The economic downturn has dealt a blow to the fans and blowers market in the GCC. The gaze is now set on Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where there is palpable activity, say industry insiders.

The writing on the wall is clear: projects have been delayed, kept on hold or even cancelled. Global MEP packages have been reviewed downwards. Given this scenario, cost tops the list of priorities, with concern for energy efficiency coming a distant second. This is the independent, yet unanimous, verdict reached by representatives from the fans and blowers market in the GCC – in particular, Systemair, Dynair, Aldes, Leminar, Nuaire and Faisal Jassim Trading Company.

Improper installation and maintenance are other worries that manufacturers and consultants have to contend with. But the general mood is to weather the storm by remaining competitive, raising customer awareness and trying to make inroads into more promising markets – these at present being Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

When it comes to the size of the fans and blowers market in the GCC, the verdict is neither clear nor unanimous. Amit Ahuja, General Manager, Maico Gulf (Dynair), estimates the market size to be between Dh320 million and Dh350 million, Qatar between Dh60 million and Dh70 million and Saudi Arabia between Dh120 and Dh150 million.

Mohammad Abulwafa, Product Manager, Faisal Jassim Trading Company, Abu Dhabi, thinks that the size of the market is increasing and getting more importance than before. He estimates it to be between $15 billion and $20 billion of projects under construction or at the design stage. He pegs Saudi Arabia at between $2 billion and $3 billion, the UAE at between $5 billion and $7 billion, with Qatar standing at $1 billion. Gaetan Pierrefeu, the Managing Director of Aldes ME, admits to the difficulty in arriving at a conclusive figure. “We have assumed the fans market to be around Dh160 million in the UAE for the moment,” he says. “But this is quite difficult to estimate clearly, due to different specific fans (small extract fans and smoke exhaust fans, to name two) and different manufacturers and distributors.”

The figures, therefore, are not conclusive and appear, at best, to be ‘guesstimates’, as the economic downturn has made it difficult to pin down numbers with any degree of certainty. As Aboobacker Aslam, Sales and Marketing Manager at Systemair Middle East, points out, “Sales from Dubai alone is down by 40% – around 20% estimated reduction in overall business.”

The other spokespersons echo this view. Pierrefeu explains, “Business has been even more competitive on price, with contractors more demanding on this key sales factor.”

Ahuja, points out that this is in contrast to 2007, when most contractors were busy designing projects that were yet to be announced. “Frankly, in the UAE,” he says, “there are no new projects that we are working on. The existing projects in Dubai have already been designed and are under way.”

Andrew Kirton, General Manager, Nuaire, says that fewer projects under construction have led to greater competition. Another fall-out of the situation, he says, is that due to tighter banking regulations, suppliers are having to accept extended payment terms.

Rakesh Mistry, Design and Estimation Engineer with Leminar, which represents Casals and Twin City, believes, as do the others, that Abu Dhabi has helped stabilise the market, which was in danger of keeling over. “We were not active in the Abu Dhabi market, but now we are getting five per cent of the market share for fans,” he says.

Pierrefeu lists the reasons: “Dubai has been much more affected than Abu Dhabi due to the revelation of the real estate bubble, mixed with a stock of offices and apartments. The Abu Dhabi market is safer due to oil revenues, a real demand for housing and offices and a need for education and health facilities.”

Ahuja, while agreeing with Pierrefeu, warns: “Everyone was looking at Abu Dhabi as a saviour. But even Abu Dhabi has slowed down. There has been a drastic reduction in the pace of work. Nobody is in a hurry; earlier, everything was in the fast-track.” Ahuja believes that this is because owners and developers are treading with caution. “People are evaluating their investments even in projects that are under way,” he says. “They are now saying, ‘Let’s do it in phases’. The bottom line is, people have time today.”

Though it comes with a caveat, the important players in the fan and blower sector, sensing growth in business opportunities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have either set up shop there or are strengthening an already existing base, hoping to inject life into a weakening market. Aslam admits that Systemair’s distributors have a full-fledged base in Qatar and that the company is now setting up a network in the Kingdom, in response to the number and size of projects that have been announced there.

Pierrefeu echoes this view. “There is a real demand in Saudi Arabia, with a strong domestic market supporting the growth, with a need for education facilities, hospitals, and housing for the young population,” he says.

Kirton, speaking from Nuaire’s point of view, says: “We recognise that the Saudi market is becoming of more importance to our market sector due to reduction in opportunities in other GCC countries.” His company, says Kirton, has recalibrated its strategy by focusing more on the supply of ventilation systems there, which involves the input of Nuaire’s ventilation specialists at the design stage.

Companies, like Dynair, have responded to the changing scenario by adapting their products. Speaking on behalf of his organisation, Ahuja says: “Saudi Arabia is a very different market. For one, any product there that runs on electricity does so on 60Hz frequency cycle, while in the rest of the GCC, it is 50Hz. We have now designed and tested our products to run on 60Hz frequency cycle, and so we are Saudi-ready. We are looking to enter the market through a distributor network and through our own set up. We are doing due diligence, and have identified a couple of people and have already started marketing (to some markets). But we are looking for the right channel partners across the country. We will start with Riyadh and, then, diversify into Dammam and Jeddah. But Riyadh is most active. Most of the construction and development is taking place there.”

But Ahuja is quick to add that though the market in the Kingdom is huge and there are many projects up for the taking, the receptiveness to change is slow, as one has to operate against an essentially conservative backdrop, where customers don’t readily change to new brands. “It is an interesting challenge to break into KSA,” he says.

When it comes to Qatar, speaking from Dynair’s experience of over 15 years in the country, Ahuja says that his company has intensified its activities there, as it is vibrant in terms of business.

Mistry says that Leminar, has started a joint venture operation in Qatar with the Dyarco Group from January this year, with a sales and marketing team in place, but has not yet received orders for fans. “The Qatar market is encouraging and the potential is there,” Mistry says. He, however, adds, “The pace of projects is slow compared to the UAE. But the money is there. And also, they are bidding for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”

The World Cup could, perhaps, prove to be the panacea that the construction sector, in general, is looking for. The fan and blower market hopes to benefit from the spill-over effect, considering the symbiotic relationship the two sectors enjoy.

“The business opportunities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been stable in numbers, but the time frame for the completion will be probably longer,” warns Pierrefeu, on a conclusive note.

Meanwhile, expanding the customer network and product range and improving service, especially after-sales service, appears to be the three-pronged approach of the sector to combat market realities. This translates into going back to the basics.

Alluding to after-sales service as the key to the success of Leminar, Mistry says, “We have factory-trained technicians, spare parts for all the fans and complete knowledge of our products, which make all our customers happy.”

Aslam lists strategies Systemair has adopted to spur on a sluggish market: expanding to other growth markets, adding new product lines like AHUs and air distribution products, while laying emphasis on products like air curtains and heaters.

