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Weather-resistant solar panels

Schott Solar has launched a photovoltaic solution called InDaX 100 for integrating directly into pitched roofs. The system is comprised of solar modules, each measuring 0.86 m2 and producing 100 W of electricity. The modules can be arranged in a variety of ways – in rows, rectangular blocks or stepped formations – and the system can be added to or adapted in the future. The company says the panels provide good resistance to the weather, including driving rain and storms, and are designed to meet the same wind uplift loading as the surrounding roof.

Schott Solar
www.schott.com/uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 302

Central heating on half the power

Heating control and security specialist Centroller has updated its 3000 Plus central heating programmer. The company says its power consumption has been halved from 10 W to 5 W and the back-up battery now lasts for 24 hours. Temperatures can be set for four separate time periods over 24 hours, and the hot water temperature can be varied. The company adds that the programmer is easy to set and all the information is visible on a display. It is supplied as a kit and includes thermsostats for rooms and hot water tanks.

Centroller
www.centroller.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 303

Slimline insulation

¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ materials supplier Natural ¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ Technologies has launched a slimline insulation system for existing exterior walls. The company says the system has no need for a cavity or vapour barrier, and does not need drylining or skilled labour to install it. Called Difutherm, it is made from natural woodfibre and is bonded directly to the brickwork then rendered. It is available in 60, 80 and 100 mm boards. With the insulation installed, the company says a wall would have a U-value ranging from 0.33 W/m2K to 0.51 W/m2K.

Natural ¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ Technologies
www.natural-building.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 304

Movement-sensitive lighting control

Elkay Electrical has launched the 376A infrared timer for controlling lighting use in commercial and public buildings.

It can be used for controlling incandescent, fluorescent and compact lamps. The device switches on the lights for a preset period when it detects a moving heat source within a range of 7 m. It can be set to keep the lights on for between five and 60 minutes after the last detected movement, and can be set to operate the lights in a range of ambient settings. A version with a manual override switch is also available.

Elkay Electrical
www.elkay.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 305

Quiet electronic blind control

Lighting controls maker Lutron Electronics has introduced a quiet electronic drive for roller blinds. Called the Sivoia QED, the unit will allow blinds to be lowered to reduce solar heat gain. The drive units are located inside the roller tube, allowing three installation possibilities: inside jamb, outside wall mount and ceiling mount. The unit can be controlled individually or integrated into Lutron’s Grafik Eye and Homeworks lighting control systems.

Lutron Electronics
www.lutron.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 306

High-capacity condensing boiler

Heating systems maker Vaillant has added the ecoMax 635 to its range of high-efficiency condensing boilers. The high-capacity model is SEDUK A-rated and is claimed to be one of the most powerful condensing boiler systems in the UK. The unit is claimed to provide up to 34.9 kW of heat output making it suitable for large domestic properties. The unit includes a fully modulating low nitrogen oxide burner and a stainless-steel heat exchanger. Heating output can be adjusted from 10.5 kW to 34.9 kW to ensure optimum efficiency.

Vaillant
www.vaillant.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 307

Automatic awnings

Solar control specialist Elero has brought out a range of products for automating awnings, blinds and roller shutters. Called ProLine, the range consists of wireless weather sensors, motors, multifunctional controls and the solar-powered Aero-868 sensor system, which reacts to weather changes and automatically adjusts the position of awnings and blinds.

Elero
www.elerouk.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 308

Energy storage balls

Environmental Process Systems has launched a thermal energy storage system. Called PlusICE, the system works on the principle that energy is stored or released from a material as it freezes or melts. The point at which freezing takes place, and therefore the energy released, depends on the constituents of the material used within the system’s stainless-steel ball-shaped casing. The PlusICE system can operate between –114 and +164 °C. The standard balls are 100 mm in diameter and can be placed in horizontal or vertical tanks to provide sufficient thermal energy storage for building applications.

Environmental Process Systems
www.epsltd.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 310

How to select the greenest facade

The Chartered Institution of ¾«¶«Ó°ÊÓ Services Engineers has launched a toolkit to help designers select facades, based on a range of environmental criteria including solar gain, heat losses, daylighting and acoustics. A software tool enabling designers to identify a suitable facade from a library of 37 systems accompanies the publication.

CIBSE
www.cibse.org
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 311