FC&A June 21 by Red Hut Media Ltd

FUTURE CONSTRUCTOR & ARCHITECT

ISSUE 136

JUNE 2021

Extemely weather & UV resistant Very water and dirt resistant Reduces wood swelling and shrinkage Resists the growth of algae, mildew & fungal attack Microporous, breathable finish No sanding necessary for future applications

FC&A – JUNE – 2021

EDITOR’S NOTE

W E L C O M E

Cross Platform Media LTD

T O

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EDITORIAL Rebecca Kemp rebecca@crossplatformmedia.co.uk Hannah Woodger hannah@crossplatformmedia.co.uk P R I N T & D I G I TA L A D V E R T I S I N G Sam Ball sam@crossplatformmedia.co.uk Jim Moore jim@crossplatformmedia.co.uk PRINT DESIGN MANAGER Jack Witcomb jack@crossplatformmedia.co.uk D I G I TA L D E S I G N M A N A G E R Matt Morse matt@crossplatformmedia.co.uk ACCOUNTS/CREDIT CONTROL Rachel Pike Rachel@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

This month marks four years since the tragic Grenfell Tower disaster. Whilst there has been a heightened awareness of fire safety and an industry-wide call for higher classification and real-life scenario testing regimes for fire-resistant building elements, there’s still much work to be done. What’s more, as time goes on, more tragedies similar to Grenfell are coming to the fore. Take, for instance, The Cube student accommodation in Bolton, where “the fire service report found that the cladding on the seven-storey [block] failed to stop the spread of fire1”. Or, more recently, where a blaze broke out in a 19-storey residential block in East London that featured “Grenfell-style2” cladding. Elsewhere across the nation, student accommodation in Newcastle, Cardiff and Plymouth have all been reported to have ‘fire-risk’ cladding installed. Much like the Grenfell survivors have recently declared, “enough is enough”. We must come together as an industry to reform testing and put potential hazards under the spotlight – as Steve Williams, Commercial Manager at Wrexham Mineral Cables, mentions in his article on taking accountability for fire safety. On page 18, Steve tells how Wrexham Mineral Cables has been calling for more stringent testing standards for years and explains how some cables that are classed as ‘fire resistant’ would not be adequate in the event of a real fire. Meanwhile on page 16, Howard Morris, Managing Director at Trade Fabrication Systems, explains the importance of installing products accurately and in line with the tested conditions to ensure regulatory compliance. Lastly, on page 22, Stephen Biggs, Technical Manager at Tamlite Lighting, takes a closer look at emergency lighting and explores the crucial considerations to ensure buildings remain safe and compliant. I hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget, you can also access all of the magazine’s features, product news and supplier information on FC&A’s user-friendly and engaging website. Fully responsive, the website allows you to read all the latest stories on-the-go either on your phone or tablet. Simply search www.fca-magazine.com. 1

SALES SUPPORT & A D M I N I S T R AT O R Klare Porter klare@crossplatformmedia.co.uk PUBLISHER Sam Ball sam@crossplatformmedia.co.uk Te r m s a n d C o n d i t i o n s : Contributions are invited and when not accepted will be returned only if accompanied by a fully stamped and return addressed envelope. No responsibility will be taken for drawings, photographs or literary contributions during transmission or in the editor’s hands. In the absence of an agreement the copyright of all contributions, literary, photographics or artistic belongs to Cross Platform Media Ltd. The publisher accepts no responsibility in respect of advertisements appearing in the magazine and the opinions expressed in editorial material or otherwise do not necessarily represent the view of the publisher. The publisher does not accept any liability of any loss arising from the late appearance or non-publication of any advertisement.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-53597167

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/may/07/fire-breaks-out-at-london-towerblock-with-grenfell-style-panels 2

CROSS PLATFORM MEDIA

FUTURE CONSTRUCTOR & ARCHITECT MAGAZINE

JUNE 2021



fcamagazine fcamagazine fcamagazine FC&A Magazine

Rebecca

REBECCA KEMP Editor, Future Constructor & Architect

ON THE COVER: KANVA has unveiled the delicate grandeur of the newly-redesigned Biodome in Montreal.

SEE PAGE 14.

FC&A – JUNE – 2021

JUNE CONTENTS

NEWS

VOICE OF THE I N DU S T RY:

LEGAL & BU SINE S S:

Howard Morris, Managing Director at Trade Fabrication Systems, discusses the role that offsite processing plays in building greater fire protection levels within the supply chain.

The continuing focus on building safety should be welcomed, but all hazards need to be identified and put under the spotlight, says Wrexham Mineral Cables’ Commercial Manager, Steve Williams.

FEATURES

20 22

TECHNICAL FO C U S : Tom Merton, Technical Specialist at Armacell, explains why it is essential that contractors deployed across all areas of building projects honour original product specifications and do not pass off alternative products in their place.

FIR E PROTECTI ON & S A F E T Y: In this article, Stephen Biggs, Technical Manager at Tamlite Lighting, takes a closer look at emergency lighting and explores the crucial considerations to ensure that buildings remain safe and compliant.

ACOU STICS:

DOORS, W INDOW S & BA L U S T RA DE S:

CU RTAIN WALLI NG , C L A DDI NG & FAC A DE S:

BU ILD FOCU S: Wellbeing , Biod iver sit y & B ioph ilia:

Construction sites produce extensive amounts of noise pollution, the effects of which are experienced immediately. Here, Quiet Mark looks at noise pollution on construction sites and within the built environment and highlights how the sector is tackling the issue.

This month, FC&A sits down with Russell Ager, Managing Director of Crittall Windows, to find out the most frequently-asked questions that he receives from architects and specifiers on choosing Crittall windows and doors for a project.

Gresham St Paul’s in Central London has undergone a £50m transformation delivered by Mace. Designed by Wilkinson Eyre, the project has maximised the building’s net internal area. Shackerley’s SureClad Engineered Stone cladding system answered the build’s requirements and was installed as pre-fabricated modules.

Ben Hancock, Managing Director at Oscar Acoustics, explains the benefits of effective acoustics on office occupants and how workplace interiors can be designed with sound in mind to improve health and productivity.

PORTFOLIOS

RECYCLED OCE A N PL AS T I C RE S ORT, MARGOT K RASOJ E V I Ć A RC H I T E C T S :

MONTR EAL BIODOME , K ANVA :

The Recycled Ocean Plastic Resort floats south of the Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean. Here, an increase in plastic pollution has damaged ecosystems to the Cocos (Keeling) archipelago, trapping and killing hermit crabs amongst the crustaceans that are an essential part of tropical environments.

KANVA has unveiled the delicate grandeur of the newly-redesigned Biodome, a Montreal science museum that immerses visitors in the authentic environs of multiple ecosystems.

FC&A – JUNE – 2021

INDUSTRY UPDATES

ARC H IT EC T I N P RO F I LE Since graduating from the Welsh School of Architecture in 2002, which included a year out in practice working for Travis McEwen Group (now Architectus) in Sydney, Australia, Gareth Woodfin started his UK professional career at Capita. Here, he worked primarily on healthcare projects for two years prior to travelling to New Zealand, where he spent another 18 months working in a small firm designing private residential properties. Upon returning to the UK, Gareth completed his RIBA Part 3 qualification in 2006 and rejoined Capita to work on education projects for a year. He then joined HLM Architects’ Cardiff studio in 2007, where he has worked in numerous sectors but predominately in the education sector. Gareth was made an Associate in 2012 and promoted to Studio Director in 2017. HLM ARCHITECTS

GARETH WOODFIN IS STUDIO DIRECTOR AT HLM ARCHITECTS

Penarth Learning Community

Had you always wanted to pursue a career in architecture? From the age of 10, I wanted to be an architect and, as such, selected my GCSEs and A-Levels to maximise the opportunities and potential of university courses. It is a bit of a cliche, but I loved playing with LEGO as a child and had a passion for woodwork, often designing and creating furniture/objects. I remember my father saying one day: “You should be an architect.” When he explained it was someone who created and designed buildings, I remember replying…”that is what I want to do”. Who has been your greatest influence and source of inspiration? It is difficult to decide on one as there have been so many architects and sources of inspiration that have influenced me throughout my university studies and 15year career. Architects such as Renzo Piano, Santiago Calatrava and Rem Koolhaus spring to mind for their elegant forms, sketching style and consideration for the environment in which their designs are located. Herzog & de Meuron has also become a firm favourite.

