ACR Journal AprilMay

VOLUME 5 No3

INSIDE STORIES: ° Why chillers are key for Mitsubishi Electric

2020 ISSN 2058-4407

Essential Information for the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry

° Counting down to first World Refrigeration Day ° Step in the right direction for heat pump industry

APRIL/MAY 2019

Now available from Dean & Wood...

Improved Air Quality

Energy Efficient

Affordable

Cool

Warm

Available Now

dean&wood

dean&wood the face of MHI acrjournal.uk

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Transform your existing chiller with little mess, little fuss and best of all no major disruption to your building CALL TODAY FOR A BROCHURE OR A FREE NO OBLIGATION SITE SURVEY...

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Transform your existing chiller with little mess, little fuss and best of all no major disruption to your building CALL TODAY FOR A BROCHURE OR A FREE NO OBLIGATION SITE SURVEY...

0118 9181 400 www.thermagroup.com rechill@thermagroup.com

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04

E D ITOR /C ON TE N T S

Two opportunities to change for the better Easily missed through the endless fog of uncertainty that surrounds Westminster these days was some welcome news.

Two pieces, actually, both courtesy of a low-key Spring Statement from the Chancellor, Philip Hammond.

First, late payments. Mr Hammond announced that large companies would need to review and report on how they are paying their suppliers, and went so far as to say that ‘the end of late payments could be in sight’. There seems little evidence to support such a claim, particularly with the Aldous Bill to reform cash retentions hampered by delays and even its author expressing doubts it will ever be passed.

According the the Federation for Small Businesses, 58% of its members are owed up to £10,000, 15% between £10,000-£20,000 and 27% over £20,000. So while the initiative is welcome, much more needs to happen. As always with these statements, the devil is in the detail and there is precious little of that to date. And although they may often be the most high-profile offenders, why concentrate purely on large firms?

Judging by the stream of social media posts from frustrated and sometimes desperate victims of this insidious practice, some smaller companies are not always blameless.

The second bit of good news came in the shape of the Future Homes Standard, to be introduced by 2025, which aims to future-proof new-build homes with low carbon heating and improved levels of energy efficiency. This presents some outstanding opportunities for the heat pump sector, provided it can meet the challenges of developing a skilled workforce and robust infrastructure to cope with the increase in demand.

Editor David Todd T 01778 392094 E david.todd@ warnersgroup.co.uk

26

FEATURES 18

Air conditioning

LG Multi V S making its mark

20

Showroom condition from Fujitsu

22

How the HVAC landscape is changing

24

Toshiba driving efficiency

26

Mitsubishi Electric aiming for top spot

40

Refrigerants

HEAT PUMPS

36

Cold facts about low-GWP

38

Crossing continents

40

Mexichem looking to the future

44

Refrigeration

57 PACAIR 52 LG 54 Grant Engineering

Safe use of ammonia systems

55 Hydratech

46

IOR salutes award winners

56 Future Homes Standard reaction

48 Countdown to World Refrigeration Day

50

Hospital cooling from J & E Hall

58 Ground source landmark 59 Busting myths with the HPA

April | May 2019

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05

CO NTENTS

REGULARS

15

42

Projects, products and people

Mitsubishi Electric Column

66

Making systems easier to read

The toughest bags you’ll ever own

43

The Innovation Zone

62

Changing Faces

° Why chillers are key for Mitsubishi Electric

ISSN 2058-4407

Essential Information for the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry

Who’s new and who’s moved

Chilly Chatter

° Counting down to first World Refrigeration Day ° Step in the right direction for heat pump industry

Now available from Dean & Wood...

Industry chat and updates

Tools Talk

64

VOLUME 5 No3

News

...dooW & naeD morf

APRIL/MAY 2019

04

INSIDE STORIES:

2020

Improved Air Quality

Energy Efficient

Affordable

Cool

Warm

Available Now

The latest products and launches

Women in ACR

dean&wood

elbadrof fA

tneicif fE ygrenE

woN elbaliavA

m r aW

dean&wood the face of MHI

Lisa Pogson of Airmaster

IHM fo ecaf eht d

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Multi Media Sales Representative Jordan Paylor 01778 395029 jordan.paylor@warnersgroup.co.uk

Editorial Design Ady Braddock

Advertising Design Natalie Reynolds

Production Sue Ward 01778 392405

42

production@warnersgroup.co.uk

Subscriptions Single copy £3.00; Annual UK subscription £35.00 Overseas £65.00

Publishing Editor Juliet Loiselle CompCIPHE/MInstR 01778 391067 julietl@warnersgroup.co.uk

Published by: Warners Group Publications Plc The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincs, PE10 9PH 01778 391000 01778 394748 www.warnersgroup.co.uk © Copyright 2018

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Heat pump chillers from Panansonic

CIAT HIGHLIGHTS VECTIOS EFFICIENCY CIAT says its new Vectios rooftop packaged units offer outstanding energy efficiency.

Designed to exceed the requirements for seasonal efficiency (SEER > 3.53 and SCOP >3.20), Vectios also achieves up to 37% energy savings, compared to Tier 1 energy efficiency requirements.

The 20 kW to 100 kW reversible heat pump operates within an outside air temperature range of -15 °C to 48 °C, and up to 52 °C in the cooling-only version.

The Vectios external circuit is equipped with electronic axial fans for high seasonal efficiency and a low noise level, tandem scrolltype hermetic compressors, electronic expansion valves as well as components optimised for R410A refrigerant. Multiple options for recovering energy from the extracted air are available, such as a new CIAT active recovery system and the new heat recovery wheels. To ensure improved indoor air quality, the Vectios units offer a range of filter options, fresh air management, and carbon dioxide sensors.

Toshiyuki Takagi, executive officer of Panasonic Corporation and president of Panasonic Air-Conditioner, and Gerald Engström, chairman and founder of Systemair, announcing the strategic partnership Climatizacion 2019

Panasonic is to introduce a heat pump chiller series as part of a new strategic partnership with ventilation specialist Systemair.

The first phase of the collaboration will see Panasonic launch the ECOi-W, described as a highly efficient and environmentally friendly heat pump chiller series, featuring Systemair’s air source reversible chiller technology. ​Expected to be available from autumn this year, it will offer cooling capacities from 20kW to 210kW and an operating range of -17°C (heating) to 50°C (cooling).

The new partners say they aim to integrate Systemair’s indoor air quality-led ventilation with Panasonic’s residential and commercial heat pumps, control technology and connectivity.

Toshiyuki Takagi, executive officer of Panasonic Corporation and president of Panasonic Air-Conditioner, said: “We see this as a great synergistic opportunity to develop, deliver and meet the higher level of environmental demands of our customers, in addition to providing long-term business prospects across an evolving European market. Systemair’s outstanding product range and wealth of experience within the HVAC&R and ventilation industry, aligns well with our commitment to offering customers exceptional value, features and product quality.”

Roland Kasper, CEO of Systemair, said “We are very excited for this partnership and the new opportunity that this will create for new innovative and seamless solutions. Together, we aim to enhance building operations, optimise energy efficiency, lower their carbon footprint and reduce energy costs. Through this partnership, we will be able to provide enhanced solutions that will play a leading role in the development of buildings of the future.”

SAMSUNG PARTNERS WITH BUSINESS EDGE Samsung has announced Business Edge as its first Project Solutions Partner in the UK. Portsmouth-based Business Edge specialises in system and product design, R&D work, supply of diagnostic and performance analysis and system cleansing equipment, tools and instruments and engineering software.

Mike Creamer, managing director at Business Edge, said: “We are delighted and honoured to have been appointed as the first Samsung Projects Solutions Partner in the UK. Business Edge will apply its chilled water system design experience, SolidWorks 3D modelling and system commissioning capabilities to contractors and end users applying Samsung’s DVM modular water chillers, with the security of solid system and application engineering technical support.’’

Perry Jackson, head of air conditioning at Samsung, said: “Samsung has a unique VRF modular chiller product solution and Business Edge are an ideal partner to help grow our chiller sales in the UK. Their technical expertise and knowledge of chilled water solutions will certainly enhance our presence in this competitive market.”

April | May 2019

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Humidifiers from Humidity Solutions

Service & Maintenance

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COOLTHERM LOOKS NORTH

Toshiba bi-flow hits right note

Specialist chiller and air conditioning design and installation business Cooltherm has opened a new site in Nuneaton to support expansion in the Midlands and north of England.

The company, which was acquired by the Carver Group last summer, specialises in the design, supply, installation and servicing of air conditioning systems and chillers, operating across the UK and internationally.

The Cooltherm offices – at St Mary’s Road, Nuneaton – will include sales and workshop facilities and initially create three new jobs, with further recruitment planned as the business expands.

The company works with Italian manufacturer Geoclima to provide bespoke water chiller packages for both new and existing installations. They are also diamond quality partner for Mitsubishi Electric and a D1+ premium partner for Daikin systems.

Pictured, from left, Stuart Fyfe, Carver Group group finance director, Douglas Morrison, Carver Group non-executive director, Aidan Killeen, Carver Group group chief executive officer, David Carver, Carver Group non-executive chairman, David Blackmore, Cooltherm commercial director, Alex Strong, Cooltherm technical director, and Rob Young, Cooltherm sales and project director

GUIDANCE ON REFRIGERANT RISK ASSESSMENT The Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (FETA) has issued new guidance on risk assessments for working with refrigerants.

With the increasing use of refrigerants with various levels of flammability, FETA says it is important for the industry to understand how to comply with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR). The regulation was amended in 2015 to include gases under pressure, which means that ALL refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) installations need to be compliant. It therefore places requirements to assess the risk for such substances (refrigerants etc) and puts into place suitable control and mitigation measures.

Following a joint meeting between FETA, the Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) last autumn, it was agreed that FETA would lead the project to pull together appropriate guidance, and this document is the first result of that work.

The new document is available to download from the “Publications” section of the FETA website. www.feta.com

Audio engineers at a hi-fi specialist have chosen an ultra-low noise R32-based Toshiba air conditioning system to ensure the best possible listening environment for its customers.

Brierley Hill-based Sonority Design felt that Toshiba’s bi-flow RAS console split system was one of the quietest available, with a sound pressure range of just 3146dB(A), equivalent to the environment of a university study library.

Nigel Kuscher, managing director of Ref-Sol, which installed the system, said: “Our client specialises in very high-end hi-fi systems, which require the lowest possible ambient noise to preserve outstanding audio reproduction. They established that the Toshiba bi-flow system was one of the quietest available, and would deliver the comfortable environment needed for customers to audition equipment without detracting from the audio experience.’’

The system delivers a total of 7.2kW of cooling and has an energy label rating of A++.

Honoured for growth

Aspen Pumps, HRS Heat Exchangers and Lawton Tube were named in the UK’s top 200 fastest-growing firms for international sales.

They featured in the 10th annual Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 league table, which ranks independent UK companies according to international sales growth over the last two years.

Condensate pump and ancillary product manufacturer Aspen was ranked at 159 in after increasing sales by 41.45%, followed

by HRS at 161 (41.34%) and copper tube manufacturer Lawton Tube at 166 (39.15%).

The firms will receive their their league table plaque at the International Fast Track awards dinner in London on 1 May.

April | May 2019

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Hello Madoka.

The beauty of simplicity

guarantees comfort, intuitively Available in three attractive colours, Madoka adds style and sophistication to any interior space.

Measuring just 85 x 85 mm, Madoka is an extremely compact, wired remote controller.

Madoka combines refinement and simplicity. The intuitive touch button control enlarges the display and makes Madoka both easy and enjoyable to use.

The Madoka Assistant enables fast and easy system configuration and schedule setting via Smartphone during commissioning, by BluetoothÂŽ communication with Madoka.

White

RAL 9003 (glossy)

Silver

RAL 9006 (metallic)

Black RAL 9005 (matt)

For more information, visit www.daikin.co.uk/madoka

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Chemours triples YF capacity Chemours has tripled the global capacity of its Opteon YF products with the startup of its new production facility in Texas, said to be the largest of its kind in the world. ​Mark Vergnano, Chemours president and CEO, said: “The startup completes the final phase of the $300 million project we started in 2016, which triples supply capacity of Opteon YF across multiple industries and applications. This milestone is a tangible example of our steadfast commitment to providing the world with low GWP refrigerant products that are better for the environment.”

“It comes at a critical time when the world is transitioning to the next generation of refrigerants to achieve long-term sustainability. Our Opteon YF refrigerant used in automotive air conditioning has a GWP that is 99.9% lower than the refrigerant it replaces. This helps lower the greenhouse gas footprint for motor vehicles and is a significant path to meeting environmental global-warming regulations around the world.’’

Chemours says the expanded capacity will also enable it to meet the growing need for next-generation refrigerants in stationary air conditioning, refrigeration, and chillers.

The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) is celebrating reaching the membership milestone of 100, following the recent addition of Kernow Controls.

The latest figures from the BCIA’s Market Information Services (MIS) show that during the 2018 calendar year a new record was set for the value of the total controls and BEMS market in the UK at £695.6 million.

GREEN POINT TAKES TO THE ROAD Green Point is expanding into the transport sector by supplying a range of BITZER compressors for use in bus and coach air conditioning systems.

The Roadstar series of lightweight aluminium compressors is available in 14 models, with capacities from 3 to 77kW, and suitable for use in a variety of bus and coach air conditioning systems. Units are equipped with two, four or six cylinders.

Will Pribyl, Green Point UK general manager, said: “Huge strides have been made in recent years in terms of onboard comfort on buses and coaches, and growth in use of air conditioning is a key contributor. Roadstar compressors are highly reliable and energy efficient, and specifically designed for use in bus and coach air conditioning systems.’’

Green Point UK is stocking the most popular models and spare parts at its Milton Keynes headquarters for next day delivery across the UK. As the business develops, it plans to introduce a remanufacturing service for transport compressors to cater for fleet operators looking for a high quality remanufactured option.

Brymec flying high with airport deliveries Brymec has supplied a range of air conditioning and plumbing components on next day delivery to contractor Principal Cooling, which is replacing AC and ventilation systems at London Luton Airport (LLA).

Rory Carron, account manager at Brymec, said: “LLA is not the easiest site to deliver to, but our drivers have built strong relationships on site and understand the process to go through to deliver to such a high security environment. In the early stages this proved quite challenging but now it’s like a well-oiled machine – everyone knows what they need to do.”

Nigel Treanor, Principal Cooling contracts manager on the LLA project, said: “We have used other suppliers, but none of them have the same range that Brymec has. The working relationships [with Brymec] are also exceptionally good. If we place an order at 4.55pm, it is there at 7.30am the next morning so they can’t be faulted.”

Among the products Brymec has supplied are 3,500 metres of channel, predominantly in 6m lengths (equating to about 10 tonnes), 4,200m of copper tube and insulation, 1,000m of cable tray, 2,500m of studding, and fixings, bracketry, condensate pumps and other sundries such as paint and cutting disks.

Brymec also supplied 700 of Conex Bänninger’s >B< MaxiPro fittings and its specialist tools from Rothenberger to create reliable, tamper-proof connections from a single action.

April | May 2019

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Comfortably cool.

Surprisingly still.

Samsung’s Wind-Free™ Cassette range is revolutionising comfort with its innovative technologies.

The optimised blade design enables a wider cooling range, enhancing airflow within the room and cooling every corner. Wind-Free™ cooling spreads fresh air evenly without any unpleasant cold drafts, and the optional Motion Detect Sensor** facilitates efficient operation by detecting the temperature and movement in the room. samsung.com/windfreecassette

* ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) defines “Still Air” as air currents at speeds below 0.15m/s and lacking the presence of cold drafts. ** The Motion Detect Sensor is optional for the Wind-Free™ 4-Way and Wind-Free™ Mini 4-Way Cassette.

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New warehouse for TROX UK Construction of a new storage and distribution building for TROX UK has been completed.

The 20,000 sq ft warehouse and undercroft car park, designed

by Rees Pryer Architects and built by Mixbrow Construction, has a canopy linking the new building with the existing facility has taken 34 weeks to complete.

Darren Webb, MD of Mixbrow, said: “We knew the design would be more complex than your usual building project due to having an undercroft car park which was something we suggested as an alternative option to the original plan. The intention was to create 42 bays under the new warehouse, freeing up the space that was provisionally allocated for parking elsewhere on the site.”

TROX UK manufactures and sells air conditioning and ventilation systems and components. Based in Thetford since 1971, around 150 people work from the site. The new building will enable the further expansion of the site as part of TROX UK’s long-term business plan.

Suzanne Archer, MD (finance & operations) for TROX UK, said: “This multi-million-pound project is seen as an investment by our parent company TROX and a vote of confidence in the business. The new facilities will reduce our carbon footprint, improve our customer service and reduce our ongoing costs.’’

Darren Webb of Mixbrow hands over the new building to Suzanne Archer of TROX UK, watched by members of the project team.

Picture: Paul Nixon Photography

SKILLCARDS AVAILABLE ONLINE Applying for Engineering Services SKILLcards has been made easier and quicker following the launch of a new online service.

The Engineering Services SKILLcard is operated by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and is held by more than 60,000 people working in the heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration sectors. It provides evidence that they have the required training and qualifications for the type of work they carry out on construction sites.

The new system has gone live for new applicants and BESA said it would also be extended to cover renewals over the coming months. www.skillcard.org.uk

BITZER’S ALDI CO2 MILESTONE

BITZER UK has supplied its 300th carbon dioxide-based refrigeration compressor for installation in Aldi UK’s stores.

The milestone was reached following a delivery of the manufacturer’s proven semi-hermetic CO2 units

to Aldi’s refrigeration pack builder, Clade Engineering Services, which works closely with installation sister company A1 Engineering Services on the retailer’s refrigeration systems.

