Volume 7 Issue 1 - Practical Facilities Management

Volume 7 Issue 1for further information on any of the articles or advertisements in this magazine check out www.practicalfm.co.ukinside this issueFresh ideas on thesmoking issueThe long and shortof contract hireFire door advice forbuilding safetyauthoritiesBell score with RoyalDutch F.AMore in store fromGardinerIt’s big, it’s growingand size matters...FM’s have their sayin 2nd PHS surveyTrade talk atScewfix DirectRegularsRants ‘n’ RavesNews and viewsCrosswordSecurity FocusProduct ShowcaseAppointmentsBusiness Newspublication

total cable managementBS 6396BS 7671 section 607solutions1 Calder Point,Monckton Rd Industrial EstateWakefield WF2 7ALTel: +44 (0) 1924 367255Fax: +44 (0) 1924 290652Email: technical@office-electrics.co.ukWeb: www.office-electrics.co.ukRR: 71148

Project enhances primary optionsrange: Project Office Furniture has introduceda number of enhancements to its best-sellingPrimary Options range that have significantlyexpanded the design, space planning andLayout options that are available to customers.These latest developments are aimed atexpanding Primary Options appeal to embraceall levels of management....Page 32Monitoring the effectiveness of FM inthe catering industry: Brent Miller,Managing Director of Miller’s Vanguard – anestablished foodservice FM provider - spoke toPractical FM about the performance criteria inplace for it’s customers Sainsbury’s, Waitrose,Kwik Save and Somerfield to review the successof their facilities ....Page 34Asset Management Services: In thePrivate Finance Initiative arena the long-termperformance of a property is crucial to theinvestors, constructor, operator and not least thecustomer. Business continuity is the byword anda failure to provide the requisite accommodationand service standards attracts punitive performancepenalties. Into the bargain the FM operatoris charged with providing....Page 35The Business of the Future - NOW: Withtechnology developing and introducing itself intoour working lives at a rapid pace, it’s importantthat businesses make network and telecomsinfrastructure decisions that are future proof.After all, the network and the systems that run onit impact significantly on productivity and performance....contentsRegulars4 News38 Security Focus44 Appointments45 Business News49 New Product Directory30 InteriorsPhilips creates a brighter outlook forthe DLO with energy savingsthrown in too!Get’s Lunéta range expanded with newdisplay and retail fittingsAtrium: High performance at anaffordable pricePage 36Editor: Martin Coomberinfo@practicalfm.co.ukEditorial Contributors:Toby JenkinsonChris Brown-BoltonNewsdesk Manager: Julie Sparrownewsdesk@practicalfm.co.ukAdvertising Sales: Paul Wilsonsales@practicalfm.co.ukAdministrator: Tricia HauptPublisher: Chris CoomberEuroUK Publishing & Events LtdMedia House, Albert StreetBanbury Oxfordshire OX16 5DGwebsite: www.practicalfm.co.ukemail: info@practicalfm.co.uktel: 01295 255177fax: 01295 259780reader replyFull reader reply contactinformation isavailable on the PracticalFacilities Management websitewww.practicalfm.co.uk.If you don’t have access tothe internet please enter thereader enquiry number intothe boxes below and faxback on 01295 259780title: initials: surname:company:address:post code:The information contained in this magazine has been obtained fromsources which the Proprietors believe to have been correctly reproducedbut they cannot accept legal liability for any error in it howsoevercaused. Practical Facilities Management Magazine is distributedat the discretion of the Publishers, EuroUk Publishing Limited. Alladvertisements and editorial articles included within the magazineare subject to the Publishers terms and conditions which are availableupon request. The views expressed are not necessarily those ofthe publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced withoutthe written consent of the Publisher.Copyright Practical Facilities Management 2003 ©tel:email:fax:Practicalfm

I 2 INSPIRATION SQUAREDwww.InterfaceEurope.comADAPTATIONSTRANSFORMATIONFLUCTUATIONSCUBISM & MODERNISMADAPTATIONS,WOODLAND WAY, NATURE TRAILSENTROPYIntroducingI 2 INSPIRATION SQUAREDTHE NEXT GENERATION FLOOR IS INTERFACERandom Rules! Interface's new ranges of modular flooring tiles are inspired by nature and made for the naturally creative.The random patterning in each range, and on each single tile gives you the ability to make every flooring scheme subtly unique.No two floors need ever be alike. For Facilities Managers, random tiles are simply a dream come true. There's no right or wrong way,and because these tiles have no dye lots, any tile in a range will harmonise with any other, no matter when it's purchased or installed- stock dependency is now a thing of the past!I 2 INSPIRATION SQUARED- Reduces installation waste • Flexible • No dye lots • Faster to install • Savings • No right or wrong wayCall free on 0800 028 0686 to discuss your requirements.Shelf Mills, Halifax, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom HX3 7PA email enquiries@eu.interfaceinc.comRR: 71147

commentleader columnFacilities Managersare responsible for thelives and well-being ofanyone who occupiesor visits their propertyAlarm bells will be ringing for facilities managers and middle managers alikewith news this month that the Crown Prosecution Service will be pressingcharges against Barrow Borough Council over seven legionella deaths.Barrow Borough Council’s design and services manager Gillian Beckingham,45, has been accused of ‘gross negligence’ manslaughter, in what is the firstever case of corporate manslaughter to be brought against a local authority.It is also a first to bring corporate manslaughter charges against an employeeoccupying a middle management position. In the past such accusations havealways been levelled at senior managers and directors. This will come ashock to many of our readers who hold similar middle management positions.The outbreak of legionella, which affected 170 people and killed seven, wastraced back to a 30-year-old air conditioning unit in the Forum 28 arts centrein Barrow-in-Furness. If convicted Mrs Beckingham could be jailed for life andthe council could face an un-limited fine.I’m sure most readers will be aware that the deadly legionella disease isspread by contaminated water droplets most commonly associated with unservicedair conditioning units. In this case the outbreak was discovered tohave come after a cleaning and maintenance contract was terminated andcouncil staff took over.I’m sure I speak for all of us in expressing our condolences to the victim’sfamilies. It just goes to show how easily disasters of this magnitude can happen.And I’m sure you’ll agree that this should have been avoided.If you ever thought facilities management was boring and mundane, that thewidely held perception that facilities managers are nothing more than glorifiedcare-takers in blue overalls is true, then think again. You are responsible forthe lives and well-being of anyone who occupies or visits your property. Youare the un-seen guardians of their safety and you owe it to us all to make surethis never happens again.News also broke this month that the Office of Government Commerce (OGC)is reviewing public sector contracts managed by support services giantJarvis. This comes after criticism of Jarvis’s performance in the nationalpress.Jarvis issued a profit warning last month stating that profit would be £12 millionbelow market expectations. The hapless Jarvis has also suffered countlessproject delays and undergone a thorough restructuring in recent months.Complaints have come from Jarvis’s Wirral, Kirklees, Brighton & Hove andHaringey private finance initiative (PFI) schools projects recently.News of yet another mega-bucks PFI deal also broke. At £13 billion, The AirTanker consortium (led by former Atkins boss Robin Southwell) was namedpreferred bidder in what is the biggest ever Ministry of Defence outsourcingcontact.The 27-year air-to-air refuelling contract will involve off-loading £100m of contactsto five or six facilities management firms big enough to cope with theworkload. It is thought the FM aspect will focus around servicing living quartersand office accommodation for staff.Shares in Tribal Group fell 24 percent on news that it had failed to land a£300m deal to run 10 clinics for the NHS, last month. The company wasnamed as likely preferred bidder last September. The contact has gone toCapio Healthcare.4Practicalfm

Moving office?If you’re choosing a removalscompany...choose a professional.British Associationof Removers3 Churchill Court58 Station RoadNorth HarrowHA2 7SAT 020 8861 3331F 020 8861 3332E info@bar.co.ukAs a Facilities Manager you'll know the stressand hassle involved in planning an office move.It's not just about moving desks and filing cabinetsor ensuring PCs are correctly decommissioned andreinstalled. A change of workplace or office can bea time consuming and complicated process involvingmany people at different stages for differentreasons.Get it wrong and it might not just be your jobon the line!So who should you go to when choosing apartner?The CMG is a dedicated group of companies withinthe British Association of Removers that specialisesin all aspects of commercial relocations. In fact,fewer than 80 companies in the whole of the UKcan claim to meet the stringent membershipcriteria and high standards required.● All CMG members have the knowledge andexperience to guide you through every stageof your planned move.● They have all demonstrated the ability to manageand execute the movement of goods from officeand business premises efficiently, effectively andwithout unnecessary disruption to theircustomers' business.● And all CMG members have agreed to beinspected on a regular basis to ensure that thestandard of their facilities, equipment andexpertise remain at the highest level.If you're planning an office move, be sure toapproach a partner that you can trust.Look for the badge.For more information go to www.bar.co.ukRR: 71057

6TOnews...Impact designs AVinfrastructure for Edinburghhe City of Edinburgh Council has created anew conference centre. ‘The BusinessCentre’, within the City Chambers buildingon the Royal Mile.Having won a competitive tender, from a documentprepared by consultant Derek Kemp,Impact Marcom designed an audio visual infrastructureto serve a multi-functional meeting andpresentation space.Seeking to create maximum flexibility for thisenvironment Impact Marcom turned for theirmain focal display to a dnp l00m New WideAngle screen.The new generation optical rearpro screen, distributedin the UK by Paradigm Audio Visual,benefits from improved wide angled lens technology,the option of high contrast or gain,enhanced resolution, 1800 viewing angle andhigh centre-to-corner brightness.According to Frank McAllister, who project managedthe installation from Impact Marcom’sScottish office, this met the objective of creatinga flexible environment for meetings of up to 50people, via a single rear-projection presentationsystem enclosed within a media wall.The reason for choosing the dnp display, hePowrmaster provideshealthy savings toTree of Lifene single Powrmaster TE GE61 has proved the ideal solutionfor a new purpose built85,000 sq. ft distribution centreoperated by Tree of Life UKLtd in Stoke on Trent. As a keyplayer within the Health FoodWholesaling/Distribution sector,Tree of Life offers over7,500 lines of foods, drinks,vitamins, supplements, chilledand pre-packed produce.Powrmaster is a series ofheaters designed for use inmedium to large manufacturingor warehousing facilities.Like all good things the conceptis simple, these unitshandle much higher volumesof air than conventional airheaters resulting in muchlower leaving air temperatures.This in turn offers excellentheat distribution withoutthe requirement of ductingand high level destratificationfans.This heating concept is now triedand trusted offering clients significantsavings on initial installationcosts, but the real benefit is thelonger term savings on energy andmaintenance.Heating and air conditioning engineers,Service Systems ofNewcastle under Lyme, specifiedand installed the system. Directorsays, was based on size. “We opted for a highgain screen to produce the clearest andsharpest of images. With a window situated tothe side, the high brightness display had to workthrough a high degree of ambient light.”The seminar room is fully automated. All videosources (excluding guest laptops) are availableas a window on a lectern-mounted 18inCrestron-driven NEC touch-screen panel.Impact Marcom also supplied 15 headsetreceivers for simultaneous translation. To provideshow relay for this, and allow presentation ofKen Brass, said: “We selected thePowrmaster because of the highlevels of energy efficiency it offerscombined with low installation andon-goingmaintenancecosts.”P a u lHusbands,OperationsDirector ofTree of Life UKLimited, said:“I never fail tobe impressedwith everyaspect of theinstallation inour new facility.The warehousehasalways beenan area that isa majorheadachewhen it comesto efficient heating. Ibelieve the reduction in energy thatwe will shortly be seeing will be ofbenefit both financially and environmentally.”The Powrmaster is guaranteed forboth parts and labour for two years.The heat exchanger is guaranteedfor a further three years and warrantedfor another fifteen years.Reader Reply No.:71006When faced with afailed asphalt roofover a seasideoffice property, Exeterbased building consultantsKirkham Board Associatescalled on the expertise ofTremco. together with itsthermal imaging system, toconfirm the true condition ofthe deck.As is frequently the case,the detailed and very graphic informationrevealed by the manufacturer’sThermocore team during just afew hours non-invasive testing atUnion House in Weston-super-Mare, enabled the surveying andproject management specialist tospecify an over-roofing solution thatsaved both money and disruptionfor the client.Phil Board of Kirkham BoardAssociates, comments: “We investigateda number of possible solutionsincluding the rights andwrongs of re-asphalting the roof,but because the building was toremain in occupation throughoutthe contract period, it was decidedthat keeping the building as watertightas possible was the main priority.We therefore specified theTremco Hi-Therm system with its20-year guarantee and sought aThermocore survey to ensure wewere not going to be sealing toovideo and data media to small audiences inbreakout zones, three portable trolley-mounted42in Sanyo plasma displays were providedalong with portable Sony video conferencingfacilities.The City of Edinburgh Council Business Centrestaff are delighted with the functionality of theintegrated package provided by Impact Marcomand have taken out a maintenance contract withthe company.Impact Marcom is the amalgamation of two ofthe most well established audio-visual companieswithin the UK, Impact Europe and MarcomSystems.The company specialises in the supply andinstallation of an extensive range of audiovisualand videoconferencing equipment for use in anybusiness application or environment. The company’sdedicated hire service together with itsfacilities management division enhance therange of services offered.The company employs approximately 200 peopleoperating out of four offices, Sunbury, Soho,Stockport and Falkirk, and in the last financialyear revenue for the Company stood in theregion of £24M. Reader Reply No.:71001Thermocore surveyavoids removing deckto officemuch moisture into the deck.“The survey confirmed there was noneed to strip the asphalt. A series ofvents were installed reachingthrough to the screed and the workwas actually completed a weekahead of schedule.”The approved installer’s operativesbegan by cleaning off and carryingout minor repairs to joints and splitsin the surface before priming it withTremco QD Primer. This was followedwith the bonding of a 50 mmthickness of Tremtherm 27 insulation.The Tremco Hi-Therm elastomericroof waterproofing system, comprisedof Tremco’s Elastomeric FeltUnderlay and Elastomeric Felt CapSheet both bonded with Tremco’sThermastic, was then installed. AGRP termination bar weathered thesystem into the parapet wall andwas sealed with Tremco Mono.Reader Reply No.:71007Practicalfm

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8Mnews...Dalkia’s carbon trading expertise deliverstangible benefits to Cambridge Regional Collegearking their successful participation andachievement of first year energy savingsthrough the UK Emissions TradingScheme, Cambridge Regional College receivedboth a cheque and a commemorative certificatefrom Dalkia Energy Manager Andrew Sparrow.As the only Energy Services Company (ESCO) inthe Scheme, Dalkia has taken on greenhousegas reduction targets on behalf of 130 of its customersites, and is uniquely placed to pass onthe advantages of its participation to customersas valuable energy and cost savings.“We’re delighted to be amongst the first to benefitfrom our partnership with Dalkia in this venture”says Trevor Smith, Read of Facilities andEstates at Cambridge Regional College.“Besides reducing our annual CO2 emissions by240 tonnes and cutting our energy overheads,we are proud to be associated with this groundbreakingenvironmental initiative.”First proposed under the Kyoto Protocol, emissionstrading is a flexible mechanism for achievingreductions in global greenhouse gas emissions.Participating companies in the UK havepledged to reduce their annual emissions bymore than four million tonnes of carbon-dioxideby the fifth year of the Scheme — representingover 5% of the planned reductions in the UK’sannual emissions by 2010.By participating in the Scheme, the energy savingsachieved by Dalkia will qualify for a proportionof the £21 5 million incentive fund set up bythe Government for the first five years of theScheme — the financial benefits being sharedOsmo takes care of itFor those of us who love a naturalelement to interior design,there is simply nothing that cansurpass the appeal of a qualitywooden floor it’s solid,comfortable and willadd value to virtuallyany room in the housefor many years tocome. But woodenfloors, whether solidwood or laminate, doneed to be looked afterto maintain their inherentbeauty. Help is athand however, with thenew Opti-Set from specialistsin woodenfloors, OSMO.Opti-Set is a specialmaintenance set for allwooden flooring. Itsaves time, water andthe use of traditionalcleaning products. Thisfour-piece set comprisesa dust-mop, amicro-mop plush, an active fibrecloth and a telescopic handle,which extends to 1 .45metres. Thedust-mop is easy to use and picksup dust from all wooden floors, themicro-mop plush is used for dampmopping the floor with Osmo Wash& Care and the active fibre-cloth isdesigned for simple application of aLiquid Wax Cleaner. Used in conjunctionwith Osmo Liquid WaxTrevor Smith, Head of Facilities and Estates atCambridge Regional College, receives the EnergySavings Certificate and cheque from Dalkia EnergyManager Andrew Sparrow (left)with Dalkia customers as they occur.Marking their successful participation andachievement of first year energy savings throughthe UK Emissions Trading Scheme, CambridgeRegional College received both a cheque and acommemorative certificate from Dalkia EnergyManager Andrew Sparrow.As the only Energy Services Company (ESCO) inthe Scheme, Dalkia has taken on greenhousegas reduction targets on behalf of 130 of its customersites, and is uniquely placed to pass onthe advantages of its participation to customersas valuable energy and cost savings.“We’re delighted to be amongst the first to benefitfrom our partnership with Dalkia in this venture”says Trevor Smith, Plead of Facilities andCleaner for oil/wax treated woodenflooring, the set can be used tomaintain and enhance the finish ofquality wooden floors. It is the onlyrecommended way toclean floors treatedwith Osmo Polyx-Qil.For everyday cleaning,a simple broom or vacuumcleaner is all thatis needed. But forthose all-too-oftenoccurrences when themore stubborn stainappears, the answer isstill simple, hassle freeand effective. Moppingwith a diluted solutionof a quality floor wash-&-care product willhelp clean and maintainthe floor. With a liquidwax cleaner, eventhe most stubborn ofstains is no problem -just apply to the floorwith a cloth or anOsmo Polishing Pad for amazingresults. Osmo Liquid Wax Cleanercomes in a handy spray and ismade from a natural vegetable wax,so an excellent choice for allergysufferers. It both cleans and regeneratesthe floor and because OsmoLiquid Wax Cleaner is water-repellentit helps guard against damagefrom liquid spills.Reader Reply No.:71011Access to the Cheam SchoolSports Hall in Newbury is nowsafer and easier for all usersthanks to a newly built ramp andhandrailing which features Slope fittingsfrom the best selling KeeKlamp® range.Cheam School is one of the oldestco-educational boarding prepschools in the country with a longlist of alumni including royalty andpoliticians. Over 350 pupils attendthe school, and with matchesplayed twice a week, the SportsHall is a busy hub of school life,playing host to a large volume ofpupils and visitors on a regularbasis.Keen to act in accordance with theDisability and Discrimination Actaccessibility requirements, theschool specified the construction ofthe new access ramp to serve thebuilding. The new ramp will not onlyprovide safe and easy access fordisabled users, but ensure a reliablehandhold for all pupils and visitorsto the Sports Hall. Securedwithin a low-level, curving brickwall, the handrailing structureextends for over 20 metres alongsidethe ramp. Kee Klamp® Slopefittings were chosen for the quick,simple and effective connectionsolution they provide on this type ofEstates at Cambridge Regional College.“Besides reducing our annual CO2 emissions by240 tonnes and cutting our energy overheads,we are proud to be associated with this groundbreakingenvironmental initiative.”First proposed under the Kyoto Protocol, emissionstrading is a flexible mechanism for achievingreductions in global greenhouse gas emissions.Participating companies in the UK havepledged to reduce their annual emissions bymore than four million tonnes of carbon-dioxideby the fifth year of the Scheme — representingover 5% of the planned reductions in the UK’sannual emissions by 2010.By participating in the Scheme, the energy savingsachieved by Dalkia will qualify for a proportionof the £21 5 million incentive fund set up bythe Government for the first five years of theScheme — the financial benefits being sharedwith Dalkia customers as they occur.The voluntary Scheme, which started in April lastyear, is a forerunner for the mandatoryEuropean emissions trading scheme being introducedin 2005. So the expertise being acquiredby Dalkia in the structure and operation of thescheme will be a valuable asset for both existingand future customers.“The introduction of the pan-European carbontrading scheme makes this expertise essential tothe continuing development of Dalkia’s leadershipin Energy Managemenf’ says AndrewSparrow. “Our objective is to deliver real addedvalue to our customers.”Reader Reply No.:71008Kee Klamp ascendsto top of the classgradient installation.Martin Wareham of Collier andCatley Contactors, who carried outthe installation said: “Kee KlampLtd has provided an excellent service;the fittings are easy to workwith as well as versatile and economical.This greatly helped us inkeeping costs and installation timedown to an absolute minimum.”These innovative fittings enableeasy pivoting of hand-rail tubes inthe fitting barrel to achieve thedesired gradient angle before finaltightening of the grub-screw. Thismethod of hassle-free assemblyeliminates any need for time consumingwelding or other specialistskills, thus considerably reducinginstallation time and costs.Reader Reply No: 71012Practicalfm

NMaking adequate provision fortenants with disabilities canbe an expensive and timeconsumingtask. A new, virtuallyinstant, economically priced systemhas just been launched in the UK inthe form of Roll-a-Ramp, a lightweight,portable apparatus that canhelp Housing Associations,Registered Social Landlords andproperty owners to offer accessibilityalmost anywhere, without theneed for a permanent, highly costlyand often intrusive solid inclinestructure.Under the changes in legislationbeing enforced by the newDisability Discrimination Act,responsibility for access fallssquarely upon the shoulders of thelandlord, both in private and publicsectors. Meeting DDA requirements,Roll-a-Ramp providesa versatile accesssolution without hinderingaccess for the able-bodied.Suitable for almost anytype of application — e.g.disabled access to buildings,transporting heavyequipment up and downdifficult steps and stairways,as well as providingaccess into and out of vehicles— Roll-a-Ramp comeswith a 10-year warranty.Andrew Cohen, Roll-a-Ramp director, comments:news...PFI Project prefersNilfisk-AdvancePracticalfmilfisk-Advance is helping tokeep a new PFI funded educationalcomplex on Teessideclean and litter-free. Robertson FM,which operates the facilities managementcontract for InglebyBarwick Community Campus, isusing professional cleaning equipmentfrom Nilfisk-Advance throughoutthe site.The t £12m development consistsof impressive new primary’ andsecondary schools plus a communitynursery and library. RobertsonFM’s team is responsible for cleaningover 1 7,000 square pus, rangingfrom special non-slip surfacesin science labs to lacquered compositewood in the assembly andsports hall. “Given the variety offloor types we need versatile equipmentthat gets the job done quicklyand efficiently. We’ve used Nilfisk-Advance machines on similar contractsso knew they could meet thissort of challenge. They are alsoreally’ easy to use, which meansthey are up and running with theminimum of training.” commentsToni Whitehead, Contract Managerat Robertson FM.Robertson FM is using a wide rangeof machines from Nilfisk-Advanceat Ingleby Barwick, including compactwalk-behind scrubber/dryers.single disc machines and backpack—stylevacuum cleaners.Nilfisk-Advance’s SDS 424 twospeedsingle disc machine providesRobertson FM with the idealsolution to multi-purpose cleaning.Commercial vacuum cleaners alsoplay a key’ role in maintaining hardand carpeted surfaces at InglebyBarwick. Among the models specifiedfor the contract is the Nilfisk-Advance GD1000 series, whichcombines high suction power andexcellent filtration with a low noiselevel to allow daytime cleaning.Reader Reply No.: 71128Access for all“Using the Roll-a-Ramp systemmeans that landlords can forgetabout making unnecessary andcostly physical alterations to buildings.This is a truly innovative productwhich could revolutioniseaccess provision in the UK.”Fabricated of tremendously strongbut lightweight anodised aerospacealuminium so you don’t haveto worry about leaving it outside inall weathers, Roll-a-Ramp holds upto 1000kg of distributed weight, andis so simple to use that anyone canquickly set it up in a matter of minutes.The two simple tools provided- an Alan key and a box wrench -areall that’s needed to adjust the Rolla-Rampfor different applications byremoving or adding sections tolengthen or shorten as required.Reader Reply No.:711299JTL and Tameside College make a national call......for businesses thatwant to take on an electricalmaintenance apprenticeThe electrical maintenance sector is a key part of the British electrotechnical servicesindustry and yet, up until now, there has been no dedicated training course. NowJTL, the industry’s leading training provider, in partnership with Tameside College,which holds Centre of Vocational Excellence status, have together with employersdeveloped a new programme to fill this specialist gap. The course is open to all16-24 year olds on a national basis, will be block release, and is residential forapprentices from outside the local area.This is the first and only course currently available in the UK whichenables apprentices to develop specialist electrical maintenanceskills as part of a structured and fully integrated trainingprogramme. It leads to a recognised qualification whichincorporates the National Vocational Qualification Level 3, theTechnical Certificate, Key Skills and a sector specific practicalassessment test. JTL will provide access to Government funding forcollege fees and offers a comprehensive range of support services.With over 7,000 apprentices currently in training, JTL knows that, once successfullyqualified, they become highly suitable for progression and promotion within yourbusiness. Far-sighted employers know the major benefits of having staff who areboth qualified and familiar with their company, to help achieve improvements inefficiency, productivity and profitability.So whether you would like to nominate someone, or to interviewa candidate who has passed JTL’s selection test, please call ustoday. Course places are limited so please act now to avoiddisappointment.Call Mike Crossley at JTL on:07867 523431or e-mail: michaelcrossley@jtlimited.co.ukRegistered Charity No: 1080254Registered in England No: 3958541VALUABLE FINANCIALSUPPORT PACKAGEGive JTL a shout todayand discover how muchwe can do to help yourbusiness prosperCommencing September 2004, the UK’s firstAdvanced Modern Apprenticeship in Electrical MaintenanceRR: 71115

