JANUARY 2015
• B&ES President Andy Sneyd on ‘supply chain meltdown’ • Why we must design for long-term building performance • Graduate of the Year heading for Chicago • Unclean ductwork leads to spreading fires • How better ventilation can cut NHS costs • CIBSE Guide M points the way to better buildings • Fishing, archery and ambulances
WELCOME TO YOUR JOURNAL
Charles Shillitoe Marketing manager and Journal Editor.
WELCOME TO THE FIRST EDITION OF THE NEW LOOK JOURNAL OF RUSKIN AIR MANAGEMENT. elcome to the first edition of the new look Journal of Ruskin Air Management. While Ruskin has produced newsletters on a regular basis over the years, we felt the time was right for a revamp and a new approach. I hope you approve of the result. The idea was to create something more like a ‘proper’ magazine with news, comment and features covering a number of key issues for the industry in general, as well as a small amount of information about the company itself. In other words, this is not solely a promotional tool for the company, but a genuine source of useful and interesting information for our customers, staff and friends. At least, we hope that is what you will think! We welcome any feedback – positive and negative – and will look to reflect any (publishable!) views in our next issue. We want to create a forum for discussion and for you to feel that this is an opportunity to learn more about the industry and to engage with Ruskin on issues that concern and interest you. For example, in these pages we cover meaty topics like fire risk assessments and safety strategies; the development of young engineers; indoor air quality;
W
and the very latest building operation and maintenance guidance produced by CIBSE. We have a great line up of guest contributors including the President of the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) Andy Sneyd kicking us off in style with his thoughts on reforming the supply chain and improving collaboration between the professions. Ruskin managing director Kevin Munson also gives us his thoughts on where we need to improve the design process to ensure buildings can be well maintained and managed. And, of course, we like to include our friends from the trade press and are lucky to have Heather Ramsden, editor of H&V Review, contributing to our first issue. We also hope you will admire our handsome cover, which features the Royal Opera House in London. This iconic, internationally recognised building features a number of Ruskin products and we were very proud to be associated with its refurbishment. I hope you will find plenty to engage your interest and opinions – and feel free to share them with us via Charles Shillitoe email to: journaleditor@ruskinuk.co.uk Marketing manager and Journal Editor
CONTENTS 3 B&ES President Andy Sneyd on ‘supply chain meltdown’. 4 Why we must design for long-term building performance. 5 Graduate of the Year heading for Chicago.
RUSSELL COLLECTS HIS DAMPERS
6 Unclean ductwork leads to spreading fires.
The sighting of a 50 foot long crab in Whitstable harbour created headlines around the world, but the Ruskin Journal is happy to clear up the mystery. Russell is a regular customer of the company and was simply on his way to the Actionair factory in the Kent town to collect his latest order of A-60 marine dampers. He has a lucrative sideline in providing fire safety solutions for the international maritime industry. Actionair recently supplied more than 150 of these dampers to the largest and most expensive private yacht in the world – the 590 foot Azzam. It therefore makes perfect sense that the fit-out team sent the world’s largest crab to take delivery of these essential products. Look out for Russell in our next issue when he will provide an exclusive interview covering the biggest issues confronting the fire and smoke damper industry.
8 How better ventilation can cut NHS costs. 9 CIBSE Guide M points the way to better buildings. 11 Fishing, archery and ambulances.
RAM Journal Team Editor: Charles Shillitoe Reporter: Ewen Rose Designer: Geoff Strange ‘Russell the Crab’ by Christine Rose. TM
2
TM
SUPPLY CHAIN MELTDOWN WHAT KIND OF SUPPLY CHAIN DOES THE MODERN BUILDING ENGINEERING SECTOR NEED? ANDY SNEYD, PRESIDENT OF THE BUILDING & ENGINEERING SERVICES ASSOCIATION, SAYS TRADITIONAL ROLES MUST CHANGE – AND FAST.
O
ur industry is going through a complete transformation – and it is proving to be quite painful for many. Construction is probably one of the last ‘unreformed’ sectors and we are still in the early stages of a technology revolution that other industries have already been through.
more sophisticated, so must our supply chain, which means we, as contractors, must work even more closely with specialist manufacturers like Ruskin Air Management to ensure we are making the most of each other’s skills, knowledge and experience.
Look at where telecommunications were back in the 80s and where they are now; how shipping and air transport has transformed; and how the retail industry has embraced online selling and modern delivery methods – the progress has been stunning.
Beating each other up – in the traditional way – in order to secure a discount is not a basis for the sophisticated supply chain we need and that our clients demand. I’d like to think we are moving on and growing up, but recognise not everyone is embracing this change.