Aldi committed to installing natural refrigerants across all of its stores more than a year ago and CO2 has a GWP of just one.

Kevin Glass, managing director of BITZER UK, said: “With low maintenance requirements, excellent efficiency and an outstanding safety record, A1 Engineering’s Aldi carbon dioxide packs based on BITZER compressors provide a rock-solid solution that is not only good for the environment but highly cost-effective over the life-time of plant.

“Importantly, it is also immune from the constantly moving goal-posts under F-Gas Regulations and effectively future-proofs retailers from changes in environmental legislation.”

Aldi is using a combination of standard and inverterdriven compressors for enhanced control and energy efficiency, based on BITZER’s own Varispeed system, which is designed to maximise performance and efficiency in this application.

The carbon dioxide packs are being used both as retrofit systems to replace HFC refrigeration plant in existing stores as part of a rolling programme, and as original cooling plant in new stores.

Richard Conway, corporate property director at Aldi UK, said: “Using natural refrigerants is reducing our impact on the environment even further, whilst also assuring our stores are future-proofed for years to come.

We look forward to continuing to work with BITZER on the replacement and upgrade programme over the coming year.”

April | May 2019

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CARRIER FIRST LANDS AT GATWICK

The first UK installation of Carrier’s new ultra-low GWP AquaForce 30XAV chiller using R1234ze refrigerant has been completed at Gatwick Airport. Selected as a replacement for an ageing air-cooled screw chiller, the the installation by SPIE UK is part of a major upgrade at Jubilee House, Gatwick’s administrative offices.

The AquaForce 30XAV was selected as a solution to help meet the airport’s environmental policy, which includes goals to transition away from high GWP refrigerants and targets to reduce carbon emissions by 50%, energy consumption by 20% and securing 25% of its energy from renewable sources.

The chiller uses R1234ze with a GWP rating of less than 1, has low sound output and high resilience due to its dual refrigeration circuit. Carrier’s Greenspeed Intelligence system delivers high efficiency by precisely matching cooling output with the load using a fine-control inverter. This optimises efficiency, particularly at part load conditions, which represents the majority of the time in the UK. The chiller’s efficiency results in a significantly lower carbon footprint and lower running costs over its operational lifetime. ° Carrier has published two guides to the EcoDesign Directive to update customers on the implications of the legislation for HVAC equipment. EcoDesign regulations apply across the European Union, and introduce new minimum efficiency requirements for new chillers, heat pumps and Air Handling Units (AHUs) as a means of reducing energy use by buildings and industrial process cooling plant.

Our strength is our fast response Quality engineering products for NH3, CO2 and other refrigerants from leading European manufacturers • Open Refrigerant Pumps • Hermetic Pumps NH3/CO2 • Pressure Vessels • Surge Drums • Liquid Receivers • Economisers • Oil Recovery Systems • Chilled Water/Brine Chillers • Ammonia Spray Chillers • High Pressure Floats • Stop Valves NH3/CO2 • Ball Valves

• Electronic and Pneumatic Control Valves • Liquid Level Transducers • Flap Indicators • Oil Separators • Circular Welded Plate • Heat Exchangers • Shell & Tube Condensers • DX Chillers • Brazed Plate • Heat Exchangers • Capillary Hose • Leak Detection Equipment

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MIKE SMITH HONOURED

BY BSRIA Engineering director Mike Smith has been made an Honorary Member of BSRIA, only the 11th such honour in the 64-year history of the association.

The award recognises what BSRIA describes as ‘an extraordinary contribution to the association and the independent promotion of best practice in the building services industry.’’

Smith joined BSRIA in 1988 and over the next 12 years built a large team concentrating on three main themes – improving maintenance management, improving the efficiency of air conditioning refrigeration systems and improving construction productivity.

He was elected to the BSRIA board in 1999, was awarded the CIBSE Silver Medal in 2019 and was made an Honorary Fellow of CIBSE in 2016. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Refrigeration and for many years was on its Technical Committee. He is a board member of the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board and has been an ASHRAE member for over 25 years.

SWEGON REACHES FOR KAPPA SKY Swegon has introduced a new range of high-performance chillers to the UK market.

Part of the company’s new energy efficient SKY range, the KAPPA SKY promises a combination of the latest control technology with inverter screw compressors and a choice of low GWP refrigerants.

The new models have been designed to meet the twin challenges of the European EcoDesign Directive that is driving innovation in energy efficient performance and the F-Gas Regulation, which is dictating a gradual phase down of high GWP refrigerant gases.

The KAPPA SKY products already meet the energy efficiency requirements of the EcoDesign Directive Tier 2, which does not come into force until 2021 – offering end users a future-proofed solution.

The new chillers operate with the low GWP refrigerant R513A as a default option, although they can also operate with R134a. The former has a GWP of 573 and the range also offers an ultra-low GWP option, which uses 1234ze.

COOLAIR GOES NATIONWIDE Air conditioning and heating installer Coolair Equipment has expanded its servicing and maintenance operations nationwide.

The company, with bases in Manchester, Cannock and Kent, has consolidated its service department into a UK-wide business under a national technical and administrative management team led by long-serving employees Mark Cooper and Karen Swallow.

The new National Aftersales Division is the result of an expansion drive by Coolair aimed at meeting increasing demand from developers, contractors and end users for one-stop heating and cooling services.

Managing director John Otterson said: “Our business has been providing servicing and maintenance for many years. Now increased demand from our clients - impressed by our ability to deliver energy-saving solutions that reduce their costs - has prompted us to expand our one-stop-shop capabilities. Planned preventative maintenance is essential for the ongoing management of building operations because today’s highly advanced air conditioning and heat pump systems can lead to expensive failures and increased running costs if they are not properly serviced and maintained.’’

Mark Cooper of Coolair Equipment’s new National Aftersales Division

ABB launches VSD hire fleet

ABB has launched a variable speed drive hire fleet across the United Kingdom and Ireland, with units extending from 3 kW up to several megawatts. Hire drives can be delivered the same day, and installed and commissioned within a matter of hours by engineers from one of 12 ABB authorised value providers.

Customers can choose from a wide range, including the ABB general purpose drive, ABB machinery drive and ABB industrial drive. All are fully maintained and pre-loaded with the latest firmware.

The company says can deliver benefits in the event of an emergency or unexpected failure, if the customer needs temporary capacity, to judge energy savings prior to a purchase, and for equipment testing.

Drives are hired at a fixed daily rate (minimum hire period may apply), which includes installation and maintenance.

April | May 2019

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SMART QUICK STRONG

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Specially designed in collaboration with Conex Bänninger, the Rothenberger ROMAX Compact TT press machine and >B< MaxiPro jaws are the recommended tools to fit >B< MaxiPro to a professional standard.

DURABLE For further information visit www.conexbanninger.com/bmaxipro or email salesuk@ibpgroup.com

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THREE COUNTIES ON THE MOVE Three Counties Refrigeration has moved into larger premises in Bishopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stortford.

The air conditioning and refrigeration specialist says the move to Hadham Industrial Estate comes after it outgrew facilities in the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Launchpad Business Centre.

Headed by branch manager Mathew Smith and service administrator Sarah Frost, pictured, Three Counties provides air conditioning, refrigeration, heat recovery and ventilation solutions, as well as maintenance services.

Mathew Smith said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;As we grow, we felt it was extremely important to have the right space from which to conduct our business and base for our office staff and engineers, so it was perfect timing for us when the unit at Hadham Industrial Estate became available. With the brilliant local transport links, and business community, both within Bishopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stortford, and Hertfordshire in general, it was an excellent choice.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Three Counties has been trading for over 30 years and became part of the family-run Pitkin & Ruddock Group in 2014.

Full R32 range from Samsung

Samsung has announced a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;progressive switchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to R32 refrigerant across its entire residential and light commercial air conditioning split system ranges. The move follows last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s launch of R32 residential wall-mounted systems. The process has now been completed by covering the full split system range, including its award-winning Wind-free products.

Perry Jackson, head of air conditioning at Samsung, said; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most importantly for our customers, at launch, Samsung will not immediately cease availability of equivalent R410A product. However, we will progressively focus our UK stocking profile on the new R32 models, which are more efficient than the previous models. Rather than a gradual conversion of model styles to the new refrigerant, Samsung has developed R32 versions of its entire split system indoor range at launch, including the round 360 Cassette, Wind-free cassettes, ducted, wall, ceiling and floor mounted systems.â&#x20AC;?

Samsung will also be releasing a Wind-free version of its slim 1way cassette split system. Andrew Faulkner, commercial manager at Samsung Climate, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Customers are embracing the numerous benefits of Wind-free technology, both reducing running costs and improving comfort levels. So, following the success of the VRF Wind-free 1way cassette, we welcome the addition of this model to our split system line-up.â&#x20AC;?

Samsung says that, due to the popularity of the Wind-free technology, it has decided not to develop an R32 version of the standard 4way cassette split systems.

The new R32 refrigerant models achieve a significantly higher efficiency than those using R410A, with SEERs of up to 7.6 and SCOPs of up to 4.6. The R32 range also operates to -20 C in heating, compared to the current -15 C and pre-charge piping lengths have also been increased.

FSW BECOMES MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC WHOLESALER Mitsubishi Electric has announced that FSW has changed from a Value Added Reseller (VAR) to a wholesaler for the company.

The move means FSW will now be stocking the full range of split and multisplit products from the M Series and Mr Slim product lines.

Deane Flint, branch vice-president and joint divisional manager for Mitsubishi Electric, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The relationship with FSW has grown over the past six years and their future plans for growth demonstrate FSWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s knowledge and understanding of the quality and customer care needed to thrive in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commercial environment.â&#x20AC;?

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Peter Emanuel, AC product manager at FSW, and Martin Crawford, wholesalerVAR manager at Mitsubishi Electric

FSW has developed a dedicated air conditioning department called ACHub, which provides technical support, order processing, pre-sales design and spares to support customers and FSWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s branch network and external sales teams. The company also has

dedicated air conditioning sales engineers who receive regular training and product updates with Mitsubishi Electric.

Peter Emanuel, air conditioning product manager at FSW, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are committed to delivering the highest levels of customer service and support and we see this expansion as a great opportunity to strengthen and develop our relationship with Mitsubishi Electric. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everyone in the industry knows the quality of Mitsubishi Electric equipment and our ability to now supply equipment off the shelf allows us to offer our customers the right products and solutions every time.â&#x20AC;?

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BUILT FOR BET TER As a leading supplier to the building services industry, we believe that smoother projects are better projects. Which is why we not only manufacture our own quality branded products, but also supply a comprehensive range from the industry, to deliver the ultimate choice. And whether you visit our website or call us, our dedicated experts will be on hand to help you decide which is the most suitable to get the job done. From the best product choice and assisting you with your queries, to delivering the next day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we help you build, better.

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Multi V S making its mark Apartment project marks one of first UK installations for heat recovery unit.

LG has provided the air conditioning for a prestigious apartment development in the city of London.

The Westminster Quarter project in Monck Street includes one 7/8-storey building and one 5-storey building, with 102 one, two and three bedroomed apartments above a ground floor commercial floor space. The basement has 56 car parking spaces and cycle parking spaces, along with mechanical plant where the air conditioning equipment has been located.

The apartments are designed to achieve ‘Lifetimes Homes Standards’ and ‘Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4’.

The LG equipment was selected and designed by distributor Exi-Tite’s inhouse team and supplied for the project.

It comprised 21 Multi V S units and eight Multi V VRF units providing cooling to all the apartments.

One of the Multi V S heat recovery units provides cooling for the gym and both heating and cooling to the reception/ concierge and cinema areas. It was the most energy efficient method of providing both heating and cooling to these areas

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because the constant cooling load of the gym in effect provides free heat to the reception and cinema areas. In this project the LG equipment is predominantly used for air conditioning as there is underfloor heating in the apartments. The system is controlled via LG’s BACnet ACP and there are two PDIs for usage measuring.

The installation envelope for the LG equipment is very tight and one unique feature of the installation is the design of the area set aside for the mechanicals to specifically fit with the pipe runs required to connect each apartment to the plant.

Impressive installation The LG equipment was selected for a number of reasons, but one key criteria was a controls package that allowed energy usage to be measured in each individual apartment by the Building Management System through BACnet connectivity.

This project was one of the first the first in the UK to utilise the new LG Multi V S heat recovery unit – for the gym and cinema area of the development. Designed specifically for small to medium-sized

spaces, this compact and lightweight model offers simultaneous heating and cooling as well as the production of domestic hot water, with considerable installation flexibility and efficiencies.

Hailed by the manufacturer as an industry first, this front discharge, Multi V S heat recovery model aims to fil the gap between multi split systems and large VRF systems.

Nigel Treanor, contracts manager at Principal Cooling, said: “The LG equipment was an excellent choice for this development and the finished installation is very impressive. The controls package is sector-leading and offered the flexibility we needed to satisfy the customer’s needs.”

Exi-Tite’s Andrew Robinson said: “We were delighted to be involved in this prestigious development. It’s a perfect example of how LG equipment can be designed and incorporated in even the tightest installation envelopes. And once again the quality of our controls package tipped the balance when specification was decided.” partner.lge.com/uk

Volume 5 No.3

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Making systems easier to read

Trainer Ben Bartle-Ross explores new monitoring software that shows live data.

Here’s an idea. What if you could see a live representation of a VRF system? One that showed which systems are in heating, cooling or switched off.

As a manufacturer, we have always been willing and able to share the raw data from our systems but in reality, you had to have good working knowledge of our range of products to fully understand what was going on and how to interpret it.

As part of our overall drive to make our systems more accessible to installers, we realised that what would be better all round, would be to have a system that illustrated exactly what was happening in a live system and clearly showed engineers what was going on, in which areas.

Easier and easier We have therefore developed new software which is able to translate this raw data into a meaningful representation of the live data, making it much, much easier for installing and maintenance engineers, to understand exactly what is happening at any point in time.

Previously, we have taken software originally built by our prototype engineers to help monitor results to improve future R&D. Making this available to installation companies has helped and whilst this has proved very useful for engineers, the challenge arises when this monitoring data is interrogated by people who haven’t come across our systems before, or may not have worked on one for a while.

Clear visual representation Our new system means that anyone is able to see the entire refrigeration circuit and can easily understand which parts are in heating, cooling or switched off.

They can also see any ‘problems’ or issues with the system which makes finding a resolution easier all round.

For example, identifying a blocked filter or telling is a condenser needs cleaning is

much easier and can be achieved without the immediate need for a site visit.

When the engineer does then go to site, they can take exactly what they need to resolve the issue and get the system working to optimum performance.

Remote access The beauty of the new system is that engineers can also access it remotely, so they can check up on any number of jobs that they have been involved in, or are responsible for maintaining.

This means they can interrogate their customer’s air conditioning and monitor performance without even attending the site.

The more proactively minded companies will be able to report trends and offer energy efficiency advice to their customers and demonstrate added value in the relationship.

Talking your language We’ve designed the system to be much more user-friendly and intuitive to use and operate.

By offering a graphic representation of what is actually happening in a live system, this now offers a simplified and easier to read view.

It makes it easier to see where energy is being used and when, which areas are not operating to the correct schedule, depending on other factors such as outdoor temperatures.

Local FMs can then use this data to cross refer to localised factors such as occupancy levels and can adapt the system to provide maximum comfort with minimum energy use.

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

Ben Bartle-Ross is a trainer in air conditioning and heat pump systems at Mitsubishi Electric. This and other articles of relevance to the sector can be found at: http://thehub.mitsubishielectric.co.uk, which also acts as a useful sales tool for installers.

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Airstage V-III serves the ground floor showroom

Showroom condition The latest Fujitsu VRF technology is supplying a high-end solution for a prestige motor group on the Isle of Man. When Jacksons Motor Group wanted a climate control package for its new showroom, it was important to provide customers with a comfortable and relaxing environment in which to browse.

The two-floor building, on the outskirts of Douglas, now features Fujitsu’s latest Airstage VRF technology, with the heat recovery ventilation systems introducing fresh air into the building.

Airstage V-III serves the ground floor showroom 1. A combination of models from Fujitsu’s heat pump VRF range, with a Eurovent certified SEER of 6.5, make up a combined capacity of 111.5kW over five separate systems. They are accompanied by compact four-way cassettes (540mmx540mm), while wired remote controllers, with a 3.4-inch LCD display, are used throughout the building.

A compact cassette in the showroom

Restricted space Chris Beech, area sales executive at Cool Designs Ltd, said: “Jacksons has some very prestigious cars in its showrooms, so it was important that the air conditioning systems were of an equally high standard. From all the manufacturers we considered, Fujitsu came out on top in terms of quality, comfort and value for money. Their equipment was also ideal in terms of achieving the cost savings outlined by the customer. This was a great project to be involved with – and everybody is extremely proud of the results.”

In terms of the installation, Simon Musgrove, mechanical project engineer

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Heat recovery ventilation keeps the air fresh

at SCS, said: “The Fujitsu air conditioning systems fitted here will provide a temperature-controlled environment

An Airstage J-IIIL front discharge unit

throughout customer zones, while ensuring the showroom spaces themselves are heated, cooled and ventilated efficiently.

“Using air-to-air heat pump technology, in conjunction with heat recovery units, for large areas such as these ensures low cost and efficient operation without compromising on quality. This will then save the client money in due course, especially when compared to more traditional methods of heating and cooling. The equipment will also provide a comfortable indoor environment, ensuring a regular exchange of air to reduce stuffiness.”

The project also marked one of the first installations of Airstage J-IIIL front discharge VRF units, serving the first floor showroom 2 and two associated offices.