www.hlmarchitects.com FC&A – JUNE – 2021

What has been your most notable project to date? There have been numerous projects that I have had the pleasure to be involved in. However, if I had to name one, it would have to be the Penarth Learning Community in Wales. It is a fully-inclusive £48m education facility, featuring a secondary school for 1270 pupils. This includes a sixth form, an all-through 3 to 19 SEN school for 250 pupils and a separate respite and residential facility to support the SEN school. The project has 6

been extremely successful and I’m very proud to have been part of the delivery team. More recently, I was involved with the Techniquest extension in Cardiff Bay, which was another phenomenal project I am very proud of. How do you approach your projects? I am passionate about thoughtful design – creating buildings, spaces and experiences that are sustainable and improve the wellbeing of the users and people visiting them. To ensure this, I believe extensive consultation, communication and a full understanding of the site and the wider environment are critical to any successful project delivery. What do you think is the greatest challenge for designing in sustainability? Corporate responsibility – it is about improving the way that businesses respond to the needs of stakeholders and ensure the sustainability of their activities. This means that it is relevant to companies of all sizes within the industry supply chain, including clients, designers, contractors and the suppliers of materials. Thoughtful planning and design can have a major impact on reducing energy use and pollution over a building’s entire lifetime. The number of more sustainable solutions is growing rapidly and many of these can provide substantial financial savings, as well as environmental benefits. This is particularly the case when they are considered at the earliest possible stage of a project and where longterm benefits are fully considered. Project budgets need to address the ongoing initiatives; too often, we find sustainable initiatives are ruled out due to budget constraints.

INDUSTRY UPDATES

Techniquest extension in Cardiff Bay

What is your favourite building and why? Again, it’s difficult to pick out just one, however, some of my favourite buildings are the Tate Modern (initial refurbishment and complementary recent extension); The Eden Project (building in the landscape) and pretty much anything designed by Renzo Piano and Peter Zumthor. And if I can mention a local HLM project, it would be Ysgol Pen Rhos Primary School, which was the winner of the RICS 2020 Social Impact Award and Project of the Year. Ysgol Pen Rhos Primary School What do you think is the greatest challenge for architects today? Rather than stating the obvious Brexit and ongoing COVID-19 issues, I would say navigating the transition into today’s digital age. With technological advances coming in at high speeds, architectural firms have to do their best to stay on top of everything or risk losing their hold in the market. However, new hardware and design tools require extensive training and periods of transitions and adjustment before they can be used effectively, both in the office and the construction sites. At HLM, we recognised this and it was part of the reason last year that we launched our ‘Thoughtful Design Toolkit’ – an innovative suite of tools that uses technology and data to help designers to better deliver the needs of building users, improving the outcomes for clients and the people that use the places and spaces they create.

What do you think is the greatest challenge for architecture students at the moment? As a result of the pandemic, I think students will generally find it difficult to find year-out placements and jobs following graduation, as well as the loss of education last year. I would also say not having been able to travel, which is a large part of architectural courses and experience, especially year-out in practice. The economy and industry are definitely picking back up, but I’m sure a lot of nearly qualified architects are still seeking employment following inevitable redundancies within the profession last year. What advice would you give to newly-qualified architects? I would recommend they gain as much experience and knowledge of all RIBA Stages in multiple sectors and not to be 7

afraid of moving between different sized practices in their early career to gauge where their passions lie. Soak up as much advice you can from your colleagues/ peers, and do not be afraid to voice your thoughts and ideas. What can we expect to see from you over the next year? After 15 years in Cardiff, we are currently refurbishing and extending our studio to accommodate the return of our staff from remote working. We are delivering projects in all seven sectors that we provide as a company – including asset and workplace; defence; education; healthcare; hospitality; leisure and culture; justice and emergency services; and living and communities – with four projects currently on site and due for handover this year. These include Pencoedtre High School, Staybridge Suites Hotel and two Ministry of Defence projects. FC&A – JUNE – 2021

FACADES

A NORDIC ROYAL FOREST An intriguing forest of vertical fins, formed from Nordic Royal copper alloy with bespoke triangular perforations, defines this major university building in Estonia. AURUBIS

he new Delta Centre, designed by Tallinn-based Arhitekt11, is a key building for Tartu University, combining three big faculties – information technology, economics and mathematics – as well as other departments. But its location close to the city centre, right next to a river and large parkland, makes it pivotal for the city as well, calling for a prominent but not overbearing presence in the urban context.

Delicate Nordic Royal tracery The ground floor of this four-storey building is very open, with exposed structural columns and extensive glazing to a cafeteria, library, auditoriums and other public spaces. Terraces extend out as steps towards the river. In contrast, the upper three levels, accommodating classrooms, laboratories, offices and work areas, jetty out over the base and are enwrapped with a delicate tracery of vertical Nordic Royal copper alloy fins. These upper facades were conceived as a reflection and extension of the narrow, tree-lined parkland along the river. They add an informal, abstract verticality, set forward of the darker,

FC&A – JUNE – 2021

contrasting background elevations and partly concealing the glazing. There is a playfulness in the apparently random spacing of the fins, and moving around the building reveals fresh perspectives and variations in transparency, with the fins’ depths creating an almost solid surface when viewed obliquely. The facade system was realised by specialist fabricator and installer Parmet. Nordic Royal sheets were perforated with a bespoke tool to create a pattern of right-angled triangles of various sizes. The material was then profiled to create the unique fin shape and the fins fitted to a complete, metal structural system.

Rich, natural golden colour Arhitekt11 Project Architect, Sander Aas, commented: “We wanted a material that would be natural, dignified and durable so that the facade will age well but not change too much over the years. Nordic Royal copper alloy was the clear choice, and we are very happy with the end result. The rich, natural golden colour makes the building eye-catching but dignified – improving over the coming years.”

FACADES

All photos: ©Maris Tomba

“We wanted a material that would be natural, dignified and durable so that the facade will age well but not change too much over the years. Nordic Royal copper alloy was the clear choice.” ARHITEKT11 PROJECT ARCHITECT, SANDER AAS

Nordic Royal is a golden alloy of copper with aluminium and zinc, giving a rich golden throughcolour that is very stable. It retains its golden colour and gradually loses some of its sheen as the oxide layer thickens with exposure to the atmosphere, resulting in a protective matt finish. It behaves differently to other copper products over time and does not develop a blue or green patina.

The extensive Nordic Blue, Nordic Green and Nordic Turquoise ranges have been developed with properties and colours based on the same brochantite mineralogy found in natural patinas all over the world. As well as the solid patina colours, ‘living’ surfaces are available for each with other intensities of patina flecks revealing some of the dark oxidised background material. A wide choice of Nordic Decor mechanically-applied surface treatments is also available.

Largest copper recycler

Safe and sustainable

The Nordic Copper range of architectural copper products is available from Aurubis, part of the world’s leading integrated copper group and largest copper recycler. It includes Nordic Standard ‘mill finish’ and Nordic Brown pre-oxidised copper offering lighter (Nordic Brown Light) or darker shades of brown determined by the thickness of the oxide layer. Other copper alloys include Nordic Bronze and Nordic Brass, which can also be supplied pre-weathered.

