Hotel Engineer Volume 19 Number 4

THE

HOTEL ENGINEER OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF HOTEL ENGINEERING

PP 319986/101

Volume 19 Number 4 January 2015

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The Hotel Engineer The Official Publication of the Australian Institute of Hotel Engineering

PUBLISHER’S

MESSAGE

I

hope everyone had a very pleasant break and all batteries are recharged for another year.

2015 brings a small milestone for the Hotel Engineer where we celebrate 20 years of publication.

For those whom can remember reading earlier editions, in the following issues we will bring you a reminder of what were some of the more topical subjects back then.

As for this issue, we must give a very big thank you to Paul Truman QLD Engineer Watermark Hotels, whom is currently right in the midst of opening the Watermark Surfers Paradise new restaurant and bar. Somehow in the midst of all the mayhem, Paul took the time to do a case study and write for us in this very issue.

2014 saw the very successful AIHE Update Conference. Another of the presentations appears thanks to John Whitfield of Whitfield

Adbourne Publishing 18/69 Acacia Road Ferntree Gully, VIC 3156 PO Box 735, Belgrave, VIC 3160 www.adbourne.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Enquiries: (03) 9758 1431 Fax: (03) 9758 1432 Email: admin@adbourne.com

ADVERTISING Melbourne: Neil Muir T: (03) 9758 1433 F: (03) 9758 1432 E: neil@adbourne.com Adelaide: Robert Spowart T: 0488 390 039 E: robert@adbourne.com

Rose Consulting Engineers, with an article on the elevator upgrade at the Novotel Langley Perth.

In October, Mark Chilcott of Koala lamps visited the huge Hong Kong international lighting Fair. Mark has been good enough to put pen to paper and give us an insight into some of the technology he witnessed whilst there.

We have another excellent article by Lasath Lecamwasam, previously discussing Chiller efficiency, this time writes about improving boiler efficiency in hotels. Scott Jensen of R&BS brings us his next instalment on concrete spalling, so does Tim Edwards with his piece HVACR energy efficiency.

From saving water to emergency planning and even tile identification, we hope you enjoy this issue.

Neil Muir Publisher

PRODUCTION Emily Wallis T: (03) 9758 1436 E: production@adbourne.com Administration Robyn Fantin T: (03) 9758 1431 E: admin@adbourne.com MARKETING Susan Moore E: susanmoore@y7mail.com

AIHE State Presidents Ian Crookston, QLD E: ian.crookston@ihg.com Anura Yapa, NSW E: Anura.Yapa@shangri-la.com David Zammit,VIC E: david.zammit@hyatt.com Tony Fioraso, WA E: tony.fioraso@burswood.com.au

Adbourne Publishing cannot ensure that the advertisers appearing in The Hotel Engineer comply absolutely with the Trades Practices Act and other consumer legislation.

The responsibility is therefore on the person, company or advertising agency submitting the advertisement(s) for publication.

Adbourne Publishing reserves the right to refuse any advertisement without stating the reason. No responsibility is accepted for incorrect information contained in advertisements or editorial.The editor reserves the right to edit, abridge or otherwise alter articles for publication.

All original material produced in this magazine remains the property of the publisher and cannot be reproduced without authority. The views of the contributors and all submitted editorial are the author’s views and are not necessarily those of the publisher.

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CONTENTS 6

AIHE State News

13 Switch on to the future 17 The need for and sources of HVACR energy efficiency 20 Improving boiler efficiency in hotels 26 Technology 2015 28 Watermark becomes a landmark 32 Elevator services upgrade Novotel Langley Hotel, Perth

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34 Why no WiFi? Check-in your guests to a better experience 36 More control & comfort with Integrated Smart Lighting Technology 38 Save water in your cooling towers 42 Act quickly to prevent future expense when it comes to concrete repair 48 Emergency planning and the question of indemnity 51 Hotel sector is leading the way by implementing energy efficiency solutions 54 Identifying stone & tile types: A simple guide 57 Staff training and pest control go hand in hand 60 Regulation update December 2014

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63 Back of House 64 Outsourced procurement – Your new partner to savings 66 Cyanuric acid 68 Variable speed pumps 71 The hotel pool or spa can attract customers & produce a significant income 77 Product News

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Front cover shows: The Watermark Hotel & Spa Gold Coast

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AIHE STATE

NEWS New south waleS Greetings from NSW Chapter.

2014 feels like it has gone by in a flash and all of us are looking forward to the New Year and start afresh on a positive note.

I would like to take this opportunity to recap on our last quarter for the year of 2014 and share with everyone what we can expect for the year of 2015.

The NSW chapter AGM was held on the 19th November at the Shangri-la Hotel Sydney. ‘Hotel Engineers are hidden heroes who work behind the scene not only to resolve day to day maintenance issues in the hotel but also being responsible for preventative maintenance procedures to high cost plant and equipment, responds to all relevant related safety building concerns to the hotel and advice the General Manager on critical engineering areas for the hotel which is absolutely required....’ these were the extracts of the opening speech from Mr. Michael Cottan the Vice President/General Manager of Shangri-la Hotel. His enlightening words were respected and appreciated by all members.

The evening’s technical presentation was organised by the Managing Director of Technology 4 Hotels and the topic was ‘BYOD’ & ‘BYOC’, hotel technology, guests are bringing their own devices and content when they stay – how does this Impact your hotel’.

Election of office bearers took place with all positions declared vacant.Thanks to Andy Goonesekera, the Pro-term Chairman who opened the nomination process after delivering a brief speech on what the AIHE NSW chapter has achieved during recent past. He announced the nominations, and

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the voting by the members followed. I was re-elected as the President of the chapter for another consecutive term.The newly elected committee members are as follows.

President: Anura Yapa Vice President: Trevor McCarren Secretary: Benjamin Gray Treasurer: Elizabeth Tam Event Coordinator: Jason Manley Committee Members: Andrew Yap (Pullman) Andrew Yap (Grace) Brendon Granger Scott O’Brien Troy Croft Nick McShane It was voted that the NSW chapter 2015 committee would consist of 11 members replacing the existing 9. Congratulations to all new committee members and a huge thank you to the outgoing committee, your efforts and contributions have been great for a successful year.

On the 28th November all State Presidents of AIHE met in Sydney for the quarterly meeting again at Shangri-la Hotel.

It was a privilege to be able to host both meetings within Shangri-La hotel. I truly appreciate the interest Mr. Cottan showed us on both occasions and for his encouragement.

I am grateful for his contribution to the chapter’s future and would like to thank him for his warm hospitality.

The NSW Chapters Christmas Dinner was held at Sydney Showboats Harbour Cruise, on Friday 12th of December with 40 guests on board.

Once again it was a fantastic evening enjoyed by all with a delicious 3 course dinner, live magic show and a breathtaking cabaret show live performance by talented songstresses and dancers. Special thanks to Jason Manley and Elizabeth Tam for organising the event.

In closing, I would like to express my appreciation to all Engineers, our Corporate Members and various General Managers for their support over the past year. I take this opportunity to wish all members, readers and their families a healthy & prosperous 2015.

Anura Yapa JP President – AIHE NSW chapter

Contact Paul Yardley to discuss your rooms needs T 1300 659 053 M 0412 974 878 F 1300 659 063 E paul@yardleyhospitality.com.au W www.yardleyhospitality.com.au

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AIHE STATE

NEWS WESTERN AUSTRALIA Season greetings from Western Australia, In October our Chapter had a site visit to Thyssen Krupp which was interesting and informative in relation to new technologies.

Many thanks to Derek Brown and Martin Doyle for their hospitality.

In November we had another site visit to Surround Sounds which was primarily presented about the integration of AV solutions within hotel and public areas, new television technology and the latest in room options.

A representative from Samsung also presented on television HD and curved screen technology.

Many thanks to the surround sounds team, Brad, Sol and Mark.

QUEENSLAND The Qld Chapter held only the one presentation meeting in this final quarter for 2014.

The October meeting was held at the Mecure Resort, Palm Meadows, which provided the opportunity For the attendees to have a back of house tour and close examination of the newly installed Air cooled Carrier Chiller. Veolia staff who were involved with the installation were on hand to answer and point out special features of the chiller.

After the tour, Amy Turner and Nathan Hull from Clevertronics provided a presentation on the company’s latest emergency and exit lighting products. They advised that Clevertronics have undertaken a significant change to their core emergency and exit lighting product range.

They have recently launched another lithium range of products called LP that can significantly reduce the maintenance costs on an emergency and exit lighting installation and maintenance.

This is achieved by using Lithium Battery technology instead of the previous Ni-Cd technology.

A suggested 7 Years of maintenance free period using the LP range is expected, which will provide a 50% saving compared to traditional

On writing this our Christmas celebrations will take place at the Windsor hotel this year and we look to have over 40 people confirmed for the evening.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Western Australian committee for all its hard work over 2014 and I look forward to working with them in 2015.

We hope everyone had a safe Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Regards Tony Fioraso President – AIHE Western Australia

Ni-Cd product. (The L10 range provides further savings of around 80%). And LP costs no more than traditional Ni-Cd product.

Further to their new LP range they have the HAWKEYE range.

This is a microwave movement sensor which is integrated into the body of their battens and circulars and is designed to turn off the light source when no presence is detected by the sensor. The ability to turn the light source off when not required, means less running time, saving on energy and maintenance costs.

The night concluded with light refreshments. Thanks were given to Mecure Resort and Veolia for providing the opportunity to have a back of house inspection of the new chiller. Further thanks were given to Clevertronics for hosting the evening and providing such an informative presentation.

It is with much disappointment for everyone that we have been unable to use of the AIHE website through out the year. I am pleased to advise the site will be fully operational and updated for use commencing in January. So please look for your State Chapters coming functions and latest information in 2015.

On behalf of all the committee and myself, we wish to thank all the institute’s members and presenters throughout the year for their support. Trust everyone has a joyful and safe Christmas. We look forward to a bright and exciting New Year in 2015 for everyone.

Ian Crookston AIHE – Qld Chapter President

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AIHE STATE

NEWS VICTORIA To all our readers, I hope you have had the chance to enjoy some time out with your families, making the most of the festive season, and are now well rested as you all gear up for another year.

The Victorian chapter has gratefully appreciated the support of all our members, both hotel engineers and corporate’s over the course of the past year.

It has been rewarding to meet many new comers that have attended our meetings; hopefully they have gained some benefit from what our institute has been able to offer, not only on the business front, but through our friendships and networking.

We ended our year with our December meeting, incorporating our annual AGM in and Christmas cocktails, an event enjoyed by both members and their partners.

Hosted at the Residence, Grand Hyatt Melbourne, our members enjoyed a relaxed evening, giving all who attended a great night to welcome in the festivities of the season. A very special thank you to so many of our corporate members who donated amazing gifts that were raffled throughout the evening

The outcome of the AGM determined the following committee structure for 2015.

Committee Members: Soudi Noori, Don Robertson, Ian Charman, Ponce Casass, Andrew Eldred, John Appleyard & David Jones.

Meeting Coordinator: Position remains open, due to no nominations.

Secretary: Anton Van den Brink Vice President: Stephen Docherty President: David Zammit.

Peter Barbour, who has held the position of secretary, has decided to stand down after 12 years of dedicated service in this important capacity. We extend our gratitude to Peter and his silent partner Monika Barbour, who have both served this role with great integrity and passion for the best of the chapter. We look forward to an ongoing association with you both as members of our chapter, and close friends to many of us.

Recapping the previous months of 2014, Our November meeting was also held at Grand Hyatt Melbourne where we hosted our round table discussion meeting.

Although the attendance was down due to an appalling evening of Melbourne weather, those who did attend provided constructive discussion around several subject matters that were raised on the evening.

Our October meeting was hosted By Anton Van Den Brink, Chief Engineer at Sofitel Melbourne on Collins. Our Guest Presenter,

Ljiljana Gazevic, Director at SJB Interiors, presented an overview of SJB’S company profile, including the many projects that they have proudly designed, both here and internationally. The meeting concluded with a site inspection of a mock up room that jointly, SJB and the Sofitel team have created.

We thank both parties for allowing us this opportunity and insight and a sneak peak to what may become Sofitel’s next generation of guest room.

As we now head into a new year, I would like to thank all committee members for their assistance over the past 12 months and certainly look forward to their support in further growing our chapter in 2015. A special thank you to Stephen Docherty who has been an amazing asset behind the scenes, in securing and arranging our meetings during the course of 2014.

I would also like to thank my fellow state presidents, Ian, Anura & Tony. I know all 3 gentlemen have been instrumental in driving their respective chapters and are committed to the growth of AIHE. Let’s not forgetting to mention the great success of the Update conference that was held back in August. I certainly look forward to our continued association this year.

In closing, I take this opportunity to wish all our members, readers and their families, a safe & healthy 2015, and look forward to forging our ongoing business and personal relationships in the coming year.

David Zammit President AIHE Victoria Chapter

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switch on to the future

Mark Chilcott Additional information provided by Scott Gracie

With more than 18,000 buyers from 112 countries and regions the HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair is the largest of its’ kind in the Asia Pacific region.

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he fair hosted 1,100 exhibitors from 14 countries displayed in 5 unique zones over 4 days in late October 2014.

The fair is broad-raging with a zone which matches each exhibitor’s target market.

They include 2 main zones; Hall Of Aurora which made it’s debut in 2013 with 140 brands and grew to 190 brands in 2014.

World of LED & Green lighting – one of the most popular with buyers. LED sales are the fastest growing segment in lighting and expected to continue to grow, spurred by competitive pricing, with the Chinese mainland market in particular growing rapidly.

Other zones included are Display World, World of Chandeliers and the Avenue of Inspiration.

The growth of LED globes and fixtures is predicted to account for 50% of all lighting sales in the next 12 months. Technology is moving at an enormous pace with more efficient and a wide variety of globes and fittings being developed.

Smart lighting will also play a vital role in how we interact with lighting. Dimming and isolation of lighting can now be controlled by your smart phone or tablet.

The importance of switching to LED Usually lighting consumes a lot of electrical energy every day all around the world.

According to the statistics, 20 to 50 percent of total energy consumed in homes and offices are used for lighting. What is surprising to us is that over 90 percent of the lighting energy expense used for some of the buildings is unnecessary due to the over-illumination.

The cost of lighting can be very realistic.

For a single 50W halogen downlight bulb, it will cost over $25 if it is used for 12 hours per day (0.12/kWh) compared with an LED equivalent, which costs around $7.

The savings over the life of the bulb are enormous. For example the operating costs for a facility with 100 x Halogen 50 watt downlights will cost around $14,000 in bulb replacement costs, labor re-lamping costs and electricity. The same facility which runs the equivalent in an 8 watt LED Downlight will only cost around $950 per annum with a total saving of around $13,000 per annum.

The future of LED Lighting Lighting as we know it is changing and evolving. No longer do we have to sit in an environment and put up with whatever light a luminaire provides.

Just like we have the choice of what we eat, car we drive or television program we watch, lighting too now provides a variety of options for comfort, security, functionality and ease of use.

Lighting control systems are by no means a new idea but the ease of installation and economic viability was out of reach for most people. Installation for the most part had to be done by a licenced Electrician and if the system needed to be programmed and commissioned there were more charges involved, not to mention any additional programming or maintenance in the future.

Now with the adaptation of smarter technology, you can screw in a single light bulb on the front porch, change the globes in a lounge room or office or the whole house then download an app and within minutes be dimming, scene setting and automatically turning lights on or off with 24 hour timer functions. This technology is now put within reach of most people and is easily adaptable and future proof.

This type of technology provides not only ease of installation and great functionality but also security. Lights can be turned on from your mobile device anywhere in the house. Some systems can even be controlled from down the street or anywhere in the world. Similarly, some or all lights can be turned off at the push of one

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button which can be useful when in bed or leaving the house.

The rental market too is now opened up to a variety of lighting control options.

Where once before wiring, switches and luminaires were not allowed to be changed or altered now more control is available for more people to manipulate their environment.

I have for many years controlled two of my lounge room table lamps from a remote control. While the remote was sold and promoted as a means for energy saving by completely cutting power to devices such as TVs or entertainment systems from being on standby, it has provided a great deal of usability not to mention the astonishment and amusement of friends and family.

The technology that controls the various globes or components of these new lighting systems is generally Bluetooth or Radio Frequency (RF) electronics. The Bluetooth systems are generally easier to install as it only requires screwing in a light bulb and downloading an app to make it usable. RF on the other hand provides more functionality and system components but can require a small amount of installation work to be carried out by a licenced Electrician.

Some of these systems come with peripheral components such as wireless multifunction wall switches that can be attached to a wall or placed on a bedside or coffee table. Handheld remote controls can also be used with some systems and can manipulate all the lighting throughout a house from anywhere within the house.

Apps are also available for RF technology to manipulate dimming and scene settings the same way the remote control does but with the added advantage of being able to use it when away from the premises or even to turn lights on or off from the driveway when arriving or leaving home.

Even Hoteliers can now give a new level of user control and functionality to their patrons without a huge installation cost.

A new lighting control frontier has arrived and is ready to be embraced.

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CAPITA L INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS

The Need For and Sources of

HVACR Energy Efficiency

tIM eDWARDS

In the October issue we described the opportunity for Australia to reduce the cost of HVACR energy use by $10B PA. Most importantly we noted the fact that the industry is transitioning to low emissions technology because doing so will reduces HVACR energy consumption and GHG emissions. They are two sides to the same coin. Low emissions HVACR technology is energy efficient technology. In this article we will describe the technologies and methodologies that will deliver this outcome.

S

ince then there has been considerable evidence of and impetus to change driven by international agreements.