Fujitsu national distribition manager Nick Wilks described the units as “powerful, lightweight and compact”and said the outdoor plant space available to serve this area was very restricted. “The only place for outdoor units was on the roof, but weight was an issue along with eliminating visibility from the public perspective. This range of horizontal discharge, twin fan units offers huge capacities, up to 50kW from a small slimline chassis. With a weight of only 170kg and a height of 1.4m, the 22.4kW models were an ideal solution here. Spaced around the roof, the seven systems that were used gave us the total load for the upper floor and allowed local zoning for the perfect climate control.” www.fujitsu-general.com/uk/

Volume 5 No.3

28/03/2019 12:59

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How the HVAC landscape is changing What does the future hold for companies operating in the HVAC sector? Christian Rudio, Europe HVAC portfolio director at Johnson Controls, looks at five major trends.

Growing concerns about climate change have led to a greater awareness of the need to reduce energy consumption, from household appliances to commercial and industrial HVAC systems.

As sustainability moves rapidly up the environmental agenda, so the HVAC industry has started to rethink the technology and service it offers. HVAC equipment manufacturers no longer offer just a product, but a total package including advice on capacity, redundancy and, of course, sustainability.

There are, in my view, five major trends that will impact on how the HVAC sector responds in 2019. They are: 1. Rethinking refrigerants The EU’s F-Gas regulation is accelerating the phase-down of HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) refrigerants in favour of environmentally friendly equipment with no ozone depletion potential (ODP).

In recent years, the HVAC industry has invested heavily in the development of products using next-generation refrigerants and this trend is set to continue in 2019.

So far, only a few recently developed refrigerants have been classified as non-flammable. In fact, next-generation refrigerants classified as being mildly flammable can be used safely, but some building owners may have concerns about using them. Hence, we can expect greater awareness and training on the use of mildly flammable refrigerants, as well as continued research into non-flammable alternatives.

2. Shift to Ecodesign Since last year, the Ecodesign Directive has applied to HVAC products in the European market. The directive obliges the sector to address the environmental impact of their products from the earliest stages of the design.

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In 2021, the next tier of Ecodesign – so-called Ecodesign Tier 2 – takes effect.

It will It will tighten requirements further and make obsolete many existing products. As a result, optimizing equipment design and selection to improve the total annual energy use will become increasingly important for both equipment and project designers.

Many YORK products already comply with Ecodesign Tier 2 regulations three years early and offer significantly better energy efficiency than required, resulting in an attractive, low-cost operation and lighter environmental footprint.

3. Energy audits HVAC systems still account for around half of a building’s energy consumption. Building owners should no longer be satisfied with just the energy performance rating value of a product, but ask for a complete energy use analysis, including the consideration of operating hours and weather data.

These energy audits are easy to generate with computer rating software and allow owners to make the most informed decisions about how to allocate capital to best optimize energy use and operating costs.

Retro-commissioning, the process of identifying and enhancing less-thanoptimal performance in a facility, is still booming. This process focuses on improving the efficiency of installed HVAC systems through monitoring how the building is used and making simple improvements of existing equipment control sequences and

other minor upgrades, helping to achieve significant energy savings without large investment in new equipment.

4. Modular systems Modular chiller and heat pump systems are already common in Asia, but we are now starting to see a growing demand for these systems in Europe too. Advances in variable speed compressors, improvements in heat transfer surfaces and software controls have made this type of equipment able to achieve very high efficiency without adding much cost.

A system combining several modular chillers or heat pumps is easier to install.

The equipment can be fit in a service lift or crane already on site, while separate modules can be arranged to fit in tight spaces, so capacity can be added without structural renovations. A central controller allows the modules to work together as one and the building control systems don’t have to change.

Furthermore, multiple heat pump modules can be sequenced so only one circuit goes into defrost at a time, allowing a better control of the heating setpoint and maximum reliability.

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5. Absorption chillers For larger installations and heat recovery, we see a growing demand for absorption chillers. They use a heat source to drive the unit and provide cooling through a chemical process between water and a lithium-bromide solution. Absorption chillers are increasingly replacing regular electrical driven compressors in industrial applications where a large amount of heat is available to be recovered, which before was usually wasted to ambient.

Absorption chillers are being applied in medium applications too, such as shopping malls, schools and hospitals. A recent trend is the use of absorption chillers in large municipalities where excess heat coming from the district heating grid in summer can be re-used by the municipalities to provide district cooling.

YORK’s absorption chillers and heat pumps use an innovative evaporator and absorber design that splits the absorption cooling process into the so called ‘two-step’ system. This results in reduced lithiumbromide concentrations and overall increased efficiency which allows both a downsizing of the unit and reduced cost of ownership. Also, the water used in the heat source is a natural refrigerant, so YORK absorption systems are environmentally-friendly too. www.york.com

Impact on installers The five trends identified in the main article will also have a dramatic impact on installers. For example: • Installers will only be able to offer the best service to their clients if they are up-to-date with the new technologies and regulations.

• They need to be trained on the F-gas regulation and next-generation refrigerants in order to guarantee a safe installation and use.

• If they want to give the necessary advice to their clients on new products, such as absorption chillers, they need to be able to find the necessary information and know how to use it or to make an energy audit.

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

• In the end, they will no longer be product sellers, but consultants, giving their clients the best possible advice for a sustainable installation.

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Heat recovery VRF driving Mercedes-Benz efficiency

The largest Mercedes-Benz facility in the UK will be air conditioned by Toshiba Super Heat Recovery Multi (SHRM-e) VRF. The 10.5-acre retail centre site near Stockport will include Europe’s biggest Mercedes-Benz showroom, 32 workshop bays and a body and paint repair facility.

The project is the first in a number of new-build schemes planned by Hong Kong-based retail group LSH Auto UK, which currently operates nine Mercedes-Benz dealerships and smart retail centres in the Manchester and Birmingham areas.

The main contractor on the project is RG Group with Imtech Engineering Services North responsible for mechanical and electrical services.

Air conditioning will be provided by 18 Toshiba SHRM-e VRF outdoor systems connected to 124 indoor units. In addition, Toshiba cassettes are being installed in administration offices, with the system controlled by four Touchscreen controllers The equipment is being supplied by Toshiba distributor Cool Designs Ltd. Gavin Horner, who led the project for Toshiba, said: “The showroom is a double height, open-plan design with adjoining offices, which offers significant potential for heat recovery. The heat pump-based Toshiba system will harness waste heat energy and deliver it in the form of heating or cooling to wherever it is needed in the building, making maximum use of available energy and minimising running costs for the end user.”

Toshiba says its latest three-pipe heat recovery SHRM-e sets a new industry standard for efficiency and continuous

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Toshiba’s SHRM-e VRF

heating, and also offers improvements across the board due to developments in key technologies including the compressor and intelligent control system. ° A major project to upgrade and replace air conditioning at communications specialist Multitone Electronics was made possible by a phased installation of another Toshiba SHRM-e system.

The Basingstoke-based company asked contractor Comfort Building Services to replace its existing air conditioning system, which consisted of independent

split systems installed on an ad hoc basis that was proving unreliable and expensive to run. The end user was attracted to the efficiency and performance benefits of the Toshiba heat recoverybased variable refrigerant flow (VRF) whole-building solution. However, full replacement in a single one-off project would have been beyond the company’s budget.

Comfort Building Services split the project proposal into three-phases, enabling progressive replacement of existing systems over a two-year period.

Kris Carter, service manager at Comfort Building Services, said: “It was the first time we had used Toshiba equipment, and we were very impressed by its innovative features and ease of installation. We also found the company’s DesignAirs system extremely useful as a design tool.

"It is very flexible and enabled us to plan the replacement system in phases, structured to address the end user’s priorities, with the first phase focused on R&D and customer-facing areas, and then working through back office and production areas. It enabled us to keep costs within budget at each stage, while delivering a total building solution, with all the efficiency and comfort benefits this provides.”

The new Mercedes-Benz retail centre near Stockport will feature Toshiba air conditioning

Volume 5 No.3

28/03/2019 12:59

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Aiming for the top

Mitsubishi Electric believes chillers and IT cooling have a key role to play in achieving its targets.

David Todd visits Italy and hears why entering a new segment of the market could be significant.

Phil Ord

Richard Venga

Mitsubishi Electric has its sights firmly fixed on being the undisputed leader in the UK HVAC market by 2020, supported by the continued integration of the DeLclima business it bought three years ago.

The purchase of chiller manufacturer Climaveneta and IT cooling specialist RC Group was completed early in 2016 and the business was subsequently renamed MEHITS (Mitsubishi Electric Hydronics & IT Cooling Systems).

Although Mitsubishi Electric has been making chillers in Japan for more than 40 years, it was not until the launch of its e-series in Europe in 2015, closely followed by the acquisition of DeLclima, that it entered the UK market.

On a visit to the impressive new witness testing and research centre at the Belluno factory in Italy, Mitsubishi Electric head of marketing and sales strategy Phil Ord, said: “Our core products mean we have only ever really played in half of the market. When you look at that, it becomes quite clear why we bought DeLclima. We then get access to chillers, fan coils, IT cooling and air handling units. So it enables us to play in the other half of the market.

“I used to be in consultant sales in London and if I talked to a consultant about a project and it went down the chiller route, the project was dead for me because we had nothing to offer.

“Our vision is to be No 1 in the market by 2020. That means the HVAC leader in all sectors by that time, including the non-DX side. Climaveneta and the RC Group perfectly complements our existing offering to the market.’’

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Streamlined production is a feature of the MEHITS factories, including Belluno

Dovetailing two complex companies, with different cultures and languages, is not without its challenges. As an example, Climaveneta’s previous route to market was via two rival sales organisations, Climaveneta UK and Powermaster UK.

Increased demand Richard Venga, senior product manager for chillers, ventilation and IT cooling, said: “Mitsubishi Electric has been operating a direct-to-market model for 12 years in the UK. We sell direct to customers and this gives us a very close connection and allows us to be reactive in the market. Everyone who is selling these products in the UK now is working for the manufacturer.

We have sales specialists who have been part of the Climaveneta brand for 15 years, an integrated product support structure and all of this is supported by the Green Gateway programme to improve energy efficiency.

“With access to the Italian factories, we have aligned and streamlined production lines and we are in the process of setting up an academy which will help all internal staff to understand the products, and allow customers to have training.’’

The UK has experienced a significant increase in demand for inverter technology, says Venga. “There has been a very swift move from fixed speed over to inverters.

We have now launched a full inverter screw product and it is a very important part of our offering. We also have a growing range of inverters in our scroll technology, so we are increasing our portfolio of variable speed chillers, which is very important for the UK.’’ This extended chiller offering should mean that Mitsubishi Electric is well placed to react whichever direction the industry takes in the face of the F-Gas phasedown.

Phil Ord said: “Anything using refrigerant is coming under scrutiny. The RAC and PAC market has massively changed in the last two years from 100% R410A to almost 80% R32.

“The big question for us is the VRF side of the market. VRF has not really changed in recent years but F-Gas is forcing us to challenge that and a number of manufacturers, including ourselves, are introducing hybrid systems.’’

The manufacturer’s prowess in that area is firmly established. Replicating that success in non-DX through MEHITS could go a long way towards confirming that 2020 vision.

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AIR CO NDITIO NIN G Setting test standards One of the most visible benefits of the manufacturer’s commitment to R&D is the impressive new MEHITS testing centre in Belluno.

Described by Mitsubishi Electric as the most advanced in Europe, the climatic chamber can accommodate water-cooled chillers up to 4.8MW and air-cooled up to 2.2MW, as well as rooftop units, heat pumps and simultaneous heating and cooling units for comfort, process and IT cooling.

Working together Examples of product integration are the recently launched i-NX and i-BX air cooled ranges The i-NX is offered in standard and low noise options, whilst the smaller i-BX is available in single and three phase variants, making both suitable for a variety of comfort and process cooling applications.

The new models employ inverter driven compressors which ensures maximum efficiency at partial loads. The i-BX range offers capacities from 4kW to 35kW and all hydraulic components for installation are also included within the outdoor unit.

It allows for testing in any external air temperatures between -20°C and +55°C, to model climates from Lapland in Norway to Death Valley in California. Rooftop units are also be testable in indoor conditions between 0°C and 30°C, with full humidity control For IT cooling applications it is possible to test the combined system of chillers and high precision air conditioners (HPAC) and rack coolers with external air

27

temperature between -20°C and +55°C, indoor temperature up to +35°C and full humidity control A comfortable office environment featuring full length windows overlooking the chamber allows for witness testing or quality inspection.

All tests will be compliant with Eurovent, with UNI EN14511 and AHRI Standard 551/591 (SI).

For larger applications, the i-NX delivers capacities from 43kW to 129kW. These models incorporate a fixed speed scroll compressor and a scroll inverter compressor working together in the same circuit for improved efficiency.

The i-NX low noise version delivers a reduction of up to 7dBA over the standard models, increasing the flexibility of where systems can be installed.

Both ranges are ERP compliant up to 2021 and have customisable options including coil coatings, built-in pumps, heat recovery modules and BEMS connectivity.

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

Proud chiller heritage, see over

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CASE STUDIES Teatro La Fenice One of the oldest and most important theatres in Venice, the Gran Teatro La Fenice staged the world premieres of many operas from Rossini, Verdi and others. It was twice destroyed by fire and, following the second devastating blaze 1996, was rebuilt in the 19th century style and re-opened to the public in 2003. Bespoke Climaveneta air-cooled modular chillers were assembled on site, enabling transport via the Venice canal system. They were designed to achieve very high efficiency, aided by an integrated heat recovery system. Another key feature, bearing in mind the venue, was the lowest possible sound emissions and no vibrations. Even today, almost two decades later, the noise from the rooftop units is barely noticeable from inches away.

Fondaco dei Tedeschi Situated alongside the Grand Canal in Venice, near the Rialto Bridge, Fondaco dei Tedeschi was originally built in 1228 as the headquarters of the city's German merchants and destroyed twice by fires before being rebuilt in the sixteenth century and used as a Customs office in the Napoleonic period. The restoration of the building, now leased to luxury giant LVMH as an uprmarket shopping centre, was completed in 2016 with the aim of re-establishing the historic link between Venetian culture and commerce.

To achieve the best internal comfort in a wide and tall building featuring a central courtyard, an innovative HVAC system was required. There was also a strong focus on developing the most sustainable solution possible.

The resulting system is based on Climaveneta high efficiency units: two water-cooled multi-purpose heat pumps linked to vertical geothermal probes to further improve the energy performance of the system and an additional air-cooled heat pump with centrifugal fans to manage the seasonal power peaks. Multi-purpose heat pumps are able to produce hot and cold water simultaneously by exploiting the recovery in the production of both liquids and maximizing the energy efficiency of the building throughout the year.

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Volume 5 No.3

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Being smart is not so simple With BSRIA predicting that the European smart HVAC market will double by 2023, Andrew Slater looks at the challenges of increasing automation to reduce environmental impact.

I started to write this piece around the drive for smart buildings across Europe and the legislative factors that would enforce automatic intelligence through the Internet of Things. But then a whole range of questions began to unfold and I began to feel sympathy for the people who were going to have to provide a framework for this vast sector.

There is much emphasis on developing smart buildings, with one of the fundamental views being that environmental impact will be lessened the more efficient the built environment becomes. But what are smart buildings and how far do we take the concept?

Intelligent, automated, smart, whatever the description may be; a building that is using interconnected technologies to improve its performance is by definition ‘smart’. But since the advent of building management systems, you could argue that we already have automated buildings, especially across the HVAC sector.

Human intervention A controls engineer would create a script to follow a base set of instructions from a consultant’s specification or design. In terms of thermal comfort, a room would have a design temperature of 21°C, then energy efficiency controls would be taken into account. For example, If the temperature outside is cold, open the fresh air dampers

intelligence into building management systems. Create systems that can think and learn for themselves. Most of us know that unless stringent focus is placed on the commissioning of a building, most of the services that are installed do not operate to specification for one reason or another, especially when they are networked to collaborate with each other. You could say that human intervention is the main cause of this, but how is it possible for a control engineer to know the millions of possible causes and effects that could occur on each project and understand each product's reaction to an event?

Appropriate technologies

"Who dictates the priority of comfort and wellbeing over efficiency?" and turn off the cooling. If CO2 levels are low, lower the ventilation fan speeds. A little dated, but smart nonetheless.

The technology of mechanical and electrical devices is forever improving along with the methods in which they network together, but it appears that the next step is to apply an artificial

To operate artificial intelligence or ‘machine learning’ a base framework of commands would still be required. A multitude of key design variables would need to be generated, such as temperatures and CO2 levels, with the main target of maximising efficiency also set in the machine’s algorithms. Hit the run button and you have a machine that is learning the cause and effect of each of its actions over time, ultimately achieving a near-perfect solution to every eventuality! But what about you and I? Is it monitoring our feelings, our wellbeing, our comfort? Does the BMS know that I like my office a little cooler than you do, and who dictates the priority of comfort and wellbeing over efficiency? Surely not the person who pays the bill?

In reality, then, smart buildings have existed for a number of years, with the appropriate technologies of the time, and this is just a small segment of the holistic approach that needs to be adopted across a multitude of economic, social and environmental platforms.

Buildings will become more automated and self learning. The goal should always be to strive towards perfection, but are we simply automating and modernising the ways of restricting a temperature range on an air conditioning controller?

Andrew Slater is managing director of HVAC Communications.

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www.hvaccommunications.com

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F IT T IN GS

Cooling the Fever

Why >B< MaxiPro fits the bill for nightclub air conditioning system.

If there is one location where an air conditioning system needs to perform effectively and be reliable, it is the potentially hot environment of a popular nightclub.