Copper and its alloys enjoy unique characteristics, particularly in terms of safety, sustainability and longterm performance. With an ‘A1 (noncombustible material)’ fire classification to EN 13501-1, copper is inherently fire-safe and suitable for cladding tall buildings, using appropriate constructions. It is also, therefore, rated ‘Class 0’ surface spread of flame, making it suitable for wall and ceiling surfaces. Particularly important today, copper is non-toxic, and its inherent antimicrobial qualities make it ideal for touch surfaces.

www.nordiccopper.com

01875 812144 9

g.bell@aurubis.com FC&A – JUNE – 2021

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FC&A – JUNE – 2021

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THERMAL BREAKS

Image: ©Moritz Bernoully

SCHÖCK COMBAR ENSURES A SAFER TRAM SYSTEM AND REDUCED NOISE The German city of Munich is investing heavily in its public tram system. Passenger levels are likely to exceed 110 million people this year and, to help improve operational running, a third track expansion is underway on the busy section outside the central station. Traditionally, the track support slabs would be reinforced with steel; however, this can create a safety problem with the sensors on modern point-blocking circuits. SCHÖCK

Image: ©Moritz Bernoully

Superior performance

hese function by creating a resonant circuit in the area of the crossover. As a tram approaches, its large steel mass affects the resonant circuit, which is sensed by the track control system. If the carrier plate is reinforced using steel, this disturbs the circuit in a similar way and may lead to point-blocking interference – making it difficult for sensors to identify the presence of the tram, putting safety at risk. Any such risk is avoided by using Schöck Combar reinforcing bars, as the glass fibrereinforced polymer product is neither magnetic nor electrically-conductive.

www.schoeck.com

Operational safety and vibration reduction too In addition to the improved safety at crossovers, Combar also offers significant benefits in reducing noise and vibration. Mass-spring systems for these types of track typically consist of a rail carrier plate and a U-trough-shaped foundation of reinforced concrete. The two components being isolated to prevent mechanical vibration. However, because of the risk of local interference with the sensors – and the fact that Combar has a tensile strength greater than steel – it was incorporated in the mass-spring plates. During installation, in the area of the U-trough and rail carrier plate, elastomer sheeting was used to isolate the carrier plate from its surroundings. The elastomer also served as lost formwork within the trough and, as Combar units have no sharp detailing, there was no risk of them penetrating the layer and causing acoustic bridges.

01865 290890 11

Historically, steel has been used as the most common reinforcement material in concrete construction. However, the material properties of steel rebar make it unsuitable for many applications, and Combar continues to gain ground in more and more markets. The unique physical characteristics of the product are achieved by bundling high-strength glass fibres tightly together, pulling them through a closed chamber and impregnating them with a synthetic resin before cutting. The resultant ribbed reinforcing bar of corrosion-resistant glass fibre-reinforced polymer is significantly lighter than steel and is neither electrically- nor thermally-conductive.

Exceptional versatility Combar applications include easy machinability in tunnel construction, where boring machines cannot drill through steel-reinforced shaft walls. With Combar, the machine can cut directly through the headwall. High-voltage transformers and power plant reactors generate inductive currents within the reinforcing steel. The heat affects the rebar strength if too close to the coils, but Combar remains unaffected. And its corrosion resistance – even from salt – is unrivalled when building bridge and harbour constructions.

design-uk@schoeck.com FC&A – JUNE – 2021

RECYCLED OCEAN PLASTIC RESORT, MARGOT KRASOJEVIĆ ARCHITECTS

RECLAIMED OCEAN PLASTIC HOTEL This reclaimed hotel floats south of the Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean. Here, an increase in plastic pollution has damaged ecosystems to the Cocos (Keeling) archipelago, trapping and killing hermit crabs amongst the crustaceans that are an important part of tropical environments. This sealife disperses seeds and aerates and fertilises the soil, therefore, their decline could have a significant impact on surrounding ecosystems. MARGOT KRASOJEVIĆ ARCHITECTS

he design evolved into an ocean-plastic artificial island, and simulation software has been used to understand the movement and migration of large plastic waste in our oceans. Margot Krasojević Architects has developed an infrastructure that will support and engage with the accumulation of ocean plastic waste. The ocean current simulation software creates a map of the accumulation of the highest density of plastic waste. This technology was used as a starting point to understand how to collect waste and put it to constructive use. The concept of the hotel itself is to evolve FC&A – JUNE – 2021

as an ongoing, self-repairing structure that has grown from carelessly discarded plastics. The waste is captured through filters and extended inflated arms that gather and deposit plastics in mesh bundles that act as floatation devices. The idea is inspired by a Dutch team that has been looking into using different scavenged materials to reclaim the land. The island consists of mesh-filled bags of ocean plastics – from bottles to tyres – which are woven together to create a floating landfill. The area is anchored to the ocean floor whilst sand and silt are deposited on the reclaimed plastic floatation devices. The concept is to make the

space hospitable to nurture mangrove trees whose roots grow around the mesh-filled plastic bags, cementing them to create a stable structure. A significant design element is the pleated structure of interlaced webbing, made from biodegradable-seeded concrete fibre mesh. These ‘tentacles’ expand and inflate into the oncoming swell, sinking as they absorb water, creating an artificial barrier trapping sediment and absorbing floodwater. In principle, they are the artificial mangrove roots that act as the island’s life jacket in an emergency. They expand the trapped sediment creating artificially-engineered land, 12

almost like an inflatable runway. Each fully-immersed tentacle expands and falls on top of the next, creating a temporary wall and preventing water from flooding the island whilst also supporting it. Once the storm stabilises, the tentacles are emptied. Using pumps powered by solar panels, the water is redirected off the island and released into the Indian Ocean. The hotel itself offers a series of compartmentalised, canopied rooms and land for camping. Showers use filtered and distilled seawater pumped onto the facility using solar energy.

www.margotkrasojevic.org

RECYCLED OCEAN PLASTIC RESORT, MARGOT KRASOJEVIĆ ARCHITECTS

FC&A – JUNE – 2021

MONTREAL BIODOME, KANVA

©James Brittain

©Mathieu Rivard

©Marc Cramer

©James Brittain

©Marc Cramer

©James Brittain

IMMERSIVE BALANCE BETWEEN HUMANS AND NATURE KANVA, a Montreal-based firm renowned for meaningful projects extending beyond the boundaries of architectural shapes and forms, is proud to unveil the delicate grandeur of the newly-redesigned Biodome, a Montreal science museum that immerses visitors in the authentic environs of multiple ecosystems. KANVA

oused in the former Velodrome, constructed for the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games, the Biodome opened in 1992 and is a jewel in the crown of a consortium of facilities that collectively account for the mostvisited museum spaces in Canada. After winning an international architectural competition in 2014, K ANVA, cofounded by Rami Bebawi and Tudor Radulescu, was commissioned for the $25m project by Space for Life, the body charged with overseeing operations of the Biodome, Planetarium, Insectarium and Botanical Garden. “Our mandate was to enhance the immersive experience between visitors and the museum’s distinct ecosystems, as well as to transform the building’s public spaces,” notes Bebawi, who was the project’s Lead Architect. “In doing so, we proudly embraced the role that the FC&A – JUNE – 2021

Biodome plays in sensitising humans to the intricacies of natural environments, particularly in the current context of climate change and the importance of understanding its effects.”

A complex storyline From the onset, K ANVA studied the tremendous complexity of the building, a living entity comprising ecosystems and very complex machinery that is critical to supporting life. The firm realised that any type of intervention would need to be very delicate and that a global strategy to the scale of the mandate would require careful coordination and management of numerous micro-interventions. Every decision required consultations across multiple disciplines, and it became a truly collaborative effort that embraced K ANVA’s storyline. 14

“Everybody understood the global vision, and they carried that understanding with them in the spirit of collaboration,” says Bebawi. “It was a very inspirational experience that will serve as a model for better addressing environmental issues in design in the future.” From an organisational perspective, K ANVA began by targeting spaces that could be transformed in ways that would maximise the value of the building’s architectural heritage. The carving of a new core, combined with the demolition of the particularly low ceiling at the entrance of the building, allows visitors to appreciate the impressive scale of the existing space. In gutting the existing ceiling, K ANVA opened the space skyward to the building’s extraordinary roof, composed of massive skylight panels that infuse an abundance of natural light.

MONTREAL BIODOME, KANVA

©KANVA

The entry tunnel features a very subtle floor incline, intended to slow the pace of movement through a compressed white passage and to void the mind for fresh sensory input. Once visitors reach the central core, smaller slits in the living skin, called eco-transits, lead them towards the ecosystem entrances. As automatic doors at the end of the eco-transit open into the ecosystem, it remains visually obstructed by a curtain of beads. By the time visitors pass through the beads, they have been exposed to the climate, smells and sounds of the natural habitat before seeing anything. At the entrance of the Subpolar Regions, KANVA designed a new ice tunnel that acclimatises visitors during the transition, while the sounds and smells of puffins and penguins ahead provide additional sensory stimulation. Vertically, KANVA added an entire new level above the ecosystems, accessible via walkways enabling visitors to move through the foliage of majestic trees of both the Tropical Rainforest and Gulf of St. Lawrence ecosystems. The walkways lead to a new mezzanine, offering aerial views of the various ecosystems and the pure white nucleus. The new mezzanine also serves as a technical floor, with interactive educational exhibits and insight into the elaborate machinery required to preserve the facility’s delicate ecosystems.