We have a lot of catching up to do because the modern building client has become used to lightning response times and high performance in their core business and are now applying the
The truth is that new digital tools allow building engineering contractors to sit right at the heart of the process and look up and down the ‘old’ supply chain and work closely with all of the
“
BEATING EACH OTHER UP – IN THE TRADITIONAL WAY – IN ORDER TO SECURE A DISCOUNT IS NOT A BASIS FOR THE SOPHISTICATED SUPPLY CHAIN WE NEED AND THAT OUR CLIENTS DEMAND.
”
same standards to their built assets. Like any other investment, they are looking at their rates of return and the risk factors in operating their buildings.
professions. We are developing a much more agile and tech savvy workforce and can share information like never before.
Where they might have put up with poorly ventilated or inefficiently heated offices in the past, they now, quite rightly, expect and demand better. We have to step up.
Building Information Modelling (or, perhaps more appropriately, Management) is the big ‘game changer’ for our industry along with the availability of cloud computing.
Collaboration The key for all those other industries was, not so much the technology itself, but how it enabled supply chain collaboration. Modern process improvements in our sector will still be impossible unless we reform our supply chain, which is still, by and large, the same one developed in the Victorian era.
We must exploit the potential in these tools to ensure we are delivering the level of process efficiency and operating information that will transform how buildings are built and, more importantly, operated over time.
The speed of communication; the connectivity offered by the ‘Internet of Things’ and the accessibility of big data means those old hierarchies are no longer relevant. As buildings become
Manufacturers, like Ruskin, are already there with BIM and chomping at the bit to see it applied more widely. The benefit to the manufacturing process and the ongoing performance of your equipment is clear. It is taking longer to persuade contractors and, ultimately, clients of the need for this investment, but it will come, and with it a
transformed supply chain. Change is never easy and is often not at all popular. Was there ever a more divisive figure than Mrs Thatcher? You might not agree with her style, but there is little argument that British industry needed shaking up in the 80s and she was the person to do it. The coal mining communities didn’t want to hear it, but that industry couldn’t go on as it was – and all that upheaval and human tragedy paved the way for new industries and different opportunities. The children of that generation can, by and large, be thankful for the better career prospects that resulted – far away from that tough environment underground. My own journey has taken me from humble apprentice to CIBSE Fellow and now President of the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES). The industry I joined 30 years ago is unrecognisable to the one I now work in and the adoption of digital construction methods is just the latest step in technological change that is creating a more prosperous and profitable industry. BIM is the key enabler that can unlock huge improvements and massive savings, but only if used within a properly collaborative framework focused on giving the end client a building designed with lifetime performance in mind. I look forward to working in close collaboration with like-minded supply chain partners, such as Ruskin, for the foreseeable future. Andy Sneyd President of the Building and Engineering Services Association (B&ES) and head of design at Crown House Technologies. www.b-es.org
3
IT IS A QUESTION OF PERFORMANCE
MARKET SURGES FOR MARINE DAMPERS
THE INDUSTRY NEEDS TO CHANGE ITS MIND-SET IF WE ARE EVER GOING TO GET TO GRIPS WITH LONG-TERM BUILDING PERFORMANCE.
T
oo hot; too cold; uncomfortable; expensive to run…these are just some of the more common complaints heard about buildings in the UK. Occupants usually know if a building doesn’t feel right, but they rarely know why. Often operational problems are the legacy left by poor design decisions and problems during the contractual process. It is a stain on the industry’s reputation that too many of our ultimate clients are disappointed; and so it is hugely positive that some of our leading professional bodies have been working together for a number of years to produce the most comprehensive guide to building operation, performance and maintenance ever published. The new CIBSE Guide M: ‘Maintenance engineering and management’, launched in late 2014 (see page 9), is
little thought given to how the owner is supposed to maintain this highly valuable asset. The new Guide M looks in detail at the financial consequences of overlooking crucial operational issues at the design stage and explains how FMs and building owners can risk assess their buildings for performance as well as health and safety. It is a great opportunity for the new generation of building operators to put things right and for us, as specialist suppliers, to ensure they have the right products and design information to make this possible. Too often in the past we have looked on with dismay as key design features of the ventilation system have been undermined by short-term, cost cutting decisions, usually made late in the process, knowing only too well that the building occupants will suffer as a result.
