ACR Journal FebMar2020

VOLUME 6 No2

1989-2019

ISSN 2058-4407

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020

Essential Information for the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry

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E D ITOR /C ON TE N T S

Best in the business shine in Manchester Welcome to our awards special issue! The National ACR & Heat Pump Awards was back in Manchester and it was a great way to welcome a new year and a new decade. There were some hugely impressive people, projects and products making up a record number of entries and they all deserve enormous credit. Of course, there can only be one winner in each category but the fact that so many individuals and companies felt confident enough to enter suggests the industry is in a good place. Fujitsu and Star Refrigeration deservedly took the spotlight with three wins each, and it was also good to see Steve Gill recognised for both his overall contribution to the industry down the years and his efforts with World Refrigeration Day. June 26 will be here again before we know it, so please get in touch with Steve if you can support or help the event in any way. Next year will see the 10th National ACR & Heat Pump Awards – already confirmed Manchester again on January 21 – and that milestone was reached by the ACR Trainee of the Year Awards in December. We have full coverage of both events, some excellent refrigerant guidance from A-Gas, Climalife and Chemours, plus a special focus on wholesale & distribution and the usual comprehensive mix of news, features, launches and appointments. Enjoy the magazine.

FEATURES Air conditioning 12

‘Cooling’s best-kept secret’

HVACademy launched

Conex invests in the future

Refrigerants 30

Looking at the bigger picture

The imporance of ffective and responsible recovery

New chapter in an evolving story

Refrigeration 36

Leader of the pack

Greener future for historic inn

Awards

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

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Full round-up of the National ACR & Heat Pump Awards

ACR Trainee of the Year

Wholesale & Distribution 60

Exi-tite

LG Comfort Cooling

TF Solutions

AUK Distribution

Cool Designs Ltd (CDL)

Heat Pumps 55

Why your next heating system will be a heat pump

Building the interest with LG

Think positive on sustainability

Modelling making an impact

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VOLUME 6 No2

CO NTENTS

1989-2019

ISSN 2058-4407

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020

Essential Information for the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry

acrjournal.uk ACRCover.indd 1

Multimedia Sales Executive Robyn Teague

REGULARS 04

News

Ben Bartle-Ross

24 28

01778 395029 robyn.teague@warnersgroup.co.uk

Editorial Design Amanda Clare

Projects, products and people

Advertising Design Natalie Reynolds

Licence to chill

Production

Tools Talk

Sue Ward

A tribute to Dave Kingston

01778 392405 production@warnersgroup.co.uk

Women in ACR

Ellie Clare of Wave Refrigeration

Subscriptions

Chilly Chatter

Overseas £65.00

Changing Faces

Who’s new and who’s moved

Innovation Zone

The latest products and launches

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Single copy £3.00; Annual UK subscription £35.00

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

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WORLD’S FIRST R32 ROOFTOP INSTALLATION FOR LENNOX A French supermarket has become the world’s first user of the e-Baltic R32 rooftop units from air handling specialist Lennox. The installation is at the Lidl store in Chilly-Mazarin, near Paris, and the units are fully compliant to the forthcoming 2021 Ecodesign regulation, and the French response to the EPBD regulations, RT2012. Designed as a high-efficiency product, the e-Baltic emphasises innovative components: low-consumption electronically commutated motor fans, freewheel fan technology, newly designed piping and CO2 sensors, as well as a new generation of heat exchangers. This is designed to enable the unit to adjust its power and airflow according to real climatic conditions and generate significant energy savings.

Pump House is Bosch master distributor

Toshiba Carrier to open factory in Poland

Condensate pump and ancillaries specialist Pump House is now the master distributor for the full Bosch Advanced Test Products range of Bosch, Robinair, Promax and TIF brands. The company says it has made a significant investment in stock, with products available from its Nottingham warehouse for immediate delivery. Service and maintenance are available via the Nottingham workshop. Pump House Managing Director Dave Bass said: “We have long acknowledged the strength and quality of the Bosch, Robinair, Promax and TIF brands and I am excited to add these products to our Imperial RAC tooling range, which are produced in our manufacturing plant in Ohio.”

Toshiba Carrier Corporation is to establish a new manufacturing subsidiary in Poland to produce air conditioning and heat pumps for the European market. The joint venture between Toshiba Corporation and Carrier Corporation will see the factory built in the city of Gniezno, with production scheduled to start later this year. Toshiba Carrier says the new manufacturing facility will allow it to reduce product lead time by one-third, reduce product cost, and bolster its product line-up catering to particular needs in Europe. David Dunn, TCUK’s managing director sales, said: “The announcement of our new European factory is excellent news for TCUK customers. The 3bn JPY investment reflects our continued commitment to the development of innovative and energy efficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning products. The European market is a key growth driver for Toshiba Carrier, and having a factory on our doorstep so close to our customers will mean more influence on ensuring our future offering meets and exceeds UK and European customer expectations and industry requirements.”

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NEW S

WOLSELEY ADDS YORK RANGE TO LINE-UP Wolseley has added YORK chillers, heat pumps and rooftop packages to its existing HVAC portfolio. Johnson Controls' YORK brand aims to balance performance with economy and its latest Amichi series of chillers and heat pumps offers is said to offer high levels of efficiency and performance and the smallest footprint across the widest capacity range in the market. Jerry Hall, Air Conditioning Sales Manager at Wolseley, said: “YORK has long been recognised as a market leading manufacturer in the chillers and heat pumps world so it’s great to have their products available alongside our other brands. This new addition to our cooling range means that we now have more to offer our customers both in branch and online, all enquiries will be supported by our Air Conditioning Technical support team.”

Cooling’s ‘best-kept secret’, page 12.

Climalife on the move as business grows

Climalife UK has moved to new offices in Bradley Stoke, Bristol. The company says that, due to continuous growth, it undertook a major refit of a new three storey building located just off the M5 at Bradley Stoke in North Bristol. This included the fitting of a new high specification R32 HVACR system that Climalife will showcase in the future as a training facility for visitors. The office has also been kitted out with new staff facilities which includes a breakout area built to encourage staff to step away from their desks during the day to support the company’s wellbeing culture. Managing Director Allan Harper said “It’s been a huge project and I am really proud of the team’s commitment in making the move a success. We look forward to welcoming customers, partners, colleagues and industry friends to the office over the years ahead.” The new office address is 22 Apex Court, Woodlands, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 4JT. New decade in evolving world of refrigerants, page 34.

REFCOM WELCOMES BREXIT CLARITY REFCOM certificates will continue to be accepted throughout the EU during the Brexit transition period, and probably beyond. An agreement between the EU and the UK to continue the mutual recognition of professional certification should put minds at ease throughout the refrigeration and air conditioning industry, according to leading F-Gas register REFCOM. Months of negotiations have produced welcome “clarity and certainty” for firms that operate in different parts of the EU, who feared their proof of competence would cease to be recognised after the UK formally withdraws from the EU at the end of January. Head of REFCOM Graeme Fox, pictured, said: “While Brexit heralds the start of a period of uncertainty for businesses, our industry is in the fortunate position of now knowing exactly where we stand on professional certification. This is great news for REFCOM members from the UK, who occasionally work in the Republic of Ireland or mainland Europe, and for members based in the EU zone who were concerned that their REFCOM registration would no longer be recognised outside the UK after 31st January.” He added that members could now plan ahead in the knowledge that their existing REFCOM registration would remain valid for use throughout the EU during the transition period “and hopefully beyond”.

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Samsung confirms R32 Wind-Free Samsung has officially launched a new wallmounted air conditioner platform with R32 refrigerant, featuring its Wind-Free technology and new smart control functionalities, as previously announced and showcased at Interclima 2019 in Paris. Samsung introduced the market’s first wall-mounted air conditioner with Wind-Free technology in Europe in 2017. Air conditioners with the technology follow a three-step cooling mode. In the first step, the temperature is lowered quickly in fast cooling mode. Second, it uses a dehumidifying feature to set the optimal level of humidity. Finally, when the desired temperature is reached, Wind-Free cooling mode is activated to maintain those levels. In Wind-Free mode, fresh air is dispersed gently and evenly through thousands of micro-holes, creating a “Still Air” environment free of cold drafts.

Fujitsu joins foces with AUK Distribution Fujitsu General Air Conditioning UK has formed a partnership with Newcastle-based AUK Distribution. Fujitsu says the move strengthens its recent collaboration with Italian group GI Holding to bring a range of applied products to the UK market. Formed in 2009 as a specialist distributor of Airwell products, AUK Distribution expanded in 2012 to supply GIH ranges such as Clint, Montair and Novair directly to the UK. It also offers pre and post sales services including design, commissioning and site assistance. AUK Managing Director Darryl Smith said: “We are very much looking forward to working with Fujitsu and building a long and successful business relationship. Fujitsu have an excellent reputation and I’m pleased to now offer a complete range of Fujitsu air conditioning products. They have been constantly at the forefront of the air conditioning industry for many years. Following the joint venture between Fujitsu and GIH and given our long-standing affiliation with GIH, we are sure it will be an ideal partnership.” Fujitsu National Distribution Manager Nick Wilks said: “AUK is highly experienced in both the applied and air conditioning markets. Our recent collaboration with GIH and the introduction of the Clint and Montair products to the UK will be strengthened through both their experience and capability. This partnership is an important step in continuing to grow the Fujitsu brand.” From left, Darryl Smith, Managing Director, AUK, Andrew Reah, Operations Director, AUK, and Ian Carroll, Chief Operating Officer, Fujitsu General Air Conditioning UK

NEW LOOK AS COOLAIR HITS 40 Coolair Equipment has unveiled a new fleet and a new look for 2020 – the company's 40th year of operations. The new fleet of Citroen commercial vehicles will operate from the air conditioning specialist's sites in Manchester, Cannock and Maidstone. Each vehicle has been wrapped in bespoke graphics with refreshed branding and will be used by the installation and maintenance teams. Meanwhile, Coolair has been awarded a £900,000 contract by Imtech Engineering Services Central on behalf of Wates Construction for the Platform 21 office development in Birmingham. Coolair will supply and install 18 Mitsubishi Electric heat recovery VRF systems along with 218 ducted indoor fan coil units. It will also install a low-noise flexible DX split system, with roof-level condensers, and 60 heat recovery ventilation Lossnay units to supply fresh air to the ground to ninth floors while simultaneously extracting stale air and recovering its heat energy for maximum efficiency.

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Citroen Regional Business Sales Manager James Walton with Coolair Equipment’s Finance Director Helen Sharratt at the company’s Manchester HQ

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CHEMOURS ENDS SALE OF R404A AND R507A IN EUROPE Chemours has ended the supply of high-GWP refrigerants R404A and R507A in the EU. It says the move is to support the transition driven by the European Union F-Gas regulation to lowerGWP alternatives and also to prepare for the next quota phasedown in 2021. From January 1 2020, there is a ban on the use of stationary refrigeration equipment that

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contains HFCs with a GWP of 2500 or more (except equipment intended for applications designed to cool products to temperatures below -50°C). The regulation also reduces the amount of HFCs placed on the market over a 15-year period with the next quota phasedown taking effect on January 1, 2021. Chemours adds that this can be achieved by transitioning

• away from high GWP refrigerants such as R404A and R507A to lower-GWP alternatives such as those in its Opteon portfolio, including XP40 (R449A), a solution for retrofit of existing equipment, XL40 (R454A) and XL20 (R454C), designed as sustainable solutions for new equipment. The bigger picture, page 20.

•

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ACR J

07 Online training a hit with installers Toshiba says that more than 2,000 installers have signed up for its online training portal since it was launched in 2018. The programme is available 24/7 and enables subscribers to learn at their own pace and qualify for Toshiba’s seven-year warranty. To date, the most popular courses cover Digital Inverter (DI) and Super Digital Inverter (SDI) splits, VRF systems and controls. Toshiba says its series of CPD modules have also proved popular since being uploaded in June. Cameron Beech, who manages Toshiba's online training, said: “It has been a great success and exceeded even our own expectations. Engineers like the ability to log in at a time to suit them, and work through training modules at their own pace to update their skills. It offers a very convenient alternative that supports our classroombased training, and can now also be used by customers of our UK distributors.” Meanwhile, Toshiba Carrier UK is leading a series of CPD training courses at Bath University to update building engineers and facility managers on changes in legislation and technology. For more details or to book a course, visit https://www.toshiba-aircon.co.uk/support/training/.

Artus

ACS COOL MEETS UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE Wrexham-based air conditioning specialist ACS Cool has completed work on a number of projects at the University of Chester. Three technicians spent three weeks on site at the university's Seaborne Library installing a VRF system consisting of 14 indoor units. The company also installed further systems for the university throughout the summer months, including on the main city centre campus as well as inside the lecture theatre at its Warrington campus. Work on the university sites was the latest in a series of projects ACS have completed in the city, including work at Chester Racecourse. The ACS Cool team in the university library

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VRF and DI splits for boutique hotel A boutique hotel in Berkshire has been equipped with Toshiba’s VRF air conditioning and digital inverter split systems as part of a major refurbishment. The Swan at Streatley, overlooking the River Thames, offers guests contemporary rooms, spaces for weddings and parties, a gym and spa, a brasserie and bar with terrace, and all-day dining at the Coppa Club. These spaces are now air conditioned with a combination of Toshiba SHRM-e three-pipe heat recovery VRF systems and DI splits, installed by Chapman Ventilation. Four outdoor units provide condensing for the VRF system, while eight large capacity DI condensing units complete the split system. To maximise energy efficiency, the project includes three over-door air curtains to help keep the building cool in summer and warm in winter. The entire system is under intelligent oversight by a TCUK Black Pear control and monitoring system. Toshiba says its three-pipe SHRM-e system achieves the highest across-the-range European Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (ESEER) in the world, with a score of 8 and above in most capacities. It does this by harnessing waste energy within the building and transferring it to areas requiring heating or cooling. • Toshiba has been recognised for its support for the environment as it celebrates seven years of being carbon neutral. Natural Capital Partners, the UK-headquartered carbon neutral certification body, presented an award for its commitment to climate leadership. “We were the first HVAC manufacturer in the country to make this commitment,” said David Dunn, Toshiba’s Managing Director for New Equipment Sales. “Today, despite the rise of environmental issues to the top of the agenda, we remain the only manufacturer to hold carbon neutral status.”