10TTnews...Tensator’s ‘In-Q’ meanshappy shoppers at Matalanensator’s latest retail display initiative — theln-Q Merchandising range — is helping todeliver a seamless shopping experiencefrom doorway to checkout, at Matalan storesacross the UK.Developed by Tensator to transform ‘dead’ retailspace — such as queuing areas - into an activemerchandising opportunity, the ‘ln-Q’ rangecombines queue barrier infill panels with specialfixtures including slot-in shelves, baskets andhooks for prime display of that last-minute‘impulse’ purchase.With an average 30,000ft2 per store, Matalan’sproduct range offers a comprehensive selectionof quality homeware, ladies’, men’s and children’sclothing and footwear - all under one roofFollowing an initial pilot scheme at 50 stores,Matalan has now rolled-out ‘ln-Q’ to over 140FETA Chairman ‘Spillsthe beans’ at conferencehe 2003 FETA (FireExtinguishing TradesAssociation) conference tookplace on 25 November at theWindmill Village Hotel in Coventryand provided members and guestswith a fascinating insight into one ofthe success stories in portable firefighting.FETA Chairman, John Worboys, leda session in which he revealedsome of the secrets behind thegrowth of his business, FireProtection Services, from its formationto a £24million and 400employee company. John wasjoined by his former colleagues,Peter Chilton, Executive Directorresponsible for Human Resourcesat FPS and David Brough, the company’sFinancial Director, both nowstores, to allow customer perusal of the latestFMCG’s as they move through the queuing system.Matalan has achieved continued expansion inthe South East where it has demonstrated a realincrease in penetration. A key driver for this successhas been maintaining products at the frontof display and gaining consumer attention toincrease sales, with ‘ln-Q’ proving to be a particularlyvaluable addition to the store display layout.The quality of Tensator’s product range is knownglobally and ‘ln-Q’ is no exception. Designed,developed and manufactured in the UK, the systembenefits from great build-quality and cuttingedgedesign. The Tensator design team offer acomplete service from concept-to-completion:from design brief to solid models, pre-productionto volume supply, Tensator has the solution.Tensator products are found in every area of lifethat requires people management — from thelocal post office, bank or supermarket, to constructionsites and world-famous tourist attractions.Tensator has been providing effectivecrowd control barriers to a variety of high-profileclients for over 30 years. With technologicalinnovations and stylish new products, theTensator portfolio has expanded into a dynamicand functional range of customer guidance andqueue management systems. All products comewith a full warranty assuring the high calibre ofits products and a complete and professionallevel of quality customer service comes as standard.Reader Reply No.:71013operating on a consultancybasis.Under the title ‘Spilling theBeans’, John, Peter andDavid covered a widerange of topics, from theimportance of a company’semployees through to howto prepare a business forsale. They drew on theirown considerable experienceto give the delegatesa real insight into some ofthe components necessaryfor a successful business, includingthe drive and enthusiasm for whichJohn has become renownedthroughout the UK fire industry.Also on the agenda the ‘nuts andbolts’ of FETA members’ businesseswere discussed, namely theRegulatory Reform Order, ISO9000, Risk Assessment, amendmentsto British Standards and 3rdParty Certification. This section ofthe conference began with a presentationfrom FETA MarketingCommittee Chairman Gwyn Ewenswho addressed the subject of theFire Safety Order, drawing out someof the more salient points and thelikely impact the reforms will haveon companies operating within thefire protection arena.Reader Reply No.: 71015FAAC operators magicfor Carpet WarehouseFAAAC automatic gateand barrier systemsare proving to be themagic solution for carpetwholesaler Mercado inLeeds. Specialist installerAshwood Autogates hasinstalled gates, barriersand access control systemsat the warehouse,from where MercadoCarpets supplies a widerange of flooring products,including carpets for domesticand contract work, and vinyl andlaminate flooring.Access at the main entrance is via aseven metre long sliding metal gateautomated by a FAAC 820 operator.Inside, three FAAC 620 bafflerscontrol vehicle movement; two atthe heavy goods vehicle entranceand one for the staff car park.Access throughout the site is controlledvia a combination of entrysystems including proximity andswipe cards.FAAC’s 620 standard hydraulic bafflersystem is designed to raise barriersof up to 5m in length, with anopening speed of 3.5 — 4.5 secondsand a duty cycle of 70%. The620 Rapid opens in 2 seconds, andhas a 100% duty cycle. Neat anddurable, the orange steel housingOCS attendantswin top awardttendants at the new Trafalgar Square toiletsare officially among Britain’s best afterthe team, employed by OCS Cleaning &Support Services, won one of the nation’s leadingloo awards.The team at Europe’s busiest toilets were recentlynamed as Commended Winners of theCannon Hygiene Loo Attendant of the YearAward by the host, television weather girl SianLloyd.The London super-loos, which receive up to90,000 international visitors each week, openedin July as part of the £24 million pedestrianisationof the world famous square.Julian Stone, Regional Director at OCS, said:“We’re so delighted to have won this award.These loos are a vital and very public part of theregeneration of the square, open 12 hours a day,365 days a year so getting the right team wasvital.“Because of all the different nationalities who usethe toilets we recruited attendants who speak atleast two languages. But they’ve also beentrained as fire wardens, firstaiders and touristguides who are able to direct visitors aroundLondon.” Reader Reply No.:71014contains the operator, which consistsof a hydraulic power unit, twopistons, spring and an electroniccontrol unit in a watertight container.The system features anadjustable anticrushing safety system,and a manual release deviceto be used in the event of a powerfailure.Tony Johnson, of AshwoodAutogates, says: “For this busy site,we specified a FAAC barrier systembecause it is robust and reliable.”The FAAC 820 sliding gate operatoris designed for gates weighing upto 600kg and measuring up to 13mlong. Its control unit stores differentstop positions, allowing differentsettings for pedestrian or vehicleaccess without the need for addingmechanical devices to the framework.Reader Reply No.:71016Practicalfm

FG-SYS Digital Technology is able to instantlydetect and pinpoint — within a radius ofone metre or less — liquid leaks in false ceilings,false floors, ducts, or machinery rooms.Most damage to office environments is linked tofaulty air conditioning systems and, according toinsurance companies, liquid leaks are the mostcommon cause ofclaims after fire andtheft. In response to thisproblem, TTK has developedits sophisticateddigital liquid leak detectionsystem, which isbased on intelligentdetector cables andwhich can identify theirregular presence of liquidsaccurately.FG-SYS Digital Technology consists of a systemof intelligent detector cables linked to a centraldetection unit. Each length of cable is fitted withan electronic chip, at connector level, which canregister information about faults and communicateindependently with the central unit. When acable detects the presence of a liquid, a warninglight and alarm are immediately set off in thecentral unit. The location of the leak is given bya display that shows the name of the cable, aswell as the time and the date that the problemoccurred.Digital technology enables the monitoring of upto 180 independent detector cables. If a leak isAFG-SYS intelligent cablessniff out liquid leaksVersatile Versapakrecent joint venture betweenmailroom specialistsVersapak and leading facilitiescontractor Select FM has resultedin an outstanding example ofmaximum utilisation of confinedspace at Select’s Waltham Abbeylocation.To set the scene, Select wererecently awarded the contract toprovide a complete “one-stop”printing and mailing service for oneof the largest retail groups in theUK. Everything from black & whitetraining bulletins to full colourbrochures in various permutationsis sent to over 2000 branches on acontinual basis. Versapak’s challenge– successfully achieved –was to create and install purpose –built sorting units within a dedicatedfloor area of just 53.6 metres.Combined with its notable freedetected by one cable, the others remain in surveillancemode. The FG-SYS Digital Technologyrange of cables are able to detect all types of liquid,including the most dangerous — from waterto acids and alkalis, as well as hydrocarbonsand solvents, among others.The advantages of the intelligent detection technologydeveloped by TTKare manifold. Firstly, FG-SYSDigital Technology ensuresthe continuous protection ofzones at risk by intelligentdetector cables, ensuringprecision and reliabilitythrough its dedicated digitaltechnology. Second, TTK’stechnology guarantees theimmediate and accuratelocation of all leaks and theirorigin. Third, FG-SYS Digital Technology affordsthe simultaneous monitoring of several faults asall cables are independent from each other.Fourth, the configuration of the system by theuser provides added flexibility (naming of detectorcables, operational parameters chosen, etc.).Fifth, the history of the last 30 events (incidentsand accidents) is available at all times, while themodular system can evolve with the user’srequirements. And finally, FG-SYS DigitalTechnology is simple to install, to operate and tomaintain, and can be linked to any building managementsystem.Reader Reply No.: 71023design service, this represents anexcellent example of the customerattention for which Versapak isfamous.Sue Sellers of Select FM has verypositive comments as regards thesuccess of the venture. “Versapakwere recommended by a colleagueat another office and we instigateda very thorough appraisal of themajor companies in the mailroomsector. We were impressed by theirattention, and the equipment itselfis very good and absolutely fit for itspurpose, especially in terms of thecompact design. It was also particularlyhelpful of them to provide andfit the crucial system of colourcoded labels. We can now offerwhat we regard as a benchmarkservice of this nature to the retailsector”.Reader Reply No.: 71021The managers of a prestigiousoffice development in HighWycombe, Bucks were sopleased with the performance of theAnglian Blue 20 tinted architecturalfilm recently fitted to the windows ofthe building that approved Anglianinstaller Filmtek Ltd has now beenre-commissioned to fit further film tothe vast expanse of roof glazing onthe building.The office development, which isoperated by renowned businessmanagement consultancy Dun andBradstreet, recently benefited fromthe installation of around 4000 sq ftof the blue tinted film, carefullyselected to address a glare problemnews...GSH innovationsresult in Diageo winBeverage giant Diageo and Trammel CrowSavills have awarded GSH a multi-millionpound comprehensive maintenance contractto cover Diageo’s Southern portfolio comprisingof newly built headquarters 7HQ at ParkRoyal, Henrietta Place in SWI and the Breweryestates also at Park Royal.The contract requires bespoke delivery solutionsand performance measurements due to the contrastingportfolio, which ranges from Hi-techCorporate to Industrial. Therefore GSH’s adaptableapproach and cutting edge technologieswill be employed to deliver hand-held assetmanagement; output condition based specificationsand live web-enabled performance reportingdirect to the client.Jamie Reynolds, National Commercial Directorfor GSH said ‘the client’s output specificationallowed us to propose a flexible innovative solutionencompassing our CT software, CBM specificationsand operational structure. The culturalfit and true partnership approach with TCS willalso allow for continual contract developmentthrough ongoing innovation’.Reader Reply No.:71017Anglian Blue 20 is afilm star for HighWycombe officesbeing experienced by VDU operatorsworking inside the building. TheAnglian Blue 20 film was also chosenas an improvement to the externalvisual aesthetics of the building,and to provide daylight privacy.The choice of window film specificationis an ideal one for this type ofproject. Anglian’s Architectural Non-Reflective Tinted Window Films areavailable in a choice of colours andare specified for visual enhancementof primary glazing and internalpartition panels, reducing visibleglare and increasing privacy, resultingin a more conducive workingenvironment.Reader Reply No.:7102511

12Anews...Fresh ideas on the smoking issueProven ventilation for the hospitality from Vent-Axiasingle Powrmaster air rotationheater from Europe’s No.1manufacturer of warm airheating equipmentPowrmatic Ltd hashelped RyobiAluminium Casting(UK) significantlyreduce its energyconsumption andheating maintenancebill.Ryobi is part of amulti-national corporationand aleader in light diecasting technology.The warehouseand despatch areaat the company’ssiteinCarrickfergus,Northern Ireland,was originallyheated by a numberof radianttube heaters, butthese provedexpensive to runand maintain due to the quantity ofindividual units and the difficulty inaccessing them as they were locatedat high level above fixed plantand equipment.Ryobi challenged local heatingconsultants Craigavon HeatingCentre Ltd to recommend a costRPowrmatic reducescosts for RYOBIeffective alternative. Craigavon,with many years experience in thedesign of industrial heating systems,considered the many optionsavailable but it was onlyPowrmaster that met the challengein all aspects.They installed a single gasfiredPowrmaster air rotationunit handling highvolumes of air at relativelylow temperature; thisreduces stratification andprovides unrivalled heatdistribution. A modulatinggas-fired burner was specifiedalong with a Eurotroldigital control system withoptimum start feature. Thiscombination ensures maximumefficiency and energysavings.The floor mounted unitenables unrestrictedaccess for servicing andmaintenance and, becausethere’s only one, theseassociated costs are greatlyreduced.The Powrmasterrange has a comprehensive twoyear parts and labour guarantee inrecognition of quality and reliability.The heat exchanger has a five yearguarantee and a further fifteen yearpro-rata warranty.Reader Reply No.: 71026ight now, air quality is a big issue forthe hospitality industry, which is facingpotential legislation to controlsmoking in public places - a prospectwhich many in the industry see as a realthreat to their businesses. The nationwideAir Improves Results (AIR) Campaign isactively encouraging the proprietors andmanagers of pubs, clubs and restaurants toupgrade the ventilation of their premises asthe best way to protect their staff and customersfrom cigarette smoke, and to avoidthe prospect of an outright smoking ban.Commercial ventilation market leader Vent-Axia, in close liaison with the hospitalityindustry, has developed the Intro 600 airinput system, designed specifically toensure much better air quality and healthierworking conditions for staff behind the bar.It’s a highly practical answer to thedemands implicit in the Health & SafetyExecutive Approved Code of Practice,drawn-up to protect hospitality staff fromthe potentially health-damaging effects ofpassive smoking.Removing cigarette smoke from pubs,clubs, bars and restaurants by means ofpowered ventilation is, of course, a longestablishedtechnique for improving thegeneral air quality in such premises, whereretro-fitted wall and window-mountedThe Tri-Nations Cup athleticsmeeting in Glasgow betweenRussia, USA and the UK sawmany successes on the field. Yet itwas above the field that importantlighting maintenance work wasundertaken by Parkersell, to helpproceedings go without a hitch.When Glasgow City Councilrealised that floodlighting at theScotstoun Stadium needed maintenance,the organisation needed afast response. In just one monththey were to be hosting this majorathletics event. Should the track’sfloodlighting fail or even performbelow acceptable standards, up toextract fans are a common feature.However, it has been rather more complicatedto provide completely fresh air inproblem areas such as the bar itself, wherestaff serving customers can routinely experienceparticularly smoky conditions forextended periods.Now, by ducting fresh air from outside thebuilding direct to bar area, the Intro 600provides a highly practical way to tackle theproblem and is purpose-designed for veryneat retro-fitting into the complex array ofwalls, beams, differing ceiling heights andinterconnected spaces which characteriseso many hospitality premises.The packaged centrifugal fan unit, whichfits within the thickness of an exterior wall,is no more obtrusive than a conventionalextract fan. Complete with an internal filter(which can be easily accessed for maintenancefrom inside the building) and anelectric heating element (for tempering theincoming air) the Intro 600 delivers airthrough exceptionally low-profile flat rectangularducting (featuring all the wigglesand bends you might need and a few morebesides) and a further heating element (forwinter comfort), to a wall or ceiling-mountedslim-panel diffuser behind or over the bar.Reader ReplyNo.:71037Lighting maintenance‘track record’ provesvital for Tri-Nationa quarter of themeeting’s competitionscouldbe disrupted,affecting not onlyvisitors and competitors,but alsolarge televisionaudiences. Thec o u n c i lapproachedParkersell, acompany with anexcellent pasttrack recordworking forGlasgow CityCouncil and plenty of experience inmeeting tight deadlines with a professionalservice.The job was not straightforward. Toeffect the inspection, repairs andreplacements, Parkersell had tolower the four 75 feet towers uponwhich the floodlights were mountedand work above areas normallyoccupied by spectators and athletes.The Council’s Robert Wrightputs the project into perspective,“Parkersell were given the task ofcompleting this project with a verytight schedule under strict health,safety and cost considerations.”Reader Reply No.: 71031Practicalfm

HEverything isrunning smoothlyat Yates’s...Stannah Lift Services ensure over200 lifts all run smoothly in morethan 100 bustling Yates’s and Ha!Ha! Bars across the UK.The movement of goods, food,drink and people within each venueplays a huge part of the daily routineof keeping the customers satisfied.Goods lifts also provide essentialsupport to the staff, meeting themanual handling and health andsafety regulations.Deck the Hallsorticultural experts CannonHygiene Throwers has transformedthe offices of FourthDay Public Relations after namingthe London-based PR company asthe winner of its annual Christmastree competition.The tree and decorations, worthmore than £1,000, were presentedto staff at Fourth Day PublicRelations following their creativeentry into the nationwide Yuletidecompetition.Stuart Stotter-Brooks from CannonHygiene Throwers commented:“We were delighted at the creativityand thought that had been put intothe entries, but Fourth Day PublicRelations shone out from the crowd.I’m sure that they are pleased withtheir tree and decorations and I(left to right) Tina Dove, Xanthe Vaughan Williams,Vic Paton-Smith and Nikki SmithPracticalfmStannah Lift Servicesare a nationwide serviceprovider and have12 service branchesacross the UK. TheirNational Contractsdepartment aims tomake life much easierfor clients like Yates’s byproviding a ‘single pointof contact’ to managethe whole lift portfolio,ensuring local service isat hand when andwhere it is required.Tony Walsh, PropertyManager for Yates’sGroup plc comments:“ Ihave found the ability to utilise asingle point of contact at Stannah tobe invaluable in servicing andmaintaining our lift installations. Thishas enabled the level of service tocontinue to meet our expectations”.Stannah provide maintenance,repair and emergency call-out and,in addition, refurbish or moderniseexisting lifts to ensure their continuedefficiency.Reader Reply No.: 71036hope that it helps to make theirChristmas very merry.’“I’m delighted that we have wonthis exciting competition,” saidNikki Smith, director at Fourth DayPublic Relations. “The tree has certainlyhelped to brighten our officesand has added to a fabulousChristmas atmosphere.”Cannon Hygiene Throwers has alsoprovided a decorated tree worth£1,000 to the offices of Coflex, whowere winners of a competition thatran at the National Cleaning Showat the Birmingham NEC Earlier thisyear.Cannon Hygiene is one of the UK’sleading providers of environmentalservices and products. The firm,founded in 1955, employs morethan 2,000 personnel. More than60,000 UK customers,with a further28,000 in 30other countrieshave confidentlychosen CannonHygiene to handletheir washroomhygiene, laundry,dirty house cleaningpest control,paper & janitorialproducts and horticulturalservices.Reader ReplyNo.: 71038Facilities managementgroup OCS has revolutionisedthe way it pays33,000 staff by bringingtogether 14 different softwaresystems into a single mySAPHR Payroll, installed by thegroup and SAP Consulting.OCS’s Director of CT JennySener said: “After six months’rigorous assessment, wechose SAP over three otherleading suppliers because itssolution was best equipped tomeet our complex IT payrollrequirements - we run a verydiverse and geographically dispersedbusiness.“SAP is helping OCS meet a keybusiness objective - deliveringmanagement reports of our entirelabour costs, right down to contractand site level.”The adoption of mySAP HR, as partof the mySAP Business Suite, helpsOCS achieve its ‘One CompleteSolution’ strategic objective of harmonisingits business processesand improving its quality of service.The mySAP HR Payroll solution willallow OCS to get a unified view forthe first time of its payroll data,including time management andlegal reporting. It also will meannews...OCS successfullyimplements SAPgreater speed and accuracy ofreporting, automation of manualtasks and reductions in resourcingcosts.Other business benefits will includeimplementing best-practice HR andpayroll management to improvestaff retention and motivation, andbetter management of compliancewith company policies and legislation.OCS’s deployment of mySAP HRPayroll is part of an integrated informationsystem initiative being builtfor cost control and strategic marketing.In addition to mySAP HRPayroll, OCS will take advantage ofthe mySAP Business Suite by rollingout mySAPReader Reply No.:71040RR: 7105813

14PTnews...Tensator ‘Stretches out thePounds’ with eQoundstretcher stores across the UK arebenefiting from the cutting-edge technologyof Tensator’s eQ electronic queuemanagement system. In a major upgrade programme,eQ is being installed inPoundstretcher stores toensure smooth runningqueues and satisfied customersat the UK’s premier‘budget’ chain.Poundstretcher offers a hugerange of great value homeproducts, as well as toys, giftsand even sweets for the kids.With such a varied productoffering, a typical store environmentcan be incrediblybusy, but Poundstretcheraims to provide quick and efficientcustomer service at alltimes. Tensators eQ systemhelps achieve this objectiveby making sure that customersare served in the orderthat they arrive in the queue— well-recognised as themost customer-friendly formof queue management.Hayley Lewis, PurchasingManager of Poundstretcher isdelighted with the introduction of eQ. “Wewere introduced to Tensator’s eQ system afterthe success of their Tensabarrier® system withinour stores. The eQ call forward system hashelped us to serve our customers in a quick andGloucester locksmithstriumph asCentre of the Yearhe final of the Abloy SecurityAwards for Excellence, heldrecently at the National SpaceCentre in Leicester and presentedby racing driver and media presenterTift Needell was an impressiveevent. Established to recognise theachievements of ABLOY Centresthroughout the UK, the Awardshighlighted the technical, commercialand marketing acumen of someof the country’s leading locksmithsand security companies.Foremost among the winners wasGloucester Locksmiths whoscooped first prize in the prestigious‘Centre of the Year’ category,winning a fully signwritten Citroenfair manner, keeping our customer satisfactionlevels at an all-time high.”The eQ electronic queue management systemhas a dynamic visual display to provide a focusfor the customers’ attention whilst waiting. A separateactivation control foreach counter providesusers with the flexibility toadapt to a variety of queuingdemands and situations.The system is fullyprogrammable from aWindows-based packageand features stereo audio,with voices available inboth male and femaleoptions with a choice ofregional accents. Theseannouncements, alertsounds and directionalarrows guide people in theright direction, making itparticularly beneficial forthe visually impaired, andensuring that queues aredealt with in the swiftestpossible manner.eQ’s display can alsodouble as a ‘streamed’message terminal - a guaranteedpowerful communication medium for promotion,entertainment and information. The CDUcan be programmed by a PC, or connected on anetwork, for extended functionality.Reader Reply No.:71045Berlingo van and trips toFinland. Gary John, representingthe company onthe evening, said, “We areabsolutely thrilled to benamed Abloy SecurityCentre of the Year, as thisrecognises the exceptionallevel of commitment anddedication that our salesand technical teams provideto our customers.”Other award winnersincluded: Elite ArchitecturalIronmongery from Birmingham, whowon the ‘Commercial Excellence’award; Dorset based SRM Securitytook the prize for ‘TechnicalInnovation’ and Brown Brothersbeat oft stiff competition to claim theaward for ‘Marketing Excellence’.Julie Day, Marketing Manager atAbloy Security, explained that “Wehave long believed that our securityinstallers and Centres should bepublicly recognised for the businessexcellence and technical skillsthat they display and chose 2003as the year in which we launchedour Awards programme.”Reader Reply No.:71053ROCS raises its gameOevellers leaving SamísNightclub in the small hoursdonít keep the neighboursawake, thanks to a ëbouncerí and aheavy duty operator from FAAC(UK). The popular nightclub in theheart of Brentwood, Essex, wantedto ensure nearby residents were notdisturbed by sound carrying acrossan adjacent car park at the end ofits Thursday, Friday and Saturdayclub nights. The simple solutionwas an ëacoustic wallí to bouncethe sound back, shielding thehomes and dampening the noise,but this idea was complicated bythe need for access to the car parkduring the daytime. The answerwas automation.Eagle Automation of Ongarinstalled a metal gate fully clad withtimber, shaped to act as a noiseCS Transport Services Division has raisedits service quality for British Airways furtherwith a new fleet of Hi-Lift vehiclesdesigned to keep the airline’s passengers suppliedwith creature comforts.OCS has bought four specialist scissor lift platformvehicles to rise alongside BA’s wide-bodiedaircraft and keep them stocked with a variety ofdry goods including blankets, pillows, headsetsand in-flight magazines.The dedicated hi-lift vehicles, which come intoservice this month, were handed over to OCS atthe huge Interairport show in Munich. They weremade by Saxon Norquip at its plant inSandbach, Cheshire.OCS’s Transport Manager Rob Powell said:“These specialist vehicles are a major long-termcommitment by the business - more than£360,000 in total - in our work for BA. They willbe based at Heathrow’s Terminal 4.“We needed them so we could maintain our highstandards, ensure the continued quality of ourservice to BA, and meet Heathrow’s increasinglystringent environmental standards.”Reader Reply No.: 71041FAAC movesnightclub Bouncerbuffer, and measuring 3m high by 15m long. It was automated with aFAAC 884 sliding gate operator,which is designed to move gatesup to 3.5 tonnes. Most of the time,the gate stands in a position out ofthe way of the car park. Onevenings when the nightclub isopen, the gate is slid into itsëbouncerí position, using a keycommand.Cliff Miller of Eagle Automationsays: “The FAAC 884 is the obviouschoice for such a large, heavy gateinstallation. Though at this site thegate will only be moved six times aweek, the operator needs to beable to cope with the weight of thegate.”The FAAC 884 sliding gate systemis a three phase electromechanicaloperator requiring no additionallocking devices. The singlephase control board ishoused inside the corrosionproof orange housing. Theoperator will operate continuouslyfor gates weighingup to 2,000kg, or at a 50%duty cycle for gates weighingup to 3,500kg. The unitis ideal for heavy use in anindustrial environment.Reader ReplyNo.:71054Practicalfm