On the other hand, Pierrefeu says, “Our target is to propose the right offer with the best support and services (knowledge and follow-up) to our customers, at the most appropriate/competitive price.” But he also astutely points out: “Cost is the first criterion for MEP contractors. Energy efficiency has not really been considered and implemented yet by MEP consultants (it is still in the hands of authorities like ESTIDAMA). Reliability and brand name are considered by MEP consultants to make the shortlist of three approved manufacturers.”

Ahuja, too, names pricing as high priority, as also service, and customer intimacy for Dynair, but is quick to add, “Pricing is not such an important issue, because we are already well-established in Dubai, and people know our price.” However, he agrees that the market, at least for now, is cost-driven. Kirton, while seconding the view that price plays a big part in the current market climate, warns: “It is important for designers to understand that reducing the amount of expensive air conditioned air that is extracted from a building can have a huge effect on the total energy usage, as chiller loads have the single biggest effect on energy costs in any building.

Alluding to the market prior to 2008, especially in Dubai, where every supplier had a big chunk of the pie, Ahuja points out, “People are quoting any price to get a project. Some of the pricing is absurd. I don’t understand the strategy. I sometimes wonder if they are making any money at all out of this.”

Desperate times, perhaps, call for desperate measures, and visibility and being a player, despite low margins, till the tide turns in favour of the market, could prove to be a wise game plan.

With the global focus on it, sustainability is an aspect that needs to be factored into the equation. Cutting costs while offering energy-efficient products is, therefore, a balancing act for the sector.

“Energy efficiency and reliability have a low share now,” admits Abulwafa, while Mistry taking into account the other horn of the dilemma, says, “Today, when the whole world is shifting towards green buildings, energy efficiency and reliability are key issues.” Aslam succinctly sums up the situation: “Generally speaking, the emphasis is solely on cost. Stress on efficiency and reliability apply only on select projects.”

Ahuja takes an even more sceptical and cynical view of the situation, while bemoaning lack of standardisation and resistance to new technology. “People do talk about green buildings, but I’m amazed by the ‘medieval specs’ (specifications) that we hear,” he says. He admits that a lot of energy is being wasted. “At the end of the day, owners of malls will pay the energy bills, which they will, then, pass on to customers.”

Since sustainability and innovation often go together, the GCC market also needs to address the problem of being open to change. Mistry stresses that the market is ready for new technology when it comes to fans and blowers. But Ahuja points out that consultants and designers have their own standard parameters, within which they have to work. Besides, ASHRAE Std 62.1 has a set of fixed guidelines for ventilation for toilets and kitchens. In certain cases, therefore, there may not be enough wriggle-room for innovation.

With issues like survival and pricing gaining immediacy and urgency, retrofitting does not often and necessarily feature on the to-do list, think the market representatives. Speaking of the limited scope of the retrofit market, Abulwafa says: “We are always enhancing to use VFDs and to incorporate them in the controls. Changing the impeller pitch angle is a good way to adjust only the performance to a certain level.”

Kirton, on the other hand says: “We do not see many cases of retrofitting to change the fan performance or increase the efficiency. The cost to retrofit to incorporate a VSD in all but the larger fan sizes would not be economical.”

Expressing the general opinion, Pierrefeu says: “The retrofit market is promising, but it will take some time, as the market was totally focusing on the construction of new buildings. We haven’t yet been called for such energy-saving retrofit assignments.”

Regarding certification of products, the main players say that they adhere to a stringent testing regimen, based on either European or American standards. Though they think that having region-specific testing would be welcome, they are not sure if it is possible or practical or even necessary, at least at present.

Abulwafa says that all the fans Faisal Jassim Trading Company supplies are certified and licensed to bear AMCA seal as a third-party certification. Leminar follows ISO, BS, EN, Dubai and Abu Dhabi Civil defence and Applus standard for Casals fans, reveals Mistry. He says that his company tests performance parameters for fire with Warrington, a testing authority, and adds: “It will be good if they test beyond fire. Measurement, flow, head and so forth.” Regarding advocating regionally based testing centres, Mistry says: “If someone is available locally, we can get it certified here at our expense. To certify air conditioning units, we have to courier to Thailand, and the activity costs a fortune.” He points out that on the flip side, suppliers need to make sure that the credibility is high.

Aslam says that Systemair tests for flow, pressure drops, vibrations, power consumption and noise/vibration at the company’s European facilities at Skinnskatteberg in Sweden and WIndischbuch in Germany. He advocates regional-based testing centres. “It gives more credibility to us as a manufacturer, and makes our work easier with the local authorities, who are keen on tests,” he says, and adds, “Moreover, it becomes convenient for us in a few cases, where the designer/contractor doesn’t want to admit to the mistakes in design calculations and doubts the performance of the product supplied.”

Aldes has its own laboratory in its headquarters in France to test mainly airflow, noise, and the power consumption of its range of fans. It follows the EN ISO 5801 standard for the airflow curves. High temperature fans are tested as per EN 12101-3 by APPLUS laboratory in Spain, says Pierrefeu. When it comes to getting testing done locally, he believes that the move would, perhaps, help a few local companies to get certification quickly but points out that all the main fan manufacturers are from Europe or the United States, with their testing facilities in their home country. “Testing centres would be more useful for some locally made products like, fire dampers, VAV boxes, grilles and diffusers,” he says.

Kirton says that all Nuaire’s products are manufactured in the UK to stringent European standards. Performance parameters they are typically subjected to are, air volume, external static pressure and sound spectrum tests.

Regarding regionally based testing centres, he says, “Anything that helps to educate the local markets of the importance of the proper control of ventilation systems would be a great advantage in reducing energy costs and environmental impacts.

Ahuja believes that standards formulated in Europe will eventually come to the Middle East, and will become binding.

When it comes to customer responsibility, the experts cry foul. They believe that while manufacturers and suppliers, on their part, are expected to follow stringent product certification standards, customers are not always held accountable and, hence, don’t do their bit. Suppliers cite incorrect installation, lack of maintenance and improper fan selection, as the main problem areas.

“There is not enough care about installation practices in the GCC,” Pierrefeu says. “This concerns not only fans, but also the whole system, where a circular ductwork with good insulation could avoid any leakage and reduce pressure losses, and where a proper location of grills and diffusers increases the efficiency of the air distribution system.” He thinks that even when it affects efficiency, there has yet been no noticeable move towards incorporating best practices.

Abulwafa thinks that many designers do not incorporate fan efficiency requirements in their design in a clear statement. In his opinion, incorrect installation practice in the region is due to lack of experience of contractors and improper fan selection. “It is worrisome, as it is linked to energy efficiency,” he says.

Lack of proper maintenance and fan selection cause breakdowns, Mistry says. He believes that fan design and selection criteria are keys to fan selection. “Furthermore, instead of two-speed motors, VFDs are a better choice, in terms of energy efficiency,” he says, and adds, “We have come across wrong wiring connection, improper installation, and in some cases, wrong static pressure calculation.”

Aslam lists low/high airflow due to improper ESP calculation, over-sizing, incorrect system design, lack of maintenance and inefficient control systems, as areas that need attention.