When Aircool Technology was commissioned to fit a new air conditioning system at the Fever Clubrooms in Nuneaton, the installer chose Conex Bänninger’s >B< MaxiPro press fittings as the pipework jointing solution.

“Using press, instead of brazing or solder, makes the job so much easier and the time saved is a major benefit,” said

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Aircool director Alex Negrescu. As >B< MaxiPro is a flame-free joint there is no requirement for a hot works permit and the risk of fire on site is eliminated.

Aircool Technology specified a total of four Toshiba 14kW ceiling mounted cassette systems, two in the upgraded Fever room and two in the extended Zinc room, as part of a major refurbishment towards the end of 2018.

Pressure tested These were coupled with energy efficient Toshiba Super Digital Inverters for heating

and cooling and which are suitable for light commercial projects and provide the opportunity for longer pipe runs.

Negrescu added: “The pipework for the Fever room extended to 20 metres each system, while for the bigger Zinc room it ran to 35 metres each system.

“We used >B< MaxiPro fittings all the way, with no brazing joints and on completion of the installation each system was pressure tested up to 40 bar.

“In nightclubs there is often lots of furniture and equipment. If you make the smallest mistake things can go wrong.

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FITTINGS However, by using the press tool we do not have to worry.” >B< MaxiPro was specially designed and engineered to handle the higher operating pressures required for air conditioning and refrigeration installations, up to a maximum 48 bar, with a permanent maximum operating temperature range of -40°C to 121°C. As a mechanical joint there is no need for a nitrogen purge during the jointing process.

It also has the benefit of a 3-point press, with one press each side of the bead and a third compressing the HNBR O-ring, providing a secure, leak-free joint.

31

Simple process Negrescu added: “We have worked with press for a while, but that was with a different system. It was good but we’ve found >B< MaxiPro even better. Unlike other systems, once you have the press tool and relevant jaws you don’t need any additional kit.

“It makes completing the joint such an easy job, with no messing about. It’s very quick and the time saved helps us to be

more productive as a business. For the Fever nightclub I had other guys working with me but I was able to complete all the >B< MaxiPro joints on my own.

“I undertook the training with technical sales manager, Zoheb Khamker. He was right about the simplicity of the process – measure the pipe, cut and clean it making sure there are no cuts or scratches, mark it to the correct depth and, having inserted the pipe into the fitting to the correct depth, press it.

“As soon as you have done the first one correctly, that’s it.”

Aircool Technology is based in Gloucester and operates across the wider West Midlands. It offers complete air conditioning management, from the initial design stage through to commissioning and final testing.

Aircool has also used >B< MaxiPro for an air conditioning installation for a new hotel in Canterbury, with the system tested up to 45 bar. www.conexbanninger.com CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

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MA IN T E N AN C E

Big impact of small steps

John Grenville, managing director of ECEX, offers practical maintenance advice for HVAC equipment.

The London Olympics in 2012 saw Team GB cyclists win an impressive seven gold medals; the rest of the world won just three. This outstanding British sporting achievement was made possible because of a man called Matt Parker (now director of performance innovation at the English Institute of Sport).

He came up with lots of small ideas that, together, boosted the cycling team’s performance significantly. One of his ideas was heated pants worn by the athletes to keep their muscles warm as they waited to start a race. Another was rubbing alcohol on the bikes’ tyres before a race to clean off dust and give them more grip.

"It is a false economy to underfund HVAC maintenance; doing things properly should more than pay for the cost, particularly buildings where large amounts of energy are being wasted"

Parker’s job title at British Cycling during the 2012 Olympics was head of marginal gains. The notion of taking a complex process, breaking it down and making small changes to boost performance clearly works and the big impact of small steps should not be underestimated, especially when it comes to maintenance.

By keeping on top of coil and filter maintenance, for example, striking savings in energy can be achieved and expensive repairs and breakdowns can be avoided.

Indeed, that’s why it is a false economy to underfund HVAC maintenance; the knock-on effects of doing things properly should more than pay for the cost,

ECEX Air Intake Screens at the Tate Modern

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MAINTENANCE particularly for buildings where large amounts of energy are being wasted.

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ECEX Air Intake Screens

Attractive savings And effective maintenance and refurbishment can actually improve (rather than simply sustain) an aging HVAC system’s performance. An effectively implemented maintenance plan can add to the bottom line by ensuring that HVAC equipment is energy efficient and therefore produces lower fuel bills and higher environmental performance.

In short, implementing maintenance effectively pays real dividends in terms of fewer breakdowns, better efficiency and healthier profits. Fan replacement in air handling units (AHUs) can improve operational efficiency by more than 30% in some instances so it is clear that the cumulative effect of upgrades/repairs can have a big impact on cost and efficiency.

However, maintenance and refurbishment are not the be all and end all – applying relatively simple measures can mitigate against the need for it in the first place.

For example, my own company’s ECEX Air Intake Screens – effectively external filters fitted to equipment such as AHUs to prevent airborne debris entering and affecting their efficiency – have been proven to reduce environmental impact and servicing requirements significantly, as well as making attractive cost and energy savings.

They also prevent damage caused by power washing or the use of harsh/ aggressive treatment chemicals, reduce coil treatment and cleaning costs, reduce downtime and extend the serviceable life of HVAC plant.

An independent trial at Westminster City Hall in London measured the benefits of ECEX Air Intake Screens. Two AHUs were chosen for the trial in the 20-story building.

Monitoring equipment was installed for the duration of the trial on the supply fan motors on each AHU with pre-heat, supply air temperature and outside air temperatures also scrutinised.

The AHUs were monitored in the first stage without the Air Intake Screens installed running under normal conditions.

Primary and secondary filters were then replaced, and Air Intake Screens were installed across the air opening on both AHUs. Monitoring began again and, during this second stage of the trial, the screens were brushed down by the maintenance staff.

Belt drive fans requiring maintenance

Planned maintenance The results were remarkable. For example, on CO2 emissions, the two trial AHUs clocked up savings of 438kg and there was also a 4.9% reduction in power consumed.

The site’s m&e manager noted: “Following the installation of the Air Intake Screens, we will achieve CO2 emission savings from just these two AHUs of over 5,000kg per annum, equivalent to taking one car off the road for a whole year.”

So, mitigation measures can help. Other useful maintenance practices include keeping a daily operating log and compare the recorded performance with design and start-up data. An accurate log offers

a daily snapshot of the equipment’s operating characteristics, making abnormal conditions easier to spot and rectify.

Check for leaks and moisture ingress.

After all, it has been estimated that that 1psi of air in a condenser equates to a 3% loss in chiller efficiency. Moisture in a chiller can create acid which will corrode motor windings and bearings, resulting in rust forming inside the shell.

Treat water with appropriate chemicals to reduce scale and corrosion and prevent biological growth.

And, remember to clean the system.

HVAC equipment performance is dictated by its ability to transfer heat and that starts with clean coils and fans. Cleaning and changing filters as part of a planned maintenance programme can reduce the likelihood of equipment failure and boost the energy efficiency of the equipment.

ECEX has launched a free, wideranging guide to HVAC system maintenance. HVAC System Maintenance, a guide to effective equipment servicing, explains the steps to maintenance good practice, including how to draw up a maintenance policy, developing a maintenance strategy, details of different forms of maintenance and assessing maintenance needs.

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D IS TR IB U T ION

Growing room for CDL Move to new HQ unlikely to mark the end of expansion plans.

It’s a measure of how far Cool Designs Ltd (CDL) has come that the office space at its new Gateshead HQ is as big as the 3,000 sq ft combined office and stock facilities at its former home in Sunderland.

The independent air conditioning distributor moved in January this year and the new building has 11,000 sq ft available for stock, as well as more room for a growing workforce. Founder and managing director Darrel Birkett said: “As we took on staff, the offices were becoming cramped and we wanted to create a more positive working environment.’’

The ability to hold more stock, meanwhile, means CDL is better placed to respond swiftly to the needs of customers and also frees up space at CDL’s site in Warrington.

Darrel adds: “The new head office ticks all the boxes. We had a trade counter in Sunderland but we have been able to

develop that into more of a shop experience for our customers. And the training facilities are bigger and better, meaning we can accommodate larger training groups. In the quieter months, we are running training every week in different locations.’’

Expansion The CDL journey is unlikely to end there, though. Following growth across the UK last year, the company is now actively aiming for further expansion in the South, with the ultimate aim of opening a fourth site to follow Gateshead, Warrington and East Kilbride in Scotland.

Darrel said: “We have two external sales people in the South and are looking

to recruit two more. At the moment, the area is managed from Gateshead but once turnover and sales reach a certain point, we will definitely be looking to open an office.’’

One of the key areas of growth for CDL is in applied equipment. It says demand has grown significantly since the introduction of CIAT equipment to its offering and views the combined DX and airside offering as a major growth opportunity.

Darrel said: “CIAT has given us access to a slightly different marketplace. As well as AHUs and fan-coil units, CIAT also offers some smaller chillers where AC contractors may be more involved. There have been projects where we supplied both Toshiba and CIAT for a complete solution.’’

CDL also sells air conditioning equipment from Fujitsu and a range of ancillary products from Aspen Pumps. www.cdlweb.info

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HUMIDIFIER S

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Vapac finds right solution

John Barker of Humidity Solutions, left, and Kevin Hartshorne of Vapac

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Humidity Solutions has become the sole UK distributor for the West Midlandsmanufactured Vapac range of electrode boiler steam humidifiers.

The move marks Vapac’s return following a fire in June last year that completely destroyed its newly-built factory in Brierley Hill, along with stock and spares.

The new partners say that the knowledge and expertise of both companies will combine to enable Vapac humidifiers to be offered to the market with the full package of support services.

Kevin Hartshorne, sales manager of Vapac, said: “We are delighted to have Humidity Solutions to partner us in presenting Vapac back to the market after a turbulent year.’’

John Barker, managing director of Humidity Solutions, said: “The chance to

work with what has been the name for electrode boiler humidifiers in the UK over the past 40 years was too good an opportunity to pass by. We are delighted to be the exclusive distributor in the UK and to be able to add our experience, expertise and application knowledge to the brand.’’

Humidity Solutions offers free design, site surveys and quotations, with a full range of after sales services such as installation, technical support, servicing and planned maintenance.

The company can deliver standard spares and humidifiers from stock, which it says means a full turnkey solution with support from design right through the unit’s working life.

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R E F R IGE R A N T S

The cold facts about low-GWP refrigerants There has to be give and take when it comes to selecting the most appropriate refrigerant for a given application, says Tim Mitchell, sales director of Klima-Therm.

The chemistry surrounding refrigerants is complex and inevitably involves an element of compromise. Most low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants, for example, are also unstable and volatile. This means the gas will be flammable and sometimes explosive, as is the case with hydrocarbon refrigerants such as propane or isobutane.

With the exception of CO2, which has its own limitations, the only way to guarantee a non-flammable refrigerant gas is to accept a higher GWP. However, this goes against both the spirit and the letter of the latest F-Gas regulations, a set of legally binding European Union (EU) rules on the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F gases) like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), including the complete phase out and banning of some very high GWP HFCs. F-Gas impacts anyone who manufactures, uses or services equipment that contains F gases, produces or wholesales F gas, and imports or exports F gas, or equipment containing F gas, to or from the EU.

2015

Average GWP=2000* 100%

Important message

Knowledge and experience is critical to successfully transitioning to lower GWP refrigerants, but disseminating this is proving a big challenge in the commercial and industrial sectors. Supermarkets are well served because a handful of people at the major outlets know about refrigerant legislation changes and are thus able to make informed decisions.

However, even in larger businesses in the commercial and industrial sectors, everything is often done at site level with the site chief engineer typically the key influencer. This makes getting the message across about the transition to lower GWP refrigerants far tougher. But we, as an industry, have to try.

A number of lower GWP alternative refrigerants are available to retrofit existing R404A equipment. There are also long-established alternative fluids for some applications including hydrocarbons, ammonia and CO2, but these require engineers to deal with limitations on charge volumes, some toxicity, flammability or higher working pressures.

There is currently, however, no known non-flammable alternative for R410A. As a result, contractors need the right training and must also make sure they are using the appropriate recovery equipment to deal with flammable and toxic substances.

New types of refrigerant â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Hydro Fluoro

F-gas phase-down & average GWP

93%

2022

Average GWP = 900* 63%

2030

Average GWP = 400*

45% 31%

2015

2016-17

2018-20

2021-23

2024-26

24%

2027-29

21% 2030

*Source European Commission

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REFRIG ERANTS

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Klima-Therm has installed more than 350 chillers using propane for a major supermarket chain

Olefins or HFOs – are starting to gain traction. These are thermally stable and have a short atmospheric life. A feature of many of these products (and some existing refrigerants such as R32 and ammonia) is that they exhibit low flammability and hence a new classification has been introduced to cover this feature – A2L – indicating ‘low flammable’ gases.

Positive outcome Low flammable refrigerants are difficult to burn. R32 and HFO refrigerants, for example, can be ignited with a bare flame, but as soon as the flame is taken away, the fire goes out; the flame doesn’t propagate in a way that it would with a hydrocarbon such as propane or butane.

However, HFOs are unsuitable as ‘dropin’ replacement refrigerants so anyone designing a system today that might need to use traditional HFC gas should consider the cost implication of that system potentially having to be ripped out and completely replaced before it reaches it’s natural ‘end of life’.

Of course, flammability is not unheard of in cooling systems. My own business, Klima-Therm, for example, has installed more than 350 chillers using propane (a highly flammable refrigerant gas) in

a major supermarket chain. The risks around this were mitigated in design and construction by the professional teams involved and are managed in operation by our highly trained personnel and enhanced user awareness.

Indeed, it is a positive outcome that refrigerant flammability will oblige us, as an industry, to become even more highly trained and professional. www.klima-therm.co.uk

The impact of GWP GWP is measured on a 100-year base that indicates the relative effect of gases over the course of 100 years standardised to CO2 (which has a GWP of 1). Basing it on any other time frame would change the GWP value.

Greenpeace and others have debated whether there is a case for changing the base number to 20, both to reflect the high short-term damage that HFCs can do and because we don’t have 100 years to solve the problem of global warming.

Low GWP refrigerants are generally ‘mildly’ flammable once they get below a value of around 700, moving towards potentially explosive at the very low end.

The drive to reduce GWP will have a number of effects: • Regulations must become more ‘joined up’, charge size limitations will have to be adjusted and refrigeration/air conditioning (AC) machinery will need to be redesigned.

• Ultimately, we are going to have to become more comfortable with flammable gases in our environment, so the HVAC sector will have to upskill.

• Leaking refrigerant pipework will become a health and safety issue which means everybody will have to take it a whole lot more seriously and be better trained to deal with it.

• Flammability of refrigerants will drive collaboration in the construction process and will force the installation of HVAC equipment very much to the fore on the critical path. As a result, rushing to finish jobs will have to end.

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R E F R IGE R A N T S

Crossing continents A-Gas commercial director Enzo Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Alessio on how refrigeration practices, rules and regulations differ across the world.

Innovation by the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry means that we are well placed in the world league table of nations looking to reduce their global warming impact.

Equipment manufacturers, suppliers and contractors have seized the opportunity to take on board the demands of the F-Gas Regulations and show the rest of the world that change can be managed in a way to benefit everyone. In the coming months we will be saying goodbye to virgin R404A as the UK industry opts for low GWP alternatives and reaps the benefits of using reclaimed gases to reduce its reliance on high GWP refrigerants.

The F-Gas Regulations apply to all EU countries but how successful implementation has and will be often differs between nations and sectors. To a great extent the supermarkets in the UK and in other EU countries have led the way. They have grasped the nettle in the use of new equipment or retrofitted existing packs. The supermarket majors should be praised for getting on with the job of adapting to the F-Gas changes There is no doubt that reclamation and recovery is growing in importance across the world. The A-Gas Rapid Recovery Service is making an impact in the UK after its launch in 2017.

The Regulatory Landscape We work in an industry with a history of regulatory change and innovation.

What we do and how we do it is shaped by local legislation resulting in no two territories being the same.

CFCs Europe Australia

HCFCs

HFCs

HFOs

Cylinders

Key: Phased Out Phase-Down (quota) Sale of Reclaim Only Unregulated Available (low demand)

America

Returnables

South Africa

Disposables

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REFRIG ERANTS

Faster recovery Later this year A-Gas Rapid Recovery will extend its service to the Benelux countries and Germany, offering refrigerant recovery many times faster than traditional recovery units. This follows the successful launch of Rapid Recovery in Australia and South Africa, two countries where the rules and regulations around refrigeration products differ again. You only have to look at the use of disposable cylinders in South Africa to recognise they have a long way to go before they are on the same page as the UK. The Benelux venture will build on the A-Gas purchase of Dutch refrigerant recycler BTC in 2017 and the German automotive expert, AFK, in 2018.

The BTC facility in Eygelshoven – close to the German and Belgian borders – is well placed geographically and has been equipped with a new separator to handle reclaimed refrigerants on the continent.

Reclamation and recovery are playing key roles in ensuring that we are making the most of the refrigerants already in use and reducing our reliance on virgin supplies.

In many circumstances the use of reclaim can be a temporary fix for customers who are yet to decide on their low GWP preference.

It’s not gone unnoticed that if you are an EU state bordering a non-EU country in southern Europe you are likely to have issues with illegal imports. Shady products available online in disposable containers can give a clear indication that these gases are not all they claim to be.

My advice is that if you do notice anything online that suggests that the gas is suspicious you should report it to the authorities. Customs in the UK are doing their best to stop illegal supplies

and we appear to have tighter controls on our borders, so I believe that we are making progress here. As for Brexit, A-Gas trades both ways with our Continental counterparts and we will be looking for the best business outcomes whatever the end game.

