Blowing hot and cold
Xpelair has launched Digitemp, a combined cooling and heating air-conditioning unit for the domestic market. The product range cools, dehumidifies and heats air using an air-to-air reverse heat pump, and is available in a 2.1 kW and 2.4 kW cooling capacity. A single unit can serve a 3 × 6 m room. Running costs for heating or cooling with the WHP210 and WHP245 models are a maximum of 7p per hour.
Xpelair
www.applied-energy.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 904

Cream on top
Two Southampton apartment blocks have had their ageing timber sashes replaced with PVCu windows that have been specially coloured. Western Challenge Housing Association wanted to maintain the distinctive look of the blocks' cream-coloured windows, so the new PVCu frames were finished in a AVKO's AVKOTE LE coating in a matching shade of cream.
AVKO
www.avko.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 905

Not just a pretty face
Three Pennine Housing 2000 tower blocks in Halifax, west Yorkshire, have been given an external makeover that improves their energy efficiency. The blocks have been refurbished using Alumasc MR Swisslab external wall insulation. As a result, the building has achieved a U value of more than 0.145 W/m2K. The tower block refurbishments are part of a £112m improvement programme by Pennine Housing 2000 and were carried out by main contractor Bramall Construction.
Alumasc Exterior Building Products
www.alumasc-exteriors.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 906

Hey, good locking

Lock manufacturer Yale has added to its X-technology night latch range with the X8 and X9 which are equipped with a 24 mm Powerbolt. Both locks are teamed with the X5 cylinder, which has anti-pick and anti-drill hardened steel pins. In addition, on the X9 an anti-carding mechanism has been incorporated as standard to prevent intruders gaining access with a credit card. Both also have the new Lock-Check feature which allows you to see at a glance if a door is deadlocked, while the X9 has a child-safe handle with push and turn safety action to prevent children from opening the door.
Yale
www.yale.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 900

Go with the flow

Acton Housing Association’s new homes in Ealing, west London, are designed for environmental friendliness. The homes are constructed from timber frame, have solar panels and incorporate passive stack ventilation. The latter was designed and supplied by Passivent. Air inlets in lounges and bedrooms provide a flow of fresh air into homes, while extracts linked via ducting to terminals on the roof take moisture-laden air from kitchens and bathrooms aided by the natural stack effect.
Passivent
www.passivent.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 901

Read all about it

Tendring council in Essex is bringing its stock up to the government’s decent homes standard with the aid of Excel Building Solutions’ Warmcel RF loft insulation. Some 200 council-owned homes across the district are being given an insulation upgrade with a 250 mm depth of Warmcel RF that will deliver a U-value of 0.16 W/m2K. The product, which is being installed by West Anglia Insulation, was specified by the council in consultation with its tenants’ panel representatives. Manufactured from recycled newspaper, Warmcel has low embodied energy, gives the council something useful to do with its recycled newspaper and reduces CO2 emissions by lowering the need for heating.
Excel Industries
www.excelfibre.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 902

Raines supreme

The Peabody Trust’s Raines Court in Hackney, London, is one of the largest schemes to incorporate Technal’s Gxi aluminium sliding balcony door. Gxi has a 9 mm flush polyamide thermal break for performance, and the option of flat-faced or curved profiles. Alongside the dark-grey Gxi sliding doors, there are Fxi46 double-glazed casement windows. Tilt/turn windows were specified where the units could not be cleaned from the outside. Top-hung casements were used where windows could be accessed from balconies or walkways.
Technal
www.technal.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 903

The wet look is back

Coram Showers has devised a system to make showering easier, safer and more comfortable for less able people. The package includes 1200 × 800 mm Premier shower enclosure and Waterguard Showertray. The enclosure is large enough to incorporate a wall-mounted foldaway seat and suitable grab rails. Showers are mounted on an extended riser rail, which allows the height of the sprayhead to be easily adjusted up or down for either seated or standing use. They have thermostatic controls to prevent temperature fluctuations.
Coram Showers
www.coram.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 907