News
Control systems
‘are key to
Biofuel technology
sustainability’
raises hopes for
Control systems have a key role
to play in sustainable designs,
but remain poorly understood
by many design engineers and
troubled boiler industry
end users, according to industry
experts.
CIBSE has tried to plug this n
An innovative scheme
to run existing boilers on
knowledge gap by updating its liquid biofuel is being developed
Guide H, which provides expert by industry associations and
guidance for members and academics in the UK.
industry professionals. It is hoped the move will give a
The new guide aims to give boost to the sector at a time when
readers a better understanding European regulations threaten the
of modern control systems so future of oil-fired heating services.
that they have the knowledge The Oil Firing Technical
to chose the proper control Association (OFTEC) and the
system for their building, and ICOM Energy Association are
ensure that it is installed, working with the University of East
commissioned and maintained Anglia, in the UK, to test a bio-
properly. liquid-run boiler.
“Good controls are vital for The 12-month trial is taking place
the safe, efficient operation of a in schools and homes in Reepham,
modern building,” CIBSE said. Norfolk. Biofuels: industry leaders say more time is required to develop renewables
“Guide H covers all the key areas There are two million homes
without relying too heavily on across the UK and Ireland that new technology to invent a burner existence,” Hawksley said.
mathematical formulas, making depend on heating oil for warmth and boiler that can fit into a UK “If the directive goes through
it easy to read and accessible and hot water, according to and Irish kitchen,” said OFTEC as it stands at the moment, boiler
to all professions related to the associations. They say the director general Jeremy Hawksley manufacturers are going to say by
the design, construction and aim of the trial is to prove that at the recent RAC/H&V09 show in 2013 that we haven’t got a base.
maintenance of a building.” environmentally-friendly, renewable Birmingham. We are trying very hard to persuade
The main improvements in heating oil is viable. The associations are calling civil servants and politicians that we
the guide are a recognition of The renewable fuel being used is on governments to give Britain have to have a delay for Britain and
the role of controls in achieving sustainable biodiesel manufactured and Ireland more time to develop Ireland.”
sustainability, an update of the from used vegetable oil and renewable fuels before the In mainland Britain, oil-fired
role of controls in achieving tallow in Scotland. The biodiesel European Energy Using Products heating accounts for eight per cent
compliance with the Building is stored in Norfolk and blended Directive impacts on the industry. of the market, or 900,000 homes.
Regulations Part L, and an with conventional heating oil by a The directive restricts nitrous In Northern Ireland that figure
improved section on control Norfolk firm. oxide (NOx) emissions to well rises to 70 per cent of the market,
networks. Fuel blends are being trialled below the levels currently given or 460,000 homes, while in the
“Controls do not get the that are equal or lower in carbon out by oil burners. “It’s a very Republic about 500,000 homes
attention they deserve especially footprint than natural gas. damaging piece of EU legislation. rely on it.
in light of their role in delivering “We’re talking about a complete It could legislate oil heating out of Legal column, page 22
sustainable buildings,” said
Peter Warburton of Arup, who
was a key contributor and editor
Profession can help ‘remake’ global warming
of the guide.
“This is a timely exercise The building services industry is towards the end of the century,
because several key areas of remaking the world in which we but it just keeps getting closer and
the guide were out of date,” he live, according to former Mayor of closer.”
added. London Ken Livingstone. He warned that there are still
“It remains an essential “I remember thinking, [global big challenges ahead, with most
aim of the CIBSE IT and warming] is a real problem, and governments working on the
Controls group to improve yet every single year that followed it assumption that emissions are
the understanding of controls was as though the assessment and increasing by just under 1 per cent
strategies and control system warnings were accelerating towards per annum, when they are most
design among both the building us,” Livingstone told more than 600 likely to increase by 2.4 per cent.
services design community and professionals across the building “Your industry has got a lot to
end users.” services industry at CIBSE’s Low do,” he told the awards ceremony.
To purchase this publication Carbon Performance Awards last He said he was delighted to have
please visit www.cibse.org or month. been invited to the awards because
ring 020 8675 5211. “Back in 2000 scientists he was “talking to people who can
Control feature, page 50 were saying we could reach change the world”.
Livingstone: lauding the industry the irreversible tipping point Awards in pictures, p24
10 CIBSE Journal March 2009 www.cibsejournal.com
CIBSEmar09 pp10 news.indd 10 5/3/09 14:03:35
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