China and the US have agreed a broad agenda of emissions reduction including the commitment to phase down the use of HFC refrigerants. This agreement is similar to the initiative by the European Union to phase down HFC use by 79% by 2030. The Climate and Clean Air Coalition, comprised of 40 countries in association with UNEP, including Australia, has endorsed this policy and established an international working group specifically for the purpose. As a result Original Equipment Manufacturers worldwide are embracing the need to deliver Refrigeration and Air Conditioning systems that are based on Low GWP refrigerants.

The Montreal Protocol is considered the most likely vehicle for delivering the transition to Low GWP refrigerants.

A recent meeting of the parties to the Montreal Protocol saw movement in this direction to the extent that most commentators consider this development to be inevitable. It makes a great deal of sense because the Montreal Protocol is considered to have caused greater GHG

emissions reduction than all other climate change policies combined.

Because the parties to the Montreal Protocol include 197 countries in both the developed and developing world, it provides an excellent framework for the global phase down of HFC refrigerants. Central to this is the opportunity for developing countries to leap frog HFC refrigerants and transition directly from Ozone Depleting refrigerants like R22 to low GWP refrigerants. Australia can play a leading role by demonstrating and in fact supplying low GWP refrigerant based technology throughout the Asia Pacific region.

The transition to low GWP refrigerantbased technology seems inevitable. It is broadly supported by the HVACR industry not least because it will deliver energy efficiency. The Low GWP refrigerants, HFO synthetic refrigerants and the natural refrigerants, ammonia, carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons are themselves far more energy efficient than High GWP HFC refrigerants.

But it is also important to keep in mind the wide range of technologies that deliver

HVACR energy efficiency. The ARA has completed a series of seminars focussed on this strategy where in we recommended the adoption of integrated energy efficiency engineering based on life cycle costing and life cycle management of all of the technologies that contribute to HVACR energy efficiency. It is our view that building managers from property developers to building designers, facilities managers and energy services consultants need to embrace this strategy for increasing HVACR energy efficiency.

We proposed three categories of consideration: 1) energy efficient vapour compressions systems, 2) integrated with better energy measurement and management and, 3) better heat load management technologies. Integrated energy efficiency engineering calls on building designers and retrofit investments to recognise that all three categories need to be considered and integrated in order to optimise the energy efficiency of a given facility.

There are important technology developments in all three categories.

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HVACR Energy Efficiency Solutions The degree of energy savings available is of course unique to each building. However we can identify generic solutions and provide indicative energy savings.

Better Energy Measurement & Management The starting point is better energy measurement and management. It is obvious that building managers need to measure energy consumption and the specific sources of energy consumption in order to better prioritise energy savings opportunities. New energy measurement technology is now available that enables continuous and remote monitoring and control of energy consumption.

This development has the potential to dramatically change the structure of the HVACR industry because it enables the building manager, or his energy services consultant or his HVACR contractor to know and control HVACR operations.

The sources of wasted heating, cooling and refrigeration can be identified and avoided.

The degree of savings available has been to shown to be in the order of 20% in a wide range of facilities.

There are many suppliers of better energy measurement and management systems.

The field is bound to be dynamic for the foreseeable future and fundamental to energy efficiency initiatives.

Energy Efficient Vapour Compression HVAC A very large proportion of the built environment HVAC requirement involves split system air conditioning. There are about 12,000,000 splits systems installed in Australia spanning a considerable range of age and engineering sophistication. But the vast majority are fixed speed systems using HFC refrigerants. These can be replaced by hydrocarbon based split systems that are as much as 40% more energy efficient. In fact a large proportion can be retrofit so as to

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incorporate hydrocarbon refrigerants and variable speed drives. The combination can be as much as 70% more energy efficient that the existing systems and the capital cost of a retrofit is about 30% lower than a complete replacement.

The same principle applies in high-rise facilities that use chillers based on synthetic refrigerants. These can be replaced or retrofit to employ natural refrigerant based systems that are up to 40% more energy efficient. Ammonia systems have been shown to be both highly efficient and have very high capacity. Similarly hydrocarbon retrofits have been shown to deliver similar energy efficiency. As a result it is no longer necessary to use HFC based chillers that are less energy efficient.

District energy solutions offer substantial opportunity to combine the heating and cooling facilities of centralised plants that generate energy or use waste heat as a source of energy efficiency. Australia has been slow to embrace the opportunity of district energy but there are clear examples of success in Australia and substantial proof available in Europe. The cost savings can be up to 50% serving a number of large buildings with a centralised plant; itself a contribution to cost effectiveness.

Cool Rooms and Cold Stores There are about 100,000 cool rooms and cold stores in Australia. The vast majority use energy inefficient HFC refrigerants. By converting large cold stores to ammonia refrigeration or smaller cool rooms to hydrocarbon refrigeration the energy savings can be in the range of 30 to 40%.

These solutions have been demonstrated broadly in Australia and are now considered proven technology.

Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Commercial refrigeration spans a considerable range in capacity but there are energy efficient solutions available across the entire range from stand alone equipment to large commercial and industrial refrigeration.

Perhaps the best example of this trend is the commitment of the Consumer Goods

Forum to the use of natural refrigerants.

This organisation enables over 400 of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest food retailers and food suppliers to collaborate to identify ways to reduce energy use and emissions. The CGF has committed to transition to natural refrigerants in all of its HVACR applications because they want to energy savings and are committed to emissions reduction.

Heat Load Management A major opportunity in HVACR energy efficiency is to reduce the heat load in the building where heating and cooling is required. There are many important solutions for this purpose and the technology available is changing rapidly in response to the demand for energy savings.

The concept of heat load management in Australia is largely about reducing the heat load in a building by better managing the ingress of high ambient temperatures.

The solutions include better roof heat management, double-glazed windows or windows that employ reflective surfaces, reflective paint on roofs and walls that have high solar exposure and low heat lighting.

Each of these solutions can reduce the cost of air conditioning and refrigeration quite significantly (in the order of 10 to 20%).

Together and in association with more energy efficient energy management and more energy efficient vapour compression systems the HVACR energy savings can be as much as 70%.

The Challenge There are many challenges to achieve this degree of improvement but the most important is for building owners and operators and their energy services suppliers to recognise and embrace the opportunity of integrated energy efficiency engineering. At the same time government has a major role to facilitate the transition to energy efficient HVACR through regulations and subsidies that serve to demonstrate the value throughout government agencies and industry, residential suppliers of HVACR services. There is an enormous training and education task to reach this highly decentralised and economically important function.

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Improving

Boiler Efficiency in Hotels Lasath Lecamwasam I CPEng MIEAust MAIRAH MCIBSE MASHRAE

H

otels are energy intensive buildings, typically consuming more than 400kWh/m² and they account for 11% of the energy usage across the Australian commercial buildings sector. It is important for Hotel Engineers to consider improving the efficiency of heating systems, for the following reasons: • Large hotels in temperate climate zones of Australia typically have gas fired boilers that provide space heating. With gas prices forecasted to rise steeply, with some estimates predicting increases ranging from 200% to 300% over the foreseeable future, the efficiency of the installed boilers, their optimised operation and the application of best practice maintenance is important.

• Reducing energy costs will always help competitiveness. Energy costs can be as high as 10% of operating costs. Energy management offers the means to reduce operating costs without compromising the high levels of service delivery – which is essential to keep guests comfortable and to make the hotel their chosen venue for the next visit.

• Reducing heating energy will reduce CO2₂emissions and improve the environmental credentials of the hotel.

Ecological branding is becoming more important for hotels, with corporate clients seeking environmentally friendly venues to hold business conferences and to accommodate their staff.

Where gas fired boilers are installed for space heating, they produce heating hot water which is circulated to air handling units, fan coils or other forms of heat emitter such as radiators which provides heating to the spaces.The gas consumption for space heating can account for 10-20% of the total energy consumption of a hotel.The use of natural gas has often

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been the obvious choice as the energy source for space heating due to its lower cost, convenience of distribution and lower greenhouse gas emissions which is typically 80% less than the CO2 emissions from grid connected electricity.

For reducing greenhouse gas emissions, manufacturers of boilers have developed technologies that have seen the thermal efficiency increase from around 65-70% thirty years ago to about 95-97% for a boiler with condensing type technology.

As a point of reference the National Construction Code (BCA) 2014 mandates the thermal efficiency for a new boiler to be at least 80% or 83% for boilers >750kW which are both fairly low targets, considering the options readily available.

Condensing type boilers have been successfully used in overseas countries (mainly Europe) for around 30 years.Therefore users and installers in these countries are well aware of their advantages, shortcomings and system design characteristics for optimised operation.

Boiler efficiency regulations in many European countries are such that only condensing type boilers are now able to be installed for new buildings and retrofits.

that extract more useful heat from the hot gases produced during combustion. Such boilers also have more sophisticated burners and controls which increase efficiency. Due to higher efficiency these boilers emit less greenhouse gases (CO2) to the atmosphere and since combustion occurs at lower temperatures the emission of harmful nitrogen oxide gases (NOx) is also reduced.

Condensing boilers have the potential to reduce gas consumption for space heating by as much as 15-30% (in comparison to an existing inefficient boiler), providing there are carefully selected and controlled properly.

The term ‘condensing’ is used to describe these boilers because under favourable conditions of operation, these boilers extract heat from the flue gas (exhaust) products to such an extent that the water produced in the flue gases condense into a vapour, thereby giving a visible plume.This effect is somewhat similar to the visible vapour trail of an aircraft at high altitude or the plume of exhaust from a motor vehicle on a cold day when the cool exhaust system acts as a condenser.

In Australia, condensing type boilers are now being installed, however there are misconceptions about the optimal application of these boilers and this technical fact sheet attempts to address some of these issues.

Engineers and contractors often specify and install condensing boilers without fully appreciating the factors that make them condense, thereby denying the owner the potential benefits.

Condensing boilers are more efficient than non-condensing boilers mainly because they have bigger (better) heat exchangers

Figure 1 shows how the efficiency of condensing boilers falls fairly steeply with rising return temperature, up to about 55°C (the dew point of flue gases), at

which point no condensation occurs and the appliance performs as a high efficiency boiler beyond this.

When compared to conventional boilers, the thermal efficiency of condensing boilers is highly dependent on heating flow and return temperature, especially the return temperature.

Under full load conditions, a condensing boiler typically has a thermal efficiency of around 93-95%, in comparison to a non-condensing boiler which tends to have efficiencies of around 85%. Another advantage is that under part-load conditions, the efficiency of most condensing boilers improves slightly, whereas conventional boilers suffer from decreased efficiency at part load.

When comparing thermal efficiencies of boilers, the convention is to use the gross calorific value of the fuel, rather than the net calorific value. The former includes the latent heat of vaporisation of the water vapour produced, therefore is approximately 10% higher than the latter which excludes the latent heat of vaporisation. When expressing thermal efficiency, should the latter value be referenced, this results in a somewhat exaggerated value which exceeds 100%.

Therefor it is important to check whether the efficiency stated by the boiler manufacturer is referenced to the gross calorific value.

Condensing boilers are designed to positively encourage condensing of the flue gases whereas conventional boilers are corroded by condensation. Therefore, condensing boilers are more efficient than non-condensing boilers under typical operating conditions, and their efficiency significantly improves when the flue gases are cooled below 55°C, which is the dew point. For this to be achieved, it is essential for the return water from the heating circuit to enter the condensing boiler at temperatures below 50-52°C. Such conditions are readily available when these boilers are used for low temperature heating circuits.

Conventional heating systems typically have heating flow and return temperatures of 82-71°C respectively, and under such conditions condensing boilers will not condense, therefore maximum efficiency

Figure 2

will not be achieved and the boiler will lose about 10% of heat through the flue gases.

Since a condensing boiler typically costs 30-50% more than a non-condensing boiler it is important that designers and installers consider the factors that would optimise the operation of these boilers under condensing conditions.

To condense or not to condense?

For applications that involve low temperature heating circuits, the heat exchangers can be sized that the return temperature to the boiler is below 50°C, therefore the boiler will always operate in condensing mode, delivering maximum efficiency. Such applications include swimming pools, underfloor hydronic heating, greenhouses, pre-heating domestic hot water and low surface temperature radiator or perimeter skirting type heaters.

For new installations, which have long operating hours (such as hotels in cooler climates) where energy efficiency is paramount for achieving exceptional performance, it may be cost effective to oversize heat exchangers to enable operating the heating circuit at lower temperatures, that provide condensing conditions. Heat exchangers sized for low hot water flow and return temperatures will be physically larger when compared to those sized for conventional temperatures

of around 82-71°C, therefore this will lead to extra cost and space requirements for the larger heat exchangers.

However, for most applications in Australia, if the seasonal heating load is established accurately using means such as a building simulation, a result similar to the following will be evident.

Fig 2 shows the annual heating demand profile for an office type building which had boiler plant with total capacity of 500kW, sized for winter design conditions of -2°C. The graph shows that most heating demand is only a small proportion of the maximum boiler capacity of 500kW. Therefore even if the heat exchangers are sized for conventional flow and return water temperatures (82 & 71°C), they can be operated during the low load conditions using a condensing boiler, with the flow and return temperatures reduced, to enable condensing conditions at the boiler. As the heating load increases (during colder weather and/or early morning warm up), the boiler flow temperature can be automatically increased by the building management system (BMS) and if the heating demand is such that the condensing boiler has reached its full capacity with the flow temperature at around 82°C, other non-condensing type boilers can be sequenced. Such an arrangement is referred to as lead-lag operation and the condensing

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boiler will always operate as the lead unit with the others providing reserve capacity.

Important Factors to Consider

For most new applications such an approach is likely to give the best return on investment rather than specifying the most expensive option with all boilers being the condensing type. Having all boilers to be of condensing type will no doubt be slightly more efficient but the payback period will be much longer because the additional costs associated with lag boilers being of the condensing type will not deliver significant savings, because the plant will be used for very short periods in the year.

The condensate from condensing boilers is acidic, as shown in the chemical reaction below:

Similarly, when retrofitting condensing boilers to existing heating systems the likelihood is that the existing heat exchangers are somewhat oversized for the required duties due to traditional design safety factors being applied and the heat losses from the building reducing over the years due to upgrades to thermal insulation and the building façade. The impacts of global warming are also likely to have reduced the heating loads slightly. Under such circumstances the best design approach is likely to install a condensing boiler as the low load (lead) boiler and to schedule the heating flow temperature upwards as heating demand increases and then to sequence conventional boilers.

For smaller applications, having heating demands around 300500kW, it may prove cost effective to use a modular boiler arrangement where all boilers are condensing type. There are manufacturers who offer this arrangement complete with modularised heating pipe headers and flue arrangements and the simplicity of this arrangement could be advantageous.

Based on the author’s experience, most hotels will benefit cost effectively through the installation of a (small) condensing boiler as the lead boiler to provide the space heating base load through most of the year with the existing conventional boilers providing back up capacity for the relatively short spells of extreme weather.

The BMS must be configured to ensure that the condensing boiler is operated for as long as possible with its return temperature below 50-53°C. When additional heating is required, the heating flow temperature should be sequenced (or re-set) upwards to 82-85° (or as recommended by the manufacturer) before the conventional boilers are fired. For reasons given in the next section, conventional boilers must not be operated for long periods with the return temperature below 55°C. This temperature re-set can be achieved by the BMS through an algorithm that uses feedback from the positions of the modulating heating control valves or through ambient weather compensation. For existing installations where the positions of the heating control valves are not visible to the BMS, the latter will be a satisfactory solution.

A poor outcome is achieved in terms of return on investment, when condensing boilers are installed without including a controls strategy in the BMS for achieving condensing conditions whenever possible.

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Flues:

CH4 + 2O2 => CO2 + 2H2O (water vapour) => H2CO3 (carbonic acid)

Natural gas (mainly methane) when burnt, produces carbon dioxide and water vapour which combine to form carbonic acid which has a pH of around 3.

Therefore it is important that the flues for condensing boilers are made from acid resistant materials such as stainless steel 316 or high temperature plastics (only if approved by the gas regulator).

Significant condensation occurs in flues for condensing boilers when compared with conventional boilers, therefore the integrity at flue joints is important. Where spigot/socket type joints are used, the sockets must face upwards. Horizontal flue joints must either be flanged/gasketed or have generous overlapping spigots/sockets with a high temperature silicone sealant applied where appropriate, to avoid water leakage into the plant room. Horizontal runs must be graded upwards at least 5° towards the discharge.

The flue discharge from a condensing boiler has very little residual thermal energy hence low buoyancy. Therefore a plume of water vapour will be visible and this could cause aesthetic or nuisance issues near windows, to neighbouring properties, balconies or semi enclosed courtyards where hotel guests walk past or congregate.

This issue must be considered, especially in hotels. The plume is harmless, apart from being slightly acidic and will have fewer impurities than the flue from a conventional boiler because of the scrubbing effect from the vapour which will be drained.

The UK publication Guide to the Condensing Boiler Installation Assessment Procedure for Dwellings, available from the internet provides guidelines for domestic type applications. For commercial applications, similar principles apply and it is important to seek advice from manufacturers.

Condensate Removal: Condensate from the boiler and flue must not be drained into copper, cast iron or lead pipes, which typically exist in older buildings. In commercial (non-domestic) boiler installations, condensate should be neutralised prior to connection to drainage, which may even be a local authority requirement if trade waste charges are to be avoided. Manufacturers supply acid neutraliser kits which contain consumable neutralising agents (alkalis) which need to be periodically replaced. This must be written into operating and maintenance manuals, if not it could be overlooked and expensive remedial work may be required to copper or cast iron sewer pipes.

System Cleanliness: When fitting condensing boilers (or any modern boiler with compact heat exchange passages) to an existing heating system it is essential for the system to be thoroughly flushed and a good water treatment regime to be installed. If the existing system is extensive (long pipe runs) and has steel pipework (rather than copper), it is advisable to install a good quality dirt separator in addition to conventional strainers.

