An Alternative Approach to Plywood

The Russia-Ukraine war has had a massive effect on access to a large number of timber products, particularly birch plywood. Whilst it’s true the majority of Birch world stocks come from Siberia, there’s a misconception that, because the UK no longer has access to this particular supply chain, this material is now out-of-reach to most world markets including the UK.

Thankfully, that’s not the case. In fact, there are a wide variety of alternative birch ply suppliers to be found across Europe, producing for the last 100 years to exactly the same standards as Russian counterparts, and at a competitive price point. Whether from Latvia, Estonia, Poland or Finland, there are other suppliers ready to fill the breach. For example, looking at our own portfolio, I immediately think of UPM’s Finnish WISA-Birch range, which is of excellent quality and in regular supply.
However, whilst like-for-like alternatives are available, the shortages caused by the conflict in Eastern Europe has also, unfortunately, seen a rise in lower quality and even imitation products. So, it’s important for builders to remember not all birch ply is manufactured equally and they should tread with caution when approaching non-Russian ply.  Whilst you can be sure that EU-sourced products have undergone the strictest testing and quality control, the same cannot be said for cheap, less credible imports being seen by some as an identical replacement for Russian ply at a lower price. Let’s get this straight now, it’s not, and here’s why.  As readers will know, plywood is a multi-layer product in which the grain of each layer of veneer is alternated crosswise to create a strong surface. In Russia and Europe this is 11-13 plies for 18mm, whereas cheaper Asian imports only incorporate seven. Superficially, you might think you’re buying a better value alternative, but you’re actually purchasing an inferior one, on every level.  Even worse, our dedicated ply team has heard that some producers in Turkey, Kazakhstan and China are using individual laminates of Russian Birch, which are then manufactured into plywood sheets ‘in country’ to make a finished product. This is neither good quality or, for that matter, legal, and should be avoided at all costs.  So, my advice is: if you’re looking for a like-for-like Non-Russian ply, stick with officially certified European replacements to avoid potential disappointment when the cheap substitute doesn’t meet expectations.

That’s not the whole story when it comes to Russian birch ply alternatives. Recent improvements in plywood performance and composition have also resulted in other, similar, sustainable products within the category. These new materials, which use a variety of different timber veneers, offer the same quality as birch ply, creating a broader selection to reduce the impact of supply shortages.  One of these is Garnica’s maple-faced Reinforced plywood, one of the most exciting new ply products available. Created in response to the recent turmoil in the birch ply market, Garnica Reinforced is an industry first. Essentially, it enhances the properties of poplar ply, a softwood, by alternating each layer with a robust blue gum eucalyptus veneer match, competing toe-to-toe with its birch counterpart for strength.  With a slightly pinker face, opposed to the creamier birch, in a long grain format, a look currently popular in the specification market. It offers a near identical alternative at a very similar price point to Russian Birch and Non-Russian Birch.  In most cases, these offer the same, if not better, quality than those products currently out of reach. Furthermore, as with Garnica Reinforced, the scarcity of one material is creating the space for other high-performance timbers to come onto the market.

Going further, this search for alternatives not only applies for decorative ply, but structural materials too. For example, since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began, we’ve also noticed a recent uptick in enquiries for UPM’s WISA-Spruce. This has come predominantly from the off-site community, which is now taking full advantage of the product’s high-strength and relative light weight for structural and load-bearing applications.  As you can see, there’s so much going on, and I’ve only scratched the surface of what’s coming online in terms of timber.  Ultimately, it’s about working with trusted suppliers. Unfortunately, the international situation has also seen a lot of inferior products come onto the market, from questionable sources. So, I’ll finish by reiterating the importance of working with materials partners who can prove their claims and credentials. A best practice operator will have nothing to hide, and ensure you only receive the highest quality materials when searching for a suitable alternatives, especially for Russian birch ply.

