Climate change, hospitals and patient well-being

Dr. Chris Iddon of SE Controls

Comment on hospital overheating from The Climate Change Commission report

The recently reported issue of climate change causing overheating in hospitals with an associated increase in related deaths, not only highlights the risk to patient health from high temperatures and inadequate ventilation, but also questions current thinking on building design.

According to findings from forthcoming research by Cambridge University, headed by Professor Alan Short, around 90% of UK hospital wards are of a design type that makes them susceptible to overheating.

Extracts from the report released by the Climate Change Commission, led by Lord Krebs, indicate that building design and construction are key contributory factors to the overheating and patient health issue. In addition, the Commission has already suggested that the retro-fitting of air-conditioning plant would be uneconomic, so the immediate focus is already centred on cost effective and energy efficient measures of addressing the problem, such as natural ventilation.

While hospital overheating can be readily managed with natural ventilation solutions, the additional benefits, particularly in hospital wards, is that it can also reduce the build up of pathogens, viruses and associated infections by encouraging air movement and ‘flushing’ stale air from the building. Independent research undertaken by Dr. Cath Noakes of Leeds University shows that when windows are closed to reduce heat losses and energy costs, there is an increased risk of infection due to a four-fold increase in airborne pathogens.

Although air quality in critical health and clinical areas of hospitals needs to be of the highest standard, these principles, in many instances, have been compromised in other parts of hospital design. In pre-operation, recovery and general wards, the opportunity for ventilation is often limited to a 100mm wide strip of open window - a limit governed by essential risk directives to protect patients from harm and provide a safe environment.

However, simple modifications could readily be implemented to the ventilation solution, such as high-level vents or window opening, which would to not only maintain patient safety, but also provide adequate ventilation to manage temperatures and improve indoor airquality.

When the lack of cooling is linked to other building design issues, such as south facing glazing, low ceilings, thin walls and the cumulative heat build up from multi-storey structures, there will be and inevitable impact on hospital temperatures

Temperature data research and analysis that I have undertaken with Professor Kevin Lomas, as part of the wider Cambridge University team lead by Professor Short, reveals that in numerous hospital wards across the UK there are number of key factors influencing overheating risk. The work has not only highlighted the resilience of traditional, heavyweight ‘Nightingale wards’ to overheating, but also indicated that solar gain is the key cause of internal temperature increase.

Alongside improved ventilation and increased air movement through carefully planned vents to maintain patient safety, the introduction of measures to limit heat gain, such as the deployment of external shading devices will help reduce overheating risk.

Hospital overheating is a very real issue and this report highlights that most are not only incapable of dealing with any predicted gradual increase in temperatures that may result from climate change, but are also likely to be susceptible to heatwaves.

The links between building design practice and how regulations will need to evolve to manage overheating and assist infection control are likely to be a key outcomes from the research, which will impact all aspects of architecture and construction.

While some retro-fitted solutions can provide effective answers to overheating, the time to review building design standards, specifications and regulations, particularly for future hospital construction projects, is probably already here.

SE Controls specialises in the design, project management and installation of advanced smoke ventilation and natural ventilation solutions to meet the needs of architects, contractors, building services engineers and facilities managers worldwide. Further information on SE Controls’ products, solutions and projects can be obtained by visiting www.secontrols.com or calling

+44 (0)1543 443060.

SE Controls Provides a Breath of Fresh Air for Jubilee House

Indoor air quality at a new £3 million energy efficient office development for the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham, is being monitored and controlled by an advanced NVLogiQ natural ventilation system from international smoke and natural ventilation specialist, SE Controls.

                               

The new 1290m² Jubilee House building was designed by Nottingham based, Maber Associates and provides the diocese with a mission centre, conference facilities and a new administration centre for approximately 50 staff who were previously located in the adjacent Grade II listed Dunham House.

