News Archive - August 2010
Rok signs contract with Inter Partner Assistance
31 August 2010
Rok plc, the maintenance and building services group, has signed a contract with Inter Partner Assistance, a wholly owned subsidiary of AXA Assistance, one of the world's market leaders in assistance, to provide home emergency services to its UK customers.
Eu.bac opens office in Brussels
31 August 2010
Eu.bac, the European association of manufacturers for
intelligent building systems, is opening an office in Brussels.
Henderson Green goes back to school to build the team
31 August 2010
Employees at a leading south coast building services engineering consultancy shut down their computers and picked up a paint brush to take part in a community team building event.
Uponor pipes up with impressive sales results
31 August 2010
Underfloor heating specialist Uponor has defied challenging trading conditions in the plumbing and heating industry to boast a 15% increase in overall sales for the first six months of the year and predicts further growth for the remainder of 2010.
Drop in Completion certificates raises concerns over black-market installations
31 August 2010
There is mounting concern in the heating industry that the demise of Home Information Packs is leading to a marked reduction in the number of completion certificates being issued for controlled service installations.
Four new trustees for Gas Safety Trust.
31 August 2010
Four new trustees have been appointed by the Gas Safety Trust to strengthen its core expertise and help create effective partnerships and programmes that are pivotal to its gas safety strategy and new direction.
IBD appointed as approved distributor for Polypipe Ventilation
31 August 2010
IBD Distribution, the Dorset-based distributor of energy efficient HVAC systems, has been appointed as an Approved Solution Provider and nationwide distributor for the Polypipe Ventilation range of whole house ventilation and heat recovery systems.
Freedom Heat Pumps opens for business
27 August 2010
Freedom heat pumps the UKs first dedicated heat pump distributor has opened for business, supplying air source heat pumps from Samsung, LG and Hitachi.
Plumb Center stocks up with drainage plastics
26 August 2010
Plumb Center has reinforced its leading position as a supplier of drainage products with all major manufacturers now being stocked in branches across the UK.
Briggs & Forrester completes Cressex School contract
26 August 2010
Briggs & Forrester has recently completed the Cressex Community School in High Wycombe, working in partnership with BAM Construction.
Deadline looms for half-price training
25 August 2010
SummitSkills is reminding building services engineering employers in England that the deadline is looming for access to potential funding of half the cost of training related to environmental technologies.
Plant and machinery safety zone introduced at H&S 2010
25 August 2010
The Health and Safety 2010 exhibition has introduced a dedicated plant and machinery safety zone at its Northern edition this October.
AMA Research reports on Western Europe electrical wholesale market
25 August 2010
The Eurozone generally has had a difficult period with particular problems in Greece, Spain and Ireland, the latter two experiencing particularly severe downturns in their construction markets after strong housing booms during the last decade.
EIC secures Tesco maintenance contract
25 August 2010
Building services specialist EIC has secured a maintenance contract with the UK’s number one supermarket, Tesco.
Andy Green steps up as technical manager, Baxi Commercial Division
25 August 2010
Andy Green has been selected for the role of technical manager at Baxi Commercial Division.
Wolseley sells Brandon Hire
24 August 2010
Wolseley has sold its Brandon Hire business to private investment company Rutland Partners.
Huge savings with Plumb Center boiler bundles
24 August 2010
Plumb Center has relaunched its current offers on boiler and heat packs and customers should look out for the all new Boiler Bundle offers in the magazine and on branch displays from September.
Kinetics joins Procure Plus framework
24 August 2010
Leading asset and facilities management specialist Kinetics has been successful in securing its place on the prestigious Procure Plus Framework (formerly GM Procure).
JS Wright wins £4.5million regeneration deal in London
24 August 2010
Leading building services provider JS Wright has won a £4.5-million contract to fit out a 46million regeneration scheme in London.
Getting a regular income from Feed-in Tariffs
23 August 2010
A seminar on how to take full advantage of the regular and reliable income now available from generating renewable energy is being held on September 21 2010 at BRE in Watford.
Register for London HEVAR with a chance to win a free bottle of wine
23 August 2010
Every tenth person to pre-register and attend London HEVAR will receive a FREE bottle of wine. Guests will be given a voucher to collect their wine from stand 5, where Delta Controls which is the sponsors of the wine giveaway is exhibiting and, of course, where the wine is being distributed from!
BRA and HEVAC presidents step up
23 August 2010
Bob Arthur of Marks and Spencer took over as president of the British Refrigeration Association in July. The outgoing president, Eddie Gittoes of Arctic Circle becomes the immediate past president.