FPerfect pit stop refreshmentfrom N&W Global Vendingormer Formula One racing driver JonathanPalmer has developed a hugely successfulbusiness enterprise - puffing the thrills andspills of high speed driving intothe hands of business executives.Catering and refreshment facilitiesplay a vital role which is whyPalmer chose to introduce arange of high quality beveragemachines from Europe’s biggestmanufacturer, N&W GlobalVending.The ‘Zenith’ models have beenspecially designed with his‘PalmerSport’ brand graphics,and dispense a wide range ofhigh quality drinks from a seriesof trackside hospitality lounges.From authentic bean to cup coffeesand fresh brew tea, to beefand tomato soup, espressochocand flavoured chilled water, theseven Zenith machines deliveroptimum drinks choice and quality.Saul Bywater, the site’s Facilities Managerexplained: “We’ve been running here for fouryears now and the company has been in operationfor about 15 years.“We deal mainly with big company bookings, sixuse.”“We used to have the ingredient sachets linedup on the side - we did that for years - with hotwater urns. It was messy,didn’t produce a nice drinkand for the standard ofclientele who are paying alot of money to come herefor the day, things need tobe just right.“What we are getting nowwith the bean to cup drinksis in a different league. Thequality is a 100 per centimprovement. It’s clean, fastand convenient and theZeniths reflect our qualityethos. After all we are dealingwith a very discerningaudience.The Zeniths were introducedshortly after new hospitalitysuites were constructed inthe Spring of 2003.PalmerSport wanted a machine that blended inwith the new, state-of-the-art facilities.Palmer himself declared: “Our customers arevery happy with the drink service. We have a lotof repeat custom and many remember the previousold-fashioned service and appreciate howdays per week, looking after 100 people per day. things have dramatically improved - the quality is In addition there are about 103 staff on site, so the most noticeable difference.the vending machines get a large amount ofReader Reply No.:71061news...New performancemanagement systemhelps run 8,000buildingsThe task of managing the 8,000 BritishTelecom buildings throughout the UK is ahuge one.Taking responsibility for every detail, right downto the testing of fire alarms and making sure allthe lifts are working falls to a Luton-basedorganisation — Monteray.Each month Monteray has to report back to BTagainst some 25 Key Performance Indicators.Failure on any one means financial penalties;this demands a level of performance managementover and above the day-to-day operationof such a far-reaching operation.A Performance Management System usingCognos Series 7 Enterprise BI and MicrosoftAccess established by Monteray with the help ofthe leading UK Business Intelligence (BI) consultants,Simpson Associates.It has also been designed by SimpsonAssociates to use traffic lighting and colour codingin PowerPlay reports that quickly highlightany areas of failing performance so that theycan be rectified, ideally, before falling into the BTabatement zone.Key to the success of this project was the abilityof Simpson Associates to work alongsideMonteray personnel providing not only solutionsto “hard” technical issues but also training andinformation sharing.RR No.:71046The PersonalProtective Equipmentat Work Regulations 1992state that suitable PPEmust be provided toemployees exposed toa risk to their healthor safety.Safetyshop offers 1000's of PPEproducts:Helmets and CapsEye ProtectionHi-visibility ClothingSafety FootwearFall Arrest Equipmentand much more …PracticalfmRR: 71078Call us for a FREE copy of ourbrand new Catalogue.FREEPHONE: 0800 13 23 23 FREEFAX: 0800 389 5311www.safetyshop.com sales@safetyshop.comRR: 7105515

We’re no longerexclusively mail.TNT Managed ServicesSpecialists in outsourced services1998 Winner - Public Sector1999 Winner - Single Service2000 Winner - Single Service2001 Winner - Single Service2001 Winner - Marketing2003 Winner - Partners with PeopleTNT Mail Services is now TNT Managed Services.Building on our platform as the leading provider of strategies and solutions in mailroom management, wehave extended our portfolio of support services in the facilities sector.The new services come with all the standards you would expect from customer-focused, quality-led TNT.

That means experienced, enthusiastic people devising and implementing best-in-classsolutions that simultaneously reduce your costs whilst increasing efficiency.To find out how we can help your organisation, please call David Williamson on01827 30 30 30 or visit www.tnt.co.uk/managedservicesRR: 71043

18ETnews...Away from themadding crowdxide Technologies are helping peopleescape the rat-race, if only for a shortrespite, by helping bring power to a remoteholiday cottage in Scotland - 20 miles south ofInverness. Although the surroundings are idyllic,there are no utilities and no population centresfor miles.The system has been installed by Genasys andthe Exide A600 batteries will store the powergenerated by a 3.5kw Bornay wind generator. Atrace inverter is then used to supply the AC currentto run the lighting and domestic appliances.A600 batteries utilise ‘dryfit’ technology andwere chosen for their performance in harsh conditions.Space requirements are minimised andthey are 30% more efficient than conventionalbatteries. They are easy to handle and maintenance-free,requiring no topping up. They havea design life of up to 18 years, are completelyrechargeable and can be stored for up to 2years without a recharge.Reader Reply No.: 71067MASolutions provides bigscreen despite restrictionshe Kensington headquartersof one of the world’s leading oilshipping companies has beenfitted with a new presentation andvideo conferencing facility byMAsolutions.Tankers awarded the Stainesbasedcompany a contract todesign and install the facility in theboardroom of their Brompton Roadpremises following a competitivetender which contained a requirementthat the installation should notimpinge on the decorations or aestheticsof the room. It was alsorequired to take account of spaceNationwide’s powered access -The safe & efficient access optionWhen it comes to powered access,thoughts naturally turn to Nationwide.The company is by far and away theUK’s leading powered access rental operation,with a hire fleet - currently around 6,000machines - that is well in excess of twice the sizeof its nearest competitor. With 50 hire depotsspread throughout the country, Nationwide offersa broad selection of well-maintained self-propelledbooms and scissor lifts, along with truckmountedbooms in the company’s Skylift range.Much of the popularity of self-propelled boomshas to be attributed to their versatility. For, inaddition to providing the essential vertical lift,they also offer an outreach capability, whichenables the boom’s work platform to reach overobstacles, gaining access to areas that wouldbe inaccessible to equipment where the operationis limited to vertical elevation. The heightoptions are considerable, from just 2.6 metres toan impressive 40.1 metres.The Nationwide offering includes both telescopicand articulated models, with diesel, electric -for indoor use where emissions are unacceptable- and bi-powered options being available.Units range from compact, slim-fit machines witha width of just 0.81 metres, which are in their elementwhere access or working space is restricted,up to industry-leading working height andoutreach combinations.However, if the access need is limited to verticalelevation, scissor lifts are likely to be the appropriatechoice. Nationwide machines provide safeand reliable vertical access platforms for workingheights between 6.4 metres and 28.3 metres,restrictions that existed.MAsolutions won the contractbecause they could meet allrequirements and incorporate abigger screen than any other companythrough the use of angled mirrors.The MAsolutions team created abespoke solution to Tankersrequirements, commissioning andbuilding a customised motorisedmedia wall of American Oak containinga 100inch DNP screen withback projection from a Barco projector,flip chart and white board,storage cupboards for video equipment.As MAsolutionsmedia walls featureactuator-drivenmotorisedpanels, the footprintcreated bythe installationwas smallenough to meetthe spacerestrictions withinthe room butlarge enough tohouse all relevantequipmentwithin the enclosure.RR No.: 71068Maintenance andProperty Care’s NewBusiness VentureMaintenancea n dPropertyCare (MPC), asubsidiary companyof AWGFacilities Serviceshas been awardeda three-year contractworth an estimated£750K perannum withStrathclyde FireBrigade. The contractto providerepairs and maintenance for 77 firebrigade properties also includestheir head Quarters, ControlCentres and Workshops.The properties consist of“Wholetime units” which aremanned 24 hours a day and“Retained or Volunteer units”, whichare only operational when a call outto the brigade has been received.MPC will be providing high qualityservices to three separate geographicalareas within Scotland, 33properties in Ayrshire, 16 inGlasgow and 28 in North and SouthLanarkshire.with safe working load capacities of up to1,000kg. Again, the three power options, diesel,electric and bipowered, are available.Finally, Skylift truck-mounts. As the nameimplies, these are mounted on the back oftrucks, some of which are all-terrain, four-wheeldrivevehicles. They are able to move on and offsite quickly and efficiently and be fully operationalwithin minutes of arrival on site. Most Skyliftbooms are able to rotate a full 360 degrees andare manipulated via controls located on the workplatform. As with self-propelled booms, the outreachcapabilities mean that movement is notrestricted to vertical elevation.Reader Reply No.: 71065Due to expire in June 2006, there isthe possibility the contract could beextended for a further 2 years.AWG Facilities Services managingdirector, Gavin Scarr Hall, is delightedto have been awarded the contract.He said, “This is a great contractfor MPC and for the AWGgroup. To date no contractor hasmanaged to secure the 2-yearextension, however with our strongteam of professional and dedicatedpersonnel, we will be endeavouringto achieve this goal by showing thehigh level of service we deliver. ”Reader Reply No.: 71070Practicalfm

A new company launches intoUK air handling marketANew range reflects themarket’s changing needsFPracticalfmnew business set up to provide superiorperforming air handling equipment whichmeets European and international marketrequirements for reliable, efficient and costeffectivesystems, is looking to take a 5% marketshare over the next five years.Jet AHU Limited has developed a market-leadingrange of air handling units which can bespecified to meet key customer requirements.Designed for internal and external installation ina range of applications, units can be constructedwith a combination of standard components –including varying levels of filtration, heating, heatrecovery and cooling – to ensure a highly versatileair handling solution.General manager David Wilson has a backgroundin developing internal business processesand running customer-focussed sales supportoperations. He manages Jet AHU’s day-todaybusiness operation, providing sales, technicaland administrative support and also co-ordinatesthe aftersales function.To drive sales Jet AHU has appointed Vic Brownas sales director. Bringing more than 25 years ofexperience in the air conditioning industry to hisnew role, Vic will build brand strategy and developthe business as well as oversee direct selling.Vic’s skills were honed at Mitsubishi Electric – hespent 10 years with the company, spearheadingits UK launch and turning the business into themarket leader – and, more recently, as commercialdirector of the Carrier Corporation’s finishedgoods division.“We aim to work with consultants, contractorsand end users to develop bespoke air handlingsolutions for large volume buildings such ascommercial and manufacturing premises, sportsand leisure facilities,” says David Wilson.In a pioneering customer service initiative, whichunderlines Jet AHU’s confidence in the qualityand reliability of its products, air handing systemswill be supplied with a groundbreakingthree-year warranty as standard. In addition,AHUs can be specified complete with integralcontrols, enabling end users to benefit fromadded convenience features such as wintercompensation of discharge air temperature,easy to use time controls and sequential controlof output signals to heating, fan speed, fresh air,cooling and energy recovery. RR No.: 71073resh thinking about the way inwhich executives work andinteract with colleagues hasled to the introduction of a new andinnovative furniture range by specialistoffice furniture designer andmanufacturer, Greenwood andWood. Called meet®, it is said toinspire individuality and inject flexibilityinto one of the fastest changingsectors of the office interiorsmarket.The new offering, which was formallylaunched at the Workplace exhibitionin London was created byGreenwood and Wood following asuccessful pilot project for BT. Thiswas aimed at enhancing the versatilityof the organisation’s workspaceto make it more suitable forcarrying out a variety of tasks. Itreflects the fast emerging trendaway from managements havingdedicated boardrooms, conferencerooms and executive suites,towards achieving a greater utilisationof the available space,improved communication, andhigher executive and office productivity.According to the new range’sdesigner, Julie Johnson, meet®achieves these objectives throughits ability to be reconfigured andrepositioned quickly to such adegree that a formal office can, forexample, be transformed into arelaxed break-out area in seconds.Individual elements inthe range have beencarefully designed toensure that they can beused for a number oftasks. In effect, meet®’sindividual elements are“floating units’ that canmake a major contributionin the quest toenrich the individual’sworking environmentwhile making the optimumuse of oftenscarce and expensivefloor space, withoutsacrificing individuality.Reader ReplyNo.: 71088Tnews...GSHemploymentservice contractextendedGeorge S Hall has recently awarded amulti-million pound contract to provide arange of FM services to the Department ofWork and Pensions (DWP).This sees GSH’s existing portfolio with theEmployment Service increase to more than 500buildings throughout Scotland and the NorthEast of England.“The expansion speaks volumes for GSH’s innovationand service delivery since the contractcommenced” stated National CommercialDirector for GSH, Jamie Reynolds.“Our long-standing relationship with LandSecurities Trilium further strengthens our partnershipapproach and bodes extremely well forthe future.”Reader Reply No.: 710813M offers sound adviceon protective equipmenthe legislative and regulatoryenvironment has changed significantlyin recent years andnow senior managers and directorsin addition to health & safety officersare being held more responsiblefor the well being of employeesand the general safety of the workingenvironment. This new environmenthas significantly elevated theimportance of Respiratory andHearing Protective Equipment. Riskassessment processes and protectiveproducts are currently used inmany organisations to protectemployees from hearing disorders,asthma and other respiratory conditions.Where safety products areconcerned, more and more arechoosing to work with 3M.3M uses a 4-step process to helpcustomers with the selection ofappropriate respiratory and hearingprotective equipment. The processincludes the identification of hazard,assessment to determine thepotential risks of the hazard, productselection dependent on typeand level of protection required,and training on fitting, use andmaintenance.As one of the world’s largest corporateorganisations, 3M has a wellestablishedreputation for quality,innovation and reliability, and benefitsfrom its position as a leadingsupplier of PPE products to a widerange of markets. Extensive field trialsare conducted and findings inone market can often be used inmany others. With the benefit ofover 50 years of research anddevelopment, 3M can offer experttechnical advice on both PPE andcurrent PPE legislation, togetherwith guarantees and support for allits respiratory and hearing protectiveequipment.Quality, performance and comfortare the most requested requirementsfrom customers when theyare considering personal protectiveproducts. If protective equipmentis comfortable and effective, peoplewill want to wear it.Reader Reply No.:7106019

20ETnews...Liebert NX: Next generation UPSfrom Emerson Network PowerGrundfos go ‘Flat’ outhe 26-floor Victoria Centre flatsin Nottingham are above the120-store Victoria ShoppingCentre. The flats, which are ownedand operated by Nottingham CityCouncil, are home to 500 people.City Council staff recently identifieda major low water pressure problemthat was seriously affecting thewater supply to the flats. Severalattempts were made to rectify theproblem, but were unsuccessful tothe point where all water supplies tothe flats ceased – the old, non-Grundfos pumps, had completelyfailed.merson Network Power, leader in the digitalnetwork infrastructure industry, todayannounced the introduction, in the EMEA(European, Middle East & African) markets, ofLiebert NX the next generation ofmedium sized UPS. Liebert NXstands out for its enhanced performancein terms of scalability,redundancy and high availabilityof quality power combined withan outstanding availability-topriceratio.Available in 4 models, rangingfrom 30 kVA to 80 kVA, Liebert NXis a true on-line uninterruptiblepower supply (UPS) system,using double conversion topology,with DSP-based fully digitalcontrol. Designed for power availability& power quality sensitivecritical network & hyper criticalapplications, it offers advancedprotection from any power anomalyto mission-critical applications.“Technological innovation hasbeen impacting more and moreconsistently on today’s businesses.To ensure the maximum successit is fundamental that each businessprocess can rely on high availability of qualitypower” said David Whitlow, UK Sales &Operations Director. “With Liebert NX productEmerson Network Power confirms its commitmentto offering the best value-added solutionsto the market’s needs and providing our customerswith a high availability solution with thelatest power electronics technology”.The Liebert NX is most suitable for ServerRooms and mid-sized Data Centers ofBanks, Insurance and Financial Services,both fixed and mobileTelecommunications, Digital Networksincluding LAN, MAN, WAN, Broadbandnetworks and Wi-Fi hot spots, IndustrialMotion & Process Automation of midsizedplants and Transport AutomationMedical Diagnostic & Imaging systems /equipment.DSP-based Digital Control Technologyprovides high reliability, almost no ageing,high-speed real-time accurate decisionmaking and monitoring capability ofderived parameters through complexmathematical algorithms.The IGBT-based Active Vector ControlledPFC (Power Factor Corrected) Rectifierfor low (=0,99). IGBTbasedVector-Controlled Inverter ensureshigh performing output parameters withcleaner sine wave.Having a compact footprint, this full-featuredtrue double-conversion on-line UPS systemwith redundant power supply cards offersvarious options such as battery black start andredundant fans.Reader Reply No.: 71089Given the seriousness of the situation,a quick solution was of paramountimportance or the councilwould be faced with evacuating thebuilding and finding temporaryhomes for a lot of people, in animpossible timeframe.Adding to the pressure, the localpress had found out about the storyand both Central News and RadioNottingham were featuring it as amain storyline.The council made contact withGrundfos Pumps Ltd., to see if therewas anything we could do to help insupplying them with a pump boosterset. Grundfos were able to sizethe set immediately and made contactwith our manufacturing plant inSunderland to see how quickly wecould supply.Understanding the immediacy ofthe problem, Grundfos agreed tosupply a CRE8-120 booster set tosite THE NEXT DAY. Not only wereGrundfos able to keep theirpromise, but also ensured a servicecrew from the Grundfos sister companyEuropump were also on site tocommission the set.All of this meant that the buildingoccupants were able to continuewith the daily lives, with the minimumof disruption and the assurancethat their immediate andfuture water requirements were inGrundfos’ safe and reliable hands.Reader Reply No.:71092IWe could do that!ndependent Heating & Cooling,one of the country’s most successfuldesign and installationcompanies for heating, cooling andventilation systems, and their sistercompanyIndependentComponents, recently put it all onthe line for a good cause.A friend of the companyis suffering fromleukaemia and, apartfrom the medical andclinical assistancerequired, is having ahard time of it financiallybeingunable to workfor a protractedperiod.So the coworkersgottogether,and, seeingthesuccessof thefamousWI ladies,said “We could dothat”.The result is that IndependentHeating & Cooling have produced‘Calendar Boys’ a full colour calendarfor 2004, featuring heating engineers,office staff in fact anyonewith a link to the company in variousstates of undress, but alwaysremaining respectable, of course!Bell Group to netover £18m in 4 yearsBell Security Ltd, the main UK subsidiary ofBell Group plc, the international designer,installer and maintainer of high-tech securitysystems, has been awarded a contract byfacilities management outsource specialistMowlem plc that is worth over £1 8m over fouryears (2004-2007). Bell will continue to providesecurity and fire systems services to the UKproperty portfolio of a major retail bank, forwhom Mowlem has been appointed to managecapital and support services.Pat Curran, Bell Group’s Chief Executive, said: “Iam very pleased to announce this importantcontract, which underpins our ongoing businessand strategy and further consolidates the strong,ongoing service relationship we have withMowlem. It is the first to incorporate our fire systemscapability within a largescale, multi-siteservice environment and is indicative of our ability,as the UK’s leading banking security systemsspecialist, to deliver quality services cost effectivelyand efficiently in a changing market environment.”Reader Reply No.: 71102Months have been sponsored byvarious allied businesses, and theproduction costs were met byIndependent Heating & Cooling,with nothing being deducted fromthe sponsorship income; so all ofthe money went to the right place.Calendars are now being ‘sold’ for aminimum donation of £5, so, if youstill need a calendar (andyou certainly needthis one) put£5 in anenvelope toIndependentHeating &Cooling atUnit 10 ApexPark, Hailsham,East SussexBN27 3JUtogether with yourname and addressand you’ll get yourcalendar by return.You can see the picturesfrom the calendaron the IHC websiteatwww.hotice.co.uk andcan order your copyfrom there and even vote for yourfavourite ‘Calendar Boy’.So what are you waiting for? Ordertoday and fill in that blank space onthe wall with ‘Calendar Boys’.Reader Reply No.: 71100Practicalfm

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22IHnews...The long and theshort of contract hiren an ideal world, the financial benefitsof leasing would be availableon a completely flexible basis forall products regardless of the valueor it’s life span. Steljes Hire is uniquein bringing this world to a growingnumber of enlightened organisations.In large organisations where manydifferent people are involved in purchasing,it is difficult to keep budgetsunder control. This is particularlythe case when buying expensiveelectronic display and presentationequipment such as data/videoprojectors, plasma screens,Interactive cabinets and plasmaoverlays.Such presentation products are amajor capital purchase, but with thecurrent rapid rates of technologicaldevelopment, they can be obsoletein a matter of months. Add to this thesheer volume of presentations, conferencesand exhibitions takingplace during the year, together withhigh depreciation rates, and yourbudget can easily get out of control.While rental schemes are ideal insupporting short term productrequirements, for events for example,the financial benefits of hiring AVand IT products over a longer termwould be significant if they wereavailable. Until recently long termleasing of such products has notbeen available despite the benefits.“Steljes Contract Hire” has beendesigned to bridge this gap betweenshort and long term hire.Steljes Hire, based in London, is adivision of the Steljes Group, theUK’s leading trade distributor ofaudiovisual and electronic presentationequipment. Steljes Hire ownNew Year, newimage, new driveygiene has launched an aggressive salesdrive, supported by a new, vibrant image,in a bid to further expand the client baseof this already thriving company.Over the past 20 years Hygiene has carved asignificant niche for itself as the leading specialistin cleaning and hygiene for the food andpharmaceutical industries.Stephen Bailey, managing director and cofounderof Hygiene explains: “Since the early1980s Hygiene has developed from a small,specialised cleaning company into one of thelargest and leading suppliers of hygiene managementin the UK.“Recently we have considered our position withinthe market and have developed detailedplans to double our turnover by 2006, whilstmaintaining our high levels of customer satisfactionand standards.”Reader Reply No.:71112large fleets of state of the art audiovisualequipment and all the associatedproducts. Excellent relationshipswith supplying manufacturersand of course with its distribution sistercompany, promotes flexibility andnegates pricing and volume issues.Recognising the gap in the rentalmarket, Steljes Hire created “SteljesContract Hire,” with which largeorganisations such the University ofNottingham are achieving substantialbenefits. “Steljes Contract Hire”is unique in its flexibility in allowingcompanies to rent its core productssuch as projectors and PlasmaScreens on mid to long term rollingcontracts of between six months andthree years.In 1999 Eddie Bance, Director ofSteljes Hire, forged a partnershipwith Wyse Leasing in order to offercorporate clientele a flexible longterm rental contract solution, Wyseleasing being one of the UK’s largestindependent computer leasing companies.As Jeremy Hall, ManagingDirector at Wyse Leasing explains,“The contract Hire option throughSteljes, is, in my experience a uniqueoffer, with extensive financial benefitsto clients.”Reader Reply No.: 71103DHansen Group fire screensfor Salisbury HouseEntrance and door specialist,PollardsUpFrontMaintenance, has beeninvolved in supplying a series of firescreens for a stylish commercialoffice building in the City of London,working closely with the main buildingcontractor.Salisbury House on FinsburyCircus, EC2 is sub-divided to provideaccommodation for a variety offinancial services and other businesses.Respecting both the patternof occupancy and current fireregulations, Pollards has designed,fabricated and installed half adozen screens on behalf of BBS.Limited over the past three years.Fabricated using the company’s ST30 Fyrespan system, the screensfeature single as well as doubleopening doorsets and are generallyinstalled within corridors at variousalkia Energy & Technical Services, themarket-leading provider of EnergyManagement, Mechanical & Electricaland Managed Services based inPortsmouth, now adds ‘Investors in People’status to its accomplishments in a yearmarked by important performance accreditationsand major award wins.This ‘Investors in People’ achievement complementsother recent Dalkia successes,which include the winning of a British SafetyCouncil National Safety Award, 1S014001Environmental Certification for its work on amajor contract for the Department of Workand Pensions, and Certification to thedemanding Occupational Health & SafetyManagement Systems Standard OHSAS 18001.All are key factors in Dalkia’s drive for the higheststandards of occupational safety and environmentalprotection, and confirm the company’scommitment to excellence at every level.Marking Dalkia’s formal recognition as an‘Investors in People’ company, David Barrett oflevels to the building.Reader Reply No.:71027Celuform slashes billResidents of a luxury block offlats in Hythe, Kent, havemade huge savings on theirmaintenance charges thanks toCeluform.The cost of repainting the old timberfascia and soffit at Hume Court was£12,000 every three years. The newlow-maintenance PVC-ue replacementshave eliminated this at astroke.Celuform’s Conquest 19mm squarefascia with unventedsoffit and Elite 25mmsub-fascia fixed directto the brickwork belowthe soffit were chosenfor the 350 metreroofline perimeter.The installation wascarried out by C&SRoofing of St Mary’sBay, Kent.Reader ReplyNo.:71122More corporateaccomplishments for Dalkiathe Hampshire and Isle of Wight Learning andSkills Council unveiled a commemorative plaqueat the company’s Portsmouth Connect Centreoffices with Dalkia’s Managing Director JeffWinterbottom (centre right), Director of HumanResources David Gill (left) and Training &Development Manag& Mike Perry (right).Reader Reply No.:71047Practicalfm