In the days of the real estate boom, it was a practice to allocate large safety margins, which led to over-sized fans that operated at flow rates far below their design values. Aslam says that he now sees a move to improve these aspects.

Kirton says, “We are very rarely called back to site if the fans have been installed and commissioned properly, which is why we offer local support at the commissioning stage.”

Ahuja, on the other hand, thinks that basic norms are routinely bypassed, product manuals are not read and compromises are made in the installation process. “Their excuse is, space and design constraints,” he says. “So I do believe these two have to be factored in by architects at the tendering stage itself. But unfortunately, they are not considered during the tendering stage.”

He adds: “Eventually, the equipment is not installed properly, and we, suppliers, are blamed for the performance of the equipment.” He strongly believes that poor installation and lack of timely maintenance will, in the long run, hamper energy efficiency and performance. In Ahuja’s opinion, though energy efficiency is seen to be important, only 10% of projects actually pay heed to it.

Kirton believes that the standard of installation, although lower than European standards, has improved significantly over recent years, and adds, “But we still see some ventilation system designs that will have a negative effect on energy usage, due to unnecessarily high static pressure requirements.

The experts agree that raising awareness and educating all the parties involved is vital at this point of time, to help change the buying approach from price to more crucial factors like reliability and energy efficiency. Their organisations, they say, have taken the seminar and campaign route to ensure this.

“Aldes Middle East is a complete solution provider,” Pierrefeu says. “So we are trying to demonstrate that the price issue doesn’t matter, especially with each item or a batch of items but the whole system, to make it work more efficiently with higher reliability.”

The company has implemented training sessions in its Middle East facilities with the support of its new showroom to exhibit its products to educate its existing and potential customers. “We have also started technical newsletters to emphasise some general and specific points about our different activities,” Pierrefeu says. “From September till December 2010, we will tackle different kinds of fans, how to read a fan curve, fans with forward-curves and backwards-curves blades and belt drive.”

Pierrefeu adds that Aldes has conducted technical seminars aimed at authorities, MEP consultants and contractors to address the issues of fire protection and air diffusion. “All these have received really good feedback, as these organisations are usually keen to get useful technical information to solve their different issues,” Pierrefeu says.

Abulwafa says that his company conducts seminars for customers to educate them on features other than cost. “Low-cost fans means more maintenance troubles,” he adds.

Apart from conducting seminars, visiting designers and end-users in connection with their EC line of energy-efficient fans, is the approach Systemair has adopted, Aslam says.

Speaking about Nuaire, Kirton says, “We are approaching the market via the specification route through M&E Consultants, as it is important to convince the system designers of the benefits of fan control technology, prior to projects being tendered.”

Ahuja points out that rising cost, if not concern for the environment, will finally force errant parties to toe the line. “Energy is getting very expensive the world over,” he says. “I don’t know for how long we can continue to use cheap energy like we are doing in the Middle East. Standards written down in Europe will, at some point in time, come to the Middle East, and people will have to follow them,” Ahuja concludes.

When it comes to market preference, Aslam gauges it to be American and European technologies, in that order, but with a leaning towards European technology in car park/tunnel ventilation systems. Systemair, he says, has supplied car park ventilation, kitchen ventilation, staircase pressurisation, general ventilation and air curtains to the region.

In Kirton’s opinion, the market is split between USA-led specifications, which favour centrifugal fans (blowers) and European-led specifications, which favour axial fans.

Pierrefeu, speaking on behalf of Aldes, says that small extract fans are still commonly used for toilet extraction in offices, mosques and villas. He enumerates products that make it to the shopping list: “Low-energy consumption fans with EC motors are available by manufacturers (Aldes has a full range called Microwatt), but are not really used in the UAE market, yet. As noise is an important criterion in the UAE, double skin inline cabinet fans should be used for common applications in residential/commercial buildings. Smoke exhaust fans with high temperature rating (400°C – two hours) are the standard in the UAE for smoke extraction and staircase pressurisation – mainly roof fans and axial fans. Jet fans for car parks are being used more and more in Dubai but are strictly forbidden in Abu Dhabi.”

Explaining this point further, Ahuja says that jet fans and induction fans for car park ventilation were first introduced in Europe, and have found their way to the GCC market only in the last three years. Interestingly, says Ahuja, though Dubai and Qatar have been receptive to jet fans, Abu Dhabi and Oman have opted for conventional ducted fans. The question as to which is more suitable is open to debate, he says.

Abulwafa thinks that when it comes to fans, in terms of technology, sustainable fans that are able to withstand harsh weather conditions of high temperature and humidity are on the wish list of contractors. This is indicative of the fact that market preference is often dictated not only by technology and standardisation but also by the need of the hour.

Kirton says, “We specialise in supplying smoke ventilation products, particularly car park ventilation systems, as well as general ventilation systems, which respond to user requirements.”

This goes to prove that though ventilation for buildings is in demand, car park ventilation accounts for a big chunk of the market – 80% to 85% – thanks to the rising number of malls and towers. Since land is expensive, underground parking has become a necessity. Says Ahuja: “In a G+40 building, you need to make space for 400 cars. This is where car park ventilation comes into play.”

In the final analysis, if the report cards of Systemair, Dynair, Aldes, Leminar (Casals), Nuaire and Faisal Jassim Trading Company are taken cumulatively as a yardstick, the fans and blowers market in the GCC has not fared badly, despite the slow pace of the construction sector. But, as most report cards typically say, it can do better.

Among large projects, Systemair has recently supplied fans and blowers to Dubai Metro; Pearl Qatar; The Wave Muscat, Durrat Al Bahrain townhouses; Damasquino Mall, Syria and Jordan Gate Tower.

Dynair says it has supplied its ventilation equipment to Sky Courts, Dubai; Seba Tower, Abu Dhabi; Lusail, Qatar and Radisson SAS in Bahrain.

According to Aldes, it is focusing on extract ventilation fans for all kinds of applications – villas, malls, hospitals, schools and towers, and smoke exhaust fans for fire protection. Its customers in the region include Qasr al Sarab Hotel; Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi; Umm al Quwain Hospital and RAK Hospital.

Leminar says it has supplied applications to commercial and residential buildings, warehouses and logistics facilities, pumping stations, electricity substations, sewage treatment plants, district cooling plants, schools and hotels, among others. Its main customers include the Hydra Project, Abu Dhabi and Tamouh District cooling plant (Reem Island), Abu Dhabi.

Kirton, speaking for Nuaire, says that his company has supplied products in the region to Yas Island car park (used for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix); Al Zeina at Al Raha Beach, Abu Dhabi; Qatar Civil Defence Headquarters and the Doha Pars Sorbonne University.

Faisal Jassim Trading Company lists the Abu Dhabi Financial Center and Etihad Towers, in Abu Dhabi amongst its customers.

Does this long list translate into healthier account books for the sector? Admittedly, driven by the need to see itself out of the woods, the sector has kept the market moving by deploying various strategies, but with each player trying to carve a larger wedge of the pie for themselves, whether there will be enough to go round is anybody’s guess.