©KANVA

©Marc Cramer

A learning process

©Marc Cramer

A calming nucleus With a massive open space now forming the core between the ecosystems, KANVA parametrically designed a living skin that they could wrap around the ecosystems, which would serve as a guiding accompaniment to visitors. With exceptionally complicated structural engineering, the installation of the pre-fabricated pure white, biophilic skin was a monumental task. With no room for error, the skin was curved and stretched around a bowed aluminium structure, using tension, cantilevering and triangular beams for suspension, and itself anchored to a primary steel structure. Mechanical junctions were also incorporated in order to accommodate a variety of movements and allow for onsite adjustments. The translucent skin harmoniously interacts with the skylights above, with bevelled horizons that elicit a sense of calm and infinity. The new core also amplifies the sensorial experience of visitors transitioning from its pure neutrality to the multi-sensorial discovery of its adjacent ecosystems.

©James Brittain “It’s a very powerful tool, half a kilometre in length and rising nearly four storeys,” explains Bebawi. “It’s extremely emblematic of the space, and the white purity beautifully highlights and contrasts the original structural concrete.”

Sensorial design KANVA then focused on the journey itself, designing new passages aimed at transforming the existing linear path of discovery into a more dynamic experience, where visitors take charge of their own journeys through the Biodome’s five ecosystems, housing more than 250,000 animals and 500 plant species. Conceptually aiming for a more immersive experience, KANVA focused its attention on soliciting senses, relegating sight to the end of the line behind sound, smell and touch. From the calming lobby hall, the undulating living skin funnels visitors into a 10m tunnel leading to the central core, where their exploration of five ecosystems, including the Tropical Rainforest, Laurentian Maple Forest, Gulf of St. Lawrence, Sub-Antarctic Islands and Labrador Coast, begins. 15

Before designing a new water basin for the facility’s resident penguins, KANVA staff spent weeks with biologists and veterinarians in order to gain insight into the species’ swimming patterns. To provide an authentic feel to an observation point where visitors can observe beavers in their natural habitat, the firm studied the architectural prowess of the beavers. The idea emerged to let the beavers carve the wood themselves, which was then dried and used to line the interior of the space. “Before you can even begin to design in an environment with living species all around you, education and a notion of humbleness are required,” explains Bebawi. “We take basic assumptions about ourselves for granted when we design for other human beings, but designing for an otter or a sloth requires that you re-educate yourself.” The entire experience has enriched KANVA’s journey as an architectural firm. The educational process has advanced its exploration of how buildings, rather than being barriers to external forces, can be rendered more permeable as harmonious cohabitations between humans and nature. “We need to reconnect people with the environment, and the Biodome does that in a refreshing way that we are proud to have contributed to,” adds Bebawi. “This project has provided us with six years of invaluable knowledge, preparing us for new and innovative approaches to future projects where architecture becomes a tool to promote and facilitate environmental change.”

www.kanva.ca FC&A – JUNE – 2021

VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY

FIRE-RETARDANT COATINGS: PRECISE IS RIGHT Product testing and certification is high on the construction industry agenda, particularly in relation to fire protection. Giving specifiers the ability to design with confidence, product certification delivers assurances that the solution has been proven to perform as expected in the event of a fire. That said, products must be installed accurately and in line with the tested conditions to ensure regulatory compliance. With this in mind, Howard Morris, Managing Director at Trade Fabrication Systems, discusses the role offsite processing has to play in building greater levels of protection in the supply chain. TRADE FABRICATION SYSTEMS

HOWARD MORRIS IS THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF TRADE FABRICATION SYSTEMS

FC&A – JUNE – 2021

ire protection is a driving force behind the architectural agenda. Developing buildings that are aesthetically focused combined with integral fire protection is a key priority for specifiers. More so than ever, the performance criteria of building systems are being intrinsically assessed and scrutinised across the sector for safety to ensure the complete system installed will perform as expected in the event of a fire. As architects carefully balance compliance criteria and design demands, particularly in areas where there is a higher than average risk of fire, Building Regulations are governing the use of performance-rated, flame-retardant (FR) timber building products to satisfy fire protection requirements.

the use of timber within a build, whilst continuing to deliver required fire protection, can benefit from embracing FR-enhanced substrates. Becoming increasingly popular, FR-treated timber products can support specifiers to seamlessly achieve compliance when fulfilling fire protection strategies. When looking to install an FR solution, test evidence is imperative to ensuring the product will be fit for application. Best practice is to request detailed test evidence and data to ensure the solution specified meets Building Regulation criteria. The simplest and most effective way to identify a substrate’s reaction to fire is to review its Euroclass rating. The Euroclass system is the common standard for measuring the fire performance of building materials, whilst organic substrates like wood cannot be enhanced to a Class A rating (noncombustible), FR treatment can enable substrates to achieve a rating of Class B or C2.

Testing timber specification

Balancing the benefits

While timber is favoured in construction due to its durability and versatility, as a combustible material it does pose the risk of burning if exposed to fire. Specifiers who are looking to embrace

There are two main FR treatments for timber panels that are commonly used to achieve Euroclass B compliance in construction, pressurised techniques or coating the timber substrate in FR paint. These methods, however, are not without their challenges.

VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY

Pressure treatment, albeit able to instil confidence of compliance to Euroclass B standards, is a timeconsuming process that can also impact the quality and structural integrity of the completed board. The coating process, which is a far more cost-effective method, retains the product’s strength but compliance is entirely dependent on the coating being applied to the exact replication of the retained pass data in the testing process. As FR coatings are usually applied on site, risks emerge if the coating has been applied inconsistently, resulting in the performance of the board being compromised.

The case for offsite To assist in mitigating these risks, offsite processing offers specifiers an alternative solution to onsite coating. Removing the need to pressure treat, and ergo impact the integrity of the timber panels, offsite partners can take the entire process off site, removing any risks associated with potentially inconsistent application.

Advances in offsite processing capabilities and timber technologies have resulted in the development of a streamlined process for FR coating solutions that seamlessly achieve Euroclass B fire rating. By using the exact substrate and layers of coating used to achieve the performance rating when tested, offsite processing mirrors this process on a large scale, suitable for mainstream manufacture. Factory applying the FR coating to the substrate off site ensures that the product has been applied consistently and correctly across the panel. Operating under ISO 9001:2015 industry best practice factory standards, the coating is applied in a clean, quality-driven environment to satisfy compliance requirements and give specifiers a solution they have confidence in. Additionally, offsite processors will ensure that the product and coating are suitable for use, avoiding any possible quality issues on site. Working to test evidence and only actioning the process on substrates that have achieved the Euroclass B rating, specifiers can be confident that the product will perform and comply with regulations. This process also has the potential to save overall time and add value to the entire architectural programme. The offsite application removes the need for contractors to be positioned on site to fulfil the FR coating requirement – saving time and reducing the risk associated with application error on site. 17

Fire protection is a fundamental priority in architectural design, and specifiers need to have an explicit understanding of the building’s performance in that regard. Where FR timber panels have been specified, taking the process off site has the potential to save valuable time and foster confidence that the substrate will perform under the necessary conditions to Euroclass B. The only way to ensure these requirements are met is to replicate the exact specification achieved when testing was completed, and offsite processing can assure Euroclass B compliance whilst simultaneously adding value and specifier surety of performance.

www.tradefabricationsystems.co.uk FC&A – JUNE – 2021

LEGAL & BUSINESS

TAKING ACCOUNTABILITY IN BUILDING SAFETY The continuing focus on building safety should be welcomed, but all hazards need to be identified and put under the spotlight, says Wrexham Mineral Cables’ Commercial Manager, Steve Williams. WREXHAM MINERAL CABLES

F STEVE WILLIAMS IS COMMERCIAL MANAGER AT WREXHAM MINERAL CABLES

or the last four years, building safety has rarely been out of the headlines. In the aftermath of the 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy, Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review set out more than 50 recommendations regarding the delivery of a more robust building regulatory system. In response, the Government has sought to introduce legislation to address these concerns – such as the draft Building Safety Bill – seen by many as the most sweeping changes to building safety in the last 40 years. The aim is to make way for a safer future. And amongst the issues being addressed is the need for greater accountability at every stage of the construction process, establishing a chain of custody and holding those in charge accountable for any mistakes, with tougher sanctions for those that fail to meet their obligations.