Jane Simpson RIP Jane Simpson, the manager of Thermofrost Cryo's Manchester office, has died at the age of 63. In a statement, the company said: "Thermofrost Cryo Ltd regret to announce the passing away of Jane Simpson, the manager of their Manchester office, who died unexpectedly over the Christmas break, aged 63. "Jane was born in Wandsworth, London, but in her early twenties moved to Manchester to work for Refrigerator Components Ltd. In 2002, the business was acquired by Thermofrost Cryo and Jane continued to work there, for the majority of the time as Branch Manager. During her time at RCL/Thermofrost, Jane built a solid reputation for customer service, coupled with a sound technical knowledge gained in over 40 years of experience in the RAC industry. This combination brought her a large following of loyal customers who appreciated her conscientiousness, hard work and down-to-earth style. Jane will be very much missed by colleagues, customers and suppliers alike.''

TECHNICAL SALES BOOST AT PETRA Petra International Export (UK) has appointed Karl Kilford as Technical Sales Manager. Working at the Head Office in Reading, Karl has more than 30 years’ experience in air conditioning, process cooling, project management, installation and joins Director Dr Martin Altenbokum and Area Sales Manager Anne Melling. For more appointments, see page 74.

INFLEXION MOVES TO SNAP UP ASPEN GROUP FOR SECOND TIME Private equity investor Inflexion has acquired Aspen Pumps Group for the second time, replacing 3i. Inflexion previously acquired the business in 2007, before selling to 3i in 2015. Since then the condensate removal pump specialist has completed six acquisitions, including JAVAC UK and Advanced Engineering, and tripled its revenue during this period to nearly £90m. Adrian Thompson, CEO, Aspen Pumps, said: “Our business is built on a passion for building great products and delivering them through our superb wholesaler

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channel partnerships. Inflexion share that passion with us and have expressed their commitment to helping us pursue our strategic vision for further expansion and growth. On behalf of the whole Aspen team, I would like to say a big thank you to 3i for their support since 2015. It was clear from the start that they really understood the business and they have been a fantastic partner, supporting us with the development of our strategy, our acquisitions and the expansion of our global footprint.” Simon Turner, Managing Partner at Inflexion, said: “Aspen Pumps is a world

leading business led by an extremely experienced and highly capable management team. We are delighted to be re-investing in this business that we know so well and have had such a strong partnership with in the past. Aspen has a proven track record of organic and acquisitive growth and we look forward to using our global presence to support its further expansion in key markets such as the United States.” In December, Aspen Pumps celebrated the milestone of selling 1 million pumps in a single year.

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AIREDALE GROUP BUYS FLOWRITE Maidstone-based Flowrite Refrigeration Holdings has been acquired by the Airedale Group, a leading catering equipment installation and servicing specialist. Refrigeration and air conditioning contractor Flowrite serves some of the UK's largest retail and hospitality brands, with 100 engineers around the UK. Under the leadership of CEO Tod Harrison, it says it has grown revenues through a combination of attracting new customers and expanding its geographic footprint. Airedale Group CEO Rob Bywell said: “This is a significant and exciting investment and one that creates a compelling proposition. The acquisition of Flowrite coupled with our existing service operation, creates the largest specialist maintenance platform operating in the UK hospitality sector today, with a combined total of over two hundred service technicians.”

NEW LOOK FOR A NEW DECADE The Ground Source Heat Pump Association (GSHPA) begins 2020 with a new look designed to reflect its position as the representative body for the ground and water source energy industry. A new logo represents all ground and water source system configurations and Bean Beanland, GSHPA Chairman, said: “2019 was an exciting year for the GSHPA culminating in a visibility and prominence within the sector which we had not come close to in the past. This rebranding exercise is an opportunity to demonstrate our growing strength and commitment to the ground source heat pump industry at a time when our technology has an absolutely invaluable contribution to make to the UK’s goal for net zero emissions by 2050. “We are looking forward to the year ahead, indeed, to the decade, when, in continuing to increase our levels of activity, working on behalf of our membership, and for the wider heat pump industry, we will promote and offer the only currently available and proven technology to decarbonise heating and cooling in the built environment.’’

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TEMPORARY ANSWERS TO POST-BREXIT CONCERNS

CIAT RISES TO PINNACLE CHALLENGE Landmark Pinnacle, a new 75-storey development under construction in Canary Wharf that is set to be the tallest residential building in Western Europe, will be heated and cooled by bespoke CIAT air conditioning. The 239m (784 ft) building, developed by Chalegrove Properties, comprises more than 800 premium residential apartments with spectacular views of the city and beyond. Amenities occupying five floors include restaurants, a leisure centre and gym, a sky-garden and a double-height roof-terrace. The custom system includes 1,776 of CIAT’s top-of-the-range Major Line fan coil units (FCUs) that are being installed by Haydon Mechanical and Electrical. The units will provide an outstanding indoor environment to apartments, common areas and facilities, distributed throughout the building. The highly energy efficient, four-pipe FCUs were specified in six sizes and configurations to suit the variety of capacities required and situations within the building, which is due to be completed in 2020. Manufactured at CIAT’s global centre of excellence at Culoz, France, the units are equipped with bespoke controls and connection sets specified by Haydon.

PANASONIC AND HAWCO RAISING CO2 AWARENESS

Temporary cooling systems and chillers that can transform ambient temperature warehousing into chilled/cold storage could represent a potential solution to uncertainty surrounding the post-Brexit supply chain, according to Aggreko. Following comments from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen about a UK trade deal, companies across the supply chain may face challenges increasing capacity to stockpile chilled and cold goods. Temporary systems and chillers could give companies looking to stockpile the option of creating more storage space at optimum temperatures without needing to make permanent structural changes, according to Matt Watson, Sales Manager at Aggreko. He said: “Organisations considering stockpiling goods may find themselves in the unenviable position of only needing extra capacity to store materials while this situation is resolved. “With this in mind, they are understandably unwilling to undertake the expensive and disruptive process of constructing permanent cold storage space they may not need later. Chilled and cold storage solutions from Aggreko can be quickly deployed and installed without impacting production, allowing companies to store additional stock to industry standards and enjoy peace of mind during these uncertain times.”

A specialist commercial refrigeration and CO2 awareness training day was held at Panasonic UK HQ in Bracknell with distributor Hawco and some of its customers. Area Sales Manager Laura Fleming described Panasonic's experience in the use of CO2 in commercial refrigeration, with more than 10,000 condensing units sold. Technical specialist manager Indy Tharnvithian, meanwhile, talked about the installation process and provided safety tips, underlining the importance of attending certified training courses. Mervin Chumun of Hawco said: “Hawco has access to the complete package for installing the Panasonic CO2 range. We are currently offering free commissioning plus support to help with compliance to ensure the units are correctly installed. Furthermore, Hawco are able to supply evaporators with compatible controllers for a complete system.”

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GRANT LAUNCHES NEW AERONA³ PACKS Grant UK has launched new installation packs for its Aerona³ air source heat pump range. Three new packs are available to complement the four models in the Aerona³ R32 line-up. The standard option includes eight core accessories required for installations with other options adding a 30ltr volumiser and a 50ltr buffer. Each is compatible with all Aerona³ models. Kevin Ellis, renewables sales manager at Grant UK, said: “We have developed these installation packs in response to feedback from our heat pump engineers. For several years, we have supplied component packs to complement our Aerona³ heat pump range but these new installation packs deliver even more benefits to our customers.”

ESP GROWS HELIOTHERM OFFERING Renewables specialist Earth Save Products has introduced a new Heliotherm air to water Monoblock unit aimed at the large residential/commercial/district heating market, for both new build and retrofit. Now available in capacities up to 60kW, the Sensor Solid Compact uses modulating technology to adjust to the required heat output, leading to higher efficiency and lower carbon emissions. The unit is said to be ideally suited to spacious residential buildings, hotels and commercial premises. With a max. outlet hot water temperature of up to 75C, plus possible combinations with existing heat recovery systems, Oxfordshire-based ESP says it is also suitable for renovation projects and is fitting a 60kW system in an old vicarage.

BRYMEC LANDS AT NEW GATWICK HOME Building Services specialist Brymec has moved into a new home near Gatwick Airport. The North Gatwick Gateway site has 40% more capacity than its current warehousing and the company says relocating allows it to improve its stockholding capacity ensuring that key products are available for customers the next day. Another major benefit of the site will be a new manufacturing testing facility. Brymec products will be tested – including pressure-testing – at the factory before delivery to site.

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A I R C ON D IT ION IN G

‘Cooling’s best-kept secret’ Jerry Hall says the Air Conditioning Support Team means Wolseley is much more than a supplier. Wolseley Air Conditioning Manager Jerry Hall is an expert on all things AC related, from split systems and VRV/F to ventilation, chillers, rooftop packages and heat pumps. His air conditioning career has spanned four decades and he has excelled in many roles, but it wasn’t until he joined Wolseley that he uncovered what he says is one of the cooling industry’s best-kept secrets. Following an engineering apprenticeship, Jerry made his move into air conditioning in 1991 and has worked in almost every role there is to work in. Starting out, he began working on the installation side of AC, then moving to project management, sales and sales management. Having been at Wolseley for three years, his current role sees him manage all aspects of the sales process, including the extension of Wolseley’s cooling network which has seen 60 branches become dedicated air conditioning and refrigeration specialists nationwide.

Throughout this journey, Jerry says the one thing he has enjoyed most is his ability to focus on ‘hands-on’ application – no matter what the job might be.

Experience “I have always enjoyed finding solutions,” he said; a task that has become easier thanks to Wolseley’s huge range of products from all leading manufacturers. “With the products we have available within Wolseley, I feel we have something for most applications. I have experience in selection and applying equipment for a vast range of project types. Having access to such a good portfolio of products means myself and the team can specify the right systems quickly and easily.” As well as overseeing all of Wolseley’s AC projects, Jerry runs the company’s Air Conditioning Support Team – a service which he calls ‘the industry’s best-kept secret’.

The team has over 100 years’ combined experience in the cooling sector, meaning they can assist customers of all sizes with a range of services including system selections, site visits, commissioning and warranties to name a few. Their in-depth knowledge of products also enables the team to provide a seamless aftersales support service. “Many people within the industry simply see us as a supplier and aren’t aware of the additional services we can provide. Our commissioning and support service is the industry’s best-kept secret,” Jerry says. Wolseley’s AC customers are highly knowledgeable but sometimes run into problems that they simply cannot resolve. The Air Conditioning Support Team aims to resolve all enquiries in less than 24 hours which Jerry puts down to his team’s impressive technical know-how. “The team consists of myself and three other guys: Colin, Dave and Mike. These guys are all exceptional engineers. They are great at what they do. One of the best things about them is that if somebody is having an issue on-site with an installation, they will phone up and we will be able to talk them through the problem they’ve got and resolve it almost immediately. This saves the customer a lot of time on-site and means customers don’t have to wait around for us to do site visits.” In addition to expert knowledge, Jerry rates Wolseley’s product availability as a key ingredient to the end-to-end service his team offers. “Many of our competitors are restricted to just one manufacturer, and although the products each manufacturer offers are similar, they have different price ranges, products or features that could be useful for applying to specific projects. By only dealing with one range, you wouldn’t be able to find a solution as quickly and easily

Jerry Hall manages all aspects of the air conditioning sales process at Wolseley

Continued on page 16

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MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC

Licence to chill... Ben Bartle-Ross asks whether the Refcom Elite scheme should be incorporated into the specification process. We recently took part in a CIBSE roundtable on the F-Gas qualifications needed to install, commission and maintain refrigerant-based air conditioning. At the table were the UK’s two largest aircon manufacturers, along with leading contractors, Chairman of FETA and a board member of ACRIB, Graham Wright, and the head of REFCOM, Graeme Fox. The discussion focused on REFCOM accreditation and how the industry can increase knowledge and training for engineers installing refrigerant-based air conditioning. Two schemes emerged after the introduction of the F-Gas regulations and whilst REFCOM F-Gas certification is mandatory for anyone working with refrigerants, the original, more rigorous Refcom Elite scheme, is voluntary. The discussion felt that the sector has effectively been dumbed down and we have people who can call themselves refrigeration engineers when they aren’t

properly trained in engineering. Now I’m not saying for one moment that anyone without REFCOM Elite doesn’t know how to install or commission air conditioning – far from it. I know thousands of engineers who have learnt their skills on the tools and who could run my training courses as well, if not better than me. But equally, there are air conditioning installers who haven’t had the privilege of learning on the job from an experienced colleague and who are now F-Gas certified and expected to know everything there is about every form of refrigerant-based air conditioning.

Reduced efficiency Certification will verify you as competent to install, commission, decommission or maintain a system containing refrigerant, qualified in the safe handling of refrigerants and environmentally aware of the proper, auditable procedures. This allows an engineer to work on equipment, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they understand how the system works, how to interrogate it to assess its energy efficiency or how to fault-find correctly – all essential skills. Yet poorly installed and maintained air conditioning system can result in a 20% to 30% reduction in efficiency of that equipment. What this means though is there are people who have been through the 5-day training for F-Gas Certification, quoting on the same jobs as people who have undergone years of training to achieve REFCOM Elite. Modern air conditioning systems are far more sophisticated than they were even 5 years ago, and making them work to the best of their ability needs a full understanding. Whilst manufacturers such as ourselves provide full training on our equipment, there are many examples where systems are not installed to the high standards to match the sophistication and innovation of the equipment. The effect is a

customer with a system that may not be running to full effect and may actually have faults on it. This is really important to manufacturers because our ‘badge’ is on the box, which is why we are so hot on training people on our equipment ourselves, and why we have training centres all over the country.

Guarantee to customers We have too many examples from our customers of situations where they have been called to a site to correct systems that haven’t been installed or commissioned correctly by others and this will have led to higher running costs and more complaints than necessary. Rather than qualifying someone to be able to handle refrigerants (fine for simple systems), we need installers to understand the fundamental engineering processes involved in what are advanced, powerful and complex systems. The event ended by asking whether REFCOM Elite should be incorporated into the specification process, which would help consultants provide more of a guarantee to their end customer of the performance and efficiency of the equipment. This would mean that the high level of equipment, design, installation and commissioning could not be undercut to save a few quid somewhere along the way. Not only would this encourage more installers to go for REFCOM Elite (there are currently only around 300 out of over 6,000 Refcom installers) if it was part of the initial specifications, there would be a major drive for it, which would raise the standard across the whole contracting base. This would still allow room for REFCOM F-Gas qualified installers to tackle the less complex end of the market, but help increase the quality of larger systems all round. Now who’s going to argue against that?

