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HEATING, VENTILATION & SERVICES
consideration, switching to underfloor heating has 93% less embodied carbon.
Crucial calculations
The foundation of this calculation is data from within the Government statistics which disclose the carbon impact of manufacturing building materials. The report states that the manufacture of iron and steel products have a 7.1 MTCO2
e
(metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent), compared with plastic products which have a 3 MTCO2
e – 58% less than that of iron and steel.
Material volume is also a key aspect. In an average house with 10 rooms over two floors, underfloor heating also proves to be a low embodied carbon heating system as the system requires 42% less material (129.4 kg) compared with 222.6 kg of material for an equivalent standard radiator system. The weight, and consequently the volume of material, would also increase further for larger, low temperature radiators now required to meet the demands of the new 55˚C flow temperature update to the Building Regulations and Part L revisions, which are now in force.
Gilberts delivers “fantastic” performance for Virgin’s UK fi rst
Gilberts has risen to the challenge of delivering indoor air quality to a constantly evolving brief for a high profi le, luxury hotel. The new Virgin Hotel in Edinburgh is the fi rst in the UK for the global brand and has overcome a complex array of challenges in its construction over the past four years. Three listed buildings have been merged into a cohesive whole with the addition of new build elements and a suspended glass link bridge. Emtec turned to Britain’s leading independent air movement specialist Gilberts to supply all the ventilation grilles and diffusers to ensure supply and return of air from the variable refrigerant fl ow (VRF) system to the whole hotel. A stand-out element has been Gilberts’ GHV double defl ection grilles, specially produced in a bronze fi nish to sit within 200 years-old wood panelled walls. Gilberts provided a raft of different powder coated fi nishes to the diverse LG linear bar grilles in the bedrooms. Bobby Armstrong, senior contracts manager building services at Emtec said: “Gilberts has been fantastic all the way through this technically challenging project”.
01253 766911
info@gilbertsblackpool.com The bottom line? Get the low-down on how to improve project profi tability
However much we all want to do the right thing, there is always a shadow over our shoulder – what’s the cost? Good news: going against the conventional, getting below the skin of your new build, refurbishment, or refi t project, WILL tick all the boxes in terms of ethics and morals – AND deliver savings on construction costs – and beyond. What is this miracle? Underfl oor air conditioning – or UfAC. The clue is in the name – underfl oor. Using a 200m+ raised access fl oors eliminates the need for a ceiling based ventilation zone – typically twice the depth which helps to maximise fl oor to ceiling heights. The process in new build means the overall building height is reduced, by up to 10%, with all the associated savings in construction material and labour costs. The building is completed – and therefore occupied – more quickly. That delivers an accelerated revenue stream/ ROI, potentially providing income three months before an offi ce block offering the same lettable fl oor space is even fi nished! Because UfAC uses the fl oor as a plenum, there is no ductwork, delivering further cost savings in terms of materials and labour. Please contact AET Flexible Space for more information.
01342 310400 www.fl
exiblespace.com ADF12_Flexible Space_Heating Ventilation &
Services_DPR.indd 1
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK 25/11/2022 09:04 ADF DECEMBER 2022 Future proofing
The relatively short life cycle of traditional radiators, around 25 years, means that, in addition to being less efficient than underfloor heating when in situ, they become a waste product in a relatively short space of time. While they can be recycled once decommissioned, the carbon produced during the recycling process is extremely high.
Underfloor heating systems are distinctly different, as the system can last three times longer, with most offering at least a 75- year guarantee. This not only boosts the building’s sustainability credentials, but also provides reassurance that the system will likely outlive the lifetime of the building. A good quality underfloor heating pipe – which is made from superior quality five layered sustainable PE-RT (polyethylene of raised temperature resistance) – can also be melted down safely and reused. So, when it comes to a longer view of a building’s overall carbon emissions, underfloor heating is also proven to be a truly sustainable specification choice.
Craig Edwards is sales manager at WMS underfloor heating
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