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24Anews...Hygiene secures safecontractor statusHygiene Group, the foodindustry’s supplier of specialisthygiene cleaning, hasbeen named as one of the country’ssafest contractors by a leadinghealth, safety and environmentalrisk specialists.Hygiene has been accredited bythe SAFEcontractor scheme, whichchecks and validates companies’health and safety policies. The certificatewas given only after Hygienehad been assessed on a long list ofissues such as training, risk assessments,emergency procedures,equipment and welfare arrangements.Nine steps to domesticheating efficiencyunique, easy to install homeheating system by Creda isset to revolutionise domesticelectric heating, saving energy andreducing bills.With its simple nine-step installationprocess, Credanet is a new controllableelectric heating system whichallows you to heat different parts ofthe home to different temperatures.The easy to use central controllerSafe and clean: a member ofHygiene’s newly accredited team atwork Hygiene’s regional (south)manager Mark Bonnette said: “Wereally value this award because itunderpins our commitment to safetyand provides a platform in helpingus win and keep business.Many big customers now demand aSAFE contractor certificate beforethey will even consider talking to acontractor.Hygiene’s SAFEcontractor certificatecovers cleaning of buildingexteriors, carpets, grounds, carparks and kitchen equipment aswell as deep cleaning, industrialcleaning and cleaning equipment.The SAFEcontractor Scheme, managedby National Britannia, hasbeen running for ten years.Formerly known as Supplyline, itnow has almost 10,000 registeredcontractors.James Ostler, managing director ofInformation Services at NationalBritannia said: “It’s quite anachievement by Hygiene that itmanaged to pass on its first application— many contractors don’t.“Major organisations cannot affordto risk employing anything but whollyprofessional contractors, and themove to a simple, independent andreliable accreditation system makesreal sense.”Reader Reply No.:71042allows different times and temperaturesto be set in eachhome zone to maximise comfortand ensure the most economicuse of electricity is made.Credanet is the only true electronicform of controllable storageheating available. The system’sunique control featuresgive better demand performancethan gas and an averagecost saving of 19 per centover conventional electric heating.“The new Credanet systemboasts a simplified nine-step fittingprocess and fingertip controls,meaning that it is easyboth to install and use,” saidCreda brand manager, SeanO’Sullivan.“It is designed to meet current standardsoutlined in the HousingEfficiency Best Practice programme.Credanet is also the onlycentrally controlled storage systemrecognised within National HomeEnergyRating/StandardAssessment Procedure calculationsto provide savings under the genericname of CELECT.”Reader Reply No.: 71117Tensator’s eQdemonstrates its IQ atManchester UniversityOBradshaw carry 15,000visitors at Boat ShowAne of the UK’s largest studentpopulations is muchless hectic thanks toTensator’s eQ electronic queuemanagement system. A recent bigreorganisation at ManchesterUniversity’s Student ServicesCentre, is providing the perfectshowcase for the cutting-edge featuresof eQ as it deals withqueues quickly and efficiently.Manchester University has amalgamatedits three Central StudentAdministrative Offices into oneStudent Services Centre. ThisCentre is the new “single point ofcontact” for most of the administrativetasks needed to be carried outby all students on their arrival inManchester.As part of the reorganisation,Tensator’s electronic queue managementsystem, eQ has beeninstalled to manage the queues ofstudents in the most efficient way.A special custom-designed eQinstallation integrates seamlesslyinto the converted building. Eachcustomer display unit has beenbespoke-mounted and positionedon the service counter top to providea highly-visible and attractivefocal point for queuing students. Tocall students forward, there is at the Schroders London BoatShow in January 2004,Bradshaw Rentals hire fleet often Clubcar six-seaters carried15,000 visitors2 clocking up a totalof 900 hours, ferrying people fromhotels and carparks into the showat the Excel Docklands complex.Bradshaw Rentals Director, DerekRowell says: ‘These specialist vehiclesnever stopped for nearly twoweeks. We estimate that they madesome 4000 pick ups and ferriedover 15,000 people during theshow, all without a single technicalhitch.’Excel hiredBradshaw Rentalslatest Clubcar sixseatpassengervehicles, poweredfor this outdoortransport task bypetrol engines andequipped with anall-weathercanopy and fullheightwindscreen.The Clubcarrange comprisessome 60 modelseparate activation control at eachstaff position and eQ’s in-builtflexibility ensures that the systemhas the capacity to adapt to differingqueuing demands and situations.eQ is fully programmable from aWindows-based package and featuresstereo audio, with voicesavailable in both male and femaleoptions with a choice of regionalaccents. These announcements,alert sounds and directional arrowsguide students in the right direction,making it particularly beneficial forthe visually impaired, and ensuringthat queues are dealt with in theswiftest possible manner.Reader Reply No.:71062types for the events market, includingboth petrol engined and battery-poweredoptions in bodiesspanning people carriers, pick-ups,van bodies and more specialistvehicles such as stretcher carriers.Bradshaw Rentals say they arealready booked well ahead for2004, starting with BRDC (BritishRacing Drivers Club) bookings atSilverstone; National Trust events;and the BMF (British MotorcycleFederation) spring event at the Eastof England Showground.Reader Reply No.:71118Practicalfm

Acuity signs-up dealwith major life companyDynamic facilities managementcompany AcuityManagement Solutions hassecured a one million pound pluscontract with Sun Life of Canada(UK) Ltd.Acuity has taken responsibility forthe direct delivery of facilities servicesfor the Sun Life Financial ofCanada landmark headquartersbuilding in Basingstoke.The contract – covering approximately100,000 square feet - runsfor the next three years, with a twoyearextension available, subject tosatisfactory performance levels.Acuity will be responsible for thedelivery of both hard and soft FMservices and 20 employees havebeen transferred to Acuity.In order to meet the Sun Liferequirements for a fully outsourcedsolution, monthly consolidatedinvoices and a robust operatingmodel that protected their assets,Acuity adapted their fee based‘Managing Agent’ approach to createa new ‘Managed Budget’ solution.Managing Director, GeorgeLilley, believes this will set a blueprintfor future outsourcing contractsin the facilities managementindustry.Acuity Director, Tony Burchett, wholed the bid team responsible for thisachievement said: “The great thingabout our managed budgetapproach is that we process allthird party invoices at cost. Thismaintains our independence fromthe supply chain and provides theclient with a flexible and fully transparentoutsourced arrangement.This contract is undoubtedly adefining moment in our business.”Reader Reply No.: 71121debac antimicrobial products havebeen chosen to provide extra protectionin the isolation unit for infectiousdiseasesWhen Walsgrave hospital inCoventry decided to convert a fourbed ward to provide an isolationunit for infectious diseases they feltthat debac products offered thebest solution for antimicrobial protection.Scot Hatfield, SeniorProject Manager forthe EstatesBusiness Agency,who specified theproduct was sodelighted with theresults that he isalready planning to specify debacproducts for any areas where thereis an identified need for hygienecoatings, “We shall shortly be paintinga neo-natal baby unit at the hospitaland debac products will beused to provide antimicrobial protection...”H.H. Painting Contractors ofCoventry applied the coatings andwere amazed at how easy the productswere to use. Mr Brian Williams,Director, commented: “. .the debacsystem was simple and extremelynews...Hospital specifiesdebac for isolation unitcost effective to use. Other specialistproducts for this type of applicationare usually ridiculously expensiveand particularly nasty to apply”The paint was mixed and suppliedby local decorator merchantS.J.Dixon & Son Limited, who nowstock the full debac range in their19 stores across the Midlands.Ray Davison Trade Representativefor Dixon’s has developed a closeworking relationship with WalsgraveHospital and is delighted that hecan now offer his clients a high performanceyet cost effective antimicrobialproduct. He explained “thisis a unique product which can provideantimicrobial protection at asensible price. We can now offerreal benefits in a truly cost effectivemanner to customers requiring secondlevel antimicrobial control aspart of their normal hygiene managementprogramme.”Reader Reply No.: 71123RR: 71048Practicalfm25

26World class cateringOnews...CS catering staff demonstrated theirworld class catering skills to members ofthe English Rugby World Cup squadrecently at a breakfast in their honour.Staff served the England captain, and a numberof team mates, including Flanker, Neil Back, withan array of hot and cold food to help celebratethe team’s achievements.“It was very exciting preparing food for the playersand I hope that they enjoyed their breakfasts.”OCS Catering is a division of the OCS Group.Whether clients request executive dining, a staffrestaurant, delicatessen or sandwich bar, retailshop or vending, OCS Catering can provide asolution that is as innovative as it is cost effective.With a turnover of over £400m and increasingexpansion throughout the UK and across itsinternational operations, OCS is the marketleader in the provision of a comprehensive rangeof property support services. Offering one completesolution from a single point of contact, itssix divisions encompass technical, security,catering, transport, cleaning, hygiene, laundryand environmental support services.Reader Reply No.: 71113A quality workingenvironment: just whatthe doctor orderedOldbury Health Centre’s interimhome has proved to bethe perfect tonic for patientsand 80 healthcare workers includingGPs, dentists, chiropodists andnurses.The 1 ,278m2 two-storey building,designed and constructed byPortakabin, has helped the Trust tomanage the operational implicationsof a major facilities upgrade.Ray Greene, General Manager atOldbury and Smethwick PrimaryCare Trust, explains: “As part of ourongoing drive to improve healthcarefacilities in the area, it wasdecided that the Oldbury HealthCentre needed to be rebuilt. WhilePublic Sector suppliers take noteof new changes in legislationRecent changes in legislation from CentralGovernment now require suppliers toPublic Sector Authorities to undergoaccreditation.Exor Management Services, the leadingAccreditation Body in the UK, providingSupplier and Contractor Accreditation Servicesto Public Sector Authorities (PSAs), urges contractorsand suppliers selling into CentralGovernment and the Public Sector to seekaccreditation ahead of the new 2005 e-Government initiatives.Recent initiatives and Central Government regulationshave put into place additional controls toscrutinise how Public Sector Authorities (PSAs)select suppliers to provide products and services.This increased scrutiny applies to all businessesthat currently work, or wish to work within,the Government Sector. This has led to a farmore extensive and thorough set of proceduresto be followed by Procurement Officers in checkingthe background and quality of the suppliersthat they choose to work with. These checks or“accreditation standards” should be applied toall suppliers, whether existing suppliers or new.Exor Management Services is an establishedAccreditation Body providing Supplier andContractor Accreditation Services for more than10% of Public Sector Authorities (PSAs) in theUK. Exor is the only Accreditation Body providinga world-class capability across all categoriesof public spending and all types of supplier, fromSole Traders through to FTSE 100 Companies.Marc Wood, CEO of Exor Management Servicesthe new £4m development is beingconstructed on the same site as theold building, we still need a qualitybuilding to base our operations, sopermission was gained to site aninterim health centre just 400 yardsdown the road.“The building had to provide thesame high standard of accommodationas the permanent buildingand, after an in-depth tenderingand interview process, it was decidedthat Portakabin was best placedto provide us with what we neededin terms of price, quality, expertiseand speed of response.”Portakabin Total Solutions carriedout the site clearance work,installed the foundations and did allof the landscaping around thebuilding; Portakabin AirCare provideda climate control system forthe computer server room to combatthe heat generated by all of thehardware and to keep the room atthe necessary temperature;Portakabin Protecta installed a fullfire and intruder alarm system; andPortakabin Access supplied and fittedtwo ramps to ensure easyaccess for all patients.Reader Reply No.:71109Dilapidated timberat St Mary’sChurch ofEngland PrimarySchool in Dover, Kenthas been replaced with150mm white shiplapPVC-ue cladding fromCeluform. The claddingcreates a low maintenancedeep fasciaaround the perimeter ofthe school buildings.St Mary’s has undergoneextensive refurbishmentincludingwork to the roof, wallpanels, windows andelectrical systems.Summers PVC ofMaidstone, whoinstalled the shiplap,chose Celuform. JamesSummers, the company’soperations directorsaid, “The most important factor ofthis job is the quality of the claddingsystem. Celuform products areexcellent, which is why we havestocked and installed them for morethan 20 years.”Summers, who have been establishedsince 1976, distribute cellularplastic products to local authoritiesexplains: “In the past companies seeking to workin the Government sector faced an uphill battleto be able to be considered for GovernmentContracts.Online Programme seek to make it easier forcompanies to work with Government and tomake the selection process far more transparentand to seek to establish standards and processesunderstandable by all businesses from theself employed to the multinational company. ExorManagement Services is helping to speed theprocess of establishing this environment.”The ‘Accreditation Service’ provided by ExorManagement is fast becoming recognised asthe ‘preferred’ standard and to date 45 LocalAuthorities across the UK have asked Exor toprovide that much needed audit for suppliercontracts, with more waiting to subscribe to theservice. Reader Reply No.:71108Plastic replaces timberat primary schooland building contractors acrosssouthern England, with depots atMaidstone, Northfleet and Romford.Celuform supplies stockiststhroughout the UK and Europe. Thecompany was the first UK manufacturerof PVC-ue building productsand is now a market leader.Reader Reply No.: 71022Practicalfm

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MI28news...IMserv unveil two newenergy managementsolutions at Nemexulti Utility offers companiesthe ability to monitor andanalyse data from gas, electricityand water meters in one easypackage, providing tighter controlof processes and operations, costreduction and identification offuture opportunities to reduce energyand water wastage.It uses wireless radio technology totransmit the information, avoidingthe need for expensive cablingbetween various on site utilityShakespear’s Globeextract ductwork giventhe star treatmentndepth Hygiene Services Ltd hascompleted a thorough deep cleanof kitchen grease extract ductworkat Shakespeare’s GlobeTheatre on the south bank of theRiver Thames, opposite St Paul’sCathedral in London, thereby protectingthis outstanding woodenstructure from the potential threat offire.Completed in 1997, the GlobeTheatre is a faithful reconstructionof the open-air playhouse designedin 1599, where Shakespeareworked and for which he wrotemany of his greatest plays.To cater for these visitors,meters and is also flexibleenough to be usedfor other data analysis,such as temperaturecontrol.Remote meter readingfor Non Half Hourly sitesensures accurate billinginstead of estimatedbills and eliminatessecurity and supervisionissues in more sensitivelocations, such asbanks or local authoritybuildings.Della Judd, half hourly operationsdirector at IMServ, said: “With energyprices on the increase, energymanagers are looking for new andinnovative ways to cut costs andimprove efficiency.“We believe these two packagesnot only meet those demands butalso go one step further byenabling better management ofenvironmental improvement programmesand forecasting ability.”Reader Reply No.: 71131Shakespeare’s Globe offers a rangeof function rooms, as well as a caféand restaurant, which are suppliedby a main kitchen located on thelower ground floor and a banquetingkitchen in the basement.A system of horizontal and verticalductwork connects the canopies inthe kitchens to two inline fans,which extract hot, greasy air to aroof-level exhaust. Over time,grease is deposited on the inside ofthe ductwork and extract fans and,if it is not regularly removed, buildsup and begins to represent a seriousfire hazard as well as a threat tofood hygiene.An inspection of the Globe’s extractductwork by Indepth Hygienerevealed a significant build up ofgrease on the fans and inside theductwork. As a result, a thoroughclean of the entire extract systemwas carried out.Because much of the ductwork wasinaccessible a large number of newaccess panels had to be installedto enable Indepth Hygiene’s operativesto thoroughly clean inside theducts. The work had to be fitted inbetween performances and functions,so work was often only permittedbetween the hours of 11pmand 6am.Reader Reply No.: 71139npower secures newcontract with GuardianIndustries UKnpower major business accounts(mba) has won a 12 month contractto supply Guardian Industries UKLTD with 32 GWh of electricity, forits new float glass manufacturingplant in Goole, East Yorkshire.The US glass manufacturerannounced its plans to expand intothe UK market in April 2002 and iscurrently in the process of commissioningits’ new glass plant. npowerwill supply more electricity toGuardian Industries as the site isfurther developed.As part of the deal, thecompany has alsotaken advantage ofnpower’ s Half HourlyOnline service - a webbased managementtool which allows I&Ccustomers to view energyconsumption dataand enabling them togain a clearer picture ofwhen and where energyis used in their business.Equipped withFire door advice forbuilding safety authoritiesThe British WoodworkingFederation has launched anew guide for those involvedin the regulating of fire doors anddoorsets, under its BWF-CERTIFIREFire Door and Doorset Scheme.Even amongst those who are familiarwith fire doors, the BWF hasrecognised anastonishinglack ofawarenessand understandingoftheir functionand performance.Although theBWF-CERTIFIREScheme hasmade it easier forbuilding control,environmentalhealth and fire officersto identify firedoors that meet therequirements of PartB of the BuildingRegulations, a morein-depth knowledgeis required to advise builders andbuilding owners of the importanceof using compatible components infire doors. Additionally, wheninspecting buildings, regulatorsneed to ensure that fire doors havebeen correctly assembled. TheBWF-CERTIFIRE Scheme is thethis information customers canidentify any unexpected peaks andtake action quickly.Commenting on the deal, JohnWilson, Purchasing Manager atGuardian Industries UK said:Guardian Industries UK Ltd arepleased to award the contract fortheir electricity supply to npower,who, they believe are well suited tosupply Guardian’s electricity needsnow and in the future.Reader Reply No.:71134only scheme of its kind that verifiesthe quality of components as wellas the complete fire door.The new brochure is a comprehensiveanalysis of fire door specification,performance and installation. Itdetails the requirementsof individual componentsincluding glazing,frames, hingesand seals and theircorrespondencerequirements to thespecific fire doordesign. The guideexplains the legislativerequirementsand which questionscan be askedto determine thatthe correct componentsare usedwithin the firedoor assembly.All informationrequired toensure a fullyfunctional and correctlyinstalled fire door is containedwithin this invaluable guide.The BWF-CERTIFIRE Fire Door andDoorset Scheme encourages theuse of fire doors that are completedoorsets, which allows the manufacturerto take full responsibility forthe suitability of the product for itspurpose.Reader Reply No.:71141Practicalfm

Switchand SaveTSypol offers integratedapproach to Healthand SafetyShere once was a time when electricity wasa fixed-cost, single choice business overhead.You knew exactly where to buy yourelectricity because there was no choice in thematter. There were 12 Regional ElectricityCompanies, and the location of your businesspremises determined who would supply you andthe amount you would pay.The privatisation of the UK electricity industry in1991, however, marked the start of market competitionand the end of geographical restrictions.As a result there are now more than 30 licensedsuppliers of electricity to choose from. And thecompetition to supply your electricity is fierce.On the whole, competition has been a goodthing for both businesses andconsumers by reducingprices and making energyoperators more accountable.But over a decade on andthat extra choice, a ‘fear ofswitching’ and energy’s veryintangibility have insteadcaused inertia amongst manybusiness owners. As a resultthousands of UK companiesare still paying too much forelectricity. More than halfhave stayed loyal to their originalprovider, unfortunatelyoften missing out on significantsavings.ypol’s extensive health, safety& environmental consultancy,AMS - the complete package forrisk reduction and resource managementtraining andofsupport servicesyour asbestos.enable your organisationto achievebest practice byS y p o l ’ sAsbestosManagementlinking health andSystem is asafety initiatives tosoftware basedcompany performance.service thatrecords theServices includelocation of allCOSHH managementasbestos in ansystems, stan-dard and bespokeorganisation’sfacilitiestraining courses,together withhealth audits, riskits conditionassessment programmes,and handlingenviron-advice.mental managementPSA - PersonalsystemsSafety Advisordevelopment andis a web basedbehavioural basedsafety programmes.Sypol will also bedemonstrating the following:CMS Online - the new web basedsystem that incorporates all the featuresof CMS and makes its tens ofthousands of ready to use COSHHassessments available from anywherein the world.software packagedesignedto help organisationsmeet their statutory obligationsby ensuring that employeesunderstand health and safety legislationand how it applies to them aswell as testing this knowledge on aregular basis.Reader Reply No.: 71142PracticalfmInevitablythere is no singleanswer, as savings will depend onwhether your business has switched before andhow much electricity it uses. But as a broad ruleif you have never changed provider you shouldsave at least 25% at current market prices. Therehave even been cases of companies reducingtheir bill by 50%; Even if you have switched in thepast, you could well saveanother 10 -20% by movingagain.The other surprise is thatin reality, reviewing thosesupply options is simplerthan you might expect;particularly if you haveaccess to the Internetwhere you can researchalternatives, obtain comparativequotes and evenswitch your supplieronline.Whilst you will probablyrecognise many of thelarger electricity suppliersnews...Practical Facilities Management havenegotiated a special offer for readers, switchyour electricity supply to BizzEnergy and receive afree pocket PC for each premises you switch.Visit www.bizzenergy.com/pfm or call01905 450 957.See page 27 for more details.youcomeacross, severalnew names haveentered the market in recent years.These companies aim to reduce cost overheadsand bureaucracy in order to undercut traditionalsuppliers on price, whilst matching their servicelevels. For example, BizzEnergy is a businessonlysupplier that offers precise quotes andswitching online with possible savings of 30%(visit www.bizzenergy.com)And what about the practical side of switching?Contrary to popular misconception you won’t beleft in the dark; there won’t be any interruption tosupply or connection charges. Once you havedecided to switch, your new supplier will simplyinform the previous provider of the change, andalmost all of the administration involved will bedone on your behalf in a seamless transition.In the end, brighter energy buying achieves thealmost impossible in business terms: minimaleffort, no cut-backs and increased profits. Thesavings are waiting to be made. With an opportunitylike that, in competitive days like these,can any business afford not to?Reader ReplyNo.:71056RR: 7107529