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

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Be the best you can be… DNM Engineering has launched the HVACademy training facility at its Wetherby HQ. “We want to make a difference,’’ says Lee Downham as he reflects on the official opening of the HVACademy training facility in Yorkshire. Downham is Managing Director of DNM Engineering, who made a significant investment to create the centre at the company’s HQ in Wetherby. Guests and customers attended an open day to mark the launch and Downham admitted that the response exceeded his expectations. “The day was supposed to

start at 10am but we had people arriving from 8.30 and there was a steady stream of visitors throughout the day. “Feedback has been brilliant and that’s great to hear because we opened this place to make a difference, to allow people who train here to be the best they can be. It is definitely not about ticking boxes and getting a certificate.’’ National Training Manager Paul Lockwood said there had already been a lot of interest, both in courses and the venue. He added:

“We have sent people elsewhere for training in the past and perhaps it wasn’t exactly what we or they wanted. We have used that knowledge to shape what we offer.’’ Iain McCaskey and Colin Agnew of BESA were on hand to confirm the HVACademy as the first multi-discipline short course centre to be accredited by the association. F-Gas courses are already running, with Brazing & Soldering, Grease Hygiene and others to follow as the centre expands into other areas.

Some of the guests who attended the official opening of the new HVACademy in Wetherby

' C O O L I N G' S B E S T-K E P T S E CRET' Continued from page 12

but by having access to systems from a wide range of top manufacturers, we are able to turn things around much more rapidly.” Having worked for many different companies within the sector and dealt with hundreds of companies in the process, identifying the things that make Wolseley stand out in the market should not have been an easy task for Jerry. However, Jerry immediately cited the business’s end-toend service as a major differentiator that other businesses simply cannot replicate.

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“When a customer has an installation to carry out, they can have everything together from us - the equipment, pipework, insulation, feet, isolators and cages. Everything a customer may possibly need is available from a Wolseley branch along with a seamless specification and aftersales service. As we have begun to focus on larger projects, again our support team has been integral to our success. Other companies rely on manufacturers to supply their aftersales support be we are able to offer that all internally. It’s a

huge asset to our company and a great example of why Wolseley is the firstchoice merchant for air conditioning and refrigeration contractors.” • Available in over 60 branches across the UK, Wolseley stocks a range of air conditioning and refrigeration products, and refrigerants including new low GWP blends for the refrigeration market and R32 for the air conditioning sector. Wolseley stocks major brands including Daikin, Fujitsu and York. www.wolseley.co.uk

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Ask

about the UK’s first VRF system

NOW AVAIL ABLE

Available in both heat recovery and heat pump variants, the new R32 YNW system offers the complete design flexibility, high-efficiency and low noise that is only available from the City Multi range. The ongoing implications of the F-Gas phase down mean that businesses are under pressure to reduce their global warming impact as never before. The addition of this R32 VRF solution delivers the UK’s only complete range of R32 air conditioning so that one single refrigerant can now be used across a complete building or an entire estate. Find out more about the UK’s first R32 VRF system at: solutions-me.co.uk/RACRJ3

R32 has a global warming potential (GWP) of 675, compared with R410A, which has a GWP of 2,088.

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Training fit for the future New centre aims to keep engineers up to date and raise standards. Conex Bänninger has opened a new training centre for engineers to learn more about its press fittings, and says the investment is a further investment in the future of the industry. The centre, at the company’s international headquarters in Kingswinford, West Midlands, features lecture and demonstration areas, with an overhead camera that enables practical demonstrations to be projected onto a large screen. There is also a wall-mounted display of the manufacturer’s fittings range that can be updated as new products are developed. Dan Wild, Conex Bänninger Business Unit Director for the UK and Ireland, said: “As more and more ACR contractors and installers are becoming aware of the advantages that press fittings have over traditional brazing, the demand for training in this flame-free, fit-and-forget technology has risen. “By spending just a couple of hours at the centre they can learn new skills and

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gain hands-on experience that will benefit them for years to come.” The sessions are led by members of Conex Bänninger’s technical team and cover theoretical and practical training, including the use of press tools and jaws. Dan Wild added: “The opening of the new training centre represents a further investment by Conex Bänninger in the future of the industry. It is a practical way of supporting installers and engineers to stay up to date with modern methods and practices, while raising professional standards across the sector. We will still continue to provide training on-site and in conjunction with our customers, this is another option.” The >B< MaxiPro fitting has been developed specifically for the higher pressures involved in air conditioning and refrigeration applications. It is designed to be used up to a maximum operating pressure of 48 bar, with a maximum operating temperature range of -40°C to 121°C.

Conex Bänninger says the demand for ttraining in flame-free technology has increased

The manufacturer says a predictable fitting time means engineers can be confident of timescales when planning installations, as well as benefiting from greater productivity when compared to brazing. To book onto a free training course, email training@ibpgroup.com. Training is also available for heating and plumbing engineers for the >B< Press range, developed for hot and cold water applications. www.conexbanninger.com

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ADVERTO RIAL

Picked for performance at The Royal Exchange

Two high performance Carrier air-cooled chillers with a combined cooling capacity of 1.17MW have been installed at The Royal Exchange in the City of London as part of a major refurbishment of premium office space in the iconic building. Installed by contractor JSA Service, the pair of AquaForce® 30XAV-600 chillers equipped with Greenspeed® Intelligence inverter drives replaced the previous chillers made by another manufacturer which had proven to be unreliable. The Grade 1-Listed building, located opposite the Bank of England, has undergone a complete refurbishment of its upper storey high specification serviced office accommodation. A key element of the project was to replace and upgrade the building’s air conditioning to match the outstanding new environment, in order to deliver the highest indoor comfort for tenants. Allan Wilkinson, managing director of JSA Service, said: “The client required a high efficiency solution that would deliver top quality comfort conditions and operate with low noise. Reliability and resilience were key. The Carrier 30XAV chillers provided an excellent solution, offering low noise, superior reliability and optimal efficiency, especially at part load.”

The 30XAV units are designed to meet all current and future requirements in terms of energy efficiency and operating sound levels. This is achieved through the combination of proven best-in-class technologies that include: • High-efficiency variable-speed Carrier twin-screw compressors; • Variable-speed condenser fans; • Novation® high efficiency heat exchangers with micro-channel coil technology; • Mechanically cleanable flooded evaporator; • Carrier’s new Touch PilotTM control system; As standard, the chiller can provide an evaporator leaving temperature down to 3.3 degrees Celsius, with proven operation for outdoor air temperatures ranging from minus 20 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius. Due to logistics challenges on site, JSA Service had to completely dismantle the chillers to enable individual components to fit through a small access hatch. The chillers were then reassembled in position, connected up and the system commissioned.

Carrier chillers have been chosen to air condition the high-end offices in the Royal Exchange in the City of London.

Contractor JSA Service led the project to install the two Carrier AquaForce chillers equipped with Greenspeed® Intelligence inverter drives.

Chris Bates, director, JSA Service, worked with the technical services team to deliver the project. “It was the first complete chiller disassembly and reassembly we’ve undertaken, necessitated by access issues,” Bates said. “The fact that it is a Grade 1-Listed building also required great care in the planning and execution of the project. We worked closely with John Foster of Cooling Technology Limited, Carrier’s sales agent, who provided excellent technical support throughout the project.” The project was completed and handed over to the client within four weeks, two weeks ahead of schedule. The building is now fully operational as one of the most desirable and iconic office locations in London, with a high quality air conditioned indoor environment to match.

Pipework connections linking the two Carrier AquaForce chillers to the Royal Exchange offices’ air conditioning system.

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NuChill

a thermOzone ltd product

Custom chillers built for you...

“When we approached the design of the chiller we always consider the following;, Client Scope of works Concept design Manufacture Install & Ease of service We also take into account the way the chiller is going to last and mature over its running life time” Chief Designer

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Kelvin House | Preston Road | Reading | Berkshire | RG2 0BE 03/02/2020 14:55

A D V E RTOR IA L Solent University’s new Sports Complex will provide worldclass facilities and is air conditioning with Toshiba’s awardwinning VRF systems

Left: Designed to achieve a BREEAM rating of “Excellent”, the building also complies with Southampton City Council’s Strategy on tacking and adapting to climate change.

Toshiba VRF delivering for 'world-class' development

Athletes, visitors and staff at Solent University’s new Sports Complex, part of an ongoing £100m estates development programme, will now enjoy an outstanding indoor environment delivered by Toshiba’s award-winning Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) air conditioning. The building is designed to provide world-class facilities and be a centre of excellence for sports, fitness and related research for the University and surrounding region. It comprises two sports halls, three studios, a strength and conditioning high-performance gym, a general purpose gym accessible to the public, a sports and exercise therapy space, and personal training and teaching gyms. Designed to achieve a Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM®) rating of “Excellent”, the

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building also complies with Southampton City Council’s Strategy on Tackling and Adapting to Climate Change. The project includes a combination of Toshiba’s award-winning three-pipe heat recovery SHRMe and two-pipe SMMSe VRF systems, plus Toshiba Digital Inverter splits and applied AHU-DX combined coil systems. Along with a CIAT Floway DX system, comprising of a compact CIAT AHU twinned with a Toshiba Digital Inverter condensing unit, these provide for the complex heating and cooling requirements of the multiple spaces within the building, ensuring athletes, visitors and staff optimum comfort conditions for, while delivering excellent energy efficiency and low running costs. Toshiba’s regional specifications manager, Val Belz, worked closely with mechanical and electrical contractor, Briggs & Forrester Engineering, Northampton, throughout the design and delivery stage to ensure the client’s requirements were met. Requirements included long piping separation capability, low-noise operation, energy efficiency, value-for-money and proven equipment reliability. Jason Evans, mechanical design manager with Briggs & Forrester Engineering, Northampton, who headed the project, said:

“Providing a high quality indoor environment is critical in such a high performance building. In addition, the solution had to meet the high environmental standards required to achieve the target BREEAM rating of Excellent. The Toshiba system specified delivers on all of these, and ensures ongoing running costs are minimised for the client.” Equipment was installed by Skyline Air Conditioning Limited and supplied by Toshiba distributor Cool Designs Ltd. The complex is due to be handed over shortly, and enter into full use later this year.

About Toshiba Air Conditioning Toshiba Air Conditioning is a division of Toshiba Carrier UK Ltd, a joint venture between Toshiba and Carrier in the United Kingdom. Toshiba UK provides sustainable solutions integrating energy efficient products for residential and light commercial customers. Toshiba Carrier UK and its subsidiary companies are a part of Carrier, a leading global provider of innovative HVAC, refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies. For more information, visit http://www.toshiba-aircon.co.uk

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Seeking innovative experts Nuremberg 13 –15.10.2020 In this era of climate change, you can impress a high-calibre audience of industry leaders, trade press and policy-makers with your completed flagship projects for energy-efficient, environmentally friendly refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump technology. APPLICATIONS FOR THE CHILLVENTA AWARD close on 26 JUNE 2020. Teams of experts – designers, system engineers and operators – are eligible to apply in the categories of commercial refrigeration, industrial refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pumps. Be sure to participate – and make your project the centre of attention!

Call for projects: chillventa.de/en/award

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C H IL L E R S

Taking control of retrofits ThermOzone Director Trevor Dann explores the potential benefits of replacing chiller controls.

Developing our well-established ReChill concept, it became apparent that certain projects required just one principal element of the armoury of techniques - controls replacement. After ~10 years’ service, many chillers become non-supported by the original manufacturers, and controls systems in particular become obsolete long before the chiller equipment itself has expired. However, invariably modern electronics installed since ~2000 are ‘locked’ to the specific manufacturer. Whereas a closed protocol secures future service business for the manufacturer and prevents unnecessary ‘fiddling’ particularly during warranty, once a manufacturer loses interest the user is left bereft of effective support. Invariably this means a chiller being changed years ahead of its time. This has significant environmental and cost impacts where a chiller is replaced ~10 years early. Also this leads to all sorts of attempts to keep an older chiller going, but rarely does a maintainer faced with a chiller in this situation consider a complete change of the controls. The mere thought of ripping out all original controls and associated wiring would bring out even an experienced sparky in a rash! However, controls replacement is a standard feature of every ReChill project. ThermOzone has an increasing portfolio of sites where ‘controls only’ has been the extent of the remedial works. The results are remarkable from a longevity and reliability perspective.

CASE STUDY: office suite, Guildford This building is a suite of serviced office facilities, offering a comfortable working environment for clients. This requires reliable air conditioning or results in disgruntled clients. The air conditioning cooling source for this building has for the past 15 years been provided by two Dunham Bush water

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Before

After Images from a recent controls-only retrofit of a Dunham Bush chiller demonstrate the transformation from a complete snakes’ wedding of untidy cables and loose/bare ends

chillers situated in an enclosed plant room at the rear of the building. Whereas the chillers were functional as far as the major hardware was concerned, one had suffered failure of the original controls. Thus the clients were faced with a choice of new equipment entirely, or finding a solution to

replace the original controls. Although seemingly daunting, the latter is actually quite straightforward. The vast majority of chillers are vapour compression type, so from a control perspective essentially a grouping of various compressors, fans, starters,

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CHILLERS sometimes pumps and ancillary controls such as solenoid valves and refrigeration control valves (expansion valves).

Magnum controller A simple assessment of a chiller allows a list of these various devices to be derived, from which a control strategy and configuration can be determined. Once this is done it is simply a case of assigning a principal controller, for which we use the Magnum controls system. The base Magnum set-up offers an array of 30 digital and analogue inputs and outputs suitable for most single system chillers, with expansion boards available to expand to 180 i/o points. Analogue inputs look at a variable data source such as a temperature, pressure or current probe, whereas a digital input is looking at a simple switch signal (on / off). A group of digital output relays switch the various contactors and other control devices on and off, e.g. compressors, fans, pumps etc. Analogue outputs allow fine variable control of devices such as compressor and fan Inverters, and accurate electronic expansion valve control. The base programme of the Magnum provides reliable, accurate chiller control, with many pre-set operating modes available, each of which can be finely tuned to suit the desired operating configuration. Magnum can control anything from a simple refrigeration system, a multi compressor pack, multi system chillers, inverter screw chillers, and even centrifugal chillers, including Turbocor units. Magnum also supports alternative logic control for associated fluid flow systems which is useful for plant management of piped or ducted loop systems. In the case of One Farnham Road deriving the base control mode was straightforward - four hermetic scroll compressor starters operating in two tandem pairs, two condenser fan motors coupled to a single speed control Inverter, and individual system control solenoids. An array of temperature and pressure sensors are assigned to allow accurate control of the refrigeration systems, with primary control setpoint either chilled water inlet or outlet temperature. Additional sensors provide motor current, ambient temperature, water flow, and power supply monitoring. An emergency stop facility is also provided.

