessory set as standard. Its clever design ensures that replacing parts – such as cables and filters – is quick and easy, and can be carried out by the user in seconds without the need for any tools. The compact design makes it efficient for storage in small spaces or cupboards. The integrated handle also makes it very easy to carry, while doubling as a simple and convenient manual cable tidy. The TASKI AERO 8 and 15 PLUS models provide all of the distinctive features common to the mid-class models. However, they also offer extra features for unrivalled efficiency and ease of use. The mix of integrated cable winding, full dust bag indicator and eco mode guarantees highly productive operation. With the Eco mode button employed the noise emission can achieve a reading below 63db. This is a striking benefit when a reduction of 10db is equivalent to a 50% lower noise recognition level for the human ear; making the Aero especially advantageous in public areas, or for day cleaning in an office environment. The TASKI AERO has a high energy rating (A+) and with one push of the eco button is capable of reducing energy consumption by 50% to 300W which – along with reductions in CO2 emissions – gives the AERO high sustainability. These and the significant energy cost savings are all achieved without any

compromise on the vacuum’s outstanding cleaning efficiency. “The new TASKI tub vacuum offers a comprehensive solution to the professional user, developed from TASKI’s 60 years of experience in superior vacuum cleaner manufacturing. The whole design of the AERO is based on daily best practice in cleaning and offers new possibilities due to the intelligent technologies,” says Marcel Muller, Portfolio Manager Machines at Diversey. “The new TASKI AERO is a revolutionary premium performer. Our patented whisper technology delivers ‘the power of a silent hurricane’ straight into the hands of the customer, enabling the best cleaning result at every occasion to create a new standard for the professional cleaning market.” Further information in the UK on 0800 525525 or http:// www.diversey.com Further information in Ireland on 01 808 1808 or http:// www.diversey.com

Building & Facilities Management – November 2017

Cleaning & Hygiene

Facilicom Cleaning Services MD wins prestigious European Award

an-Hein Hemke, Managing Director of Facilicom Cleaning Services, has been named Inspirational Leader of the Year at the second European Cleaning and Hygiene Awards. The award ceremony took place after a gala dinner in Rome on 9 November. Entrants to this award had to be nominated by someone working with them at any type of business operating within the professional cleaning sector. The judges looked for evidence of nominees’ leadership skills and how their leadership had impacted positively on other employees, and on the business. Jeroen van der Brugge, Organisational Development Manager,

Facilicom Group, who nominated Jan-Hein said: “I’m delighted that Jan-Hein has been recognised in this way. It is a very well-deserved award. Facilicom Cleaning Services is financially successful, committed to sustainability and to the wellbeing of its colleagues (including being a Living Wage Recognised Service Provider) and is ultimately extremely focused on the needs and wants of its clients. Such holistic success is not possible without an inspirational leader. Jan-Hein would be the first to say that this achievement is not all due to his leadership, but he certainly sets the tone, and even his deflection of any praise tells you a lot about his leadership style.”

Jan-Hein Hemke said: “This award is for everyone working at Facilicom. I’m honoured to be the recipient, but my success reflects the hard work of all my colleagues. Everyone at Facilicom works hard and finds solutions which, in turn, inspires me to be a better leader.” www.facilicom.co.uk

Drainage clean helps preserve Grade 1 Naval Memorial

rainage engineers from Lanes Group plc have carried out an extensive programme of drainage cleaning at one of the UK’s most important Naval war memorials. The CWGC Plymouth Naval Memorial, on The Hoe, in the centre of the city, commemorates the 23,184 sailors who lost their lives at sea during World War 1 and World War 2. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), which is responsible for the memorial, called in Lanes Group to clean an extensive drainage system beneath and around the structure. Steve Stewart, CWGC South West Regional Supervisor, said: “We had been experiencing poor drainage at the memorial which was creating pools of standing water after periods of heavy rain. “The Lanes drainage engineers did an excellent job of cleaning the drainage system of what is a Grade 1 Listed structure, and providing very good technical advice to our www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine

conservation team.” Lanes deployed one of its jet vac tankers to clean the network of drainage gullies at the memorial, made up mostly of four-inch clay pipes that run into a soakaway under a nearby grass area. The drainage engineers worked closely with a CWGC stonemason, as 36 surface water gulley grills were made from the same Portland stone used to construct the memorial. The grills had to be lifted out by the stonemason, allowing the Lanes team to insert their jetting hose. Once the pipe had been cleaning, the stonemason replaced and repointed each grill. Lee Hubber, Operations Manager at the Lanes Plymouth depot, said: “We were very pleased to have the opportunity to help the CWGC maintain and preserve such an important war memorial. “Much of the drainage system is

beneath the structure. So, our remote access jetting and vacuumation equipment was essential to carry out the cleaning work without having to disrupt what is a heritage site of national importance.” The Plymouth Naval Memorial is one of three identical memorials built after World War 1. The others are at Portsmouth and Chatham. They were designed by architect Robert Lorimer, with sculpture by Henry Poole. The Plymouth memorial was unveiled in July 1924. Each memorial records the named of 7,251 sailors from World War 1 and 15,933 from World War 2 who were lost at sea. The CWGC commemorates 1.7m casualties from the two world wars at 23,000 sites and more than 150 countries. www.lanesfordrains.co.uk Cleaning & Hygiene

Interiors

Make Your Office Work For You

New trends in workplace design can help to attract talent and improve productivity. Yet facilities managers need to ask the right questions before following the latest fashions, explains Lee Day, Director of Workplace Concepts at Area

“W

e shape our dwellings, and thereafter they shape us,” Winston Churchill once said. There’s no better proof of that than the offices we work in. The layout of a room, the design of the lighting, the space allocated to collaborative working – all of these things will affect the quantity and quality of the work people do. There’s never been so much choice for businesses looking to refresh their commercial interiors. Good ideas travel well – and in a global economy, it’s never been easier to share knowledge, market trends and industry insights. That’s great news for facilities managers, who can look at new ideas or developments of existing concepts which have proven successful in other parts of the world – notably, ‘sympathetically’ designed task orientated open plan offices – and import them into the UK. The benefits of a refresh are numerous. Recognising the need to differentiate space by task and need will improve productivity, reduce real estate waste via agile and activitybased work settings, and create the template for scaling a business. The need to attract – and retain – a high quality workforce means paying attention to their expectations, in terms of working styles or social environment – think of communal break-out spaces or canteen areas. A new visual identity that is linked to the wider brand values of the business can help instil an integrated, connected feel across the workplace. The key thing, though, is not to rush into a redesign.

Interiors

Ask why, not how As a rule, there will only be select occasions when a business makes a major change to its workplace. The most obvious is when a lease break provides the opportunity to move somewhere new. Other key times may involve a rebranding or change of ownership, or even midway through a lease, when the original design is looking tired and there’s still time enough to get value from a refresh. When the decision has been made to make a change, there are several considerations that facilities managers must take into account. The existing culture of the business, the immediate needs of the workforce, future growth forecasts, and many other factors will coincide or collide in ways that will shape the ultimate design of the workplace. For example, it might be that you feel the need to go open-plan for a more collaborative approach, or create a Google-style ‘campus’ feel to attract bright new graduates. Don’t forget, though, to leave enough space for people to work quietly and in a focussed way so the fruits of collaboration can be turned in measurable outcomes. We all know colleagues who have a habit of starting early or leaving late because that’s the only time

they can focus – but a well-designed workplace will cater to these people within normal business hours. Projects often revolve around how many meeting rooms are required, what the kitchen should look like and how many social areas need to be designed. Very rarely does anybody ask why. By understanding why meeting rooms are required; what types of meeting they will hold and the purpose of these meetings, or why the kitchen must feature a central island, and whether or not it will just be used for catering, you can start to truly understand the overall company vision and the culture it is trying to create.

Building & Facilities Management – November 2017

Interiors

‘Form’ must not out shine function in order to maximise your ROI.