Stu Devoil, Group Head of Marketing, James Latham

 

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE LATHAM TIMBER WEBSITE

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Heavy Trench Covers are History

Bespoke Fibrelite GRP composite trench covering solution, 82% lighter than cast iron

Once in a while, a product will come along whose performance will drive a change in standards across entire industries. Like stainless steel. Or concrete. Or a trench cover which is over 80% lighter than the cast iron traditionally used, eliminating the need for costly specialised lifting equipment and the accompanying health and safety hazards. And, unlike metal and concrete infill covers, it’s engineered from a GRP composite material which is inert and impervious to corrosion from water and salt, as well as many other corrosive constituents.

 

Changing The Standard For Health & Safety

Heavy metal trench covers come with inherent H&S hazards & often require specialised lifting equipment lightweight Fibrelite GRP trench covers eliminate manual handling risks

Fibrelite’s GRP composite trench and manhole covers are fast usurping metal and concrete covers to become the standard for high-performance industries like airports, commercial ports, leisure cruise terminals, military and defence, power generation (both traditional and renewables), and data centres, with companies like Magnox, The National Grid, all branches of the UK armed forces, and the world’s largest technology brands specifying Fibrelite covers for new build and retrofit projects.

Recent Installation: Port Cruise Terminal Upgrade, UK

As part of this Southern English Port’s cruise terminal upgrade project, Fibrelite was approached by the end-user, who was providing the Onshore Power Supply (OPS) systems. The port had previously considered installing cast iron trench covers to cover the 500 metres of trench housing the high-voltage power cables, but due to their weight (approximately 350 kg) and the additional associated overheads, they approached Fibrelite for a lighter alternative.

Fibrelite developed a bespoke covering solution made up of dozens of custom-sized F900 (90-tonne) load-rated GRP composite trench covers in varying dimensions to suit the specified trench rebate dimensions, which were 65 kg, 82% (285 kg) lighter than the cast iron alternative. The Fibrelite covers are light enough for safe removal with the site dolly, complying with the load rating requirement of the site.

Recent Installation: Major Southern UK Airport Off-Apron Lighting Pit Upgrade

At one of the UK’s busiest airports, Fibrelite designed and manufactured a retrofit replacement for manhole covers over off-apron runway lighting pits where onsite staff have a window of approximately two minutes to effect maintenance and/or repair works between take-offs and landings, including removing and replacing the F900 load rated access cover. The new lightweight GRP composite Fibrelite covers now allow safe, fast access to the lighting pits, maximising time for maintenance and minimising the risk of injury.

 

A Bright Future For Fibrelite

I’ve been a part of the Fibrelite journey since 2011, and it’s been exciting to play a part in driving the upgrade from traditional concrete and metal trench and manhole covers to GRP composites in myriad industries, especially those where manual handling is critical, and seeing how we’ve helped increase health and safety and performance in those industries. We expect to see more and more industries make the upgrade to Fibrelite composite covers, especially in mission-critical areas.

Jo Stott, Marketing Director, Fibrelite

CLICK HERE TO Explore Fibrelite’s technical case study library

 

 

 

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FSi leads the way with new UKCA quality mark to fire stopping products

Passive fire protection specialist FSi has added the new UK mark of compliance to all its qualifying products more than two years ahead of the deadline – offering customers further assurance of its high standards.

Although the date for compliance has been pushed back to June 2025 for construction products as the UK transitions aways from the European CE scheme, FSi has already secured this for the majority of their range; including their Sealants (Pyrocoustic, Pyrolastic, PyroPro HPE and LST), Stopseal Batts, PipeBloc PCP Collars and PipeBloc PWP Wraps.

From June 2023, the company’s fire stopping products will be labelled bearing the UKCA mark. This follows successful technical assessments by a Government-approved body, following work within FSi to provide the comprehensive documentation and control processes required.

The UK Conformity Assessment (UKCA) mark has been introduced by the Government to show that manufactured products are fit for the market in Great Britain and meet relevant requirements relating to health, safety and the environment.

The CE mark was originally set to be replaced by UKCA on January 1, 2021, which was then pushed back to January 2022. However, for products used in the construction industry, which includes passive fire protection, the date was extended even further until June 30, 2025.