RODEM - remoteaccess & support Remote access brings an old chiller truly into the 21st Century, providing the ability to not only observe, but fully adjust and reset a chiller from anywhere an internet connection is available. Magnum is fully compatible with RODEM, our unique remote ‘virtual’ access system. RODEM allows us to continue the ‘set-to-work’ commissioning process after the engineer has left the job site, allowing us to check operation continually

throughout the entire first year of service. This establishes a Soft landing, ensuring maximum reliability from the very first start up, and the chiller can be accurately attuned to suit the specific needs of an individual client.

Efficiency gains A controls only retrofit will see selective gains. Accurate control of electronic expansion valves can provide gains of 5% alone. Spotting deleterious trends can provide a further 5% or more, seasonal tuning can also contribute 5% savings, as can automated sub-routines such as target adjustment, whereby the chilled water temperature is adjusted to suit the load - warmer in winter, cooler in summer. Cumulative gains over an annual period can exceed 15 -20% by selective attention to the way the control algorithms interact with the specific building’s needs.

Resiliency New controls are guaranteed for 24 months, and the installation emulates that of a factory produced new chiller, and is also fully compliant with EN 60204-2 ‘Safety of Electrical Machines’. This means a rugged and reliable installation offered with not only ongoing support, but also training for maintenance providers and on site technicians.

Before

Downtime For most projects we now construct the entire new controls onto an enclosure backplate at the factory, then simply replace the original backplate locally at the site. Downtime is reduced to just a few days in most cases for chillers up to two systems. This project saw the chiller back on line after just three days at the job site. One further day was spent fine tuning and establishing RODEM remote access. We have seen nil issues with the controls themselves, indeed they allowed the chiller to operate without trips throughout the exceptional temperatures experienced in July and August (2019).

Associated works The controls retrofit itself was a standalone project, however the unit generally was suffering from service neglect so we also thoroughly cleaned the entire chiller as part of the overall works.

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After

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E QU IP ME N T

A tribute to Dave Kingston

Steve Davies, former Managing Director of JAVAC UK, pays tribute to Dave Kingston, who sadly passed away in December 2019 after a 28-year career with the company. In 1990, JAVAC was a small family business run by myself and my wife Karen. When we moved the business up to Middlesbrough we needed someone to run the workshop and get back on our feet in the new location. Dave Kingston took the role of Workshop Engineer and was a fantastic addition to the team. Born in Hartlepool, Dave had moved to Australia where he lived for several years. But he decided not to settle there and, after having their first child, he and his wife moved back to the UK. Dave was an all-rounder right from day one - we used to joke about him walking into his interview and telling me “I’ll do anything”. From that day on, Dave was the “go-to” person at JAVAC, taking on everything from packing boxes to fixing vacuum pumps. Everyone at JAVAC knew Dave as the “fix-it” man. He loved motorbikes and anything to do with mechanics – if anyone in the office had an issue with their car, Dave would be the first to offer a helping hand. This generosity of spirit was Dave through and through and he would often spend hours of his own time on the phone to Dave Kingston on his last day at JAVAC with Finance Assistant Claire Coates

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Dave at work in the early days at JAVAC

a customer who had a major issue which they needed help with.

Wealth of knowledge Over time, Dave moved on to the role of sales manager, a role in which he excelled. While I looked after the UK sales, Dave tackled Europe, taking care of our export sales. JAVAC were among the first companies in the world to design and manufacture refrigerant recovery units following the Montreal Protocol in 1989 which saw a ban on CFCs. Not one to shy away from a challenge, Dave went out on the road, selling our very first model, known as the “JAVAC In One” which weighed in at a colossal 55kg – it was quite a sight watching him get it in and out of his car! From here, Dave moved into the specialist field of automotive HVAC equipment selling to major car dealers in the UK and Australia. As this was brand new technology, Dave’s knowledge and the first-hand experience he had gained over the years quickly earned him the reputation as an authority on the subject, a well-deserved accolade. With the new

legislation in place, car garages and dealerships needed to get themselves up to speed and Dave travelled the UK passing on his vast knowledge and experience of vacuum pumps, becoming a leading light in best practice and safe handling of refrigeration gases. During this time, Dave developed a passion for handing his wealth of knowledge down to the next generation of engineers and it was this which led him to the role of Group Training Officer when the company was acquired by Aspen Pumps Group in 2017. In this role, Dave was able to bring together all his knowledge across the automotive and tools fields and work closely with schools and colleges sharing tricks of the trade which he had learned during his many years with JAVAC. Dave was respected and admired for his outstanding contributions to JAVAC across his 28-year career with the company. He played a key role in the business’ growth and we would not be where we are today without him. On a personal level, I know I speak for everyone at JAVAC in saying Dave was a kind and generous person who was fantastic to be around – he will be greatly missed.

Volume 6 No.2

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SMART QUICK STRONG

An innovative press fitting suitable for AIR CONDITIONING and REFRIGERATION applications up to 48 bar.

Join the Press Revolution Benefitting from 110 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience in fittings manufacture and over two decades in press system design, award-winning >B< MaxiPro is set to revolutionise pipe jointing in air conditioning and refrigeration applications. >B< MaxiPro is a flame-free, robust press fitting which is quick and simple to use, providing a secure and permanent joint designed to reduce installation time and enhance working flexibility. Conex BĂ¤nninger recommends the use of ROTHENBERGER Compact TT press machines and the specifically designed >B< MaxiPro jaws for a permanent and secure installation.

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

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WOME N IN A C R

ACR industry impact that our work has – especially for charities. I also provide project support for our more experienced project managers, typically this involves visiting stores to carry out quality inspections and tender management. I am very proud to support the office and project side of the company; this is allowing me to have a wider knowledge and develop more.

What attracted you to the industry?

In this issue we meet Ellie Clare, Special Projects Manager at Wave (Wheatlands Aire Valley Engineering). What was your first job? My first role was as a Business Administrator at Next Retail. This involved banking, checking returns and cash flow on a day to day basis, and customer service.

What does your current role involve? My role is really varied; I am responsible for managing Wave’s internal account

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function; raising invoices, reconciling payments and outgoings. I also maintain our website and marketing activities, including Corporate & Social Responsibility commitments. I also manage projects; this year I have managed the installation of cold rooms for the charity FareShare. We provided design and consultancy costs at no cost, and it is really gratifying to see the positive

This was never an industry which I thought I would join; I was looking for a career, which Wave offered. I started in the business as a business administrator. After a couple of weeks, I was very interested in what the project managers did on a day-to-day basis. I started to attend site with project managers and enjoyed learning the project manager role. I have been allowed to thrive at Wave and am grateful for the opportunities that I have been provided with, and the industry as a whole. As such, I now have a qualification in Prince2 Project Management and ISO 9001 accreditation. Also, in June 2019 I won Young Professional of the Year at the Keighley and Airedale Business Awards. This is a fantastic achievement and I couldn’t have won it without the support from Wave.

What excites/interests you about the industry? The constant change – nothing ever remains the same.

How would you like to see your career developing? As I continue to develop, I would love to eventually progress into a senior management role within the

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WO MEN IN ACR

business. I have achieved a Prince2 project management qualification and later this year I will begin to study a level 3 qualification in Leadership and Management.

What is the best piece of advice you were ever given? Not to give up and always think positive, this allowed me to develop within Wave.

What do you see as the challenges facing the industry? At first it was very strange attending sites as I could be the only woman on site. I am hoping that more women join our industry and engineering. Bringing in a new generation into the industry – men and women – is the most important challenge that the industry faces in my opinion.

What would you say to other women who are considering coming into the ACR industry? It’s a great industry to come into. Everyone supports everyone else and the people you meet are lovely. Even if you don’t know much about the industry, it’s a great industry to learn.

Karen Perry of Daikin UK is the new chairperson of the Institute of Refrigeration’s Women in RACHP Network. She follows in the footsteps of BITZER UK's Samantha Buckell, who held the position for the past three years. Karen said: “I am honoured to take over from Samantha as chair and look forward to taking the group further to contribute to the HVACR industry by attracting a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Having worked in this industry for 25 years I hope to share positive experience and ideas to support women in the industry and also attract new people through our network.” Samantha said: “Over the last three years the group has gone from strength to strength. I have been very lucky to be part of a conscientious hard-working team of people from the industry. One of our main strengths is undoubtedly inclusivity. Karen is the perfect person to move the steering group onto its next stage and I am very excited to see where we go next.” The network was established in 2016 with the support of the ACR Journal and recently passed the 700 mark for membership. The group is open to anyone (male of female) working in an RACHP-related role and offers a series of practical events and talks aimed at improving diversity in the sector. For more information and details of future events, visit the group’s dedicated LinkedIn page.

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R E F R IGE R A N T S

Looking at the bigger picture

Neil Roberts, Technical Development Manager at Chemours UK, looks at the path to reducing climate change emissions from commercial refrigeration applications. We’ve all seen the headlines highlighting the devastating effects of climate change if not enough is done to reduce the emissions that are fuelling this potentially catastrophic future but great care should be taken to avoid knee-jerk reactions that seem to be the right choice until further scrutiny reveals they were just an expensive mistake. In a study commissioned by Chemours, independent consultants Wave Refrigeration compiled a comparison of six low GWP alternative technologies available to retailers for their refrigeration needs. • Water-cooled (WC) integrals (plug-ins) • Air-cooled (AC) integrals (plug-ins) • R-290 / glycol systems (secondary system) • R-134a / pumped R-744 MT (secondary system)/ sub critical cascaded LT systems • Lower GWP (<1500) non-flammable Opteon XP40 (R449A) systems (baseline technology) • Low GWP (<250) HFO A2L systems, Opteon XL20 (R454C) & Opteon XL40 (R454A) • Transcritical R744 booster systems (FGB) A detailed description of the technologies considered and full results of the study are available in a white paper published by Chemours.

The study produced by Wave Refrigeration considered each of the technologies in stores of two different sizes: Standard supermarket ~2000m2 sales area with design loads of 160 kW medium temperature / 30 kW low temperature and Convenience store 300-500m2 sales area with design loads of 40 kW medium temperature / 8 kW low temperature, simulating performances in a moderate European climate (Leicester, UK). Details for other European locations are available in the Chemours white paper. The results from this study examined the initial cost of purchasing and installation (CAPEX), the operating costs (OPEX) and total emissions (TCO2e) for each scenario to make a like for like comparison to the baseline Opteon XP40 technology, to enable end users to make the best choice of refrigeration technology to use for the future.

What’s the cost? (10-year life cycle cost) When considering which technology to use it is normal that comparisons are made on a cost basis. For the store operator the initial

cost of purchasing and installation (CAPEX) is of course a major consideration but the operating costs (OPEX) are often considered equally important and therefore a 10-year life cycle cost (10-yr LCC) taking into account CAPEX and OPEX is commonly used. On this basis it can clearly be seen (Figures 1 & 2) why HFC and similar technologies are historically the favoured choice. What becomes clear in this analysis is that low CAPEX options, such as air cooled or water-cooled integrals, have a significantly higher 10-yr LCC due to the relatively poor energy efficiency of this technology. It also clear that energy efficiency is the major cost over the lifetime of the system.

What about the environment? (10-year total emissions) The measures within the regulations are all about reducing climate changing emissions to atmosphere and therefore the cost of taking measures to reduce these potentially harmful emissions is not the primary focus. The legislation is focussed on reduction of emissions and therefore the total emissions

Opteon XL 20 (R454C) is being used at a Central England Co-operative store in Derbyshire

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REFRIG ERANTS to atmosphere must be considered when choosing a sustainable technology. It is obvious from figures 3 and 4 why R404A has been targeted for reduction as the high GWP results in high direct emissions, even at a leak rate of just 5% per year. It is also very clear that for the low GWP (<250) options, the indirect emissions from energy consumption are by far the biggest contributor to the total emissions and is the critical factor to be considered when choosing a sustainable replacement for R404A. In all the scenarios considered, the alternative technologies with the lowest total emissions and 10-yr LCC were those utilising the low GWP A2L Opteon XL refrigerants. With the lowest total emissions (18-20% lower than the baseline technology) and 10-yr LCC 11-21% lower than any of the other alternative technologies, the Opteon XL refrigerants are clearly the most favourable future technology choice. Whilst the refrigerant GWP is an important factor, this study has demonstrated it is far from the only

consideration and using refrigerants with GWPs <10 does not necessarily improve the climate change emissions produced during the operation of the system. As reported in the ACR Journal (October 2019), Central England Co-operative has already taken advantage of the benefits by using Opteon XL20 technology in a new store in Langley Mill, Derbyshire. After years of investigation, the major UK retailer Asda has also embarked on a programme to introduce Opteon XL refrigerants into their estate having decided it was the only technology to meet all their required criteria: • Match cooling performance • Exceed energy performance • Match system uptime (minimise risk to trade) • Match total cost of ownership • Match ease of installation and maintenance And if that wasn’t enough, this study has

shown that Opteon XL refrigerants provide • Lowest 10-yr Total CO2e emissions • At the lowest 10-yr life cycle cost of the low GWP alternative technologies Why would you use anything else?

"Whilst the refrigerant GWP is an important factor, this study has demonstrated it is far from the only consideration"

Figure 1 (above) - 10-yr LCC for a standard supermarket

Figure 3 (above) - 10-yr total emissions for a standard supermarket

Figure 2 (below) - 10-yr LCC for a convenience store

Figure 4 - 10 (below) -yr Total Emissions for a convenience store

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Right path to effective and responsible recovery A-Gas Operations Director Rob Parker with advice on why recovering refrigerant has grown in importance as the F-Gas Regulations’ step downs continue.