FOR TOO LONG, BUILDING PROJECTS HAVE BEEN HANDED OVER “WITH LITTLE THOUGHT GIVEN TO HOW THE OWNER IS SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN THIS HIGHLY VALUABLE ASSET.” the result of an historic, long-term collaboration between B&ES, CIBSE, BSRIA and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). It is a template for how our supply chain can work together from the outset to ensure the building that gets handed over can be properly maintained and will remain close to its designed performance level – in terms of energy and comfort – throughout its lifetime. CIBSE chief executive Stephen Matthews said professional engineers must now “grasp the nettle by making sure buildings are operated properly”. He stressed that CIBSE members had a responsibility “beyond design” and if they failed to deal with this increasingly important issue for clients “other people will come along and do it for us”. The challenge is for all suppliers and installers to resist the temptation to ‘value engineer’ out key design features to shave a few pounds off the initial price at the expense of long-term operational problems and inflated energy costs. For too long, building projects have been handed over with
4
Buildings must be safe, but they must also support the core business of the owner, which means delivering good living and working conditions through improved air quality –an increasingly important service and maintenance issue that needs constant monitoring in today’s increasingly airtight buildings. As product suppliers and contributors to the design process, Ruskin companies are proud of the solutions we provide, but conscious that our efforts stand or fall by the quality of the overall delivery process. The new CIBSE guidance offers the promise of a process more geared to long-term performance that ensures building clients can enjoy the full potential of what we have to offer. This is one of the biggest issues our industry faces as we move into a new era when building energy and comfort performance are being measured like never before. We all have to step up to the plate and deliver. Kevin Munson Managing Director
Growth in the maritime and offshore industries is pushing up demand for specially designed smoke and fire control products including Ruskin’s range of A-60 marine dampers. The dampers are available with galvanised casings and 430 grade stainless steel blades or, as an option, in 316 grade stainless steel casings and blades. They satisfy the rigorous corrosion resistance and vibration control standards required by all international maritime testing agencies. They are corrosion tested to BSEN 60068-2-52 (severity 2 conditions) and vibration tested to BS EN 60068-2-6. The A-60 is ideal for dry filtered air and is tested and approved for fitting to class A-60 divisions (bulkheads and decks), when suitably insulated. The A60 damper has undergone extensive fire testing in single and multiple arrangements. Actionair recently supplied more than 150 of these dampers to the largest and most expensive private yacht in the world. The Azzam was launched last year and, at 180 m (590 ft) in length, she has pushed the Eclipse yacht of Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovic into second place. Azzam is larger than many ocean going liners and is owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nayan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Emir of Abu Dhabi. The stainless steel A-60 fire dampers were supplied along with a number of galvanised units – all complete with actuators. Actionair also provided a number of Aeroseal air control and shut off dampers with spring return motors. The dampers were incorporated in steel bulkheads and decks on the Azzam and tested to the Marine Fire Resistance Test in accordance with IMO resolution A754 to provide fire control for up to one hour.
POLAND’S TARGONSKA IS GRADUATE OF THE YEAR HOARE LEA’S EMILIA TARGONSKA NAMED THE CIBSE ASHRAE GRADUATE OF THE YEAR 2014.
H
oare Lea’s Emilia Targonska was named the CIBSE ASHRAE Graduate of the Year 2014 during a ceremony at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). She received her award from CIBSE President Peter Kinsella and ASHRAE President Tom Phoenix during the CIBSE Young Engineers’ Awards, which are sponsored by Ruskin Air Management. Kaizenge was also named CIBSE Employer of the Year for its outstanding record of investment in the education and progression of young engineers. Emilia completed an Environmental Engineering BEng course at Warsaw University of Technology before moving on to complete a Low Energy Building Services Engineering MSc course at Loughborough University. She joined the London office of Hoare Lea in September.
Emilia’s prize is a trip to Chicago to attend the ASHRAE Conference this month. There she will be a VIP guest of the Society and will serve as CIBSE’s ‘ambassador’ for young engineers. Kit Stormont, who studied at the University of Bath and works for Buro Happold in Dubai was the runner up and received a cheque for £500 from the Rumford Club. Charlotte Mercer from the University of the West of England and AECOM was placed third and received £250. Michael Enstone, Imperial College and AECOM; James Harker, London South Bank University and E+M Tecnica; Amelia Ng, University of Bristol and
Arup; Richard Seaman, Dublin Institute of Technology and BDP; and Bryony Turtle, University of Bristol and Atkins, were also shortlisted for the award from an extremely high level of entries. Professor Cath Noakes of the University of Leeds received the IMechE Construction and Building Services Division (CBSD) special achievement award. In the Employer of the Year awards NG Bailey was named the winner of the large company category; Max Fordham won the medium company section; with Kaizenge taking the small employer award as well as the overall accolade. Shortlisted were Camilleri and Cuschieri; Building Services Design and Hoare Lea. Ruskin is to be honoured for its ongoing support for CIBSE’s young engineers at a ceremony during the ASHRAE Conference in Chicago where representatives of the company will receive a special certificate from Emilia and the presidents of CIBSE and ASHRAE.