Beyond borders The view from across the North Atlantic is different as the US has no regulations to drive a GWP phase down. In some parts of the US there is a mood for change but international climate policies are not high on the White House to-do list.

39

Don’t forget that R448A and R449A low GWP alternatives are American products so the US has the necessary to make the switch if it wants to. With no legislative push to ditch high GWP refrigerants and no HFC quota mechanisms place, as it hasn’t ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, there is currently little desire to switch.

The rest of the world would like the US to do so but this is very much a domestic US political issue and one which will have to be resolved on the home front. So currently you will have to look outside the US for the drivers of change.

A-Gas Rapid Recovery has been launched in Canada and we are confident that this will be a success. Canada differs from its US neighbour as it has signed up to the Kigali Amendment. It has a refillable cylinder market and has the same attitude to reducing the use of high GWP products as the UK. Earlier this year A-Gas bought the Singapore-based refrigerant company VEMAC Services. The business is a market leader in recovery, reclamation and sales of refrigerants in Singapore and neighbouring countries. The regulation timelines may be different but Singapore is progressive in managing refrigerants and there is a huge amount of air conditioning equipment being replaced or upgraded to more efficient products or low GWP gases.

This is driving good growth and we believe this is prime A-Gas territory.

At A-Gas we are used to working beyond borders to do business. We believe that the key to prospering in these markets is having the flexibility to adapt to their differences – and having the right products and services that can cross continents.

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R E F R IGE R A N T S

Working to develop long-term solutions Mexichem believes UK expertise will help to shape the future of refrigerants. David Todd visited Runcorn to find out more.

Mexichem expects to make a significant contribution the future direction of the global refrigerant market, thanks in no small measure to the depth of knowledge and expertise in the UK. While other manufacturers have dominated recent headlines, Mexichem has kept a low profile. But Sarah Hughes, commercial director of the company’s Fluor Business Group, believes that is about to change. She has been with the business since it was part of ICI and points to a rich heritage at the company’s UK base in Runcorn. She said: “Some of the people here today were involved back then and, like me, have come through the transitions from CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs and now we are on to the fourth generation. So we have an extended background in the technology.’’

Value of knowledge The outlook changed following Mexichem’s acquisition of INEOS Group’s fluor business in 2010. “The company recognises the value of the knowledge in the business,’’ said Hughes.

“They see that we have some very good development work going on here and we now have the backing in terms of investment that we didn’t have before, which is great.

“All the R&D for the refrigerant business

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worldwide is done here in the UK and we are now in a position where we feel we can help shape the future of the business.

“If you look as F-Gas and the phasedown timings, by 2030 the average GWP needs to be around 300. Today we are probably at 1500, so we are focusing on the endgame and how low we can get these new products.

“The interims are great because they are replacing the very high GWP products but ultimately we need to get down to 300.’’

Mexichem recently announced that it would distribute Honeywell’s R448A in the UK and EU as Klea 448A to help bridge the gap for retail customers. Sarah said: “The retail sector is very important and this gives us a lower GWP offering when our focus is on developing ultra-low GWP products and longterm solutions.’’

Natural step Sarah Hughes is commercial director of Mexichem's Fluor Business Group

Route to market Mexichem sells direct to OEMs and through distributors. Its well established route to market in the UK is via Harp, then Dean & Wood.

This relationship dates back to the ICI era.

Mexichem’s move to acquire the business was a natural step for the world’s biggest supplier of fluorspar. It accounts for more than 20% of global supply and produces 1.2m tonnes a year from the largest of its mines in Mexico.

China has more fluorspar deposits but with more locations and much smaller mining operations. In addition, the

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REFRIG ERANTS

41

The business

fluorspar from Mexico has considerably higher purity than the one from China.

The fluorspar then goes to the hydrogen fluoride (HF) facility close to the US Mexican border and then feeds into the world’s largest R134a plant in Louisiana, giving Mexichem a unique mine-to-market operation. The company also has an R134a plant in Japan, designed and set up by current Mexichem UK business director Dave Smith during the ICI days.

The F-Gas phasedown means the use of R134a in Europe will decline but Mexichem predicts a fairly stable lifetime over the next decade, with its use actually growing in some countries, including China.

Around 40% of the refrigerant produced by Mexichem is for the automotive market.

Runcorn was the site of the world’s first R134a manufacturing plant, later converted to produce R125 for use in R410A. The company, along with many others, went through a difficult period with Chinese

Globally, Mexichem is a leading provider of products and solutions across multiple sectors of industry and commerce, from construction and infrastructure to agriculture, healthcare, transportation, telecommunications and energy.

It has expanded quickly over the last decade, mainly through acquisition but also through organic growth, with revenues up to around US$6bn in 2017. Fluor represents about a third in turnover of the overall business, with the global business having around 23,000 employees and close to 200 in the UK.

imports and struggled to make money on refrigerants at that point, leading to the closure of the R125 plant.

Medical focus Refrigerants are no longer manufactured at Runcorn, with medical now forming the main part of the operation. The site takes the industrial R134a from the US and Japan and purifies it for use as a medical propellant in asthma inhalers. Mexichem has around 75% of the global market share on medical propellant (under the Zephex brand), with around 100 million people currently using inhalers powered by Zephex.

Mexichem supplies the purified R134a to the big pharmaceutical companies, who then combine it with their drug formulation.

Mexichem is currently developing a new pharma business in the UK, looking at a lower-GWP replacement for R134a in medical propellants. “It’s a whole new business area,’’ says Hughes. “And very

important because there are so many asthma sufferers around the world.

“It ties in with the value of our R&D strengths here because we are looking at a whole range of new concepts, including air conditioning for electric vehicles and of course the next generation industrial refrigerants.’’ www.mexichemfluor.com

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42

E QU IP ME N T

The toughest bag you will ever own Scott Davies, UK sales director for JAVAC UK, explains why the VETO Pro Pac Tech Series are the tool bags to have in your van in 2019.

The VETO Pro Pac Tech Series tool bags from JAVAC are the toughest tool bags you will ever own. A bold statement, but one with weight behind it. Gone is the “one size fits all” approach, replaced with tool bags designed specifically for installers who need to store and carry a wide variety of hand tools, gauges and meters.

The VETO Tech-Pac

Comfort and durability

The VETO Tech-XL

Every tradesperson knows the difference a great quality tool bag can make when it comes to carrying valuable tools to and from jobs. Make the wrong choice and you could end up with an uncomfortable, badly made bag which just doesn’t do what it promised - often an expensive mistake to make.

The right tools for the job are often unavoidably heavy and cumbersome.

Some tools bags may appear fit for purpose but quickly succumb to a lot of wear and tear when faced with the life of a busy engineer or installer, resulting in frequent, costly tool bag replacements.

Whilst to the untrained eye it may not be obvious, those in the trades know that there is no such thing as “just a tool bag”. Every installer knows what they need from their humble tool bag and as such, they are often held to very high expectations!

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Featuring heavy duty fastenings and zips as well as large tool pockets, the VETO Pro Pac Tech Series bags are perfect for even the most bulky tools. Tough, hinged handles come as standard and are designed to be as comfortable as they are reliable, while heavy duty rivets protect the body of the bag from scuffs and scratches. We understand that comfort is as important as durability which is why the Tech Series bags feature strong, padded straps, perfect for even the heaviest of tool collections.

Everything you need Maximised storage capacity means the installer can be prepared for every eventuality - carrying even the “just in case” tools, rather than having to make a choice on what might be needed before arriving at the job. Tools are easy to access thanks to the large main compartment allowing easy visibility. All the bags feature a convenient waterproof base and weatherproof body fabric, meaning your tools are always protected against the elements.

The Tech Pac even comes with a Hi-Viz option, making you more visible on jobs which may involve working in lower visibility conditions.

Also coming with a 5 year zero downtime warranty, the VETO Pro Pac Tech Series range of tool bags really does have it all. Tough, durable and enviably cool, these bags have got you covered.

VETO Pro Pac Tech Series AX3501 - Tech-Pac Tool Bag AX3503 - Tech-XL Tool Bag AX3500 - Tech-LC Tool Bag AX3502 - Tech-Pack LT Tool Bag AX3513 - Tech MCT Tool Bag AX3514 - Tech OT-MC Tool Bag AX3515 - Tech Hi-Viz AX3516 - Tech MC

See the full range of VETO Pro Pac tool bags at www.javac.co.uk

Volume 5 No.3

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PRO DUCTS & SERVICES

The Innovation Zone

43

The guide to what’s new for ACR Journal readers, offering vital industry news.

ORANGE ADDED TO SMELLYJELLY RANGE

HANWELL UNVEILS SMART APP

Advanced Engineering has added a new orange option to its SmellyJelly range of fragrancing gels.

Hanwell Solutions has launched a smart app which it says can provide critical environment alerts at the touch of a button, from anywhere in the world. The EMS Alarms app is an add-on to the hardware/ software combination of Hanwell’s EMS platform, Hanwell Pro and Hanwell IceSpy.

SmellyJelly is designed for engineers to add a fresh finish when servicing ACR equipment and Advanced says an improved formula, plus foil-seal packaging, means the gel blocks can survive to 65°c and last for up to six weeks.

The range, which also includes Citrus, Floral, Apple, Morning and Mountsain Fresh, is available for both original SmellyJelly – designed for large fan coil and cassette units – and SmellyJelly Minis for smaller fan coil units.

Advanced marketing manager Andrew Harvey, said: “Unfortunately, with ACR servicing, clients will often fail to notice your great work. After all, your job prevents problems, so that noticeable issues – mechanical failure, and stale, tepid air – are prevented.

“In a competitive servicing market, SmellyJelly is a finishing touch which will get your work noticed. They can make the difference between a good service and an exceptional one – a one-off job, and a returning client.”

www.advancedengineering.co.uk

Centralised environmental monitoring is vital to avoid spoilage for sectors such as food, pharmaceuticals and healthcare.

Ian Robinson, Hanwell CEO, said: “There have been suggestions that people are becoming too addicted to their smartphones, however this is one case where your phone or tablet could save you a fortune in spoiled products by warning you wherever you are if conditions are compromised.

“Our hardware has been future-proofed to accept new applications like the app so that we can not only keep pace with the times but stay well ahead of them. We are proud of our unrivalled reputation for drive and innovation – backed by reliable, robust and technologically superior products manufactured in the UK, and our app is yet another example of how we are meeting demand for instantaneous and far-reaching data access and control across multiple market sectors.”

www.hanwell.com

AIRWALL DEBUTS AT DATA CENTRE WORLD Airedale unveiled its new fan wall solution, AireWall, at the Data Centre World exhibition in London.

An evolution of a bespoke air handling unit that has been supplied by Airedale for several years, it removes the need for both pressurised raised floor systems and overhead cooling systems, with several options available ranging from 170-400kW cooling power.

GEA LAUNCHES 6-CYLINDER COMPRESSOR GEA has unveiled a new 6-cylinder semi-hermetic compressor for large capacities in refrigeration and air conditioning.

With the HG66e series, four sizes cover the range from 116.5 to 180.0 m3/h displacement (at 50 Hz). They replace the previous 4- and 6-cylinder series HG6 and HG7. GEA now offers seven model sizes with 25 displacement stages from 5.4 m3/h to 281.3 m3/h (at 50 Hz) in the entire HG series.

The AireWall comprises a filter and fan bank, a damper section and a chilled water heat exchanger. The damper section can be installed separately to maintain a clean data hall environment and individual sections can be removed for maintenance. Integrated, intelligent controls mean it is self-regulating and highly adaptive to changing loads and the range has been designed to operate at low SFP to help achieve low installation PUE. Modular design lends itself to new build data centres as well as upgrades, capacity expansions and equipment replacements in existing facilities.

The new compressors are equipped with the latest version of the mexxFlow 2.0 valve plate system, pictured, for greater resistance and consistently high efficiency.

Airedale has developed the AireWall range to be utilised with the new Bluefin fans from Ziehl-Abegg, which claim an efficiency increase of up to 15% and re4duced noise.

www.gea.com

www.airedale.com

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To advertise your product in this section please contact jordan.paylor@warnersgroup.co.uk

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44

R E F R IGE R AT ION

Safe use of ammonia systems Ed Whinyates of Stonegrove Refrigeration explains why this natural refrigerant is a logical long-term solution with the right installation and operation.

Ammonia is a natural refrigerant that has been used across a number of industries for more than 150 years. The food processing and temperature controlled storage industries use ammonia as the refrigerant of choice in many industrial applications.

The continued phase-out of man-made refrigerants has had an impact on end users considering the use of natural refrigerants.

With a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 0 and zero Ozone Depleting Potential, ammonia offers a level of security and reassurance that F-gases will never be able to achieve under current legislation. Being eco-friendly, as well as energy efficient, the long term suitability of ammonia is excellent.

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Industry regulations There are a number of challenges to installing and running an ammonia refrigeration system. Even though ammonia is a natural refrigerant, it is highly toxic and flammable. Because of this there are UK and EU laws and regulations in place that apply to ammonia in refrigeration.

These ensure the safe installation and operation of refrigeration systems. The key ones are as follows: The Pressure System Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR), Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), EN378:2016 Refrigerating systems and heat pumps â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Safety and environment requirements (Part 1-4),

EN12693:2008 Refrigeration systems and heat pumps â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Safety and environmental requirements â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Positive displacement refrigerant compressors.

What to be aware of There are some important things to be aware of when using ammonia. It is a hazardous gas. Nonetheless it has a distinctive pungent odour which can normally be detected by smell - even in concentrations as low as 5 parts per million. It has been acknowledged that people who are used to it are able to work without discomfort in concentrations of approximately 100 parts per million.

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REFRIG ERATIO N

45

Maintenance and training

That being said, the consideration and implementation of safe design and operation of refrigeration systems is incredibly important - especially as ammonia becomes flammable at concentrations of between 16% and 25% by volume in air.

Industrial refrigeration companies, like Stonegrove Refrigeration, fully understand the risks from ammonia. It is vital to offer the end client a high level of reassurance, by designing and installing safe refrigeration systems. There are a number of ways to ensure this happens.

Precautions Industrial refrigeration companies are able to manage the risks by understanding ammonia refrigeration technology and the science of ammonia. Systems are designed, selected, installed and maintained correctly. We identify likely sources of leaks, so appropriate plant checks can be carried out by trained personnel. Effective control, monitoring, preventative and

protective measures are put in place to meet the specific requirements for Health & Safety regulations.

Designing and installing Every ammonia refrigeration system should start with an experienced designer.

When selecting refrigeration plant, they have been trained to understand risk and eliminate or minimise it through knowledge, experience and continued improvements in technology. By applying all of these they are able to comply with all current regulations such as PUWER, PER, PSSR, and DSEAR. Designers will also ensure that installed refrigeration plant complies with BS EN 378 Refrigeration systems and heat pumps, Safety and Environmental requirements â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Parts 1-4, and the IOR guidelines for Safety Code of Practice for Refrigerating Systems Utilising Refrigerant R-717 (Ammonia). All systems will have safe operating limits established to prevent the likelihood of system failure.

It accepted that training is the common factor to improving the safety record for ammonia. By training operators and maintenance engineers, it avoids errors that lead to the risk of serious harm or injury. Risks like these are dealt with by the development of appropriate risk assessments and safe systems of working (or method statements). This applies to any work that may expose personnel to risks and ensures the use of appropriate PPE, such as impervious clothing and gloves, use of goggles etc. Risk assessments also identify the safety critical features of refrigeration plant, so targeted maintenance is implemented to detect signs of potential problems. Companies like Stonegrove will always provide a recommended schedule for inspection and maintenance.

Why ammonia?

Although ammonia itself can be viewed as dangerous, it has been said that ammonia systems are the safest. Ammonia systems are heavily regulated, particularly for those with larger charges of refrigerant.

However, even industrial applications donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily require large amounts.

Ammonia can be used in smaller charges, with a secondary refrigerant such as CO2 or Glycol. This method can also lend itself to smaller applications. Industrial refrigeration companies that work with ammonia have experienced designers and engineers who are trained and compliant right through the process of design, installation, commissioning and continued planned preventative maintenance. Using natural refrigerants, like ammonia, is the logical step in the continued evolution of the refrigeration industry.

To find out how Stonegrove can help with your refrigeration requirements, please contact 01279 408690 ed@stonegroverefrigeration.co.uk www.stonegroverefrigeration.co.uk

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46

R E F R IGE R AT ION

No two days are ever the same...

Joe Birch of SJJ System Services received the IOR Service Engineers Section Lifetime Achievement Award, supported by the ACR Journal, at the IOR Annual Dinner. Here he reflects on more than 30 years in the environmental chamber climatic control business.

I started my working life as a maintenance electrician in a heavy engineering company.

I was there for 10 years after serving a 5-year electrical apprenticeship and thinking back it was a good grounding for years to come.

In 1989 I joined Fisons Scientific Equipment as a lab technician building prototype test chambers. This is where I got my introduction to refrigeration, doing some basic pipework and helping the development engineers with testing etc, not realising then that I had jumped into the deep end involving cascade refrigeration.

I attended Grimsby Technical College in 1996 to complete a City & Guilds course in refrigerant handling... I think it was the pre runner to City & Guilds 2076.

During my time with Fisons, later to become Sanyo Gallenkamp, I worked my way up to becoming a development engineer and later installation and commissioning engineer. My work involved installing and commissioning large walk-in/drive-in rooms and chambers for a customer base involving vehicle manufacture, military, aerospace, horticultural research.

