TPI January 2009

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26 Tube Products International January 2009
developmentsproducts &
Cast iron drainage systems
A new development in the East Midlands is one of the first in the UK to specify
the Ensign Eezi-Fit range of cast iron drainage systems from Saint-Gobain
Pipelines. Highcross Court is a new build development of 144 luxury flats in
five blocks.
Mechanical and electrical consultants for the project, Silcock Dawson & Partners,
specified cast iron for the above ground drainage due to its appearance and
acoustic performance. Despite pressure to switch to plastic drainage systems
because of their perceived lower cost, the benefits of the new Eezi-Fit push-fit
range, including its ability to avoid joints in
the floor screed, convinced the developers
to stay with cast iron.
Saint-Gobain demonstrated the Eezi-Fit
product to plumbing contractor Sleaford
Building Services, who were impressed by
its quality, ease and speed of installation,
and environmental advantages over plastic
alternatives.
Barry Exton, a director of Sleaford Building
Services, commented, “The Eezi-Fit range
incorporates a unique manifold waste
connector fitting with an extended bottom
connection spigot that, due to its extended
length, clears a floor make up/screed of
up to 300mm and therefore negates the
installation of a joint in the floor constructions,
with the obvious issues this has the potential
to cause. We used a large number of these fittings to connect to sanitaryware
appliances and a particular benefit was the use of the low level manifold inlets,
providing a solution to ensure invert and gradient levels were achieved, even
from low outlet shower trays. The fact that the Eezi-Fit components simply push
together made for a very fast installation.”
Derrick Brookes of Saint-Gobain Pipelines added, “Versatility and suitability of
the range for both residential and commercial applications is already generating
significant interest from specifiers for a number of projects. We believe Eezi-Fit is
set to become the range of choice where ease of installation is required without
compromise elsewhere.”
EnsignEezi-Fit isKitemarkapproved toBSEN877 for gravity, sanitaryapplications
and manufactured under BS EN ISO 9001: 2004 quality assurance.
Saint-Gobain Pipelines – UK
•
Ensign Eezi-Fit drainage systems S S
from Saint-Gobain Pipelines have
been used in a new UK housing
development
An optimised Audi A4-B7 Quattro has
set a biogas high speed record on the
Papenburg racetrack in Germany.
The car, which was retrofitted with
natural gas technology, reached a speed
of 327.2km/h (203.2mph).
Swagelok Company fittings and tubing
components were used to ensure zero-
leakage performance of the CO2 neutral
biogas system.
Swagelok Company has a track
record in the supply of products and
services to the alternative fuels industry,
supporting the design and production
of natural gas vehicles, filling stations,
and hydrogen fuel cell technology. The
company’s components were used in
the recent EcoFuel World Tour, which
set a Guinness World Record for the
greatest distance travelled by a natural
gas vehicle, powered by natural gas fuel
bought en route.
The VW Caddy used standard Swagelok
Company products, readily available
through the company’s global sales and
service centres.
“With current climate and economic
concerns, alternative fuels are becoming
more popular as a viable solution for
business and consumer needs alike,”
commented Bernd Beltermann, field
engineer at Swagelok Company.
“Today’s record achievement
demonstrates that ecology and driving
pleasure are indeed complementary. As
OEMs roll out their flagship alternative
fuel offerings, they can look to Swagelok
to provide components they know are
reliable and safe.”
The conversion and optimisation of the
Audi A4-B7 Quattro car that set the
record was a joint project involving
partners such as German companies
TüV Rheinland’s Competence Centre
for Alternative Fuels in Saarbrücken, the
tuner Hohenester of Ingolstadt and the
Versorgungs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft
Saarbrücken.
Swagelok Europe – Switzerland
Biogas high speed record achievement
The Audi A4-B7 Quattro was modified to S S
use natural gas
The Audi A4 during the record-breaking S S
attempt