Each of the eight finalists was challenged to give a presentation on the topic: ‘How is technology transforming the way we, as engineers, work’ to an audience of over 160 and a distinguished judging panel that included the presidents of CIBSE, ASHRAE and the IMechE and last year’s Graduate of the Year William Holley.
FAR FROM BORING DESPITE HER BACKGROUND AS A CRIME REPORTER IN SOUTH AFRICA, HEATHER RAMSDEN, EDITOR OF H&V REVIEW, SAYS SHE IS FINDING THE WORLD OF HEATING AND VENTILATING SURPRISINGLY EXCITING.
A
s someone who started their journalistic career as a newspaper reporter, finding myself ensconced in the world of heating and ventilation certainly makes a change. I spent several years working on a South African daily broadsheet back in the late 90s, two of which were spent as a crime reporter in a fairly volatile and crimeridden part of the world. Having held several other editorial roles since that time, I took on the role of editor of HVR about a year ago. While my expertise is journalism, I was at a
slight disadvantage as far as my technical knowledge of the industry is concerned. It is the companies, such as Ruskin Air Management, and the people I have encountered in my first year at the editorial helm of HVR that have made all the difference. Unlike when I was working as a crime reporter, where my typical interviewee was probably a hostile and guarded police officer, everyone I have met in heating and ventilation has been incredibly welcoming and happy to
impart their expert knowledge. It’s those industry professionals, who are more than willing to talk about what they do and how they do it, who have made it so much easier for me. Thanks to them we have been able to gather many of the excellent features we have published this year. One thing I can say about this constantly evolving industry is that it is far from boring. The multitude of regulations, directives and targets which directly affect heating and ventilation companies is mind blowing to say the least; and with ErP peeking its head over the hill, the challenges going into 2015 continue to mount. We are all looking towards the General Election with keen interest to see what shape our government will take and, with that, what new priorities and plans will be introduced that affect the sector. Whatever happens, let’s be glad that the economy seems to be improving.
5
HOW TO STOP FIRES SPREADING
necessary as that will create a place for grease to accumulate? Radius bends are much safer.
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS POSED BY POOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY (IAQ) ARE NOW FIRMLY IN FOCUS THANKS TO TOUGH LEGISLATION AND NEW, COMPREHENSIVE INDUSTRY GUIDANCE.
TR/19 now has an explicit link with another key piece of B&ES guidance: ‘Specification for Sheet Metal Ductwork’ (DW144), which was also updated this year and provides detailed guidance on how ventilation ductwork should be specified and constructed. That document now also specifically references how ductwork system designers must take ease of maintenance into account.
T
he industry’s main source of technical guidance: TR/19 Guide to Good Practice – ‘Internal Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems’, produced by B&ES Publications, was totally revamped last year and now includes detailed instructions on how to safeguard kitchen extract systems, which have been blamed for spreading thousands of fires in commercial premises.
This is largely in response to historic problems of ventilation hygiene companies being unable to gain access to systems, or parts of systems, for cleaning because they were poorly designed. There is also a serious amount of work going on to ensure the provisions outlined in TR/19 are also included in the relevant British Standard – BS 12236 covering ventilation in buildings and the supports for ductwork that ensure they can be accessed for cleaning and maintenance.