I have worked for Design Environmental, a major manufacturer of environmental equipment in the UK, later to become Weiss Technik, and for the last three years I have worked for SJJ System Services

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based in South Wales as a field service engineer. I have known and worked with Steve, [Jones, the managing director], along with Mark and Tony, two other engineers, for 20 years. Also Catheryn, our office manager, who keeps the work force of nine on their toes. We install, maintain, refurb all types of environmental test equipment.

I do not have a typical day due to the diversity of products I work on. For example, one day could be working on a plant growth room controlling temperature, humidity and light levels for wheat research and the next I could be out on the firing ranges in Cumbria. Did you know artillery shells have to be proof tested?

Part of that test is the shells have to be conditioned at -54°C and then fired, so the test chamber maintaining -54°C needs to be mobile along with its generator, out

Dr Mark McLinden, Joe Birch, IOR president Kevin Glass, Chris Druce and Eman Hussein at the 119th IOR Annual Dinner at the Grange St Paul's Hotel in London

next to the gun that is firing. The next day something different again.

Most of the equipment in a cooling mode defies standard refrigeration concepts, no such thing as sub-cooling or super heat when a chamber is cycling between +160°C and -40°C at 10°C/min liner for maybe 20 cycles and on a dwell temperature fluctuation is approx. +/- 0.2 the compressor is rarely off, putting a massive stress on compressor and the manufacturer’s warranty!

A modern field service engineer is a multi-skilled engineer working on electrical and refrigeration equipment – he needs to be qualified in all disciplines.

The most significant change in my career has to be the issue of global warming, the introduction of F-Gas regulations and the phase out of refrigerants like R23, one of the real bad boys with a GWP of 14,800, so 1kg of R23 has a CO2 potential of 14.8 tonnes. As yet we and users of chambers requiring a low test of -70°C do not have a proven alternative for R23, which must be a real concern for those using such low temperature testing for example the military and aerospace.

The introduction of hydrocarbons as a replacement is another challenge. With all the equipment that we engineers need for our daily job to reclaim, pressure test, repair etc, we almost need a vehicle like Thunderbird 2 from the 1960s puppet show, that was able to select a different ‘pod’ of equipment for a specific task and off it went.

Now I’m showing my age!

PS: My small part of our industry is very diverse and rewarding and we do need engineers. So please contact SJJ if you are interested...

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REFRIG ERATIO N

Identifying new refrigerants The IOR’s most prestigious award, the J&E Hall International Gold Medal, which recognises the most noteworthy practical contribution globally to the field of refrigeration, air conditioning or heat pumps, was awarded to Dr Mark McLinden from the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) in the USA. Dr McLinden was the principal investigator for a five-year project funded by the US Department of Energy to identify new, environmentally friendly refrigerants.

His team applied its combined expertise in chemistry, thermodynamics and refrigeration to the research which the judging panel recognised had greatly helped the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and chemical industries to comply with international regulations.

“I am very honoured and somewhat surprised to receive this award,” said Dr McLinden, who is based at NIST in Boulder, Colorado.

“When you look at the list of past recipients of the J & E Hall Gold Medal you see folks who are absolute leaders in the refrigeration field – so it’s an honour to join that group. I know a few of the past recipients personally. I’m surprised perhaps because the award usually seems to go to people who invent a new technology or perhaps implement a technology in some new way.

“My work is much more fundamental thermodynamics, so it’s a little bit out of the mainstream of refrigeration technology. It’s very nice to see the fundamental thermodynamics that I work in being recognised.”

Exhaustive screening Using machine and computer-led artificial intelligence, Dr McLinden’s team identified the fundamental thermodynamic characteristics of the ideal refrigerant. They then carried out a systematic and exhaustive screening of a comprehensive database of 60 million molecules to identify those with the right characteristics. Eventually a set of 27 best candidates was identified. No fluid was found to be ideal in all respects and the study recommended refrigerant blends as a way to find a compromise between competing environmental, safety and performance requirements. Work to identify the best blends is continuing.

The Lightfoot Medal, for the best IOR talk or webinar presenter, went to Chris Druce for his paper and talk “The Impact of Refrigerant Charge on the Capacity and Efficiency of a System Containing Low GWP Refrigerants”. Chris received a prize donated by Lightfoot Defence.

Chris joined Star Refrigeration as an industrial refrigeration apprentice over a decade ago and is now service manager at the Oxford branch. He previously won the IOR’s Ted Perry Award for student research.

The winner of the Ted Perry Award for Student Research was Eman Hussein of the University of Birmingham. Eman’s work involved developing advanced metal organic framework materials with high water adsorption capacity. This included investigating both the theoretical assessment of these materials and the practical development of the absorption heat pump. The judges commented on the vision of Eman’s research which “shows in-depth knowledge of applications where solar energy and waste heat sources can be used to produce cooling.” The prize was supported by Hawco and the IOR Ted Perry Memorial Fund.

47

'Engineering our future’

Institute of Refrigeration president Kevin Glass says the industry must project its story to capture the imaginations of young people looking for stimulating and rewarding careers.

Speaking to more than 400 guests at the IOR’s 119th Annual Dinner in London, he said: “A real concern of mine, not just in relation to our own industry but all engineering professions, is the lack of skills we keep hearing about. It has been an issue for as long as I have been employed in the industry and it is a challenge that we really must rise to.

“We need to project our story and our appeal onto society as a whole, to capture the attention and imaginations of young people looking for stimulating and rewarding careers.’’

Fantastic Fridges, the IOR website aimed at introducing the cooling industry to young people from Key Stage 2 onwards, is due to be relaunched in June and the new IOR Young Engineers’ Network, which held a meeting just before the dinner, is being developed to provide a forum for the new recruits and young engineers in the industry.

Another key focus is engaging new members, particularly younger ones. The IOR Membership Committee is finalising an initiative called the Membership Development Pathway to provide a clear route for applicants to progress from their current level of membership to the next.

Mr Glass expressed his thanks to members and officers who have recently stepped down from positions on IOR committees. These included immediate past-president Steve Gill, who “continues to champion this industry on an almost daily basis” and Andy Pearson who has recently stepped down as chair of the technical committee: “The IOR – and indeed all of us – owe Andy a debt for his time and commitment in these roles, and his contribution to other IOR committees.” The next chair of the technical committee will be David Paget, who himself has been a committee member for many years.

Chris Vallis and Graeme Maidment, whose terms of office on the IOR Board of Trustees have now ended, were thanked for their contribution over the past years, and Jacinta Caden and Graeme Fox were welcomed to the board.

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R E F R IGE R AT ION

Telling our story to the world Stephen Gill, the driving force behind the inaugural World Refrigeration Day on June 26, reflects on the story so far.

It was an extraordinary moment. On February 18 in Paris, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction announced it had joined the growing coalition of partners around the world that are supporting World Refrigeration Day (WRD).

The announcement was made jointly by Dr Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, Head of OzonAction, and myself. To have the opportunity to speak to a UNEP meeting about our industry and what it does for the world was both an honour and a privilege. On a personal level, it is something that I will never forget and as someone representing our industry it is a dream come true. We now have the platform of a WRD to do what we have always tried to do. The ball is now firmly in our court.

Why have a WRD? There are now international or world days for just about everything, some of them frivolous and some extremely serious. If we take the positives from the successful ones, they do serve to draw focus and raise awareness of some very important issues

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or causes that may otherwise struggle for attention.

Many within the industry will agree that our industry is often described as hidden and rarely attracts attention for the right reasons. Often it is when something fails or, recently, for its environmental impact.

And yet, as the UNEP announcement pointed out, refrigeration in one form or another plays a significant role in modern life and human comfort.

This lack of awareness by those outside our industry often leads to misunderstandings or simply blind dismissal of it. The lack of appreciation leads to more than just a mild frustration, it also affects career advice and representation to government, amongst many other issues. It excludes us from so much.

The question of how we raise our profile has long troubled industry leaders, with many good initiatives always underway.

But despite these valiant efforts progress has been slow. WRD is potentially different in that it presents an opportunity for all

stakeholders to work together to achieve the aim of raising awareness.

The background The concept of an international or world refrigeration day is not new. Indeed, there have been attempts ever since the first World Refrigeration Congress held in Paris in 1908. However, these have attracted limited attention and where often only celebrated locally (nationally).

So, what is different this time around?

It is difficult to say exactly why previous attempts have failed but when I set out upon a mission to establish WRD almost a decade ago, I had some clear ideas as to what I felt would lead to success: ° To be successful, WRD had to be a global event. It is no use celebrating WRD in one part of the world only. ° To become global, it was essential to gain the support of national trade associations and professional bodies in the different countries and regions ° To look beyond the immediate industry bodies and involve those from the wider community. ° WRD couldn’t ‘belong’ to any one national body. ° One date must be agreed upon by all.

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REFRIG ERATIO N When I first floated the idea to a number of associations it was always welcomed, but the issue of fixing a date that was agreeable to all proved extremely difficult.

Whilst many liked the idea of a WRD, they also held strong opinions regarding the date. There are many suitable dates in the calendar, all with valid reasons, which led to endless debates without resolution. To break the deadlock I proposed June 26.

In many ways, it was a compromise, but not one without merit: June 26 is Lord Kelvin’s birthday.

No one would claim that this great polymath scientist is the father of refrigeration, but his name is used for the absolute temperature scale, and he was the first to describe heat pumps as early as in the 19th century; predicted their use.

This connection to absolute zero, and to heat pumps, completed the desire to make WRD not just about any one particularly application or technology. It embraced heating, too, so fitted perfectly the idea of a day being for refrigeration in the widest sense of the word.

being involved in this type of organisation will know just how difficult it is for them to respond quickly or be flexible. Often they are headed by volunteers and hold only a few board meetings a year. There were no shortcuts but the effort paid off in June 2018, when Graeme Fox from REFCOM and then Marco Buoni of AREA officially expressed their organisations’ support for WRD 2019. More support quickly followed from the IOR, IIR, ARIAH and ASHRAE. This support grew rapidly with backing from associations all over the world.

It was the support from so many national industry trade associations and professional bodies that represent many of the millions of women, men, and enterprises who work in this sector that attracted UNEP’s attention. OzonAction is the first United Nations body to join the coalition and reaches 147 nations and regions, many of which don’t have strong national industry associations. With UNEP’s involvement, we truly do have a World Refrigeration Day. And we have reached this stage without any budget whatsoever, so I am very grateful to all the people who have given their support and time along the way.

Growing support

What’s next

The date was agreed and fixed in early 2016. Then began the process of gaining buy-in from international associations and bodies. Anyone who has experience of

June 26 2019 will be the inaugural day of what is planned to be an annual event, with discussions already under way to make 2020 a week-long celebration.

Why June 26?

49

The aim of the first year has always been to begin the process of raising awareness of the diversity of the industry. Hence the theme for 2019 is diversity in terms of applications, systems, technology, locations, people and careers, etc.

To highlight how this, WRD is inviting those working in the industry to take a photograph of themselves with a card describing briefly what they do and where they are. The possibilities are as endless as the diversity of this amazing industry.

We also want the general public to be involved, by taking photos of their domestic fridges, ac units or heat pumps, and to take time on the day to explain to younger family members or pupils what refrigeration is and what it means to their daily lives.

It is planned to have a launch to the wider public on April 15 but any industry individual or organisation wishing to be involved should contact me steve@worldrefrigerationday.org More details will be available at www.worldrefrigerationday.org

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R E F R IGE R AT ION

Taking care of hospital cooling Compatability enables existing air handling units to be retained Six new J & E Hall commercial condensing units are playing a key role at a busy hospital. The installation of the units to provide cooling for operating theatres at Warrington Hospital in Cheshire highlighted the versatility and the energy efficiency capabilities of the J & E Hall technology.

Mark Gledhill, managing director of Huddersfield-based Crowther and Shaw, which carried out the installation, said it was decided to replace the six existing outdoor units mounted on the hospital building roof with CCUs from the J & E Hall Fusion Scroll range.

The JEHS-1000-B4-M3 units supplied by Thermofrost Cryo were chosen because of their compatibility with the air handling units inside the building. Fusion and Fusion Scroll commercial refrigeration units are the ideal solution for commercial refrigeration sectors where noise, size and reliability are paramount.

Housed in a cabinet made of electrogalvanised mild steel with an anti-corrosion treatment and coated in baked polyester powder paint, the units are able to withstand the most stringent weather testing.

The integral IP54 rated control panel

provides further protection to all essential electrical components. All units are acoustically lined. The Fusion Scroll units house the extremely efficient Copeland scroll compressor and the standard Fusion range has a highly-reliable reciprocating compressor fitted with a jacket to further reduce noise.

All components are fitted during manufacture to save the installer time and money. Fusion and Fusion Scroll condensing units are available for both medium and low temperature applications.

Cost-effective solution Compatibility was a key issue in the Warrington Hospital installation. “The hospital wanted us to try and retain the cooling coils within the existing air handling units. In order to do so we had to find a system that would operate on a similar refrigerant to the original R407c,” said Mark.

“We ended up choosing the J & E Hall units operating on R449a. R449a and R407c are very similar as far as cooling capacity and operating pressures go. That allowed us to change the outside units, recalibrate

Mark Gledhill, managing director of Huddersfield-based Crowther and Shaw

the expansion valves and set the system to work with the new outdoor units.

“The original units were probably around 20 years old and showing their age so when everything was weighed up, it was agreed that replacing them with new units was the most cost-effective solution.”

A crane was brought in to remove the old units from the roof and place the new in position. “The interconnected refrigeration pipework needed modifying to the new units as the connections were in a different place. We modified the electrical supply and generally tidied up and reinsulated the pipework outside,” Mark added.

“We spent a week on site overall and it went pretty smoothly. By using J & E Hall units we were able to retain the internal air handling units in their original condition. Had we used alternative equipment we would have had to change the indoor air handling coils because of the gas pressures.

“We install a lot of J & E Hall units and have done so for a number of years. We find them to be reliable, energy-efficient and easy to work on.” www.jehall.com

The new J & E Hall commercial condensing units installed at Warrington Hospital

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52

H E AT P U MP S

Time to look more closely at the connectivity of Increasing numbers of people across a wide range of occupations are looking more closely at heating and cooling equipment available from LG. Building occupiers, owners, designers, architects, contractors, specifiers, facilities management professionals and installers now have many options available to them to choose for heating and cooling their projects – domestic and commercial – and there are a myriad of reasons why they will select one type of equipment or another.

But for everyone, control and connectivity are increasingly heading up to the top of their lists.

The LG brand is huge across the world and ever more so in the UK, for its technically advanced consumer electronics that many of us have in our homes, in particular LG smart home appliances – like washing machines and fridges - as well as their TVs. LG is a growing force in the heating and cooling sector, now a serious player in the marketplace. Its reputation for the latest and most effective controls has seen its products in high demand, especially with those keen to maximize the connectivity of their systems and the ability to integrate heating or air conditioning systems with other domestic products or with building management systems.

home when they are away. This is now an optional accessory on LG’s commercial VRF indoor units, allowing the freedom for the occupier to easily control the unit in their office, remotely from their smartphone. No more heading back to the office to find it sweltering in the heat!

The recently launched R32 Monobloc range has already had a massive impact on the residential heat pump market. The unit is compact, meeting permitted planning permission guidelines, has a low GWP and an energy rating label of A+++. The new Monobloc units incorporate a new Scroll Type Compressor with a seasonal efficiency improvement of 7% over the previous rotary compressor.

Highly flexible

In control Recent growth has been helped significantly by the temperatures we have had here in the UK for much of the summer of 2018 – with regular temperatures of 30°C plus, and night time temperatures in the twenties making sleeping difficult up and down the country. The need to provide a comfortable working environment in commercial buildings of every size and construction type has also been amplified in recent years as weather patterns change. With warmer summers and extended periods of warmth than we’ve experienced previously, air conditioning is a much more common requirement in new build developments and increasingly in retrofit opportunities as well, in those home offices and summer houses that are going up everywhere.

LG’s smartThinQ already developed and

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used across their consumer products, works so well when connecting air conditioning or heat pumps to smart systems, controllable from a smart phone or tablet from anywhere in the world. smartThinQ enables connection to a range of equipment and appliances in the home, to remotely control their functionality. Many are attracted by the ability to be in control around the

LG is also seeing an increase in its smaller Multi V VRF systems being used within new build apartments and larger residential applications. The space saving, smaller air conditioning units that are able to heat and cool simultaneously, with the added production of hot water as required, along with the range of connectable indoor units, are proving a huge attraction to homeowners.

The units are highly flexible with long pipe lengths so the outdoor units can easily be located in areas where they do not impact on the look of the building. Due to the cutting edge technology inside, such as LG’s own designed and manufactured 5th generation compressor equipped with High Sided Shell (HSS) and a new Polytheretheketone (PEEK) bearing, the inverter system compressor can operate between 10Hz – 165Hz, increasing partial efficiencies, extending capacity and increasing reliability. The impressive energy efficiency of VRF systems means the payback period for the homeowner is quick and their home is always comfortable.

On the larger side, LG’s Multi V 5 units has recently been used to keep the cost of heating and hot water down for residents in 18 individual refurbished apartments for Kettering District Council in Northamptonshire. The Multi V 5 VRF System has been designed and installed as a district central heating system. The LG units connect

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ADVERTO RIAL to a number of hydro kits in the plant room for the production of hot water. The outdoor units are positioned out of sight, on the roof top, the long pipe runs connecting to hydro kits at ground level, are all easily accessible for maintenance without disturbing the tenants, who simply use a dial thermostat to control their radiator temperatures. The beauty of it is, it’s a cost neutral system and a low carbon system that all fits in perfectly with the council’s environmental policy. Maintenance is inexpensive too, because the majority of this is undertaken remotely, making the total annual cost of maintenance of the system, highly affordable.