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Water Treatment: When retrofitting condensing boilers to existing systems that have a mixture of metals such as steel, copper and brass, it is especially important to ensure that the heat exchanger of the condensing boiler is made of corrosion resistant metal such as stainless steel 316. There are many reputable condensing boilers available with heat exchangers made of Aluminium/Silicon for reasons of lower cost. However for these to have a good lifespan, the quality of flushing and water treatment in the heating system is paramount.

Aluminium corrodes at a high pH, because the passivation layer deteriorates above a pH >8.5, with such conditions being acceptable (or even desirable) for conventional heating systems that have steel components. It is very important to maintain the system pH and other important parameters such as chlorides and total dissolved solids (TDS) as recommended by the boiler manufacturer.

For such boilers, it is typically recommended to avoid NaOH and tannin based water treatment and instead to use inhibitors having orthophosphates or molybdite.

Back End Corrosion in Conventional Boilers: Condensing boilers are designed to encourage condensation to occur within them. They have heat exchangers made out of metals that withstand the condensate which is acidic in nature with a pH value of around 3, the same as tomato juice. If conventional (noncondensing type) boilers are used with return water temperatures below 55°C for prolonged periods, they will eventually suffer from corrosion and premature failure due to acidic condensate attacking

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the heat exchangers, which is termed ‘boiler back end corrosion’.

Therefore it is important when conventional boilers are operated in conjunction with condensing types, the return water temperature to the conventional boilers are always maintained above 58°C or higher as recommended by the manufacturer. For energy efficiency, it is also important to prevent standing losses from off line boilers through the automatic shut-down of water circulation through motorised valves, with slow re-opening on demand, to reduce any thermal shock.

Some engineers and energy auditors recommend the heating flow temperature to be re-set downwards based on prevailing outside temperature, in order to save energy losses from the heating distribution pipework systems. This can lead to severe back end corrosion in conventional boilers, if they are operated for prolonged periods with the return temperature below 55°C. The replacement cost of the boiler will far exceed any energy cost savings.

Best Practice Maintenance and Operation: It is important to assess the build quality and service provision from the suppliers of the condensing boiler. Some of the condensing boilers appearing in the Australian market are the cheaper end products available overseas. The quality of the secondary heat exchanger is important because it has to withstand corrosion. Other factors to consider are that components such as burners are more complex due to arrangements such as pre-mixing and control of excess air, therefore it is important that these units are installed and commissioned strictly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and maintained as recommended by competent contractors with the necessary specialist knowledge about the equipment – ideally gained through attending training courses accredited by the manufacturer. Unless the owner and the designer give consideration to these factors, it is unlikely that the condensing boiler will deliver a return in investment.

Hotels operate for long hours with highly variable occupancy, with high expectations for user comfort. Therefore the use of optimised controls strategies through BMS is essential for efficient operation. The use of BMS for energy efficiency will be covered in a future article.

For further information on best practice maintenance, refer to the Guide to Best Practice Maintenance and Operation of HVAC Systems for energy efficiency, which is available as a free download at www.industry.gov.au

About the Author:

Temperature Technology

263 Gilbert Street Adelaide SA 5000 www.t-tec.com.au

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tt Ph: 08 8231 1266 Fax: 08 8231 1212 sales@t-tec.com.au

Lasath is a Chartered Professional Engineer and the director of Engineered Solutions for Building Sustainability (ESBS) – www.esbsconsult.com.au with 30 years’ experience on building services design and maintenance management in England, Scotland, New Zealand and Australia. Lasath has a passion for sustainable design and operation of building services, being the lead author of the Guide to Best Practice Maintenance and Operation of HVAC Systems for Energy Efficiency – published by the DCCEE. One of Lasath’s recent projects – 4 Mort Street was awarded the 2012 AIRAH Engineering Excellence Award for the Most Sustainable HVAC Retrofit Project, presented by the NSW NABERS Team. Lasath has performed more than 100 energy audits including hotels and this knowledge gives him a unique perspective of the potential causes for inefficient operation in buildings and how to avoid them. If you have any questions regarding this article, please address them to: Lasath@esbsconsult.com.au

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25

Technology 2015

Ted Horner

As we go into another year we asked Ted Horner to write for us about the current technology trends in Hotels.

Smart Phone Access to guestrooms

M

any of the world major brands and rolling out mobile check in platforms via guest own smart phones.

Starwood Hotels and Resorts has become the first chain to let guests unlock doors with their phones. The feature is available at only 10 Aloft, Element and W hotels but will expand to 140 more properties in those brands by the middle of next year.

Others such as Hilton, Marriott and IHG have plans to roll out mobile check in in 2015 The new Next Hotel in Brisbane is the first in Australia to roll out this technology For the last few years hotels have been searching for various methods to modernize the guest experience and one component of that is the check in process where there is an opportunity for innovation because it represents one of the first interactions between hotel and guest.

Keyless room entry is one such innovation as it allows hotels to benefit from the recent advancements of mobile technologies and BYOD trend that see guests carrying an average of 2 or more devices with them There a number of different technologies that can be used using Near Field Communications (NFC), Bluetooth, RFID to name a few but clearly the concept to by-pass the front desk and check in with your smart phone is taking off

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Guests no longer like to have free Wi-Fi, they are expecting it.

Free Wi-Fi is now considered a utility like power and water and as a result guests expect it to be free , however if guests want a premium Wi-Fi service at higher speeds then I believe hotels should be able to charge provided the cost to move up from free to paid service is not excessive .

In Room Entertainment in next five years Today more and more guests are arriving at your hotel with their own device (BYOD) and more importantly their own content (BYOC) so in light of this hotels will need to do the following • Increase bandwidth as more guests want to download content over the Internet • Ensure that whatever Smart TV you have in your room that is has the capability to allow guests to easily share content between their tablet or smart phone and the large screen TV • Question whether Foxtel is required when the commercial model is not suited to hotels and where guest can access content elsewhere

Five Main areas of Focus with technology in 2015 1. Increased use of mobile apps to improve the guest experience before , during and after their stay

2. Mobile check in where guests will by-pass the front desk and use their smartphone to access their rooms 3. Increasing importance of big data – how will hotels analyse all this data to stay ahead of the competition and meet the individual needs of all guests. Who can do this the best will prosper 4. Cloud Computing with more and more technology hosted in the cloud from PABX, PMS to POS etc. as opposed to the traditional on premise systems 5. Disruptive technologies how will the hotel industry rise to meet the challenge of Airbnb as the taxi industry has to meet the challenge of Uber – technology will play a major role here In my opinion one of the best and most innovative users of technology is Citizen M www.citizenm.com who hosts all of their technology in the cloud and guests selfcheck in themselves.

AT EVERY STEP OF YOUR GUEST’S EXPERIENCE…

For more information, contact Grant Wilkins sales@docomointertouch.com +61 (0)2 9313 0400 www.docomointertouch.com

27

Watermark becomes a landmark

the engineering feats of the Gold Coastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest premier investments Paul Truman I QLD Chief Engineer, Watermark Hotel Group

T

he Sunshine State has traditionally been the destination for Australians looking for a holiday. Yet in recent years the sophisticated local tourism and accommodation industries, along with the alluring sand of the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beach precincts, has drawn in more corporate travellers. Leading the way for this is the Gold

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Coast â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a region demanding sleek accommodation with the latest amenities and architecture.

With this in mind, the Watermark Hotel Group has intensely focused on transforming one of its premier Queensland properties

– the Watermark Hotel & Spa Gold Coast – into an impressive, contemporary hotel over the past year.

In a previous issue, we looked at how the Watermark Hotel & Spa Gold Coast was undergoing a major redevelopment. Today, the new precinct is all but complete. Its opening was earmarked for the 19th December, 2014. It was the biggest investment into the Surfers Paradise property since its launch in 1996. The renovations coincide with renewed investment across the Gold Coast and come at an exciting time for the region in the lead up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Architects Brand+Slater designed the hotel with the intention of offering guests, conferences, and the local community a unique and chic hotel along Surfers Paradise Boulevard. The vision and creativity of the architects was second to none, with the final product being a showcase of the extraordinary talent in the Brisbane-based firm.

Rohrig Construction were the Principle Contractors managing the project. The success of the project owes much to their communication and professionalism. A project like the Watermark demands a concerted and adaptable workforce. Thankfully, the efforts of all companies and sub-trades involved with the project ensured the venue was ready for its hotly anticipated opening. The fear of entering such an ambitious project, to be delivered in only 20 weeks, proved to be no barrier to those involved with the project.

Proudly Associated with

Once the design was signed off, contract negotiations were worked through and secured, and all approvals were in place, the hotel began to recognise the logistics of the extremely tight program.

The project was earmarked for a pre-Christmas/New Year opening, which we know as a peak season time providing more challenges to any hotel. The sheer enormity of the project meant the contractors understood that, like most large refurbishments, a solid start and adherence to our critical path program was essential.

The Watermark Hotel

The assigned service consultants were briefed and design began. To everyone’s credit, the speed in which the services designs were able to be checked off were a credit to all, noting our expectations and brief was the need to be accurate so as to not slow construction and the need for few clarifications and variations from contractors.

The involvement of the Hotels Engineering team, and their work

Roger Morris, Gold Coast Manager Ph: 07 3441 2400 Mobile: 0413 808 802

PO Box 4109, Loganholme, QLD 4129 Office: 45 Chetwynd Street, Loganholme QLD

Email: ldavies@assetfire.com.au www.assetfire.com.au www.aragroup.com.au

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Proudly Associated with

The Watermark Hotel

South Queensland Refrigeration Pty Ltd ABN: 94 111 235 824 QBSA: 1065139 ARC: AU01288 Postal Address: PO BOX 823, Jimboomba, Qld 4280 Address: Unit 4, 9-11 Paul Court, Jimboomba, Qld 4280

Ph: (07) 5540 3254 Fax: (07) 5548 7922

Email: sqradmin@bigpond.com www.sqr.com.au

with all consultants in relation to services and Plant, expedited the process.

The demolition contract was tendered early to enable a full throttle start to the project. The demolition stage of the project was critical and extremely intrusive. This stage entailed excavators, who began in August and worked to a tight and complicated program. However, the demolition team achieved their targets and, to their great credit, was able to maintain the operation of the hotel.

The design team focused on using space and architecture to create more natural air conditioning and air flow through the hotel. The brief was to rely more intimately on the environment for providing a comfortable ambience for all patrons. The emphasis on open areas, and enhancing the sea breeze that can be funnelled through the hotel, along with the ceiling fans achieved this outcome. The precinct is air-conditioned utilising the existing system (Chillers) with the new Air Handling Units positioned in a new plant room above the precinct. Novair was the preferred type of Air Handling Units supplied by Pacific HVAC. Honeywell has undertaken an upgrade to the BMS system.

Proudly Associated with

The Watermark Hotel

Office: 95 Rosedale Street, Coopers Plains QLD 4108

Ph: 07 3274 2558 Fax: 07 3277 9994

Email: admin@wfmelectrical.com.au www.wfmelectrical.com.au Licence number 8508

The Watermark Hotel & Spa Gold Coast integrates the new Clifford’s Grill & Lounge and Walrus Social House; establishments that would be right at home on the culturally-rich streets of Melbourne or SoHo New York. The new development is located directly in front of the new Surfers Paradise light rail station and entices both tourists and locals to play and dine with a plethora of sensational new offerings, including a casual café, VIP & sports bar, gaming lounge and restaurants. The kitchen has been a challenge in its design as it is open and offers interactive cooking.

The alfresco ambience of Clifford’s Grill and Lounge complement the hearty menu prepared by Executive Chef Daniel Smith. Named the 2001 Chef of the Year in GQ Magazine, Smith aims to champion the feel of a traditional grill house. The centrepiece of the venue is the ten-burner grill. The char-grilled 1kg T-bone, served sliced off the bone, is a standout dish.

“The venues have been created to bring people together, the menu is no different. The produce, meats, fresh seafood, divine breads

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Proudly Associated with

The Watermark Hotel

Mail: Hitec Glazing Pty Ltd PO Box 1087 North Lakes, QLD 4509

and other menu staples have been fashioned for sharing, comfort and as the perfect complement to conversation and great music,” said Smith.

The large char-grill and dual pizza ovens were a challenge for the designers. The sheer volume of exhaust and movement needed to be addressed when working out where these features of the kitchen were to be positioned. There is a main large hood extraction system, but above the char grill is a hood style Electrostatic Precipitator (Ozoner inclusive) by CFM Air Systems.

Fundamentally, the Precipitator ozone returns treated breathable oxygen during its process of oxidising the odour. An emphasis was also put on the need to ensure easy cleaning and cost-effective maintenance and accessibility.

Street: 61 Kabi Circuit Deception Bay, QLD 4508

Ph: (07) 3817 9300 Fax: (07) 3204 9044 Email: reception@hitecglazing.com

The Walrus Social House menu is set apart by the Walrus Lobster Baguette featuring poached lobster tail, slathered in preserved lemon mayo, with dill pickle and eggplant chips. The venue is an all-in-one entertainment area with a chic bar and cabana lounge, live music scene, healthily holistic café, and discreet gaming lounge.

Watermark Hotel & Spa Gold Coast has embraced the Light Rail Project as an opportunity to revitalise and redevelop the property strategically around the new station and create a unique tourism hub.

The success of the upgrades to the hotel owes much to the professionalism of various firms involved in the process. These include Hitec Glazing, Asset Fire & Security, South Queensland Refrigeration, Leigh Baker Plumbing, and Brand + Slater architects.

In addition to the Watermark Hotel & Spa Gold Coast, the Watermark Hotel Brisbane is also undergoing a 60-room refurbishment. It is another exciting project for the Watermark Hotels Group, who is spurred on by the success of this recent renovation.

Like the sand on a summer’s day on a Gold Coast beach, the future remains bright for the Watermark Hotel & Spa Gold Coast. The new engineering capacity, combined with a commitment to style and sustainability, leaves the hotel in a strong position to capitalise on growing holidaying and corporate guest numbers in the region.

Proudly Associated with

The Watermark Hotel

Office: 5/12-16 Robart Ct Narangba Q. 4504 Postal: PO Box 135 Beachmere Q. 4510 Email: leigh@lbp.net.au

Ph: 07 3204 9685 Fax: 07 3204 9678 www.lbp.net.au QBCC Licence number 1098594

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Elevator Services Upgrade Novotel Langley Hotel, Perth

John Whitfield

The Challenge To upgrade the 4 existing Elevators in an 11 level 250 plus room hotel with over 90% consistent occupancy levels.

The Location The Novotel Langley Hotel Perth, with 253 rooms, conference and banquet facilities operating 24/7 over 90% occupancy and consistently reaching 100% occupancy.

The issue The Elevator services were approaching 26 years of operation, though well maintained over the years, elevator operational noise was causing guest complaints up to 4 levels below the plant room, Elevator plant reliability was problematic and replacement electronics components were difficult to obtain with potentially long done times.

Access to the lower car park levels could lead to long guest delays as not all lifts served the lower basement Car Park. The Elevator architectural finishes were circa 1980â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and tired.

The elevator power control system had poor energy efficiency and an average power factor below .35.

The Solution Specialist vertical transportation consulting engineers Whitfield Rose prepared a bespoke design solution for the modernisation of the 3 Guest elevators and 1 Goods (staff) elevator encompassing the latest energy efficient Variable Frequency AC regenerative drive technology, Permanent magnet synchronise AC drive motors, with double mechanical vibration isolation between the elevator drive machine and the building structure, advanced lift group control

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system, LED lighting, colour passenger information display screens, VFAC door controls and hardware, integrated elevator security access to guest room levels and a customised Elevator lobby call buttons to provide priority to guests going to the basement car Park.

The Verification As part of the design and management of the Elevator upgrade process Whitfield Rose implemented special energy usage and lift performance measurement and recording equipment process on the site.

This enabled the accurate and verifiable

BEFORE the upgrade

Old elevator controller vvac

measurement of the elevator equipmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance prior to the elevator upgrade works being commenced and after the completion of the works.

Old elevator geared drive machine

Old elevator car control panel

AFTER the upgrade

The Outcome The new equipment enabled the elevator speed to be increased by 25% to 2.0m/s reducing the hotel guests (passenger) elevator travel and waiting times by 20 %,.

The previous harmonic noise from the lifts entering the building structure has been eliminated enabling the Hotel to overcome previous source of guest complaints, the elevators average energy consumption reduced by over 62% and the power factor improved by over 60% to approach unity.

The table and graphs provide a summary of the before and after Guest Elevators Upgrade systems performance based on similar 14 day periods.

New elevator car interior and control panel.

New VFAC Synchronous gearless drive machines

New drive machine with rope brake for prevention of uncontrolled movement from floor level

New VFAC elevator controllers and new main switch board

33

Why no WiFi?

Check-in your guests to a better experience Brad Little I NETGEAR Managing Director Australia and New Zealand

Our environment is changing. We are no longer a culture of stationary individuals who live and work in the same place. Australians now exist in a nomadic work environment, where we work in multiple offices, from home, from our car and from various hotels as we go on the road for our professions.

This behavioural evolution has offered the collective workforce many advantages, however it is depended on the ability to stay connected.

W

hether on vacation or away on business, hotel guests expect to connect, stream, watch, download, work, and play without complication and without limit. When

travelling for business, access to a secure, reliable WiFi connection is crucial. Whether sending an email, printing itinerary or connecting to a videoconference, we all need to be â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;onlineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. It is surprising then,

to look at the Australian hotel industry and notice that it is significantly lacking in facilities for its guests, both business and otherwise, and if they are readily available, these services come at a cost.

We often talk of the internet being ubiquitous, and within the international hotel and hospitality industry at present, around 90% of hotels offer guests wireless internet access at no extra charge, with America (at 93%), and Europe (at 90%) leading the way. On the other hand, and on the other side of the globe, Oceania offers a little over one in two hotels (55%) with free WiFi services for their guests. In Australia specifically, only four out of the top ten hotel chains currently offer some form of free WiFi connectivity. For proprietors, this can seriously effect guest satisfaction, and can result in an otherwise pleasurable stay turning sour, and earn a negative review as a consequence.