Since it first appeared in 1998, TR/19 has been widely accepted within the building engineering services sector and by the UK insurance industry as the standard to which ventilation systems should be cleaned. It is was almost 10 years since this comprehensive guidance document was last revised, but the 2014 version now provides the latest legal requirements for testing and cleaning of ventilation systems. This newly updated edition of TR/19 was developed to complement the new British and European Standard BS EN 15780: ‘Ventilation for Buildings – Ductwork – Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems’ introduced in 2011. It highlights the important role ventilation hygiene plays in maintaining healthy indoor conditions for building occupants. Awareness There is increasing awareness among building owners and their insurers of the role extract ventilation plays in fires. If there is a coating of grease inside the ductwork it will act as a highly efficient transmitter of heat and flames through the rest of the building – all it needs is an ignition source and kitchens have plenty of those. Often a fire will start inside the ductwork simply because the temperature becomes high enough to ignite the grease and 90% of catering fires are exacerbated and intensified by ignition of grease deposits in grease extract ducting. As a result, many insurance providers will include special provisions in their policies that can lead to claims being rejected on the grounds that the building operator has failed to maintain the ventilation effectively – or, simply, can’t prove that they have maintenance strategies in place. Many insurers insist that, unless ventilation systems are cleaned to the standards set in TR/19, compensation claims in the event of commercial kitchen 6
Test Historically, the TR/19 deposit thickness test (DTT) was used to measure the total accumulation of dust in ducts prior to cleaning and the vacuum test (VT) has been used to validate cleanliness after duct cleaning. However, BS EN 15780 introduced a new preferred vacuum test (PVT) to measure the total amount of dust deposited in a duct. fires may not be successful. The updated TR/19 provides clarity about when and to what standard grease extract systems should be cleaned, and provides a detailed explanation of the frequency of cleaning required based on the type of cooking and the hours of kitchen usage. This will also help building owners to meet their obligations under the Regulatory Reform (fire safety) Order 2005 and stay on the right side of fire officers who have the power to close down a building if they are not satisfied that the extract systems are safe. In addition to a regular cleaning regime, TR/19 also offers guidance on the fitting of efficient filtration systems such as the new generation of high capacity filters capable of removing up to 94.6% of grease deposits. Methods for reducing fire risk at the design stage are also included. For example, ends and turning vanes within ductwork are high risk because they will accumulate large amounts of grease, so are they required? Attenuators and attenuator pods are also very difficult to clean even with good access. Also, is a 90 degree bend in the ductwork really
Until now, practitioners using the older DTT testing method have been unable to verify whether they are compliant with the BS EN 15780 as neither the standard nor the TR/19 have provided a comparison of PVT values (measured in grams) and DTT values (measured in microns). The newly updated TR/19 guide has addressed this by including a reference table, which practitioners can use to determine whether a ventilation system needs to be cleaned, without undergoing a time-consuming laboratory analysis of the test filters. The VHG is spearheading efforts to ensure TR/19 values are included in BS EN 15780. The internal cleanliness of ventilation systems is vital for human comfort, productivity and health –there is no more basic human right than having good quality air to breathe in your place of work or home. It also influences the overall energy consumption of building engineering systems and their length of operational life. Copies of TR19 and DW/144 can be purchased online at: www.b-espublications.co.uk
CE MARKING DRIVES DAMPER DEMAND THE LAUNCH OF MANDATORY CE MARKING FOR CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS HAS LED TO A SURGE IN DEMAND FOR ACTIONAIR’S RANGE OF CSS CIRCULAR SMOKE AND FIRE DAMPERS. The dampers, which are manufactured in the company’s Whitstable factory, were developed for air conditioning and ventilation systems that need up to two hours fire protection. They are designed to be installed in standard circular spiral duct systems where the duct passes through fire rated walls. These circular bladed dampers are equipped with fail safe spring closing and factory fitted electrical reset control modes located outside of the ductwork for easy access and installation. CSS dampers are ES rated and tested to the European standard EN 1366-2 and manufactured to BS EN 1506. They come complete with an easy fit flange system to speed up installation. They are available in a number of circular sizes between 100 and 355mm diameter to suit 50mm thermal insulated or non-insulated circular ductwork. CSS dampers include an Electrical Thermal Release (ETR) feature, which is common across all Actionair smoke and fire dampers. They also incorporate a patented seal that provide ES leakage performance at both ambient and fire conditions and are housed in a galvanised case complete with two installation flanges for easy fitting into stud and solid wall applications. They can be used where the system pressure is up to 1,500 Pascals and with duct velocities of 15m per second.
The CSS Damper. CE marked and ES rated to help prevent the spread of fire and smoke. We’re obsessed about making products that save lives. In fact we’re passionate about the perfect installation. We’re even more dedicated to educating our customers about the latest changes in CE markings.
We just like to see a job done properly.
There’s a much bigger picture to be found at Ruskin Air Management. Ruskin Air Management
Full details of the CSS Damper can be found on our website: www.actionair.co.uk
actionair
Air Diffusion
naco
South Street, Whitstable, Kent, CT5 3DU Tel 01227 276100 sales@actionair.co.uk www.actionair.co.uk
7
NHS URGED TO FOCUS ON VENTILATION TO CUT RUNNING COSTS MILLIONS OF POUNDS COULD BE SHAVED FROM NHS RUNNING COSTS IF ESTATES MANAGERS TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW THEIR HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS ARE PERFORMING.
N
HS urged to focus on ventilation to cut running costs. Millions of pounds could be shaved from NHS running costs if estates managers took a closer look at how their heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are performing.