Ahuja, perhaps, voices the niggling worry that most players in the sector have felt, but have not dared to articulate, when he says: “My worry is 2011 and 2012 in Dubai. I see no new projects, so there’s bound to be a ripple effect. Consultants began to feel the pinch a while ago, and now it is beginning to affect contractors.”

Will the ripple effect drag the market in its powerful undertow? At this stage, no one wants to stray into the realm of supposition.

Sweden’s quest for hitting the sweet spot in the GCC is backed by a culture of regulation , research and innovation , say Swep, Systemair and Tour & Andersson. Story: B Surendar

Lashed by the downturn, the market conditions in the GCC are tough, but generally speaking, Swedish companies that have been entrenched in the region for variable periods of time are not blinking. Far from it, their optimism seems to be unshakeable.

Swep, Systemair and Tour & Andersson (TA) are representatives of such companies. They say that a homegrown culture of adherence to regulation, research and a willingness to innovate, among other factors, has translated into steady business growth in the region for them. Says Shwan Lamei, Area Sales Manager (Middle East) for Swep: “Regulation is one aspect. A far more important factor is the willingness to try new ways of doing things and having the courage to take calculated risks. To succeed more, you have to increase your rate of failure. It all boils down to willingness to try out new technologies.”

Lamei speaks from experience. Swep is supplying energy transfer stations (ETSs) to a project in Saudi Arabia in ready-to-use containers. In effect, Lamei says, the company is constructing entire ETS rooms (up to 5,000 kW capacity), at a manufacturing facility in Sweden, from where they will be shipped to the Kingdom “for plug and play”. The initiative to supply factory-built, factory-tested ETSs in container rooms is a first for the region, used as it is to a system, where consultants design the ETSs, and contractors build them on site.

Shwan Lamei

The pre-fabricated concept, Lamei says, is modular and enables future capacity expansion, which he adds, is suited for the downturn, which is characterised by uncertain load profiles. “With this modular concept, we hope to offer the market more flexibility and margins for error, as correctable actions can be taken down the road, in case loads are underestimated,” Lamei says.

Innovation figures high on TA’s list of business strategies, as well, and it avowedly has the track record to prove it. The company is in the process of introducing an instrument that will measure and diagnose problems in HVAC systems, enabling users to see the status of the system and analyse issues arising out of it. It will also enable the customer to diagnose faults early on in the system. Says Bassam Al Awar, TA’s General Manager for the Middle East and Africa regions: “This instrument is the foundation to the whole TA philosophy: to measure is to know, meaning you should measure and analyse an HVAC system to optimise energy efficiency.”

TA will also be introducing a pressure-independent control valve with pre-setting functionality into the Swedish market. Al Awar says the product is quite complex and, as such, demands the right level of knowledge to be understood, something that is not an issue with consultants who are familiar with such products.

Bassam Al Awar

Al Awar alludes to a long history of market maturity in Sweden, be it consultants or contractors, and among competitors. Lamei adds that this culture has a spread-off effect in supplier-client relationships as well as among competitors. “We continuously push each other to be more creative and efficient,” he says.

In addition to the culture of innovation and knowledge, is the mature regimen of regulation and legislation in Sweden and in the European Union, broadly speaking, which the manufacturers agree, constantly keep them on the hunt for more energy-efficient solutions and other positive technological attributes, which in turn, translates into business growth. The European Union has a building energy declaration directive in place, which classifies the energy efficiency of buildings. The directive gives directions on how much energy can be used for a certain building type. “This leads to the use of energy-efficient products,” says Niklas Engström, Managing Director of Systemair Middle East. “Sweden is one of the countries in the EU that is enforcing this directive to the highest degree.”

In Engström’s view, Sweden insists on high standards with regards to ventilation rates, which are strictly enforced. Sweden, he adds, together with the other Scandinavian countries, is a world leader in IAQ research and the implementation of good IAQ policies. Adds Al Awar: “TA has always had a strong energy focus, and legislation in Sweden and in the EU has moved in the right direction, accordingly. As the demand for more energy-efficient installations grew, as a result, we were well equipped with the knowledge and the products to support it. Equally, as governmental legislation moves even farther towards energy use, TA will be able to support the market.”

Niklas Engström

Legislation in the European Union lays stress on retrofitting of existing buildings and for ensuring that all new buildings comply with strict energy-efficiency measures. For instance, according to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD, 2010/31/EU), all new buildings must be nearly zero-energy buildings by 2020, with member states required to set intermediate targets for 2015. The directive for existing buildings is equally decisive. Sweden, generally speaking, complies with the requirements.

There is a need for retrofitting initiatives in Sweden. In the mid-1960s and mid-1970s, the ruling Swedish Social Democratic Party implemented The Million Programme (called Miljonprogrammet in Swedish), the aim of which was to provide housing for all at a reasonable price. Since then, the properties have fallen into varying stages of disrepair and require retrofitting to restore their energy efficiency.

The Million Programme projects constitute but one example of a demand for retrofitting in Sweden. Al Awar estimates that between 60% and 70% of the projects in Sweden are retrofit assignments. Speaking for Europe, Engström says a third of the turnover is coming from retrofit jobs. In his view, there are many improvements being implemented on buildings with no or badly functioning ventilation systems. “The improvements are being undertaken to meet sharpened demand for ventilation, energy efficiency and good IAQ,” Engström says. From Swep’s perspective, retrofitting activity has meant changing over from shell and tube (S&T) heat exchangers and plate heat exchangers (PHEs) to brazed plate heat exchangers (BPHEs). There is a continuous work of replacing S&Ts and PHEs with BPHEs, he says.

The expertise gathered, be it in innovation or in retrofitting – both driven by the need to grow the business or to comply with governmental legislation – bodes well for Swedish companies searching for new opportunities for business in the GCC. They are quick to add that retrofitting assignments, in the kind of volumes that make business sense, are still a while away in the GCC, though. Says Al Awar: The retrofit market for hydronic balancing is very small and represents less than five per cent, simply because most of the buildings in the region are less than 30 years old. Engström echoes Al Awar’s observation. He adds that Systemair is in a state of readiness to respond to an increase in demand, though. The company’s direct-driven motors allow for more accurate and affordable speed control when compared to widely used belt-drive technology, Engström says, and can be deployed in retrofitting projects in the region. “As and when the retrofit market gathers pace, we are confident that Systemair will be a significant player in the market,” he adds.

For the short and the medium term, the focus, then, will be on new buildings. All three companies are optimistic that the GCC economy will continue to grow, despite the downturn, fuelled as it is by massive government spending and active private investment. The growth, Al Awar says, means that there will be greater demand for TA’s products, because they will help building owners achieve better indoor climate and lower energy consumption. “LEED requirements and green building legislation in the region means that the need for our products and solutions will increase,” Al Awar says. “In that context, sharing the knowhow of hydronic balancing with building owners, consultants and MEP contractors is the core of our business strategy.” In Engström’s case, the strategy involves pushing direct-driven motors. And for air distribution products, the company’s aim is to showcase controllable diffusers with good induction.