For those who travel for business, WiFi has fast become the number one priority when it comes to booking a hotel, ahead of location and included breakfast. The ability to access emails and connect with the office remotely is an absolute must, and should be as stress and hassle free as possible. The

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WiFi connectivity offered by some hotels can easily become the factor that ‘makes or breaks’ a guest’s overall hotel experience.

Poor WiFi signal, slow download speeds and passwords that are only valid for one device just aren’t good enough in a business hotel anymore, and can be reason enough for some patron to choose another location.

The introduction of an updated WiFi service for business guests is vital to improve their experience, however they are not the only users who will benefit from a more accessible wireless connection.

Technology and digital innovations are no longer just the domain of corporate guests, as more and more families follow the trend, and are embracing wireless technology as a travel essential. Whether checking in on a smartphone, amusing the kids on a tablet or sending travel snaps via email, the wireless needs of travelling families are putting the pressure on hotels to place the internet

within the reach of all hotel guests for a better all round experience.

So why is the Australian hotel market so slow to embrace free and reliable wireless access for their guests? Granted there are costs involved for a hotel to put in the necessary infrastructure to bring about change. As such, a pay structure for patrons that allows them to pay as they go is not completely unreasonable; however the delay in implementing such alternatives is causing patrons (as well as hotels) undue frustrations during their stay.

Alongside facilities, bandwidth issues and range are also a problem for hotels to navigate. It is vital to ensure that access points are in good locations to optimise performance and to limit interference, as signals which drop out as guests move from place to place are extremely frustrating.

Any changes to infrastructure in hotels are going to take time, and will ultimately

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In a competitive market where guest satisfaction and comfort is central, the current standard of WiFi connectivity in Australian hotels is under delivering. If not adapted and updated to support the increasing demand it will be left behind the rest of the world, and potentially affect the industry’s global tourism reputation.

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More Control & Comfort with

Integrated Smart Lighting Technology

Scott gracie I megaman

L

ighting forms an integral part of our lives whether it’s natural light from the sun, artificial light in our homes or lighting the way while we drive. Daily we can be faced with a myriad of tasks that require good lighting or at lease enough light in order to accomplish the task at hand comfortably and effectively. Relaxation too relies on good lighting and for the most part is evoked by more than just turning off the lights.

Setting a mood for relaxation requires manipulation of your immediate environment. The more control a person has over their surroundings the easier it is to relax and feel secure. Just being ‘in control’ itself can have a relaxing effect but for a lot of the time it is someone else that’s in control telling us what to do and how to do it. Though maybe not intentional, this quite often appears in the form of limiting the ability to manipulate your environment.

Choice is something we have come to expect, whether it be different products in a supermarket, a meal we eat or music we listen too. We decide what we like – and what we don’t. We also have the ability to choose the type of environment we would like to be in, whether it’s our home, a café or on holiday.

First impressions are quite often a key and integral part of successful relationships, both professional and personal. I have stayed in many hotels both locally and internationally for work and pleasure and the one thing that I remember most is my first impression of the hotel room. I prefer to enter a warm, relaxing and inviting environment but many a time have I walked into a cold brightly white lit room quite often caused by high colour temperature fluorescent lamps.This is ok if you want to appear or portray the likes a Seven

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Eleven store but not appropriate for a hotel room. Seven Eleven stores are lit brightly and with a high colour temperature on purpose – To make it noticeable from outside the store and uncomfortable inside the store.They want you to lure you in from outside with the bright lights but don’t want you hanging around, just purchase what you need and leave.

On the opposite end of the scale, if I were in a restaurant, I like soft warm lighting as it’s comfortable and I want to stay.The restaurant owner likes warm lighting also because if I stay longer it’s more likely I will order more drinks or more food and return another time. Similarly if a hotel provides me with a warm and inviting environment where the lobby, dining area and my room is well and warmly lit, I will be more inclined to make another booking and return as will a lot of other customers.

Too much light can be just as uncomfortable as not enough light and when it comes to how each of us like our environment lit we are all different.

Now with the integration of smart lighting technology into LED lamps and luminaires, our environment becomes even more fluid and can be manipulated to suit our requirements or needs.

Lighting controls and systems are by no means a new idea but were out of reach for most people because the cost was too high for product, installation and programming if required and future maintenance of these systems can lead to more costs. If a premises is rented then it is near impossible to install any kind of hardwired control system without permission from the owner.

Similarly in a hotel room we have to rely on whatever lighting is provided for us – Smart lighting technology changes this quickly and effectively, without the huge installation cost.

The integrated technology that controls the various globes or components of these new lighting systems is generally Bluetooth or Radio Frequency (RF) electronics.The Bluetooth systems are generally easier to install as it only requires screwing in a light bulb and downloading an app to make it usable. RF on the other hand provides more functionality and system components but can require a small amount of installation work to be carried out by a licenced Electrician.

Some of these systems come with peripheral components such as wireless multifunction wall switches that can be attached to a wall or placed on a bedside or coffee table. Handheld remote controls can also be used with some systems and can manipulate all the lighting throughout a house from anywhere within the house. Apps are also available for RF technology to manipulate dimming and scene settings the same way the remote control does but with the added advantage of being able to use it when away from the premises or even to turn lights on or off from the driveway when arriving or leaving home.

Using an app from your phone or tablet device or a remote control to dim your lights might sound a bit gimmicky at first but for someone that previously did not have the ability to do so is amazing. More people now have the control and ability to light a room how they want when they want.

Convenience and security are also added benefits as lights can be turned on from your mobile device anywhere in the house.

Some systems can even be controlled from down the street or anywhere in the world.

Similarly, some or all lights can be turned off at the push of one button which can be useful when in bed, leaving the house or as simple as turning on the porch light from inside a Taxi when arriving home.

Power - Turn the lights on and off Dimming - Adjust lighting with linear dimming Timer - Pre-set time functions Grouping - Control lighting devices by room Scenes - Programmes your favourite settings Easy Installation - Cost effective no wiring Easy to use

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37

Save water

in your cooling towers wATER cORPORATION

Cooling towers are important components of many air conditioning systems and can often be the largest consumer of scheme water for a site.

A

Figure 1: How a cooling tower operates

recent study by Water Corporation in Perth found many sites had the potential to achieve significant water savings by improving the management of existing cooling towers. These savings can lead to improved sustainability ratings for your hotel as well as reduced operational costs.

A cooling tower is a heat exchange device that cycles water to operate air conditioning systems in large buildings. Heat is removed through evaporation and cooled water is pumped back through the air conditioning system. Warm water flowing back from the air conditioner is pumped to the top of the cooling tower where it is evenly dispersed over the tower packing.

The towerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extractor fan and side louvers allow the hot water vapour to leave the tower. Cool water then flows down and collects in a large basin, where it is sent back through the air conditioning system and used for cooling.

Water is lost during this process through evaporation and wind drift. Some water is also removed from the basin to reduce the build-up of solids that can cause fouling and scaling. This water is replaced and chemicals are added to prevent fouling and limit scaling which in turn decreases the amount of water that needs to be removed. The key to ensure a cooling tower system is not wasting water is to get this balance right.

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Water Corporation found that sites with a basic understanding of the operation of a cooling tower were able to identify ways to optimise performance, saving water and energy.

It is important to take ownership of the operation and maintenance of your cooling tower and to work closely with the people involved in the process. This may include the building owner, property manager, mechanical services contractor or a water treatment contractor.

Here are three tips to reduce water use in your cooling tower.

1. Review the cycles of concentration Cycles of concentration refers to the relationship between the total dissolved solids and fresh water component in a system. If the cycles are too low you may be wasting water, and if the cycles are too high, it may have impacts on the system which cause scaling, fouling, corrosion and even health issues such as Legionella.

To determine the optimum cycles of concentration balance, speak with a water treatment service provider.

Case study An audit of water use at a commercial office building in Perth confirmed cooling towers accounted for more than half of the building’s total water use. This was much more than would be considered typical for this type of building and further investigation identified an opportunity to reduce water consumption by increasing the cycles of concentration for the system.

IKEA management now completes daily checks of the system for leaks and overflows. Weekly checks by the Facility Manager are also undertaken to look for any abnormalities and to act on them immediately. Regular readings are also taken from the site’s water meters to identify anomalies which could indicate a leak on site.

To read the full case study visit watercorporation.com.au

By increasing the cycles of concentration from 3.7 to 6, water use was reduced by around 14 million litres per year. This saved the site more than $33,000* per year in water and wastewater charges, while delivering the same air conditioning service.

To read the full case study visit watercorporation.com.au

2. Take ownership of your cooling tower system Taking ownership of your cooling tower system and conducting regular checks and maintenance is the easiest way to ensure your system is operating efficiently.

Case study – IKEA Perth The IKEA store located in the Perth suburb of Innaloo discovered the importance of regular checks when it experienced a faulty ball float valve in one of its cooling towers. A valve was stuck open, which caused water to continuously flow into the cooling tower at an estimated rate of 20 litres per minute. This water overflowed from the tower directly into the sewer. Not only did this waste water, it diluted the chemicals responsible for maintaining the system’s corrosion control.

Figure 2: The faulty ball float valve wasted 20 litres of water per minute.

3. Work with your Water Treatment Service Provider to maintain an efficient system

Service Provider to ensure your system is operating efficiently. Set water-use targets, including monthly water treatment reports, and make sure you are informed about the optimal cycles of concentration.

While cooling towers present an opportunity to reduce water use at a site, management of towers requires a holistic approach which includes consideration of potential Legionella related health impacts.

Water use related decisions should be discussed with your Water Treatment Service Provider prior to making changes.

For those in WA, Water Corporation delivers a free training course about efficient water use in cooling towers. This is available for facility and site managers responsible for cooling tower systems.

To find out more about saving water in your hotel, or to register for a free course, visit watercorporation.com.au or contact water.efficiency@watercorporation.com.au *Costs based on Water Corporation 2012/13 water use charges ($2.04/kL) and sewerage volume charges (2.677/kL) respectively

Set clearly defined objectives and responsibilities with your Water Treatment Figure 3: The fault also caused significant damage to other parts of the system through loss of corrosion control.

This led to damage to the systems’ chilled water pumps, which had to be replaced at a cost of more than $2,800. The full extent of the damage was not discovered until the system was inspected, with management estimating the total cost of repairs running into the tens of thousands of dollars.

The estimated amount of water lost from the system due to the faulty float valve was 5.55 million litres at a cost of more than $25,000 in water and wastewater charges.

Had the problem remained undetected for a year, it would have resulted in more than $48,000 in unnecessary water and wastewater charges. To put that into perspective, the cost to replace the faulty ball valve would have been around $120.

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• Controls up to 16 levels of brightness – from 40w to 4w – to minimise potential power usage.

• Since the maximum wattage of BioLED lamps is only engaged when movement is detected, the heat dissipation problems from prolonged use of lamps is almost removed.

• Whilst our dimming technology depicts human eye senses therefore BioLED dims to the energy saving mode with people only noticing the minimal change in light effect.

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Act quickly to prevent future expense when it comes to

concrete repair

Scott Jensen I Director, Roof & Building Service

Exterior concrete cracks on your large residential apartment buildings should never be ignored. Even seemingly insignificant concrete cracks or areas of blistering paint can actually be masking a larger problem of concrete spalling – which can become more complicated (and as a result, more expensive) the longer you put off remediation work.

Concrete cracks are a normal occurrence – but must be repaired immediately

I

t is the very nature of concrete structures to crack to a minor or major degree. Cracking indicates that the structure has been forced to absorb the energy of some form of stress. It does not mean the structure has failed, in fact on the contrary, any cracked concrete structures can be repaired effectively and, most often, permanently, provided the structure has not been wholly deformed and the original cause of cracking has been mitigated.

However, it is important that even the smallest cracks are repaired immediately, as they can result in the ingress of chlorides and other minerals that will lead to concrete spalling (also known as concrete

cancer). Many resort owners and managers believe that it’s sufficient to apply a flexible sealant to the cracked area – but this shortterm fix certainly isn’t effective, and will lead to serious problems in the long-term.

Instead, best practice is to identify the cause of the cracking so that the most appropriate remediation solution can be proposed.

Early concrete crack detection is positive prevention Rectifying repairable cracks will: • Restore structural and/or design strength to the cracked concrete structure • Eliminate serious spalling of concrete initiated by cracking and aggravated by temperature cycling • Prevent corrosion of reinforcing steel and pre-stress tendons by encapsulating them against moisture or water contact • Prevent water ingress through concrete structures • Repair concrete architecturally without any of the unsightly surface marks caused by standard surface crack repairs There are usually two causes associated with concrete cracks and spalling: the first is close proximity to coastal areas, and the second is pressure on the concrete.

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Identifying and preventing concrete cracks and spalling in coastal environments Concrete spalling is a common issue in coastal environments due to carbonation and chloride levels – and it regularly affects large apartment blocks. It is especially common when a breakdown in an area of concrete’s protective coating has occurred, since the concrete is then exposed to the elements.

Every occurrence of concrete spalling in this type of environment is unique, and must be examined by a professional to determine the right course of action. One option for the mitigation of concrete spalling is ensuring that your building has the correct

coating for the environment. If you currently have areas of concrete spalling, then make sure that the appropriate coating is reapplied when the spalling has been repaired.

Pay attention to the coating manufacturers’ guidelines Typically, exterior coating lifespan is around 10 years, but each brand differs slightly, so you need to know the exact details of your chosen type. We always encourage our clients to pay close attention and strictly adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines: for example, if they advise you to have the coating checked after seven years, then do it. The exterior surface may look problem-free, but there could be issues that aren’t visible to the untrained eye, and these could turn more serious as the coating gradually gets less effective over the years. Additionally, coatings can only protect against the elements while they are completely intact – so if any movement cracks appear during the period then the coating will need to be repaired.

Cracks and spalling caused by pressure on the concrete Concrete deterioration and spalling on large residential buildings can also be a

result of cracks and water ingress, from constant pressure on the concrete. This pressure can be the result of a number of factors, including movement of the building, temperature cycling, or energy being absorbed in places that haven’t been

43

designed to take the pressure. These are all common factors, especially in Australia where temperature extremes can have a significant effect on concrete buildings.

If a building experiences a lot of movement, then it must be designed and rectified to enable this movement, otherwise more cracks can appear over time. One solution for this is to install articulation joints that help to accommodate this movement and reduce the risk and pressure on the concrete â&#x20AC;&#x201C; thus minimising the chance of cracks or areas of spalling forming.

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Minimise disruption to your staff, residents and guests The remediation of concrete cracks and spalling is extremely important, and should be carried out as soon as you see any visible cracks beginning to form. This should be done by a professional company who have the skills to effectively identify and rehabilitate the issue, and will also carry out the work with minimum disruption to your staff, residents and guests.

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How difficult is it? Simply swap your existing air conditioner remote with an Ultima remote, enter your four digit brand code, set your temperature range, lock the key pad and save save save. Within two minutes you will be saving money, it’s that easy and your payback can be measured in weeks not years.

Call us and discover how inexpensive it is to save over 15% on your air conditioner’s energy use immediately. We have sold over 10,000 energy saving remotes in the past two years. From cost-conscious caravan parks to five-star hotels, every one of our customers has made significant savings without sacrificing guests’ comfort.

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“Being a manager of a Holiday building I see every day the unnecessary electricity usage from the air conditioners, Some guests set the temperature as low as possible on the control and leave it on 24/7 thinking nothing if they leave it on all day if they are out, or at Night time they put blankets on the bed as the rooms are so cold.The Ultima remote allows me to take some control over this, by setting the minimum Temperature at the recommended 24deg.This allows the air conditioner to quickly cool the apartment to be at a comfortable temp, Once there the compressor shuts down.Temperature settings lower than this create the compressor to work 24/7 to get the apartment at a lower temperature that it struggles to get to, or can never achieve. Some modern Inverter machines have features in them that shut down when they sense no movement in the rooms, (energy saving features) I can program the machine with the manufactures remote, then replace it with the Ultima remote, this gives me the control over the features so they can’t be de-programmed.Yes I am sold on the Ultima Remote as a great energy saving device”

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Emergency Planning

and the Question of Indemnity Derek Hendry I Hendry Group

AS 3745 is the Australian Standard utilised in the preparation of emergency planning for most States and Territories in Australia apart from Queensland, which utilises the Building Fire Safety Regulation 2008 as the instrument governing emergency planning compliance.

S

ince AS 3745 is not directly referenced in Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation, the Standard acts as a guideline for those involved in the preparation of emergency planning.

This said, NOT following these guidelines would place emergency planning stakeholders at serious risk of legal action should any emergency occur that impacts on the safety of their building occupants or visitors.

Over the years there have been changes and updates made to AS 3745 and some of these changes that have been of concern to a number of hotel engineers, property owners and property managers involved in emergency preparedness concerns the statement regarding legal liability.

Specifically, Clause 2.1.3 in AS 3745-2002 stated: “Both the EPC (Emergency Planning Committee) and the ECO (Emergency Control Organisation) personnel shall be indemnified by their employer against civil liability resulting from workplace emergency assessment, education, training sessions, periodic exercises or emergency evacuation of a building where the personnel act in good faith and in the course of their emergency control duties.’

These words have been deleted from the 2010 version and new wording in Clauses 2.5 and 5.5 has been inserted:

48

Clause 2.5: ‘Facility owners, managers, occupiers and employers should obtain professional advice on the level of indemnity provided to EPC members. The EPC members should be advised of their level of indemnity provided.’

Clause 5.5: ‘Facility owners, managers, occupiers and employers should obtain professional advice on the level of indemnity provided to ECO members. The ECO members should be advised of the level of indemnity provided.’