Based in Measham, in Leicestershire, FSi manufactures a range of fire stopping systems that are used in the envelope of a building to limit the spread of a fire. Fire stopping is a process of adequately sealing imperfections in the building, or breaches to walls or floors by penetrations or linear gaps to create a compartment.

Matt Metcalfe, Firestop Manager at FSi, said:

 

“FSi takes responsibility for the quality, safety and performance of its products at every level, and this means showing compliance and backing that up with technical data and proof of performance.

“In adding the UKCA mark of compliance to our products as early as possible we underline that commitment to standards, accountability and taking responsibility for the products that we manufacture.

“Compliance, testing and thorough documentation are second nature to us as a passive fire protection manufacturer and we will always go that extra step to show that we meet requirements, legislation and testing related to our products.

“The technical team worked hard to ensure that all the relevant documentation was in place to support the checks and testing required to achieve compliance.”

“As FSi manufactures products for the global market we understand the need for product confidence, particularly in fire protection products and are happy to have been able to show our compliance.”

CLICK HERE FOR THE FSI WEBSITE

 

 

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Embodied carbon & the case for factory-made homes

Modular manufacture of new homes has a track record of delivering big savings. Big savings on time alongside big cost efficiencies. This also extends to carbon reduction.

John Duckworth, Director of Commercial Sales, Deceuninck

 

 

 

A recent study by the University of Cambridge and Edinburgh Napier University found factory-produced homes can lower the carbon footprint of new homes by as much as 45% compared to traditional methods of residential construction.  The study last year of two modular housing schemes in London totalling more than 900 homes, saved a combined 28,000 tonnes of carbon.
“The modular housing sector is making some very exciting inroads into reducing its carbon footprint, with lower energy usage and more efficient manufacture, reducing input costs – but also lessening environmental impact”, says John Duckworth, Director of Commercial Sales, Deceuninck.

 

“As suppliers of energy efficient windows and doors into the modular sector, we’re conscious of the part we have to play in lowering the carbon embodied in new homes and have made a pledge to significantly reduce it.”   Deceuninck committed to ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse emissions through the corporate carbon reduction scheme, Science Based Targets (SBTi) in 2022.

This includes a commitment to cut the CO2  emissions from its own operations (Scope 1&2) by 60% by 2030 from a 2021 baseline. Allowing for future growth in real terms this means reducing CO2 per tonne of product produced by 75%. This goes significantly beyond the SBTi minimum target of 42%.  It has also committed to cut emissions from within its supply chain (Scope 3 emissions) by 48% per tonne by 2030, as part of its wider journey to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

 

“We see it as an opportunity for our customers across sectors”, continues John. “As we lower our scope 1 and two emissions, by default, we lower the scope 3 emissions of our customers, contributing to an overall lowering of the carbon footprint of new build schemes.”

Embodied carbon, which is emitted by the production and transport of materials during a scheme’s construction, currently accounts for around 11% of global emissions.

In the UK, emissions from embodied carbon are between 40 and 50 million tonnes. Emissions are lower in modular builds because of efficiency gains in manufacture but also fewer transport movements to and from site.  As part of its strategy Deceuninck has invested more than €15million in one of the world’s most advanced recycling and compounding facilities to create the capacity to reprocess up to 45,000 tonnes of post-consumer and post-manufacturing PVC-U per year.  In real terms this gives it the capacity to prevent more than three million windows from going to landfill annually.

“The window and door industry is committed to rising to the challenge. Deceuninck developing low carbon manufacturing technologies and a new generation of products which deliver big through-life energy efficiency gains”, John explains.