The LG units incorporate the ultimate Inverter Compressor which improves

energy efficiency and enhances compressor reliability. It also incorporates Vapor Injection, which provides a twostage compression effect that provides efficient heating operation in low temperature conditions. The LG Multi V 5 offers biomimetics technology – with enhanced fans increasing air flow rate by up to 10% over standard fans whilst reducing power consumption by up to 20%. The extended shroud on the units provides higher heat exchanging capacity to increase the air flow rate and the four-sided heat exchanger improves heat transfer by up to 20%, which eventually enhances capacity and performance.

“The technology incorporated into the LG units was a major factor in our

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decision to work with LG and we’ve been impressed with the operation and performance achieved so far,” says Frank Martin from Frese – the installers of the system in this development.

The hot water aspects of the system are perfectly adequate for this building.

It’s capable of delivering water at 75 degrees C if required but will be modulated down to 60 degrees C to meet demand.

It's time to take a closer look at the options LG has to offer. You may be pleasantly surprised to find the solutions you’re looking for - for domestic or commercial heating and cooling - with connectivity and quality key to the LG package.

LG Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions Velocity 2, Brooklands Drive, Weybridge, KT13 0SL CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

https://partner.lge.com/uk

acrjournal.uk LG.indd 53

28/03/2019 13:18

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26/03/2019 17:56

Fluid Solutions diulFFluid Solutions for Heat Pumps Fluid Solutions H roffor Heat Pumps for Heat Pumps Fluid Solutions Fluid Solutions forPumps Heat Pumps for Heat

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A range of coolants for use in heat pump systems.

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H E AT P U MP S

A step in the right direction Reaction to the news that heating new homes with fossil fuels will end by 2025.

Photo by Tom Gowanlock / Shutterstock.com

Heat pump industry figures have welcomed the announcement by Chancellor Philip Hammond in his Spring Statement regarding an end to heating new homes with fossil fuels by 2025. His comments came in the wake of a recent report by the Committee on Climate Change.

The Future Homes Standard, to be introduced by 2025, aims to future-proof new-build homes with low carbon heating and ‘worldleading’ levels of energy efficiency.

Max Halliwell, communications manager, Mitsubishi Electric Heating and Ventilation Systems We welcome the comments made by the Chancellor and see this as a real acknowledgment that the way we heat our homes is no longer fit for purpose.

The announcement of the Future Homes Standard - to end fossil fuel heating systems in all new homes from 2025 – is certainly

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Details of the new standard are yet to be announced but the Government says it will be based on the Prime Minister’s Industrial Strategy Grand Challenge mission to at least halve the energy use of new buildings by 2030.

Here we present a round-up of reaction to both the initial report and the Spring Statement:

a step in the right direction. However, action must be taken now to ensure the residential building industry pivots away from its ‘business as usual’ approach, to providing their customers renewable heating technologies not as a costly alternative, but as the norm. We have a choice and abundance of such renewable technologies that are not being used to their full potential and our reliance on fossil-fuels, gas and carbon intensive sources are clearly not a sustainable option for the future.

For this country to meet its climate reduction commitments, we need to act fast to move to low-carbon renewable solutions. We need to future-proof our homes as pressure on energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions is only set to increase. This shift in mindset and the use of innovative technologies such as heat pumps, will become increasingly important to help create a sustainable environment for future generations.

Graham Wright, chairman, Heat Pump Association Although heat pumps can save considerable carbon emissions this has not been recognised yet in building regulation and the UK needs a mechanism to enable us to take advantage of the 10 years of investment in renewable power generation, which has seen a significant reduction in the amount of CO2 emitted per kWh generated.

Further investment in training is also required to enable the current cohort of boiler installers to be able to install renewable technologies, a task that the industry understands and will be working with all stakeholders to ensure we achieve.”

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HEAT PUMPS

Julia Evans, chief executive, BSRIA BSRIA is reassured that the Chancellor has put sustainable energy on the radar to combat climate change. His goal of all new homes to be heated sustainably from 2025 will help achieve this. The benefit of lower fuel bills for home owners is also a great boon. The overwhelming issue will be the adequacy of supply and the availability of infrastructure to support this.”

Guy Ransom, commercial director, Finn Geotherm

Retrofitting heat pumps in existing properties is where the greatest impact can be made on tackling emissions.

We’ve installed more than 600 heat pump systems in properties of all ages, shapes and sizes. There really is no limit to the type of building that can have a heat pump – the key is simply to ensure the heat pump specified will meet the heat demand and that it has the correct heat emitters (radiators) to be able to release the heat generated.

The CCC recommends the introduction of district heat networks for existing homes.

But why stop there? District heat networks (district heating) are particularly well suited to new housing estates too where streets of houses can all receive their heating and hot water from one communal heat pump.

It’s the norm in countries like Finland – and should be the same here in UK homes.

Retrofit or new build, every housing estate could run off a heat network.

We agree wholeheartedly that there is a skills gap created by the chopping and changing of UK Government policy. As a renewable heating installer, we have been affected by this. The uncertainty of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) has meant we have been unable to fully commit to investing in new staff and training. The RHI is set to end in April 2021 and may have a significant impact on the future growth of our business. The industry needs certainty.

The targets may seem challenging but they aren’t out of reach. We can make changes to have a real impact. Climate change won’t wait – why do we?

Bean Beanland, chairman, Ground Source Heat Pump Association The GSHPA welcomes the Chancellor’s announcement in his Spring Statement to end fossil fuel heating in all new homes from 2025. The ground source heat pump industry is ready to meet the challenge with a proven and efficient technology that can deliver to homeowners and tenants the lowest operating cost and carbon solution.

We look forward to working with the Government and others to make this a reality by contributing to the training and standards that will be required to ensure the strongest possible consumer confidence and protection in this growing market.

Simon Lomax, CEO, Kensa Group

​ e wholly embrace the CCC’s call for W urgent action and would hope the government would look to introduce this requirement before 2025. The report identified a skills gap, but the knowledge and technology is already here and is deploying at scale in more challenging retrofit applications.

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Government has delayed the introduction of any effective regulations that will encourage the deployment of heat pumps in new build housing. Thankfully, the Greater London Authority (GLA) has lost its patience and now requires planning applicants to base their energy strategies on the forthcoming carbon intensity factors proposed for the next generation of SAP, the software that demonstrates compliance with building regulations. As a result, London will lead the way.

For fast-track projects, shared ground loop installations qualify for subsidy support via the Non Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive, which runs until Spring 2021. Beyond that, it is likely that entities will emerge to fund, own and maintain the ground arrays in return for an annual connection fee so any developer can sidestep the cost burden. This will ensure that more efficient, reliable and durable ground source heat pumps will cost no more than air source heat pumps. In time, more innovative models will emerge which sell energy as a service for a fixed fee to any householder; a ground source heat pump is perfectly suited to this innovation.

Phil Hurley, managing director, NIBE Energy Systems It was great to see our recommendations reflected in the Committee on Climate Change’s UK Housing report. We are delighted to be acknowledged for our contribution and we look forward to continuing to work with the committee over the coming months. With plans to build 1.5 million new UK homes by 2022, it is essential that these homes are built to be low carbon, energy efficient and climate resilient. Heat pumps will play a significant role in our energy future and this report published today sets out a series of important recommendations for Government to enable the low carbon transition.”

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

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Ground source project 'landmark investment' £7.5m order hailed as a pioneering step towards improving existing housing stock.

Manufacturer Kensa will supply ground source heat pumps to replace night storage heaters in more than 700 homes following an order worth in excess of £7.5m over the next three years.

Kensa Heat Pumps and its contractual division, Kensa Contracting, will fulfil the order for Together Housing across Yorkshire and Lancashire and says the contract signals ‘the beginning of the end of inefficient heating infrastructure in the UK’.

A range of properties will take part in the upgrade, from bedsits to maisonettes, low rise flats, houses and bungalows. It is estimated the investment will reduce lifetime carbon emissions by up to 40 tonnes in bedsits to 200 tonnes in the three-bed flats, and Kensa says the project will result in massive emissions savings, comparable to a 5MW solar PV farm featuring 20,000 solar panels covering an area of 30 acres.

Tenant fuel bills will be reduced by typically 30-50%, annually saving around £150 per bedsit up to £500 per house.

Together Housing and Kensa say the investment is a major commitment to renewable heating

Benchmark Patrick Berry, managing director of Together Housing’s Energy Services, said: “This investment is a major commitment to ensuring our homes are affordable and energy efficient. Using renewable heat we can provide our customers with clean, comfortable, low cost energy and lower our carbon impact. It forms a part of Together Housing’s strategy to maximise the potential of renewable heat and power and we are delighted that the projects are now underway.”

The new ground source infrastructure will consist of a series of communal boreholes connected to individual heat pumps within each property. The shared ground loop array infrastructure is deemed a district heating system, qualifying the project to be partfunded via the Energy Company Obligation and receive a 20-year income via the Non Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive.

Dr Matthew Trewhella, managing director of Kensa Contracting, said: “Together

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Ground source heat pumps will provide heating for a range of properties in Yorkshire and Lancashire

Housing’s landmark investment in ground source heat pumps via the Procure Plus framework is a pioneering step by a social housing provider to address the emissions of existing housing stock and fuel poverty levels; their commitment to innovation, community, and the environment is a benchmark for fellow housing associations and new build developers to follow.

“Their commitment to renewable heat indicates a market transformation of the UK’s approach to heating infrastructure.

Substantiated by Government’s Spring Statement announcement of a future homes standard mandating the end of fossil-fuel heating systems in all new houses from 2025, following the recent Committee for Climate Change report

calling for the end of gas grid connections to new build housing in six years, this is the beginning of the end of inefficient heating infrastructure in the UK, on and off the gas grid. Political and building regulation pressures have built the case for ground source heat pump infrastructure in UK housing, and now the climate threat has built the urgency.”

Claire Perry, Minister for Energy and Clean Growth, said: “I’m delighted to see how many more businesses and organisations, such as Kensa and Together, are seizing this multi-billion pound opportunity to energise their communities to tackle the very serious threat of climate change.” www.kensaheatpumps.com

Volume 5 No.3

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Putting myths into context In the second of three columns for ACR Journal, Graham Wright, chairman of the Heat Pump Association, dispels the myth that heat pumps are noisy, and explains why the UK’s climate should not be considered an obstacle for heat pumps to run efficiently.

Cold case A few years ago a survey was conducted among 5,000 adults, asking them which trait best defines the British. The attributes nominated ranged from the quirky to the bizarre, and included queueing, sarcasm, a fondness for mowing the lawn, drinking tea and an obsession with the traffic! What came out on top, of course, was ‘talking about the weather’. Spend an hour or two in any social environment, a pub, office, party or even a bus, you would be very surprised not to hear a single reference to the weather. We moan when it ruins a summer barbecue and we take delight in an October walk brightened up by some autumn sunshine. It also comes under scrutiny when we try to introduce new forms of technology – wind farms and solar panels for instance. It is therefore no surprise that the UK’s climate is presented as an argument against heat pumps.

While there is an element of truth in the belief that air sourced heat pumps aren’t efficient in cold weather, stated alone it is misleading and therefore needs to be put into context. Heat pumps do work more efficiently in higher source temperatures and lower delivery (load side) temperatures, but the heat pump’s performance must be assessed over a year.

This gives rise to ‘seasonal’ figures, whether Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCoP)

offsets much of the reduced efficiency from defrost cycles, which may not be represented in standard tests from other European countries. Furthermore, manufacturers understand the issue and are designing their products to reduce the effect this has on heat pumps working in this environment.

Sound advice or Seasonal Performance Factor (SPF).

These seasonal figures either predict the performance over a typical year for a typical weather pattern or actually measure the performance over a season.

I will emphasise here that SCoP and SPF are similar but not necessarily exactly the same. This is further complicated by the fact that some standards (e.g. the EU RED) use them incorrectly or interchangeably.

In general, SCoP is the predicted seasonal efficiency of a piece of equipment, whilst SPF is the measured performance of a heat pump system, but which can include or exclude various components such as circulation pumps etc.

It is therefore untrue that air sourced heat pumps are not suited to the UK’s climate. Yes, our damp oceanic climate requires higher than average defrost cycles than a drier environment would. However, the oceans around us to tend to keep the winter temperature higher than more land based countries (e.g. central Europe) and this

The second myth I would like to discuss this month is the belief that heat pumps are noisy. Heat pumps, like all moving objects emit some sound, especially machines and motors. To classify this as ‘noise’ however means it has to be at least noticeable and possibly a bit annoying, and these two aspects can be very subjective, particularly depending on the surroundings.

Any sound emitted in quiet suburbia will be perceived quite differently if emitted in an inner city setting. Noise levels from heat pumps are generally very low, but could be noticed and perceived as a nuisance if placed unsympathetically. Good practice should be employed and, where it could be critical, specialist advice taken.

MCS has developed a Permitted Development (Planning Permission) noise calculation tool (MCS 020) for checking noise levels at neighbouring buildings which is considered by many specialists to be quite exacting with significant safety factors. Heat pumps are quieter now than ever before and with careful selection and placement should not cause a problem. www.heatpumps.org.uk Next issue: Field trials and garden ponds.

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

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H E AT P U MP S

Barn-storming renovation Restoration experts Cheshire Barn Homes has installed Stiebel Eltron WPC and WPF ground source heat pumps at a prestigious renovation project in Huxley, Cheshire.

Hoofield Hall Barns, which dates from 1837 and was rebuilt in the 1870s, incorporates six Grade II listed barns across an estate comprising of 17 listed buildings in total.

Stiebel Eltron’s installation partners Fervo fitted a selection of WPC and WPF ground source heat pump units, to suit the individual requirements of all six barns following their conversion to luxury homes.

All units were installed on bore hole probes, with some barns requiring the WPC as a compact option.

The heat pump systems are fully integrated with the estate’s ventilation system to maximise efficiencies.

The WPC / WPF ground source heat pumps combine COP levels of up to 5.0, with heating flow temperatures that can rise to 60C, and fast and safe installation.

This is alongside access to the Stiebel Eltron internet service gateway that allows remote monitoring and easily scheduled maintenance.

Rhys Nevett, director at Cheshire Barn Homes, said: “From the foundation of the idea, Fervo, and the team at Stiebel Eltron, met the challenges of the development to help achieve a truly stunning and historic development, driven by renewable technologies.’’

Mark McManus, managing director at Stiebel Eltron UK, said: “The project

presented a number of challenges that were expertly handled by both the products themselves and Fervo, particularly installing the new units into heritage buildings with limited space.

“We’re passionate about ensuring that, wherever possible, renewable options are viable in both new-build and retrofit developments. This project is a source of great pride, and a ringing endorsement of the benefits of this technology for both homeowners and the environment.”

Renewable heating products distributor Go Geothermal has completed its 600th project with Stiebel Eltron, for client Pure Renewables, who will receive £600 credit from Stiebel Eltron and Go Geothermal for future purchases to celebrate the milestone.

Mark McManus said: “This is a great landmark for both of our organisations and really demonstrates the demand for renewable options in the UK. The team at

Go Geothermal have been a key contributor to our success. It’s vital for us to work with partners that have the same passion for sustainable energy sources as us and Go Geothermal fit that bill perfectly.

“We’re looking forward to continuing to work together with Go Geothermal to provide customers with latest innovations in the renewables sector.”

Sean Sowden, co-founder of Go Geothermal said: “Stiebel Eltron products have always been a strong element of our offering to customers, due to the business’s focus on quality and innovation.

“However, it’s also a key priority for us to work with a company that understands the important role of the installer. Stiebel Eltron’s focus on designing products that make the job of the installer easier, and ability to provide invaluable training on how the unit itself works, makes them an ideal partner.'' www.stiebel-eltron.co.uk

Grant UK launches first UFH range Grant UK has launched its first range of underfloor heating, with systems aimed at both the new-build and retrofit markets.

By assisting with designs and supplying all underfloor pipework and components, Grant UK says it can now offer complete package solutions to installers for their customers’ home heating needs.

The Uflex and Uflex MINI systems are said to be easy to install and use the same manifold. Evenly distributing heat upwards into a room, they also help the heat source,

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such as an Aerona³ air source heat pump, to work as efficiently as possible.

The Uflex system is embedded within the floor construction and is ideally suited for new builds and extensions, while the Uflex

MINI can be installed over an existing floor and is specifically designed to suit retrofits and renovations.

Utilising self-adhesive panels, a selflevelling screed can be laid over the Uflex MINI system which dries in three days, after which the heat source can be introduced.

The final floor finish can then be laid directly on top of the dry screed. www.grantuk.com

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WOME N IN A C R

ACR industry L I S A P O G S O N What attracted you to the industry?

My Dad was a lift engineer and family and friends worked in construction. Most of my working life has been in construction or a related industry. I never felt I was clever enough to be an engineer, so have always worked in some form of support.

One of my old bosses called support the glue, an invisible line that you think you might be able to get away without using, but when it’s not there, things slowly start falling apart! My brother-in-law set up Airmaster and I started working with him part time, helping with the books and accounts. The business grew until I became full time in 2001 as office manager.

At this point I asked if the business would help me finishing my MSc in Management (Resources) by allowing me some time to work with the growing team. It was about using Investors in People as a vehicle for changing and growing a business.

What excites/interests you about the industry?

In this issue we meet Lisa Pogson, managing director of Sheffield-based air conditioning specialist Airmaster.

What was your first job?

First full-time job was on a youth training programme (YTS) as a ‘Girl Friday’ office assistant in an architectural practice.

What does your current role involve?

Supporting #TeamAirmaster! We have such a great diverse team working across the industry.