How the NHS manages its budget is one of the hottest political topics ahead of the General Election as it comes under huge pressure to reduce its costs while still improving patient care. Research carried out by Ruskin Air Management has revealed that, because the main focus is on critical services, opportunities to improve conditions and cut running costs in general areas of hospitals are being missed. Cost consultants EC Harris have identified £1.5bn worth of savings the NHS could make by improving efficiency across its estate. The current annual bill for NHS estates management stands at £7.2bn and is rising at almost 8% every year despite the austerity measures introduced by the coalition government. Estates managers should carry out extensive measuring and monitoring to investigate how well their heating and cooling systems were operating. In many cases, they will find they are working against each other because occupants have been changing the temperature settings. Costs Experts have shown that optimising the way air was supplied to just one operating theatre could save a hospital £5,000 in annual running costs. That could add up to £10m a year if replicated right across the whole of the NHS and would also avoid 80 tonnes of carbon emissions. Any ventilation fan that is over five years old is almost certainly inefficient and a replacement would pay for itself in less than three years. Healthcare FMs could cut running costs by 29% by replacing the fans in their air handling units and the addition of heat recovery to ventilation
8
systems can reduce costs in non-clinical areas by up to 30%. Even more basic measures like having grilles and filters cleaned regularly can save thousands of pounds a year. Ruskin has carried out extensive research among medical staff and found that, because the primary focus tended to be on operating theatres and critical areas, the well-being of recovering patients and hospital staff could be forgotten. The main priority for bed management teams is to help patients recover more quickly. This means that a high standard of indoor air quality (IAQ) is also required in general areas of the hospital. With the situation already difficult in A&E areas, having poor air quality is just going to make everyone feel even worse. The ventilation, therefore, needs to be able to contend with airborne contaminants and VOCs; as well as cooking and body odours, but it was often not designed with any of those things in mind. Ruskin is actively involved in the design and refurbishment of healthcare ventilation systems and has come across serious problems caused by the fact that an area designed for one purpose has been reconfigured and used for something else. The company is seeing increased demand for a mixed approach to ventilation that combines natural, low energy solutions wherever possible with powered ventilation only where it is essential. This provides the necessary amount of flexibility so the system can adapt to changing uses and conditions, but also keeps the initial capital cost down. Natural ventilation measures are generally fairly easy to install, but the controls are critical to ensure the system works properly. In fact, 80% of ‘quick wins’ in hospitals are linked to making better use of Building Management Systems (BMS) that are already in place, but are not controlling as many of the building functions as they should.
One very easy way to cut costs, while also improving ventilation rates, is to replace standard windows with louvred openings. These meet health, safety and security requirements, but can improve ventilation rates by 15% due to their larger ‘free area’, he added. Many conventional windows have to be secured shut for safety reasons. With the NHS very firmly in the political spotlight in the run up to this year’s General Election, there is a huge opportunity for the industry to help hard pressed hospital managers cut their energy costs and divert more vital funds back into frontline patient care – while at the same time improving the indoor environment for patients and staff.
IT’S ONLY NATURAL This year sees the official launch of Ruskin’s Natural Ventilation business. The company has been busy developing products and design solutions as well as recruiting specialist staff to deliver a comprehensive range of natural ventilation services to the building engineering market. The installation of natural ventilation systems is a truly collaborative exercise involving every profession in the building supply chain and so, to reflect this, the launch will take place at the Royal Institution of British Architects (RIBA) in February. Thanks to its wide manufacturing base and extensive design experience, Ruskin is able to provide a complete solution for natural ventilation specifiers with each component of the system tested in combination – a service rarely available to the industry previously. This allows design engineers to verify performance claims before, during and after commissioning.
David Fitzpatrick Ruskin Sales and Marketing Director dfitzpatrick@ruskinuk.co.uk
INDUSTRY MUST TACKLE FAILING BUILDINGS THE BUILDING ENGINEERING SECTOR MUST RISE TO THE CHALLENGE OF IMPROVING BUILDING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OR SEE OTHERS STEP IN TO TAKE THEIR PLACE, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS.
T
he failure of many buildings to meet their owners’ comfort and commercial expectations is a blot on the industry’s record, guests at the launch of the new CIBSE Guide M: ‘Maintenance engineering and management’ were told. The new publication was hailed as the most comprehensive guide to building operation, performance and maintenance ever produced and is the result of an historic, long-term collaboration between B&ES, CIBSE, BSRIA and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). CIBSE chief executive Stephen Matthews said professional engineers must now “grasp the nettle by making sure buildings are operated properly”. He stressed that CIBSE members had a responsibility “beyond design” and if they failed to deal with this increasingly important issue for clients “other people will come along and do it for us”.