“We’re designing and developing windows and doors which deliver an enhanced level of performance through-life, but which are easier to recycle and use lower energy to do so, at end of life.”  With Future Homes looming large on the horizon in 2025, the through life performance of windows and doors, is under the microscope, with fundamental changes to window design inevitable.  According to the National Housing Federation the UK’s 29million homes produce 58.5million tonnes of CO2 every year. That’s more than the CO2 produced annually by all car journeys.  It also makes up round 14% of the UK’s emissions and with a commitment to cut total UK emissions by 80% relative to 1990 levels by 2050 under the Climate Change Act (2008), that’s a big problem for Government.  As a key element of the building envelope and a potential major source of CO2 (according to Government figures, 18% of heat loss occurs through windows), windows and doors are a key element of the building fabric.  “This was recognized in the changes to Part L that we saw last year which introduced a new requirement of 1.2W/m2 K for new build windows and doors; and 1.4W/m2 K for replacement windows and doors.
“It was, however, in fact just the start of what will be a series of performance changes for windows and doors in the coming two-to three years, with consultation on future changes to Part L, and under the Future Homes Strategy, imminent”, continues John.
“This could see u-values for new build reduced to as low as 0.8W/m2 K, or more likely 0.9W/m2 K. Even at the latter, the modular housing sector and its supply chains, are going to have to re-think window and door specification because products as they sit today, aren’t going to deliver required performance.”

Deceuninck’s new energy efficient fiberglass composite window system has been developed as a future-proof window system with u-values as low as 0.8W/m2K.   It’s defined by contemporary minimalist features, creating a strong architectural aesthetic which replicates aluminium in an advanced, low maintenance and energy efficient, composite system.  John continues:

“Elegant, our award winning, new ultra-energy-efficient window and door offer sits within our wider sustainability strategy.  “It’s a next generation window system which has been designed to deliver exceptional through life performance, while it’s also easier and use less energy to recycle at end-of-life”, he explains.  “Factory-built homes have been proven to lower carbon-footprint.  “Partnerships with building products suppliers who are pursing innovative programmes to do the same within their businesses, can support the modular sector in delivering even bigger savings by lowering embodied carbon in manufacture and delivering better performance, through life.”

For more information about Deceuninck’s product and service offer please

 

call 01249 816 969

 

email deceuninck.ltd@deceuninck.com

 

OR CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE WEBSITE

 

 

 

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LOWERING COSTS AND CARBON FOOTPRINT

Hamworthy Heating helps charity to lower operational costs and reduce carbon footprint

 

When Hull and East Yorkshire Centre for the Deaf needed a modern heating system to replace its existing boiler which was experiencing faults, Hamworthy Heating stepped in to provide the charity with the Stratton mk3 wall-hung condensing boiler, free of charge, to help the charity to achieve maximum savings.

To evaluate the heating requirements of Hull & East Yorkshire Centre for the Deaf, a site visit was commissioned free of charge by Tucker Mechanical and Electrical Building Services. With cost being a major consideration for the charity, Tucker Mechanical and Electrical Building Services decided that the Stratton mk3 wall-hung condensing boiler system with stainless steel heat exchanger would be was the best way forward, both for costs and carbon footprint reduction. in helping the charity reduce its carbon footprint and lower operational costs.

The selected model delivers an output of 70kW, a gross seasonal efficiency of 95.5% and features an integral sequence controller, 5:1 turndown and quiet operation. Accessories also supplied include two frame and header kits to increase the overall output of the boiler system up to 140kW, a plate heat exchanger, pressurisation unit and an expansion vessel.

Moving to the Stratton mk3 wall-hung system provides the building with a space-saving alternative to its previous floor-standing unit. Featuring a lightweight stainless-steel design and a compact footprint, the Stratton mk3 was installed on an internal frame. This allowed space to fit pump equipment and a plate heat exchanger for hydraulic separation to preserve the internal boiler components.

Tucker Mechanical and Electrical Building Services (formerly known as Neville Heating Ltd) has over 40 years of growth and experience in the mechanical and electrical services sector. Based in Hull, the company has a long and well-established relationship with Hamworthy Heating.

 

“As a company, we only align ourselves with reputable companies which offer quality products and Hamworthy has never let us down. Always on hand to provide valuable support and advice, the Hamworthy team is reliable, efficient and always a pleasure to work with”, comments Kevin Peacock, Tucker Mechanical and Electrical Building Services.

 

Following the upgrade, Hull and East Yorkshire Centre for the Deaf now benefits from a reliable and energy-efficient stainless steel boiler system which has enabled the charity to reduce its carbon footprint, lower fuel bills and achieve future maintenance and servicing savings.