Your business, your design Crucially, you have to judge what’s right for your own business. Don’t be swayed by trends for their own sake. Nor should you accept the advice of a workplace design consultancy blindly. Some consultancies have a specific style – they’ve found a certain niche, and are very good within certain limits, but they tend to design to a ‘one size fits all’ model. In reality, every business has a unique mix of requirements that must be addressed. A good workplace design business will listen to you www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine

and reflect what you want. At Area, we’re accustomed to working with a variety of businesses, from start-ups to FTSE 100 global leaders. What might be a quirky, dynamic statement of intent for one company may not appeal to a corporate giant, or vice versa. Similarly, we know that office refurb projects often take very different procurement paths depending on the type of client, size of the project and speed of delivery. Whatever the client’s preferred route, Area has dedicated professional teams in place to offer full design and build, detail and build, or traditional fit out solutions. By having all of these under one

roof, we can leverage knowledge to offer the best possible service. That gives us the problem solving expertise to help clients and professional teams deliver complex projects on time and on budget. Reinvigorating your workplace is one of the biggest projects that a facilities manager will face. Yet by taking advantage of the exciting global trends available, and working with design partners who understand how to adapt these ideas to suit the specific needs of your business, the result is a workplace that provides the perfect base to expand your brand. For more information please visit www.areasq.co.uk Interiors

Interiors

Penketh Group shortlisted for industry award

eading office interiors provider Penketh Group has been shortlisted for the ‘Furniture Provider of the Year’ in the Mixology North17 Awards. The awards recognise the most dynamic and innovative interior design community in the North. Penketh is one of five companies shortlisted for the prestigious award, which is now in its tenth year and has seen a record number of entries. The winner will be announced at a black-tie award ceremony at Manchester Central on Thursday, 7th December. Mark Penketh, Managing Director of Penketh Group, said: “We are delighted to have been nominated for this prestigious industry award. “Throughout our 40 year history, this has been our most significant year of growth and expansion. Our expansion in to Manchester, with the opening of the region’s

first WorkLife Showroom inside Bruntwood’s Neo, has given us the ideal platform to build relationships with the design community. “It has also allowed us to showcase new and exciting products to our customers to meet an increasing demand for welldesigned and sustainable products which promote wellbeing, flexible working and co-working within modern cutting-edge workplaces.” This year, Penketh Group also launched a Showcase Space in WorkLife to present new and exciting designs from partners including BuzziSpace, Coalesse, Ocee Design and Frovi. Mark added: “We wanted to create a mini ‘Clerkenwell of the North’

so customers can see the latest products from leading designers without having to travel to London. “We display the furniture in real workplace settings allowing us to demonstrate solutions to workplace issues.” In addition to Neo in Manchester, which gives visitors the chance to see at first-hand how varied and transformational workspaces can be, Penketh Group also has offices in Wirral. The business, which employs almost 90 people, was established in 1976. Penketh Group is also sponsoring the ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ category in the Mixology North17 Awards. www.penkethgroup.com

Circle Bath wins 2017 Happiest Workplace competition

orkplace and interior design consultancy Wylde IA has announced the winner of its Happiest Workplace 2017 competition..... Circle Bath Hospital. The independent hospital situated just outside Bath received the accolade at an awards ceremony kindly hosted by Hartham Park in Corsham, attended by staff from shortlisted finalists. Judges of the contest, staged by Bristol-based workplace and interior design consultancy Wylde IA, were genuinely impressed and inspired 26

Interiors

by the ethos, environment and the staff at Circle Bath Hospital. It was evident Circle Bath employees are passionate and proud of their work with all staff having a voice and feeling valued whatever their role. The management style and culture is approachable and open with daily walkarounds by managers. Staff also enjoy many health-related benefits such as access to mental health support, flu jabs and a smoking cessation programme. Yoga, Pilates, HIIT, tai chi and lunchtime walks are

also laid on alongside free sports massage as and when needed. Wylde IA is an award-winning independent interior design consultancy, trading for over 21 years. The company specialises in creative design, working directly with clients throughout the UK and Europe in partnership with external suppliers, architects and fit-out companies creating inspiring places to work, learn, rest and play. www.wyldeia.co.uk

