A range of items to bring out the interior designer in everyone, including belle 茅poque bathrooms and pool lighting. Plus, the more pressing matters of efficient boilers and greywater recycling
High efficiency boiler
Aquastan Heating has developed an unvented water gas heater called Novacon that is intended to improve the efficiency of domestic hot water supply. The company says the product is laser welded, that it eliminates dissolved air in the heating system and prevents corrosion. Novacon is available in four different sizes: 125, 150, 180 and 200 litres.
Aquastan Heating
enquiry #302
Rainwater collection system
Hydro International has introduced a rainwater harvesting system called StormBank to provide a sustainable water supply and lower utility bills. The company says that the system, which is made from plastic, collects rainfall from roofs, passes it through a stainless steel filter and delivers it to the building clean and free from particulate matter. The resulting water is suitable for toilet flushing, vehicle washing, laundry and irrigation.
Hydro International
enquiry #303
District heating
MHS Boilers has launched a community heating system called Nexus. This uses a gas boiler in a remote centralised boiler house to draw heat and hot water through a loop. Nexus units are placed within individual flats to monitor energy consumption. MHS Boilers says the system provides up to 19 litres of hot water per minute.
MHS Boilers
enquiry #304
Economical bathroom suites
VitrA has developed a bathroom suite called Carlton which is said to offer a cost-effective and durable solution for volume housebuilders. The entry level range comprises a bath, basic brassware designs and a range of sanitary options including 450 mm and 570 mm
full-pedestal basins, a 400 mm corner cloakroom basin and a toilet with top flush. The maker says Carlton's design focuses on simple and sweeping lines and has been priced to be highly competitive in the market.
VitrA
enquiry #305
Taps with thermostats
The Deva Tap Company has launched a range of taps called Dynamic that have thermostatic mixing valves to ensure a stable mixed water temperature and reduce the risk of accidents. The company says the Dynamic range has been designed in a sleek modern style and is suitable for new build and refurbishment projects.
The range comprises deck- and wall-mounted bath shower mixers and monobloc basin and sink mixers.
Deva Tap Company
enquiry #306
Kitchen units
Kitchen maker J&J Ormerod has added a model called Reviva to its entry-level range which is designed to offer specifiers a cost-effective and stylish design. The Reviva range comprises more than 50 different units and is available in white, cream and beech. Additional features include shelf lights, halogen downlights and a choice of more than 100 different handles.
J&J Ormerod
enquiry #309
Surface for playgrounds
Watts of Lydney Group has developed a shredded rubber safety surface called Terrasofta to provide a resilient and safe environment for children's play areas. The product is made of recycled tyres that have been turned into rubber mulch. The company says that Terrasofta is coated with a biocide called Hygienilac which kills a wide range of bacteria including MRSA, listeria and salmonella.
Watts of Lydney Group
enquiry #310
Garage storage system
Scott Brothers has launched a flexible garage storage system called Pack-mate Racor InterChange which is said to be ideal for rotating and expanding storage space according to seasonal needs. The system is made of walls that can hold up to 22 kg and interchangeable racks that include a cord wrap, a hose rack, a multi-use rack, and a long-handled tool hanger and utility hook
Scott Brothers
enquiry #311
Communal satellite television
Sky has launched a communal system for digital satellite television called Free Shared Disc, which has been designed for apartment blocks and flats where it is difficult to install individual satellite receivers. The company says that FSD enables every resident to access digital satellite services without the need for each flat to put up their own dish. The Free Shared Disk cabling is routed to apartments externally to make additional connections easier at a future date.
Sky
enquiry #312
Programmable dimmer switch
Leax Lighting Controls has launched a programmable wall dimmer switch for the domestic market. The Leax 4 脳 4 has been designed to fit into a 75 mm deep double-gang back box to avoid clutter, and the plates can be custom-finished to suit the requirement of any scheme. Leax Lighting Controls says that, unlike other lighting control systems, the Leax 4 脳 4 can be programmed directly from the plate and controlled using an infra-red handset. Its overall capacity is 2000 W.
Leax Lighting Controls
enquiry #313
Movers and makers
- The National Home Improvement Council has launched its 2006 Annual Awards Scheme brochure to provide guidance to private and public housing organisations on how to enter the competition, which covers most aspects of home and environment improvements. The 10 categories include best brownfield or recycled building project, roofing excellence, special needs facilities, gas safety in the home, innovative insulation and a young kitchen designer award. The closing date for entry submissions is 25 August. The winners will be announced on 23 November.
- German timber housebuilder Baufritz has opened a UK office in Cambridge to meet the increasing demand for eco-friendly homes. The company is working with the architectural division of Cambridge design consultancy Breathe to bring the German style of housebuilding to the British market.
- The National House 好色先生TV Council has relaunched its Technical Standards guide to include chapters focusing on the expectations of homeowners especially on subjects such as tolerances and finishes. The NHBC says that the hard-back volume, which replaces the ring-bound format, includes information about the latest version of its building standards which will come into effect on 1 September.
- British Gypsum has published the fourth updated and expanded version of its HomeSpec guide to help specifiers meet the requirements of the latest regulations Part L on energy and Part E on sound insulation for all types of residential building. Called HomeSpec 4, the 160-page guide has explanation and advice, construction details and product information such as performance details for a range of combined cavity fill and drylining options for masonry external wall constructions.
- The Innovation timber casement window range from Cornwall-based joinery company Clearwood UK is the first timber window to achieve a C in the ABCDE rating system from the British Fenestration Rating Council. The rating is awarded based on thermal insulation properties of the whole window.
- Wolseley UK has acquired AC Electrical Wholesale, an independent electrical distributor located in southern and central England, to expand its distribution network to 66 branches across the country. The will open one national identity for the combined businesses, to be called Electric Center.
- The Millfield Group has opened a 拢2m production facility in Newburn, Tyne and Wear. The company says the expansion will enable the group to cater for increasing demand from the housing industry for standard glass-reinforced plastic building products, in particular dormers and door canopies
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