CLICK HERE for more information on the Stratton mk3 wall-hung condensing boiler

and range of AHRI certified® plate heat exchangers

  

OR call 01202 662 552

 

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Modular building proves perfect solution for challenging Kingston Hospital site

Modular construction pioneer Wernick Buildings recently completed a new healthcare clinic located in Greater London.

Due to the closure of the previous three-story Roehampton building on site, Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was looking for a new purpose-built unit to house its growing outpatient services for the Gynaecology, Audiology and Ear, Nose and Throat departments.

After a discussion with the Wernick Buildings team, it was decided that two separate modular healthcare buildings onsite would offer the most timely and cost-effective solution to accommodate all three hospital departments.
The first building delivered by Wernick was the Gynaecology Outpatient Clinic (Willow Building.)  Through a competitive tender process, Wernick Buildings presented a full turnkey solution, which included a complete groundworks package and service connection.

Designed for outpatient use, the two-storey BREEAM-rated block offers several HTN/HBN-compliant amenities including consultation areas, procedure and recovery rooms, staff offices, changing facilities and accessible toilets. The reception and waiting area feature an open floor plan, creating a spacious welcome area for patients.

The building is comprised of 30 modules and showcases sleek cladding, PV panels, and a state-of-the-art plant room on the second storey.

Wernick worked closely with ADP Architecture during the design process. Clinic nurses, doctors and other staff were also consulted in the planning process, assuring their specific needs and requests were met.
Clinical Director Meena Shankar remarked on the speed and usefulness of the new clinic.

“The building was ready to use very quickly and is very modern and comfortable,” said Meena. “We were excited about being involved with the design team from the beginning to get exactly what we wanted.”

The clinic features a modern interior with a cool green colour pallet. Its interior was designed to help provide a calming environment for patients who may be undergoing difficult procedures. The layout boasts a convenient one-way traffic system to support improved infection control measures highlighted through COVID and includes a patient-sensitive discrete exit.

Wernick was also able to provide two temporary modular office buildings to house other displaced departments immediately following the closure of Roehampton Wing.

The building modules were constructed off-site, which allowed for minimal disruption and noise pollution to the surrounding area.

Crews overcame several challenges when transporting and installing the modules into place on the property. The building site was landlocked by three roads and located at the front of the hospital entrance near an Ambulance & Emergency facility. Crane operatives had to take special care to manoeuvre the modules in a dense area surrounded by other buildings.

A second clinic (Aspen Building) housing the Audiology and Ear, Nose and Throat departments was completed in Spring 2023.

Wernick Buildings has decades of experience in delivering modular solutions in the healthcare sector and is highly skilled at working around live clinical building settings. Design, manufacture and site teams are located in-house, providing you with a single point of contact for peace of mind throughout the project. Wernick’s flexible modular systems provide cost efficiency, shorter and more reliable programmes, and improved quality and sustainability.
Offsite construction methods are attractive to NHS trusts as they can dramatically reduce build programmes. Facilities can be operational in a matter of months, compared to years for many traditional build projects. They also reduce onsite disruption and associated health and safety risks.

The Wernick building system is designed to deliver compliant hospital wards and clinical spaces via standardisation with compliancy requirements being applied to building systems. This streamlines the construction process by incorporating pre-approved designs.

Aside from integrating standard NHS specifications, modular construction can offer clients the option to create bespoke building designs tailored to their specific requirements.

 

www.wernick.co.uk

 

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Illuminating Healthcare Facilities

UK, June 2023 – TRILUX, a renowned leader in lighting solutions, has successfully partnered with the HC Miraflores Hospital in Zaragoza, bringing together aesthetics and functionality to create an exceptional lighting environment. The HC Miraflores Hospital was recently honoured with the prestigious Ricardo Magdalena Architecture Trophy, recognising its architectural excellence.

Healthcare facilities face unique challenges in meeting the stringent requirements necessary to ensure the well-being of patients and healthcare personnel. Among these challenges, lighting stands out as a crucial aspect in designing and constructing a new health complex. Lighting must be tailored to the specificities of each environment and the diverse activities within the facility.