This apparent lessening of the indemnity provided to the EPC and ECO needs to be considered in the following light: • The EPC issues the Emergency Plan and is responsible for outcomes from its implementation.

• The responsibility of safety in facilities comes from both State and Federal legislation for Workplace Health and Safety or Occupational Health and Safety (for employers to their employees), and common law (from those in control of facilities to those who obtain access).

The indemnity of members of the EPC and ECO will generally fall into two categories: o Those who are acting as employees, whose liability will almost certainly

be covered by their employers under the respondent superior doctrine, for negligent acts or omissions by their employees in the course of employment. o Those, perhaps property owners, who are not employees, whose liability will be determined by the nature of the negligent act or omission in preparing the EP. The liability or indemnity of members of the ECO, who follow the Emergency Plan, will be determined in the same way.

Indemnity does not flow from the Standard. The Standard is not law, but a guide to best practice. Any past statements made by the Emergency Response Procedures under the 2002 Standard would have had the same weight as statements made under the current standard, with liability or indemnity of an individual determined by their status as an employee and then the nature of the negligent act or omission.

Employers who provide indemnity to their employees or property owners who retain liability should ensure that the Emergency Plan does not expose them to liability. They can do this by: o S eeking legal advice (as suggested

by AS3745-2010); and oU sing a respected Emergency Plan contractor who has a responsibility to provide an Emergency Plan

However, the majority of EPC and ECO members will be employees who will be indemnified by their employer.

that addresses the liability in a professional manner.

In summary, the new standard has not really changed the status of liability of individuals involved in emergency preparedness.

Emergency Plan can assist your EPC in upgrading the emergency preparedness of your facility to AS3745-2010 while limiting the legal liability or owners, employers and occupants.

About the HENDRY Group Derek Hendry is the Managing Director of the HENDRY group of consulting companies that include HENDRY Building Surveying Consultants, HENDRY Disability Access Consultants, Essential Property Services, Emergency Plan and Work Place Safety Assessors. HENDRY pioneered the private certification system of building approvals in Australia, and the consultancy assists clients nationally in all facets of building control and disability access compliance, essential safety measures audits, emergency planning and occupational safety requirements. HENDRY publish an e-newsletter entitled ‘Essential Matters” and a suite of web and blog sites designed to assist property practitioners in understanding their regulatory obligations. Visit http://www.hendrygroup.com.au to locate more information relating to your property requirements.

Employers and proper ty managers should obtain legal advice regarding the Emergency Plan or use a respected contractor as they would for any specialised work with legal liability.

The unique mix of membership of the EPC (typically building owners, agents, occupiers, lessors, employers) may mean it contains individuals who are not employees and so should ensure their liability is not increased by using the same measures.

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Introducing Right Air

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ight Air is an Australian Tea Tree and lemongrass oil based product developed to provide a healthy air environment by inhibiting the growth of mould and yeast spores in HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems.

Tea Tree oil, one of the active ingredients in Right Air, has been used for over a century as an antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory agent.

In conjunction with lemongrass, Right Air also possesses deodorising properties which shut down unwanted odours.

Right Air is a fresh product, one of the key attributes of its success. Right Air Gel, in most cases, is delivered to you within one month of manufacture.

The airborne nature of Right Air Gel ensures it is working whenever the aircon is on. It will also inhibit spore growth in the room (not just the aircon components).

In the humid climate of Darwin, Northern Territory, Right Air is fighting the mould battle successfully, proving to be a cost effective option versus the costly removal

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of chillers aircon units and/ or modification of existing HVAC infrastructure.

Case Study Darwin, Northern Territory A 230 room hotel, part of a large international hotel chain, identified a ‘mouldy smell’ throughout the hotel. was again restricted as the mould grew back. Upon replenishing the Right Air Gel, airflow improved once again.

One room was provided as a test case, as it had large clumps of mould growing through the evaporative coil, which was part of a chiller system.

Initial maximum air flow was measured at 1.1 metres per second (m/s).

A 500mL Right Air Gel tub was placed in the roof cavity adjacent to the filters and Right Air Instant was sprayed as a mist into the rear fans on a daily basis for 7 days.

Immediately the ‘mouldy smell’ had dissipated and by week 7, airflow had improved by 120% to 2.5 m/s.

Once the Right Air Gel had completely dispersed (approximately 12 weeks), airflow

The combination of ‘Right Air Instant’ and ‘Right Air Gel’ will unblock your fan coils resulting in an increase in air volume and a reduction in energy used! I use it in our property’s 230-odd fan coils,It not only kills mould and prevents its re-growth, it reduces maintenance costs and leaves the airconditioned spaces smelling fresh. I highly recommend it !!

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Hotel sector is leading the way by implementing

energy efficiency solutions

Geoffrey Gourley I Director, Sustainability Integration, NuGreen Solutions

Hotel Facility Managers and Engineers hold the key to keeping energy and maintenance costs in check.

Managing a hotels energy and maintenance is challenging

During times between guests occupancy rooms can be set to a “cleaning mode” where minimal lighting and general power is all that is required, ensuring minimal power is consumed during those times.

nergy costs and ongoing maintenance is the bane of most hotels’ existence and with the increase in energy costs, network and infrastructure charges and labour costs it all seems to be getting out of control.

With hotels long operating hours traditional lamp life can be short and replacement tends to be reactive and difficult to manage. Areas which may not be seen by guests like back of house areas including services areas, loading docks and lift lobbies, fire stairs, kitchens, storage rooms, offices and change rooms also need to have quality lighting and ventilation.

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With hotel operations high costs are associated with lighting and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), the challenge to manage these costs is considerable. The expense of having maintenance contractor’s swap out lighting and associated OH&S issues further adds to the costs of running hotel lighting, not to mention the downtime and potential inability to offer the room for occupancy if its not 100% maintained.

Lighting, Lighting Control and HVAC are critical elements contributing to a guests experience at any hotel. The lighting and HVAC design and control set up in hotels is varied, from simple switching and access cards to automated systems and full theming via digital lighting and HVAC control systems.

In one Melbourne based hotel when you check in at reception the room is “switched on” and data from your previous stay has been recorded, the room can be set to that of your last stay; for example if you liked 22 degrees c and had the room theme set to theme 1 the room will be like that for your arrival.

Adoption of new energy efficiency technologies is saving hotel operators money Hotel operators and facility managers have realised that reducing the energy and maintenance costs not only saves them money but improves the guests experience and delivers positive environmental outcomes.

With lighting and HVAC the power is in the hands of hotel facility managers and engineers, using new technology and innovative ways to save money, reduce energy and maintenance costs and reduce carbon emissions.

and engaging its associates in positive environmental action and implementing sustainable practices to reduce resource consumption, carbon emissions and waste at their properties. Through their global initiatives, they provide their associates and hotels with the necessary resources to be catalysts for positive change.

In 2011, Hyatt introduced My Green Touches, a program that incorporates five simple sustainable actions into every job function. With this company-wide program, they began the process of integrating environmental sustainability across every facet of their daily operations.

Hyatt also developed Sustainable Design Guidelines for the construction of new hotels and renovation of existing hotels around the world. These standards address the siting, design, and construction of their buildings and incorporate technology and design features to help operate more efficiently by conserving resources and incorporating environmentally preferable materials.

Globally, Hyatt has installed approximately 100,000 LED lamps in hotels during since 2011. Grand Hyatt Melbourne is one local hotel that’s taking action toward creating a sustainable future.

Leading hotel chains have for many years been leading the way in adopting and implementing a range of sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives and programs.

“At Hyatt, we recognise the environmental impact associated with our hotels – and that’s why we have made a strong, focused commitment to implement more sustainable business practices across our operations.”

An example is the Grand Hyatt Hotel Group. Hyatt focuses on educating

Through Hyatt Earth, they have been measuring the environmental performance

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of their managed, full-service hotels against a 2006 baseline.They’ve set goals to reduce energy and water use, the waste they send to landfills, and the greenhouse gases they emit.

Given the size and scope of their operations, their success in meeting these goals relies on dedicated, associate-driven Green Teams around the world. Hyatt’s Environmental Sustainability commitment is based on a simple premise: leverage innovative strategies that reflect the unique environment of their properties around the world, harness the passion of their associates to deliver change, and rigorously track and measure their progress.

In 2014 NuGreen Solutions, an Australian and New Zealand based Energy Services provider, upgraded Grand Hyatt Melbourne’s Back of House areas with approx. 1,500 of the latest energy efficient LED fittings. New LED’s and sensor controls were used in 33 levels of fire stairs, lift lobbies and service areas, all kitchens and preparation areas and all support offices.

This project delivered greater than 50% energy reduction with zero maintenance ‘protection plan warranty’ for up to 10 years and saved 1,800 tonnes of C02-e. In financial terms an upgrade of this nature can save in excess of $500,000 over 10 years and brings with it a great deal of other benefits.

• Significantly reduced energy consumption and costs >50% • Zero maintenance costs up to 10 years • Long term reduction in carbon emissions • Reduced energy demand = reduced electrical infrastructure & cost • Reduced heat load in BOH areas = reduced demand on HVAC system • Improved operational efficiency from less disruption to business continuity • Improved L70 – longer luminance maintenance = better light for longer • Improved OH&S – less risk associated with low light levels

Auditing is the first step for hotels to be more energy efficient An example is a large 5 star hotel on the Gold Coast, Peppers Broadbeach, Queensland which is part of the Mantra Group. Their facility manager engaged NuGreen Solutions Gold Coast office to identify a retrofit solution to save emissions

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and energy costs. After surveying the Hotel, measuring the current lighting levels, analysing existing Halogen fittings and installing some sample fittings the auditor was able to compile a detailed report and business case outlining the potential cost saving available by upgrading to LED technology.

Almost 4,000 fittings were identified as part of the audit, and through an upgrade, saved almost 89% of energy from the current lighting consumption. The total watts shifted from 223,963 watts to 25,000 watts using LEDs. 4,252 tonnes of C02-e was also abated over a forecast 10 year period and the provider supplied a 10 year ‘maintenance free’ warranty.

Achieving the best results comes from an integrated approach The best results can be gained by looking at energy consumption in a strategic way.

By that I mean think about how technology, finance, energy, maintenance and carbon management can work in an integrated way to produce the best results for your hotel.

Energy cost management does not need to be a major headache for businesses if you use the right professionals.

Over the last few years there has been a rise in energy services providers, including auditors, consultants, contractors and end-to-end trusted advisors who provide specific a range of services assisting hotel owners and operators to address their energy and maintenance challenges.

Manufacturers and innovators have also made significant contributions to the energy efficiency market through the research, development and implementation of suitable energy efficiency products. Hotel facility managers and engineers that spend time getting to know these professionals will gain an advantage and have access to the latest innovations, products and methods of improving the operational efficiency for their hotels. Seeking out these organisations can be as easy as liaising with associations like Facility Management Association of Australia http://www.fma.com.au/ Energy Efficiency Council http://www.eec.org.au/ who have a register of members.

Hotels are embracing LED’s to quickly reduce energy and maintenance costs 2014 saw Three Japanese-born researchers win the Nobel Prize for Physics for inventing a new light source which led to the creation of the LED lamp.

The trio is Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura, a researcher who is currently based in the United States. In awarding the men the prize, the Nobel jury said their “inventions were revolutionary”.

“Incandescent light bulbs lit the 20th century; the 21st century will be lit

by LED lamps,” the jury said.

LED lamps emit a bright white light, are long-lasting and use far less energy compared with the incandescent light bulb pioneered by Thomas Edison in the 19th century. In most cases there is true one for one replacement options available.

The iconic Q1 Resort and Spa in Surfers Paradise, one of the world’s tallest residential buildings and hotels, built in 2005, has recently undergone an LED upgrade.

NuGreen Solutions provided the building with an LED upgrade as part of an energy efficiency makeover. During a detailed level 2 energy audit the team identified that the lighting upgrade project will deliver 85 percent in energy and maintenance savings through the upgrade of 1,500 fittings.

Financially this could result in cost savings of up to $1 Million dollars over the next 10 years, that’s a significant saving with a very fast payback and excellent ROI. It is a positive outcome that leaders within the hotel facility management sector have been quick to realise professional energy service providers and emerging technologies assist them to make improvements resulting in reduced operational costs and maintenance.

This will ensure that you not only improve the operational efficiency of the hotel but deliver an improved experience for hotel guests.

Geoffrey Gourley is Director, Sustainability Integration with NuGreen Solutions. NuGreen is a unique Australian and New Zealand based energy services provider formed to audit, design, and finance, manage, deliver and maintain energy efficiency solutions for the built environment.

For more information on NuGreen visit www.nugreen.com.au or call 1300 300 025.

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Identifying Stone & Tile Types: a simple guide

Garry Phillips I Managing Director of Slique, Australasia’s stone and tile-care experts

Identifying the type of stone or tile is the first step to being able to clean or treat it effectively. But it’s not as easy as it sounds. There are many different kinds of natural stone, as well as an endless range of man-made tiles that are designed to look just like natural stone. This guide is designed to help you figure out what kind of surface you’re dealing with.

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en years ago, tiles looked like tiles.

They were quite obvious, and quite distinct from stone. However over the last 5 years manufacturers have been striving very hard to replicate natural stone in a man-made format.

Replicated stone has now become so accurate that it can be very difficult to tell what is natural stone, and what is manmade. It is easy to be fooled. The good news is that if you identify a tile as a natural stone, and clean or treat it as a natural stone, you won’t do any damage. The cleaning work may not be particularly effective, but at least it won’t be an expensive restoration issue!

First, take the following steps to identify whether a surface is natural or man-made: 1. Look at the back The simplest way to confirm whether a tile is natural or man-made is to turn it over.

Find a spare tile if one is available, and look at the back. If it has a uniform cross-hatch grid pattern on the back, or imprinted writing, then it’s man-made. However if the front looks generally like the back (perhaps with a rougher finish) then it’s much more likely to be natural stone.

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2. Look at the edges If spare tiles aren’t available, it’s also possible to find clues by looking closely at the edge of a laid tile. If it looks like it has saw marks or machine marks, it’s more likely to be natural stone. Man-made tiles are usually fairly uniform in colour and texture, and have edges that are either sharper (as with a porcelain tile), or more curved with a raised central section (as with a ceramic tile).

3. Look for patterns Take a step back, and look at the whole surface to see if there are any repeated patterns. Nature does not repeat – every natural stone is unique. However man-made replications will have a repeating pattern. The higher the quality tile, the less frequently the pattern will repeat, so you may need to look at the surface as a whole to identify them.

If these steps don’t give any indication of stone/tile type, it’s time to refer to our guides below.

Guide to natural stone: Marble Marble is famous for the veining pattern that runs through every piece in a nonrepeating pattern.

As well as veining,

marble will have natural variations in colour and gloss level across the surface. Common marble colours include white, white and grey (Carrara/Calacatta), and beige (Crema Marfil).

Strong coloured marble is also available, including greens, reds and blacks, but these are less common. The best identifier that they are marble is the heavy veining pattern that usually covers them. The rarity of these colours makes them more expensive, so they tend to be used in feature areas, benchtops, and vanities, and usually come in a high shine finish.

Limestone Limestone is often beige, light brown, or light grey in colour. Limestone doesn’t have strong veining, but it does have what looks like a colour wash: the natural colour varies through the stone. Limestone is often provided in satin or semi satin finishes, and occasionally matt. If it’s polished to any degree, it won’t show the same level of

gloss consistency across the surface as marble.

Limestone is occasionally mistaken for marble. This isn’t an issue, as both are calcium-based stones and therefore are generally cleaned and treated using similar methods. You are unlikely to damage limestone by cleaning it as though it’s marble, and vice versa.

Travertine

sometimes blue. Lighter colours such as whites, golds and beiges are also available.

Granite has a grainy structure, but without the visible pores you see in basalt/bluestone – it’s a much denser stone, therefore it can achieve a much finer, higherpolished finish.

Granite is generally supplied in a polished finish in most internal installations. If it’s a polished natural stone, and it’s a full strong colour with visible grains but without veining, it’s likely to be granite.

Sandstone

To identify travertine, look for the holes.

Travertine, in its natural (unfilled) state, has decent-sized pock marks covering the surface that can be bigger than a 50c piece.

Travertine is usually provided ‘filled’, where a matching colour filler such as a grout or epoxy is used to fill in the pock marks.

Travertine is most commonly available in beige or light brown, and popular finishes include semi satin or matt.

Basalt/Bluestone This grey to dark grey stone has a blue tinge to it, hence its name.

Basalt/Bluestone has consistent colouring, without veining, and can be seen to be quite grainy on the surface. On close inspection, you may also be able to see minute visible pores.

Bluestone is usually provided in a matt or rough finish such as bush hammered or flamed.

Basalt/Bluestone can be mistaken for granite – and sometimes it’s even sold as granite. However its characteristics are quite different from granite and it cannot be cleaned or treated in the same way without potentially damaging it.

If it’s the colour of sand, looks like sand, and feels like sand, it’s likely to be sandstone.

Sandstone is very grainy, and is made of extremely fine sand grains. Sandstone always comes in earthy colours such as yellows, beiges, browns and greys, and it can sometimes have strong veining where other minerals have mixed with the sand as the stone has been created.

Sandstone does not polish well, so it is almost always provided in a matt finish.

Sandstone can sometimes be mistaken for limestone, but it doesn’t respond to cleaning in the same way so care should be taken to identify it properly.

Slate Slate is easily identifiable by the distinctive layered surface texturing that is exclusive to slate.

In terms of colours, it is usually grey or black, but can occasionally be red, yellow or even greenish. Slate is often treated with a coating system during installation, so if it’s a dark coloured layered-looking stone with a surface coating applied, it’s probably slate.

Guide to man-made tiles and stone:

Granite comes in every colour you can imagine, but the most common are darker colours such as blacks, reds, and

Ceramic and porcelain tiles generally have a smooth, non-textured surface. Sizes cover everything from tiny mosaics to large 1200mm x 1200mm tiles.