30TPnews...Castrol provides total fluid management forTurner Powertrain – except for coffee!urner Powertrain Systems can trace its historyback to 1875 and has, over the yearsbeen involved in the manufacture of manyproducts, including tractors, winches and generators.Today the company is a wholly ownedsubsidiary of CaterpillarIncorporated and isinvolved in the manufactureof hydrodynamic transmissionunits (gearboxes) for60 to 130 hp off-road applications,mainly in the buildingand agricultural industries.Although a subsidiaryof Caterpillar, TurnerPowertrain also suppliestransmissions to other customers,including: Manitou,New Holland, Terex andJohn Deere.Castrol has provided a TotalFluid Management programmefor this busy manufacturingunit for the pastthree years and has recentlysigned a further threeyearcontract.The man responsible for managing the contractis Bob Holt, the Facilities Manager, who took overthe responsibilities of individual area managerssix years ago.The contract, which has recently been extendedfor a further three years, was measured againstKey Performance Indicators (KPIs) that targetedefficiencies and cost savings of 3% per annum inNilfisk-Advance sets newstandards in carpet cleaningspecific operations within the workshops.Explains Holt: “We monitored tool life firstbecause it was an area where we suspected wecould make substantial savings. We were provedright - in the first year alone Castrol saved us£47,000!“They also saved £20,000 on oil filtersby identifying areas of the sitewhere we were spending moneywe didn’t need to. When it waspointed out to us it was obvious wewere overspending, but it took afresh look from Castrol to stop usthrowing money away!”Another Castrol suggestion currentlybeing implemented is areview of the layout of the threeworkshops to simplify machinemaintenance and provide moreefficient recycling of the metalworkingfluids. From September2003 all grinding machines havebeen moved to one location, atwhich stage Castrol located theeconomiser in the centre of thearea and hard piped it directly tothe machines. Turner Powertraininstalled the pipework and Castrol set up thesystem and manages it. All fluid is now reconditionedand returned directly to the machines,which eliminates the need for machine sumps,and emptying and cleaning.Castrol has also taken control of external wastemanagement, with Turner Powertrain personnelnow responsible for delivering waste material toioneering cleaning equipmentmanufacturer, Nilfisk-Advance,has launched Europe’s firstwalk-behind large area carpetextractor. The new AX 650 offers acost-effective and highly efficientsolution to professional carpet vacuumingand wet scrubbing, particularlyin environments with large carpetedareas, such as hotels and airports.The innovative AX 650 from Nilfisk-Advance presents contract cleanersand specialist carpet cleaningcompanies with a time-saving alternativeto sweeping, vacuuming andspot cleaning. With the AX 650’sunique dual-purpose design, it’spossible to complete interim cleaning(in Maintenance mode)or deep cleaning (inRestoration mode) of largefloor areas with a singlemachine.Designed for use on flat oruneven surfaces, the newNilfisk-Advance AX 650 carpetextractor has two selflevellingvacuum shoes,which ensure that the appropriatedown pressure isapplied in line with the contourof the floor. The machinecleans carpets right up tothe wall by means of anextending brush deck that slidesout to a width of 13cm. Its doublescrub and auto reverse scrub functionsensure maximum cleaningperformance with minimum effort.Nilfisk-Advance Sales andMarketing Director Karen Jamesclaims “There’s now a lots of evidencethat being able to clean sothoroughly on a regular basis alsohelps prolong the life of a carpet”.A highly productive carpet cleaningsystem, Nilfisk-Advance hasdesigned the AX 650 to be quickand easy to maintain. The brush,vacuum shoes and vacuum motorscan all be removed without the useof special tools, so minimisingdowntime. RR No.:71101MI International hasintroduced a newservice enablingcompanies to improvetheir operational efficiencyby remotely identifying thelocations of their mobileworkforce.Called mapAmobile,Corporate Edition, the serviceuses GSM technologyto provide a low cost alternativeto GPS systems and hasbeen designed specifically for companiesthat regularly need to redeploytheir vehicles or check thejourney progress of their mobileworkforce. The service is set to runduring agreed working hours andwhilst participating employees musthave their mobiles switched on,they do not have to answer them soare not interrupted in their work orwhilst driving.mapAmobile, Corporate Edition, issimplicity itself to operate with companiesable to identify the locationof employees using either the web,WAP or SMS. Seconds after a locationrequest is made a message issent detailing the position of themobile phone - usually a road nameand postcode - in addition to thedate, time and accuracy of thelocation. For requests made via thethe outside of each building and Castrol collectingit and transferring it to the appropriate skipsready for collection and disposal.Says Holt: “In the three years that Castrol hasbeen running waste management they haveabsorbed all the land fill taxes we would havebeen paying.”The Castrol team - a team leader, two fluid techniciansand a contract manager - also operatesa computerised schedule that ensures every singlemachine tool is visited at least once a day.Concentrations and sump volumes are checkeddaily, pH levels every week and Bob Holtreceives the KPI charts as confirmation. Thecomputer also schedules machine cleaning andthe team has taken responsibility for cleaning thewash and paint plants.Commenting on fluid management Holt reportsthat consumption is better controlled now thanit’s ever been. “It is monitored on a weekly basis.Castrol has introduced the economiser to recyclethe cutting fluids and a centrifuge for neatoils, both of which have reduced the volumes weuse because we are no longer throwing oilsaway.” He estimates that savings in the first yearwere around £70,000.The Castrol oils used include RXI0 lubrication oilfor testing gearboxes, Alusol XTH neat oil forgrinding, plus hydraulic oils. Virtually every fluidused on the site, including general lubricants, isnow a Castrol product the only exceptions beingthose requested by customers for specific testingwhich, while they are not Castrol productsare still sourced and supplied by Castrol.Reader Reply No.: 71097MapAmobile puts mobileworkforces on the mapweb, locations are also provided byway of a map.For managers or supervisors whothemselves work in the field, theSMS locating facility is of particularinterest, enabling location requeststo be made directly from their ownmobile phones.Unlike some mobile phone locationservices, mapAmobile, CorporateEdition, extends beyond individualemployees and can be used tolocate the whereabouts of groups ofphones, such as sales teams ormaintenance crews; or locate alldrivers operating across a specificregion. The service can also identifywhich vehicle is closest to a specificpostcode so that jobs can beallocated to the nearest driver andup to the minute delivery timesobtained for customers.Reader Reply No.: 71111Practicalfm

GGet’s Lunéta rangeexpanded with newdisplay and retail fittingsOver 80 per cent of all ITdowntime is not due toPracticalfmET has unveiled severalnew additions to its Lunétaindoor lighting collection.Prominent among these is theaddition of a floating glass designto the company’s low voltagedownlighter offering, and the introductionof a series of flat ceilingplate spotlights.The new floating glass design isavailable with the company’s 50Wlow voltage MRI6 and mains halogenGUl0 pressed downlighters,and come in the three most popularcolour finishes - brass, chromeand white. The etched floatingglass is curved and forms anuplighter to reflect and defuse thelight and reduce the glare whenthe light is viewed from below. Thenew fittings are expected to beespecially popular in retail applications.The complete fitting iseasy to install and can befitted with a minimum ofdisruption. Onceinstalled, the fitting’slamp is effortlesslyremoved for maintenanceand replacement.GET’s new series of 50Wmains voltage GUl0 flatplate spotlights extendsthe company’s displaylighting range, andallows low voltage downlightersto be quickly upgraded ora jaded installation to be transformedin minutes. All that isrequired is to disconnect andremove the original downlighterand transformer, and then pushthe new flat plate back box into theexisting recess. This is securedwith spring clips to ensure that theplate covers the hole and locatessnugly against the ceiling.The fittings are available in thesame seven colours as GET’sUltimate wiring accessories range,which enhances the opportunitiesfor achieving coordinated styling.They can be swivelled a full 270degrees and be tilted by up to 60degrees to more effectively illuminatemerchandise or works of artwith a crisp, white halogen light.Reader Reply No.:71063equipment failure, but itsenvironment, according toresearch. Now new companyEND2END is helping companiesgive as much thought to their DataCentre and Computer Room environmentas they do to the designof their managing director’s office.Reading-based END2END specialisesin the design and constructionof technology rooms forbusinesses across the board -from Data Centres and ComputerRooms to Call Centres, OperationsCentres and Audio Visual Suites.According to director Nick Cook:“Around 90 per cent of all computerrooms we survey fail to meettheir original design specificationor were constructed without any ITconsideration at all. It surprisesme that some companies are preparedto spend millions on highlyspecified computerequipment, thensqueeze it into acouple of un-usedoffices at the back ofthe business, with nopower conditioning,air-conditioning, firesuppression or monitoringsystems.”He adds: “A gallerydisplaying expensiveoriginal paintingswill make sureof an environmentinteriorsPhilips creates a brighter outlook for theDLO with energy savings thrown in too!Building 300 is part of the DefenceLogistics Organisation based in Andover,Hampshire. The building itself makes animpressive stand on the landscape with itsglass roof and beautiful atrium. This, however,was not shown off to its full effect, as the existinglighting installation was almost 6 years oldand therefore coming to the end of its productivelife. By this time as many as 25% of the currentluminaires were no longer giving their optimalperformance. This therefore allowed theopportunity to consider alternative more functionaland energy efficient options. Initially, onlyspot replacement was considered but calculationsshowed that in order to gain the best possiblesavings and an increase in lumen output arenewal programme of the entire scheme wasthe more viable choice.To prove the economic benefit of this PhilipsLighting Solutions, Key Account ManagerDarren Marsh, set up a trial installation, whichclearly showed the benefits. “By switching from100w SDW-T lamps to MASTERColour CDM-T70w lamps we not only achieved the benefit of30% lower energy consumption and a 50%increase in service life, thus reducing maintenancecosts, but also we accomplished anoverall lumen increase of 37%. When multipliedby the number of luminaires used whichamounted to some 200 units in all the savingswere clearly very substantial indeed”The use of MASTERColour lamps also had theadditional benefit of enhancing the cooler tonesof the blue terrazzo flooring and the whitewashedwalls. White Son lamps traditionally area warmer lamp source therefore this simpleswitch complimented the interior design muchbetter giving the ambience a greater freshnessoverall.Using existing track the lamps were housed inPhilips Musa spotlights. These were situated onall three floors of the atrium as well as along thecorridors and walkways. The Musa luminairecombined the benefits of visual comfort andflexibility in terms of mounting and lightingeffect. This was essential since the luminaireswere mounted on two differing levels. On thehigher levels any possibility of glare was therefore,reduced by the black- spot filter incorporatedinto the luminaire design. Some of thespotlights were also required to be surfacemounted directly onto a baseplate. Theergonomic design of the Musa range againproved the best choice here since it reducedthe risk of strain against the backing plates overtime.Following the initial trial the Lighting SolutionsGroup at Philips Lighting provided a singlepoint of contact by supplying all the componentsrequired and the total luminaire, lamp andgear package was installed within 4 weeks ofthe order being placed.Robert Kemp, Assistant Works ServicesManager of Interserve Defence Ltd stated, “Weare very pleased with the overall result. Whatwe have now is a fresh welcoming well litatmosphere as a result of the increased lumenpackage plus the benefits of increased energysavings and lower maintenance costs.”Reader Reply No.:71044Good design keepsbusiness boomingsympathetic to their physicalrequirements- too hot or cold andthe paintings will deteriorate, butthe correct temperature will allowthe paintings to be enjoyed formany for years to come. Thesame principle applies to business.The right environment willensure that the engine of mostcompanies, its computer andcommunications systems, has theopportunity to operate at maximumcapability, avoiding many ofthe niggling, intermittent problemsthat IT experts find so hard to trackdown.”“With most companies concentratingon getting the right computerequipment to fulfil their requirements,we have gone to greatlengths on this website to givethem the facts they’ll need to gettheir computer room right from thestart,” added Nick.Reader Reply No.: 7114431

32PinteriorsProject enhancesprimary optionsrangeroject Office Furniture has introduced anumber of enhancements to its best-sellingPrimary Options range that have significantlyexpanded the design, space planningand Layout options that are available to customers.These latest developments are aimedat expanding Primary Options appeal toembrace all levels of management, enablingone range that conforms to both the VDU andergonomics regulations to cost-effectively satisfythe office furniture needs throughout anorganisation. The offering is particularly suitablefor small offices within the private sector,local and central government and the utilities.The increased choice includes an expanded“cockpit” workstation that features flat andcurved ends, along with new double-waveworkstations that can each accommodate twocomputers, which should appeal to employeesthat use a laptop and a PC or those whose workrequires more than one screen. Other additionsto Primary Options include a new 120-degreeworkstation that can be linked using new narrow-profilepedestals, along with a shallowwaveworkstation that comes into its own wherefloor space is at a premium and where a tightfootprint is essential. A typical application beingConsisting of 22 designseach in several standardcolourways, Palette Originsfrom Interface is a heavy contractvelour carpet tile conceived withcreativity, flexibility and today’sinteriors in mind. It gives the commercialenvironment a contemporaryedge and allows a space tobe created with designs that areinfluenced by tactile, organic, ethnicand structural elements.Origins is a collection that willenhance all types of interiorspaces - workplace, instore, hospitalityand leisure facilities - bygiving unlimited design opportunities.It centres on the three Paletteranges and all can be used tocomplement and co-ordinate withTactileandorganiccarpetcited by Project iswhere a small call centreneeds to be set upin an existing office.Additional scope forcreating more informalmeeting areas is alsonow available. In additionto the original800mm deep workstationextension, Projecthas introduced a versionfor 650mm deepdesks and workstations. A bridging desk hasalso been introduced that enables 650mmdeep workstations to be formed into a teamworkcluster, and a bridging storage tambourunit has also been added that makes possiblethe linking of curved-top desks.Primary Options storage has also beenincreased to enable it to be incorporated intomost spaces, greatly extending planning anddesign freedom and the ability to make themaximum effective use of the available space.At the same time as announcing these improvements,Project is also promoting the scope forcombining Primary Options with its Freespaceone another. Palette 2000 offers arange of solid colours; Palette3000 has the addition of a spacedye yarn, to give a subtle fleckedappearance, while Palette 4000uses a unique construction to givea multicoloured textured appearance.Each palette is based upon standardcolourways and onto theseare printed concepts inspired bynature that allow the interiordesigner full creative reign.Amongst them there is driftwood,buffalo, sea whip, and camouflage,lost creek hidden valley andZulu; they exude an ambience,richness and luxury, they bringform and function and excite thesenses yet have the ability to givea comfortable and familiar feelblended with randomness andorder.Palette Origins from Interface is afusion bonded cut pile tile using100% Dupont Antron Excel Nylonand is one of the best performingcarpet tiles in the market place.Reader Reply No.:71018Pacific Continental Securities(UK) Ltd the UK subsidiary ofthe long-established USPacific Continental company, hasgrown from a one-man businessfour years ago to over 50 stafftoday. Because of this growth thecompany recently moved intoprestigious new 5000 sq ft officesin Cannon Street in the City.“We identified a number of criteriafor our new offices which includeddelivering an efficient single-floorworking environment which wouldportray the company as a modern,business like organisation” saysSteven Griggs who heads up theUK company. “To help us achievethis we engaged The InteriorWorkshop to project manage themove. Like us they are specialistsin a niche market and had considerableexperience with contactswho understood the needs of Citybasedbusinesses.”Furniture was a major factor in thefilling out of the new offices andthe project team viewed a numberof ranges before developing ashortlist who were then given adetailed brief.Pacific Continental opted for thedesign from Asher SystemsFurniture. Asher was able to combinea high design content with arange, adding extra versatility to an alreadyhighly adaptable offering. Curved Freespacetables, touchdown units and docking extensionhave all been identified as offering the potentialfor improved interaction and communication.Project has an expanding blue-chip customerbase that, in addition to the public sector,extends across industry and commerce. Thecompany has two manufacturing centres inHaverhill, plus showrooms and distribution centresthat are strategically located throughout theUK and the Irish Republic and further detailscan be found at www.project.co.ukReader Reply No.: 71064Asher provides asolution for the Cityhighly flexible solution based ontheir core range which featurescantilever, table, post and beamstructures which can all be createdfrom a common rail structureallowing multiple layout solutionsusing one core element.The range, which was created byAsher designer Liam Corbett, featurespanels and posts which arestackable, enabling variable levelsof privacy as well as third levelstorage while the aluminium/steellegs can be both mobile andheight adjustable.Reader Reply No.: 71049Practicalfm

Three thousand intothirty equals tenTGAtriumHigh performance atan affordable priceaskell Carpet Tiles, (recentlymerged with ModulusFlooring Systems) hasadded Atrium, a new high performancecontract carpet tile, to itsproduct portfolio.Made from 100% PA Alto Nylonwith a generous pile weight of730gsm, this new mid-range looppile tile offers a combination ofsuperior wear performance andaffordability that makes it an idealproposition for the contemporaryUK office environment.Available in eighteen strong andPracticalfmhe move of 3,000 staff into a 30-storeyoffice building is a daunting task for anyorganisation but to do it in just ten days isnothing short of spectacular. This was the taskthat faced Keith Toms, Geoff Campbell withConstruction Group Consultancy Limited(Migration Co-ordination) when Clifford Chance,the worlds largest, fully integrated law firmdecided to centralise its City offices to a newone million sq ft office building in the heart ofCanary Wharf.Planned over two years, the move was completedin just five relatively glitch-free weekends.“We opted for the ‘big bang’ approach.We felt that provided all the planning was doneproperly, we would have minimum disruption tothe staff and would be able to concentrate ourresources on handling any minor problems,”says Keith. “Thanks to the dedication of ourteam and the efficiency of our suppliers, who alldid a fantastic job, this approach proved to bethe right oneOne of the key suppliers was Bisley OfficeFurniture who supplied all the storage requirements.“We had worked with Bisley when wemoved to our previous offices in 1992. At thattime we worked with them to develop an 87-inch high, metre-wide filing unit designed tocreate the maximum storage capacity in theminimum floor space. This was so successfulthat it formed the cornerstone of our paper handlingstrategy and became a standard Bisleyproduct. So, when we planned the move toCanary Wharf, we wanted to maintain this highdensityapproach.”Clifford Chance’s approach to client-handling;specialists and support staff working togetheras project teams, determined the other storageelements in the offices. ‘The project teams procedurewas developed while we were in our oldoffices and designed to give clients a seamlessservice. Anyone working on a project alwaysknows the state of-play and can respond quicklyand accurately.” This ‘teamwork’ approachwas reflected in the furniture and storage layout,designed to facilitate communicationsbetween team members.Low-level Bisley tambour units were used for‘live’ paperwork within the team working areaswith steel pedestals for personal storage. Tallerunits were used to define office areas with tambourshutters opening to the walkway and rearfacing tool-rail enabling whiteboards, screensand even artwork to be suspended above theworkstations. Appearance also influenced theunits chosen, with architects Gensler opting primarilyfor white cabinets to maintain the light,open appearance of the building and a slopingbirch top to both match the desks and preventpapers being left on view.Bisley was chosen not only for reasons of qualityand value-for-money, but also because couldsolid, commercially attractivecolours, Atrium tiles havebeen specially co-ordinatedto work in a multitude of differentcombinations,enabling designers and contractorsto provide distinctivebreakout areas and walkwaysin open plan officespaces.Richard Sotheran, SalesDirector, says: “With its particularlyattractive price position,Atrium is an affordableoption for a broad range ofmainstream applicationswhere that extra degree of comfortand wear performance is required.We are confident that the new tilewill soon become one of our bestsellers.”He adds: “With Atrium, and thewelcome addition of a number ofexcellent products from theModulus portfolio, we are in theenviable position of being able tooffer all our customers carpet tilesto meet every possible aestheticspecification, performance criteriaand price point”.Reader Reply No.: 71020Pinteriorsprovide the full range of units required, includingemployee cloak cupboards and open-frontedunits for the extensive law library.“The fact that the company manufacturers inthe UK was also a plus” says Keith. “Inevitablyin a project of this size, there were late changesto nearly every floor and the fact that the companycould react quickly meant that thesechanges did not become a major problem. Infact, I must pay tribute to Bisley, they did a firstclass job”.Reader Reply No.: 71050Kudos PU is aperfect matcholyflor Kudos PU wood effectluxury vinyl plank - from commercialflooring specialistand Contract Flooring AssociationManufacturer of the Year PolyflorLtd - provided the perfect complementto the elegant décor of thenew TJ’s restaurant at Smith &Nephew Ltd Wound Managementin Hull.Selected by Prime DesignShopfitters, of Moston,Manchester, and installedthroughout the main servery area,Polyflor Kudos PU range comprises12 wood designs in 101x9l4mmplank sizes and 12 marble, granite,slate, sandstone, travertineand metallic effects in various tilesizes.Featuring a specially formulatedpolyurethane surface treatment -which improves the soil resistanceand cleanability of the floor, reducingmaintenance costs by up to 24% - Polyflor Kudos PU is ideal forsimilar heavily trafficked installationssuch as bars, cafes, openplan offices, classrooms and lecturetheatres. RR No.:7102433

Bcompany profileMonitoring the effectivenessof FM in the catering industryThe results of replacing reconditioned parts on a Miller’s Service Deep Cleanrent Miller, Managing Director of Miller’sVanguard – an established foodserviceFM provider - spoke to Practical FM aboutthe performance criteria in place for it’s customersSainsbury’s, Waitrose, Kwik Save andSomerfield to review the success of their facilitiesmanagement programmes.Truly effective catering FM is about giving customersan effective scheduled maintenanceprogramme, which will in turn reduce the numberof reactive maintenance calls incurred as aresult. When equipment does breakdown 24hrequipment failure resolutions should be availableto ensure that downtime is kept to anabsolute minimum. The links between reactiveand scheduled maintenance are very tight andthe combined power of these components isthe first step in giving the customer an FM programme,which highlights its own performanceeffectiveness. Practical FM asked Brent how isthis so?Take the supermarket chains as an example –there are vast numbers of equipment withintheir customer restaurants and in-store bakeries.Good preventative maintenance at thisvolume requires a dedicated clean & serviceresource that only performs services. SimplyMiller’s Vanguard measure reactive maintenanceon their first time fix ratesteam cleaning equipment cannot constitute aneffective service, Miller’s Vanguard take a differentapproach by exchanging a pre determinednumber of components for ones that have beencleansed in a caustic bath. This ensures thehighest performance output from the equipmentand less likelihood of a failure after it isreturned to work.Extensive research into this unique clean & serviceapproach has revealed that on averagethere is 54% overall reduction in the number ofreactive maintenance calls logged from a storein the six months after the service comparedwith the six months prior.This is a major performancemeasure for thecustomer as the saving ofthe reactive maintenancecalls not incurred as aresult of the service quicklybecomes evident as thevolume of reactive maintenancecall out charges willbegin to decline. A thoroughclean and service isalso measurable by theoperator once he recommenceswork on themachine and in the commentsdepartmental managersfeed into theirregional F.M. managers.In the past, supermarketswould outsource its scheduledmaintenance to onecleaning company andwhen, and if, the machinebroke down another companywould be called out to do the emergencyrepairs. As scheduled and reactive operationslend themselves to each other, this set-up isdetrimental to the downtime incurred for thecustomer. Neither of these companies wouldbe the original equipment manufacturer meaningthat the ability to exchange parts during aservice was never an option open to them, asthey didn’t have access to the original manufacturingunits.Practical FM went on to ask Brent how storesare able to measure the success of theReactive Maintenance side of the operation, hewent on to explain, how Miller’s breakdownThe relationship between Reactive & ScheduledMaintenance puts Miller’s at the forefrontengineers are measured on their first time fixrate – where the engineer leaves the store andthe equipment is working again. From the customer’sperspective the most frustrating issueoccurs when parts are required to fix themachine. This leaves them with idle equipmentfor duration of the ordering process. Being partof the Aga manufacturing group has allowedMiller’s Vanguard to build up a large floatingstock of the heavy use equipment that regularlyfails for customers that can be loaned out to thestores in replacement of equipment awaitingparts. This extra unique offering is satisfactoryto the customer as Brent believes a successfulF.M. programme for the customer should provideminimal disruption to production of theirfood products – the loan programme fulfils thisrequirement by ensuring downtime is reducedto an absolute minimum.The key to offering a slick facilities managementservice to the foodservice sector is providingboth reactive and preventative equipmentmaintenance on a local, regional and nationallevel from one central logistics centre teamedwith a strong manufacturing back-up.Reader Reply No.: 7113534Practicalfm

In the Private Finance Initiative arena the longtermperformance of a property is crucial tothe investors, constructor, operator and notleast the customer. Business continuity is thebyword and a failure to provide the requisiteaccommodation and service standards attractspunitive performance penalties. Into the bargainthe FM operator is charged with providingservices offering a high degree of cost certaintywhilst preserving the inherent value of theproperty.Within the FM industry there is a growing pressureto provide senior management with betterinformation: to justify budgets and investmentproposals and to maintain business critical systemsand facilities within stringent financial constraints.For these reasons Asset Managementis becoming the essential FM technique for longterm planning and delivery.Equion FM’s understanding of fully integratedfacilities management has grown out of ourwider experience in the development and managementof the built environment. Our corecompetencies have been honed in the publicsector particularly health, education, defenceand police. Our asset management teamcharged with managing a buildings lifecyclemaintenance, repair and renewal have a purelypractical approach to what traditionally hasbeen looked upon as an academic exercise.With a portfolio of PFI projects across a range ofcomplex and diverse organisations we haveevolved a highly successful and distinctivebusiness approach to asset management.Ours’ is a systematic approach providingadvice and guidance through the design, buildand commissioning phase to planning andimplementation in the operational phase. Ourobjectives are to ensure that the property andassets continually perform to the design specifications,that we have identified the risks inoperations and that as the services provider wecan consistently deliver the requisite servicestandards.We know from our practical knowledgeand experience that there arethe four phases in property and assetmanagement, as illustrated in figure 1and described below.The process is one of continuousreview, monitoring and evaluating theconstituent elements to ensure complianceto the design requirements,quality and environmental standards.By applying our FM experience tofinancial modelling techniques we areable to develop asset managementrenewal schedules that may used fortechnical and commercial purposes.Design PhaseCrucial to this phase in which designsolutions are formulated and FF&E criteriastipulated is the ability to understandthe customers requirements in terms ofthe building performance and function. Thereare a wide range of disciplines that have to beinformed to prepare an Asset Managementschedule that is technically sound and commerciallyrobust.Working with all the interested parties thepotential gains are realised by addressing thefollowing factors:* Establishing the property and assets designlives are consistent with requirements* Developing the FM strategy and methodstatements* Determining quality standards for systems,equipment, materials and finishes* Developing whole life cost scenarios andcomparative cost-in use forecasts* Determining risks to the business of facilitiesdowntime* Standardisation & compatibility of components* Developing designs for ease of installationand access* Design auditsSuccessfully integrating the above factors intothe project will help ensure the property andassets provide whole life operational value.Construction and CommissioningBeing proactive through this phase, undertakingregular construction audits and validatingcommissioning procedures promotes confidencein the building and helps minimises therisk of future business interruptions. The keyelements of review are:* Quality of workmanship* Material quality* Commissioning proceduresPlanned MaintenanceIn relation to property and asset managementthe planned maintenance regime is fundamentalto improving the assets durability, extendingtheir life expectancy and minimising whole lifecover storyAsset Management Servicesoperational costs.It is possible during the FM operational phaseto introduce asset management techniques by:* Identifying potential or actual design/construction-relateddefects* Compiling asset registers* Auditing planned maintenance regimes* Undertaking condition surveys* Re-commissioning exercises to maximiseplant efficiency* Recommending building adaptationsand improvementsInvestment even at this stage can be wellrewarded.Asset ReplacementBased on our practical knowledge andexperience we know that AssetManagement schedules properly conceivedand accurately compiled providehighly effective FM tools. The collation andanalysis of architectural drawings, systemschematics, systems specifications,planned maintenance regimes and assetcondition surveys all help identify a building’sperformance in terms of businesscritical systems and operational areas. Whentaken in the context of a “live” operational buildingyou can begin to understand how a buildingsperformance affects function.SummaryAs practioners we can testify well formulatedasset management plans when implementedwill improve an organisation’s management ofits property, assets and facilities securing businesscontinuity, providing long term cost certaintyand enhancing property value.Reader Reply No.: 71083Practicalfm35