The BREEAM Excellent rated building incorporates a number of energy saving features including high levels of insulation and natural daylight alongside low energy light fittings and SE Controls’ efficient natural ventilation system, which monitors, manages and controls carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels and temperature to maintain a comfortable indoor environment.

The adaptive natural ventilation solution developed, installed and commissioned by SE Controls uses 26 of its innovative NVLogiQ controllers, which constantly monitor the air quality in 24 separate zones. This provides a highly versatile system that not only allows the indoor air quality and ventilation to be managed locally in each zone, but every NVLogiQ unit is also linked together as a networked building solution.

Depending on the level of CO₂ present in each zone, alongside information about temperature and humidity, each NVLoqiQ controller signals a series of dedicated NVLogiQ PSU (power supply units) to automatically open windows and rooflight vents, allowing stale hot air to be replaced with cooler fresh air using the thermal stacking effect.

The sophisticated monitoring and control algorithms used in the NVLogiQ controller were developed in conjunction Loughborough University’s Building Energy Research Group and are designed to not only provide highly accurate indoor air quality management and ventilation, but also minimise energy losses from the building.

Every compact NVLogiQ controller, which measures 160mm x 105mm, also incorporates a data logger, which allows the indoor air quality, building performance and ventilation strategy to be constantly recorded for analysis, enabling the operational parameters for each zone in Jubilee House to be tuned to meet specific environment needs.

In addition to the NVLogiQ controllers and PSUs, SE Controls also provided 50 SECO N 24 40 compact chain actuators to precisely control the opening and closing of the building’s windows and rooflight vents, which are also linked to external temperature, wind and rain sensors.

In the event of rain, the system automatically closes all rooflights fully and reduces the window opening to 10%, yet authorised personnel can also adjust the individual ventilation strategy for each zone directly from the front panel of each NVLogiQ controller. A temporary over-ride facility is also available from the front panel, which allows a zone’s system to be controlled manually.

SE Controls project leader on Jubilee House, Majeed Mohammed, explained: “NVLogiQ is an ideal solution for Jubilee House as it provides optimised indoor air quality, localised monitoring and control in 24 zones and constant real time data logging to enable the building performance to be monitored and tailored.”

He added: “Ultimately, however, the natural ventilation system is about ensuring the building’s occupants have a comfortable working environment while minimising the building’s energy consumption. This solution not only meets these requirements, but also provides a level of adaptability and control that is often difficult to achieve using alternative methods.”

  

SE Controls specialises in the design, project management and installation of advanced smoke ventilation and natural ventilation solutions to meet the needs of architects, contractors, building services engineers and facilities managers worldwide. Further information on SE Controls’ products, solutions and projects can be obtained by visiting www.secontrols.com or calling

 +44 (0) 1543 443060.

SE Controls Smoke and Natural ventilation solution for Airbus

A new 25,000m² office building for leading aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, is using an advanced smoke and natural ventilation system from SE Controls to provide a comfortable working environment for staff while ensuring that an effective smoke and fire control strategy can be implemented in the event of a fire.

The four storey building, which is part of the £70 million Airbus Aerospace Business Park development at Filton, accommodates more than 2,500 staff and brings together engineering, design and customer support functions that are currently located in several smaller buildings onsite into the new engineering and technology campus.

SE Controls was involved in the project from the early stages to clarify the ventilation strategy and provide calculations on the free area requirements for the smoke vents to ensure compliance and performance standards were met.

Four separate atrium spaces feature as part of the building, designed by AWW Architects, and each incorporates 84 Schüco AWS 102 projected top hung vents. The vents are automatically operated by a total of 336 SCCO 24 30 concealed actuators, which were supplied, installed and commissioned by SE Controls in partnership with specialist façade contractor, Norking Aluminium.

In addition to installing the actuators, the interface control panels were also supplied, installed and commissioned by SE Controls together with the fire rated cabling, which is completely concealed within the curtain walling.

During day-to-day operation, the natural ventilation system responds to signals from sensors linked to the building management system (BMS) to ensure that the indoor air quality and temperature are maintained within the pre-set parameters to maintain a comfortable working environment.