Generally speaking, none of the companies is limiting itself to any one particular GCC entity for a more focused business approach, though Saudi Arabia and Qatar are of interest. TA, for instance, says that it continues to be active in the UAE and in Qatar, where it already has an active distributor, who is engaged in a number of key projects. In Saudi Arabia, it appointed a dedicated sales manager this year. To be based in Jeddah and covering the entire Kingdom, the sales manager, Al Awar says, will be working with consultants and contractors on bespoke hydronic balancing solutions. As for Swep, the supply of containerised ETSs represents a robust foray into the Kingdom. At the same time, the company’s wind-vane will turn in any direction that holds the promise of business growth.

Foreword

Thanks to well-honed business best practices, Sweden continues to introduce new technologies and novel approaches to achieving energy efficiency and reliability.

Cherif Sayed

Sweden has a long standing as an industrial nation that embraces innovation and globalisation. Relative to our size, Sweden has delivered, and continues to deliver, technological breakthroughs and companies that become world-leading in their fields.

Sweden is, among other things, well-known for its high-standing environmental technology and good environment legislation. Swedish greentech is promoted globally under the concept, SymbioCity (www.symbiocity.org). SymbioCity promotes sustainable urban development, an area where Swedish environmental technology has set a new standard.

Swedish technology solutions are characterised by energy efficiency. To mention one example, Sweden is the world leader in district heating, and 89% of Swedish district heating is based on energy that would otherwise have gone to waste. Sweden is also a pioneering country in district cooling, with the first plant in operation since 1992. These verified and successfully implemented solutions are of great potential also for the future development of the Middle East region. Swedish greentech firms can offer cost-efficient modern solutions, consultancy, training, services and high-tech green products to the Middle Eastern market.

A great acknowledgment of innovative solutions from Swedish technology companies was the nomination of Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, as the first European Green Capital for 2010. The European Green Capital Award is given to a city that has a record of achieving high environmental standards, is committed to ambitious goals for further environmental improvement and sustainable development, and can act as a role model to inspire other cities and promote best practices in other European (and other worldwide) cities.

The Swedish Minister for Trade, Dr Ewa Björling, has made the Middle East a priority region for Sweden and has visited the region many times to facilitate and encourage business partnerships and business relations between Sweden and the Middle East. In addition, Dr Björling specifically supports the development of sustainable building and environmentally friendly technologies; as a result, the Swedish Minster has started several initiatives to facilitate the exchange of ideas, technology and know-how with countries in the Middle East.

The role of the Swedish Trade Council is to promote Swedish trade and industry in the entire region. We assist companies by providing strategic advice and hands-on support. In other words, we essentially provide all services required to establish a company and its products or services in the Middle East. We have been present in the region for over 30 years and, at this point in time, the Swedish Trade Council has four offices around the region. In order to increase business contacts between Swedish and foreign companies, we among other things, arrange bilateral events, such as seminars and match-making events. Furthermore, we work closely with the Swedish embassies in the region. The Swedish Trade Council also carries out assignments directed to support small-sized companies with their international business development, as Swedish companies, with new environmentally friendly technology solutions, often are relatively small and have limited experience of export business.

In order to facilitate the transfer of technology and knowledge as well as best practices to the region, the Swedish Trade Council carries out different kinds of activities. One example is the plan to establish a House of Sweden in the middle of Masdar City. The House of Sweden will be a one-stop shop for the Swedish cleantech and sustainable building industry in the Middle East region. By gathering Swedish cleantech companies under one roof together with the Swedish Trade Council, House of Sweden will increase awareness about Swedish cleantech products, solutions and knowledge.

Another example is our cooperation with ABB; the Swedish leading power and automation technology company. The Swedish Trade Council is cooperating with ABB in the UAE, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility programme. Every year, ABB will sponsor two promising UAE national students to complete a master’s degree in electrical engineering. This will give UAE engineers a unique opportunity to develop their engineering skills and industry knowledge at one of the largest and most prestigious technical universities in Sweden. The programme will ensure that students will have the skills needed to succeed in the industry when they return to this region. The programme has also been carried out in Saudi Arabia.

I hope this special Sweden report will increase the awareness about the innovative nature and potential of Swedish greentech and VACR solutions in the region.

By Cherif Sayed, Head of Swedish Trade Council – UAE & Egypt

A question often asked by engineers is: Is a mechanical joint reliable? Rami Mahmoud , while answering it , addresses some of the misconceptions about them and makes a case for grooved pipe joining.

Grooved mechanical pipe joining is a no-flame joining technique of forming or cutting a groove in pipe ends and, then, joining them with bolted housings around a sealed gasket. The technology was deployed during World War I, as a fast and reliable way to get resources to frontline troops. Since being made commercially available in 1925 it has become a preferred joining method on many piping applications, when compared with welding, threading and flanging.

A mechanical joint comprises four elements: grooved pipe, a gasket, coupling housings, and a pair of nuts and bolts. The pipe groove is made by cold-forming or machining a groove into the end of a pipe. The key section of the coupling housings engages the groove. The bolts and nuts are tightened with a socket wrench or impact wrench and hold the housings together. The coupling housings engage in the groove around the circumference of the pipe and encase the gasket. A pressure responsive gasket, then, creates a seal unified joint that is enhanced when the system is pressurised.

The grooved method has gained widespread use in its 85-year history, but many myths and misunderstandings still exist. Why haven’t more eyes been opened to the benefits of grooved technology, which is versatile, economical and reliable?

For engineers, the benefits of the grooved system are many: the design versatility of the joint can allow both rigidity and flexibility, or a combination of the two, throughout a system when necessary; a mechanical joint provides noise and vibration attenuation, seismic relief, and accommodates for thermal expansion and contraction.

Added to these benefits, the system provides a union at every joint for ease of system maintenance and expansion. Perhaps the most important question for engineers will always be: Is a mechanical joint reliable? This article will explore some of the misunderstandings about grooved pipe joining, and remove any misconceptions about grooved joints weakening pipes, leading to premature failures or contributing to flow loss.

The basics of cut grooving and roll grooving

In terms of pipe preparation, there are often questions about how a groove is formed into the pipe and how that affects the pipe’s performance in different applications. There are two ways of grooving pipe: cut grooving and roll grooving.

Cut grooving removes less metal, to less depth, than threading, thus maintaining pipe integrity.

Cut grooving is commonly used on pipes of standard or heavier wall thicknesses and for abrasive applications, where the inside of the pipe wall needs to be as smooth as possible to let materials pass without obstruction. Cut grooving involves the removal of a small fraction of pipe material in order to provide the necessary lip for engagement of the coupling housings. Cut grooving removes less metal, to less depth, than threading, thus maintaining the integrity of the pipe.