Building a safer future Whilst such reform will make everybody in the supply chain more accountable throughout the various stages of the building’s existence, we can only truly make buildings safe by identifying all possible hazards. To date, the focus has been largely on identified defects. But it is the unidentified issues – such as the installation of inferior fire-resistant cables – which, we believe, need to be put under the spotlight. It has also become clear that steps need to be taken to ensure the tests which construction products are subjected to are relevant and can be relied upon, especially in tall buildings or anywhere that requires extended evacuation times. Sadly, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry exposed evidence of testing irregularities and, in some cases, deliberate attempts to game the system and rig the results of safety tests. FC&A – JUNE – 2021

This is particularly important for specifiers and designers with whom the responsibility of product specification lies. How can they be held accountable if products cannot be relied upon and do not perform as marketed? To ensure products used on buildings meet the highest safety standards, the Government has since ordered a review of the current certification system for testing construction products which will examine how it can be strengthened.

Higher classification needed As a leading manufacturer of fire-resistant cables, we have been calling for more stringent testing standards for years. We believe all enhanced fire-resistant cables should undergo true fire scenario tests. Currently, only cables that are more than 20mm must undergo testing for direct impacts to reflect falling debris. And for cables under 20mm, individual certification tests are carried out on different samples of cable. This has resulted in too many cables being classed as fire resistant, but that would not be adequate in the event of a fire, as the tests do not represent realworld conditions. We strongly believe there should be a higher classification of cables introduced to help specifiers and architects identify those which can survive, rather than simply resist fire. In an era of greater accountability, there should be no compromise, and as an industry, we can no longer aim for minimum compliance to get the job done.

www.wrexhammineralcables.com

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FC&A – JUNE – 2021

TECHNICAL FOCUS

BREAKING BAD: THE IMPORTANCE OF STICKING TO SPECIFIED PRODUCTS If you work on any construction project, you will notice certain manufacturers’ brands. Whether it is for insulation, lintels, bricks or thermostatic radiator valves, there is a reason why they are there; it has not happened by chance. Following stringent verification, these brands have been specified because they meet the precise requirements of a particular job. Most likely, they have been extensively and successfully tried and tested on previous projects. ARMACELL

om Merton, Technical Specialist at Armacell – a worldwide leading manufacturer of flexible equipment insulation material and engineered foams – explains why it is important that contractors deployed across all areas of building projects – and not only those working within HVAC – honour original product specifications and do not pass off alternative products in their place. The majority of architects and specifiers usually know which brand they want to use on a project. As they base their choice on specific knowledge, technical performance, past experience and client requirements, it is vital that contractors honour their decisions, both at the stage of initial construction and ongoing building maintenance and repair.

FC&A – JUNE – 2021

In the case of HVAC systems, in particular, critical elements such as pipework insulation can have a makeor-break effect. An installer who decides to replace a specified product with insulation of their own choice needs to be aware of the risks involved. Changes made during the installation process can be expensive and time-consuming to put right or repair. In the worst-case scenario, the consequences may include loss of reputation, call-back or litigation further down the line. Put simply, sticking with the original specification reduces risk in the long term. According to the National Building Specification (NBS) technology platform, 70% of respondents to a recent specification survey agreed that product substitution is still a real issue

in the industry. It goes on to say that this occurs for a variety of reasons, the main one being cost pressures. Decisions to substitute products are often made without considering the consequences the substitution can have on the building’s performance and lifetime costs. Non-compliance with a specification through the use of an inferior product rarely benefits the installer, increases warranty risks, and may significantly impact the building’s ongoing maintenance and operational costs. While in many ways it is up to the specifier and client or developer to ensure that specifications are not broken on site, that does not release the installer from the responsibility of taking such consequences into account, and where possible, advising the customer accordingly.

TECHNICAL FOCUS

During the past 55 years of supplying some of the UK’s biggest and best-known technical insulation projects, Armacell has become aware of cases where installers have substituted closedcell insulation for open-cell versions. The outcome was costly remedial work for the installers in question after the site had been handed over. Closed-cell insulation is specified for a reason: it prevents condensation along pipework and fittings, thus stopping moisture intrusion and loss of thermal efficiency. The findings of recent research conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics in Stuttgart, Germany, showed that over a period of 10 years, the thermal conductivity of Armacell’s own closed-cell flexible elastomeric foam (FEF) insulation, AF/ArmaFlex Class 0, rose by only around 15%, while over the same period, that of open-cell mineral wool rose by 77% and polyurethane (PUR) by 150%. Things, however, are starting to change. For example, Armacell’s installer training course helps reinforce the need to keep to the original specification.

Whilst making installers aware of the benefits of working to specification, this course also highlights some of the dangers and costs of failing to do so. Recent updates to our training programme have also made it more relevant to the needs of the market. Likewise, our building information modelling (BIM) objects help support a more robust specification process along the lines of “change one thing, and you change the whole building”. 21

Specifications are created for a reason. Ultimately, they safeguard an HVAC installer or any other type of contractor against comebacks after a site has been handed over. When it comes to specifying most building products, it is not only architects and designers who should consult manufacturers’ dedicated specification teams for guidance through the process. Installers need to do so too, in order to understand why products have been specified for a reason, and substitutions may result in an unnecessary risk for everyone.

www.armacell.co.uk FC&A – JUNE – 2021

FIRE PROTECTION

EMERGENCY LIGHTING COMPLIANCE In this article, Stephen Biggs, Technical Manager at Tamlite Lighting, takes a closer look at emergency lighting and explores the crucial considerations to ensure buildings remain safe and compliant. TAMLITE LIGHTING

n an era in which building safety has attained an ever-higher profile in the public consciousness, you could easily assume that emergency lighting is a de facto priority in the development and maintenance of all buildings. Unfortunately, our experience indicates that, all too frequently, it is still an issue that is being tackled in the later stages of a project, and sometimes with inadequate knowledge of the technical and legal requirements. As a leading lighting manufacturer, we take a look at some of the most frequently-asked questions to help you ensure your facility is safe and compliant.

What is emergency lighting and who is responsible for it? Under the Regulatory Reform Order (Fire Safety) 2005, emergency lighting is a legal requirement for buildings such as hotels, offices, hospitals, education establishments and multi-storey dwellings, and should be installed and tested in line with BS 5266:1 2016. FC&A – JUNE – 2021

In the event of a mains power failure, the emergency lighting system, including signage, should provide adequate lighting levels and directional indication to allow occupants to move safely around the building, and evacuate to a safe place without accident or injury. The need for greater accountability, and holding those in charge throughout the various stages of the building’s existence accountable for any mistakes, is something that has been even more dominant since the tragedy that unfolded at Grenfell Tower in June 2017. Legislation says that it is the duty of the responsible person to ensure that the correct and appropriate emergency lighting is installed, and that the maintenance carried out is adequate to protect the occupants. The responsible person can be any person who has control over the building and areas within it, such as the building owner, facilities manager, employer, landlord or letting agent. 22

What are the most common mistakes when it comes to emergency lighting? Emergency lighting is an essential part of a building safety system. Yet some of the common mistakes made include missing risk assessments, noncompliance with legislation, lack of maintenance checks and regular testing of the emergency lighting systems. Taking accountability throughout the lifecycle of a building will play a key role in restoring confidence in the design, construction, maintenance and operation of buildings, so it is important to ensure that the systems in place are fit for purpose.

What are the different types of emergency lighting luminaires? Emergency lighting luminaires are those that come on automatically when the power supply fails. The types of luminaires are divided into two categories – escape lighting and standby lighting. Escape lighting illuminates escape routes, such as corridors, stairways and emergency exit signage, allowing occupants to quickly evacuate the building. It also illuminates the location of crucial safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, in the event of an emergency. Escape lighting is sub-divided into three categories: open area lighting, escape route lighting and high-risk task area lighting.