The revised Guide M, which was unveiled at a Royal Academy of Engineering launch event sponsored by the CIBSE Patrons, contains – in a single document for the first time – all the information and guidance required by designers and facilities managers (FMs) to maintain and operate buildings. Short term Ruskin sales and marketing director, David Fitzpatrick, who is also chairman of the CIBSE Patrons, said this was not an “FM issue”, but a “whole industry issue” and urged the supply chain to work more closely to “look beyond the short-term by producing better products and projects”. He said problems at the flagship Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, exposed by Channel 4 News, showed how significant and expensive it can be if a building is not designed to be maintained. The ventilation system in many parts of the hospital were found to
be completely inaccessible to maintenance staff so critical pieces of equipment, including fire and smoke dampers, could not be tested, maintained or repaired. This type of failure could be picked up if proper risk assessments were carried out, the Guide M authors said – adding that this exercise should go further than health, safety and compliance. “Risk assessment should include financial risks and the potential impact on the building owner’s business,” said Steve Hunter, director of Hunter South East. “Users should make a risk register that includes all the factors from handover to lifecycle and eventual decommissioning of the building.” He said that any value engineered elements should go into the risk management plan “because often the design intent is undermined”. Mike McCloskey, chairman of B&ES Publications, said the new guidance was the culmination of 30 years’ collaboration and meant there could be “no more excuses” for engineers failing to design buildings with lifetime operation and ease of maintenance in mind. He challenged the whole supply chain to take up the challenge and to resist the temptation to ‘value engineer’ out key design features for short-term financial motives that could lead to long-term operational problems and inflated energy costs. “This is the first time we have been able to gather all the information in one place and to make it clear to building clients, designers and maintainers exactly how much it costs to ignore service and maintenance issues,” said Mr McCloskey. “For too long, building projects have been handed over with little thought given to how the owner is supposed to maintain this highly valuable asset. The new Guide M takes the argument beyond design, contracting and the blame culture and settles it firmly in the area of whole life cost.”
Tendering Mr McCloskey cited examples of where failure to allow suitable access to engineering plant and a reactive, rather than proactive, approach to maintenance had led to hugely expensive equipment failures and energy waste. The guidance provides a defined basis for tendering, linked to best practice, and the availability of a suite of documents makes it easier for building operators to set financial priorities, he added. Guide M emphasises that maintainers have an integral part to play in managing energy and there is also a chapter on building controls. It provides a common data structure for the presentation of asset information. Economic life data is structured by system and elements providing maintenance task references that correspond with SFG20 – the industry’s main source of service and maintenance best practice published by B&ES – and also numbered to match the RICS ‘New Rules of Measurement’. “We have brought together all the asset lists; added fabric elements; and then risk assessed them for life expectancy values,” said Andy Green, director of Faithful & Gould. “This will really help the people struggling to make BIM [Building Information Modelling] work”. Guide M includes chapters on design considerations for health and comfort, maintenance, commissioning, handover and operation and maintenance (O&M) manuals including current BIM guidance. On the operational side there are chapters dedicated to maintenance strategy, business risk assessments, maintenance contracts, condition surveys, maintenance audits, training and competency. Printed or electronic copies of the new Guide M are available for purchase from CIBSE at: www.cibse.org
9
51mm Actual Size
The DB50 Storm Louvr Louvre e only 51mm thick. Excellent performance, optimum blade pitch with pressure drop. class leading pr essure dr op. o A slim 51mm section and D OXPLQLXP FRQVWUXFWLRQ ,QFOXGHV D UDQJH RI ðQLVKHV DOXPLQLXP FRQVWUXFWLRQ ,QFOXGHV D UDQJH RI ðQLVKHV
For mor more e information visit www www.naco.co.uk .naco.co.uk
naco
There’s a much bigger picture to be found at Ruskin Air Management. Ruskin Air Management
actionair
Air Diffusion
naco
Stourbridge Road, Bridgnorth Shropshire, WV15 5BB
Email: sales@naco.co.uk
www.naco.co.uk
STORMING PERFORMANCE FROM NACO
RAIN STAYS AWAY, BUT THE FISH PUT IN AN APPEARANCE JOAN TO THE RESCUE! Ruskin was delighted to discover that it has one of those fantastic, unsung heroes on the staff in the shape of Joan Brazier, based in the accounts office at Bridgnorth. Joan is a First Responder, which means she is a volunteer trained by the ambulance service, who gives up her free time to attend 999 emergencies and help accident victims and those suffering from ill health while an ambulance is on its way.