Effective and responsible refrigerant recovery should be a key component in the armoury of every successful refrigeration engineer. In the past five years the rapid pace of the F-Gas Regulations’ step downs has forced upon the industry many changes. With the availability of virgin refrigerant diminishing year on year the need to recover and re-use gases has grown. As manufacturers respond to the F-Gas step downs by reducing the supplies of virgin product, the installer can no longer rely upon their refrigerant supplier to have enough virgin product to top up systems during routine maintenance or equipment upgrades. Reclaimed refrigerant is needed more and more to fill this gap. Some

manufacturers have already announced that they will no longer sell virgin R404A – once the go-to gas for supermarkets. This year, from January 1, virgin refrigerants with a GWP of 2500 or greater can no longer be used in new installations. Maintenance has also been affected as systems with a charge size of 40 tonnes CO2 equivalent or greater – more easily understood as around 10kgs of R404A – cannot be serviced using virgin material with this high GWP. To cover all users, A-Gas supplies both virgin and reclaimed R404A. If you are working on systems with less than 10kgs of R404A, virgin R404A is still an option but supplies are limited and we are urging installers and end users to make the

switch to reclaimed gases – or low GWP alternatives – as soon as they can. For larger systems the use of virgin R404A is not legal, so reclaimed R404A must be used or the system retro-fitted to an alternative gas. This means that under the quota mechanism refrigerant recovery and reclamation has grown in importance to allow end-users to keep existing high GWP equipment running.

Risk assessments Amid all this change, systems still need to be serviced and the time constraints facing the engineer have not diminished. A typical supermarket or food processing plant upgrade or maintenance job is likely to take place over a weekend. The work may

There is no reason to fear that recovered refrigerants will not be available

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REFRIG ERAN T

Consider the timing to ensure customers’ expectations are met

Use the correct gauges, hoses and cylinders

Conduct Risk Assessments prior to work commencing

Follow manufacturers installation and operating instructions

Ensure relevant safety measures are in place

Free up your engineers time by utilising onsite recovery services

Consult the Safety Data Sheet where required

Complete the hazardous waste paperwork

Ensure personnel are trained and hold the necessary qualifications

www.agas.com

Effective and Responsible Refrigerant Recovery

involve recovering refrigerant overnight to ensure business continues as usual. Time is of the essence for the engineer as they will be up against the clock to meet tight deadlines laid down by the customer. Not always an easy task but as we all know, effective and quick recovery requires good risk assessments in place before the job begins. It is essential that those working on the recovery job are F-Gas trained, have experience and confidence to deal with the system, and ultimately competence to complete the job without risk to themselves, their customer or the environment. On top of all of this, having the right paperwork and relevant site inductions to prove their competence is a key part of any recovery job Engineers should ensure they are aware of and follow the manufacturers installation and operating instructions while handling the system. The right gauges, hoses and cylinders need to be on hand to ensure that the job can be executed safely and efficiently. Higher pressure gases like R410A or R32 and other mildly-flammable A2Ls will need different equipment. Ammonia and highly flammable hydrocarbons will raise the bar even further safety-wise as the engineer looks to react to the demands of different gases. Such gases require specialist knowledge and training along with suitably rated equipment that is certified for use for the gas. When talking about highly flammable or toxic gases, risks cannot be taken in such circumstances.

With new generation gases emerging it is important that engineers receive the right training and have the right certification to handle all types of work. Failure to do so could lead to a hefty fine and in the worst instance could put lives at risk. Once the recovery is complete, it is important that the waste product is returned to the refrigerant processor in the correct cylinders. Standard HFCs are sent back in normal recovery cylinders but if the engineer knows in advance that A2Ls are likely to feature they should ensure that they have the right recovery cylinders to handle these gases.

Suitable cylinders A-Gas can supply suitable cylinders according to the product you are recovering – standard recovery cylinders, fluorinated recovery cylinders for R32 and HFOs and hydrocarbon receivers are all part of the product portfolio. If you are unsure on what you require, please do get in touch. A-Gas supply a cylinder with a certified valve to cope with flammable refrigerants. Hydrocarbon or fluorinated gases – we will have the right cylinder for the job available to engineers. If you want to take the stress out of recovery the A-Gas Rapid Recovery team will do the work for you. Rapid Recovery will take care of it from start to finish – handling all aspects of the job including hazardous waste documentation and job

site reporting. It will also be significantly quicker and allows the engineer to get on with other onsite maintenance while the recovery process is taking place.

Breathing space Don’t forget that if you are recovering refrigerant yourself you will need to complete all the necessary hazardous waste paperwork – otherwise you will have the Environment Agency to answer to. You will need an authorised waste transfer note to transport and remove the waste from site and when the product is returned in a cylinder to the wholesaler. My advice if you are unsure is to talk to your refrigerant wholesaler or supplier. They are always happy to help. As an industry we have responded well to the calls to re-use refrigerants. The amount of recovered refrigerant returned to the market is increasing and leakage rates continue to drop. Awareness that recovered product is available on the market to use until 2030 is beginning to increase. Investment has been made in A-Gas’ reclamation technology to meet demand of this reprocessed product. I can reassure you that there’s no need to fear that recovered refrigerants won’t be available. As long as engineers recover gases responsibly – ensuring that we don’t release further emissions into the atmosphere – the greater the amount of refrigerant that will be returned and reprocessed for further use by the industry. Simply introducing systems using new generation refrigerants is not always the answer to the customer’s needs. It makes little sense to destroy usable equipment worth millions of pounds if reclaimed product is there and available to use. Reclaimed refrigerant will continue to play an increasing role as equipment longevity is extended which in turn provides breathing space to the end user as they assess their options. There is no shelf life to recovered refrigerant. Each molecule can be recovered by the processor to allow the refrigerant to be returned to a pure gas time and time again. Over time new generation refrigerants will slowly drive the phase out of HFC gases and only then when this is completed will this recovered product be no longer needed. In this respect the likes of R404A will be around and ready to use in recovered form for many years to come.

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Dawn of a new decade in our ever-evolving world

Peter Dinnage from Climalife UK examines what options we should be considering for the future. Refrigerants have been in the spotlight for the last four decades and the 2020s do not look as if they will be an exception. A quick look back at the last decade shows that 10 years ago, most of us were just coming to terms with the fact that the use of virgin R22 was banned and demand across Europe for R22 replacements was booming. This was despite the legislation for R22 being in place 10 years earlier. In 2010 we saw prices of refrigerants rocket. The R22 legacy still exists in our new decade as equipment is still operating on other refrigerants. We saw R407F heralded as a replacement for R404A, only for the lower GWP Refrigerants R448A and R449A to become the refrigerants of choice as the replacement of R404A did not happen quickly enough. Latterly, R32 has come onto the scene and in 2019, BSRIA reported that 37% of all new split AC in the European market is on R32. The transition to lower GWP and A2L refrigerants is under way, but is only the first step.

Refrigerant trends of the future To see where the trend in refrigerants needs to go, we need to look ahead to the end of this decade. New equipment installed today needs to be viable into the following decade. The current F-Gas legislation is five years into a 15-year phase down, to reduce CO2 equivalent tonnes placed on the market by 79% in 2030 from the 2015 baseline. We have come a long way, but there is still much further to go, to meet each of the next steps of the phase down. The easy wins have been made with the move away from R404A, but now the emphasis needs to be on using much lower GWP refrigerants in new equipment. The next quota cut is less than 12 months away and with it looking likely that the UK will be operating its own UK F-Gas quota system, there could be two pressures on the higher GWP refrigerants in 2021 with price and availability being inextricably linked. We all would like to avoid what happened in late 2017 and early 2018.

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equipment manufacturers for this field, but R744 (CO2) and hydrocarbons may also have a part to play. For non-hermetic systems, products such as R454A and R455A have been successfully introduced into part of the commercial sector and energy efficiency here is a big winner against other technology. They will

Lower GWP refrigerants â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the steps we can take now This year there are some easy steps that can help make quota manageable in 2021. Systems still on R404A could be converted to R448A and R449A and the reclaimed R404A can keep any remaining systems working. R1234ze and R513A are already on the approved list of the larger chiller manufacturers with both being viable into the next decade. Both are also suitable for smaller chillers as well, whilst R-513A is a very viable retrofit alternative for existing R134a systems. R32 use is growing in AC and will be extended gradually to systems with a larger charge size. R454B and R452B are also starting to be used in small systems instead of R410A and finding favour in the heat pump market, which is set to grow significantly over the next few years. For the future, R455A and R454C may also be used in heat pump technology. Already some legislation exists dictating the use of refrigerants with a GWP below 150. In 2022 further legislation applies. R454C and R455A, both with a GWP of 148 are winning favour with compressor and

also have a part to play in the industrial sector where small systems and cold stores are required as standalone systems, independent of ammonia systems that are gradually replacing the old large flooded evaporator systems. The use of R744 in new supermarket equipment is growing, as old R404A equipment is replaced. Although neither can provide the answer for all cooling equipment used in their respective sectors. With refrigeration and air conditioning equipment attributed to consuming 17% of total electricity demand, energy efficiency is going to be a key topic in the climate change debate as we try to move to a carbon neutral position in the coming years. Other refrigerants such as R466A, R515B, R470A and R407B may also have a part to play in the future, but there is little or no experience with these at the time of writing.

We can expect to see an uplift in the use of A2L refrigerants in 2020 and 2021 One of the factors holding back the move away from higher GWP refrigerants is that many of the lower GWP refrigerants are flammable to some extent and therefore are not retrofit options, but with increasing amounts of new equipment coming to market approved for the A2L refrigerants we can expect the uptake of these refrigerants to grow in 2020 and 2021.

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REFRIG ERANTS

Training in the handling of flammable refrigerants is key R32 and R1234yf are both A2L rated refrigerants and both have gained extensive traction for split AC and Car AC respectively. Other sectors need to get their engineers trained to safely work with and handle flammable refrigerants. Like other new refrigerants in the past, initial problems and concerns are soon overcome as experience and knowledge is gained. There is plenty of guidance from trade bodies on handling flammable refrigerants, including advice on risk assessment, whilst EN378 also provides guidance on charge size requirements and what can be achieve with mitigating circumstances to achieve larger charge sizes.

Optimising energy efficiency Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just all about moving to lower GWP refrigerants. A refrigeration system running at optimal performance will use less product reducing the demand on quota, it will not leak and it will use less energy thereby having a lower carbon footprint. Many leaks, if found early, can significantly reduce the amount of refrigerant lost. As a result, a system will cost less to operate as it has been well maintained and is utilising quality products.

The market must plan ahead now It is feasible to meet each reduction of the F-Gas phase down as long as the market plans ahead and quickens the uptake of much lower GWP refrigerants in new equipment. The longer higher GWP refrigerants are used in new equipment, their servicing requirements in future years will impact upon quota demands and thought needs to be given to price and availability towards the end of equipment life in 10-15 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; time.

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R E F R IGE R AT ION

Leader of the pack Biggest BITZER CO2 compressor deployed in Hubbard installation. Hubbard Products has completed a refrigeration project in Holland involving the largest transcritical carbon dioxide compressor produced by BITZER. The giant Ecoline+ CO2 unit, incorporated into a bespoke Hubbard refrigeration pack, is being used to cool a large cold store in a new mushroom growing facility. With a cooling capacity of 140kW, the plant was required to maintain temperatures of between -3°c and 0°c to maintain mushrooms in perfect condition following picking and removal from the growing area. Mushrooms can contain anywhere between 70-90% water, and have the potential to keep on growing even after they have been picked. If not correctly refrigerated, their fibres continue growing and quickly break down. Therefore, maintaining optimal refrigerated storage conditions is vital to control the activity of growth enzymes and to preserve their taste, in order to maintain market value. The installation took around 10 weeks to build and commission and was the first

Components inside the refrigeration pack housing

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The unit arrives on site at the mushroom growing facility

time the UK specialist had worked with a single carbon dioxide compressor with such a high capacity. Ashwaq Mohammed, refrigeration design manager at Hubbard, said: “We would normally recommend a multi-compressor pack for this scale of project, as it provides extra resilience and security. Given the perishable nature of the product, this adds a further reason to take a precautionary approach. “However, the end user was keen to go with a ‘one-on-one solution’, to keep the refrigeration system as simple as possible for service and maintenance purposes. The resilience issue was admittedly less important given the impeccable reliability record of BITZER units, so we were fairly comfortable about the chosen approach.” The key reason for selecting carbon dioxide was that the end user wanted a very low Global Warming Potential (GWP) solution, while delivering high efficiency performance and low running costs. Carbon dioxide has a GWP of 1 compared, for example, with 3300 for R404A. The Ecoline+ range is the first ever produced by BITZER to include a six -cylinder reciprocating compressor at top of the capacity range. It is designed to operate with optimal efficiency at both fulland part-load operation, with seamless integration into refrigeration systems. Importantly, the unit is equipped with line start permanent magnet motors (LSPM), which offer significant efficiency benefits. It also has mechanical capacity

control, widening the operating envelope and extending application. This enables systems to operate at fulland part-load with equal efficiency to those equipped with frequency inverters, without the added complexity and cost. To enable end-users to fully exploit the potential of this technology, BITZER has developed a new control platform based on intelligent (IQ) modules. Kevin Glass, managing director of BITZER UK, said: “BITZER originally developed Ecoline+ as a way of making high pressure, high efficiency carbon dioxide systems available for use in mainstream applications, such as supermarkets. However, the features and performance that make it attractive for retailers also lend the units to use in other applications, such as process cooling and agriculture. “The Hubbard installation is an excellent example of how it can be applied, with outstanding environmental credentials and low running costs. Transcritical carbon dioxide cooling has in the past often been considered something of a black art, as it can be difficult to handle and control. The aim behind Ecoline+ was to provide a streamlined package that was straightforward to apply ‘straight out of the box’. It addresses the main perceived difficulties of using transcritical carbon dioxide, and opens the way for widespread adoption, to the benefit of contractors, end users and the environment.”