FIRE PROTECTION

What lux level should emergency lighting provide? Different areas of a building require a minimum lux level for emergency lighting. Escape routes must be lit to a minimum of 1 lux on the floor along the centre line. The 1m centre bandwidth should be illuminated to at least 0.5 lux. Points of emphasis, such as changes in directions and level, as well as firefighting equipment, must be illuminated to a minimum of 5 lux. In open areas over 60m 2 , the minimum lighting level on the ground must be no less than 0.5 lux. In open areas that are less than 60m 2 , emergency lighting is not required. Industrial environments, such as warehouses, can be difficult to navigate, particularly for unfamiliar people. A high output luminaire will be key to providing sufficient illumination in these environments where 0.5 lux is required on the ground.

How long do emergency lighting batteries last? Emergency lights are powered by rechargeable backup batteries. These are located inside the emergency light or in a central battery location with connections running to each emergency light. All Tamlite emergency lighting products are designed with the end-user in mind. They are three hours rated to ensure they provide sufficient light for a long enough period of time, to make sure that occupants can exit a building safely.

What is the legal requirement for emergency light testing?

Standby lighting is a part of the emergency lighting system that allow normal activities to continue in the event of failure of the normal mains supply. It is not a legal requirement.

What is the difference between maintained and non-maintained emergency lighting? There are two main types of emergency lighting: maintained and non-maintained. Maintained emergency lighting luminaires operate as normal light fittings during everyday operation and can be controlled

with all other luminaires in the area. When power fails, they automatically switch to battery backup. Non-maintained emergency lighting luminaires remain off during everyday operation and will only illuminate if the mains power fails. Tamlite has a range of maintained and nonmaintained emergency fittings to suit the requirement of any building. We have designed our fittings to be aesthetically pleasing and not draw on the eye when not in use, but to provide crucial illumination in an emergency. 23

The provision and maintenance of an effective emergency lighting system is of paramount importance. It is a legal requirement that emergency lighting should be installed and tested in line with BS 5266:1 2016. Failure to comply will result in a significant fine or potential jail sentence. Legislation dictates that the emergency lighting system must undergo a full test on an annual basis. This three-hour test ensures that all emergency lights will function and produce an acceptable level of light. Like all emergency equipment, emergency lighting should be maintained and tested regularly to ensure it is in full working order. For example, a daily visual inspection can be carried out to check the batteries are operational, whilst a monthly test can be carried out to ensure luminaires turn on in the event of a power outage. Overall, the importance of emergency lighting cannot be understated. In this context, it is advisable to partner with a specialist lighting provider such as Tamlite, safe in the knowledge that this provides the most direct route to achieving an emergency infrastructure that is entirely fit for purpose.

www.tamlite.co.uk/sectors/emergency FC&A – JUNE – 2021

ACOUSTICS

Image: ©Kiss House

REDUCING NOISE POLLUTION AND IMPROVING ACOUSTICS Noise is one of the most commonly-found contaminants in the construction sector. Construction sites produce extensive amounts of noise pollution, the effects of which are experienced immediately.

Echo Barrier

QUIET MARK

n the UK in 2019, noise breaches on construction sites were reported to be up 25%. With the sector now preparing to ‘build, build, build’, the situation will worsen without action. Many construction activities are intensely noisy, resulting from both the equipment and materials used. In the USA, 51% of construction workers have been exposed to hazardous noise, and 14% have permanent hearing damage. Clearly the effect on workers’ health and wellbeing is profound. The negative effects are not restricted to the construction site, with noise pollution creating a problem for surrounding areas. Local residents often report varying levels of stress, sleep disturbance and high blood pressure. Noise pollution can also disturb the natural cycles of animals and reduce the size of their habitat. One method used to reduce the damaging effects of construction noise is to implement a noise reduction plan. Kiss House Co-Founder, Mike Jacob, says this is a good start but will only take you so far. Jacob prefers a more far-reaching approach focusing on modern methods of construction and new materials. FC&A – JUNE – 2021

He explains: “At Kiss House, we are developing new materials that significantly reduce the use of concrete and steel, both reducing the use of polluting materials and the intensely noisy processes they require. Add to this the smart use of offsite manufacture, and you achieve far less local disruption and far shorter build times.” The way we build has an essential role to play as there is currently no requirement for acoustic performance for most residential dwellings in the UK. “If we build better, we ensure that building occupants are separated from harmful outside noise,” Jacob continues. “We do this by building to the Passivhaus standard and then go further by separating internal noise.” Building to the Passivhaus standard cocoons and protects building occupants from noise pollution. Where construction noise cannot be reduced sufficiently via design and process, then retrofit control measures are necessary. Whilst noise barriers are the most generally effective option, it is essential to understand how innovation has changed usage best practice. Conventionally, unwieldy acoustic blankets were deployed

at the edges of sites to reduce offsite noise pollution. However, more sophisticated and mobile modern barriers have been developed. These allow sites not only to reduce offsite noise by an additional order of magnitude but by positioning them close to sources, occupational noise exposure is also cut dramatically – a double benefit. Several factors affect the local residents’ subjective impressions of site sounds and, therefore, the number of complaints. These include amplitude and ‘character’ and non-noise factors such as appearance and dust. Echo Barrier Technical Director, Peter Wilson, admits: “We have taken full advantage of a powerful placebo effect. Handfinishing the barriers for aesthetic reasons provides around three times the perceived attenuation, reducing complaints. Coupled with design features facilitating barrier mobility means they move with noise sources to provide the maximum objective attenuation of both environmental and occupational noise.” Understanding the relationship between noise and health has been of significant interest to the design community as of late. Building off of the success of 24

programmes such as Passivhaus and certification like the WELL v2 rating system rewards projects that are designed to achieve onsite verification of metrics related to the health and wellbeing of occupants. WELL recognises the risks associated with noise and health with the dedicated Sound concept, authored by IWBI Sound Concept Lead, Ethan Bourdeau. Ethan explains: “The consideration of sound and noise in the built environment ought to occur throughout all design stages: preliminarily, concurrent to and following the construction of a space. Whether we know it or not, our bodies constantly react to sound and noise, registering audible cues that may contain information pertinent to communication, the sense of threat, or unwanted distractions. We know that, over time, continuous background noise from traffic, for instance, plays a role in the development of child learning capabilities, healthy sleep and risk of myocardial infarction (i.e. heart disease) in adults. Though we are still learning more about the extent of these conditions, the effects of noise on human health are inextricable.”

ACOUSTICS

the building sector with third-party, verified acoustics solutions for all types of building applications. Poppy Szkiler, who co-founded Quiet Mark with her mother, Gloria Elliott OBE, CEO of Noise Abatement Society (Co-Founder & Chair of Quiet Mark), in 2011, set out the core benefits of this platform. She says: “By creating the first definitive industrychampion online guide for the very best approved solutions to unwanted noise across the building sector, Quiet Mark aims to boost best practice for acoustic design solutions to transform buildings and design of outside living spaces. “With science-made-simple commentary, installation insights and specification know-how bespoke to each building sector product range, the platform demystifies the often poorly-explained science of acoustic application and elevates its importance in the overall design of a building.”