Building & Facilities Management – November 2017

Iconic Historic Building with a Modern Interior

Interiors

paceway, the design and build construction specialists, has recently completed a major renovation project for retirement and financial planning specialists, The James Hay Partnership. Director for Spaceway, Dominic O’Brien explains how the iconic Dunn’s House building in the heart of Salisbury was refurbished to form a true juxtaposition of design between the historic external façade and its new modern interior and facilities. Creating a space solution for its clients and employees to enjoy and value. The James Hay Partnership is an existing Spaceway client. Six months prior to this project starting, a smaller project was completed converting a breakout space into additional office space. Due to the success of this work, it was a natural fit for Spaceway to undertake the much larger project of modernising and enhancing the workspace throughout Dunn’s House. The refurbishment project started with the ground floor of Dunn’s House. This area was being utilised as the company’s underground car park and waste storage facility. Working in close partnership with the architect, common ground was soon established to convert this car park into a reception area, staff entrance and client meeting rooms. The ceiling heights were very low and created several challenges for the team to overcome, it took a lot of careful design and planning to ensure the illusion of light and space. Although the underground car park has been removed, there is still parking outside the front of the building. The James Hay Partnership now operates a carsharing scheme to help reduce harmful emissions and help employees reduce their fuel costs. The building is home to a team of 600 employees, all needing to www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine

undertake their daily activities with minimum disruption. Clear lines of communication between Spaceway and its client were essential to ensuring the health and safety of all staff and visitors when entering and leaving the building. The new reception area has seen a real transformation and is now a welcoming space for everyone who visits, speaking about the project, Shaun Evans, Facilities Manager at The James Hay Partnership, said: “Spaceway did an exceptional job converting redundant space, into a modern, fresh and functional workspace. Our new manned reception not only benefits the entire team, it also provides visitors with added service levels and has made a real difference.” The upstairs offices have also benefitted from a makeover which included; private meeting rooms,

conference rooms and breakout areas. The client was so impressed with the work undertaken, the project was extended to include; new front doors, a staff entrance with security barriers, new signage, glass partitions and the addition of a soundproof doors to ensure client confidentiality is upheld at all times. The project was completed on time and to budget and took just 16 weeks to deliver. Shaun added: “We were so pleased with the end results that we have asked Spaceway to provide a quote for another project taking place in the near future at our London office.” www.spaceway.co.uk Interiors

Special Feature

Untidiness named the main contributor to unproductivity in the wokplace

here are three basic elements that every successful company needs: a great product or service, demand for said product/ service and a team of employees committed to providing or producing it. As all managers are well aware, a productive workforce can be the make or break of a company — no matter how amazing the product may be. However, maintaining motivation among a workforce to ensure ongoing productivity is no mean feat. Investing in the well-being and comfort of employees is paramount to ensuring productivity, as Bill Gates famously said: “The inventory, the value of your company, walks out the door every evening.” With this in mind, office power and ergonomic suppliers CMD carried out some independent research to determine what elements in an office environment could have a negative effect on productivity. Here’s what they discovered: What factors would negatively affect your performance at work?

trailing wires is often the main culprit for creating unsightly clutter in an office. This is down to the fact that desks are generally laden with a combination of computers, keyboards, laptops, phones and tablets. The problem with many everyday office environments is that mess tends to accumulate over time, especially in areas away from public view. This gradual build-up of clutter — be it wires trailing across and under desks, stacks of files or overflowing waste bins — often

Insufficient lighting

34.7%

Untidy workstation

29.4%

Visual untidiness (trailing wires etc.)

15.1%

Lack of available plug sockets near desk

11.5%

Lack of phone charging options near desk

7.4%

Other

1.9%

44.5%

motivation, and ultimately their productivity and output. So much so, that a study carried out by The National Association of Professional Organisers found that disorganisation in the workplace can accrue financial losses equivalent to 10% of a manager’s salary.

Why does visual distraction affect productivity? • Chaos restricts the brain from processing information and focussing clearly. • Overloading the brain with different elements (no matter how seemingly unimportant) forces the brain to split its power. • Clutter can distract workers from the task in hand, creating wasted hours spent looking for misplaced items.