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REFRIG ERATION

Greener future for historic inn Two cellar cooling systems and ambient beer cooler reducing carbon footprint. J & E Hall cooling equipment is helping one of Britain's oldest pubs to reduce its carbon footprint as the owner looks to a greener future. Two cellar cooling systems and an ambient beer cooler have been installed at the Angel Inn which can trace its history back to the 11th Century and the time of the Domesday Book. The popular pub and restaurant in Blyth, Nottinghamshire, is located near the A1, within easy reach of Doncaster and Sheffield. Owner Allan Jepson, whose family has run the Angel Inn for the past 27 years, said: "We have a Grade 2 Listed building but going forward I want the lowest green footprint possible. There are limitations to what we can do but if I can use highefficiency units and an ambient cooler to cut the carbon footprint then that's the way forward." Allan described the Angel Inn as "70% food driven" with seating for 100 people inside and extra capacity outside during the warmer months. He turned to Bradfordbased Pinder Cooling for the upgrade of the historic former coaching inn’s two traditional underground cellars. One cellar is used to keep lagers, ciders and Guinness in tip-top condition while the other has a range of cask ales including Greene King IPA, Abbot, Timothy Taylor and Black Sheep. Pinder Cooling has been trading for three years and employs eight people including five F-Gas qualified engineers. Owner Andrew Pinder said: "We deal with quite a few major pub groups in the UK. We are based in Bradford and cover the north of England. We do a lot of work in the food and brewing industries. We pride ourselves on customer service and using the best products. We don't cut corners.

The Angel Inn at Blyth, Nottinghamshire

"On this job we were initially asked if we could do some repairs but the existing equipment was quite old with one or two issues. One of the systems was not working particularly well, which was why Allan contacted us. The other one was not far behind so we decided that installing two new systems would be far more efficient, environmentally-friendly and a lot cheaper to run.

Maintaining control "Allan asked if there were any other things we could do to keep costs down, so we suggested a J & E Hall ambient beer cooler for the cellar where the lagers are kept. Whenever the temperature is below 6°C outside the unit will effectively provide free cooling as it will draw cold air in from outside. "Overall the job was reasonably straightforward. The outdoor units are sat together on a wall at the back of the building. It is next to the guest accommodation but this is not an issue as when the units are running they are very quiet." The J & E Hall equipment chosen for the job was two J5LC 15C2 cellar coolers, two JCC 25E evaporators and an ambient beer cooler. They were supplied by TF Solutions.

The JCC cellar cooler range provides costeffective and reliable units designed to maintain temperatures required for beer and wine cellars. The ability to maintain electronic control down to 4°C can also prolong the life of fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers, dairy products and other items requiring a temperature-controlled environment. There are four models in the range which operate at capacities from 2.87kW to 5.82kW. The units have six fins per inch brewery specification evaporator coils and run on R410A. Features include 25m pipe run capability for total flexibility. Ease of installation keeps costs and time to a minimum for the contractor and low noise means that the units are suitable for residential areas. The units operate down to a temperature of 4°C and an electronic controller fitted as standard provides accurate temperature control. A three-year manufacturer's warranty gives the installer and the end user total peace of mind. Andrew Pinder said: "We fit two J & E Hall cellar coolers a week. Our engineers like them. The units have a three-year warranty and are very efficient and good value for money. There is always a plentiful supply and a good dealer network."

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A D V E RTOR IA L

So, you are an installer looking to get into heat pumps? Where do you start? You could Google heat pump suppliers, pick a heat pump off the shelf and have it delivered. That could work… Would it give you the result you wanted though? At Freedom Heat Pumps, we don’t do ‘off the shelf’. We know that every domestic install is different. We also know that one size doesn’t fit all. We are a heat pump delicatessen, with heat pump aficionados behind everything we do. We understand every product we supply and can advise you, accordingly, providing a solution that fits your needs whilst also being the most cost effective possible.

How do we do it? For ten years, we have established our reputation as one of the UK’s most knowledgeable and leading suppliers of heat pumps. It’s all we do. We don’t just supply a heat pump. We design the system to fit your property.

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We take your plans and size the air source or ground source equipment using our in-house calculation software. We calculate the running costs, carbon savings and payback period. With climate change being an increasing issue to everyone, we know how to create the most efficient system to lower the carbon footprint and running costs. We then select the best system from our range of heat pumps. Being an independent retailer, we aren’t tied to any manufacturer, so we have the freedom to select the best system for your project. Our service doesn’t end with the delivery of your heat pump though. We work directly with you by providing technical data, diagrams and training you need to make sure the install is successful. We continue to provide this high level of support right through to the end of the heat pump’s useful life. One thing with Freedom Heat Pumps has always remained consistent.... our unwavering passion for making sure our customers get the right kit, on time, and

are then supported right from the word go. A great man once said “…it’s our team's livelihoods and our homes that are at risk when we get it wrong. Which is why we don't.” We are constantly innovating and investing in our offering, to make sure our customers stay ahead of the game. We aren’t led by the manufacturers. Manufacturers are multi million pound, internationally renowned companies who produce good heat pumps. We take these heat pumps and make them great by adding the level of support and service which Freedom HP is famous for. We like to think that we know what the UK market wants, and that is what we provide. Simple is key in this still emerging market and that is something we excel at. We also confidently say we aren’t the cheapest and we’ve never aimed to be. We leave the low prices and zero support to the box shifters. What we offer is 100% honest value. To give you a real-world example; imagine that we are 10% more expensive

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ADVERTO RIAL

than our competition... In many eyes, that is a lot of spare change. When a heat pump is nearly £4K at trade price, that’s £400. We know if we were installers, we’d rather have that £400 in our pockets than in our supplier’s bank account. But hear us out... that £400 saving quickly disappears when you buy cheap. • Poor after sales support - this is a big one. Let’s be kind and say £500. You have installed the heat pump but a month later there is an issue, which means you need to go back to site. If you can’t rectify that fault on day 1, because of poor after sales, those residual costs are now starting to rack up. • Poor manufacturer’s instructions – Let’s say £400 because the install is going to take at least a day and a half longer than it should have done because the instructions you have received are too complex. • Delivery not on time - say £200 for your team waiting round for a heat pump which doesn’t appear

None of the above allows for an annoyed customer who is rightfully upset about a persistent problem or a delayed installation. So, you saved £400 on day one… but, because you’ve bought cheap, you’re now looking at increased additional costs coming close to £1000. All of this can leave you with a headache and a customer who isn’t going to be happy to pass your business card on. You owe it to yourself to make sure you get the best support in this still relatively young market.

So, with all of this in mind, why heat pumps? Heat Pumps use electricity in part to provide heat to a property. Electricity (at the moment) is very reliant on fossil fuels (at least in the UK), but, when used to power a heat pump, it is the best thing we currently have to heat our homes, which

is both relatively inexpensive, wholly practical, and which, at worst, reduces carbon emissions for home heating by 25% and at best by 400% (we’re looking at you direct electric heaters). So, until someone comes up with a better value proposition both for our pockets and the environment, heat pumps are here to stay.

Freedom Heat Pumps, The heat pump delicatessen To find out more about how Freedom Heat Pumps can provide you with a reliable, efficient, supply and design service, contact sales@freedomhp.co.uk and find out why we’ve been nominated as wholesaler/ distributor of the year for the past three years at the annual heat pump awards. Contact us for more information: www.freedomhp.co.uk. sales@freedomhp.co.uk 023 8027 4833

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AWA R D S

Fujitsu and Star Refrigeration each clocked up a hat-trick of wins as close to 400 guests gathered to celebrate the National ACR & Heat Pump Awards at Manchester’s Midland Hotel, hosted by Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling. Sheffield-based renewables specialist Matrix Energy Systems picked up two trophies, while World Refrigeration Day founder Stephen Gill was chosen as Phil Creaney’s ACR Champion for his contribution to the industry over four decades, and Judith Evans, of RD&T and London South Bank University, was named ACR Woman of the Year. Fujitsu’s success began with a win in the ACR Ancillary Product category for its updated Engineer Integration Tool, and that was followed by its Airstage JIII-L VRF system being

revealed as ACR Product of the Year. To crown a special night for the company, its work on London’s Hoover Building was recognised as ACR Project of the Year. Star Refrigeration and Lineage Logistics celebrated victory in the Refrigeration Project category for a new cold store facility and Star also had the top Refrigeration Product with its Azanefreezer 2.0 and Chiller Product with the Azanechiller 2.0. Matrix Energy Systems, meanwhile, triumphed in the Air Source Project and Domestic Ground Source Project categories. Elsewhere, SURE Solutions returned to repeat its ACR Contractor of the Year success in 2019 and Dean & Wood was named Wholesaler of the Year.

Join us again in Manchester next year: 21.01.21 For full details of how to book your place, email: julietl@warnersgroup.co.uk

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SAINSBURY’S, PINEHAM FROZEN FOOD DISTRIBUTION CENTRE

STEVE GILL

The facility replaced two existing distribution centres at Stone and Elstree and is now one of Europe’s largest single –22°C chamber coldstores, with a total refrigerated volume of 380,000m3. It has demonstrated significant reductions in power, water and effluent: 1. Electricity consumption is reduced by 44% relative to the two previous coldstores. This is despite the Pineham coldstore having a 70% larger refrigerated volume than the previous two combined. 2. Water and chemical consumption has reduced by 86%, with the annual water saving being equivalent to 11 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Despite being a high-throughput cross-dock facility, Pineham is said to be in the top 5% of coldstores for energy efficiency. Lower grade waste heat is used to provide heating and hot water, while high grade exhaust waste heat is used to drive an ammonia absorption refrigeration cycle. The absorption plant has been integrated into the mechanical refrigeration system in order to maximise efficiency. A combination of inverter driven reciprocating and screw compressors in a 2-stage compression system are used to maximise efficiency of the part load condition. Heat losses through the insulated floor are recovered via an ammonia liquid sub-cooler after the condenser, while all comfort cooling for the site and main electrical switch room is provided via the main ammonia refrigeration plant.

Steve Gill’s efforts in making World Refrigeration Day a reality have been recognised elsewhere and this award is a tribute to someone who has now spent 40 years in the industry and rarely misses an opportunity to promote its virtues. After starting out as a projects/technical sales engineer with BOC Linde Refrigeration in 1980, he went on to work with Hussmann, ABB STAL. Star Refrigeration and Morris and Young, also venturing into Asia with GEA and Johnson Controls alongside a growing role in the world of refrigeration consulting. Away from the workplace Stephen has made his mark on the industry in a variety of way. He served as President of the Institute of Refrigeration from 2016-2018 as well as being heavily involved with ASHRAE and ACRIB and was among the founders of the IOR’s Women in RACHP group. Among his most significant achievements has been a determination to raise the profile of the industry and shout about all the things it has to offer, championing the importance of STEM subjects and apprenticeships. World Refrigeration Day would never have happened without the efforts of Stephen Gill. Hopefully, as others take up the baton, it will go from strength to strength and form a lasting legacy to our ACR Champion.

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Highly commended: Clade Engineering Systems, Green Business

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AWA R D S

JUDGES

Juliet Loiselle

Publisher of ACR & HP Journal

Lee Downham

Director DNM Engineering

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Judith Evans

Director RD&T and Professor at London South Bank University

Andy Buchan

Consultant in Renewables

Mike Nankivell

Renewables Consultant

Graeme Fox Head at Refcom

Nancy Jonsson

Consultant in Renewables

Mike Gittoes

Operations Director Arctic Circle

Andy Slater Consultant in ACR

Rob Smelt

Director BREng Hull Limited

Bob Beattie

Southern Director LG Comfort Cooling

Volume 6 No.2

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HEAT PUMPS

Heat pumps our best bet

This is not a technology of the future… in new construction, heat pumps are already the standard in many European countries and the replacement market is not far behind. As Europe moves to decarbonise homes, heat pumps are our best bet, says Patrick Crombez of Daikin Europe. The EU pledges to “play a central role” in achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This was recently confirmed in Brussels, after wrapping up the COP25 talks in Madrid. The automotive industry, agriculture and travel industry have already made efforts to reduce or eliminate carbon emissions from energy sources. Next on the list of policy makers and regulators is housing. Decarbonisation of the home is next in the shift towards a sustainable economy. On a national level, the Netherlands will kiss gas goodbye soon, the French government is stimulating oil boiler replacements and Finland is aiming to be carbon neutral by 2035. Lower Austria has outright prohibited oil heating in new buildings. The one thing they have in common is that they are all betting on heat pumps to replace fossil fuel heating systems. And they’re right. Heat pumps are more than ready to take on the challenge of home decarbonisation. They are not a technology of the future, but an established solution, ready to go mainstream.

Psychological challenges In Sweden, heat pumps are the default heating system today. In new buildings in some other European countries, heat pumps are steadily reaching 50% market share. In the replacement market, however, it seems that homeowners haven’t quite caught on yet. And the main challenges for mainstream heat pump adoption in this market, seem psychological rather than technological. Many people simply don’t understand how a heat pump works. Others are of the opinion that heat pumps are noisy, can’t look nice or simply aren’t there yet in terms of reliability. You can’t entirely blame homeowners for entertaining assumptions about heat pumps that are no longer valid today, because the pace of innovation in heat pumps is indeed brisk. For instance, heat pumps made huge strides in efficiency in the last decade.

The Daikin Altherma 3 H HT

Air-to-water heat pumps in general tend to show a drop in efficiency when outdoor temperatures go down. At sub-zero temperatures, heat pumps traditionally needed a little help from the electricity grid to offer the required comfort. Of course, this threatens the cost-savings and reduction of emissions that heat pumps offer. Newer generations of heat pumps are increasingly capable of high efficiencies, even at lower outdoor temperatures.

Beyond the choir Another psychological barrier is the lack of knowledge among installers and architects. This will be a key challenge for the heat pump industry. We should go beyond preaching to the choir of installers and professionals who are already familiar with heat pumps. We should open conversations with installers who have mostly worked with fossil fuel boilers. They should feel comfortable recommending heat pumps in the replacement market. It helps, of course, that heat pumps have become easy to install, easy to use and that they look good too – consumers today expect great design.

The burden of starting that conversation is on the industry. If we succeed, it will greatly accelerate the adoption of heat pumps. Of course, regulation can offer a nudge in the right direction here. The Netherlands is a prime example: it is already offering training on renewables for installers. This supports the shift towards renewable heating solutions. In other markets, it’s more a matter of removing incentives for fossil fuel that create a barrier for more sustainable alternatives to enter the market. In Belgium, for instance, the price of gas is low compared to the price of electricity. The shift to heat pumps requires awareness and attention from all stakeholders.

Ambition Daikin’s ambition in this is quite clear: we want to see a heat pump in every European home. No new home should be built with a fossil fuel boiler and no old boiler should be replaced with a new boiler. Any lingering technological and psychological barriers, Daikin will take on through relentless innovation.