Examples of brands whose Quiet Mark-certified products you’ll find listed on acousticsacademy.com include:

80 Fenchurch Street

Having a company’s building achieve the WELL standard provides businesses with an attractive way to demonstrate to their teams that their workspace has been improved with their wellbeing in mind. Something that might be necessary to entice workers from their homes and back into the workplace, post-pandemic. And thanks to the institute’s, first national campaign – directed by Spike Lee and starring Lady Gaga, J-Lo, Michael B. Jordan, Robert DeNiro, Venus Williams, all encouraging the public to look for WELL’s seal at restaurants, retailers and – offices, those employees are now more likely to know WELL and understand its benefits. In February 2020, Quiet Mark launched the Acoustics Academy, an online platform to further equip architects and

Armourcoat Acoustic and BASWA acoustic plaster systems Saint-Gobain Ecophon wall panels and modular ceilings Vaillant heat pumps Enfield Speciality Doors ROCKWOOL stone-wool insulation Karndean Designflooring acoustic flooring BuzziSpace acoustic lighting and furniture. Uniting WELL and Quiet Mark’s missions to elevate wellbeing through improved acoustic comfort in the built environment, CMO and Host of The Quiet Podcast, Simon Gosling, has recently been appointed to WELL’s Home and Sound Advisories. Advisories help shape the evolution of the WELL Building Standard and raise the bar for high-performing buildings and organisations around the world. “To appreciate the benefits great acoustics has to offer, internal spaces must be carefully designed with a focus on the experience of the end-users,”

states Jack Richardson, Senior Acoustic Consultant with leading international environmental engineering consultancy for the built environment, Hilson Moran. Some of its work includes shell and core, fit-out of the stunning 80 Fenchurch Street (pictured), a new landmark 14-storey commercial building located in the heart of London’s evolving city centre comprising 250,000ft2 of Grade A office floor space for client YardNine & Partners Group, designed by architecture firms Foster + Partners and T.P. Bennett. “Our extensive work in this field tells us that the design of complex, multiuse buildings accommodating uses with differing acoustic needs benefit from computer simulations and auralisations to understand how sound and vibration will behave and to demonstrate to our clients how a space will actually sound. This is a crucial step in the design process that allows the specification and placement of acoustic materials to result in healthier and happier users, when complemented by a detailed technical appreciation of how different material solutions work,” continues Jack, who discusses this topic at length on Ep. 12 of the Quiet Mark Podcast. As the awareness of sound and acoustics has grown, naturally so has the array of acoustic products that architects and designers have at their disposal. Independent verification or testing schemes – such as that offered by Quiet Mark’s Acoustics Academy – certainly help to filter out some of the ‘noise’ and bring to the forefront tried, tested and trusted products. The effects of using reputable products can be unquestionably felt by the users and demonstrated through commissioning measurements or long-term monitoring. To successfully turn the page on pandemic life and support people as they return to the built environment, it will be vital that our buildings offer a real benefit to their wellbeing and quality of life. This means not just designing positive acoustic environments on paper but ensuring that the construction processes and materials follow suit.

www.quietmark.com

DISCOVER MORE ON THE QUIET MARK PODCAST The Quiet Mark podcast explores human relationship with sound. Through insightful conversations with worldleading experts from varying fields of sound-related design and architecture, it raises awareness of the health risks of noise pollution and the wellbeing benefits of improved acoustics in the built environment.

WELL Institute national campaign

FC&A – JUNE – 2021

DOORS, WINDOWS & BALUSTRADES

FAQS WITH CRITTALL WINDOWS

This month, FC&A’s Editor, Rebecca Kemp, sits down with Russell Ager, Managing Director of Crittall Windows, to find out the most frequently-asked questions that he receives from architects and specifiers on choosing Crittall windows and doors for a project. CRITTALL WINDOWS

1. How do steel-framed windows compare with other materials for strength, security and maintenance? Steel is inherently the strongest frame material for windows and doors. It is three times stronger than aluminium, for example. But this strength is combined with elegance. The profile (sightline) of a steel window is much less than that of its aluminium or uPVC counterparts. Frame-for-frame, the slender appearance allows for a greater surface area for the glazing, and, indeed, larger expanses of glass can be achieved while retaining an aesthetic appearance. The steel frames are almost virtually maintenancefree. They are hot-dip galvanised and finished with a factory-applied Duralife polyester powder coating in accordance with BS EN 13438. Thus, protected products have a life expectancy in excess of 60 years. The strength of the material and multi-point locking also greatly enhance the security of the buildings in which they are installed. FC&A – JUNE – 2021

2. What about thermal performance? Isn’t steel cold? Window frames made from traditional rolled steel are energy-efficient – incorporating high-performance weather seals, insulating double or triple glazing and narrow sightlines that enhance U-values and reduce energy consumption. A T60 thermally-broken window features an advanced high-density polyurethane isolator as a thermal barrier. This, together with housing high-performance double- or tripleglazing up to 45mm wide, ensures the system surpasses the requirements of current regulations, offering overall U-values as low as 0.8W/m²/K. Market-leading weathertightness performance has been tested to European and ASTM standards. Alternatively, ultra-insulating glass units use suspended film technology in a double-glazed unit to convert it to provide triple-glazed performance. Ultra IG’s innovative design results in a thinner and lighter construction compared to traditional triple glazing and superior performance, offering U-values as low as 0.4W/m²/K in a double glass unit, without increasing glazing thickness or weight. 26

3. What about noise reduction? Measures taken to improve thermal performance also effectively insulate against noise. And where steelframed glazed screens and doors are specified for building interiors, sound attenuation, rather than weathertightness, is key. According to the usage – in a home, an office or a school – appropriate sound reduction is achieved by acoustic glazing that leaves the width of the slim steel frames unaltered so that they can admit the maximum amount of daylight throughout the building. 4. Protection against fire for internal glass screens? The Innervision FR steelframed system is compliant with BS 476 Part 22, providing 30 minutes (FD30) integrity fire resistance whilst preserving its unique slender steel profile – which sets it apart from other bulkier firerated systems.

DOORS, WINDOWS & BALUSTRADES

5. How do steel’s environmental credentials match up? Increasingly, this is becoming a vital issue for buyers. They want to be sure that the product purchased is produced from sustainable materials and uses eco-friendly, energy-efficient processes – also that the end product is energy efficient with exceptional life expectancy. Put simply; steel is one of the most recyclable materials on the planet. It can be recycled and reused continuously. Means of manufacture and standard business practices are also designed to reduce energy consumption. For example, Crittall has fitted solar panels to the factory roof, installed energyefficient LED lighting that reduces energy consumption by 50% while simultaneously improving light levels, and introduced electric hybrid vehicles to the company fleet. The firm operates an ISO 14001-accredited Environmental Management System, which involves setting targets for reducing energy consumption, eliminating waste and recycling materials with the ultimate objective of creating a closed-loop manufacturing process. The company’s products are also made from 100% recycled steel. 6. Are steel windows suited to new build or refurbishment? They are equally suited to both. Crittall’s business spans three centuries, from the middle of the 1800s. There are many heritage buildings that were built with original Crittall windows. When refurbishment work is undertaken, local planners demand a like-for-like replacement for historical and aesthetic reasons. This can be achieved while installing windows that now meet modern thermal and acoustic requirements while remaining faithful to the original appearance. Architects designing modern buildings also value the clean lines and simple elegance of steel windows that – with large expanses of glazing – augment elevations, whether on commercial, business, educational or residential premises. Steel frames can also be supplied in the full range of BS and RAL colours. 7. What does steel offer the homeowner, especially in the post-COVID world of work? The pandemic has caused many working professionals to reassess whether they need to continue to travel into urban centres or whether they should work from home and adjust their living space accordingly. The use of internal glazed screens, as detailed above, can help provide a suitable workspace in the house, with maximum daylight but minimal noise disturbance. Crittall has established an online community where customers can exchange these and other ideas and solutions to improve their homes and businesses using its products. 8. In a sentence, why choose steel? An initial higher investment in steel-framed windows and doors will be offset by its longevity and reduced maintenance, leading to lower, longterm costs compared with other materials, and steel is beautiful.

www.crittall-windows.co.uk 27

FC&A – JUNE – 2021

CURTAIN WALLING, CLADDING & FACADES

SHACKERLEY’S SURECLAD PROVIDES A HIGH-CLASS MODULAR SOLUTION FOR GRESHAM ST PAUL’S Gresham St Paul’s on Gresham Street, Central London, has undergone a £50m transformation, delivered by Mace. Designed by leading architectural practice, Wilkinson Eyre, the project has maximised the building’s net internal area with an extensive remodelling programme, and added a three-storey extension at roof level. SHACKERLEY

he existing Portland Stone facade has been retained and simplified with aluminium infill panels. The architect needed to find a cladding material for the additional storeys that would reference the materiality of the existing building and answer planning requirements. The cladding system for the new storeys also had to work within the loading parameters of the original structure and offer a viable solution for the buildability challenges of working at height on the confined site. Shackerley’s SureClad Engineered Stone cladding system answered all of these requirements and was installed as pre-fabricated modules, following close collaboration between Shackerley, and Austrian facade specialist, GIG Fassaden. FC&A – JUNE – 2021

