A.G. Coombs Group Latest Information

[News] Cogeneration and trigeneration are hot topics as we search for ways to reduce the environmental impacts of our buildings

Wed, 09 May 2012 15:38:00 +1100

Implementing cogeneration and trigeneration systems is complex. Some projects have failed to deliver the promised benefits, or have been vastly more expensive than original cost predictions. read more...

[News] Everything You Wanted to Know About Energy Performance Contracts, But Were Afraid to Ask!

Wed, 09 May 2012 15:23:00 +1100

With increasing pressure to reduce energy usage, there is renewed interest in project delivery approaches that have an assured energy performance outcome. There are now a number of state government programs designed to deliver carbon reduction targets through an Energy Performance Contract (EPC) framework and the Commonwealth has a stated objective to develop an energy services contracting industry. read more...

[News] Clear Message for Industry on BIM at ARBS

Tue, 08 May 2012 15:17:00 +1100

This morning at ARBS, an expert industry panel showcased the rapid development of BIM capability in the Australian building construction industry and the success of the world-leading BIM MEPAUS initiative. The message is clear; Building Information Modelling is here and now. read more...

[News] Princes Pier reopens after four year restoration

Tue, 01 May 2012 15:51:00 +1100

Port Melbourne’s historic Princes Pier re-opened to the public following a four year restoration. read more...

[News] Energy Performance Contracts: what you need to know

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:49:00 +1100

Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs) are an increasingly popular way to deliver energy reductions in our existing buildings. Relieving building owners or managers from dealing with a range of energy efficiency specialists, building services designers, project managers and contractors, using an Energy Performance Contract gives a single point of responsibility for reducing and managing energy use. read more...

[Advisory Note] Revised Standard - Air Handling and Water Systems - Microbial Control Australian Standard AS/NZS 3666:2011

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:50:00 +1100

Air-handling systems such as evaporative air conditioners and cooling towers have the potential to harbour bacteria that can cause debilitating illness and even death. Legionnaires’ disease is arguably the most publicised infection associated with cooling towers in particular. Australian Standard AS/NZS 3666 provides minimum standards for the design, installation, commissioning and ongoing operation and maintenance of these systems to minimise... read more...

[White Paper] Tri-Generation for Data Centres

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:59:00 +1100

With data centre sector carbon emissions expected to exceed those of the airline industry by 2020 and rapidly increasing energy costs, the use of Tri-Generation systems is seen as a key strategy available to Australia’s Data Centre owners and managers to mitigate these risks Requiring significant capital investment, large Tri-Generation systems can provide high payoffs in terms of carbon emission and energy cost reductions. Whilst tri-Generation systems are being considered for new data centre facilities, retrofitting and commissioning of large Tri-Generation systems is considered to be particularly challenging within a live data centre environment. NAB are making a significant commitment to the environment through their Carbon Neutral 2010 Program, with carbon emissions associated with their Data Centres targeted for particular attention. In 2010 they completed the installation of a 2000kW Tri-Generation system at their primary data centre facility with the joint aims of reducing the Data Centre’s carbon emissions by some 20,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum as well as providing a positive financial return. It should be noted that the installation of the Tri-Generation plant in the Data Centre was an NAB initiative. The initiative was supported by Bank’s Facility Managers, United Group Services, who provided significant input and cooperation during the design and construction phases of the project. The project presented many engineering, installation and commissioning challenges whilst assuring the overriding requirement that the data centre’s service availability and system reliability were not compromised through the project delivery. Now that the plant is up and running, Brian and Michael present some of the key lessons learnt through the project implementation from the design phase through to final client handover, as well as review the performance of the system to date. read more...

[White Paper] BIM-MEPAUS enabling best practice technical FM

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:45:00 +1100

Following overseas trends, the Australian Construction Industry is seeking to use Building Information Modelling, (BIM) as the platform to deliver project design and construction services more effectively as well as providing property owners with the asset database they need to manage buildings in the 21st century. Realizing in practice the potential that BIM offers involves overcoming some significant challenges though. Investments in new technology, industry standards and training will be required as well as the rethinking of many traditional roles and responsibilities for those involved at each phase of a building’s life cycle.BIM-MEPAUS is an industry lead initiative by the AMCA that addresses many of the current industry challenges in realizing this potential and will provide long term significant benefits to property owners and facility managers.

[Advisory Note] Commercial Building Disclosure Program – ‘Mandatory Disclosure’ - May 2011

Sun, 01 May 2011 12:29:00 +1100

With the passing of the Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Bill 2010, the disclosure requirements under the Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) program came into effect on 1 November 2010.The aim of the program is to ensure that credible and meaningful energy efficiency information is given to prospective purchasers and lessees of large commercial office space. Initially the program requires owners and lessors of commercial office space with a... read more...