Naco has launched a new range of storm louvres providing the highest level of weather protection for buildings and plant in a shallower profile to ease fitting in a wide range of applications. The DB50 range meets the most stringent test criteria for wind driven rain protection and provides ideal pressure drop performance all within a shallow 51mm extruded aluminium frame that eases fitting in narrow window units and other restricted wall spaces. The optimum blade pitch minimises the penetration of wind-driven rain, reducing damage and additional operating expenses. The use of extruded aluminium reduces maintenance costs and provides high resistance to corrosion. Also, because it is such a slim unit it is quicker and cheaper to manufacture so making it one of the most competitive products on the market, but without any compromise on performance. The new DB50 has been stringently tested to meet standards set by the industry’s international body the Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA). Naco’s louvres have passed AMCA’s 500-L Wind-Driven Rain Penetration test and the performance specifications are verified by the association’s Publication 511. Naco, which is a brand of the Ruskin Air Management group of companies, has been manufacturing, designing and installing louvres since the 1960s when it began designing glass louvres before moving into standard and high performance metal louvres, sunscreens, brise soleil and natural ventilation equipment. It now also provides double-glazed systems, which have been adopted in many UK schools as part of refurbishment projects. The Naco louvre sizing programme is available on the company’s website to ease the design and specification process.
Ruskin has donated £300 towards a fund set up by Bridgnorth First Responders, who are looking to buy a dedicated vehicle suitable for the conditions the volunteers encounter and able to carry their equipment. The Ruskin logo will be displayed on the vehicle. Everyone at Bridgnorth can now feel safe in the knowledge that Joan is on hand should she be needed. Well done Joan for all your hard work and dedication to this worthy cause.
MCKAY FAMILY CLEAN UP Ruskin finance director Andrew McKay is a champion archer – and it runs in the family. At the latest Middlesex Clout Open Championship Shoot 2014, Andrew won the Gents Barebow competition, whilst his wife, Karen won the Ladies Recurve competition and daughter, Jasmine, the junior ladies Barebow competition. Congratulations to all the McKays!
COMPETITION
A
B
C
To be in with a chance of winning a host of Russell the Crab goodies, visit the Ruskin website: www.ruskinuk.co.uk and identify the Actionair, Air Diffusion and Naco products pictured above. Send your answers by email to journaleditor@ruskinuk.co.uk by February 28. 20 winners will be notified by email and the competition is open to everyone. The journal editor's decision is final.
The Actionair Fly Fishing Day returned, by popular demand, to the Avington Trout fishery near Winchester last October, reports Jon Webber. An invited group of anglers from across the industry arrived with the intention of catching every fish that lurked in its beautiful clear waters; however it didn’t quite work out that way. The weather forecast was appalling; rain with more rain and in the afternoon… more rain. So it was slightly amazing that anyone turned up at all – let alone everyone we invited. This intrepid group donned their wet weather gear and set off, looking into the amazingly gin clear waters for anything moving – ideally a fish. It wasn’t long before the call went out that someone ahead had caught a 12 pounder, but sadly it wasn’t one of our group. However, less than 15 minutes later one of our guys was into a double figure fish and after a good battle it was on the bank. Generally, fish were hard to come by, but they were being caught slowly all through the day. By the time we got to lunch I think we all realised the rain wasn’t coming and as it was quite warm, we started to take off layers of clothing and relax. There were two bottles of champagne as prizes; one for the biggest fish and one for the most fish caught – to share out the glory. However, it was Steve Root of David Bedwell and Partners who scooped the lot and went away happily looking forward to his delicious trout supper washed down with a couple of bottles of bubbly. A great time was had by all. 11
Another part of the bigger picture It just works. All the right pieces in all the right places. At Ruskin everyone and everything has a key role in bringing the pieces of the puzzle together.
There’s a much bigger picture to be found at Ruskin Air Management. Ruskin Air Management
actionair
Air Diffusion
naco
South Street, Whitstable Kent, CT5 3DU
Stourbridge Road, Bridgnorth Shropshire, WV15 5BB
Stourbridge Road, Bridgnorth Shropshire, WV15 5BB
Tel: 01227 276100 Fax: 01227 264262 Email: sales@actionair.co.uk Website: www.actionair.co.uk
Tel: 01746 761921 Fax: 01746 760127 Email: sales@air-diffusion.co.uk Website: www.air-diffusion.co.uk
Tel: 01746 761921 Fax: 01746 766450 Email: sales@naco.co.uk Website: www.naco.co.uk
Ruskin Air Management