In the event of a fire, the building’s alarm system signals the natural ventilation system to automatically close all the vents as part of the smoke and fire control strategy. This not only restricts the flow of oxygen into the building to help suppress the fire but also allows precise control to be taken by fire officers via the system’s manual control points, enabling smoke to be cleared from the relevant atrium.

As SE Controls’ actuators and Schüco vents have been tested and proven to meet the European smoke vent standard hEN12101-2 and the Construction Products Regulations that came into force in July 2013, the ventilations system is CE marked and fully compliant.

SE Controls’ Commercial Director, Martin Oates, commented: “The Airbus project is an excellent example of how a fully compliant life safety critical smoke ventilation system can also be utilised on a day to day basis to provide a controlled natural ventilation solution that maintains comfort for Airbus staff.”

He added: “By being brought into the process at a very early stage, we were able to clarify the specification, assist the design team and help resolve any technical and operational issues during the build.”  

  

SE Controls specialises in the design, project management and installation of advanced smoke ventilation and natural ventilation solutions to meet the needs of architects, contractors, building services engineers and facilities managers worldwide. Further information on SE Controls’ products, solutions and projects can be obtained by visiting www.secontrols.com or calling

 +44 (0) 1543 443060.

Indoor Air Quality In Schools – Is It Making The Grade?

The new Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) Facilities Output Specification, launched last October by the Education Funding Agency, proposes some significant, positive and welcome changes to school ventilation specifications, when compared to the existing BB101 standard.

Alongside ventilation and carbon dioxide levels, it also provides clear guides on specific performance standards for thermal comfort while recognising that indoor air quality, ventilation strategy, temperature, humidity and energy efficiency are all intrinsically linked.

However, given that the PSBP is aimed at renewing, repairing and refurbishing some of the country’s most dilapidated schools, the question has to be asked about what happens to those schools that are not especially out of date or in poor repair? Will schools that fall outside the scope of PSBP and its associated funding find that their pupils suffer as ‘legacy’ classroom designs struggle to meet the new standards, particularly for CO₂?

Classroom carbon dioxide levels exceed BB101

In the last quarter of 2012, we ran a pilot test with a small number of ‘non-PSBP’ primary schools in the Midlands and Northern Home Counties to gauge the actual level of CO₂ in classrooms.

Using our NVLogiQ room controller’s integral CO₂ sensor and data-logging function to monitor and record carbon dioxide levels for later analysis, it’s front panel display also acted as a ‘traffic light’ system for teachers, alerting them that the levels were increasing and they should manually open windows to improve ventilation.

When the initial data was analysed in January this year, the headline results raised some significant concerns and were as follows:

·         For most days, the daily average occupied CO₂ level exceeded the recommended 1500ppm figure in BB101.

·         In some cases the CO₂ figure was between 2500ppm and 3700ppm on every day of the week.

·         BB101’s maximum 5000ppm level was breached four times per week in some cases.

·         A maximum reading of 7200ppm was recorded, resulting in the CO₂ levels exceeding 5000ppm for almost 3 hours in one case.

While this is a relatively small pilot programme, the results appear fairly consistent and suggest that air quality in schools is probably not as good as it should be. It also raises some general questions about verifying the performance of building ventilation systems in schools.

Clearly the new PSBP output specification sets out to address the issue of CO₂ levels, but as some schools are already struggling to comply with the less stringent existing standards, it is evident that any PSBP compliant system must be designed correctly and controlled effectively.

Control is the key

In ‘post-test’ de-briefings, teachers said they were too busy to constantly monitor and respond to ‘traffic light’ signals, so relying on manual opening proved to be unviable due to the intrinsic lack of precise control

Unless automated ventilation solutions are adopted, such as window automation linked to dedicated monitors and controllers or a hybrid mixed mode system to provide additional backup, then it’s likely that children and teachers will continue to work in poorly ventilated and non-compliant schools with the inevitable result of reduced learning performance.