Recognising the importance of lighting in healthcare environments, TRILUX provided the ideal solution for the lighting needs of HC Miraflores Hospital. with an extensive portfolio, remarkable adaptability, and efficient production centres, TRILUX rose to the challenge of illuminating this state-of-the-art medical facility.

TRILUX’s partnership with the Hernán Cortés Hospitals Group was instrumental in meeting the unique project requirements. The Group sought a reliable and innovative partner capable of delivering agile and adaptable lighting solutions to support their modern and technologically advanced facilities. With fewer luminaire references, TRILUX ensured aesthetic and technical uniformity throughout the hospital, covering all areas except for the operating rooms and reception.

Within the healthcare environment, lighting serves a dual purpose of functionality and ambience. In examination rooms, creating a calming and pleasant atmosphere for patients is essential, while treatment areas demand optimal lighting conditions for accurate diagnosis and medical procedures.

TRILUX addressed these diverse needs by installing their AMATRIS and SIELLA luminaires. In corridors and waiting rooms, AMATRIS luminaires provided a flexible and quick-installation solution, offering decorative potential and influencing the premises’ ambience through design and lighting effects. Incorporating SIELLA luminaires added an austere style and pleasant light, seamlessly integrating into any space.

TRILUX also introduced the OLEVEON FIT luminaire, featuring innovative 3D prism technology for homogeneous and glare-free lighting. This solution significantly reduced energy consumption while delivering exceptional light quality by leveraging modern LED technology.

TRILUX’s expertise in lighting solutions for healthcare facilities ensured the implementation of a future-proof lighting solution at HC Miraflores Hospital. By offering tailored lighting solutions to meet the specific needs of different areas within the hospital, TRILUX demonstrated its commitment to providing efficient and effective lighting solutions.

Discover how TRILUX’s expertise and know-how in healthcare lighting can support your facility with an optimal lighting solution. Enhance the well-being of patients and healthcare personnel while achieving a harmonious blend of aesthetics and functionality.

 

FIND OUT MORE – CLICK HERE

 

 

 

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Turn a New leaf

GEZE has launched Revo.PRIME a new premium solution for revolving doors. The new operator boasts an exceptionally low canopy height, narrow profile systems and an improved running performance.

Providing maximum transparency the Revo.PRIME is perfect for creating beautiful entrances and is especially suited for hotels and offices or any building where a statement entrance is required. With its class leading canopy height of just 75mm which houses the automation it ensures the minimal aesthetic whilst achieving excellent technical functionality. In addition the narrow profiles of just 60mm on the door leaf and side panel create a visually appealing entrance and increased transparency creating a light and airy entrance.

 

The Revo.PRIME is environmentally friendly as well, the operator saves up to 30 per cent in energy compared with its predecessor models which is achieved through the drive unit’s reduced power consumption.

Another benefit of the Revo.PRIME is its improved running performance. The brushless direct current motor (BLDC) with 1,000 Nm torque and the enlarged diameter of the door system, up to 3,800mm, ensures ease of access and meets the demands of today’s architects and designers.

 

 

Available in 3 or 4 leaf versions and in a choice of gold, silver and black the Revo.PRIME can be networked to building automation systems via BACnet.

Andy Howland, Sales and Marketing Director of GEZE UK, said

“The Revo.PRIME is an impressive edition to our range of automatic operators and one that is sure to delight architects and specifiers giving them the freedom to design stunning entrances.”

To find out more about the Revo.PRIME visit the CLICK HERE

see it in action on

YouTube

 

or email

info.uk@geze.com

 

CLICK HERE

for more information about GEZE UK’s comprehensive range

of automatic and manual door closers

 

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FUSION: Next Generation Packaged Electric Water Heating From Adveco

The next generation FUSION range from hot water specialists Adveco is a complete range of packaged electric and packaged renewable electric water heaters for commercial projects. FUSION is a modern, future-proof system that embraces electric water heating and the option to incorporate air source heat pumps (ASHP) to lower carbon emissions in line with government calls for net zero.