Wcompany profileThe Business ofthe Future - NOWith technology developing and introducingitself into our working lives at arapid pace, it’s important that businessesmake network and telecoms infrastructuredecisions that are future proof. After all, the networkand the systems that run on it impact significantlyon productivity and performance.Whether you are a business that is expandinginto additional premises, relocating to aGreenfield site or simply upgrading your existingnetwork there are some topical and obvioustechnology choices to consider.Converging your voice (telephone), video (e.g.CCTV) and data (computer) networks into onemore manageable network with Cisco IPTelephony, Mobilising your workforce withsecure Virtual Private Networks (VPN’s) andWireless technology are all hot topics forimproving your business productivity. So to isnetwork security. Disaster Recovery, for example,allows you to switch to an alternative networkshould your main network be broughtdown by an attack.SkyNet Systems are a leading Cisco Systemsnetwork solutions provider. As Partner of theYear they have been one of Cisco’s most successful2 tier partners and their no.1 UKEducation partner for the last three years.SkyNet focus exclusively on the design, supply,installation and support of networks based onthe latest Cisco products and technologies.Because SkyNet are Cisco Systems specialists,they provide concentrated expertise on all theirproducts and complementary applicationsenabling them to identify and recommend thebest solution for your needs.Specialising in IP Telephony, WirelessNetworks, Network Security and ContentDelivery Networks, SkyNet’s expert accountmanagement and technical teams - continuallytrained to achieve the highest Cisco accreditationsand specialisations - take time to understandand listen to your issues and challenges,investing the appropriate resources to ensurethat the right advice is given and the correcttechnology solution is implemented.SkyNet operate a vertical structure so that youget a dedicated Account Management teamwho know and understand your business. Theyare quite unique in the fact that they have anAccount Management to Engineer ratio of 1:1as well as a dedicated project managementteam, which means you the customer get theresource and commitment that allows SkyNet todeliver a reliable, high quality, value for moneyservice.SkyNet managing Director, Dave Carrington,comments, “As a Cisco only reseller, SkyNetprovide products that optimise network andcommunication capabilities at the highest level.Cisco Systems are the worldwide leader in networktechnologies and by choosing their productsand SkyNet’s services you will achievemaximum performance, security and flexibilityfrom your network.”He continues, “IP Telephony is perceived as atechnology of the future. In reality, the productsand solutions that companies need in order todeploy IP Telephony exist today.Converging voice and data networks on to asingle IP based network brings many benefitsto an organisation. By reducing expenditure onequipment, maintenance and network administration,a business can lower the total cost ofnetwork ownership.A converged network also enhances an organisationscommunications and productivitycapability by facilitating employee mobility andproviding a solid foundation for the deploymentof advanced, feature-rich services and solutions.”SkyNet can also create innovative XML applicationsthat enhance the technology and have inhouseexpertise to turn IP Phones into businesscommunication tools. For example, barrierentry, heat and lighting and space optimisationare all possible applications. In the educationspace, SkyNet have developed a StudentRegistration product whereby the phones areused for recording attendance and truancy inthe classroom. SMS messages can be automaticallysent to parents for example informingthem of the situation or directly to the pupil.On the benefits of Cisco Wireless technologyand workforce mobility, Dave Carrington said,“Imagine an environment where you can stopworking, pick up your lap top and move toanother place, still having access to the networkand your data from a moment ago.Consider being able to go outside and continueas if you were at your desk or being able to walkto another building without losing the networkconnection and continue working. This is thefreedom of that Wireless Local Area Networks(WLANs) can and do provide to organisationslarge and small.”A Wireless LAN allows users to meet and workin any part of the building without being physicallyconnected to the network and can facilitatenetwork access in areas where it previouslywas not possible to connect to the network.This type of solution is an overlay technology,which supplements the wired network and canhelp you to redefine what it means to be connected,stretching the boundaries of your localarea network to make your infrastructure asdynamic as it needs to be.36Practicalfm

WHEN YOU MOVE TO ANEW SITE, DON’T TAKEYOUR NETWORKPROBLEMS WITH YOU.Seamlessly integrate voice, video, wirelessand data applications on a single, scalablenetwork with Cisco IP TelephonyExperience the benefits of combining separatenetworks into one converged enterprise network.With Cisco IP Telephony you reduce costs andincrease productivity. And Cisco AVVID (Architecturefor Voice, Video and Integrated Data) allows you to doall this smoothly and without disruption. AVVID is aframework for building and evolving customernetworks that support Internet business solutionsand provides a roadmap for combining business andtechnology strategies into one cohesive model.Call SkyNet now on 01993 885900 for:• Free white paper on the financial and strategicaljustification of IP Telephony• Free IP Telephony demonstration CD• Free Executive briefing on IP Telephony at Cisco UKSkyNet Systems are experts in network technology and a leading Cisco reseller.We have extensive experience in implementing new infrastructures for businessesthat are moving to a new location or Greenfield site and provide an end-to-endservice from initial consultancy and design, through to complete implementationand ongoing support.We are specialists in:IP TELEPHONYWIRELESS NETWORKSCONTENT DELIVERY NETWORKSVOICE ACCESSNETWORK SECURITYSkyNet Systems, Cassini House, Hanborough Business Park, Long Hanborough, Oxfordshire OX29 8SD UKTelephone: 01993 885900 Email: sales@skynetsystems.co.uk Web: www.skynetsystems.co.uk

38BAsecurity focusBosch doubles recording time with new16-channel Divar Digital Versatile Recorderfeaturing 600GB of storageosch Security Systems hasenhanced the capability of itsadvanced 16-channel Divar digitalversatile recorders by doubling the built-invideo storage capacity of its internal harddisk from 320 GB to 600 GB, making itpossible to digitally record up to 16 camerasat 1 image per second (IPS) in standardresolution for very long periods of upto a month or longer with lower resolutionor fewer cameras. External hard diskarrays can further extend the storagecapacity to TeraBytes. For example, simplyadding an external 640 GB array to thenew 600 GB Divar provides over a TeraBgiving some three months capacity atstandard resolution with 10 cameras - in aspace smaller than a standard video taperecorder.The Divar is a compact all-in-one unit that combinesa digital video recorder system with multiplexerand switcher in a single, low-profile unitcapable of simultaneous full-colour recordingand playback. In addition to the new top of therange 600 GB capacity version, existing 6, 9 and16-channel models are also available offering80, 160 or 320 GB internal hard disk storage. AllDivars feature alarm handling, fast search andplayback, and have built-in telemetry for directlycontrolling Bosch EnviroDome, AutoDome andPTZ cameras. User-selectable functions allowAccess control system from AndoverControls proves size isn’t everythingndover Controls has announced a newaddition to its range of access control andbuilding management systems.The Intelli-M access control system is a userfriendly,simple to install and highly cost-effectivemethod of maintaining door security throughoutparticular configurations to be quickly optimisedfor any specific application and downloaded toother Divars allowing entire installations to sharethe same programming for camera set-ups,times of day, alarms, event responses etc.Up to 16 separate Divar units can be linkedtogether locally to produce a compact 256-cameradigital recorder, and up to 30 Divars can beIP networked to control and view much largercamera installations over multiple or remotesites.The Divar brings superb digital CCTV andrecording to a wider range of users - for example,department stores, jewellers and larger conveniencestores. It can also be networkedlocally to cover large industrialsites and office blocks. Further globalexpansion allows multiple networkedDivars to be installed at several remoteinstallations, making it suitable for multiple-sitesurveillance systems in retailchain stores, fast-food restaurants,banks, cash dispensers, supermarkets,petrol stations, depots and logistics centresfor remote supervision and security.Divar is also ideal for evidential recordingas it provides video-overwrite protectionto prevent the loss of vital video evidencematerial, and automatically recordsauthenticating metadata along with thevideo images to allow detection of imagetampering.A Divar unit plus one external disk array fits intothe same 19-inch rack space (2 Units high) as astandard time-lapse VCR recorder, providing farlonger recording capacity in the same space.Global access via Divar’s network interface andControl Centre software enables live systemviewing and configuration over any TCP/IP network,LAN, WAN or via the Internet. Up to sixusers can be connected simultaneously to anysingle Divar. As well as remote viewing of the liveand recorded video, full remote configurationand maintenance is available via the ControlCentre. Reader Reply No.: 71077a small to medium-sized site.Unlike many access control products, eachIntelli-M system includes an ID badge producingability as part of the core software. There are nobolt-on software packages or expensive licensesto purchase. This makes it easy and cost-effectiveto create badges for personnel and visitors.The competitively-priced system comes with arange of peripherals to fulfill the most demandingapplications and is backed by the expertise,quality and technical support of AndoverControls.Intelli-M is modular in construction and can becascaded to offer access control for anythingfrom one to 192 doors on a single domain/serialport. Low power voltage and communications toeach controller is uniquely achieved over a singletwisted pair cable.A selection of controllers, which can be configuredfor access control use, or input/output control,is available to construct a credible well featuredaccess control system.The quality design and build specificationsensure the system is robust and reliable - fromthe small, but perfectly formed integrated doorcontroller to the simple yet powerful graphicaluser interface.Intelli-M’s reliability means that in the event of aloss of communication, the controller continuesto operate without loss of functionality. If thepower to the system is lost there is no degradationwhen power is returned.“We have used our experience in building managementand security to produce an accesscontrol system that meets all the requirementsdemanded by the small to medium sized systemsmarket and which complements Andover’sContinuum and Integral product ranges,” saysJoint MD John Nicholls.Reader Reply No.: 71104Practicalfm

Seven-year contract sees professional footballclubs connect to ANDiS©Management Systems for issuance andmanagement of multi-application smart cards forspectators and staffBell ID By., the smart card management systemssubsidiary of Bell Group plc, has signed aseven-year contract with the Royal DutchFootball Association (‘Koninklijke NederlandseVoetbalbond’ (KNVB)) for the implementation ofa nationwide smart ID card solution for seasontickets and ‘Club Cards’ — (S)CCs. Bell liD’sANIDiS© Management Systems will serve as aturnkey platform for all Dutch professional footballclubs, enabling them to issue and managemulti-application smart cards for spectators andstaff These smart cards will replace all of theapproximately 700,000 magnetic stripe-basedseason tickets and club cards.Since the early 90s, the KNVB has provided anationwide ticketing system for all official footballmatches within The Netherlands, including thoseof the Dutch national team. It also operates anationwide identification system for spectatorswishing to obtain tickets. Most of the Dutch footballclubs currently provide state-of-the-art facilitiesadjacent to their stadia (including retail outlets,restaurants, leisure centres etc), so customerrelations are of vital importance. As such,the KNVB continuously investigates new ways ofimproving services to the clubs and their audiences,while improving overall security. Someclubs already use small numbers of chip-basedcards for specific applications, and now theKNVB has initiated a league-wide rollout for amulti-application card.As of the 2003-04 season, Bell liD’s ANDiS© willenable the football clubs to gradually phase outtheir existing card infrastructure and eventuallyissue their supporters, staff and business partnerswith the new (S)CCs. The cards will carrythe nationwide ID and ticketing applications aswell as club-specific applications, eg: loyalty,electronic purse, and access to car parks andbusiness clubs. For this purpose, the KNYB willrun a central ANDiS© Card & ApplicationManagement System (CMS/AMS), on whichclubs can separately manage their own secureddomain, including interfaces to general and localapplications. The KNYB selected Mifare as thepreferred type of contactless card for all clubs.Roda JC and FC Dordrecht will be the first clubsto make use of the new system.ANDiS Management Systems provides Dutchfootball with a tool to improve efficiency as wellas security. The new solution is connected to acentral blacklist and it provides the clubs andsecurity focusBell scores with Royal DutchF.A.’s smartcard solutionthe Association with the ability to continuouslyupdate data on the cards issued - by means oftheANDiS© Post-Issuance Personalisation (PIP)module. PIP eliminates the need for replacementof season tickets, when personal data or subscriptiondetails change, which can result in anextension of (S)CCs’ economic life cycle. As newapplications become available both the KNVBand the clubs can easily add these to the existingcard programmes.Wilfred de Rooij, Director of KNYB ClubSupport,commented: “Our organisation strives to provideDutch professional football organisations withthe best technology available for continuousenhancement of efficiency, security, and customerrelations. The KNVB pursues agreementswith world-class business partners only. Weselected Bell ID to become our long-term smartcard technology partner, as their team and theirANDiS© solution cater for all the requirementsDutch football currently has and will have in thefuture.”Hywel Davies, Bell ID Chairman, stated: “Thissignificant agreement with the KNYB marks BellID’s arrival in a new market segment, which providesgreat potential for the years to come. Weare delighted to serve a globally recognisedorganisation such as the KNYB with our productsand services, and we praise their view on theimplementation of best-of-breed technologywithin the leisure industry.”Reader Reply No.: 71080Fastlane® entrance technologyA range of solutions to help you takecontrol of who is accessing your buildingThe Fastlane range is thevery latest in high techentrance controlsystems designedto provide theoptimum balanceof; security,aesthetics and flowrates.The range includesoptical turnstiles,barrier arm turnstiles andhigh security tailgatedetectors to help you getthe most from youraccess control system.Setting New Standardsin Entrance ControlFastlane The ultimate combination of security and stylefor further details contactIntegrated Design Ltd., Littleton House, Littleton Road, Ashford, Middlesex TW15 1UU UKt. +44 (0)1784 245941 f. +44 (0)1784 240647 e. info@idl.co.uk www.idl.co.ukRR: 71124Practicalfm39

40security focusCNL’s IPVideoCenterwins two top securityindustry awardsIn confirmation of the company’s position as aleader and innovator in the emerging IP basedsecurity market, CNL’s IPVideoCenter (IPVC)took the “Best Software Product” and the topaward for “Innovation” at this year’s IP Securitygala awards ceremony, during IIPSEC.IPVC deals with many of the current day issuesof the security world in its migration to digitalsystems over IP networks. Legacy analogue,new IP cameras, video servers, DVR’s andNVR’s are all managed through one clear customerinterface. Additionally, IPVC has beenbuilt on Microsoft’s .Net platform, offering a levelof scalability required for today’s enterprise levelsolutions. CNL are offering both a managedsolution through a subscription service or as astandalone enterprise package. The softwarealso supports multiple recording and viewingformats, eliminating one of the industries mostsignificant issues – compression standards.IPVideoCenter is a result of many years pioneeringof IP solutions to CCTV security and surveillance.With such a rapid advancement of newhardware, it became apparent that users oflegacy systems as well as those building completelynew systems were concerned at thecomplexity of applications as well as the redundancyof recent purchases. CNL were also perturbedat the proprietary nature of manufacturerssystems and decided to create a platform forintegration of “best of breed” products withoutlimitation.Reader Reply No.: 71085The DOM ELS-P is a new electroniclocking systemdesigned to provide authorisedand controllable access toequipment and fittings. It is basedon the proven technology for openingand locking doors in buildings,particularly when multi-occupancy,changing occupancy and restrictedaccess require controlled but flexiblelevels of security.The ELS-P is manufactured byDOM, part of the Black & DeckerGroup and one of the world’s innovatorsof sophisticated security. TheSecurity monitoring & Help Deskservices offer integrated approach forgreater control and accountabilitySControlling secureaccessSS Management Services, thespecialist provider of outsourcedmanagement services,has won a major alarm monitoringcontract with leading regionalretail chain, Lincoln Co-op.Lincoln Co-op operates over 100convenience stores and PostOffices throughout Lincolnshire andNewark, and is the latest in a broadrange of multi-site organisationsserviced by SSS as it continues theexpansion of its retail client base.Under the terms of the contract SSSwill be responsible for monitoring all electronicalarm and signalling systems including intruder,fire and panic activations. The contact will seeSSS undertake this operation initially for threeyears until 2006.“SSS has an excellent reputation for service andoffers one of the best levels of alarm monitoringthat we have come across,” comments MarkFoulds, Security Manager for Lincoln Co-op.“The ability to provide regular managementreports and confirmation emails giving fulldetails of all incidents that take place leaves mefully confident in the management controlprocess.He continues: “We are keen to draw on theirunique skills in this field to support our ownnew system has many differentapplications, all with thecommon objective of restrictingaccess to authorised holders.For example, the systemcan be used for display cabinets,to access filing cabinetsor storage, for opening cashoperatedmachines, to operatebarriers or to open doors.The cableless electronic technologyis activated by handheldknob for the short timerequired to release the lockand open the door. For convenience,it is also possible to fitthe fob to the top of a DOMmechanical key.The ELS-P system providessecure exclusion of nonauthorisedusers. Unlike normalmechanical systems, this is anintelligent locking system which canbe expanded to any size or easilychanged to meet different requirements.Reprogramming of keys orreplacement of lost ones is easy.The system can not audit whenlocks are opened and by whom butcan also programme temporaryrestricted access over 32 differenttime zones. It can be combinedwith mechanical or electronic lockingsystems or integrated into existingsystems.Reader Reply No.:71119Strataform, whose design anddevelopment work in thesecurity industry spans 30years, has unveiled a new range ofhigh level product systems, whichgive the best possible protectionavailable today against the threat ofterrorist and criminal attack.The comprehensive Sentinel 8000range, which includesDoors, Panels, Kiosks, Cells,Guard Posts and GlazedScreens, has been rigorouslytested to defend againstPhysical, Fire, Blast andBallistic assaults.Completed trials included a6-hour Fire Test (12000 C)for Strataform’s new DoubleDoor Set with Overpanel, tomeet the British StandardBS 476 Part 22 evaluation.Designed to help organizationstake the necessarysecurity steps that arerequired in the 21st century,Strataform has called uponits vast experience to alsoensure that the Sentinel8000 range is a very costeffectivesolution for the protectionof people and property.security function and centralise allmonitoring operations in an integratedmanner.”“We are delighted to win this contract,”adds Phil George, Sales &Marketing Director of SSS, “as it confirmsour position as the only specialistcompany in the UK able to providesuch a service. Our track recordworking with some of this country’smost demanding blue-chip companiesspeaks for itself, adding a furtherlevel of value and performanceto the services we provide.”As part of its alarm monitoring service, SSS ownsand operates a NACOSS-approved AlarmReceiving Centre (ARC) equipped with state-ofthe-artreceiving technology that enables all necessarydata to be compiled and ensures thatproper false alarm management procedures arefollowed. As the first ARC to be accredited to BS5979:2000 and with the highest levels of alarm filtering,the SSS facility is acknowledged as anindustry leader in its class.This enables all necessary data to be compiled,providing Lincoln Co-op with daily data managementreports and ensuring that proper falsealarm management procedures are followed atall times. Reader Reply No.: 71074Sentinel 8000 securityrange thwarts criminaland terrorist attacksSuitable for an extensive range offinancial, military, government andpolice applications, to name but afew, the Sentinel 8000 range can betailored to meet very specificneeds, including a complete choiceof Materials, Finishes, Locking &Operational Systems.Reader Reply No.: 71136Practicalfm

To start the New Year, Gardiner Security islooking forward to bringing on new servicesin 2004 that will further strengthen its positionas the only true one-stop shop for the securityindustry in 2004.Key amongst the service enhancements beingoffered will be further development of theGardiner website www.gardinersecurity.co.uk.The most significant of these developments willinclude:* More information on products, including theability to download data sheets and pictures* More customer specific information, to allowinstallers to more closely track their purchases* More targeted Special Offers* Facilities that will make ordering on-line easierstill* On the back of these developments, from earlyin 2004the New Year customers will be able toplace orders on-line before 7.00 pm for nextday delivery – something no other security distributorcan currently provide. This will be followedby even further developments as theyear progresses.With its supply of security solutions right acrossan expanding and fast changing market,Gardiner Security’s UK business has served as amodel for the Gardiner Group throughoutEurope, says Managing Director David Dawsonfollowing Gardiner Security’s 2003 establishmentas the N° 1 independent distributor.security focusMore in store from GardinerThe One-Stop shop that others aim to followAre You Looking For:Covert CCTV and Audio Equipment? Portable“Plug & Play” cases, Microwave video/audio, Video/audio over PSTN & GSM, Bespoke build service.Counter Surveillance Equipment? includingvideo/audio & telephone tap Bug Sweeps and bugremoval service.Voice Sounders? For CCTV, Security, Fire andHealth & Safety Applications.PA Equipment? Amplifiers, speakers, microphonesetc.Induction Loop Equipment for the hard ofhearing? A legal requirement for all “serviceproviders” under the Disability Discrimination Act.Video Tapes, Erasers, Editors and storagesystems? To comply with the Data Protection Act.LOOK NO FURTHER WE DO IT“Making it easy for our customers to deal withGardiner has always been important to us, andwe are always introducing new services thatcontinually strengthen this. As an independentdistributor with added value services, not leastthrough the UK’s only nationwide network ofsecurity branches and facilities, we occupy aunique position in the industry,” says Dawson.“Building long term partnerships with suppliers,that provide the best products available, meansthat our customers know they always receive notjust expert but totally independent advice. This isreinforced by the fact that we probably have thewidest range of products in the industry. In addition,we are one of the very few distributors thathas specialist teams with in-depth experience ofone particular field, rather than employing salespersonnel who are expected to sell across anumber of disciplines.”“Strong traditional businesses such as IntruderProducts, where we’ve led the field for over 25years, and then Access Control and CCTV havebeen the backbone on to which we’ve grown acomplete one-stop service – including a fullyoperational Fire Division, unique in the industry,”he adds.”Our recent creation of “But even with CCTV andnew network technology, Intruder is still ourbiggest business in terms of sales.“Creating a dedicated Integrated SystemsDivision two years ago, and recently PublicAddress, have been another organic developmentin response to the emergence of TCP/IPproducts, leading to major success in forgingfruitful partnerships with leading consultants andadvising and supplying IT managers and networkintegrators and, the division has seen amassive growth in interest from the industry for IPvideo networking, CCTV products, intruder andaccess control solutions.”.“As an independent distributor with added valueservices, not least through the UK’s nationwidenetwork of branches and facilities, we occupy aunique position in the industry,” says Dawson.“Building long term partnerships with suppliersto provide the best products available, with novested interests towards a particular manufacturer,our customers know they always receivenot just expert but totally independent advice.Reader Reply No.: 71033RR: 71133RR: 71084Practicalfm41