By utilising devices such as NVLogiQ, which can be configured to operate either as a networked system or be dedicated to individual areas, classroom CO₂ levels, temperature and energy efficiency can be managed as an integrated set of parameters to provide optimal ventilation while saving energy and money.

Performance monitoring and ‘Soft Landings’

While the value of effective monitoring and logging of CO₂, energy efficiency and other parameters provides a constant source of information for analysis and system ‘tuning’, the real benefits come from long term building performance and environment monitoring. This information allows consultants, contractors and school facilities mangers to understand and refine a building’s overall performance.

This facility has even more value within the framework of BSRIA’s Soft Landings programme, which formally establishes a process of managed and extended handover from contractor to owner or occupier to help create a culture of ‘shared responsibility and co-operation’.

A learning environment

PSBP provides a tremendous opportunity to bring our schools up to date with quality facilities and better, more comfortable energy efficient buildings.

It’s evident that the ventilation industry and the education sector have learned a lot since the original introduction of BB101, yet the issues identified in our classroom CO₂ pilot study suggest that while there are still some lessons to be learned, the ventilation solutions are already available.

SE Controls’ 30 years of experience in creating and installing natural ventilation solutions in a diverse range of sectors, alongside an ongoing commitment to rigorous academic research, equips us with skills and technologies that can help make PSBP work, while helping improve building performance overall.

SE Controls helps provide the perfect environment at Audi Leicester

Sytner Group’s state of the art Audi dealership in Leicester is using advanced natural ventilation technology from SE Controls to ensure that a comfortable environment is maintained for its customers and staff.

Constructed to Audi’s ‘Terminal Concept’ dealership template, originally designed by Allmann, Sattler, Wappner Architekten GmbH, the extensive new showroom and workshop complex replaces Sytner’s previously facility, which it had occupied since 2007.

As part of the energy efficient design, the dealership uses natural ventilation to ensure the carbon dioxide levels and temperature are managed effectively within the entire building to create a comfortable environment for staff and customers within the large open plan showroom as well as for its technicians in the pristine workshops.

SE Controls supplied, installed and commissioned the complete natural ventilation system, which involved the supply of two SCCO Schuco 500mm stroke chain actuators and a precision OS2 controller to provide automatic operation of the sloping vents in the showroom atrium. Manual operation of the vents also formed part of the showroom system, operated by tamper-proof key operated switches.

Audi Leicester’s workshop area is split into six separate areas, each with its own localised ventilation, control and manual over-ride system. To actuate the Schuco AWS 55 vertical vents, SE Controls installed 18 of its new 24 Volt SECO 24 40 N chain actuators together with six OS2 controllers and key operated switches to give accurate and flexible control over the system.

SE Control’s Project Manager, Darren Wainwright, explained: “The strength of the natural ventilation solution at Audi Leicester is its simplicity, versatility and effectiveness. By using well designed vents in the showroom and workshops, coupled with our energy efficient actuators and OS2 controllers, the overall system not only provides effective ventilation and temperature control, but also allows a high degree of flexibility in its operation, particularly in the workshops.”

SE Controls specialises in the design, project management and installation of advanced smoke ventilation and natural ventilation solutions to meet the needs of architects, contractors, building services engineers and facilities managers worldwide. Further information on SE Controls’ products, solutions and projects can be obtained by visiting www.secontrols.com or calling +44 (0) 1543 443060.

SE Controls wins ‘historic’ award from The National Archive

A major project to replace and upgrade the glazed roof at The National Archive (TNA) in Kew has resulted in SE Controls’ smoke ventilation solutions being recognised within TNA’s Team Awards, which have been awarded collectively to the internal departments, external partners and contractors involved in the successful completion of the project.

The National Archive is the central repository for all UK historic and government records covering almost 10 centuries of information going back to the Domesday Book of 1085. As a result, while the safety of the building’s staff and visitors is the critical concern in the event of a fire, it is also vital that the archive is protected from damage.