I am so proud to go out representing them all, talking about the types of works and contracts we are doing. There is an ambassador role too, dealing with customers, ensuring we keep our accreditations up to date, as well as back office when needed.

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It is ever changing and has become more regulated, due to legislation like the Kyoto protocol and the F-Gas Regulations.

Incidentally, we are assured that whatever the outcome of Brexit, those regulations will still be kept in our laws. Some of the fines for not tracking and checking, via TM44s and regular servicing are moving from the £20K mark to the £200K level. The ever-changing refrigerants and the training interests me especially because of my background. I would like us to utilise our vast in-house knowledge

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The IOR’s Women in RACHP network, established with the support of the ACR Journal in 2016, now has more than 600 members.

It is open to anyone (male or female) working in an RACHP-related role. You do not have to be an IOR member.

You can get involved through the Women in RACHP LinkedIn group. to help train the next generation and we do, through having apprentices, but I often feel that by freeing up a bit more of our team’s time, we could do more. There is a shortage of interest in the industry, a perception of long hours and working away, but the teams and how they work is amazing. It is hard, but can have good rewards too.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, I know, but looking back, if I thought for a moment that nearly 25 years since I started helping with the books at Airmaster I would still be here, I would have gone back and studied so I could apply the knowledge. I thought that thermodynamics was rocket science – and it was! However, looking at how thermal loads work in a building and pressure drops and velocities can be fascinating. I truly believe that workplace design is and always has been key to a happy team. That goes for schools, factories and many other buildings too.

Even in our own homes, if things aren’t working correctly, it stresses us out. It is just the same. I was never very confident around complicated maths calculations and it stopped me – I thought it was a dark art!

How would you like to see your career developing?

I want to continue to be an ambassador and an advocate for our fab #TeamAirmaster. I love being part of the industry and green business nationally. I would like to see more of the factories where the systems are built and be ahead of the curve. I would like to get more of our team to see that too.

What do you see as the challenges facing the industry?

Recruitment and training of great folk coming in is our biggest challenge. We even struggled to get local apprentices wanting to be involved. If we can’t get people in from the beginning, what chance have we got later? And we spend time going into local schools speaking, going to exhibitions where the school-age kids are doing science clubs and competitions around engineering. People tend to fall into the career through family. In my view, key to any building is the services working in the best way possible, working efficiently, therefore being cheaper. I would like to encourage people to consider the building services industry as an interesting place to be.

What is the best piece of advice you were ever given?

My first boss used to tell me all the time to ‘write stuff down! You won’t remember everything. Make a list’. Now I make lists everywhere.... too many! She is still around and is amazing at 70-plus, what a role model.

What are the best things about being in your role?

What would you say to other women who are considering coming into the ACR industry?

If you can’t see it, you can’t be it. Let’s see more of those folks coming through – not just women! Confidence is key. What is hard now will be worth it in the end.

More companies are struggling to recruit and are having to look at their benefits across the organisation. This is not just for women either, training and continuous development is so important.

I am passionate about more women coming into the industry, and think they can help in lots of areas, and particularly on the design. Women are often great mathematicians. It was a woman’s calculations that helped to get the USA to the moon, why not to plan thermal loads in a building? We have a shortage of mechanical design engineers and similar, often they just need to keep on with the course, as they are the only girl or woman in the room. I know it is hard, but it is often confidence that stops it. Sometimes I wonder if maybe I’m just weird that I find it interesting to see how the big jigsaw fits together?!

Working with a passionate team, knowing that everyone is trying their best to do a great job. I was so proud when I collected the Cooling Awards ‘Contractor of the Year’ trophy at the end of last year, on behalf of the team. It was a great day for us.

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C H AN GIN G FACE S

ALEC STILLING

Uddingston office, his background will help strengthen our existing relationships while building trust with our new customers.”

Alec Stilling has been appointed as A-Gas Head of Sales – UK Wholesale.

He joins the Bristolbased company from Carter Synergy, where he managed a team in the service sector and gained wide experience of working with the Alec Stilling supermarkets. His new role at A-Gas is to maintain and grow relationships with major wholesalers.

He said: “I am delighted to be a part of the fast-expanding A-Gas business at a time of great change in the industry. The F-Gas Regulations continue at a pace and helping customers make the switch to lower GWP refrigerants, and get the benefits associated with reclaimed gases, will be high on my agenda. I shall be working closely with wholesalers across the UK to ensure that the needs of customers are met.”

Alec is married and enjoys sport. He plays hockey, golf and football, and supports the non-league football team Solihull Moors.

www.hitachi-hvac.co.uk

HEAD OF SALES FOR UK WHOLESALE, A-GAS

www.agas.com JOHN JAMES OFFICER

AREA SALES MANAGER, HITACHI

Hitachi Cooling & Heating has appointed John James Officer as area sales manager for Scotland and the north east of England.

He joins from Manchester-based HVAC contractors John James Officer Thermatic, following seven years with Capital Cooling.

He said: “Now is a very exciting time to join Hitachi as not only are they a wellknown brand in the industry with very good equipment, but even better releases are on the horizon. They have ambitious goals and I was impressed by the passion and planning in place to achieve them.

“I’ve really enjoyed the intensive product training at Hitachi’s UK aircademy training centre – which is freely available to all Hitachi customers - and getting out on the road and meeting current customers, finding out how we can best support their businesses moving forward.”

Hitachi managing director UK-Ireland, Gboyega Obafemi, said: “It’s a challenging time in the industry but Hitachi is at the forefront of innovation and we are delighted to have John on board, looking after our customer base in the north. Splitting his time between customer sites and the

SARAH MARTIN & JONATHAN OLATUNBOSUN JET ENVIRONMENTAL

Warehouse HVAC specialist Jet Environmental has expanded its engineering team as it aims for further growth.

Sarah Martin joins the contracts team from Flakt as Sarah Martin contracts engineer and will manage projects throughout the UK. Sarah brings with her a wealth of both project management and HVAC experience.

The design team has been bolstered with the addition of Jonathan Olatunbosun, who is Johnathan Olatunbosun joining the company following his successful completion of an MSc in Mechanical Engineering from Birmingham University.

Jason Hibbs, Jet Environmental managing director, said: “The growth we are currently experiencing is forecast to continue. It is imperative that we build the right team to address the current activity and prepare ourselves for the future. We pride ourselves in designing exceptional HVAC solutions and providing outstanding customer service; to continue to do that we need to introduce new talent.

“It’s great to see the Jet Environmental family grow with new talent. Both Sarah and Jonathan bring new ideas and skills.

I am particularly encouraged that we have secured young and incredibly bright engineers that will become the future of our business.”

www.jetenvironmental.com DAVE BOND & ROBERT BELLINGHAM

AREA SALES MANAGERS, ALTECNIC

Heating and plumbing supplies specialist Altecnic has restructured its trade sales team and recruited two new area sales managers.

Dave Bond joins as area sales manager for London Dave Bond and the South and Robert Bellingham will cover Scotland and the North East.

Both have many years’ experience within the industry, including running merchant branches.

Dave, who was previously at Reliance Water Controls, will support the team in offering domestic and Robert Bellingham commercial products to merchants and contractors in the south of the country. Robert, who recently ran the Hamilton branch of Scottish independent plumbing supplies merchant, Richmonds, is looking to develop Altecnic’s presence in Scotland and the north of England.

Steve Boyd, who heads up Altecnic’s national trade sales team, said: “We have a very exciting 2019 ahead of us, with plenty of change as we continue to grow and build our presence in the market. I’m delighted to welcome Dave and Robert to the trade sales team. These guys have been Altecnic’s customers for many years and not only know the products inside out, but also know the merchants and installers and appreciate their unique needs and the issues they face.”

www.altecnic.co.uk CHRISTINE HARTSHORNE

MARKETING MANAGER, PRECISION

Precision Refrigeration has appointed Christine Hartshorne as marketing manager as the company looks to build on recent growth.

Christine brings 15 years of marketing experience to the post and has previously worked within the foodservice industry.

Christine Hartshorne She is a Chartered Marketer and Accredited PR Practitioner.

Precision saw business expand by 30% in 2018, with exports accounting for 40% of production, and sales to the Middle East up 50% compared to the previous year.

Christine said: “This is a great time for me to join Precision. Having just celebrated their 10th anniversary and with business going from strength to strength, I look forward to putting a new marketing strategy in place to expand on their existing success.”

Managing director Nick Williams said: “We are lucky to have Christine on board.

Her experience within the industry and her marketing skills are exactly what we need as we prepare for further growth.” www.precision-refrigeration.co.uk

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CHANG ING FACES ANGELA MCGINLAY & MARTIN KRUTZ DAIKIN UK

Angela McGinlay is the new managing director of Daikin UK, with Martin Krutz returning to Austria as CEO of the recently acquired AHT Group.

Angela McGinlay had been managing director of Daikin Air Conditioning Angela McGinlay Portugal since 2016 and returns to Daikin UK, having originally joined the company in 2010 as branch manager and then corporate affairs manager. After moving to Daikin Europe HQ as department manager of customer service and process improvement, she has steered Daikin Portugal through three years of rapid expansion.

Martin Krutz’s appointment as CEO of the AHT Group builds on 28 years’ experience within the Daikin Group, most recently three years at Daikin UK and, prior to that, roles within the EMEA Business Reform Office at Daikin Europe, as MD of Daikin Central Europe and MD of Daikin Poland.

Jan Logghe, previously section manager distributor sales within Daikin Europe HQ, is the new MD in Portugal.

Wim De Schacht, vice president of Daikin Europe, said: “I have absolute confidence in Angela McGinlay’s ability to lead Daikin onwards to even greater successes.

For Martin, too, this represents an exciting new Martin Krutz challenge, but one that we are sure he is more than equal to, as is Jan in his new role within Daikin Portugal.’’

Daikin Europe completed the acquisition of AHT Group on 22 February as part of Daikin’s strategy to strengthen its business within the refrigeration market by building on AHT’s expertise in high efficiency refrigeration and freezing systems for supermarkets and convenience stores.

Together with Daikin’s 2016 acquisition of the Zanotti Group, which specialises in commercial, industrial and transport refrigeration equipment, this latest acquisition aims to consolidate Daikin’s position in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) industry.

www.daikin.co.uk

LISA COX & TOM DOWDESWELL

REGIONAL TECHNICAL SALES MANAGERS, CONEX BÄNNINGER HVAC fittings, valves and accessories manufacturer Conex Bänninger has appointed two new regional technical sales managers.

Lisa Cox has joined the company with responsibility for driving brand awareness Lisa Cox and growth in the Midlands, with Tom Dowdeswell taking up his role for London and East Anglia.

Lisa brings over 20 years expertise to her role, starting out her professional career as a plumber before working in sales and specification roles for a number of manufacturers in the HVAC industry.

Prior to joining Conex Bänninger, Tom spent over a decade working as an engineer and project manager; planning, installing and commissioning commercial and industrial HVAC systems. He also gained experience on the distribution and merchant side of the industry Dan Wild, business unit director for Conex Bänninger in the UK & Ireland, said: “Conex Bänninger has a fantastic

reputation for our range of compression, solder ring and end-feed solutions, but there’s still a massive opportunity for us to increase our share within the press-fit market for our range of innovative and high quality >B< Tom Dowdeswell Press solutions.

“As a business, we are extremely ambitious to achieve this and the appointment of Lisa and Tom further strengthens this, highlighting our commitment to bringing the right people into the business. They both bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and contacts within the HVAC sector and I wish them every success in their roles.”

Lisa said: “Our key objective is to maintain and develop relationships with existing customers and drive growth with potential customers, from distributors and merchants, to contractors, consultants and specifiers.

www.conexbanninger.com

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STEPHEN TOPPON, & ELLIE THOMPSON BITZER UK

BITZER UK has announced two new appointments as part of its continuing growth plans for the business.

Stephen Toppon has been appointed to the new role Stephen Toppon of industrial refrigeration business line manager and will spearhead sales of the company’s award-winning ammonia compressor pack (ACP).

Stephen has considerable Ellie Thompson experience in industrial refrigeration and the food and beverage sectors, having worked in the Middle East and, more recently, in the UK with Integral and J&E Hall in senior technical and applications roles.

Reporting to business development director Marcus Levy, he will work with contractors and consultants on project applications for ACP as part of the company’s wider global roll-out of ammonia technology.

Ellie Thompson has joined the company as financial controller, responsible for both BITZER UK and Green Point. She has 20 years’ experience in financial management, control and accounting in both practice and industrial sectors.

www.bitzer.de/gb/en/ GRAEME REES

BCIA MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Graeme Rees has been elected to the management committee of the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) . He has been involved in the industry for nearly 30 years and is marketing manager Graeme Rees for Schneider Electric UK & Ireland Digital Energy division. He previously spent 19 years at Trend Control Systems, latterly as marketing director.

He said: “I am looking forward to working alongside my fellow committee members to maintain and strengthen the BCIA’s position as a positive influence on standards, professionalism and innovation.”

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www.bcia.co.uk

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C H IL LY CH AT T E R

Wright choice for netball club Building services provider J S Wright has become the main sponsor of Parkside Netball Club in Sutton Coldfield.

The rolling annual sponsorship will enable the club to invest in training equipment and subsidise entry fees for tournaments across the country in a sport that has seen a massive surge in interest since England’s 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medal success.

Parkside has spawned a host of internationals since it was established in 1995, including current England Roses captain Ama Agbeze and players Beth Cobden and Layla Gusgoth, all of whom started out as juniors at the club and are now hoping to be selected for the Netball World Cup in Liverpool this summer.

In addition, no less than 18 of Parkside’s current 22-member under-13 squad and four of the under-12s are in the Birmingham Academy (county) squad.

Andrew Smith, J S Wright national design and estimating director, whose daughter Lily plays for the club, said: “We are

delighted to be able to support Parkside in nurturing the sporting ambitions of young girls in our community. As a company, J S Wright similarly strives to be the best

Jacob in the swim with Thermatic

at what we do and to provide a rewarding career path for local young people.”

Andrew Smith of J S Wright is pictured above with the Parkside under-13 team

Fujitsu open day 2019 Fujitsu is hosting an open day at its Elstree HQ on May 1.

The manufacturer says key strategic announcements will be on the agenda, along with product demonstrations and CPD certified presentations in the fully-equipped trainingrooms.

Fujitsu’s supplier network will be supporting the event, with Q&A sessions from industry experts taking place throughout the day.

The day promises the opportunity to form new business relationships... and win prizes openday@fgac.fujitsu-general.com

MHI TAKES BEIJER REF SUPPLIER AWARD The entire team from Salford-based heating, cooling and ventilation contractor Thermatic recently met up with Jacob Chambers, an awardwinning swimmer who the company has been supporting through the Salford Foundation Trust.

The trust is a charity that give grants to help children and young people develop their hobbies, skills and talent. Limited family income is a barrier to opportunity and the focus of the trust is the removal of those barriers.

Thermatic were delighted to meet the young person they been fundraising for, and to see the impact their contributions have made towards him achieving his goals.

Now Thermatic are hoping to see him in the Paralympics with his branded towel!

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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was named Supplier of the Year for 2018 by Beijer Ref UK. At the wholesaler’s annual Suppliers’ Dinner in Stockport, Beijer Ref UK & Ireland managing director John Billson presented the award to MHI managing director Ryoichi Kariya.

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NUAIRE IN WORLD CUP FANFARE

Ventilation specialist Nuaire is warming up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar by supplying more than 400 fans for two of the new stadiums.

In line with all the proposed venues, the Qatar Foundation Stadium and Al Wakrah Stadium will feature advanced cooling technology to ensure the comfort of supporters and players.

Nuaire fans of different types and sizes will be used in a range of applications.

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BOOK NOW FOR HRS GOLF The Hampshire Refrigeration Society Annual Golf Tournament will take place at Old Thorns-Liphook on July 18.

Players or non-golfers wishing to stay overnight prior to the event are urged to book rooms as soon as possible through the venue to avoid disappointment. For more information, including sponsorship opportunities, contact john.emm@btinternet.com.

TF SOLUTIONS OPENS SOUTH WEST BRANCH TF Solutions has opened its fifth branch to serve customers in the South West.

The 11,000 sq ft premises in the centre of Bristol features a new-look trade counter and adds to existing branches in the North, Yorkshire, Midlands and South.

Managing director Andy Cherrill said: “We have a growing number of strong loyal customers in the South West and feel the time is right to open a branch to support these existing clients and bring our unrivalled service to the area for prospective customers too.

With the customer at the heart of everything we do, it’s very exciting times here at TF Solutions as we continue to evolve to offer our client base all that they need.”

The announcement follows the recent news of TF Solutions’ partnership with Mitsubishi Electric.

The new branch is at Stonemason’s Yard, Albert Rd, Bristol BS2 0XS; 0117 370 7106

TROPHY TIME FOR RICHARD Richard Dawson of Airkool won the ACR Journal Trophy on the NRGS golf day at Selby, with Gary Smith of Oceanair UK taking second place.

NRGS captain for 2019, Gary Hall of TQ Environmental, who won the 18-hole event sponsored by ISD, is pictured handing over the ACR Journal Trophy to Richard Dawson.

Taylor-made for The Belfry The annual Birmingham Society of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (BSRA) Golf Day will take place at The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, on June 27, with the Annual Dinner held on the same evening.

Snooker legend and ex-world champion Dennis Taylor is special guest at The Belfry, which has hosted more Ryder Cup matches than any other venue and is steeped in tournament history.

Golf and dinner places are available at £155, with the dinner-only option £65.

For more information, or to book, visit www.bsra-refrigeration.co.uk, or email julietl@warnersgroup.co.uk.

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