PRODUCTS IN ACTION
DUCTWORK INSTALLATION
Ductwork choice at Manchester office complex
Phenolic ductwork fabricated from the KINGSPAN KoolDuct System has been installed as part of Island, a 100,000ft² office development in central Manchester, which has been designed to leading standards, including NABERS 5* and BREEAM ‘Excellent’.
Designed by architects
Cartwright Pickard, the 10-storey building includes Grade A office space plus a rooftop terrace, breakout areas and a wellness room. The Island is smart technology-enabled, with its building management
system linking to sensors throughout the office and displaying live energy performance data to occupants via screens across the building. The innovative KoolDuct
System is formed from panels with aluminium foil facings and a rigid thermoset phenolic insulation core. This pre- insulated design avoids the need for a separate lagging stage and can weigh up to 70% less than ductwork constructed from galvanised sheet steel and then insulated with mineral fibre.
The system was
fabricated and installed by EcoDuct. As the phenolic boards can be easily modified with hand tools, EcoDuct were easily able to modify the runs where required – avoiding potential delays from design alterations. Testing has shown
that air-leakage rates can be reduced to a fraction of those typical of conventional galvanised steel ductwork, helping to lower energy demand for the Island by allowing system fans to operate at a lower rate. ■
www.kingspantechnicalinsulation.co.uk
HVAC MAINTENANCE
Water blasting project at University of Oxford improves chiller efficiency
CARRIER has completed a High- Pressure Water Blasting (HPWB) maintenance project for the University of Oxford as part of its BluEdge service agreement, improving efficiency across 16 Carrier 30XA air-cooled chillers and supporting reliable operation ahead of peak seasonal demand. Prior to cleaning, Carrier technicians
carried out endoscopic inspections and identified significant fouling of condenser coils caused by dust, pollen and atmospheric debris. Even light build-up on coil surfaces can substantially reduce system efficiency, increase fan and compressor energy consumption, and shorten equipment lifespan.
The maintenance programme
involved vacuuming, application of a low-pressure environmentally friendly detergent solution, and high-pressure water blasting (up to 140 bar) against airflow to remove contaminants including sludge and hydrocarbons. Technicians also realigned coil fins to restore optimal airflow and heat transfer performance. Post-service inspections
confirmed restored coil condition and improved heat rejection capability. The intervention reduced energy demand, lowered mechanical strain on compressors and mitigated the risk of high-temperature shutdowns during
summer operation. ■
www.carrier.com/commercial/en/uk/ service
VENTILATION
Clearing the air in student accommodation
High-performance ventilation systems from VENT-AXIA have been specified for Centre Court, Olympian’s £120m purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme on Alfreton Road, Nottingham. The development delivers 790 student beds and 19 affordable homes on the former Forest Mill site. The installed product package includes Vent-Axia’s Sentinel Econiq Cool-Flow, Sentinel Kinetic Plus, Sentinel Kinetic High Flow and Sentinel Kinetic Cooker Hood units. These MVHR systems are designed to deliver balanced supply and extract ventilation while recovering heat from outgoing air, helping reduce energy demand in highly airtight buildings.
EIBI | JULY / AUGUST 2026
Across the 790-bed scheme,
the systems provide individual and communal ventilation solutions tailored to apartments and shared spaces, supporting consistent indoor air quality (IAQ) while maintaining low-energy performance targets. Integrated heat recovery reduces thermal losses, while demand-led operation helps optimise airflow in line with occupancy. The MVHR units are deployed
throughout the three-building development, supporting a mix of student accommodation and amenity spaces including study areas, gym facilities and social zones. By combining multiple Sentinel
product variants, Vent-Axia’s solution supports compliance with modern ventilation standards for PBSA schemes, while enhancing occupant comfort, controlling humidity and reducing overall building energy
consumption. ■
www.vent-axia.com
Custom classroom lighting upgrade LED LIGHTING UPGRADE
Hadley Learning Community Secondary School in Telford is benefitting from a bespoke LED classroom lighting upgrade, replacing ageing fluorescent raft luminaires with a custom-designed LED cassette solution. The product solution was developed
by ZUMTOBEL’s Custom Product team to match the existing ceiling raft form factor while significantly improving performance and efficiency. Each luminaire delivers 4024 lumens at 35 W, achieving an efficacy of 115 lm/W, and is designed for seamless integration into the school’s existing suspended ceiling infrastructure. A key feature of the system is tunable
white functionality with variable output control, allowing lighting conditions to be adjusted across the school day. This supports different teaching modes, from
focused individual work to collaborative classroom activities, while enhancing visual comfort and wellbeing. The LED cassette design also improves
glare control and light distribution, meeting strict UGR requirements specified for educational environments. Emergency lighting variants were incorporated to maintain consistent design and performance across all classroom areas. By retaining the existing raft ceiling
system, the retrofit minimises installation disruption while reducing connected load and operational energy consumption. The upgrade delivers improved lighting quality, lower carbon impact, and more flexible, wellbeing-focused learning environments
for staff and students. ■
zumtobelgroup.com
27
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