By replacing the existing roof glazing, which had begun to leak in a number of places, TNA took the opportunity to improve the overall quality of the glazing, as well as bringing the smoke ventilation and actuation system up to the latest regulatory standards to ensure compliance with the relevant fire safety and building legislation.

The previous pneumatically controlled smoke vent and window automation system was replaced with a new integrated window and actuator solution, which is fully compliant to the latest EN12101-2 standard and is linked to SE Controls’ smoke and environmental control panels within the building’s eight smoke control zones.

HTP Architects designed the new glazed roof and Structura UK was the principal contractor on the project, with both companies also being part of the collective award from TNA. Throughout the project, the entire upgrading was undertaken while the building was occupied and provided full access to the public to ensure no disruption was caused.

SE Controls specialises in the design, project management and installation of advanced smoke ventilation and natural ventilation solutions to meet the needs of architects, contractors, building services engineers and facilities managers worldwide. Further information on SE Controls’ products, solutions and projects can be obtained by visiting www.secontrols.com or calling +44 (0) 1543 443060.

SE Controls provides a creative environment at new university design centre

Students at Loughborough University’s recently completed East Park Design School building are being helped in their studies by an integrated natural ventilation system from SE Controls, which ensures that carbon dioxide (CO₂) and is kept in check and indoor air quality levels are maintained.

Designed by Burwell Deakins Architects, the £14.7 million building uses informal design themes and layouts to create an ‘inspirational environment’ as well as providing practical work spaces, design studios, lecture theatres and workshops.

As with all learning environments, one of the key considerations for the design school was ensuring that levels remained within the appropriate limits to ensure that students’ abilities are not impaired by poor indoor air quality. Also, the building was conceived form the outset as a low carbon structure with minimum emissions, so utilises a range of energy efficient technologies including solar shading, insulated glazing and SE Controls’ natural ventilation solution.

The extensive natural ventilation control and actuation system was designed and installed by SE Controls to not only manage the CO₂ levels, but also ensure the temperature within the building is maintained within comfortable limits by using precise incremental control over the entire natural ventilation system.

To achieve these key goals, SE Controls installed over 400 chain actuators over the ground, first and second floors to control high level vertical vents in laboratories, offices and study areas, as well as the design school’s workshops and computer room.

Automatic louvres are also installed in ground floor public areas and meeting rooms, to allow fresh air to enter the building, while a further 48 chain and linear actuators in the building’s extensive glazed atrium vents provide ventilation to the atrium space below.

The entire system is controlled by a series of SE Controls’ OS2 networked control units and an OS2 modular panel for the atrium vents, which are seamlessly linked into the buildings BMS. This not only monitors CO₂ and temperature, but also signals the actuation of the vents and louvres to maintain the levels within the system’s upper and lower set points.

Darren Wainwright, SE Controls’ project leader on the East Park installation, explained: “The close relationship between CO₂ levels and the performance of students in schools and other educational establishments is already well documented, so it’s vital that good indoor air quality is maintained. However, it’s equally important that heat losses are minimised during ventilation to avoid unnecessary use of energy to re-heat the building, which is why the operating algorithms and ventilation strategy deployed minimise energy consumption while maintaining excellent indoor air quality and comfortable temperatures.”

Loughborough University has also been closely involved with the development of SE Controls’ new ‘NVLogiQ’ compact natural ventilation control solution through a highly active knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) programme. The ongoing relationship, which has already been in place for more than two years, has enabled SE Controls to develop advanced energy saving operating algorithms to the current design standards and accepted best practice for its new generation of controllers, of which NVLogiQ is the first.

SE Controls specialises in the design, project management installation and maintenance of advanced smoke ventilation and natural ventilation solutions to meet the needs of architects, contractors, building services engineers and facilities managers worldwide. Further information on SE Controls’ products, solutions and projects can be obtained by visiting www.secontrols.com or calling +44 (0) 1543 443060.