Cut grooving can be done manually or with a motorised tool. It is common practice to process a cut groove into plastic-coated or cement-lined pipe, as roll grooving may damage the internal coatings or linings of such pipe.

Roll grooving, the most common grooving method, is used on 90% of grooving applications today. Roll grooving was first used on a light or thin wall pipe, which had insufficient wall thickness for cut grooving. Today, roll grooving is used on a wide variety of pipe sizes and standard wall thicknesses, because it is a fast and clean technique. To create the groove, pipe material is radially displaced by a machine.

When grooving a pipe, pipe fitters place the pipe end between a roll set, and as the roll set is compressed and rotated, a groove is processed around the diameter of the pipe, recessed on the outside and protruding on the inside. The roll-grooving method can be used on carbon steel, stainless steel, copper and aluminium pipe or tubing as well as PVC pipe. Most coupling manufacturers will provide the proper roll grooving equipment based on customers’ requirements.

Latest technological developments include enhancements for medium to large diameter pipes that deliver greater strength and reliability through a robust coupling housing, deeper roll-grooves and increased coupling-to-pipe engagement.

Does grooving weaken the pipe end?

A question that is often asked regarding a grooved joint has to do with the reliability of the groove under stress.

When examining the stress on pipes created by internal pressure and the typical “overstress” failure mode, the cut groove has been shown to not be the weakest link. When under pressure, two basic stresses occur: longitudinal and hoop. Longitudinal stress is often described as “tensile” stress in material, the force pushing pipe apart in the axial direction. A failure due to longitudinal stress would cause a circumferential fracture around a pipe. Hoop stress can be described as ballooning or expansion of a pipe diameter in a radial manner. A failure due to hoop stress would cause the pipe to split lengthwise along its axis.

The latest grooved systems now offer even greater strength and reliability for medium to large diameter pipes.

Mathematically, the formulas for longitudinal and hoop stresses are shown below:

Hoop Stress = (Pressure x Outside Diameter) ÷ (2 x Wall Thickness)

Longitudinal Stress = (Pressure x Outside Diameter) ÷ (4 x Wall Thickness)

Therefore, in any given pipe diameter or pressure, hoop stress is twice the longitudinal stress. Analytically, this suggests that pipe failures due to overstress would show up as fractures along the length of pipe, such as weld-seam failures. Empirical or real world data confirms this to be the case.

Cut grooving reduces pipe wall thickness by removing a narrow circumferential strip of material on the outside surface. Hoop stress remains approximately the same since the groove is so narrow and is reinforced by the full wall thickness of the pipe on either side of the groove. The groove also is reinforced by the coupling key engaging the groove and preventing it from expanding diametrically. However, longitudinal stress will increase proportionally with the decrease in wall thickness. Therefore, if one half of the original wall thickness remains, longitudinal stress will be doubled or approximately equal to the hoop stress.

Since the cut groove depth in pipe with standard wall thickness is only about one-third the thickness of the original pipe, the hoop stress will remain larger than the longitudinal stress. Any “over-stress” failure will continue to occur along the length of the pipe and not at the groove, demonstrating that the groove area is not weaker than the longitudinal barrel of the pipe.

Cut grooving also does not create the stress risers that occur in threaded joints at the crests and roots of the threads.

With pipe that is roll-grooved, any potential increase in pipe hardness, reduction in tensile strength or reduction in elongation has no effect on the integrity of the joint, and pipe material changes are comparable to any other cold-forming manufacturing operations.

Flow dynamics

Coupling housings engage the groove and encase a pressure responsive gasket that creates a seal unified joint.

The inside protrusion or upset of a roll groove is small and smooth at its entry and exit and has been proven to have negligible effect on both flow and line pressure. Published ratings take into account the groove and, through testing on the performance of a joint, pressure ratings with a three-to-one safety factor are evaluated. However, some system designers and engineers still worry that the slight indentations will have a negative effect on the dynamics of system flow. However, published ratings take into account the groove and the testing on the performance of the joints’ established pressure ratings and safety factors.

Recent flow testing was conducted on the grooved joints; it confirmed excellent flow characteristics, with an insignificant contribution to system pressure loss. In fact, the amount was negligible in comparison with more common points of flow loss, such as pipe friction, valves, bends and branches.

Testing on grooved and plain end pipe, using 104.8mm Type “K” copper tubing and 50mm and 200mm Schedule 10 and Schedule 40 carbon steel pipe, saw pressure drops measured with velocities between 4 and 20 metres per second at ambient water temperature.

The results proved that pressure loss was negligible. These finding are also supported through rigorous independent testing by Factory Mutual Research Corporation, further attesting to the low-flow loss characteristics of grooved joints. These published qualifications are recognised globally and support the idea that the flow loss characteristics of grooved piping do not lead to extra operational energy costs.

Proven reliability

When it comes to specification of systems, as noted above, often every engineer’s final question is about reliability.

Grooved piping systems have a union at every joint for flexibility and ease of maintenance.

Mechanical grooved pipe joining has been proven through research, testing and extensive evaluation. It has stood the test of time in some of the most impressive engineering feats of the past century, including the Hoover Dam in the United States, the Grand Arche de La Defence in France, the Alexandria Library in Egypt, the Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates and the Taipei Financial Center in Taiwan.

Moreover, mechanical joining has been a reliable and rugged component of mission critical applications, such as data centres, flammable chemical cleaning applications, the rigorous system demands required for high pressure applications in mines, power applications, life safety systems, tunnelling and in hydraulic elevators.

The benefits of grooving are verified by independent approval agencies worldwide, including Bureau Veritas (BV), Det Norske Veritas (DNV), Deutsche Vereingung des Gas-und Wasserfaches e.V. (DVGW), and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME. These are the same agencies that recognise welded, flanged and threaded systems and set forth the stringent requirements they must meet.

Conclusion

Engineers can be assured that grooved technology has been robustly tested by Research and Development Engineers in the lab as well as in the field to consistently demonstrate its strength and reliability. Details about the grooving process, the strength of grooved pipe and the flow characteristics are further explained in published reports from independent agencies.

The writer is the Regional Manager at Victaulic

Sub-metering was ignored in the beginning stages of district cooling in the region; most district cooling providers put bulk meters on buildings. Gradually, through a strong emphasis on the end user, the metering regimen is now being changed from bulk to individual meters. In this, the concluding part of the two-part report on DC Dialogue , we focus on metering and billing challenges.

The first part of the session on metering and billing challenges covered the technical aspects of metering. The participants discussed ultrasound and mechanical meters in detail. They reached a consensus that priority ought to be given to ultrasound meters. This type of meters won votes based on its higher precision and lower threshold and the non-requirement of straight-type run before and after the meter as well as the low maintenance and longevity, owing to the non-existence of mechanical parts.

The participants discussed the need to adapt the meter to the chilled water situation rather than the standard one for heating in Europe. A key challenge with ultrasound meters involves condensation, so design changes were necessary, the participants said. That said, considering the fact that two generations of the meters have been produced, reliability in performance in higher temperature and higher humidity conditions has improved by several notches, the participants agreed.