A web of wires Messy desk, messy mind Almost half (44.5%) of the 786 Britons surveyed said that a messy work environment would negatively affect their productivity — whether that is the result of a messy workstation or messy surrounding area. In an increasingly paperless world, a spaghetti junction of tangled, 28

Special Feature

occurs without staff members necessarily noticing. Then, before long, the office begins to take on an unprofessional, disorganised and chaotic atmosphere — feelings which can easily become absorbed by staff. It goes without saying that this negative energy will have a similarly negative affect on employees’

In many offices, it is not uncommon for socket rows to be stretched beneath desks in order for those positioned away from wall sockets to access power essential for charging devices. In this instance, aesthetics pale into insignificance against the potential health and safety risks that this creates. A recent study carried out by the HSE revealed that an average

Building & Facilities Management – November 2017

Special Feature

of 119,000 UK employees slipped, tripped or fell in the workplace between 2013 and 2016, a figure that would be significantly reduced by removing trip hazards such as sprawling wires and cables. Aside from the visual distraction and safety concern that jumbled wires create, there is also the time-wasting element involved with untangling wires to access your devices.

Untangling the issue The good news is, there are several simple-yet-effective solutions to combat these issues and create a clutter-free, and ultimately more productive, workplace.

Cable tidies As the name suggests, cable tidies are used to hide away trailing cables, removing them from view and also preventing a potential trip hazard. Two popular types of cable tidies are: • Cable baskets Cable baskets attach to the underside of a desk and invisibly house cables out of sight. • Cable spines Cable spines contain cables that are run from the desk down to sockets at floor level.

Desktop power modules A lack of available plug sockets and mobile chargers is responsible for distracting almost a fifth of respondents — interestingly these are the two most popular answers given by male respondents. Advancements in power module technology, however, means that this is an easily-addressed issue. The most convenient way to access power for portable devices such as laptops, phones and tablets is by having the power socket right there on the desk surface. ‘On’ and ‘in desk’ power modules — which either sit directly on the desk or are neatly concealed within the surface of www.twitter.com/BFM_Magazine

the desk — enable workers to simply ‘plug in and go’ rather than having to search under the desk or around the surrounding area for an available socket. • On desk power modules Power modules positioned on the desk surface allow quick and easy power access to a range of different sockets. • In desk power modules Power modules positioned within the surface of the desk allow the sockets to be concealed when not in use. This is a great way to instantly access multi-media sockets and can be particularly useful on a conference table. • USB ports Many portable devices can be powered by a USB port, removing the need for three pin sockets. This means small and compact USB ports can be positioned on desk tops for the utmost charging convenience. • Wireless charging Mobile phones can be charged wirelessly on discrete charging ports that sit flat on the desk surface, eliminating cables altogether.

A brighter office future Receiving an equal amount of votes amongst men and women — and the overall highest amount of individual votes from the survey — was insufficient lighting. It is widely acknowledged that working in a poorly lit environment — either too dim or too harsh — can have a detrimental effect on productivity. In fact, according to a study conducted by the American Society of Interior Design,

68% of employees are unhappy with the lighting set up in their workplace. As lighting preferences can vary from person to person, and also from task to task, addressing the brightness and temperature to suit the needs of all employees is no simple task. That’s why wireless lighting — which can be adjusted remotely on a light-bylight basis — is a godsend for many offices. Bespoke lighting is a great way to compliment natural light as it can be programmed to come on only when needed. This obviously presents significant energy saving benefits for employers and improves the company’s carbon footprint. Another huge benefit of wireless lighting is the very fact that it is wireless. Not only does this tie in with our earlier point regarding messy wiring, it is also a great solution for installing lighting into older buildings which may otherwise require totally rewiring.

You get out what you put in Investing in smart technology achieves far more than simply acquiring state-of-the-art office equipment. The benefits of a clutterfree office are widespread: from increased productivity and improved morale amongst the workforce to the improved perception of the office to visitors, potential customers and staff. www.cmd-ltd.com special feature

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