If it’s a man-made tile with sharp, square edges, it’s likely to be a full-bodied porcelain tile. If it has slightly rounded edges and a glazed finish, it’s probably a ceramic tile.

Mosaics Tiny tiles, these can be virtually any material (glass and metal are common) but most often they are either ceramic or porcelain tiles. Mosaics are invariably glazed, with a consistent pattern and colour. They’re likely to be artificial colours (mosaics don’t usually try to replicate natural stone) and are commonly used on features.

Terracotta Terracotta literally means ‘baked earth’, and that’s what it is – baked clay. Terracotta can be identified by the distinctive earth colouring, with orange, yellowy-brown, and earthy reds being most common. Terracotta often comes in smaller sizes, 400 x 400mm and smaller. If you turn a terracotta tile over, there will be visible extrusion patterns across the whole tile where it has been squeezed out of the mold, or if it has been hand-molded it will have misshaped edges.

Terracotta is always a matt finish unless it has had a coating applied.

Terrazzo

Porcelain/ceramic tiles

Granite

tile, for example) it’s easy to identify. But if it’s replicating a natural stone, it’s much harder to tell. As the tile is coming out of a man-made mold there will be a repeating pattern – in less expensive tiles this could be repeating per tile, and in more expensive it could be over a dozen or more tiles before it repeats.

There is an infinite variety of colour and patterns in porcelain and ceramic tiles. If the tile is clearly a tile (like a white ceramic

Terrazzo is a composite made of a mixture of lime and stone chips. It can be supplied as tiles, or less commonly it can

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be poured in slabs on the floor. Terrazzo has no veining, but the stone chips or pieces are visible in the surface. Terrazzo is usually a semi satin or matt finish.

Terrazzo can also be supplied in a polished finish if it is made with a resin (rather than lime), but this is generally only used in commercial environments such as shopping malls.

Engineered stone These are the brand-name stones such as Caesarstone, Quarella, Rover, Essastone, Quantum Quartz and so on.

They are basically a resin-based terrazzo (composite of stone

dust or chips and a resin) marketed under a specific name. Engineered stone is most commonly used on benchtops and vanities where acid damage and etching is an issue for a natural stone surface. Engineered stone is also commonly used on commercial flooring.

Companies that make engineered stone are now very accurately replicating natural stone that can easily be mistaken for the real thing.

Safe maintenance If you’ve identified the stone or tile you’re dealing with, you can now make sure you’re caring for it in the right way. Slique’s website has a full range of Care Guideline maintenance instructions for every stone and tile type.

If you haven’t been able to identify the stone or tile type, but you have a shortlist of possibilities, start with the most sensitive natural stone options. That way you won’t unwittingly do any damage. If the treatment doesn’t work, then move onto the next possibility – ending with the man-made options – until you eventually find a solution that works.

Slique can be contacted: In Australia at www.slique.com.au, email info@slique.com.au or call 1800 754 783 In New Zealand at www.slique.co.nz, email info@slique.co.nz or call 0800 754 783

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Staff training and pest control go hand in hand

Ron Harrison, PhD I Director of Technical Services, Orkin, LLC

Getting your staff on board is crucial to the success of your pest management program.

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est issues can begin as a result of many different activities at your facility, from incoming shipments and sanitation to facility maintenance and landscaping. With so many potential sources for pest problems, it’s easy to see why the most successful pest management programs use a comprehensive approach, incorporating a myriad of proactive techniques to help keep pest pressures at a minimum. It’s also easy to see why one person cannot successfully carry the burden of pest control at your facility. After all, you know from experience that you can’t be in more than one place at a time.

If you currently partner with a pest management professional, you are almost there. But in order to make it to the finish line, you are going to need to recruit your entire team. Your staff members serve as the eyes and ears of your facility. They see and hear things on a daily basis that you may never notice, and can physically spread themselves across areas that you can’t regularly get to. And, if they have basic pest control knowledge, they can even help save you money. That’s why it is crucial to have them on board as part of your pest management efforts. Following are several steps you can take to help get your staff more involved in your pest control program.

Host a training session Your employees can play an important role in spotting early signs of pest activity.

However, they can’t help if they don’t know what they are looking for. Ask your pest management professional to conduct an on-site training session for your team. Most reputable pest control providers offer staff training for free. This training session will serve several purposes. For one, it will give your staff the chance to meet your pest management professional face-to-face. This is important because you want your staff to be familiar with your pest management team and be comfortable with him/her so they will be more likely to communicate any issues.

Often, the most successful partnerships are those in which the pest management team integrates so seamlessly into the facility’s routine that they virtually become part of the facility’s staff.

This training session will also serve to kick off staff education. It’s imperative that your staff members understand the key components of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and how implementation can reduce pest activity in your facility. IPM focuses on preventing pests through a combination of non-chemical solutions, relying on chemical treatments as a last resort, and only then in the least volatile form. Once your employees understand this approach, they will be more likely to do their part. Sometimes employees can even be

the cause of pest attractants – for instance, leaving food in lockers – which is just another reason they need to be aware.

Ask your pest management professional to not only discuss the basics of IPM, but also go over conducive conditions and pest hot spots specific to your facility. Conducive conditions are environments within or around your establishment that promote pest activity such as standing water, excessive condensation, improper drainage and humidity.

Pest “hot spots” are the key areas inside and outside your building that pests target as entry or harborage points. These areas are in constant danger of being penetrated by pests or are areas that currently or have previously had pest issues. Ask your team to be on high alert at all times to pinpoint any sanitation or maintenance issues that will give pests a way inside. Hot spots can include loading docks, doors, windows, exterior walls and employee break rooms, where pests find the food, water and shelter they need to survive.

In addition to understanding the conditions that attract pests, your staff should have basic pest identification skills. While a pest management professional should ultimately identify the pest at hand, your staff should be able tell the difference between, for example, a piece of lint and a bed bug. Believe it or not, at Orkin, we have been called to

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multiple hotels where the housekeeping staff has misjudged a piece of lint as a pest. Calling your pest management professional every time a piece of lint is mistaken for a pest can be expensive, so helping your staff learn basic pest identification skills can actually save you money.

Action thresholds are another aspect of identification that your staff should be able to recognise. An action threshold is a point at which pest populations or environmental conditions indicate that some form of action needs to be taken. In other words, your staff should be able to evaluate whether there is a true problem at hand or if the pest sighting is a one-off situation. For example, if someone leaves a window open in a room and a single fly is spotted in that same room with the open window, it’s likely that the fly just flew in through the window. It may not necessarily mean that there is an infestation. In a oneoff situation like that, it may not be necessary to call in your pest management provider.

These training sessions with your pest management professional will also help reinforce that pest control is a priority at your facility, and will help encourage your staff to make it a priority as well. It also will empower your staff to make an impact in your pest management program and equip them with the knowledge they need to carry out IPM initiatives.

Establish an open line of communication In order for a team effort to be successful, there must be an open and ongoing line of communication. Communication builds trust and understanding, helps disperse important information and can help keep your pest management decisions proactive, rather than reactive. Taking a proactive approach can help minimise the need for reactive chemical treatments.

When communication is free flowing and uninhibited, it’s easier for everyone to be on the same page regarding pest management.

This includes keeping employees in the loop about proactive pest management initiatives and even providing notice to employees of upcoming pesticide applications. It can also include communicating with staff about the risk of bringing pests into the facility from home, particularly bed bugs. Encourage all employees to be vigilant in the defence against this pest and let them know that if

any issues at home arise, they should notify the Human Resources Department.

Assign roles A lack of defined roles and/or commitment from each party can disrupt your pest management program. As a result, it’s important to educate employees not only on the importance of your IPM program, but also the role they play in making it a success.

Because there are so many facets to an IPM program, consider assigning each person to a specific pest management role based on their daily responsibilities. For example, staff members who handle sanitation at the facility should monitor for any liquid or product spills and strong odours that may attract pests.You may also have a staff member responsible for exterior maintenance of the building. That team member should monitor for holes or gaps in the building façade and seal them immediately to help prevent pest entry.

Develop a pest sighting protocol No matter how exceptional a pest management program is, the reality is that there’s always a chance pests will find their way inside. For this reason, each staff member should not only understand what they can do to help prevent pests on a daily basis, but who they should notify in the event of a pest issue. Consider implementing a pest sighting protocol that identifies key staff members to report to and a clear communications process for reporting a pest incident. Here are several examples of steps that can be included in a pest sighting protocol: • Catch one or more of the pests seen in or around your facility for your pest management professional so they can determine the type of insect active on your property. Proper identification is crucial because it will determine how to solve the pest problem and can help prevent future infestations.

• Provide information on when and where the pest was seen.

• Provide assistance to your pest management professional as he/she determines how pests found a way inside the facility.

• If a bed bug infestation is suspected, the protocol may be a little different.

In the case of a potential bed bug sighting, make sure employees know to leave the room undisturbed, to not remove any items from the area and to report the issue to management immediately so a pest management professional can be contacted.

Some establishments even offer an incentive to employees for finding and reporting pests.

An incentive can help inspire your staff to spend a little more time focusing on keeping an eye out for pests and any conditions that may be conducive to pests.

Continuing education Once your employees are well acquainted with your basic IPM program and understand their role, it will be important to continue their education. Ask your pest management professional for educational materials to share with your employees, such as tip sheets that teach best practices in pest prevention and checklists that may help with their sanitation and maintenance routines. If your pest management professional cannot provide educational materials, consider contacting professional associations that have a vested interest in educating staff members about pest management.

If your company has a weekly or monthly newsletter, consider including pest management tips.You may also consider having your pest management professional provide further training sessions on specific pest problems, such as bed bugs. Some pest control providers offer bed bug certification classes that coach employees on how to monitor for and identify bed bugs, what to do if traces of bed bugs are found, and how to prepare your facility for a bed bug treatment.

Remember, even the most sophisticated prevention and control techniques will be pointless if your employees aren’t on the front line supporting your efforts. When it comes to pest management, you shouldn’t be the only one carrying the burden at your facility. Recruit your staff for the efforts and take your program from good to great.

Ron Harrison, Entomologist, Ph.D., is Director of Technical Services for Orkin and an acknowledged leader in the field of pest management. Contact Dr. Harrison at rharrison@orkin.com or visit www.orkincommercial.com for more information.

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Regulation Update JANUARY 2015

Derek Hendry I Hendry Group

Exit Signs, Emergency Lighting and AS 2293.1-2005

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UST – HENDRY building surveyors advise that the Building Code of Australia (BCA) under Part E4 emergency lighting, exit signs (essential safety measures when nominated by a building surveyor in a determination/ schedule) and warning systems requires the installation of exit signs to be in accordance with AS 2293.1-2005 Emergency escape lighting and exit signs for buildings – System design, installation and operation. Too often exit signs are installed incorrectly, subsequently altered and not maintained.

Building Compliance System Through the various types of inspections (such as essential safety measures, BCA audits, due diligence audits or fire safety audits) undertaken by HENDRY building surveyors and Essential Property Services, our staff become aware of situations in a number of buildings that are unsafe for the occupants of a building.

While legislation concerning the maintenance of Essential Safety Measures around Australia does not allow for ‘directions’ to be used to force an existing building to comply with the current Building Code of Australia, a statutory authority (in most instances, the local council) can force the owner of an existing building to comply with current regulations, usually via a building notice or similar instrument.

Prescribed Fire Safety Installations and Mandatory Critical Defect Reporting QLD – Essential Property Services advises hotel engineers, commercial building owners, managers and contractors that specialist maintenance contractors servicing and maintaining fire safety installations must notify the building occupier or managing entity of any critical defect with prescribed fire safety installations. In accordance with part 53 of the Building Fire Safety Regulations 2008 and the Queensland Development Code (QDC), it is mandatory for specialist maintenance contractors or responsible persons to notify commercial building occupiers of a critical defect affecting the fire systems (prescribed fire safety installations) they maintain and test.

Occupiers also have obligations under the QDC. Definition of a Critical Defect Fault/defect/impediment affecting a prescribed fire safety installation for a building – • that is likely to render the installation inoperable; • or is reasonably likely to have a significant adverse impact on the safety of occupants of part or all of the building if a fire or hazardous materials emergency happens.

Examples of a critical defect include – • a defect making a fire detection and alarm system inoperable • a defect in a pump making the fire hydrants for a building inoperable

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• obstruction that would prevent safe exit from a building To Fail to Notify a Critical Defect is an Offence Under the building legislation it is an offence for a specialist maintenance contractor or responsible person who is undertaking, or has undertaken, maintenance or testing of a prescribed fire safety installation for a building who becomes aware, or ought reasonably to be aware, of a critical defect and does not notify the occupier.

The responsible person or specialist maintenance contractor must give the occupier of the building a notice about the critical defect in the approved form (a critical defect notice) within 24 hours after the person undertakes the maintenance of testing of the prescribed fire safety installation.

Ideally the occupier of the building should initially be notified of the critical defect prior to contractor or person inspecting leaving the site.

Occupiers Obligations under BFSR and QDC Under the BFSR the rectification of any critical defect must be undertaken within 1 month from notification unless there is a reasonable excuse. Without a reasonable excuse, occupiers may be liable for substantial statutory penalties for not rectifying a critical defect.

In accordance with the Queensland Development Code, part MP6.1, the occupier of the building must attach to the relevant annual occupier statement any critical defect notices given within the preceding 12 month period.

An occupiers statement is a prescribed form detailed in the QDC, part MP6.1 and legislated in part 55A of the BFSR. The occupier of a building must, in compliance with QDC part MP6.1, annually prepare a statement (an occupier statement) about the maintenance of each prescribed fire safety installation for the building. The occupier must, within 10 business days after the relevant anniversary date for the building, give the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service a copy of the statement.

The occupier must keep a copy of each occupier statement with the record of maintenance for 2 years after the statement is prepared on site at a location.

WA Building Owners and Property Managers Safety Measures Compliance WA – Essential Property Services advise hotel engineers, building owners and property managers to make themselves aware of the recently introduced Regulation 48A Maintenance of Buildings (Building Regulation 2012), concerning safety measures.

Penalties of up to $5000 apply for noncompliance of safety measures statutory obligations under building regulation 48A Maintenance of Buildings, including the provision of an Annual Statement, if required.

Item

Safety Measures

Standard of Performance

Nature and/or Frequency of Test or Inspection

2.

Building elements required to satisfy prescribed fire resistance levels

BCA Section C, D1.12

6 monthly, yearly inspection to AS1851-2005 Section 17

4.

Elements required to be non combustible, provide fire protection, compartmentation or separation

BCA C2.5 to C2.14, 6 monthly, yearly inspection C3.3, C3.11, D1.7, to AS 1851-2005 Section 17 D1.8, E1.3, G3.4

5.

Wall wetting sprinklers (including doors and windows required in conjunction with wall wetting sprinklers)

BCA C3.4, C3.8, C3.11, D1.7, D1.8, G3.8

6.

Fire doors (including sliding fire doors and their associated warning systems) and associated self closing, automatic closing and latching mechanisms

BCA C2.12, C2.13, 3 monthly, 6 monthly, yearly C3.4 to C3.8, C3.10, to AS 1851-2005 Section 17 C3.11, D1.7, D1.8, D1.12

SAFETY MEASURES – BUILDING FIRE INTEGRITY

Item

Safety Measures

Standard of Performance

Nature and/or Frequency of Test or Inspection

16.

Paths of travel to exits

BCA D1.6

Inspection every 6 or 12 months to ensure there are no obstructions and no alterations

SAFETY MEASURES – MEANS OF EGRESS

Item

Safety Measures

Standard of Performance

Nature and/or Frequency of Test or Inspection

23.

Exit signs (including direction signs)

BCA D1.12, E4.5, E4.6, E4.8

Every 6 months to AS 2293.2

SAFETY MEASURES – SIGNS

Item

Safety Measures

Standard of Performance

Nature and/or Frequency of Test or Inspection

33.

Fire hose reel system

BCA E1.4

Every 6 months to AS 18512005 Section 14

SAFETY MEASURES – FIRE FIGHTING SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT

Item

Safety Measures

Standard of Performance

Nature and/or Frequency of Test or Inspection

41.

Carpark mechanical ventilation system

BCA F4.11, AS/NZS 1668.1

Monthly, quarterly, 6 monthly, yearly and 5 yearly to AS 1851-2005 Section 18

Safety Measures Inspections & Audits Essential Property Services provides a safety measures inspections and auditing service that complies with regulation 48A Maintenance of Buildings in the Building Regulations 2012, including the relevant Building Standards and the Building Code of Australia, with the results presented in our safety measures compliant logbook.

Safety measures inspections are generally categorised as either passive (such as paths of travel to exits, and fire rated elements) or active (such as fire services, and exit lights).

Safety Measures: Schedules EPS auditors can inspect your building and prepare a comprehensive Safety Measures Schedule containing all the safety measures

Weekly, monthly, 6 monthly, yearly, 3 yearly and 5 yearly to AS 1851-2005 Section 2

SAFETY MEASURES – AIR HANDLING SYSTEMS

Item

Safety Measures

Standard of Performance

Nature and/or Frequency of Test or Inspection

48.

Building occupant warning system

BCA Clause 8 of Specification E1.5, Clause 6 of Specification E2.2a

Monthly, 6 monthly, yearly, 5 yearly to AS1851-2005 Section 9 and 10

SAFETY MEASURES – OCCUPANT WARNING SYSTEM

Item

Safety Measures

Standard of Performance

Nature and/or Frequency of Test or Inspection

55.

Vehicular access around large isolated buildings

BCA C2.3, C2.4

Annual inspection to ensure clearance is maintained

SAFETY MEASURES – BUILDING CLEARANCE AND FIRE APPLIANCES

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installed in your building deemed to be safety measures under building regulation 48A in the Building Regulation 2012.