As an all-electric system, it uses familiar technology that is relatively simple and quick to install, cost-effective and reduces carbon emissions. With an increased heating capacity over first generation Adveco FUSION systems of up to 34 kW, the next generation of FUSION systems offers greater versatility for meeting domestic hot water (DHW) demands across a range of commercial properties. Projects with small to medium basin and sink-led hot water demands – such as cafes, restaurants offices or gyms – taller buildings with basement plant rooms and organisations that depend on 24/7 hot water provision for continuity of service all gain advantages from using FUSION.

The packaged format enables flexibility to specify from a range of cylinders, primary electrical heating, air source heat pumps for pre-heat, and immersions for back-up all supported by Adveco’s bespoke controls to ensure optimal, efficient operation.

FUSION cylinders (ATSI & ATST) come with dedicated mounting points for the ARDENT electric boiler, simplifying and reducing the chance of installation errors. By mounting the electric boiler directly to the cylinder FUSION is a more compact, space-saving option when specifying or having to refurbish an existing plant room. The cylinder connections and clean-out plate are all arranged on the front of the tank for easy access when connecting pre-built pipework with a choice of left- or right-hand side connection, and for regular maintenance. This arrangement also enables FUSION to be situated tightly into a corner, again maximising available space.

The use of the 9, 12 or 24 kW ARDENT electric boiler replaces the use of a single immersion for primary heating. ARDENT, with multiple immersions inside its sealed storage tank provides automatically balanced usage to prolong system life. The typical cause of immersion failure is the creation of limescale in hard water areas, production of which is accelerated by the higher heat intensity of electrical water heating. This is avoided in FUSION, as the ARDENT is used in a sealed ‘primary’ loop to an indirect coil in the system’s cylinder. The ARDENT electric boiler heats the same water continuously so there is only a small, finite amount of scale in the system which will not damage the elements, effectively eliminating damage to the immersions by limescale.
FUSION cylinders offer single (ATSI) and twin-coil (ATST) variants with capacities ranging from 200 to 500 litres.

Single coil cylinders (ASTI) are used for standard electric indirect water heating with an ARDENT electric boiler (FUSION-E), and the option of an immersion for resistive heating ‘directly’ to water in the cylinder (FUSION-Eplus). Dual-coil cylinders (ATST) enable the addition of a 6 or 10 kW FPi32 monobloc air to water heat pump. The ASHP is connected to the lower coil and supplies indirect pre-heat to the vessel, while ARDENT is connected to the upper coil to provide primary indirect heating (FUSION-T & FUSION-Tplus).

FUSION E systems come with a thermostat and overheat thermostat as standard, but for renewable variants featuring dual-coil ATST cylinders and ASHP, optimisation within the FUSION system comes from Adveco’s purpose-built FUSION Control Box. This smartly balances the two heat sources enabling the water in the cylinder to be heated in the most efficient way. The heat pump’s contribution is maximised, achieving a working pre-heat flow temperature of 50°C under UK weather conditions, even if the ambient air temperature drops as low as -25°C.
With the cylinder water pre-heated by the ASHP, the ARDENT boiler is not required to work as hard to raise flow temperatures to the 65°C demanded by commercial applications. Electrical demand on the boiler is reduced by as much as 30%, delivering operational savings and reducing carbon emissions by up to 71%. This variant is perfect for organisations seeking to invest in a water heating application as part of a decarbonisation strategy without losing sight of higher operational costs associated with all-electric systems compared to equivalent gas-fired water heating.

Where hot water demands become a business-critical service, such as in restaurants or GP’s surgeries, FUSION will also support the addition of an Adveco backup immersion providing additional resilience ensuring there is no single point of failure for assured service provision. When only used as an emergency heating source, or during periods of unplanned excess demand, the inclusion of an electric immersion can be extremely advantageous. For FUSION systems incorporating the additional backup immersion (FUSION-Eplus & FUSION-Tplus) controls are further extended to incorporate SMS output to advise building managers of a fault scenario and automated engagement of the immersion back-up to guarantee business-critical hot water supply.