Participants also focused on different temperatures and BTU calculations and different types of communication. Some of the participants said that the most popular form of communication is radio communication, as is the case in Europe. In the UAE, which typically consists of many high-rise buildings, though, it is prudent to opt for a wired solution with a concentrator, they added. And from the building to the district cooling plant, it can be wired using fibre-optic cables, they further added.

The most interesting part of the discussion involved sharing the experience that Empower (close to 12,000 sub meters and 200 bulk meters) and Emicool (6,000 sub meters) have had with sub-metering. Empower has a call centre to deal with clients. As a result of the facility, the district cooling provider is closer to end-users, owing to the opportunity to regularly interact with them, said Ramesh Ramadurai. Empower receives at least 100 calls a day, Ramadurai revealed.

The second part of the discussion was on how Empower absorbs end-user complaints and how it undertook an initiative to build awareness among customers on fixed charges and variable charges. The exercise was a challenge, Ramadurai said, but it helped in easing the situation.

During the time when the spotlight was firmly on him Ramadurai also spoke on tampering of meters. In the case of Empower, he said, tampering has been almost non-existent. “Even in the few cases of tampering, I would not say customers are deliberately doing it,” he said. “The workers may be doing it accidentally.” Tampering, he said, was not a major issue, though, in the sense that if a meter stops functioning, it will give a signal to the operator, and thus, the fault can be rectified.

Later, Mohammad Taib and Deepak Naik discussed various integration methods. A key question was, ‘Do you need to purchase only a meter or go to a service provider to establish a full solution, wherein you integrate and even provide bills?’ The core of the matter was, “Are service providers useful to district cooling utilities or not?” The consensus was that a service provider can provide much relief and that such a service can be outsourced.

The roundtable was well attended. Among the members of the audience were Barwa from Qatar, who are at a beginning stage, and Surouh, who have installed 1,000 meters.

With 34 years of robust presence in the region, rental cooling and rental power major, Geo Group needs little introduction. Its ambitious expansion programme merits attention, though. The Group is on course for not only increasing its capacit y for cooling and power but also for joining a select band of companies with the capability of manufacturing their own chillers of 2,500-TR capacity.

N V George

Two weeks ago, Sharjah-based Geo Electricals Trading & Contracting received a call from a high-profile client in Abu Dhabi, to whom the company had supplied over 30 chillers, a year ago. The nature of the call was urgent – the client told Geo Electricals that there was something the matter with the equipment that the company had supplied, because the cooling was no longer sufficient. Geo Electricals, an integral part of the 34-year-old Geo Group, reacted with alacrity and sorted the matter out within 48 hours.

For N V George, the Group’s Chairman and Managing Director, the Abu Dhabi episode is a matter of pride. His team confronted a challenge, and through teamwork, coordination and a willingness to be flexible – the technicians worked unmindful of night and day – rose to the occasion to deliver. For George, though, such challenges are not new; after all, the company that he spearheads has handled complex assignments, including the supply of rental cooling (3,000 TR) to the Presidential Palace in Baghdad, immediately after the first Gulf War, and to the 121-aircraft-capacity behemoth, the USS Abraham Lincoln, during the same period.

The Group’s track-record is an envious one, indeed. Throughout the 1990s, it provided rental solutions to the Dubai Air Show (before the event moved into a permanent facility). More recently, its rental equipment have been deployed at Yas Island; the iconic and distinct headquarters building of Abu Dhabi master-developer, Aldar and at the Red Line of the Dubai Metro, where it is providing cooling to 19 stations and 28 locations.

Geo is involved in such large projects, because it has the required girth. With a cooling capacity of 77,000 TR – which includes packaged units, free-standing units and chillers – and the ability to generate matching power, the Group wears the confidence of a veteran. Having sunk its foundations deep in the UAE, it is nursing ambitions to enter Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman, where it sees tremendous potential to offer its expertise.

USS Abraham Lincoln, Jebel Ali Port, Dubai

It is, perhaps, a measure of its confidence that, in anticipation of the growth, the Group is expanding its capacity. “We have given an order for new chillers,” George says. “We will be adding 50,000 TR this year, with power.” Currently, the Group boasts 150 gensets; by the end of the year, George says, it will expand to have 250 gensets, ranging in capacity from 100 to 3,000kW.

The Group’s long-term order-profile includes water-cooled centrifugal chillers and more power. George speaks of plans to purchase up to 3MW of power.

The plan to acquire water-cooled chillers is allied to its desire to provide greater efficiencies to its clients, never mind the fact that it would have to install cooling towers for the purpose. This goes against convention for the rental industry, but George is determined to tread a new path for the sake of offering better service to the Group’s clients.

If acquiring the equipment is seen as courageous and unconventional, George is working on a project that will place the company as a manufacturer of large-tonnage, water-cooled centrifugal chillers. The machines will be produced at the Group’s factory in India, with the first batch expected to roll out in 2011. With the equipment-manufacturing capability, George hopes to bolster his rental inventory and also strengthen the trading and contracting sides of the Group’s business.

In line with the ambitious expansion drive, George is scouting for a vast area of land near the port in Dubai, to house his inventory. “I wish to serve the whole of the UAE and the GCC,” George says. “The intention behind the plan to establish a base in Dubai, which will be a depot and a manufacturing facility, is to stock all my equipment under one roof, so it will be convenient to serve Abu Dhabi and Al Ain from there and, at the same time, export to other parts of the GCC; the existing Sharjah base will serve the Northern Emirates.”

Emirates Towers, Dubai

While Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman are in the Group’s radar for growth and expansion, it views the UAE as integral to its success. The downturn forced several projects in Dubai to be put on hold. Today, though, George senses a loosening of the recession’s vice-like grip. “Many developers want to restart their projects, and for this, they want to go with temp-cooled solutions,” he says. “I find the situation to my advantage. I say this, because I can offer them high-quality service and, at the same time, match their financial constraints, if any. Price-wise, we are very competitive. ”

George believes the rental market will see sustained growth for the next five years. He is optimistic that Geo, with its arsenal of diverse and reliable equipment is more than capable of meeting the demands of the market.

More than the equipment, though, it is his people that give him the confidence to make sustained forays into the market, he says. His team comprises 250 technicians, who, he says, are well-qualified and well-trained to handle just about any situation. “They are the backbone of the company,” he says. “They can service or replace any piece of equipment in a matter of hours or a few days.” He should know – they certainly did not let him down two weeks ago in Abu Dhabi.

McCrometer

Calling it the successor to its earlier Multi-Mag insertion flow meter, which, it claims is the industry’s only multi-electrode hot tap full profile insertion flow metre, McCrometer has introduced the FPI Mag (full profile insertion) electromagnetic flow metre.

According to McCrometer, the new flow metre features additional sensing electrodes for increased sensitivity, and is now packaged in a heavy-duty 316 stainless steel sensor body for maximum structural integrity. In addition, says McCrometer, that the sensor is coated with a NSF certified 3M fusion-bonded epoxy coating for operational longevity.