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H E AT P U MP S

Building the interest

Andy Hooper, Heating Manager at LG Electronics, on making the most of an upturn in demand. Over the past 12 months we’ve seen LG taking interest in its Therma V air to water heat pump range to new levels. There have been a number of new additions to the range including the new R32 versions of the Therma V Monobloc – of particular interest to traditional heating installers who can install this option without the need for any F-Gas qualifications – and most recently, the new R32 Split range which now enables installers to select the right model for the job across the whole range of products which includes a high temperature version that operates with hot water cylinders or thermal stores and has already been successfully linked with other renewable technologies, including solar PV. The recently released document from the Heat Pump Association, Delivering Net Zero: A Roadmap for the role of Heat Pumps, provides a stark reminder that in order to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050, the UK needs to start to take decarbonisation of domestic heating seriously now. It says quite clearly that “Heat pumps are already a well-established technology that can immediately and substantially reduce emissions from our heating and hot water consumption. Efforts must be taken now to put them to good

use.” The Committee on Climate Change says that 19 million heat pumps need to be installed in the UK by 2050. Despite the benefits of heat pump installations, heat pump deployment in the UK remains painfully low with just 27,000 heat pumps installed in 2018. The UK has become dependent on boilers to provide heat and hot water and it’s a love affair that is proving difficult to stop. There is a well-established proven renewables technology - heat pumps – ready to step into the void and replace high carbon emitting heating and hot water systems. What we do need is to train a significant number of installers to be able to install heat pumps and increase knowledge levels of this technology, if we are to meet the targets set and the numbers needed to achieve virtually zero carbon from heating, by 2050.

Installer training There are three key areas that LG is concentrating on in an effort to increase the number of heat pump installations here in the UK and Ireland. The first vital area is that of training heating engineers - upskilling them to become heat pump installers as well. The second key area is driving consumer acceptance of the

technology, and LG is doing everything it can to broaden the messaging and share it with consumers through social media and other methodologies. And the third area is in working with Government and the Heat Pump Association in order to meet the 2050 target of nil carbon from heating in the UK. LG has stepped up its efforts to get more installers trained and ready to begin the heat pump revolution. Training takes place at its two training centres – at its head office in Weybridge and at GREenergy training centre in Chesterfield close to the M1. A minimum of two training courses a month have been taking place for a year now and more are planned throughout 2020, with the response from those attending incredibly positive. As a well-established technology brand, LG is already gaining consumer confidence and is delighted by the upsurge in interest in the Therma V range of air to water heat pumps it offers here in the UK and Ireland. LG heat pumps come with a 7-year warranty if the installer has attended the LG Therma V training course and has installed and maintained the equipment to manufacturers guidelines, giving consumer’s further confidence in the product. In addition, LG’s wi-fi enabled

The Therma V line-up at the LG Academy

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HEAT PUMPS

How the Therma V R32 Monobloc works

appliances can be controlled by the LG ThinQ app and this includes the Therma V range. ThinQ technology allows the consumer the freedom to balance a myriad of daily tasks around the home through the simple smartphone app. ThinQ technology operates on an open platform, so it will work well with evolving technologies and devices for years to come. The LG Therma V series of air to water heat pumps comprises a full suite of options – monobloc, splits, and high temperature options. The popular monobloc Therma V air-to-water heat pump operates on the low GWP R32 refrigerant and is available in 5kW to 16kW 1Ø and 12kW to 16kW 3Ø, in a wide operating range of between 10-135Hz and water temperatures up to 65°C without an electric heater. It comes with an energy label rating of A+++. The new version of the Therma V Monobloc contains a plate heat exchanger, expansion tank and a Grundfos water

pump. The new unit has a higher capacity due to the choice of refrigerant along with a lower GWP, when compared to R410a. The electric heater can be installed as an optional accessory as this is not always required. The latest unit has a 5 to 6dB lower sound power level than previous models and incorporates a number of additional new features including a new type scroll compressor, designed and manufactured by LG Electronics with ‘wet vapour’ injection. The unit has excellent performance at low ambient temperatures – 100% at -7°C.

Self-build boom Heating engineers will need to correctly size the heat pump to a property and many manufacturers including LG have selection software for this. UK heating engineers are extremely important to the decarbonisation of domestic heating and LG will continue to provide free of charge LG has a permanent presence at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre

training on the Therma V Heat Pump throughout 2020 to ensure that facilities are there to help increase the numbers of competent heat pump installers. Attending a BPEC renewable course is always advisable and will enable the full range of heat pumps to be available to heating engineers. One area where air source heat pumps have taken off significantly in the past few years is that of the self-build marketplace. LG has taken a permanent presence at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon, just off the M4 motorway. It’s taken a permanent display area to give self-builders a perfect opportunity to see how the LG equipment might contribute to their projects. At any one time there are between 20 and 25,000 self-build projects underway across the UK and people building their own ‘perfect home’ are much more open to the options available to them than major new build developers tend to be. They do their research and look for technologies that will enhance their new home and are in general terms willing to invest in these technologies if they help them to develop an energy efficient, environmentally friendly and financially effective home for their future. LG and its distributors have found itself presenting information and talks to self-builders at regular events held at the centre with in excess of two hundred people at a time keen to hear about heat pump technology and what it can offer them and their new development. Anyone interested in seeing the new LG Electronics technologies on their stand or in the energy house at the centre can visit the centre between Tuesday and Sunday inclusive, from 10am – 5.30pm each day. www.partner.lge.com/uk

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H E AT P U MP S

Thinking positive

The farmhouse is now carbon positive with the heat pump powered by green electricity

Ground source installation enables farm to take sustainability to the next level. A Cambridgeshire farmer is looking forward to a carbon positive future with a ground source heat pump system powered by his own green electricity. Renewable heating expert Finn Geotherm installed the heat pump for Hugh Whittome at his farmhouse in Huntingdon. Built in 1860s with single skin walls and Georgian sash windows, the farmhouse has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E making it a challenge to keep warm. It was previously heated by an oilfired boiler. Whittome said: “I decided to make our farm carbon neutral so I installed a wind turbine in 2010. This enabled us to generate our own electricity and then Feed-in Tariffs were introduced which provided an added bonus to sell back the power we didn’t use. With our electricity carbon neutral, the farmhouse heating and hot water was the obvious next step. We wanted to replace the boiler with a system we could run using our own green electricity. Having researched alternatives, a ground source heat pump was the ideal option – particularly as the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was available and would enable us to recoup our investment in a short period of time.”

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Thermal mass Finn Geotherm specified and installed a Lämpöässä Emi 28 ground source heat pump with 700 litre thermal store. The 1400 metre ground loop array was installed in a field next to the house and an existing outbuilding used as a plant room. While the farmhouse has a low EPC rating, the heat pump works efficiently to keep its owners warm by utilising the thermal mass of the property. Whittome added: “It’s a common myth that you can only use a ground source heat pump with underfloor heating but our installation proves otherwise. We have radiators throughout and the house has never been warmer, day and night. The heat pump has taken away the hassle of heating and hot water – we just leave it to run and don’t have to order oil deliveries. I am very proud our farm is now carbon positive and the heat pump, which is a non-combustion based system (it doesn’t burn any fuel), runs entirely on our green electricity.” A new village hall in Norfolk has created a warm and welcoming hub for the community, thanks to a ground source heat pump installed by Finn Geotherm. The previous facilities were a 1930s pilgrim shelter, which is located close to the cliff edge in Trimingham and due to

coastal erosion would only have 20-30 years more use. The old hall had electric heating which was ineffective and expensive to run. Terry Brown, chairman of the Trimingham Village Hall Trust, said: “When we set out to build the new village hall, we wanted to create a space that everyone could enjoy. We also wanted it to be green and follow as many passive house standards as possible. We’d always planned to heat the hall using a ground source heat pump and were delighted when our building contractor appointed Finn Geotherm to undertake the project.” Finn Geotherm specified and installed a Lämpöässä Vmi 17 three-phase ground source heat pump with integral 480 litre thermal store in a purpose-built plant room. The system heats the entire building, comprising main hall, meeting room, kitchen and toilets, via underfloor heating. Built on a paddock, the 1200m ground loop array was laid in the area surrounding the village hall. Although there were some obstacles to overcome, including a protected area for the wildflower Purple Broomrape, Finn Geotherm completed all the necessary groundworks. www.finn-geotherm.co.uk

Volume 6 No.2

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HEAT PUMPS

Making an impact

Stuart Fairlie of Elmhurst Energy

The Advanced Product Modelling Service from Elmhurst Energy Consultancy can help heat pump manufacturers demonstrate their product’s efficacy, says Technical Director Stuart Fairlie. Building Regulations require a Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) calculation to be carried out before starting work on a dwelling and, in certain circumstances, on extensions and conversions too. The calculation produces a rating that typically indicates a score from 1 to 100+, with higher scores representing lower energy costs and associated CO2 emissions. This score is determined by many factors including the dwellings thermal elements, heating systems (space and water) and lighting; it also takes into account the positive impact renewable technologies can deliver to a dwelling. To meet current regulations, builders and developers must achieve a ‘PASS’ on their calculation or Building Control will not sign off the development and the property cannot be let or marketed for sale. SAP Calculations can also help those involved in the design of new dwellings to shape an improved energy profile, reducing energy use and carbon emissions. The release of the Government’s Future Homes Standard Consultation is expected to significantly increase interest in energy efficiency innovations as house builders look to achieve compliance for their

building projects. With 27 million existing houses and the government’s commitment to build 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s, while achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, it is clear that the adoption of new technologies could be a viable way to achieve this vision – and heat pumps will play a significant role. Manufacturers that can demonstrate how their product or innovation can positively impact a building’s energy performance will be one step ahead of the competition. To support this, Elmhurst Energy Consultancy has now launched an Advanced Product Modelling Service which, using the government-approved SAP and RdSAP, can demonstrate the effectiveness of heat pumps for different types of dwellings, making clear to both manufacturers and clients, the impact a heat pump has on both new and retrofit applications under the current legislation. It also demonstrates how the methodology for the EPC calculations for heat pumps requires modification to truly show the energy benefits of this renewable technology. Elmhurst Energy’s expert consultants recently worked with Mitsubishi Electric to model the effectiveness of its Ecodan air

Elmhurst has been working closely with Mitsubishi Electric to model the effectiveness of its Ecodan

source heat pump. Using SAP and RdSAP, Elmhurst was able to demonstrate the effectiveness of Ecodan for four typical types of dwellings: • Example 1 - 1970s semi-detached dwelling with an LPG boiler • Example 2 - 1930s detached dwelling with an oil boiler • Example 3 - Pre 1900s mid terrace property with a wood burner and back boiler • Example 4 - 1950s top floor flat with electric panel heaters The analysis found improvements to the SAP, Environmental Impact and Dwelling Emission Ratings where an air source heat pump was modelled as opposed to a main gas heating system, with the larger detached dwellings seeing the biggest improvements. Detailed analysis revealed that installing an air source heat pump helped improve the SAP rating across all examples, with the most improvement being made from combining the Ecodan heat pump with the benefits of improved insulation. In one such scenario the EPC rating improved 210% from G 20 to D 62 (1970s semi-detached property). “The Elmhurst modelling has helped us and our clients understand the impact that a heat pump has on retrofit applications under the current legislation,” explains Max Halliwell, Communications Manager for Mitsubishi Electric Heating & Ventilation Systems. “More importantly it has highlighted that the methodology for the EPC calculations for heat pumps requires modification to truly show the energy benefits of this renewable technology. We look forward to working with Elmhurst on future modelling where we anticipate very significant benefits for our Ecodan range of heat pumps, due to the new grid emission factors. We know that heat pumps will play a significant role in the UK’s drive to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

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WH OL E S AL E & D IS T RIBUTIO N Founded in 2013, Exi-tite has grown to be one of the leading HVAC-solution providers to the construction industry. We are a wholesaler, based in Ballygawley, Northern Ireland, and we’re known for keeping that ‘personal touch’ in a fast-moving environment; supplying dynamic solutions and project management to our customers all across Europe.

With an extensive product range, we’re proud to be one of the UK’s primary distribution partners for leading brands such as LG Electronics, LMF Clima, Keyter, Wolf, Helios, York and Vectaire. We believe that offering a complete in-house service is what makes us stand out from the rest. We’re willing to listen to your requirements and engineer solutions with designs including CAD, REVIT and CFD analysis. We provide the technical submittals you require and review the logistical approach it takes to deliver your project. After-sale care is provided by our engineers - all trained and certified by our partner manufacturers. They carry out commissioning, technical assistance and troubleshooting all the way through and beyond project hand over. We have started the year with a bang by opening our new Belfast office, staffed with both technical and sales teams. This, coupled with our recently established R&D and training centre at our head office in Ballygawley gives us the professional edge. Covering diverse ranges such as Air Conditioning, Chillers, Air Handling Units, Ventilation, and Air to Water heat pumps means that we are always looking for new

ways to improve the services we offer to our customers and investing in this type of facility has already proven beneficial. Our partners train local engineers improving their skills across a multitude of disciplines and we have developed new AHU design and control methods to increase operational efficiencies with our partner brands. We hold stock at both offices, allowing us to provide effective deliveries to our customers when they need it, or be met by our friendly team if they want to collect. So, if you are working with Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning or Refrigeration, think of Exi-tite: “Design, Supply, Support”.

Ballygawley Office: 15a Grange Road, Ballygawley, County Tyronne, Northern Ireland, BT70 2LP Belfast office: Unit 9, Building 15, Central Park, Mallusk, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, BT36 4FS Tel: +44 (0) 28 8556 7674 Email: sales@exi-tite.com Web: www.exi-tite.com

Our Business Partners

DESIGN

SUPPLY

SUPPORT

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WHO LESALE & DISTRIBUTIO N

LG Comfort Cooling

For 16 years LG Comfort Cooling has been synonymous with LG Electronics. Being the largest, longest serving independent distributor of LG Air Conditioning and Energy Solution products, no one knows LG quite like us.