[White Paper] Practical Fire Protection in Computer Rooms and Data Centres

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:34:00 +1100

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) including hardware, software and ancillary services has changed dramatically over the last 20 years. Similarly, the technology and application of fire protection systems used to protect ICT systems has also seen significant changes in technology.

As a result there has been a wide variety of fire protection technologies, systems and strategies adopted to provide fire protection to the ICT infrastructure. While some systems such as high sensitivity smoke detection are commonplace, there is a wide variety of design and installation configurations that are adopted.

With the advent of powerful desktop computers in the 80s & 90s computer systems were de-centralised. Mainframe systems were decommissioned in favour of personal computers on each desk. In the internet age and the advent of cloud computing, there has been a shift back to centralised systems to leverage processing power and energy efficiencies. Furthermore, technology advances have seen introduction of high density computing in the form of Blade servers and virtual machines, where a single machine may host a number of (many) physical and/or virtual servers.

This paper considers various aspects of fire protection in ICT Computer Rooms and Data Processing facilities from an equipment, system and strategic point of view. A critical review of common approaches to fire protection within ICT facilities has been undertaken examining the advantages and disadvantages.

The objective of the paper is to provide the reader with a view of good practice approaches to various forms fire protection within ICT facilities from a practical point of view.

[Advisory Note] Tips on Practical Fire Protection in Computer Rooms and Data Centres

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:25:00 +1100

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has changed dramatically over the last 20 years, including fire protection technology that is used to protect these ICT systems.To follow are a number of key practical solutions for fire protection in computer rooms and data centres, as identified by leading fire protection and detection specialists, Walker Fire Protection.The hints and tips cover all areas of fire protection services, including:Smoke... read more...

[Advisory Note] Commercial Building Disclosure Program – ‘Mandatory Disclosure’

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:58:00 +1100

With the passing of the Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Bill 2010, the disclosure requirements under the Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD) program will commence on1 November 2010.The aim of the program is to ensure that credible and meaningful energy efficiency information is given to prospective purchasers and lessees of large commercial office space. Initially the program requires owners and lessors of commercial office space with a net... read more...

[Advisory Note] Victorian Legionella Increase and New Cooling Tower Laws

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:21:00 +1100

An increase in Legionnaires' disease cases in Victoria including a number of deaths has prompted the Department of Health to issue a warning to cooling tower system owners and operators.Legionnaires' disease is a sometimes fatal form of pneumonia contracted by inhaling very fine droplets of water containing Legionella bacteria, such as those emitted by infected cooling towers.In Victoria, there have been 40 reported cases of Legionnaires'... read more...

[White Paper] HVAC Retrofitting for Green Refurbishments in Occupied Buildings

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:10:00 +1100

Major retrofits in occupied buildings to achieve energy efficiency outcomes may pose significant issues and challenges. The works are carried out behind the scenes or on a staged basis and it is exceptionally difficult to deliver the works without significant disruptions over an extended project duration.

The essential issue is that most building energy related systems, especially the HVAC are structured and controlled over multiple floors. This combined with usually inadequate system documentation and knowledge can and often does lead to very significant on-site issues. Additionally the major stakeholders: owner, tenants, builder or head contractor, property or facility manager and service providers will all buy into the ultimate objective however they have different and often conflicting agendas and expectations.

A different paradigm is required for these projects: one that is heavy on planning, project management, expert engineering support and most importantly, effective and proactive communication across all project stakeholders. We have done or are engaged in a number of major projects in this genre and share some of our experiences in this paper.

[White Paper] Sustainability: Bridging the Knowledge Gap

Thu, 24 May 2007 13:50:00 +1100

The Australian real estate market continues to demand greater environmentally sustainable performance at a time when the skills required to achieve performance enhancements are decreasing in the industry.
The skills shortage is compounded by a ‘knowledge gap’, which has occurred as critical knowledge of building design and operation is lost between different stages of the building life cycle.
A focus on a single rating number is contributing to a lack of the specific data that is required in order for performance uplifts to be achieved and maintained.
The introduction of tools that rate environmental performance, such as Green Star and ABGR, has brought about a change in the way real estate is designed and operated and has lifted awareness across the property sector.
The take up of the rating tools has been high, with over 100 projects having received or been registered for certification under Green Star and some 29% of the national office market having been rated using ABGR.
The rating tools have the potential to facilitate the transfer of knowledge, and to improve understanding of the real issues around sustainability performance outcomes, by focusing on data reporting at a more specific level.
If the knowledge gap is addressed, the Australian market environment presents a unique opportunity to achieve innovation and global best practice in measurement and reporting on sustainability performance.
Environmental performance rating tools have the potential to drive this change; however the industry must play a role in ensuring that Australia takes advantage of this opportunity.