www.heatingandventilating.net
Peter Lowther started his career as a technical apprentice with Atholl Engineering
In 2003 it became obvious that energy efficiency was going to become a big issue. Ability embraced the new EC technology. We believed that while initially we might not sell much, when the ‘Green Tide’ turned we would be ready
awareness of what we were about to get into, we launched company #2, Ability. This is where technology plays a bigger part in this story. Whilst up to this point
fan coils had remained relatively unchanged, this is where development took on a pace never experienced before. I would go as far as saying Ability, the Ability products and the industry was progressing further every year than the previous 20 combined. In 2003 it became obvious that energy efficiency was going to become a big
issue. However, while others chose to ‘wait and see’, Ability embraced the new EC technology. We believed that while initially we might not sell much, when the ‘Green Tide’ turned we would be ready with the products the industry needed. What happened..? As Part L 2007 loomed, Ability EC fan coils became far more relevant and formed the basis of a discussion people now wanted to have. What we had done was create a two to three year head start. While others were getting to grips with EC as a concept, we were developing the next generation of EC FCUs – Matrix being one. The next challenge was to locate a controller capable of altering the fan speeds
through a BMS network, rather than it being a manual commissioning adjustment. The problem here lay with communication protocol. The solution chosen was the BacNet system which gave us the programming freedoms we needed. Although relatively unknown in Europe at the time, BacNet was incredibly flexible and well established in America. How much Ability contributed to the popularity of BaCnet in the UK we’ll never know, but it’s now arguably the most popular system around. From here our fan coils, along with our control capabilities, evolved rapidly, enabling the introduction of motor driven PICC (Pressure Independent Characterised Control) valves, ePIV (Electronic Pressure Independent Valves) and now the Matrix Multiroom Solution – a single fan coil that will condition several independent spaces within an apartment or small office. My recent career has felt like a succession of crusades to make sure the humble fan coil evolved and stayed relevant. If I wanted to back any horse for the future I would still put my money on fan coils. They use so little energy, they are flexible and the fact that they are a water-based system rather than needing refrigerants must be an environmental winner. Having said this the future now lies in the hands of others. I’m leaving the industry in a month or so with Ability now in the very capable hands of Glen Dimplex, and I wish them well. Already they have new ground-breaking fan coil products which will keep the pioneering Ability tradition alive and well. I believe Ability has helped keep the UK building services and construction industry leading the world and I am proud to have played my part.
www.heatingandventilating.net
Intuitive air velocity & IAQ
The new testo 440 combines variety and highest ease of use.
• User-optimised menus: All measurements under control
• Wireless probes: For all applications, without any cable mess
• Clearly arranged display: Set-up, measured values and results at a glance
www.testo.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