‘Why Automate Windows' Part 3

'Control and Contractual Process'

Will Perkins - Managing Director - SE Controls

In this series of articles by Will Perkins we look at the provision of adaptive natural ventilation for healthy and efficient buildings and the safety provision of smoke ventilation. The series attempts to explain some of the pitfalls in the lack of early design and understanding of such systems.

In this third and final part of the introduction to automating windows we look at how to control actuators in order to offer building users the most flexible and sustainable methods of achieving the ultimate goal - good air quality.

The simplest method of control is by wiring actuators up to a single on / off switch which will offer either an open or closed window condition for one or many windows wired together. A more sophisticated, but still a simple solution, is to have the windows operable on a ‘rocker’ type switch. Windows will slowly open when pushed one way, slowly close when pushed the other, and when allowed to back to its central position the windows remain at the incremental position. Whilst both these options are the most basic form of window automation, manual override switches with this functionality are often fitted to more complex installations in order to offer building users an element of control and to efficiently adapt to changing internal and external conditions

As mentioned previously, some actuators will be required to operate in case of fire for smoke ventilation. These actuators will be rated at 24 V dc and a control panel will be provided with a step down transformer from the mains which will constantly charge a 24 V battery. In case of a power outage the 24 V batteries will continue to operate the windows for safe heat and smoke evacuation keeping exit routes clear of toxic smoke.

Taking the system further and now beginning to add some ‘logic’, an adaptive natural ventilation system can be provided. The adaptive natural ventilation control strategy monitors internal and external conditions and activates the vents or windows to provide a productive and efficient learning or working environment.

There may be a need to close the windows should it start to rain. A rain sensor can be fitted to the roof and when activated can ensure windows are safely closed to stop water ingress. Further options can include seven day timers which ensure windows are always closed for security outside normal room accommodation hours, such as in offices, schools, etc. For night time cooling or early morning purge time, clocks can be utilised to ensure that the automatic opening vents operate at the optimum time.

Cost effective sensors can be installed into areas where banks of windows have been automated and these same sensors can control proportional opening of windows to finely control comfort levels of temperature and CO_2. Low levels of CO₂ have been proven to be conducive to improved levels of concentration and learning, this is   particularly important in schools.

Wind direction can contribute towards an effective ventilation strategy and with a ‘weather station’ installed on the roof of a building and more complex programmable controls, algorithms can be introduced which offer the most effective solutions by using wind driven ventilation strategies to control the comfort of an internal environment. Most importantly, window automation strategies must be combined with a buildings overall heating strategy, to maximise energy savings and offer the most sustainable solution. Early appointment of a window automation and ventilation specialist is imperative if the structure is to make best use of these options.

It is common to see a ventilation strategy within a building, as explained above, that is interfaced with the fire alarm system. An entire window automation system can be linked so that it operates as a smoke ventilation system in case of a fire. Should this be the case, actuators will need to be 24 V DC instead of a directly connected to the mains power supply. Whilst sounding very complicated there are some very cost effective ways to achieve this dual function. Also important to note, is that if an automated system is linked in to a smoke control strategy, then a preventative maintenance package needs to be adopted to ensure that the life safety system can operate as designed in the case of a fire.

Occupants need to be fully aware of automated window and ventilation systems which are installed into their new or refurbished buildings - many people wish to have full control over their own working environment, it’s not always to everybody's taste! With initial education and an agreement of what constitutes a sensible working environment for all, saving in energy usage can be achieved.

Taking all the energy and ventilation resources into consideration, including areas of solar gain and wind direction, the building can be effectively modelled to show what can be achieved at various times of the day and under different changing conditions.

There are various standards that need to be adhered to ensure compliant installations; these include current building regulations and British Standards. However, new products standards are now being introduced from Europe for smoke control systems. The family of new standards fall under EN 12101 and covers ten parts of controlling smoke in a fire condition. For smoke ventilation the use of CE marked ventilators along with the requirements and testing methods are an important factor that specifications are requiring. A further important standard is EN 60335-2, which covers protection of the public where mechanical devices are present. Where mechanical automatic opening vents  are operational under 2.5 metres (2.5 m from floor level) then protection against trapping is necessary. Protection may be built into the actuator or separate devices may be needed, to mitigate the potential risk.