For commercial organisations specifying a hot water system for new buildings faced with regulatory changes on new gas connections, or planning to move from existing gas-fired systems to electrical alternatives FUSION provides an impressive range of choice whether cost, sustainability or business security are the driving factors for specification.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

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CANADA: Modular Construction for Rocky Mountain Hotel

The demand for affordable accommodations in Jasper National Park, located on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, is sky-high, so to speak.

A little over two million visitors come to Jasper every year in both summer and winter.

When Hostelling International (HI) Canada decided to increase the size of its Jasper hostel it opted to go modular.

To do so, it hired NRB Modular Solutions Inc., which built and installed 66 modules in a three-storey lodge 25,000-square-feet in area.

The modular rooms have several different configurations: 25 four-bed shared rooms, 17 private rooms and five family rooms.

Amenities include guest laundry, an onsite café, kitchen, patio with barbecue and a fire pit.

In addition, NRB built two staff accommodation buildings and a maintenance facility.

Shelbey Sy, director of marketing for HI Canada, says the organization chose modular over traditional construction for two reasons.

“Two key factors led to our decision to opt for modules over conventional construction,” says Sy. “Due to Jasper’s short construction season, it was much more practical to have the bulk of the building construction take place off-site (at NRB’s Kelowna, B.C. facility).

“By building in a climate-controlled interior environment, we were able to construct the hostel in a shorter period of time and under a more predictable cost and building timeline. This allowed us to plan the project and the date of its opening with greater confidence.”

Sy says HI Canada supports sustainability in its operations.

“The lower environmental impact of modular construction – because it requires fewer deliveries into the park, produces less waste and takes less time to construct – was also a key factor in our decision,” she says. “When combined with the uncertainties around Jasper’s weather conditions, modules over traditional construction was a clear choice for us.”

Sy says the new HI Jasper hostel “could not be more different” from the older facility.

“The former hostel was originally built as a day lodge for the Whistler Ski area before HI Canada transformed it to a hostel in 1979,” Sy says. “Reflecting the times, it was a wood-framed chalet, with large rooms and limited washroom facilities.

“The new hostel has nearly doubled our previous capacity and dramatically improves the hostel experience with space for 157 guests a night in private rooms and four-person shared rooms. It also has an onsite café as well as spacious and modern common areas.”

Sy says HI Jasper is the organization’s first experience with modular construction.

In addition to the Jasper hostel, NRB has built “a few” modular hotels, including a Hyatt Place in Prince George, says Craig Mitchell, a modular and off-site construction consultant with Blackbox Offsite Solutions in Vancouver.

“Before COVID, Marriott, Hilton and IHG (IHG Hotels and Resorts, which owns Holiday Inn) all had modular programs in the works,” says Mitchell.

“COVID caused the hospitality industry some pain and they are just restarting their build programs again and dusting off their modular prototypes.

citizenM (boutique hotels) is using steel modules from Europe and China.”

Mitchell says there are many examples of modular construction in the U.S. hospital industry.

“There are fewer in Canada, however, because the market here is smaller and less mature,” he says. “There are definitely good opportunities for the Canadian hospitality industry, because the uniformity in design works well with certain brands of hotels.”

Mitchell says two benefits of modular construction to the hospitality industry are low cost and speed of construction and installation.

“In addition, modular means quality and consistency across all brands, no matter where the hotel is located,” he says. “For major brands this is important, because many hospitality guests want to know what to expect when they visit. For example, a Fairfield Inn (franchised economy to mid-scale hotel brand of Marriott International) in Kamloops or Winnipeg or somewhere else. It’s the Starbucks or McDonald’s approach.”

Mitchell says modular hospitality industry properties are typically built with a podium or slab as the first floor, because of the requirement for high ceilings, with modular rooms installed above the podium.

“When done well, modular rooms are quiet, because of the built-up assemblies of the structure,” he says.

Mitchell says modular construction has a rosy future in the Canadian hospitality industry.

“But first we need more factories building better examples of modular hotel and hostel rooms and showing success,” he says. “There haven’t been enough success stories yet.”

Source: Daily Commercial News

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