HVCA increases focus on local exhaust ventilation
23 August 2010
HVCA is to offer additional support to firms active in the local exhaust ventilation (LEV) market.
Study tours to bioenergy facilities
23 August 2010
Biofuels Media is offering study tours to working bioenergy production sites which will give a valuable insight into the problems and challenges businesses, farmers and organisations have faced when planning, building and installing bioenergy facilities, whether producing bioenergy or adopting it for use.
Plumbing and Heating professionals and E.ON to help consumers save water and money
23 August 2010
The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering has joined forces with E.ON, one of the UK’s leading power and gas companies, to launch the Save Water Save Money campaign on September 1.
Embrace CRC for all-round benefits
23 August 2010
Many UK businesses that do not register their energy use with the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme initiative by 30 September will face heavy fines. According to consultancy WSP Environment & Energy this could be as many as 7,500 businesses.
Balfour Beatty ES students celebrate graduation
19 August 2010
Some 15 student engineers from Balfour Beatty Engineering Services (BBES), one of the UK’s largest mechanical and electrical building services businesses, recently celebrated graduating with a BSc Honours in Building Services Engineering from Liverpool College and Liverpool John Moores University.
Four join BSS Industrial brand team
18 August 2010
BSS Industrial has strengthened the team behind its specialist brands through the appointment of four national sales managers; Nick Croft for Austin Stroud, Lee Bellamy for Pegler & Louden, Chris Gaunt for Manor Plastics and Paul Crowe for AMS Pumps.
Heatrae Sadia expands specification team
18 August 2010
Water heating specialist Heatrae Sadia has expanded its team with two sales appointments.
Construction and real estate firms optimistic but...
18 August 2010
Optimism and expectations of an increase in turnover and profits have increased among construction and real estate privately-held businesses (PHBs) in the UK compared with 2009.
Heating business honoured at North West learning awards
18 August 2010
Gavin Ward Ltd, the Burney-based heating installer, is celebrating its success after being honoured at the North West Learndirect Achievement Awards ceremony.
New heat pump market report by AMA Research
18 August 2010
AMA Research has introduced a report on the UK Ground / Air Source Heat Pumps Market: 2007-2010 – By Value, the first in a new series of three studies covering the emerging UK micro-generation industry. Subsequent reports will cover Solar Photovoltaic and Thermal Products and the Biomass market.
Mitsubishi Electric pleased with recall progress
17 August 2010
Mitsubishi Electric UK has issued an update on its Ecodan recall programme and has confirmed its ability to swap out all affected units with new stock.
Graham/Curzon moves to new Leeds super branch
17 August 2010
Graham, the plumbers merchant, has relocated its Leeds branch from the present site in Kirkstall Road, Leeds to new premises in Brown Lane to create the latest of the company’s heating and plumbing super branches.
Good year for NG Bailey but market still challenging
17 August 2010
Sales at NG Bailey fell by 23% in the year to February 2010. Despite this fall, the privately owned building services provider, turned in a pre-tax profit of £19.9million.
NG Bailey wins £26.5million contract at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
17 August 2010
NG Bailey has been appointed by Robertson Construction Group to deliver m&e and Information Communication Technology (ICT) Services, for NHS Grampian’s new Emergency Care Centre at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Neil Griffin joins HVCA as head of operations
17 August 2010
The HVCA has appointed Neil Griffin to the new senior post of
head of operations.
BRE Trust offers Energy Efficiency publication
17 August 2010
BRE Trust, the owner of BRE, the UK’s leading centre of expertise on the built environment, is pleased to announce a new publication, Energy Efficiency in New and Existing Buildings: Comparative Costs and CO2 Savings, which reviews ways to improve the energy efficiency of both new and existing buildings.
BIFM and FMA sign Memorandum of Understanding
17 August 2010
The British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) and the Facilities Management Association (FMA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today.
Rok bosses buy more shares
17 August 2010
The chairman and the chief executive today purchased shares in Rok plc.
Corporation Tax roadshow heads for Glasgow and Birmingham
16 August 2010
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced its Corporation Tax roadshow will be rolling into Birmingham and Glasgow this autumn.
Wolseley goes the extra mile
16 August 2010
Wolseley recently demonstrated that there is no limit to the lengths, or indeed distances, that it will go to support its key partners.
Pimlico's Mullins backs mandatory use of CO gas analysers
16 August 2010
Carbon Monoxide safety charity, CO-Gas Safety has joined forces with the UK’s largest independent plumbing company, Pimlico Plumbers, in calling for the mandatory use of specialist gas analysers for the inspection of gas appliances.