The contractual process for installation of window automation and smoke control packages covers many on-site specialists, including the window manufacturer, installer, electrical systems, heating system, fire alarms, etc. So care in selecting a competent specialist that can offer a complete design solution all the way through to after care is crucial to getting a well-designed and integrated installation. Split packages where responsibility for different elements falls to different companies often lead to poorly designed, costly and inefficient systems.

An example of this usually resorts to the facade contractor selecting the most competitively priced actuator which meets their quality standards, but with little reference to the power that the device consumes. A single device taking 18 Watts of power may seem a small amount of power to run a single actuator, multiply this by 100 actuators and the consumption runs to 1.8 Kilowatts. Compared to a 12 Watt device the saving in power alone is 33%, but more importantly the control system will need to handle more power as a result and increase installation control panel costs.

The most cost efficient way of specifying and installing adaptive natural ventilation systems and smoke control systems is to approach a specialist who can offer a complete design package, from design through to installation and maintenance. Not only can this approach offer a balanced approach as far as the system is concerned, but by offering specialist ventilation design advice at architectural concept stage can reduce building costs and as importantly, future running costs which effects the buildings long term sustainability. Often initial budgets omit significant packages necessary to implement adaptive natural ventilation successfully, later causing poor compromise and ill feeling towards the technology. At SE Controls the complete supply chain is supported, the main areas being:

Design & Cost Planning

During early design stages SE Controls can assist the client and design team in specifying the most cost efficient and practical solution for natural ventilation, smoke ventilation and window automation.

Approval and Tendering Process

SE Controls offers coordination with the client, the approving body and bidding contractors throughout the tendering process.

• Coordination with approving body

• Production of specifications for tendering

• Planning and mid-tender meetings.

Coordination

At early stages of the project vital information is required by the contractor. AOV openings may be built into the shell and the core of the building including, walls, roofs and facades.

Commissioning Handover, Training and Optimisation

During the final completion stages of the project build phase, SE Controls will commission the ventilation system. This will typically involve detailed cause and effect testing of all the system components against the design specification. SE Controls trained commissioning engineers will then hand over the system to the client together with detailed operating instructions and training. After occupation the system can be optimised to suit client requirements.

The most important decision a specifier can make is selecting the right specialist for the project as early as possible.

SE Controls operate across the globe with offices in several continents, with specialists offering clients expert advice based on local legislative requirements. Visit the website at www.secontrols.com for further information. To discuss your requirements with SE Controls, or request literature, please call their head office in Lichfield on 01543 443060.

Top MSc student wins low carbon building design prize from SE Controls

Loughborough University student Jenny Cheung has been awarded the ‘SE Controls’ Prize for Best Overall Performance’ after achieving the highest results on the University’s MSc in Low Carbon Building Design and Modelling.

SE Controls originally created the prize to reward outstanding performance on the course as a further development in the company’s highly productive relationship with Loughborough’s School of Civil and Building Engineering, which involves advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and building energy modelling.

The Loughborough MSc was first introduced in 2009 and developed along a modular structure to meet the evolving needs of modern building services engineers, while reflecting the growing emphasis on sustainability and the use of low carbon technologies in building design, construction and operation. 

Each module on the course, which is accredited by CIBSE and The Energy Institute, is highly detailed and covers aspects such as concept design, renewable energy technologies and energy consumption as well as advanced thermal, airflow and lighting modelling, to ensure students have a complete understanding of the principles and practice of low carbon design.

Prior to enrolling on the MSc, 23-year-old Jenny graduated with a degree in architectural engineering and design management, which she also studied at Loughborough. Having chosen to follow a career in building management, the MSc was a logical next step and Jenny’s innovative approach and her dedication were key factors in her securing the SE Controls’ prize, according to the course Programme Director, Dr Malcolm Cook.