The Safety Measures Schedule is essential in the development of the safety measures inspection regime to be adopted by the building owner. The schedule must contain the safety measures in each part of the building and nominate the inspection routines, testing and maintenance to ensure that they are capable of performing to a standard set out in the relevant building standards at the time of approval.

Safety Measures Schedule: Building Regulation 2012 The following (part) table lists some of the safety measures as stipulated in the

Building Regulations 2012 and the Building Code of Australia which are present in the subject building. The table also lists the current provision for determining standard

of performance and nature and frequency of test or inspection to ensure the safety measures are capable of performing to the relevant standard.

About the HENDRY Group Derek Hendry is the Managing Director of the HENDRY group of consulting companies that include HENDRY Building Surveying Consultants, HENDRY Disability Access Consultants, Essential Property Services, Emergency Plan and Work Place Safety Assessors. HENDRY pioneered the private certification system of building approvals in Australia, and the consultancy assists clients nationally in all facets of building control and disability access compliance, essential safety measures audits, emergency planning and occupational safety requirements. HENDRY publish an e-newsletter entitled ‘Essential Matters” and a suite of web and blog sites designed to assist property practitioners in understanding their regulatory obligations. Visit http://www.hendrygroup.com.au to locate more information relating to your property requirements.

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Back of House

Could an old Coolgardie invention once again come back into fashion?

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am not long returned from WA. You know, the big bit to the west. Western Australia is bounded to the east by longitude 129°E, the meridian 129 degrees east of Greenwich, which defines the border with South Australia and the Northern Territory, and bounded by the Indian Ocean to the west and north. The International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) designates the body of water south of the continent as part of the Indian Ocean; in Australia it is officially gazetted as the Southern Ocean.

Water water everywhere you might say, but you would be wrong.

Until about 100 something years ago there was very little fresh water in WA. And what there was had to be first distilled making the product very expensive, indeed it was said even more expensive than whiskey. And then gold was discovered, first in Coolgardie in 1892 then in Kalgoolie in 1893. Well I’ll be doggoned if this was not the big time. Okay, but what about the water? Fortunately for all concerned, Premier John Forrest’s offer to CY O’Connor to work on what was described as “Railways, harbours, everything” was accepted.

And the rest, including 350 miles of trench laying with 90 miles completed in the first year, rising to a gang of 42 men doing 1 1/4 miles per day should be fascinating history to every aspirant engineer in the Colonies.

But heck I did not know anything about this marvel, did you? For one: Babcock & Wilcox water tube boilers generating superheated steam at 175 psi to 300 hp 6 cyl horizontal high duty, triple expansion, surface condensing, duplex direct acting engines.

Neil Weenink

Number 8 is the last in line of the steam stations that pushed water from Mundaring Weir in the Perth Hills, to Mount Charlotte at Kalgoorlie. The pump stations and the pipeline which connects them were engineered by CY O’Connor at the turn of the 20th century. The scheme was opened on 24th January 1903. It is now celebrated in the National Trust’s Golden Pipeline project.

But what about the Coolgardie Safe you say? OK so our Mothers many times every week would call out Take it out to the safe Willy and we flew in peril of our lives. Me due the smell and the taste already forming from the smell of warm mutton. Not to mention the smell and soon to be tasted warm lamb chop... was there anything so succulent?

The Coolgardie Safe was made of wire mesh, hessian, a wooden frame and had a galvanised iron tray on top. This was filled with water. The hessian bag was hung over the side with one of the ends in the tray to soak up the water.

Gradually the hessian bag would get wet.

When a breeze came it would pass through the wet bag and evaporate the water. This would cool the air inside the safe, and in turn cool the food stored in the safe.

This cooling is due to the water in the hessian needing energy to change state and evaporate. This energy is taken from the interior of the safe (metal mesh), thus making the interior cooler. There is a metal tray below the safe to catch excess water from the hessian.

It was usually placed on a veranda where there was a breeze. The Coolgardie safe was a common household item in Australia until the mid-twentieth century. Safes could be purchased ready-made or easily constructed at home. Some of the metal

panel safes are highly decorated, showing the creativity of their makers.

Coolgardie was the site of a gold rush in the early 1890s, prior to the KalgoorlieBoulder gold rush.

For the prospectors who had rushed here to find their fortune, one challenge was to extend the life of their perishable foods – hence the invention of the Coolgardie safe.

The safe was invented in the late 1890s by Arthur Patrick McCormick, who used the same principle as explorers and travellers in the Outback used to cool their canvas water bags: when the canvas bag is wet the fibres expand and it holds water. Some water seeps out and evaporates. It is most effective when air continually moves past it, such as when the vehicle is moving or when exposed to a breeze.

This technology is commonly thought to have been adopted by explorer and scientist Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell, who had observed the way some Aborigines used kangaroo skins to carry water.

So to the job spec for the hotel Duty Technician please add maintenance and due care of the outdoor safe, which you now know as the famed Coolgardie safe.

Stay well and have a safe Christmas!

Image courtesy of Emma Wynne, (ABC Perth). www.abc.net.au

63

Outsourced Procurement

Your new partner to savings Renate Washington

Economics 101 gives us a basic insight into how volume purchasing can lead to more effective purchasing, also known as maximising economies of scale. This is the simple principle that we use to provide our clients with cost savings by purchasing through our Procurement division.

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Procurement division is a purchasing centre, which based on volume is able to systematically negotiate better buying rates, coordinate freight and ensure the end users can obtain the required goods at a competitive rate without having to consume any time on searching or negotiating. An outsourced Procurement business does exactly this on behalf of clients that do not necessarily have an internal Procurement Division.

Many hotels have a critical need to continually replace aged or non-working items, however are limited by time constraints and often a difficulty to secure a competitive rate. We have also found that many strata titled apartment owners are being provided with options to purchase goods at prices more expensive than what they could purchase them for if they were to go down to the local appliance store and purchase it themselves – often due to internal margins to cover the ‘searching’ costs.

With many companies looking to cut internal costs and save time, the purchasing of supplies, furniture, fittings, and equipment (including the handling of logistics) is increasingly being outsourced to companies that can offer this service to multiple clients out of the one centralised office.

An outsourced Procurement business will do the negotiating on behalf of a client and provide their best available price available.

Furthermore, such companies can handle the logistics and delivery of items direct to site.

Whether it is your specification or open to specification, a Procurement Company can assist you with purchasing any of your required items or replacement needs – appliances, furniture, beds, accessories, and even extending to refurbishment works such as flooring replacement, painting, lighting, and kitchens and bathrooms to mention a few.

Procurement & Refurbishment Solutions Australia (PRSA) offers clients the option to purchase through our purchasing division, which supplies to a large number of companies and hotel properties. Given our large volume turnover, and strong relationships with key manufacturers and suppliers, we may be able to negotiate better rates on your behalf – saving you both time and money. We can also offer a warehousing solution for stock purchased, which can in turn be released as required without having to encounter any stock shortage issues. With the added Refurbishment Solution, PRSA can become your one stop contact for all procurement and refurbishment needs – Australia wide – supplying products and installing them on your behalf. Call us to experience the difference, save time, and focus on your business operation while we offer you a procurement and refurbishment solution.

65

cyanuric acid

David Watson I Shenton Aquatic

If you have read the last article I wrote it was stalking about carbon dioxide and its influence on pH in swimming pools. I thought I would like to talk about the mysteries of ORP/pH controllers and was all set to write an article on these when I realised I have to explain some other chemistry first and the explanation is probably worthy of an article by itself.

S

o this months topic is cyanuric acid…or stabilizer as it is commonly called.

When I started in the swimming pool industry in 1980 something I was taught cyanuric acid is a good and bad thing. The explanation given to me was that cyanuric acid is a special molecule which floats on the surface of the pool and protects the chlorine from degradation by ultraviolet. The ideal level is 50 mg/l and if the

levels gets to 100 mg/l or more the cyanuric will ‘lock’ the chlorine up and it wont work, and the only way to fix this is to drain the water off as there is no other way to fix cyanuric acid.

For probably 10 years I believed what I had been told. After all everyone in the swimming pool industry says more or less the same thing, so surely we cant all be wrong…can we?

There is no easy way to say this, what I was told and the industry knowledge is not correct…in fact it is rubbish.

So why does this matter to you?

Imagine for a moment you go out to the pool in your hotel. Today your gardens are booked for a wedding and the pool is a lovely emerald algae colour. In desperation you call your pool expert to be told the pool has ‘cyanuric acid lock’ and needs draining and refilling etc. Stressed yet? This is why it matters.

First lets start at the beginning. What is cyanuric acid?

Cyanuric acid is 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triol is a chemical compound with the formula (CNOH)3 it is commonly used a binder for chlorine in swimming pools and sold as stabilizer.

How does it work?

Well it doesn’t float on the pool like they told me in the 80’s.

Cyanuric acid binds the chlorine within itself and this is what protects the chlorine from sunlight degradation. The chlorine is then released at a ratio of about 10%. In other words if you have cyanuric in the pool water and the chlorine is reading say 3.5mg/l on the test kit then about 0.35 mg/l is being released to deal with the pollutants in the water. When this 10% is exhausted it is replaced by the next 10% and so on.

What is the most effective level?

This is a it depends answer.

Different parts of the country will have different levels of cyanuric acid they can tolerate in their pools. Here in Western Australia I

66

look after one set of pools where the building sits on the south side and is painted white. Consequently all the sunlight falling on the building is reflected into the pools. In these pools any stabilizer levels below 50 mg/l are totally ineffective.

Some chemical control manufacturers mention lower levels of cyanuric acid such as 30 mg/l or less as being a better point for their instruments.

Other people favour no cyanuric acid at all, stating that due to the way it works it is not making the chlorine available for the primary job of disinfectant. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t agree with this point of view there is no evidence I have seen supporting this view point in a well maintained pool.

What is Cyanuric Acid Lock?

Psuedo science industry myth is the cause of cyanuric acid lock.

This has been born out of field observations where pools with cyanuric levels 100 mg/l or greater are often seen to be green and foul even though all the chemical parameters are within normal levels.

The field observations are correct. The conclusions are not.

At higher levels of cyanuric acid the molecules can bind the chlorine up that much it makes the chlorine too slow to release

allowing algal blooms to take hold. To clear the pool up in our example above a very heavy dose of chlorine would solve the problem immediately. The reality is the dosage amounts required for maintaining a clear pool once the cyanuric levels reach around 100 mg/l become uneconomic to add. However in a squeeze a few hundred litres of chlorine will help faster than emptying and refilling the pool.

Summary Cyanuric acid is a chemical added to outdoor pools to reduce chlorine degradation by sunlight.

Cyanuric works by binding the chlorine molecule and releasing 10% of the chlorine to battle pool pollutants.

At levels above 100 mg/l the amount of chlorine added to overcome the binds of the cyanuric acid become uneconomic in the longer term.

The next article will deal with ORP/pH controllers however this article and the previous on pH control need to be read to provide a foundation for the next one.

By the way, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget we can help with pool heating, filtration or any of the other of myriads of problems you may encounter with your pool.

67

Variable Speed Pumps

Andrew Bain I Australian Energy Systems

Remember when a loaf of bread was 50c and a litre of milk was 30c that’s seems like a distant memory isn’t it thought provoking when we are reminded of the times when life was a lot simpler and the cost of living was far less cheaper.There is a lot of debate that Australia’s cost of living is one of the most expensive in the world.

We all have been guilty in the past of just going with the norm or sometimes be complacent about measuring and being aware if we are paying too much for electricity. That has all changed now being on the other end of the global financial crisis.

Unfortunately it’s not a luxury item and we really cannot live in the modern world without electricity, well we could but life would be tough to say the least. Then if we expand the topic into commercial sector, resorts and hotels they are heavily geared to using very large amounts of electricity over a 12 month period to keep their business viable I think they would all agree it’s pretty important they are not so complacent with their energy usage.

It can certainly make a far better financial result for these commercial businesses in the shorter term or even over say a decade.

If they are able to reduce or minimise the annual amounts of energy they source from the power grid they will be well rewarded and it’s here where I come to my point.

If we then consider new technologies in this fast paced world we live in we all expect technology to assist on power saving products.

So I think it would be fair to say that a very large percentage of hotels and resorts have

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what would be considered small to very large commercial sized swimming pools which are attributed to major costs in there annuals budgets. There is light at the end of the tunnel with the introduction of Energy Efficient or what’s better known as variable speed swimming pool pumps.

We can trace the inception of this technology into the global swimming pool markets around 2009/10. Since the energy efficient pumps first appeared in the market the jury was still out for some time as any new technology a good sector of the market wanted to see measured and tangible results or proven cost saving.

We can also comparison to the major advancements in standard televisions from the past they were large and somewhat heavy with questionable viewing quality and most certainly were not energy savvy as today’s TV’s now with global expansion of the High Definition Flat screen TV’s or even most recently the new curved TV screens launched by Samsung.

As like to the launch of Flat Screen TV’s and plasma then LED the first models were very, very expensive so the cost savings were questionable. If we now move forward in time to today’s Variable Speed Pumps or Energy Efficient Pumps as again they are better known the jury has given their verdict energy efficient pumps are here to stay.

Since the time of the pumps inception all the major swimming pool equipment manufactures around the world have all embraced this technology and we are a long way down the road in terms of the purchase cost much lower than when first launched and revisions 1,2,3,4,5 etc.

If you closely review the market the perception of the variable speed pumps there is still strong debate whether the claims of significant energy savings are true, there is real proven cost savings in the commercial sector that cannot be disputed it is now fact and not fiction.

In conclusion there future seems bright for commercial resort and hotel owners that It’s very similar with the older style of they can finally watch their annual power swimming pool pumps they were very consumptions buck the trend and have large and heavy and also drew a substantial a somewhat healthier bottom line. amount of electricity especially when they need to be running in a commercial environment and some cases P600 eVo Power Consumption at Factory Set Speeds the application for each swimming pool could require large amounts of banked ( 5 to 10 units sometimes more) swimming pool pumps running 24hrs a day 365 days a year.

We can then conclude that a new energy saving pump in principle was an exciting prospect.

High Speed 596 lpm Medium Speed 412 lpm Low Speed 225 lpm 2.0 1.8

Power Consumption (kW/Hour)

I

f we then compare that same methodology to today’s electricity rates it can also be reflected on as it also has significantly climbed steadily over the past few decades. The ever increasing cost can be also measured or blamed on the over whelming demand on electricity as global populations surge and the hunger for new power consuming technologies explodes.

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70

THE HOTEL POOL OR SPA CAN ATTRACT CUSTOMERS & PRODUCE A

SIGNIFICANT INCOME

Alan Lewis I Aquazure

The Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas is one of the most prestigious and well sought after resorts in Las Vegas.

“AquaStretchTM may be the most important new A guest there has an enormous range of facilities to wellness modality developed in the last 50 years.” choose from. Currently one of its foremost attractions is Jack Anstandig M.D. Cleveland Clinic Trained Neurologist a new form of therapy that has been rapidly increasing in popularity. Those who have experienced it are quickly convinced that AquaStretchTM actually works. Therapists who have specialised in this modality, treat patients in the hotel from morning to night. Over the last 3 or 4 years A/S has attracted the attention of neuroscientists, physical therapists and researchers in a “new tidal wave in Aquatic Therapy”.

I

n many parts of the USA there are no longer enough Hydrotherapy pools to accommodate those seeking relief from chronic pain provided by facilitators trained in the technique of AquaStretchTM. After the recent World Aquatic Health Conference in Portland, Oregon I travelled to Las Vegas and Lake Havasu City to meet two of the foremost proponents of this therapy, Dr. George Eversaul and Dr. Jessica Huss. Both very quickly had me in their respective pools and within minutes I began to feel “release” from

the tensions of Myofascial stress in various parts of my body, which I had previously considered benign.

Myofascial pain is caused by muscular irritation. One prevalent example is that of the large upper back muscles which are prone to developing myofascial pain that radiates from key sensitive points in the spine. These points throughout the muscles are called trigger points. It appears that the fascia (the surrounding membrane covering the muscle) tends to calcify and harden and this puts pressure on various nerves which create the pain. If these

71

trigger points can be “released” from the hardened tissue this offers immediate relief and the calcified tissue disintegrates, no longer pressing on the adjacent nerve(s).

feels it and the client feels it. I was actually stretching my father who is a physiological disaster... I was working on his knee. It felt like I had grabbed onto a light socket. He zinged me really well. We jumped apart... it is basically a fascial release around a nerve... I would not have believed it if I hadn’t actually experienced it.”

The AquaStretchTM therapist is trained to find these “triggers”.

This treatment is best carried out in the water, because the warm environment and lack of gravity aids in both finding the trigger and then in “softening up” the tissue. Compared to dry massage or physiotherapy, this aquatic modality has significant advantages which are easily recognised because out of the water manipulation of this kind can often make matters worse. When nearly all of the body is immersed, the weightlessness acts in favour of the manipulation.

The “Stretch” part helps when the trigger has initiated the relief and the muscle in question needs to return to its normal position among the surrounding tissues – where further tenseness in the body, is no longer causing pain.

I am sure that many readers may find these descriptions or explanations unscientific and even somewhat unbelievable. That’s why I needed to experience it for myself to be sure that I am promoting something of real value to a good proportion of the population.

Assistant Professor Lori Sherlock MS, ATRIC, AEA Fitness Specialist, CSCS describes a “Release” as follows: “A release is when the myofascial adhesion clears. This is usually experienced with a kind of popping sensation... something like the crack of a joint or ones knuckles. The average practitioner takes about 20-30 minutes to perform the head to toe sequence of A/S. The melt is a little more difficult to recognise... it is usually in a point deep between two muscles and kind of melts away. The last one is called a zing and this is actually described as a small electric shock. The practitioner

While I was present in those pools I was able to watch others undergoing A/S therapy for various problems. Among these were: a paralysed man after an accident who was undergoing regular treatments and whose mental attitude was clearly improving; a man suffering from Parkinson’s disease who was able to live independently because of the regular A/S treatment he was receiving; a nurse who needed relief from the stress of her work, who swore by the great feeling she had after each treatment; a soccer goalie who was having a weekly treatment for the various sport accidents he had suffered; a singer who needed help keeping her voice box flexible; and many more like these.