Renewable energy in the public sector conference
13 August 2010
From August 2010, local authorities are allowed to sell energy they produce back to the national grid, providing an additional source of revenue, ensuring energy security and reducing vulnerability to inevitable increases in energy prices.
HEVAR Seminar: Collaboration key to social housing budget cuts
13 August 2010
Professor Peter Woolliscroft, managing director of CYNTRA, will highlight the housing sector’s pivotal role in managing construction budget reductions when he addresses the UK’s leading event for the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration industry – London HEVAR on Wednesday September 22.
Swiftclean moves to Improve Fire Safety in High-Rise Housing
13 August 2010
Swiftclean UK Ltd, a leading UK provider of duct cleaning services to the social housing sector, will be holding a free half-day seminar called Improving Fire Safety in High-Rise Housing at The Institute of Directors, 116 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5ED on October 15 2010.
Construction faces uncertain future despite record growth
13 August 2010
Although today’s ONS figures for construction output in the second quarter of the year show a sharp increase of nearly 9% over the first quarter, the Construction Products Association warns the industry is still in a very precarious position and the figures do not indicate a dramatic recovery in the industry’s fortunes.
WSP boosts presence in Vietnam
13 August 2010
WSP is increasing its presence in Vietnam through the arrival of a team from WSP Lincolne Scott at WSP’s office in Ho Chi Minh City.
ADCAS believes improved stardard could aid fight against Information Overload
13 August 2010
Britain’s ductwork specialists have called for positive action to stem the rising tide of excess information.
Interserve profits dip in first half
12 August 2010
Interserve, the international services, maintenance and building group, has reported first half pre-tax profits down to £27.3million against £40million in the same period in 2009.
Kershaw Contracting solves a narrow problem
12 August 2010
An innovative company has fixed the problem of cavity walls that are too narrow for standard insulation with the first installation in June this year.
Fears grow of commercial property price fall
12 August 2010
The number of financial advisers expecting commercial property prices to fall has increased significantly since the start of 2010.
Glen Dimplex buys Robinson Willey
12 August 2010
GDC Group Ltd, the UK heating division of Glen Dimplex, has acquired the fixed assets, inventory and intellectual property including the brand of Robinson Willey - in administration.
HETAS appoints Howard Reed as training manager
12 August 2010
HETAS has appointed Howard Reed in the new position of training manager.
Everything you've ever wanted to know about heat pumps at London HEVAR
11 August 2010
The Heat Pump Association (HPA) has announced details of its topical seminar session at London HEVAR, the essential event for buyers and specifiers in the UK's Heating, Ventilating, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration industry.
Rok calls in new money man as Maintenance division underperforms
11 August 2010
Rok plc, the maintenance and building services group, has issued the following update on trading.
ATLAS releases ladder safety handbook
11 August 2010
ATLAS (The Association of Technical Lighting and Access Specialists) has released a new industry standard/guide for the safe use of temporary vertical ladders, aimed at educating the specialist sector of the construction industry.
New Part J of the Building Regulations published
11 August 2010
The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) has published a new Approved Document for Part J (Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems) of the Building Regulations. The document comes into effect on 1st October 2010.
Buro Happold completes conversion of Victorian fish market to artist studios
11 August 2010
One of Glasgow’s best loved buildings and architectural gems has been given a new breath of life.
Sign up for discount environmental training costs
11 August 2010
SummitSkills is encouraging building services engineering employers in England to sign up for access to potential funding for 50% of their training costs related to environmental technologies.
EIC called for full service offering
10 August 2010
Sitel, a leading outsourced call centre provider, has appointed EIC to deliver a facilities management solution for its eight UK offices.
Construction business failures fall but future is still uncertain
10 August 2010
Finance and business advisor Grant Thornton UK LLP is warning the construction industry that while fewer businesses have failed during the second quarter of 2010, the future is still uncertain.
AMA publishes its research on the commercial wind market
10 August 2010
AMA Research has published the 2nd Edition of its Commercial Wind Energy Market in the UK Report, which provides a comprehensive and easy to use review of the commercial wind energy sector.
CBI warns uncertainty on planning undermines energy investment
10 August 2010
The CBI has called on government to deliver key energy and planning reforms within six months, or risk undermining emissions targets and energy security.
Your chance to talk to the HVACR experts
10 August 2010
The new HEVAR roundtables are special opportunities to find out all you need to know from the industry expert of your choice at London HEVAR, the essential event for the UK's Heating, Ventilating, Air conditioning and Refrigeration industry.