What a journey it’s been! It’s fantastic to see product ranges grow to such a such a diverse range in 2020 along with the quality that is expected from a truly global organisation. It is our pleasure to have given input into both product and business development along the way. LG Electronics offer a complete range of air conditioning solutions, leading the way in both design flexibility and innovation. Industry first products such as the award winning Multi V S Heat Recovery Mini VRF and the Multi V S R32 VRF range, keep raising the bar for a sector always looking to strive forward. R32 Split and Multi Split ranges include the popular Mirror and Gallery unit, which was brought back by popular demand. Both are part of the Artcool wall mounted range, include built in WIFI connectivity, and comes with a 10year compressor warranty. VRF options include the flag ship Multi V 5, with dual sensing control,

monitoring both temperature and humidity, allowing latent loads to be judged as well as sensible, improving comfort and efficiency. When operating in heating mode and monitoring temperature and humidity, evaporating temperatures can be kept above dew point reducing defrost frequency and maintaining heating operation, maximising comfort levels for end users. All VRF ranges offer connectivity to both supply and return air DX solutions along with chilled and hot water production from Hydrokit products. Coupled with extensive control options, the ability to combine all product types provides a heat recovery system who’s potential for energy harvesting is unrivalled in the industry. LG Comfort Cooling provide a level of service that you simply cannot find anywhere else. Through dedicated technical teams; using the latest in LG software, we offer a design and

consultation process followed by commissioning, technical support and spares processing. Holding over £300k of stock, covering product lines including split systems, multi splits, VRF, DX AHU equipment, heat recovery ventilation, air to water heat pumps and control solutions, we can offer delivery the very next day. Our priority is to meet your needs and help you deliver a successful project. A professional business operated by personable people. No one knows LG Air Conditioning quite like us. LG Comfort Cooling Unit 3, Coleshill Trade Park, Station Road, Coleshill, Birmingham, B46 1AT Email : sales@lgcomfortcooling.co.uk Call : 01675 467500 Web: www.lgcomfortcooling.co.uk

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WH OL E S AL E & D IS T RIBUTIO N

Along with celebrating its milestone 20th birthday,

2020 promises another year of growth for TF Solutions An ever increasing product range has seen Mitsubishi Electric available alongside Fujitsu and Samsung, with further additions to the range of install materials including TF own branded products - more of these to be launched this year. The company has also recruited new team members bringing a wealth of industry experience and knowledge to support customers across all areas. Further branch openings in other regions across the UK are planned, these will follow the successful model used in the current branches at Stockport, Leeds, Burton on Trent, Bristol and Dunstable along with the TF Plus collection branch in Smethwick. As the original “one stop shop” a concept now echoed across the industry, TF is continually looking to offer that extra service to help and support their customers to give them an edge in the AC Marketplace. The one stop shop has now been taken a step further bringing into the concept all pre-sales support. TF have introduced a highly experienced AC support team to work alongside customers

from the very inception of a project through the planning stages, to delivery of kit and materials, continuing through to after sales and then future requirements. This “cradle to the grave” approach means that customers are introduced to a team who will support them right from the tender or project preparation process stage through to job completion, with a menu of support that suits each particular customer. Pre-sales support includes everything a customer may need to price and present their recommendations to the client, including quote preparation and delivery support, advice on heat load calculations, site surveys, product selection/information, detailed drawings, kit lists and the install materials for the project Once a project is secured delivery of all the project materials – kit and ancillaries can be supplied through TF Solutions on a schedule to suit – these will be on TF’s own tracked delivery vehicles. Post-Sales support then continues with installation advice, troubleshooting, project warranty registration, customer O&M’s, pre-commissioning and commissioning support, application advice and a direct line to technical support throughout. Further services are available upon project completion for customers to use if required; such as on-site training, diagnostics, health

checks, warranty support, parts testing, strip down/re-builds and controller logo services. Andy Cherrill MD TF Solutions explains “This package enables the customer to choose whichever level of support they need to successfully quote, install and complete a project; backed by expert knowledge, quality products, great prices and reliable and efficient deliveries. This working partnership allows TF Solutions customers to offer their customers the best possible service. 2020 is another exciting year for us all at TF Solutions and our customers, with further new branches, extra support services and additions to our product range. We aim to continue to develop a level of service and support to our customers across the UK second to none in the AC industry.”

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WHO LESALE & DISTRIBUTIO N

AUK Distribution

Established in 2009 by the former management of Airwell UK, AUK Distribution started as a dedicated specialist distributor of Airwell Group products. AUK now offers a solution for almost all air conditioning applications; from simple 2 kW plug-in portable air conditioning units to 2 MW and above central chiller plants. Collectively, our staff have extensive knowledge and experience within the air conditioning and refrigeration industry, supporting our products with pre and post sales services, including online, phone, email and in person on site. The manufacturers we work alongside are some of the most innovative in the industry, constantly striving to develop more energy efficient and environmentallyfriendly solutions. Brands from GI Holdings such as Clint and Montair provide options for alternative low GWP refrigerants during selection, such as R452B, R513A and the ultra-low GWP HFO R1234ze. LG Air Conditioning have recently continued their expansion to their R32 portfolio to include an industry-first mini VRF solution, joining an outstanding range of R32 Air to Water Heat Pumps. A comprehensive range of hydronic fan coil units have been developed by Systemair with low specific fan power, and the GCAO water cooled split system from Airwell offers a solution like no other for small commercial applications. We choose to work with these brands because they align with our own aspirations to provide our customers with cutting edge technology, coupled with the desire to reduce our environmental impact. Already this year we have seen the addition of Fujitsu Air Conditioning products to our portfolio, including DX solutions and the award winning J-Series 50 kW mini VRF, that stands alone in the industry. Along with the opening of our new office in Lancashire, we are also delighted to announce a joint venture partnership with SECON, a specialist renewables distributor based in Sunderland. This partnership will provide the opportunity to supply a vast range of complimentary products such as Air to Water Heat Pumps from a number of quality brands along with a range of ancillary stock items such as buffer tanks and pump sets to AUK's customer base.

Darryl Smith, Managing Director AUK: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our expansion this year will allow continuing improvement in the excellent service and support levels we provide to our customers.â&#x20AC;?

Head Office AUK Distribution Ltd, Cobalt Business Exchange, Cobalt Park Way, Wallsend NE28 9NZ CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

info@aukdistribution.com www.aukdistribution.com +44(0)191 280 4050

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WH OL E S AL E & D IS T RIBUTIO N

Cool Designs adds Carrier and targets responsible growth With an expanded product range, spacious new headquarters and sales growth across the UK, independent air conditioning distributor Cool Designs has set its sights on further ‘responsible growth’ in 2020. The company added Carrier to its portfolio of air conditioning brands at the start of this year, giving customers access to the manufacturer’s high quality chillers and heat pumps alongside its award-winning Toshiba VRF and split systems and CIAT airside equipment. Fujitsu completes its offering. CDL already had significant knowledge of the Carrier range in-house, which has enabled it to provide a high level of support to customers from day one. It didn’t take long for the Carrier addition to bear fruit. CDL landed its first order – a high efficiency Carrier chiller – in its first week as a distributor. Darrel Birkett, founder and managing director, says: “Carrier is one of the world’s best-known air conditioning brands. The equipment is superbly designed and engineered, and delivers reliable, high efficiency cooling and heating. We believe this heritage and brand strength will create new opportunities for existing customers and open doors for us with new customers. Indeed, it is already doing this.” He says Carrier’s latest heat pump chillers, in particular, have great potential. Available in low GWP HFO refrigerant versions, they offer a highly attractive option for end users keen to future-proof their buildings. The company’s recent relocation to new headquarters on the banks of the Tyne in Gateshead provided 11,000sq ft of warehouse space, which has enabled CDL to further improve stocking levels. At any one time it now holds some £2million worth of equipment, across all ranges. The new site also provides 3,000 sq ft of office space plus a trade counter, enabling customers to collect equipment, installation accessories and spare parts in a single visit. A dedicated training room can accommodate up to 16 people. The move has proved to be a great success, with staff benefiting from the

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additional space and high quality working environment. Stock is now held on site, rather than remotely, giving immediate access and greater control. With a strong portfolio and a reputation for excellent customer service, the company has achieved significant growth over the past two years, across all product groups. “We grew 40per cent in 2018 against 2017, helped by moving into new areas of the country and investing in regions where we were already strong,” says Darrel. “Last year was slightly less spectacular, with growth of around 6per cent. However, given the uncertainties due to Brexit and the General Election, we were more than pleased.” He anticipates further growth over the coming year. While all product categories are doing well, CDL’s star performer remains VRF, with Toshiba’s industryleading two-pipe and super-efficient three-pipe heat recovery systems leading the way. Continued investment by the UK hotel and leisure sector, where Toshiba is traditionally strong, has helped drive this. As the first air conditioning distributor in the UK to go carbon neutral, protection of the environment is one of CDL’s key priorities. “I don’t believe that growth and concern for the environment are incompatible,” says Darrel. “Our focus is on responsible growth, ensuring at every stage that we mitigate the impact on the environment and make a positive

contribution to the local communities in which we operate.” As well as directly benefiting the environment, he believes this approach creates a positive mindset in the business – adding an important dimension to business decision making. “As we grow, and add more staff and vehicles, so our footprint grows. We keep a close check on this, and ensure we minimise and offset it through the carbon neutral scheme.” Has it resulted in any direct commercial benefits? “It certainly creates interest when discussing projects with like-minded clients, especially end users. This is enhanced as a result of Toshiba also having carbon neutral status, creating a double win for the environment and environmentally aware clients through our connected supply chain.”

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WHO LESALE & DISTRIBUTIO N In addition to offsetting carbon emissions by contributing to certified carbon reduction programmes in other parts of the world, the company is ringing the changes locally. Its fleet is moving to low emission hybrid and fully electric vehicles, and plans are in hand to install charging points on its premises, for use by staff and customers. The logistics of deliveries, both between branches and to customers, are organised to reduce road time and travel distance. It also has a green planting policy at branches, recently allocating space and establishing shrubbery beds at Gateshead. Each branch has an adopted charity with a connection to the local community. These include Cahonas Scotland, Crisis, and local Food Banks. What are the company’s ambitions for the coming year? “The addition of Carrier obviously presents a major opportunity, both for us and our customers. And Toshiba has exciting plans for new product roll-outs ensuring they stay ahead of the market. “Geographically, we are focussing on developing sales in the South, making sure training is available to all customers, either at our own branches, supplier premises or at a local space. The aim is to achieve a similar level of success to that in our traditional territories, where we have been established longest.”

In terms of technology, he believes the current transition from R410A to R32 refrigerant is one of the most significant changes of the past few years. “The search for high performance, safe and low GWP refrigerants goes on, and there may yet be other new refrigerants developed. This creates opportunity for

improvement across all of our brands. With Brexit and the election now behind us, we are looking forward to an exciting year ahead.”

CMYKCMYK / .ai / .ai CMYK / .ai

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A IR MA N AGE ME N T

Raising research standards Air management system improves safety and performance at new facility. A laboratory air management system, supplied by TROX, has been installed to optimise safety and environmental performance in a new clinical and research centre. The EASYLAB system, incorporating TROX VAV controllers, specialist filters, grilles and diffusers, will help the Norfolk-based Quadram Institute to meet stringent requirements for its research. Ian Thomas of TROX UK, said: “The Quadram Institute will be carrying out essential research and it was important that the building could operate safely at all times, with advanced control of air supply and extraction to meet the stringent requirements. The system will enable the institute to continue its vital work, confident in the knowledge that the best possible systems are in place to ensure best-in-class performance.”

Complex demands The new building, at the Norwich Research Park, brings together the former Institute of Food Research, the University of East Anglia Clinical Research Facility and the gastrointestinal endoscopy unit of Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital to conduct ground-breaking translational research and clinical care around four research themes: food innovation and health, gut microbiology, microbes in the food chain, and population health. The facility will house 300 researchers, as well as clinicians and support staff. In addition, as the largest unit of its type in Europe, it will welcome up to 40,000 endoscopy outpatients each year. The building provides accommodation for each department, as well as shared office space, meeting rooms and amenities to encourage interaction between all user groups. The team delivering the project, including main contractor Wates Construction, consulting engineers BuroHappold and specialist M & E contractors SES Engineering Services, needed to create a safe and secure environment for research with advanced levels of air management. The institute includes Containment Level 2 and 3 Laboratories, as well as being a major clinical trials facility

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and a centre of excellence for endoscopy. To meet the complex air management demands, BuroHappold Engineering and SES Engineering Services worked closely with TROX UK to design and install the systems for the site. Wind tunnel testing was carried out to determine safe fume efflux parameters for the scheme. TROX also analysed the air terminal device requirements of different zones in the building during the design phase, to determine the best possible designs of grilles and diffusers to maintain the optimum safe and comfortable working environment for researchers, staff and patients. TROX also worked with the design team and other experts to determine the most appropriate HEPA filter cells and diffusers, and installed specific room pressure control capabilities for the Containment Level 3 labs, and volume offset tracking controls for the Containment Level 2 spaces. The system installed ensures that supply and extraction of air is optimised in each laboratory to maintain safe working environments. In addition, TROX Variable Air Volume (VAV) controllers ensure that the energy efficiency of the building’s central air conditioning and cooling system is also optimised for best-in-class environmental performance across the site as a whole.

Laboratory air management system The EASYLAB system manages the supply and extract controllers to respond rapidly to changes in extract volumes by the technical extract (for example fume cupboards) to ensure the correct air flow balance and room pressure for safety at all times in the laboratories. The air management requirements for the Containment Level 3 suite, for example, were particularly challenging. For this critical zone, the system controls a pressure cascade, within which laboratories are controlled at larger negative

pressures than the adjacent circulation spaces serving them, to ensure there can be no reversal of airflow under normal operational conditions. The suite also has an automated ventilation sequence that allows ventilation shut down, fumigation and purge of labs in a number of combinations to allow maximum flexibility. This automated ventilation sequence works by switching the system between different flow rate set points and pressure set points to achieve the desired ventilation strategy. In addition to maintaining safe air control for building occupants, the system optimises the energy efficiency of the system. As the system requires the use of microbiologicalgrade filters (which are associated with increased energy requirement), the prevention of wastage by the system makes an important contribution to the site’s overall environmental performance.

VAV controllers Working in conjunction with the EASYLAB system, the TVZ and TVA BCO Series VAV controllers ensure that the supply of conditioned air throughout the building can increase and decrease automatically in line with requirements. This provides significantlyincreased control over air supply and extraction compared with traditional systems.

Air terminal devices The effective selection of the optimum TROX air terminal devices also maintains effective comfort conditions across the building, by ensuring that conditioned air is delivered into the occupied zones in the best possible way. This avoids common problems such as draughts, ‘dumping’ of cold air, or stagnation/ inadequate circulation. These devices ensure the effective control of air velocity, turbulence intensity and temperature differential.

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CHILLY CHATTER