The reader can get an idea from this short video of how the therapy is applied from the following short video: http://www.physicaltherapy.com/articles/aquastretch-principlesfoundations-and-preliminary-2267

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It has been found that AquaStretchTM: 1. R estores flexibility lost from prior accidents, surgeries, sports injuries or over training.

2. Increases Wellness Motivation by reducing chronic aches and pains, and improving sleep.

3. Increases Muscle Soreness/Tension due to intense physical training or excessive workouts.

4. Increases Training Efficiency by decreasing recovery time from workout soreness.

5. Helps get “Loose” before a competition because of A/S’s profound relaxation benefit.

6. Improves Sports Performance by restoring systematic flexibility and reducing pain.

Lorie was able to spend time with Dr George Eversaul in Las Vegas over Christmas break. It was then she met one of his patients who drove from Oregon, a distance well over 1000 kilometres, every two weeks because it was the only relief he could get from his chronic pain. One can only imagine the severity of that pain which brought this person to such extreme action. More importantly the value in quality of life that A/S provided this patient was clearly so great that a journey of over 10 hours each way was feasible to endure.

The cost of the journey in this case was also many times the actual cost of the treatment. For an hour of therapy, a specialist practitioner would not charge more than $250 in Las Vegas. Consider further the alternatives costs such as MRIs, XRays, CT scans, Spinal injections, medication of various kinds, visits to GP, specialists, or alternative medicine practitioners – mounting up over the years, against an $80-$120 charge for an A/S treatment. This treatment might last for between 4 – 6 months depending on the severity of the pain.

All sides benefit from a facility which can provide such benefits.

Hotels or rehab hospitals can benefit from an added income stream by leasing out their Hydrotherapy pools to A/S providers for day patients. This would more than recover their outlay in maintenance costs, as well as recover their initial investment in providing such an appropriate facility. Hotels or Hospitals which have poorly designed facilities will find it worth their while to upgrade in order to provide therapies such as AquaStretchTM and at the same time make significant saving on the maintenance. In fact so too can public Aquatic centres large and small. Indeed careful design and some panache with the decor could attract more customers and provide a lot more general health benefit to the community at large.

This is an exciting new therapy which can bring real relief to young and old – disabled to healthy sportsmen and women and at the same time attract people who are simply seeking a wellness program which brings them lasting relaxation from the rigours of life.

Therapists who take the trouble to acquire this new and exciting modality of therapy will find that they are being sought after for the real relief that AquaStretchTM affords. It will also put any hotel or rehab hospital at the forefront of their industry.

Those who have grasped the viability of introducing this new modality to their facility and wish to avail themselves of offers made by those trained to teach this therapy can get further information by emailing me: aquazure34@gmail.com

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Kleenduct Australia delivers outstanding duct cleaning services to existing and prospective customers throughout Australia.

Our company offers 24 hour, 7 day a week servicing 363 days of the year. This ensures that we are in a position to promptly and efficiently meet the demands of our customers.

ATTRIBUTES 

Accurate tender estimation

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Management of complex and extended projects

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Efficient handling of all administration requirements from SWMS/JSA to invoicing, follow up reporting, customer service and ongoing support

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Networked nationally with full IT support

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State of the art reporting

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Up to date with Industry Standards, regulations and best practices



Fully insured

DUCT INSPECTION 

Advanced camera system has a articulating eye with a full colour camera head and lets you take a closer look at horizontal and vertical ductwork…



Super bright wide TFT monitor provides brilliant picture quality.



Connection cable 60 to 80 metres.

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Waterproof high resolution 360° pan and 180° tilt camera head gives an inside view into air ducts.



State-of-the-art battery packs provide 6 hours continuous operation.

We offer a wide range of services to an even wider variety of customers. We are extending our operations to include Fiji and New Zealand and will be an international company by mid 2014.

SERVICES 

Duct cleaning



Air Handling Unit Cleaning



Inspection & reporting



Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning



Filter Exchange



Mould Remediation



Video inspection



Production cleaning

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1300 438 287

www.kleenduct.com.au

info@kleenduct.com.au



MEMBERSHIP FORM PLEASE CHOOSE THE STATE: NSW 

QLD 

VIC 

WA 

I WISH TO APPLY FOR: Renewal of my Membership 

Membership Number (if known):

I WISH TO BECOME A NEW MEMBER VIA: (a) Fellow – a member of at least 10 years standing who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of hotel engineering (as determined by the management committee) or this association may be advanced by the management committee to the grade of Fellow.

This membership class is a life membership of the institute. (b) Honorary Fellow – any person who has rendered conspicuous service to the hotel industry (as determined by the management committee), or any person prominently connected with but not necessarily in the hotel industry who may be approved by the management committee, shall be eligible as an Honorary Fellow.

This membership class is a life membership of the institute. (c) Member – a person shall be eligible as a Member if the applicant holds a certificate, degree or diploma or such other qualification in engineering approved by the management committee, and has at least 5 years experience in a head of engineering position and shall be directly engaged in hotel engineering. (d) Associate Member – a person shall be eligible as an Associate Member if the applicant holds a qualification in engineering approved by the management committee and is directly engaged in hotel engineering and his/her qualifications and/or experience do not in the opinion of the management committee entitle him/her to admission as a Member. (e) Student Member – a person who is attending an appropriate course of instruction at an Institution approved by the management committee shall be eligible as a Student Member (f) Affiliate Member – shall be a person of 21 or more of age who is associated with the Hotel Industry and whose, qualification or experience do not in the opinion of Council entitle them to admission as a Member or Associate member. (f) Corporate Member – entitles applicants endorsed by the Council to be eligible for Corporate Membership, which will carry those rights and entitlements of an Affiliate Members, with a maximum of (5) members of the corporation being eligible to attend monthly meetings. In addition, this membership will entitle the Corporation to receive all specialised material sourced and published by the Institute for overall benefit of the Hotel Industry.

All applicants’ membership classification shall be determined by Council in accordance with the above guidelines.

Membership  Corporate Membership  Associate Membership  Student Membership  Affiliate Membership  Honorary Fellow Membership (no fee)  Fellow Membership (no fee)  SURNAME: GIVEN NAME(S): COMPANY NAME: POSITION: POSTAL WORK ADDRESS: WORK TELEPHONE: WORK FAX: WORK EMAIL: WORK MOBILE: HOME POSTAL ADDRESS: HOME TELEPHONE: HOME FAX: HOME EMAIL: PERSONAL MOBILE: Please send all my correspondence to my:

Work Email 

Please send me an Invoice (if required) for payment by:

Email  Mail (a receipt will be sent by mail) 

Please send me newsletter by:

Email  Mail 

Please send ‘Hotel Engineer’ to my:

Work address 

Home Email 

Home address 



QUALIFICATIONS/EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:

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FEES: Membership/Associate Membership:

New Member AUD$130

Student Membership:

New Member AUD$90

Corporate Fees: New Member AUD$550

Yearly Renewal AUD$100 Yearly Renewal AUD$60 Yearly Renewal AUD$550

PAYMENT CAN BE MADE BY: NSW Chapter: Cheque payable to:

Australian Institute of Hotel Engineering (NSW) Chapter

EFT Transfer/Direct Deposit to:

BSB: 062 014 Account Number: 0090 2426 Commonwealth Bank of Australia

(Please use surname/company name as reference)

QLD Chapter: Cheque payable to:

Australian Institute of Hotel Engineering (QLD) Chapter

EFT Transfer/Direct Deposit to:

BSB: 084 462 Account Number: 205126424 National Australia Bank

(Please use surname/company name as reference)

VIC Chapter: Cheque payable to:

Australian Institute of Hotel Engineering (VIC) Chapter

EFT Transfer/Direct Deposit to:

BSB: 013 403 Account Number: 4988 69693 ANZ Ringwood Nth

(Please use surname/company name as reference)

WA Chapter: Cheque payable to:

Australian Institute of Hotel Engineering (WA) Chapter

EFT Transfer/Direct Deposit to:

BSB: 086 006 Account Number: 518 190 216 National Australia Bank

(Please use surname/company name as reference)

MAIL COMPLETED FORMS TO: NSW Chapter: The Secretary, AIHE NSW Chapter, PO Box H263, Australia Square NSW 1215 QLD Chapter: The Secretary, AIHE QLD Chapter, PO Box 5118, Gold Coast Mail Centre 9726 VIC Chapter: The Secretary, AIHE VIC Chapter, PO Box 2136, Caulfield Junction VIC 3161 WA Chapter: The Secretary, AIHE WA Chapter, PO Box 6191, East Perth WA 6892 Your membership application will be processed, which includes the following:: o Certificate of membership

o Membership number

o Member name badge

o Official AIHE receipt

* Note: Allow up to four weeks for processing.

I have read, understood and agreed to conform to the Institute’s Code of Ethics as set out, conditional upon acceptance of my application for membership.

Note: your membership includes receiving ‘Hotel Engineer’ quarterly. As the AIHE is a non-profit organisation, GST is not applicable.

Signed: Date:

FOR INSTITUTE USE ONLY Date received: Fee received: Grading: Cheque #: Entered:

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PRODUCT NEWS DOLPHIN DELIVERING A HIGH STANDARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN Keeping commercial pools up to high standard is sometimes quite a difficult procedure. The thought of outlaying large amounts per annum for pool cleaning staff, accessories and maintenance people can be daunting. This is where the Dolphin commercial cleaner range by Maytronics can help.

With a sophisticated range of Wave robotic pool cleaners that have been tried and tested, it is the perfect asset for your establishment.

Bringing together over 30 years of expertise in pool cleaning, our commercial robotic pool cleaners are built for heavy-duty, cost-effective pool cleaning and designed to work with minimum intervention. At the forefront of electronic pool

cleaner technology, Maytronics robots ensure your pool is consistently clean and the water sparkling clear – with little effort on your part. Advanced technologies provide comprehensive scanning of the entire pool and highly effective pool brushing and filtering throughout.

Maytronics have a cleaner to suit your pool – no matter how big, small or complicated – from large resort pools with islands to smaller commercial centres. All Dolphins have fully automated operation, so your staff can focus on other tasks, with full confidence that your pool water will be left clean and hygienic after every cleaning cycle.

Dolphin robotic pool cleaners are the choice of thousands of commercial pool operators in hotels, country clubs, spas, schools and public and private swim centres worldwide.

Make the switch today.

Get in touch with Maytronics on www.maytronics.com.au or 1300 MYDOLPHIN

Viggo TV – for a smarter hotel experience Viggo TV is a cloud-based smart TV for hotels to effortlessly manage interaction between the guest and the hotel front-desk. With Viggo, the guest can order room-service, fresh towels, make reservations in local restaurants, peruse the goings-on in and around the hotel and even check flight information. Viggo TV connects the hotel and the guest seamlessly into the local community.

Viggo’s smart TV solution gives the guest a direct, real-time ability to impact the hotel and its services. The smart TV is a vital vehicle for the

guest to communicate with the hotel, whether to check out or to order services.

Unlike many other hotel TV solutions, Viggo TV features several popular applications such as YouTube, Skype and Netflix and offers dozens of more applications, depending on the hotel.

Viggo TV’s recently released mobile app gives guests the ability to navigate back to the hotel and to find local restaurants and entertainment venues. Viggo mobile app allows the hotel to share relevant content with the guests.

Viggo TV enables the guests to customize their hotel in-room TV’s to the finest detail. This feature is key to personable and uplifting travel experiences. With a click of a button, the guest can order fresh towels or watch his or her favourite TV show while checking the latest entertainment options around the hotel.

For the hotels, Viggo TV offers an unprecedented ability to control all communications between the hotel front-desk and the guests without unnecessary phone calls or knocks on the door.

For more information visit www.viggo.tv

14% Energy Savings for SS&A Club The SS&A Club in Albury is set to install a Powerstar voltage optimisation unit and gain an immediate 14% saving on electricity costs.

Rod Carmody, Financial Controller of the SS&A Club said the guaranteed Sam Czyczelis, Operations annual energy Director, Powerstar Australasia. savings of 14% provided a payback period of just two to three years.

“We were prompted to look into energy savings a year ago when our power bills kept going up. We wanted to find ways where we could be more efficient and reduce our electricity costs,” Rod said.

This has produced a return on investment of only 12 months and the brewer is so pleased with the installation it has just ordered a second Powerstar unit.

Rubicon Design & Construct conducted an investigation into four suppliers and following due diligence recommended Powerstar.

The world’s market leading voltage optimisation provider, Powerstar, worked closely with the Carlsberg brewer’s engineers throughout the process, conducting a full site survey.

“Installation of the Powerstar unit will be just in time for the hot weather when our power bill runs at its highest.”

One of Europe’s leading brewers of Carlsberg, Photo Photaides, achieved a 17% reduction in energy consumption and a reduction in carbon emissions of 21 tonnes following its installation of a Powerstar voltage optimisation system.

Powerstar VO comes with 100% reliability, offering a secure, proven and reliable solution for hotels and related business.

For more information visit www.powerstar.com

Advance Filtration Group Advance Filtration Group is a fully Australian owned HVAC filter service and manufacturer that is totally focused on providing its customers the best solution for their needs.

Advance Filtration Group is totally focused on providing its customers the best solutions to fill their HVAC filtration needs and help them keep to their budgets.

Over the past 15 years Advance Filtration Group have evolved into a HVAC filter company with new design capabilities and new filter manufacturing plant.

During the past 5 years we have been working closely with one of Europe’s leader in filtration, Freudenberg filters – Viledon and one of North Americas leading filtration companies, Clarcor Group – Airguard.

We offer tailored solution’s to fit your needs and budget.

By providing filters from these two leading companies we have been able to provide the hotel industry positive energy efficient filters.

Correct choice of filtration can help you to achieve the following.

• Improve indoor air quality for your customers • Reduce your energy costs • Help prevent high maintenance costs from incorrectly specified or fitted filters

We have upgraded many plant rooms to help reduce power costs and raised the quality of indoor air for customers and staff.

Advance Filtration Group is qualified to handle any type of filtration upgrade or filter audit that you may require.

As we look to the future new energy efficient filtration options are entering the market

For more information visit www.airfilters.com.au

G2 TECH G2 TECH offers a full range of hydraulic services that can encompass any or all facets from concept to completion. The company places a strong emphasis on interpreting our client’s specific requirements in order to offer innovative solutions tailored to individual applications.

They are an organisation that invests time with its customers so that they come rapidly up to speed with their clients needs and the specific factors about the environment in which the project will be delivered.

G2 TECH can assess your current facility and provide upgrade options to existing plant and equipment or propose a refit option if this is the most practical solution. Their ability to design purpose built equipment to deliver calculated requirements gives their clients flexibility to minimise plant footprint when they are engaged at the design stage.

With an in house design team, which includes renowned design co-ordinator Nigel Viola. Nigel has more than 15 years industry experience and excels in solar and hydraulic design in conjunction with other services.

G2 TECHs drafting team have the ability to provide documentation in AutoCAD or Solidworks format and take pride in their ability to liaise with clients for successful project outcomes.

With the capability to source, supply, design and construct if required, equipment and solutions fit for purpose with energy efficiency being a principal consideration. Their philosophy is to provide the best possible outcome for the clients based on their budget and the construction parameters provided. This forms the basis upon which G2 TECH shapes its project approach and builds its response within an Environmentally Sustainable framework.

The in house maintenance and installation department can assist with successful delivery of the project right through to the commissioning period and beyond if required. Alternatively G2 Tech provide assistance to ensure the successful implementation and operation of the equipment from the day of commissioning with the Com Assist Program This will allow your existing maintenance provider to be properly briefed |with a system handover, with extensive O&M manuals provided to ensure the equipment is run efficiently and effectively for its time in service.

G2 TECH offer high quality equipment with long warranties sourcing the latest proven technologies.

For more information visit www.g2tech.net.au

Folding Holiday Crib Sometimes the most important guest can be the very smallest.

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• Open Cot size 1004mm (L) x 670mm (W) x 980mm (H)

The Compass Folding Holiday Crib ensures both babies and their parents sleep soundly.

Braced leg design helps the crib withstand hotel elevator gaps while foam leg bumpers protect doorways and furnishings. It also features easy to roll, heavy-duty swivel rubber casters, two of which lock, for extra safety and stability.

Designed especially for commercial use, this robust and portable crib is easy to store and fast to assemble.

Weatherdon manufactures and markets the Compass Folding Holiday Crib exclusively for the accommodation industry.

Made from high grade metal, the crib has a durable, non-toxic powder coat finish that endures repeated cleanings. Its 7.5cm (3 inch) mattress meets Australian standards and is covered in waterproof vinyl.

Weatherdon is a family-owned and operated business that has provided the hotel and hospitality industry with essential stylish, quality products since 1975.

The crib’s dimensions are: • Mattress size 970mm (L) x 600mm (W) x 80mm (H)

• Folded Cot size 920mm (L) x 170mm (W) x 980mm (H)

For more information about the Folding Holiday Crib please visit www.weatherdon.com.au, send an email to sales@weatherdon.com.au or call (02) 9906 2202.

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®

Make sure you are environmentally responsible...  Reduce your water usage  Clean up without turps  Control your paint waste  Recycle your paint cans

Dulux® Envirosolutions® range of products provide responsible alternatives to traditional painting clean up methods.

For further information, please visit www.dulux.com.au/trade or email: propertyservice@dulux.com.au

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Worth doing, worth Dulux

®