Towcester Racecourseinvest in CCTVSet in the beautiful surroundingsof Lord Hesketh’s privateestate, the Northamptonshireracecourse is one of the most picturesqueracing venues in the country.The £1.7m investment in thestate of the art new stables is part ofan ongoing programme to upgradethe facilities for owners, trainers andvisitors.The CCTV system has beendesigned to ensure maximum securityin and around the stables andas such meets the new standards ofthe Jockey Club’s anti-doping policy.Towcester is in fact the first racecoursein the UK to comply withJockey Club’s latest requirements.Commenting on the installation ofthe CCTV system, Bob Bowden,Deputy Chairman ofT o w c e s t e rRacecourse said: “Weare very pleased withthe service providedby Sanyo. Beforedeciding on the exactequipments to recommendto us, they carriedout night timetests with variouscameras. They wereable to subsequentlyshow us a recordingof the kind of images we couldexpect, which were of a very highquality.”The CCTV system comprises ofnine Sanyo VCC-ZM300P zoomcameras. The ZM300P is a 520 TVlines camera with in built motiondetection. When movement isdetected the camera zooms into thecause of the alarm. The imagesfrom the cameras are recorded ontoa Sanyo DSR-3016P 520 TV linesdigital video recorder. Combining a520 TV lines camera with a DVR ofthe same high resolution capabilitiesensures that high quality videorecordings of any incidents can becaptured and stored for evidencepurposes.Reader Reply No.: 71146System Sensor Europe hasannounced the new 6500RSand 6500R conventionalinfrared beam detectors, designedto protect open spaces such asshopping centre atriums, concerthalls, historic building, warehousesand other large open spaces. The6500RS features Asuretest, aunique patented remote test capabilitythat fully tests both the opticsand the electronics of the devicewithout having to physically accessthe unit. An optical filter is introducedinto the optical path, attenuatingthe beam and causing the unitto go into alarm. Unlike other testmethods, this test process providesa complete check of every componentin the alarm path without theneed for access at high level. Thefilter is activated from ground levelby a hard-wired connection to aservo motor; given that the majorityof beam detectors are likely to beinstalled a considerable height, thetime saving during routine maintenanceis considerable.The 6500R consists of transmitterand receiver contained in a singlesecurity focusNew four-wire beamdetector with patentedAsuretestenclosure, the emitted infraredbeam is returned to the detectorfrom a reflector panel locatedbetween 5 and 100 metres away. Aspecial setup mode makes alignmentand setup a simple operationfor one man; the unit can be adjustedby ±10 degrees in both the horizontaland vertical planes andbrackets are available wheregreater adjustment is required.Reader Reply No.:71004FLOOR STANDING KEY CABINETSHolding up to 2080 keysFire Resistant - High CapacityIdeal for housing and controlling large numbers ofkeys, Securikey floor standing key cabinets haveinterior key panels on telescopic slides for easyaccess. There are four different cabinets availableholding up to 960, 1280, 1560 and 2080. The largermodels (1560/2080) are fire-resistant with doublewalled fire insulation to VDMA std. 24229.Remember, Loose Keys are Lost Keys!Email: enquiries@securikey.co.uk Website:http://www.securikey.co.ukPracticalfmRR: 71137RR: 7112543

AappointmentsAmerican Standard/Trane announces twosenior appointmentsmericanStandardCompanies has named twoexecutives to key global leadershippositions. Craig Kissel,president of the company’s VehicleControl Systems (VCS) unit since1998, will become president ofTrane Commercial Systems (TCS),and Jacques Esculier, vice presidentof Trane’s international businesssince June 2002, will becomepresident of Vehicle ControlSystems. The appointments will beeffective on 1 January 2004.“With Craig and Jacques in thesetwo key executive positions,American Standard continues tobuild and strengthen its leadershipteam,” said Fred Poses, AmericanStandard chairman and chief executiveofficer. “They are both globalleaders, with multi-industry experience,successful track records indelivering short-term financial performanceand long-term growth aswell as a talent for developingstrong teams.”In his new role, Kissel will assumeresponsibilities that Poses has handleddirectly since the beginning of2002. Trane Commercial Systems,the largest part of AmericanStandard’s Air ConditioningSystems and Service business, is aleading global supplier of air conditioningand heating systems andservices for commercial and industrialcustomers, as well as schools,hospitals, and government facilities.Vehicle Control Systems,which sells its products under theWABCO brand name, is the world’sleading producer of electronicbraking systems for commercialvehicles.Operation.“Having been closely involved inTrane Commercial Systems over thepast two years, I am convinced thatthe time is right for a permanentleader and that Craig is the rightperson for the job,” said Poses.“Under Craig’s leadership, the VCSbusiness team has delivered consistentlystrong performance in diffi-44cult market conditions, and they’veeffectively positioned the businessfor continued growth. Leveragingour position as a market and technologyleader in electronic brakingsystems for trucks and buses inEurope, Craig and his team haveexpanded our geographic penetrationin North America and Asia,extended our sales into automatedtransmissions, broadened our productline into air suspension for commercialvehicles, sport utility vehiclesand luxury cars, and created agrowing after-market business.“Having worked closely withJacques, I am confident that he hasthe right combination of experience,drive and leadership skills tohead Vehicle Control Systems,”said Poses. “He is well suited tocontinue VCS’ progress because ofhis success as Trane’s internationalbusiness leader in delivering bothimproved performance in Europeand the Middle East and increasedglobal market penetration, particularlyin China, a key growth area forVCS. Jacques has a strong backgroundin the complex engineeredsystems of the aerospace and airconditioning industries. With thisexperience, he is familiar with thesimilar industry structure, customerneeds and manufacturing requirementsof our vehicle control business.”Before leading Vehicle ControlSystems, based in Brussels, Kissel,52, spent 17 years with Trane in variouscommercial and residentialmanagement positions, includingfour years as vice-president andgroup executive of the NorthAmerican Unitary Products business.A graduate of the US NavalAcademy, Kissel also earned amaster’s degree from VanderbiltUniversity after serving for fiveyears in the US Navy.Before joining American Standardin 2002, Esculier, 44, spent morethan six years in a variety of leadershippositions with AlliedSignal/Honeywell. He was vicepresidentand general manager ofEnvironmental Control and PowerSystems, a business with revenuesof nearly $1 billion, and vice-presidentof Aftermarket Services-AsiaPacific, based in Singapore. Priorto that, he was president and chiefexecutive officer of Mooney AircraftHe holds master’sdegrees from the EcolePolytechnique in Paris and from theEcole National Superieure del’Aeronautique et de l’Espace inToulouse, France, and an M.B.A.from INSEAD in Fontainebleau,France.Reader ReplyNo.: 71107FCustomer focus fromnew Fulleon directorAWG announces newRegional DirectorGire protection equipment specialistsFulleon have appointeda new Sales & MarketingDirector.Robert Campbell joins the SouthWales based manufacturer from amajor electronic component manufacturingbusiness that suppliesproducts worldwide to many bluechip companies, including suchhousehold names as Ericsson andNokia.One of his main focus’ will be onKey account management, buildingon the customer relationships thatFulleon has established and developinga philosophy which has servicevery much at its core.Commenting on his appointment,Robert said - “Fulleon has an excellentreputation as a leading companyin the research and developmentof new technologies for the fire protectionindustry. We will continue tobuild on that capability but will beavin Scarr Hall, ManagingDirector of AWG FacilitiesServices is pleased toannounce the appointment of a newRegional Director for Scotland andthe North of England.William Coghill joins AWG FacilitiesServices from Atkins FacilitiesManagement where he was FMDirector for Scotland and Ireland.Prior to that, he has worked asOperations Director for DalkiaWorkplace Services and SercoDefence, and brings with him morethan 20 years experience in facilitiesmanagement.William’s position also incorporatesthe role of Managing Director ofGeorge S Hall’s commitment tocontinuing innovation isstrengthened by the promotionof Maxwell Segal, IT Director, tothe new position of GroupTechnology and InnovationsDirector. Reporting to the Group’sChief Executive Officer, the positionis helping drive the company’s FMsolutions and is concerned withidentifying, managing and implementinginnovations across itsoperations.Segal’s 25 years’ experience in ITranges from system design anddevelopment, global networking,Group IT and strategic developmentfor companies such asSiemens, British Alcan, BritishAluminium and Luxfer Group andincreasingly looking to ways inwhich we can improve our levels ofcustomer service, both domesticallyand overseas. It is not only aboutwhat we do here at our manufacturingplant in Cwmbran but what wedo around the world which is key.”Reader Reply No.: 71076Maintenance and Property Care(MPC), a £300 million, 10-year publicprivate partnership (PPP) withNorth Lanarkshire Council.Reader Reply No.: 71069GSH appoint newtechnology directorfor the last three years, GSH.Reader Reply No.:71120Practicalfm

Pharmacy dispensesemployee comfort withAnti-Fatigue MatsLTeading pharmacy chain MossPharmacy wished to addresskey health and safety issues,Working towards acleaner environmento support their new computercleaning product rangeDurable has teamed up withThe Marine Connection and createdan INSTANT WIN promotion.Durable are giving away instant winprizes with their full range of computerand office cleaning productsfor 2004 in conjunction with ThePracticalfmand improve the comfort levels ofpharmacists and retail staffrequired to stand for long periodswhile working. The company conductedan evaluation of TMC antifatiguematting and positive feedbackfrom staff resulted in thisbeing specified for all refurbishedoutlets.Often the nature of the work in retailenvironments requires staff to standfor long periods either on the shopfloor or at cash points. This standingcauses physical fatigue the legmuscles are totally static and constrictedas they work overtime tokeep the body in an upright position.Blood flow is greatly reduced,causing discomfort, and as theemployee’s heart has to work harder,so the body begins to run out ofenergy.To reduce symptoms of fatigue forthose who have to stand for longperiods of time at dispensary workstations.Moss Pharmacy hasinstalled anti-fatigue matting fromTMC Mats in over 150branches.The TMC anti-fatigue mat increasescomfort levels for those on their feet- the muscles subtly contract andexpand as they adjust to the flexibilityof the mat, which increasesblood-flow and the amount of oxygenthat reaches the heart, greatlyreducing fatigue. independentresearch has proved that usingsuch mats can lower fatigue levelsby 5000.After learning of the successful useof anti-fatigue matting by a largepharmacy chain in the US, MossPharmacy decided to conduct itsown anti-fatigue matting trial.Having reviewed competitive products,Anscombe chose TMC’s Tile-Top Spongecote 424 matting for itsretail outlets. The matting has an aircushionedbase layer, to providethe required support and is heavywearing for daily use.Reader Reply No.:71005Marine Connection, a charity workingon dolphin and whale protectionworldwide.Each product in the Durable computercleaning product range willcarry apromotional instant win fix-a-form.There are thousands of prizes forlucky winners —and a great competitionto win a top prize.Adopt a Dolphin: No other animalhas the ability to inspire love, happinessand a sense of wonder quitelike a dolphin. Over 50 consumerswill be given the chance to ‘Adopt aDolphin’ which will be monitored byThe Marine Connection.There are thousands of other prizesincluding a cuddly version of ourfavourite aquatic mammal plusloads of free computer cleaningproduct samples.In addition to helping The MarineConnection with adopting the dolphins,Durable will also be makinga donation to The MarineConnection for every product soldduring the promotional period.Reader Reply No.:71009It took almost 30miles of hardcycling and threemeetings before ConO’Flynn committed toHygiene Group - but20 years later he’s stiltwith the cleaning andhygiene company asThere is a way to virtually eliminatepassive smoking in publicareas without needing to banit. Tornex has developed a new ceilingmounted system, TX-l 5, utilisingtheir patented negative air pressuretechnology. The concept is simple -the smoky air is contained, usingsophisticated airflow technology,business newsCon collects20th Anniversarycongratulationsits longest-servingemployee.Now Con’s dedicationto the food and pharmaceuticalcleaningspecialist has beenrecognised with apresentation gold watch and certificate- the first person in the company’shistory to earn a long serviceaward.Con O’Flynn receives his long servicecertificate from Hygiene’s managingdirector, Stephen BaileyCon, who still works with Hygiene’sfounding client in Slough, said:“When I went for my first interviewthere were just a few service staffand the two founders, RogerBradbury and Steve Bailey. I’dcycled almost five miles from home,and following the interview Rogerand Steve said ‘we have other peopleto see but we’ll be in contact’.“When I got home they phoned tosay they wanted to see me again,so I turned around and rode back,but now I was unsure. Back home Irode, where they rang me yet againto say ‘we really want you’, and itwas only after riding out to a thirdmeeting that I finally said ‘yes’.”Con quickly proved his worth bydoing the work of three men whomhe had replaced handling the laundryat Hygiene’s first client, Slough’slargest confectionery manufacturer,where he still works as clothing controller.Hygiene’s managing director SteveBailey, who presented Con with hisaward in front of the managementteam, said: “Con is at the heart ofthis company - always there, alwaysdependable. He’s more like an institutionthan an employee: he’s setthe standard for every one of thethousands of workers we’ve takenon since.” RR No.:71039Tornex virtually eliminatepassive smoking atDublin Barthen purified and recycled,using a first classfiltration system. Pleaselook at the accompanyingun-retouched picturecarefully.There have also beenrecent installations ofTornex counters ReedBusiness, MW Kelloggand Epson UK. WorldCustoms Organisationin Brussels hasinstalled panels in thedelegates’ breakoutarea, wing productshave been installed at BarajasAirport, Madrid and BAA has specifiedpanels for waiting areas in terminalsat Southampton, Glasgowand Edinburgh, Aberdeen andStansted.Other Tornex products includetables and air curtain poles.Reader Reply No.:7107245

46Sbusiness news‘It’s big, it’s growing and size matters’FFMs have their say on flexible working, in 2nd PHS Surveylexible working practice (FWP) is big and it’sgrowing. 60% of companies operate someform of FWP, according to the second in anew series of regular surveys into the practicesand opinions of to1) UK facilities decision makersthe PHS Quarterly FM Survey which is specifiedand directed by workplace servicesprovider the PHS Group plc.The second survey carried out telephone interviewswith 201 in-house facilities managementprofessionals in October and November 2003,revealing an FM perspective on the growth offlexible working practice and its impact on thefacilities role...Firstly, FMs are confident that FWP is on the up,with over 50% of respondents forecasting growthin the practice, compared to just 10% who predicteda drop. And size (company’ size, that is)matters. 51 % of surveyed companies with lessthan 150 employees said they used FWP, butuptake soars to 70% amongst companies withover 1,000 employees. So it seems that the biggeryou are, the more likely’ you are to use FWP.Common variants include Flexi-Time, listed by86% of survey respondents using FWP, HomeWorking (61.2%) and Job Sharing (57.9%), but awide range of alternatives - including Roamingand Parent-Friendly Policies - may reflect a trendtowards diversification in employment styles, tomeet the needs of an increasingly sophisticated,or demanding, workforce.The question of whether FWP makes the facilitiesmanagement role easier or more difficult seems,Sodexho announcesfinancial close onHavering PFI projectodexho hasannouncedfinancial closeon the £283 millionnew RomfordHospital project.Sodexho will providethe soft andhard facilities managementservicesfor the new 859-bedacute hospital forBarking, Haveringand RedbridgeHospitals NHSTrust.The value ofSodexho’s contract will be £16 milliona year over the 36 year contractduration. The services includecatering (retail services and patientfeeding); domestic & housekeeping;portering; security; reception;car parking; window cleaning; pestcontrol and the switchboard &helpdesk as well as estate maintenanceand grounds & garden maintenance.Sodexho is a shareholder in theCatalyst Healthcare (Romford) Ltdconsortium along with Bovis Landagain, to depend onorganisational size. 30%of FMs from companiesof 150 employees orfewer reported that lifewas made easier byFWP, compared to 15%who thought it madethings more difficult. Inbigger companies of1,000 plus, however, thepicture seems toreverse, with just 16%reporting ‘life easier’and 37% reporting ‘lifemore difficult’, as aresult of FWP. This is not surprising when youconsider that the average number of sites managedby FMs in companies with under 150employees was 2, compared to an average of132 sites in organisations of 1,000 employeesand more.Aspects of FM most affected by flexible workingpractice include IT support (listed by 28% of the40% of survey respondents who said they wereaffected by it), management of office space andequipment (24%), health and safety (21%) andsecurity (12%).Peter Cohen, Chief Executive of the PHS Groupplc, comments: “The PHS Quarterly FM Surveywas launched for the benefit of our customers, toreveal interesting and relevant facts for FacilitiesManagers about their industry and about theLease and Halifax Bank ofScotland.Iain Anderson, managing directorfor Sodexho Healthcare commented:“The Havering project is a goodaddition to our PFI portfolio. It is agreat achievement by our team in ahighly competitive and complexmarket. It is also the first Sodexhoproject to be signed using theRetention of Employment Modelintroduced by the government twoyears ago for PFI projects.”Reader Reply No.:71066NEC puts CURATechnical in the pictureNEC, one of theleading manufacturersof AV displayequipment, hasappointed CURATechnical, part of thenewly formed UniterGroup, to maintain itsrange of AV projectorsinstalled in clubs andpubs throughout theUK. CURA Technical,which comprises therecently merged serviceoperations of FLSand NFS, will be providing a sixmonthlyon-site service for the NECprojectors and ongoing technicalsupport over the period of thethree-year contract.The NEC maintenance contract willreduce the incidence of equipmentfailure caused by exposure tosmoke and other environmental factorsin public places. This is particularlyimportant as the majority ofusers place great reliance on havingtheir projection equipment fullyoperational to generate valuableadditional revenues.CURA Technical was selected as aservice partner as it is the UK’sleading independent provider oftechnical support with a nationalinfrastructure of strategically basedpractices and opinions of their peers. Findingout what our customers think about issues thatmatter to them is extremely interesting to us, andit’s a pleasure to bi able to report these findingsback to them, as an added ‘extra’ from PHS.Each quarter, there will be a topical focus to oursurvey- looking at anything from career developmentto flexible working and outsourcing - andwe will also develop an FM trend indicator. OurFM Industry Tracker will repeat key questionsquarterly, keeping tabs on broader businessindicators like budgetary increases anddecreases, office relocations and departmentalinvestments. By doing this we aim to reveal trendinformation of real value and relevance to ourcustomers.Reader Reply No.: 71132service engineers. First line customersupport will be providedthrough CURA Technical’s dedicatedhelp desk at Billericay mannedby fully trained technical staff. Callsthat are placed through the callcentre will result in an on-site visitfrom an FLS engineer within 8hours.According to Mervyn Lobo, SalesSupport Manager at NEC: “CURATechnical demonstrated how thesubstantial investments that it hasmade in staff and infrastructure willdeliver the highest levels of supportto our customers. This includes asophisticated call centre and theequipping of all field engineers withPDAs.”Reader Reply No.: 71096Practicalfm

A Million GoodReasons to Choose aGrundfos CR PumpGrundfos are just about tolaunch its latest rangeof Medium CR multistagecentrifugal pumps,which will complete theupgrade of this entirepump range.Since the CR was originallylaunched in 1973 therange has proved itself to bea popular and reliable choicefor a wide range of applicationswithin Industry and theCommercial Building Servicessector.In recent years, the familyhas benefited from twoupdates to the small andlarger ranges. Grundfoshas now completed the reengineeringprocess; byintroducing three newMedium-sized CR pumps.The re-engineering workundertaken will offer threemain benefits:Superior ReliabilityUnmatched HydraulicEfficiencyThe most comprehensiverange on the MarketMerger creates majorplayer in Irish FM marketAmajor player in Ireland’s facilitiesmanagement industryhas been created followingthe merger of OCS CleaningDivision and Cannon Hygiene.The two companies have united asOCS One Complete Solution, anationwide company offering servicesfrom washroom hygiene andpest control to total cleaningrequirements. The merged companyhas eight centres around thecountry, including Cork andKilkenny. It employs more than 600people.OCS, which handles all aspects ofcommercial cleaning includingoffice and window cleaning, hasmoved from its old HQ to Cannon’soffices, Century House on thePracticalfmThis launch now brings the totalnumber of CR variantsavailable to 11 flow sizes,hundreds of pressuresizes and when you add inthe four basic materialstypes, then the possiblenumber of configurationsthat are now available fromthis one family is nearly onemillion!The additional products,available from February 2004will include the new improvedCR 10 and CR 15, whichreplace the CR 8 and 16.The launch will be completedby the introductionof new CR 20. This willcomplete the Medium CRfamily and mean that it willbe even easier to find apump size that matches aparticular systems requirement.All connectiondimensions areunchanged, making thepumps 100% interchangeablewith supersededmodels.Reader Reply No.:71090Richmond Industrial Estate,Dublin 1. OCS chief executiveChris Cracknell recentlyopened the offices, overhauledand refurbished for themerger.Aidan Doyle, managing directorof OCS One CompleteSolution Limited said: “The historyof the two companies inIreland goes back almost 40years. Although Cannon andOCS are sister companies,owned by the same group, ourcustomers have seen us astwo separate businesses.“This merger is the biggest step thetwo businesses have taken. We’llnow operate as a true OneComplete Solution in Ireland, offeringour customers a far wider butmore integrated range of services.By coming together and mergingdatabases we’ll pass on both efficienciesand a more varied range ofexpertise.”Cannon Hygiene, launched despitewarnings that there was no marketfor its core feminine hygiene service.It has grown organically tobecome the clear leader in the Irishmarket - which has spawned 43competitors — also handling disposables,pest control and laundry.Reader Reply No.: 71105Sodexho, the UK’s leadingcatering and supportservices provider, hasextended its contract withJohn Cabot City TechnologyCollege (CTC) in Kingswood,Bristol, for a further five years.Sodexho has for the pasteight years provided thecatering at the college, whichspecialises in science andtechnology. The new contractwhich has an annual turnover ofaround £175,000 will begin on 1August 2004.Peter Newland, Director of Financeand Administration, is said to be“delighted” when announcing thenews, adding; “We are very happywith the Sodexho team in place atthe college and particularly appreciatethe divisional support that hasbeen given to our catering facility”.Sodexho will offer catering to the1,000 pupils that attend the mixedcollege, aged between 11 to 16years old, plus the sixth form agedup to 18. Sodexho will be launchingits new secondary schools concept‘For You’ which offers a nutritionallyAV systems manufacturerSaville AudioVisual has completeda prestige lecture theatreinstallation at thehistoric headquartersof the Royal Collegeof Surgeons inLondon.The new facilitiesinclude front projectionfrom a ceilingmountedSanyo projector,with duplicatedcontrol of all roomsettings and source equipment providedby an integrated Saville OneTouch controller. The system alsoincludes a Tandberg multi-sitevideoconferencing facility, whichenables presentations to be sharedwith colleagues in the UK andabroad, with the ability for a largeaudience to view live tele-medicinerelays from anywhere in the world.The custom-designed projectionscreen was built at the Saville manufacturingunit in York and installedon-site with a suite of matching,hand-made furniture including abusiness newsBristol Collegeextends extendsSodexho contractbalanced menu range including aselection of hot main meals, pastaand jacket potato bars, sandwiches,baguettes and salads, dessertsand hot and cold beverages.The college is in the process ofbuilding a £1.1 million state of theart extension to provide new facilitiesfor the sixth form and anenlarged dining room, which willprovide the pupils with more seatingand a pleasant environment toeat. This extension work is alreadyin progress and due to be completedin June this year. Sodexho isresponsible for the re-design of theservice counter area and dining furniture.Reader Reply No.:71098The Saville touch forRoyal College ofSurgeonsveneered lectern, visualiser tableand presenter’s console.System control is provided via acordless colour touch screen or a17 TFT LCD monitor set in thelectern. When required by visitingspeakers, presentations can alsobe cued and controlled from thecontrol room at the rear of the theatre.For added security, all thesource equipment is fitted in a rackin the control room, with audio mixingfacilities and another touchscreen TFT control monitor.Reader Reply No.:7114547