CHP Association views future of CHP and district heating
10 August 2010
The Combined Heat and Power Association’s flagship annual event will this year focuse on the opportunities and challenges facing the CHP and district heating sector and takes the opportunity to celebrate innovation, success and best practice.
Cofely to deliver FM to the new Liverpool Central Library and Archive
10 August 2010
Cofely is to provide a total facilities management package to the new Liverpool Central Library and Archive for a period of 25 years.
Construction decline expected to continue throughout this year
10 August 2010
Despite the recent favourable ONS figures, the construction industry is facing a further decline in output in the second half of 2010, according to the the latest Construction Trade Survey, published today.
Refcom advisory committee to supervise F-gas best practice
10 August 2010
To oversee the activity of F-gas certification and best practice in handling refrigerants, Refcom has established an advisory committee comprising of leading industry figures.
NLGN welcomes 'carrot not stick” approach to new housing incentives
10 August 2010
Government plans to offer council tax incentives for house building have been welcomed by the New Local Government Network (NLGN).
Ads to boost awareness of fuel switching scheme
10 August 2010
A1 Low Carbon Solutions (LCS) is targeting installers with a three-month print and online advertising campaign aimed at raising awareness of its Fuel Switching Scheme.
BRE brings the house down
10 August 2010
For Sarah Beeny’s new tv series Help! My House is Falling Down, the production company turned to the experts at BRE to set up a series of demonstrations of what might happen to the houses featured in the show if urgent repairs were not carried out.
Greenwood Airvac guide to regulation change
10 August 2010
Ahead of the pending revisions to the ADF and ADL Building Regulations, a leading UK manufacturer of energy efficient ventilation products, Greenwood Airvac, reiterates its support to specifiers, consultants and installers to guide them through the changes.
Baxi urges greater emphasis on whole home efficiecy within CERT scheme
10 August 2010
In response to the latest figures released on the government’s Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) scheme, Baxi Group is calling for more focus on co-ordinated, whole home efficiency solutions to deliver carbon savings and alleviate fuel poverty.
New website for Ideal Commercial
10 August 2010
Ideal Commercial has relaunched its website with a new URL www.idealcommercialheating.com which replaces the old site.
Sign up for new Gas Safe Charity
10 August 2010
A new Gas Safe Charity has been established, the trustees are in place and the official launch takes place at the House of Commons in September.
David shows his mettle
05 August 2010
A Scottish heating engineer is celebrating after reaching the semi-finals of a national plumbing competition.
Soler & Palau welcomes Kemble as new area sales manager
05 August 2010
Roger Kemble has joined Soler & Palau sales team.
Daw has a grand design to tackle the Dragon's Den
05 August 2010
Mitsubishi Electric’s commercial director, Donald Daw has put the company’s belief in the energy-saving value of air source heat pumps to the test recently by taking part in a special "Dragon’s Den" style presentation involving Grand Design’s Kevin McCloud.
BRE Global and RIBA Enterprises join forces
04 August 2010
BRE Global’s training team have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with RIBA Enterprises that will link their educational tools for industry.
BPF calls for empty home focus
04 August 2010
The British Property Federation has urged government to tackle the UK housing crisis by bringing empty homes back to life.
UK construction activity expands but growth slows
03 August 2010
Growth of the UK construction sector was sustained in July, with the seasonally adjusted Markit/CIPS Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) posting 54.1.
Stoddart steps into role of northern LZC applications manager
03 August 2010
Gary Stoddart has taken on the new role of LZC application sales manager for the north for Baxi Commercial Division. He reports to Yan Evans, technical director.
Lindab opens super branch in Manchester
02 August 2010
Lindab has opened a new superstore for ventilation and air movement products in Manchester. The 22,000ft2 unit is a significant addition to Lindab's national distribution network and one of the largest facilities of its kind anywhere in the UK.
Smith Group UK to the aid!
02 August 2010
Do you have what it takes? One ambulance, three deserts, five mountain ranges, 10,000 miles in just 3 weeks is a challenge most of us wouldn’t even think was possible!
Lee Nurse steps up at Vent-Axia
02 August 2010
Vent-Axia, a leader in low carbon HEVAC systems, has strengthened its executive team with the promotion of Lee Nurse from marketing manager to marketing director.
Fastlane expands sales team
02 August 2010
Air handling and heat recovery specialist Fastlane Ventilation Equipment has appointed Grant Griffiths as external sales engineer operating nationwide.