He said: “The calibre of all students was extremely high, which makes Jenny’s achievement all the more impressive. She is clearly a talented individual and her mix of creative thinking coupled with highly detailed and in-depth analysis of the problems set during the course enabled her to present solutions that were both innovative and practical.”

SE Controls specialises in the design, project management and installation of advanced smoke ventilation and natural ventilation solutions to meet the needs of architects, contractors, building services engineers and facilities managers worldwide. Further information on SE Controls’ products, solutions and projects can be obtained by visiting www.secontrols.com or calling +44 (0) 1543 443060.

The Loughborough University School of Civil and Building Engineering is one of the largest multi-disciplinary engineering faculties in the UK. It aims to develop and nurture the skills required to face the challenges of an increasingly complex built environment. Its world-class teaching and research are integrated to support the technical and commercial needs of both industry and society.

The school’s graduates are extremely sought after by industry and commerce, and its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes are consistently ranked as excellent in both student surveys and independent assessments.

Smoke Ventilation and Natural Ventilation for Salford Royal Hospital

A combined smoke and natural ventilation solution from SE Controls is helping create a comfortable and safe environment for patients, visitors and staff at Salford Royal Hospital’s new £90 million Hope Building.

Designed by architects HKS and constructed by Balfour Beatty, as part of the Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust’s £200 million redevelopment programme, the five storey Hope Building houses a new A&E department as well as providing 242 beds, an emergency assessment unit and critical care facilities.

SE Controls developed the fire engineered smoke and natural ventilation solution around the original fire specification and worked closely with the consultants to create an effective and reliable system that maximises comfort, safety and energy efficiency by linking in to both the building management system (BMS) and the separate fire alarm system.

Within the hospital, the smoke and natural ventilation system is split into two zones to allow maximum control over the temperatures and ventilation needs in both the main concourse and the atrium areas of the building, by using a series of louvres, roof vents and atrium vents controlled by the BMS.

In normal operation, localised sensors throughout the building monitor the temperatures and their patterns of change, feeding constant information to the BMS, which manages the proportional opening and closing of the vents and louvres. This not only ensures that temperatures remain within specified limits but also that the building has a constant flow of fresh air.

SE Controls’ solution also takes account of adverse weather conditions, such as excessively high winds or rain, to ensure that vents are automatically closed to stop the ingress of water and limit any possible damage.

In the event of fire, the alarm system over-rides the BMS, which instantly opens the smoke vents and louvres fully to create a smoke free escape route and access for fire services.

The potential for false alarms and accidental triggering is also addressed by the SE Controls system, as any manual activation by a Manual Control Point (MCP) or individual smoke detector requires a secondary confirmation signal from the aspirator monitoring system. However, if the aspiration system detects a fault, then it switches to ‘fault mode’ where no confirmation signal is required to activate the smoke ventilation if triggered manually or by a smoke detector.

Further fail-safe back up is provided by a separate fully monitored battery back up system in compliance with the requirements of EN12101 standard, as well as a further supply taken from the hospital’s own secondary power system, which effectively provides the entire system with two independent back up supplies.

Mark Hargreaves, SE Controls’ Commercial Manager, explained: “Fire safety is a critical aspect of any building design and in hospitals where there are a large number of people with limited mobility, it is vital that escape routes are kept clear for extended periods to enable them to escape. By combining fire engineered smoke ventilation with highly effective natural ventilation as an integrated solution, the system not only provides failsafe protection, but also provides a comfortable environment for the building’s occupants.”

SE Controls specialises in the design, project management and installation of advanced smoke ventilation and natural ventilation solutions to meet the needs of architects, contractors, building services engineers and facilities managers worldwide. Further information on SE Controls’ products, solutions and projects can be obtained by visiting www.secontrols.com or calling +44 (0) 1543 443060.