48ATbusiness newsArriva usebespoke printedwhiteboardsrriva Southern Counties, public transportprovider, recently purchased eighteen silkscreen-printed high pressure laminated“Health and Safety Instant Check Boards” fromMagiboards, Telford manufacturer.The design of the board was an idea created byArriva North West who initially purchased twentyprinted boards and Arriva SouthernCounties decided they wouldbenefit from the boardstoo.Gloria Sewell, Risk Management & SpecialProjects Officer, Arriva Southern Counties comments“The boards are an excellent aid toenable accurate and prompt checks on ourplant and equipment re servicing and complyingwith legislation”.Magiboards can quote for printed boards from asimple sketch diagram. Once the order isplaced a paper proof of the diagram is preparedfor customer approval and then the finishedboard is printed and delivered direct to the customer’sdoor. Reader Reply No.:71143Grundfos AcquireGerman PumpManufacturerhe Grundfos Group hasacquired 94% of the shares ofthe German pump manufacturerHilge.The marriage of the two businessesis seen as an important addition tothe Grundfos portfolio - Grundfosdevelop and manufacture pumpsfor nearly any purpose within thefield of fluid transportation, whileHilge specialises in the developmentof pumps that meet the particularlystrict hygiene demands of thebrewery, dairy, food and pharmaceuticalindustries.This acquisition will mean that thespecialisation that Hilge pumpsoffer, will augment and increase therange of pumps on offer under theGrundfos banner.In recent years Grundfos havetaken over several other smallercompanies with a strategic view toexpand its product range or enterAnew markets.In eachinstance theturnover of theacquired businesshas grownand today theyaccount for 17% of the totalGrundfos turnover.Hilge’s turnover in 2002 was 30 millionEuros and it is expected thatwill double in the first three years,due to the established sales anddistribution channels Grundfos hasin place throughout the world andthe excellent reputation that Hilgestainless steel pump productsenjoy.Adding the Hilge products to thecurrent extensive range of industrialand digital dosing pumps will resultin The Grundfos Group being ableto offer even more solutions to theindustries that must comply withparticularly stringent hygieneneeds.It is expected that acquisition willcontinue to play important role inGrundfos’ dynamic growth plans forthe future.Reader Reply No.:71091Expanding GSH launchesenergypluss energy efficiency moves to the top of thefm agenda, George S Hall (GSH) is formallyannouncing its entry into the contractenergy market with guaranteed 5O/~ savingsin consumption across the property portfolio.The UK’s fastest- growing, independent fmspecialist, is launching energyplus, which isdesigned help companies reduce consumptionthrough engineering best practice. The movereflects increasing commercial pressure on businessto tackle utility overheads, as well asGovernmental calls for energy efficient practicesand emission reduction.Chris McLain, GSH Group Energy ManagingDirector, said: “We have taken a long, hard lookat this market in order to create a service that webelieve amounts to a new approach to contractenergy management. Traditional benefits suchas fixed cost utility supply, guaranteed savings,Window replacement specialistMartindales, basedin Bolton, Lancashire, hasmanaged to enhance customerservice and satisfaction in the faceof sustained growth in demand forits services. With the help of a newSamsung Telecoms communicationssystem installed by MatrixBusiness Communications, also ofBolton, Martindales has cut waitingtimes for incoming customercalls, and now routes calls automaticallyto the appropriate staff memberusing CLI (calling line identification)data.Martindales’ business depends onthe timely repair or replacement ofdamaged windows and related fittings,particularly through insurancecompanies.Martindales called in Samsungdealer Matrix BusinessCommunications because of itsexperience with automatic call distribution(ACD). Matrix proposed aSamsung communications systemequipped with Arc ACD software.The Arc software works withSamsung’s Auto-Attendant featureto manage all incoming calls. Therules-based queuing system minimiseswaiting times. Callers’ phonenumbers are automatically lookedno consumption risk and propertyinvestment have been maintained.Furthermore, end-user bugbears likelong- term restrictive contracts, terminationpenalties and change ofplant ownership, have beenremoved.“GSH has a proven track record inthis field based on our establishedmaintenance activities and has providedenergy management as an‘add-on’ to existing customers, generatingrevenues of approx £10mp.a. Now we are including it as partof our complete fm package for thefirst time. We believe there is scope to doublethat figure over the next twelve months, with endusersattracted by a combination of guaranteedenergy savings and budget security.”energyp/us complements corporate environmentalpolicies and reduces pollution throughmaximised efficiency, as well as lowering theimpact from the Climate Change Levy. Endusersbenefit from budget security with fixed,reduced costs agreed in advance and the risk ofexcess consumption transferred to GSHBuilding energy audits are undertaken, environmentalimpact assessment made on new plantand energy awareness promoted. Internal conditionsare maintained within agreed parametersand reinvestment is made in energy savingdevices like controls, BMS, metering, monitoringand lighting controls.Reader Reply No.: 71127New comms systemboosts customer serviceup in a CLI directory, and customersare routed to an individualagent or workgroup familiar withtheir requirements. A CTI (computer–telephonyintegration) interfacedisplays the caller’s details on theagent’s screen as the call is putthrough.Waiting calls, queuing times andother call related data are displayedon wallboards, where supervisorscan monitor them to ensureeverything is running smoothly.Analysis of call data allowsMartindales to specify maximumallowed call waiting times.Initially, call traffic was found to beeven greater than had been previouslyenvisaged, and the firstSamsung system that Matrix put inhad to be quickly upgraded.Reader Reply No.: 71082Practicalfm

Omron-Yaskawa’s new frequency inverteddesigned specifically for liftsWith the introduction of the new L7Varispeed frequency inverter, Omron-Yaskawa has made it much easier for liftdesigners and manufacturers to meet - andeven exceed - today’s stringent demands forsafety and ride quality. Developed specificallyfor the lift market, L7 Varispeed drivesfocus firmly on reliability, ease-of-use andsmooth performance. They are available inpower ratings from 3.7kW up to 55kW, andoffer a cost-effective solution for almost alllift requirements.The L7 uses the latest proven technology toprovide reliability and safety. This inverterensures 3 million full-load starts during itslifetime! Furthermore, lift-specific features have been developed inresponse to market needs. These standard features include direct controlof motor brake and motor contactor, short-floor operation, dooropeningcontrol and hardware base block. In addition, both open-loopand closed-loop vector control is available in the L7, providing the optimumspeed regulation to suit the application.Further Information call 01908 258258RR:71130Romec and HadenBuilding Managementjoin forces on fireRomec, one of the UKíS leadingproviders of integrated facilitiesmanagement services, hastaken on Haden BuildingManagement Groupís fire andsecurity team in a furtherdemonstration of the existing partnership between the two companies.Romec and Haden have provided fire detection services to customersfor a number of years. The collaboration, which involved the transferof 10 Haden engineers to Romec, will allow the company to provide amore efficient service.The intention now, according to Tony Cahill Romecís Director ofElectronic Security is to expand the fire detection services to new andexisting customers.Further Information RR:71138new product showcasenew product showcaseThe complete solution for printingand encoding MIFARE or HID cards.The increasingly successful collaborationbetween DED Limited, ZebraCard Printer Solutions and softwareexperts, Nfive, has realised yetanother breakthrough in the area ofPrinting and Encoding.Consisting of Zebra’s P310, P320,P420, P520 or P720 card printers fittedwith an internal MIFARE Encoderor HID reader, plus CardFive/CardCreator Elite card designsoftware, the system offers a straightforward and complete solution forprinting and encoding MIFARE (1S014443) or printing and readingmost HID cards.The CardFive/CardCreator Elite software manages all card designfunctions including text, graphics, lines, boxes and barcodes which canthen be connected to any ODBC/SQL compliant database. VFW/Twainvideo capture, Wacom digital signature and Bioscrypt fingerprintcapture are also supported.The contactless card encoding module allows the user to select thecard type and the manufacturer and also to manage the access keys(PIN) for access to each card. For HID it allows the card serial numberand processing date to be automatically read and recorded into a database.For MIFARE, the user can also define what information is encodedinto which block, sector and offset in the card.Formed in 1982, DED Limited is based in Lydd, Kent. The ensuingyears have seen the company grow to become a leader in the design,manufacture and distribution of:‘Specialist’ - Kiosk/Receipt/Label/Ticket - Printers, PoS Equipment,CCD and Barcode Scanners, Magnetic and Smart Card Readers &Writers, Cash Drawers, Pole Displays, Plastic Card Printers andTouchscreen Terminals.Accredited by NQA to the BS EN ISO 9001:2000 Quality Standard, DEDis a major distributor for a number of world-class companies such as:Star Micronics, Eltron, Magicard, Metrologic, Axiohm, Posiflex, Vibrant,Nippon Primex, Data Modul, Neuron and N5 Software.Further Information call 01797 320636RR:71095Satellite link gives engineers immediate 24hemergency supportA satellite linked mobilephone has given submersiblepump marketleader ITT Flygt theoption to use lone workersinstead of two-manteams.The new OrbisCybertrak phone takesthe place of the secondsafety back-up man bypuffing an emergencycontrol room on-line totake control of the situationthe moment the SOS button is pressed. Call operators can immediatelypinpoint the phone’s whereabouts using on-screen mapping,assess the situation by listening in on an extra sensitive two-waymicrophone and summon the appropriate emergency services.ITT Flygt safety officer Paul Wood said: “Often engineers are workingon isolated sewage treatments plants handling electrical and mechanicalappliances. Before using this system it would have been impossiblefor us to send out engineers on their own to undertake servicework.”If the situation warrants, the engineers can now set up regular safetychecks on the phone. If they fail to respond every 10 minutes, the callcentre will contact them.Paul said: “The scheme ensures that we can maintain our duty of careresponsibilities for employees while they work alone. The initial introductionhas gone well. We are now confident that we can know whereengineers are and that they have the support of a 24 hours responseteam who can summon the emergency services.“Deployment is more efficient too. We can check who is nearest to ajob at any one time on any internet linked computer using a password.This is one of the best lone worker systems we could find to protectour engineers in the field.”Further Information call 0845 345 7800Practical Facilities ManagementRR:7114049Cannon secures waste disposalCannon Hygiene has launched a new range of medicaland clinical waste units as part of their exchange servicethat offer a number of innovative features to confidentlysafeguard staff and patients. The medical and soft clinicalwaste units have a 60-litre capacity and include a specially-formulatedgermicide - Activap, unique to Cannon - thatis effective against bacteria, moulds and viruses, includingHepatitis B and HIV, rendering the waste harmless.All the units are regularly and discreetly exchanged andservice levels can be tailored to each clients individualrequirements. Cannon Hygiene is one of the UK’s leadingproviders of hygiene and environmental services to businesses andindustry. The firm employs more than 2,000 personnel servicing customersthroughout the UK who have confidently chosen CannonHygiene to handle their washroom hygiene, laundry, pest control,paper & janitorial products and horticultural services.Further Information RR:71114On-line catalogue of over5000 home and buildingcontrol productsThe world’s leading controls manufacturerHoneywell has published its completedetailed catalogue of over 5000home and building control productsonline at http://ukhbc-catalogueat.europe.honeywell.com.It providesan invaluable resource for all who maintain, design or specify buildings’HVAC, water and other systems. Product categories include controllersand field devices, gas and water valves, actuators and filters, sensorsand thermostats, burner and boiler controls, inverters and indoor aircleaners.Users will recognise many familiar, trusted friends from Honeywell’svast range and are bound to discover many energy- and time-savingproducts and accessories they hadn’t associated with Honeywell.Navigation is simple using a tree structure. Product descriptions anddetails are displayed on the screen, while full technical specificationscan be downloaded as PDF files.Further Information call 01344 6566000RR:71087

new product showcasenew product showcaseNew screens offer maximum impactfor offices and boardroomsThe new generation of NEC monitorsfrom audio visual specialists ImpactMarcom offer a vastly improved standardof viewing quality for large groups ofpeople by providing high contrast, largeformat images regardless of viewingangle.Ideal for use in offices and boardooms, the 40 inch display uses thelatest LCD technology which prevents the irreversible bum-out associatedwith traditional plasma screens giving up to twice the display lifetime and a reduction in power consumption of over 15 per cent, bothsignificantly reducing the cost of ownership.Weighing just over 27 kilograms... more than ten per cent lighter thancorresponding plasma displays.. .the monitor’s efficient design allowsversatile installation. TFurther Information call 01932 733700RR:71002Rocket sales for SkymasterThe ladder, widely regarded as an industry essentialfor theatres, lighting contractors and maintenancecompanies, can be used in six differentways to provide maximum functionality as a free- standing, two or three part extension ladder,trestle steps, work platform or stair ladder. It isthe flexibility of the Skymaster for different taskswhich has guaranteed its popularity for all sortsof access jobs since Zarges began distributing itin 1991.Sales of Skymaster have exceeded Travis Perkins’expectations. Alan White, painting and decoratingproduct manager says: “We’re constantly strivingto give customers value for money. The threepartSkymaster is extremely versatile, offeringseveral uses from just the one product”Zarges (UK) is a subsidiary of high-quality accessequipment manufacturer Zarges GmbH, Europe’slargest ladder manufacturer whose products meet all relevantEuropean health and safety standards. The company is currently workingwith major contractors to produce access solutions in advance ofthe Work at Height Regulations which come into force in 2004.Further Information call 01908 641118RR:71028New Tyvek® and Tychem® Brochurefrom DuPontWhen it comes to protective clothing, a multitude ofenvironmental and health and safety factors canmake the selection process confusing. Differentapplications mean different safety requirements,which in turn may demand different types of protectiveclothing. A comprehensive new brochurefrom DuPont Personal Protection has been producedto clarify types of protection and help health & safety officers and garmentbuyers select the appropriate Tyvek® and Tychem® protectiveclothing for their employees. The new brochure explains the levels ofprotection offered by Tyvek® and Tychem® garments and materials,and suggests typical applications where the different levels of protectioncan be used to fully protect employees or sensitive processes fromcontamination. Details of a unique service offered by the DuPontPersonal Protection Technical Team are provided in the brochure.Further Information see www.tyvekprotech.comRR:71003New Emperor fascia tougher thanconventional boardCeluform has launched a new product that thecompany claims is significantly stronger thanother 15mm PVC-ue fascias.Specifically designed for new build applications,Emperor is a dual-skinned fascia board that featuresDuoShield, a co-extrusion process unique toCeluform. This provides the additional rigidity anddurability that allows rainwater products to befixed directly on to the fascia.Available in four widths from 150mm to 400mm, Emperor is a completesystem and includes grooved and box end profiles, as well asmatching end, joint, internal and external corner trims. It is availablein Warm White.DuoShield is a brand new patented method of co-extruding PVC-uethat has been developed by Celuform.Further Information call 01622 719199RR:71029New access engineeringdivision catalogue from TractelTractel (UK) Ltd. has recently produced aNEW catalogue showcasing its comprehensiverange of Access Engineering products.The catalogue includes information onBuilding Maintenance Units (roof cars andcradles), Monorails, Suspension Cradles,Inspection seats, Ladders and Gantries,Davits, Parapet Trolleys and Specialist andCustomised Equipment. Tractel (UK) Ltd is a member of the internationalTractel Group, the world leader in permanent access systems,which has installed more than 5,000 Building Maintenance Units inmore than 50 countries world-wide. The Group consists of over 20manufacturing and sales companies, which have a long and successfultrack record in providing solutions to all manner of access, materialshandling and height safety problems.Further Information call 0116 230 1919RR:71010New Web Presentation onDuPont Tyvek® and Tychem®The DuPont Personal Protection Division hasredesigned the web pages for Tyvek® andTychem® chemical protective clothing tooffer users a wealth of up-to-date informationon products and services, garmentselection, applications, suppliers and technicaldata. The “Service” section includes informationon products, invaluable advice onchoosing appropriate protective clothing and the opportunity for usersto request support or sign up for seminars online. This section alsoincludes a comprehensive glossary with an explanation of technicalterms and answers to frequently asked questions, (FAQs), TheTechnical Info section gives users access to extensive data on fabricphysical properties, electrostatic charging and grounding as well aspermeation data for a host of chemicals.Further Information see www.tyvekprotech.comRR:71030Heatrae Sadia introduces five year guarantee forpopular water heaterMarket leading water heating specialist HeatraeSadia has introduced a five year guarantee forthe copper hot water storage vessel of its FBMcistern-type water heaters, a popular choice forcloakrooms, canteens, kitchens and bathrooms.FBM water heaters, popularly known as ‘flatback’units, are vented storage water heaterswhich incorporate an integral cold water cistern,enabling them to be fed directly from the coldwater mains. The electric heating and directmains feed result in a simple, low-cost solutionfor the delivery of hot water to a number of sinksor basins.The compact, unobtrusive rectangular styling makes the FBM unitsideal for applications where space is limited, for example kitchens,cloakrooms or student accommodation, or where supply from a coldwater storage tank is impractical. Manufactured in a BS EN ISO 9002certified factory, Heatrae Sadia’s FBM units are BEAB and kiwaapproved to UK Water Supply Regulations.Further Information call 01603 420100RR:71019UK launch for full view sign systemThis month sign manufacturer APCO launches itsnew product FullViewinto the UK market.FullView is a low-profile graphic display system representingthe next level of systems which are compatiblewith paper inserts and digital printing.Inserts are protected by an anti-glare lens and arechanged by magnetically releasing a concealed lockingpin, thus enabling the lens to be removed usinga suction cup tool. The sleek aluminium profiles are just 10mm indepth and are available in three shapes: Square, Radius and Contour.FullView profiles can be supplied in a variety of colours and finishes tosuit virtually every environment.APCO are currently stocking FullView displays to accommodate themost popular paper sizes, from A5 to Al. However, as the system is100% modular other sizes can also be manufactured in quantity.Further Information see www.acposigns.com50Practical Facilities ManagementRR:71034

Cut the cost of accidents withDuPont KEVLAR® hand andwrist protectionAccording to statistics, hand and wristinjuries are among Europe’s biggest safetyissues. In fact, injuries to hands andwrists are reported to cost businesses millionsof pounds every year. The direct costof an injury is merely the tip of the iceberg.Hidden costs can include replacement labour, overtime, lost production,productivity, management time and damaged goods - not tomention human suffering and staff morale. It is believed that both theinjury rate and subsequent costs could be drastically reduced if thecorrect type of protection was used. Now available is a range of glovesand sleeves made of DuPont KEVLAR ® brand fibre that provide outstandingprotection against cuts and lacerations, without sacrificingflexibility or comfort. DuPont KEVLAR ® brand fibre is a lightweightpara-aramid fibre with extraordinary strength and toughness. TheKEVLAR ® range of solutions for hand and wrist protection includesindustry specific designs: KEVLAR ® Comfort Technology, KEVLAR ®Clean Technology and KEVLAR ® Armor Technology. KEVLAR ® ComfortTechnology and KEVLAR ® Clean Technology gloves offer cut-resistancelevels 3 and 4; KEVLAR ® Armor Technology at least level 5.Further Information RR:73059New Honeywell controller introducesmore efficient heating/coolingHoneywell’s new T8078C modulatingdigital controller for HVAC installationsintroduces many new featuresthat provide more efficient modulatedcontrol of heating and cooling, whilebeing much easier to use and set upthan all previous units. Its modemstyling and high specification make itideal for offices, hotels, leisurepremises and public buildings.The T8078C is designed for individual zone control of fan coil and airconditioning systems. Each unit provides a choice of six different applicationsand three control modes, enabling selection of the best controloption for every job whilst also minimising spares holdings. It can useeither a remote temperature sensor or its built-in sensor.Further Information call 01344 656443RR:71071new product showcasenew product showcaseTrade talk atScrewfix DirectTallcScrewflx.com is the newTalk Forum website fromScrewfix Direct. Aimed athelping builders, plumbers,electricians, engineers andother Screwfix Direct customersto talk to each otherabout trade related topics, thesite also allows an exchange of views and opinions.Designed to further enhance the customer community and provide anadditional support service to its website users, TalkScrewfix.com isbelieved to be the first online talk forum in the trade marketplace.Featuring 10 talk categories including specific trade areas as well asgeneral talk and comments about Screwfix Direct, each message canbe read by all visitors to the site.To join in and post messages, users must first register with a confidentialusername and password. Message creation or posting a replyis both quick and easy and updates can be viewed at the touch of abutton. In addition, an automatic update on specific topics is available,by email, via the “Watch this topic” link. Recent topics have includedbrick cleaning, plaster board joints, doors, windows, latex screeds andworking with cement.Jeanette Chapple Davies, E-Commeree Operations Manager atScrewfix Direct comments, “Our philosophy has always been one ofCustomer Focus and, with more and more custofriers using ourwww.screwfix.com website, we felt that the move to a Talk Forum wasa natural progression in our service and support role.”Fully committed to customer care and support, Screwfix Direct isbelieved to be the UK’s leading mail order business fur the supply ofhigh quality, low cost screws, fixings, tools and accessories to the tradeas well as serious DIY enthusiasts. Promising next day delivery withinmainland UK and despatching, on average, more than 70,000 parcelsa week, the company also offers expert technical advice and customersupport. All products are supplied complete with the Screwfix Direct30-day money back guarantee and all prices are inclusive of VAT. Bulkrates and discounts of up to 10% are also available.Further Information call 0500 414141RR:71035Safetyshop Covers you from Head to ToeThe brand new Safetyshop Catalogue from Signs & Labels features1000’s of products to ensure that your company and your employeescomply to the requirements of The Personal Protective Equipment atWork Regulations 1992.100’s of new products have been added to our already extensive rangeof Personal Protective Equipment, including respirators and otherbreathing apparatus, more safety footwear, hi-visibility clothing andcorporate wear. This year, we have frozen the prices of many of ourbest selling PPE products at 2003 levels.Products offered include:• Protective clothing including jackets, trousers, boiler suits and highvisibility clothing from leading brands such as Regatta, Gore-Tex,Mascot and Faithful.• An extensive range of fashionable and practical safety footwear, allmanufactured to EN 345.• High visibility clothing to EN471: Specifications for High VisibilityWarning Clothing.• Head and Respiratory Protection — helmets, caps and masks, withmany prices frozen at 2003 levels.Next day delivery, competitive prices, no minimum order charges, a 14day no risk trial and comprehensive legislation advise are all part ofthe exceptional customer service offered by Safetyshop.Further Information call 0800 132323Practical Facilities ManagementRR:7108651Romec Revealed...A new series of product sheets coveringall the integrated FM services offeredby Romec, one of the UK’S leadingnational providers, has been introducedby the company.The comprehensive guides includeBuilding Services Installation,Electronic Security and CleaningServices to Materials HandlingEquipment, Building ServicesMaintenance, as well as Manufacturingand Print Solutions, the literaturedetails every element of the productsand services available.Romec already works with some of the biggest names in the UK, servicingover 15,000 sites on a 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year basis.Further Information call 0113 385 7132RR:71093Itfitz launch new signage systemltfitz launch a new quality signage systemfrom Marcal that has an established andfirm presence on many prestigious projectsand developments across Europe. Thisunique product signals the way forward toa new approach to signage in Britain.The system boasts a number of completeranges of well structured, quality, designconscious signage for the total conceptfrom internal way finding to externalmonoliths.Signage is a strong but silent influence onthe conceptual look of projects; this welldesigned system gives the architect ordeveloper complete freedom of choice onthe graphics package they wish to use.All the products come with a ten year guaranteewhich reflects their quality and alsoreassures the buyer of long term availabilityfor future development.Further Information call 01628 520988RR:71094

commentrants ‘n’ ravesNichola Upperton-Evans, a partner andemployment lawspecialist at law firmRowe Cohen, reflects onthe implications of thewider employmentdiscrimination rulesintroduced onDecember 1st.As if life as an employer isn’t already complicated enough, the legislators havenow thrown two more politically correct irons in the already glowing fire of HumanResource management. From now on, in addition to existing discrimination rulescovering age, gender, skin colour, race or nationality, it will be illegal to discriminateagainst an employee or potential employee, on the grounds of their sexual orientationor religious beliefs.‘How enlightened. How progressive. How fair’, I hear you cry.There’s only one problem given the sensitive nature of most people’s attitude to theirsexual inclinations and their ephemeral spiritual relationship with their deity. Nobodyhas yet drawn-up clear legal guidelines defining the difference between a recognisedand comparatively common ‘sexual orientation’ - like being attracted to a member ofthe same sex - and some of the other variations in human behaviour that clutter psychiatrists’textbooks. Where does the HR department stand if someone’s sexual orientationis in some other, less familiar, direction?In one heck of a mess, I would suggest.Religious beliefs don’t get us much further, either. We all know about the mainstreamreligious organisations that have shaped major sections of society for centuries andthe numerous modern factions and schisms that have spun off from the mainstream,but there are literally thousands of other quasi-’religious’ groups of every shade andcomplexion. Where does a ‘belief’ in the existence of aliens, for example, becomeacceptable as a religion? Will membership of some obscure cult entitle an employeeto the same treatment and protection as, say, that afforded to a Methodist lay preacher?Nobody yet knows.Presumably the new rules apply to conventional religious belief in a supernatural ordercreated by omnipotent metaphysical deities? At what point does unconventional spiritualbelief - in little green men sent by God at the end of the garden, for instance -become classed as eccentricity, temporary mental ill-health or even a permanentmental disorder?Further questions arise in light of privacy and confidentiality legislation and the DataProtection Act. Exactly where in the employer/employee dialogue will it be lawful andreasonable to attempt to ascertain:· the direction of someone’s sexual orientation· the degree of their physical and psychological change from one gender to another· their inclination toward some obscure outpost of religious unorthodoxyWhat about those who are fiercely protective of their privacy in regard to such matters?Will having not declared their position at the time of their recruitment be prejudicialto them - or the employer - when behavioural or performance criteria associatedwith their religious behaviour or sexual inclinations begin to influence their work?How many legitimate extra Holy Days per annum do subscribers to the Sunni Muslimfaith actually need to have off? Ramadan? Eiid? You will have noted that I am providingmany more questions than answers. The umbrella answer, I think, must be drawnfrom our experience following the introduction of earlier employment discriminationlegislation. Over time, cases will be brought before Employment Tribunals, decisionswill be reached, awards made, precedents will be set and a clearer picture willemerge. I realise that this will be scant comfort to employers who are not psychiatrists,social workers nor theologians by training or inclination. My advice is to try to seebeyond the potential complexities.At the end of the day, this legislation is a further step toward treating people fairly, irrespectiveof their age, handicap, birthright, background, ethnic or genetic inheritance.The great majority of fair-minded businesspeople would subscribe to this ideal. In thepast half-century we’ve taken huge strides toward achieving equality in the workplace.Discrimination legislation is designed to restrict the ignorant and unenlightenedemployers who seek to exploit our differences rather than understand our commonhuman attributes. You could say that this legislation therefore empowers the fair,diverse, bold and just employer.Fair enough.Awards made by Employment Tribunals last year in discrimination cases totalled£6,400,000 - an increase of two-thirds on the previous year. I see little prospect of thistrend reversing.So, if a self-declared ‘cross-dressing lesbian trapped in a male body’,applies for a job on your night shift, you’d just better stifle the innuendo,bury your prejudices, marshal your enlightened thoughts, check his references andoffer him a job. If he also happens to be a lapsed Seventh Day Adventist who’sbecome a Buddhist, that’s no concern of yours.52Practicalfm