The manufacturer further claims that the FPI Mag with hot tap installation, not only addresses the need for municipalities to provide uninterrupted service but also improves process control and ensures delivery accountability.

McCrometer lists the following features and advantages of its new product:

• Installs without interrupting service, de-watering lines, cutting pipe or welding flanges
• Reduces installation costs by more than 45% by eliminating the need for heavy equipment or extensive manpower
• The compact insertion design fits in confined spaces with limited access and offers total accessibility
• The flow metre can be removed in pipes under pressure for easy inspection, cleaning, calibrating or verification with McCrometer’s own NIST traceable calibration lab
• Cost-effective for retrofit applications replacing flow meters or in sites never metered before
• The multi-electrode sensor design compensates for variable flow profiles, including swirl, turbulence and low-flow conditions
• Multiple electrodes placed across the entire sensor body continuously measure and report the average flow rate over the full diameter of the pipe
• It is available for line sizes from 4 to 138 inches
• Features accuracy of ±1% of reading ± 0.03 feet per second zero stability from 0.3 to 20 ft/s velocity range
• The flow sensor comes pre-calibrated from the manufacturer’s NIST traceable calibration lab and requires no recalibration in the field

McCrometer adds that with single-piece design and no moving parts, the FPI Mag’s multi-electrode sensor contains nothing to wear or break, and is generally immune to clogging by sand, grit or other debris.

It claims that the product supports liquid flow measurement requirements in municipal water and effluent wastewater treatment.

Güntner Group

Announcing that its 13 evaporator and air cooler series have been certified with the TÜV HACCP certificate, Güntner explained that as of January 1, 2006, the implementation of the HACCP concept (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Concept) is compulsory for all food business operators, according to the Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on hygiene of foodstuffs. Güntner added that health risks were reduced by implementing the concept, and the regulation was valid for all companies producing, processing or selling foodstuffs on a commercial basis.

Explaining that TÜV provided HACCP certificates for units and machines that are used for the kinds of applications listed above, Güntner added that units with the TÜV HACCP certificate had to comply with strict specifications for all ranges of applications. Güntner claimed that in obtaining the certification, it had, therefore, anticipated its customers’ requirements.

According to Güntner, simple cleaning procedure was the central point of the TÜV HACCP specifications. Keeping this in focus, said Güntner, its main series, GHN, GHF and GDF/GDM, as well as different refrigerant types used in these unit series, had been tested and certified. The customers, therefore, could now be sure that its units were suitable, especially for foodstuff applications, claimed Güntner.

DuctSox

Touting it as the HVAC industry’s first fabric duct air dispersion system for chemically harsh environments, DuctSox, a fabric HVAC duct systems manufacturer, has announced the introduction of ChemSox.

DuctSox claims that the product can be used in metal plating, paper/pulp, wastewater treatment, chemical processing, plastics manufacturing, petrochemical, battery manufacturing and other highly corrosive and caustic industries. The company further claims that although ChemSox was developed for chemical resistance in environments using substances such as hydrochloric acid, sodium sulphate and isopropanol, it also resists the corrosiveness of many other chemicals. DuctSox enumerates what it claims to be additional advantages and product features:

• It is recyclable
• It is made of inert high density polyethylene (HDPE) fabric, so outlasts conventional polyester-based fabric duct and accessories
• Up to 50% less expensive than the materials and installation costs of coated metal, aluminum and stainless steel ductwork
• It is available in round, pliable lengths of semi-translucent fabric that use zippers to join sections together
• Sections are available up to 50 feet in length and in diameteres from six to 56 inches
• Unlike metal duct/register systems, it features a high-throw design that delivers air throws of up to 75 feet and a uniform linear array of orifices that offers a more even air distribution
• Installs 25% to 50% faster than conventional ductwork and is 90% lighter than metal duct – ideal for retrofit or direct drop in replacement installation situations where plant downtime and roof loads are limited
• Comes with suspension systems of anti-corrosive materials, such as stainless steel track, cable and hanging clips, aluminum H-track, plastic-coated cable systems
• An inlet collar with DuctSox’s proprietary DuctBelt, attachment loops and other accessories are also constructed of generally inert materials
• Improved indoor air quality (IAQ) and increased mechanical equipment efficiencies due to better air dispersion
• Easy to disassemble and clean
• Comes with a one-year limited warranty
• Offers factory engineering and customer support

Commenting on the product, Kevin Gebke, DuctSox’s Product Development Engineer, said: “DuctSox is a custom manufacturer with full range of research and development services. We’ve researched many fabric materials and the specialised, high endurance threads and PVC-coated webbing of ChemSox HDPE provides an excellent solution for businesses with unique chemical environments.”

Trane, Ingersoll Rand

Introducing Trane Tracer ZN525 controller, Trane, the manufacturer of the product, claimed that it ensures optimum energy efficiency, increases comfort and eliminates operating noise when combined with EC fan motor technology.

According to Trane, Tracer ZN525 was developed to meet the specific comfort needs of hotels and office buildings, and is certified as a LonMark Space Comfort Controller type SCC 8501. The company explained that the controller runs terminal units to adapt to the exact cooling and heating needs of individual zones or rooms in a building. As a result of cascade control based on room and discharge air temperature monitoring, this configuration avoids potential cold or hot air drafts, added Trane.

It further claimed that the controller maximised the energy-efficiency of an EC fan motor terminal unit through fan speed optimisation, and a random start function to limit power-up demand. This, said Trane, avoids peak time tariff periods for further energy savings. Additionally, a window contact switches off the heating/cooling unit when a window is opened, it added.

The manufacturer listed the following features and advantages of the product:

• Significant reduction in sound levels with the Tracer ZN525 intelligent fan speed and valve control, ensuring that up to 40% of nominal capacity is available at low fan speed
• The controller allows for fan cycling, which turns the fan off whenever zone temperature is at optimum comfort level
• To reduce on-site commissioning time and maximise assembly quality, it can be factory-mounted on all Trane chilled water terminal units equipped with EC fan motor technology
• This includes the EC fan motor fan coil units and cassettes, chilled beams and chilled ceilings
• Controls two-pipe or four-pipe units with or without electric heaters and optimises performance with either floating or thermal valve actuators
• It is also offered as a field-installed controller
• Compact unit with an embedded 230Vac power supply
• DIN-rail or screw mounting, removable terminal strips and a configuration tool ensure quick and easy installation
• Can be part of a fully integrated Trane room comfort solution in combination with lighting and sun blind controllers Tracer EXL and Tracer EXB
• Also compatible with the Trane wall interfaces range ZSM10, ZSM11 and ZSM31, including the wireless ZSM31-W

Commenting on the product, Franck Biegalke, applied integrated systems leader for Trane Europe, Middle East, India and Africa, said: “Comfort is key for hotels and offices. The Tracer ZN525 is an important component of a high performance room comfort system because it integrates seamlessly into a complete Building Management System (BMS) architecture.”