Lightweight, robust and attractive Although originally constructed just 22 years ago, Gresham St Paul’s has undergone a radical transformation. The project has created an entirely new building within the existing shell in a BREEAM ‘Excellent’-rated development. The design intent for the facade was to carry through the materiality of the existing Portland Stone to the three-storey extension, but the possibility of using Portland Stone was discounted early in the specification process. Tzi Leung from Wilkinson Eyre explains: “The use of Portland Stone was problematic in terms of structural loading and buildability. The additional storeys were constructed using the building’s original foundations, so we needed a lightweight structure and a facade system for the extension, compatible with a lighter frame. From a safety and buildability point of view, delivering and installing heavy stone at height also meant that an alternative lighter material was preferable.” 28

The Wilkinson Eyre team considered several alternative cladding systems. Each potential solution was assessed against a series of criteria; look and feel, cost, fire safety, weathering, green credentials and mechanical suitability. The design team also considered a number of reference projects, including Axtell House, an office building in Soho where Shackerley’s SureClad Engineered Stone system was used for the facades of additional storeys to coordinate with the Portland Stone of the original building. Tzi Leung continues: “Shackerley’s SureClad Engineered Stone system scored well against all our assessment criteria. Robust and lightweight, it is fire tested and certified as A2/S1-D0 in line with BS EN 13501-1. The creamy beige Valpolicella engineered stone material with white variegation we selected from Shackerley’s extensive range provided an ideal match for the existing Portland Stone facade, and the sandblasted finish created the right aesthetic for the project.”

Design and fabrication expertise The lightweight engineered stone material specified for the additional storeys overcame the issue of structural loading for the facade of the extension. Still, the main contractor, Mace, also wanted to ensure that the system could be installed safely and contribute to an efficient programme.

CURTAIN WALLING, CLADDING & FACADES

Mace’s strategy was to install the facade as a modular system. Each pre-fabricated facade section was delivered to the site as an installation-ready module that could be craned into position and secured in place. Facade specialist, GIG Fassaden, was tasked with designing the cladding modules. Thomas Thaller from GIG Fassaden explains: “The initial plan was for the SureClad Engineered Stone panels to be shipped across to us in Austria and then delivered back to site in London. However, it soon became clear from working with Shackerley that the company had the technical expertise and manufacturing capabilities to fabricate the modular units to our design at one of Shackerley’s ISO 9001-accredited factories in the UK. This provided an ideal solution that fits with the sustainability goals of the project by reducing embedded carbon while allowing close coordination of each aspect of the fabrication in a single, quality-assured factory.” Working closely with GIG Fassaden, Shackerley fabricated 400 modular facade units. The customdesigned modular units utilise Shackerley’s tried-and-tested under-cut anchor and bolt fixing system. The panels were secured directly onto an aluminium frame designed and supplied by GIG Fassaden, creating 4m columns, each with 35 sections of engineered stone, including front panels and side returns.

Thomas Thaller continues: “It was a technicallycomplex requirement, but the Shackerley team worked with us on the design and produced a sample to enable us to trial the solution and provide an accurate costing for both materials and fabrication.” The bracketry for the facade system was also designed and manufactured by GIG Fassaden and fixed to the building. When each SureClad Engineered Stone module arrived on site, it was craned into position and bolted to the substructure. Thomas Thaller adds: “Carrying out the installation in this way meant that all the complexities of the detailing were pre-installed by Shackerley’s experienced team in their factory, avoiding unnecessary work at height on site and saving time on the programme. Carrying out the installation in this way also avoided the need for a scaffold, which added to the time and cost savings of the modular approach. 29

“It was a strategy that relied on close cooperation between delivery partners and the technical expertise within Shackerley, who were proactive in collaborating with us.”

Modular capabilities Gresham St Paul’s is now complete, delivering a building that meets the needs of a corporate environment while considering responsibility to the natural environment. It adds to Shackerley’s portfolio of projects where the SureClad system has provided a lightweight and robust solution for the facades of additional storeys, and highlights the company’s ability to enable a modular construction strategy.

www.shackerley.com FC&A – JUNE – 2021

BUILD FOCUS: WELLBEING, BIODIVERSITY & BIOPHILIA

BUILD FOCUS:

WELLBEING, BIODIVERSITY & BIOPHILIA

As many of us return to the office this month, it’s imperative that these spaces are kept as stress-free as possible, and that staff wellbeing is kept front of mind. Acoustically balanced workplaces have been proven to reduce stress in the office and is vital for a happy and productive workforce.

ALL IMAGES: SonaSpray K-13 grey in Radius Payment Solutions offices. Credit: Space Invader Design, Overbury & Andrew Smith – SG Photography.

BEN HANCOCK

unproductive one. Poor office acoustics can also lead to employees taking more sick days, which has a serious knock-on effect on business efficiency.

IS MANAGING DIRECTOR AT OSCAR ACOUSTICS

SOUNDCHECK: THE IMPACT OF ACOUSTICS ON STAFF WELLBEING IN THE WORKPLACE Ben Hancock, Managing Director at Oscar Acoustics, explains the benefits of effective acoustics on office occupants, and how workplace interiors can be designed with sound in mind to improve health and productivity. OSCAR ACOUSTICS

ne of the obvious advantages of having an open workspace is the ability to fit a large number of employees into a small area. The ubiquitous open-plan office was initially heralded as the solution to improving collaboration and productivity, not to mention freeing generations of employees from working in cubicles. But this concept isn’t as healthy or effective as we once thought. One downside of open space environments is the lack of noise control, which can have a detrimental effect on employees’ health and wellbeing. Multiple studies and reports highlight that noise pollution is a huge contributor to poor productivity at work. It’s difficult to perform tasks that need high concentration in such spaces, with noise levels marked as the single biggest complaint among office workers today. Whilst noise-cancelling headphones can help, they aren’t the solution, undermining the ability of employees to collaborate, which was the central aim to begin with. FC&A – JUNE – 2021

Re-configured spaces will affect acoustic quality Without adequate acoustic treatment, an office can quickly turn into an unnecessarily stressful environment, directly compromising employee comfort. Navigating this problem without causing colleagues to have to raise their voices and risk potential transmission will become imperative in safely reintroducing staff back to the workplace. Is unwanted noise really that big a deal? Does it make that significant a difference in the wellbeing and productivity of the workforce? The short answer is yes. A recent survey from estate agent Savills found that 83% of workers say noise levels were important to them – up from 77% in 2016. The Control of Noise Regulations 2005 requires employers to prevent or reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to noise at work. Employers are compelled to address the issue of noise, since an unhappy workforce is an 30

Sound absorption is vital for successful business Some open offices offer desirable amenities, from appealing break rooms to lounge spaces. However, no matter how many beanbags, dress-down Fridays or ping-pong tables you have, an office can quickly turn into an unnecessarily stressful environment without adequate acoustic treatment. According to the Chief Medical Officer in England, noise is second only to air pollution in damaging public health, while the World Health Organisation highlights subsequent health issues such as tinnitus, sleep disturbance, heart disease, obesity, diabetes and more. According to an Interface study, the noise in question does not have to be overwhelmingly loud; levels start to be dangerous from just 65 dB, about the volume of regular conversation, easily achieved in offices and public social spaces. Such stress factors have a detrimental effect on employee health and productivity, impacting a company’s bottom line. Creating a high-quality acoustic environment for workers should, therefore, remain a key health and safety consideration. Savills found that only 39% of UK workers said their workplace positively impacted their mental health. There is clearly still work to be done to get these numbers up and provide inspirational, welcoming workspaces that are safe and actually good for employees’ health.

BUILD FOCUS: WELLBEING, BIODIVERSITY & BIOPHILIA

Demand for flexible, healthy, attractive workspaces With this in mind, there is a growing trend in the architect and interior design community to create acoustically-designed workspaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but create a welcoming experience for future inhabitants. There is a shift to design offices around the people using them, rather than designing a workspace and expecting people to use them productively.

Acoustics design for engagement and productivity Acoustic control is an investment that pays for itself through better productivity of employees. Fortunately, a range of architectural acoustic finishes for ceilings, such as sprays or plasters, help designers create calm and inviting spaces that ensure employees don’t struggle to hear or be heard. Acoustic spray solutions create a healthier aural environment without compromising interior design. And there’s good news for office owners adapting to the new normal: these ceiling treatments allow complete flexibility with Cat A and B configuration and reconfiguration. You can install dividing structures, such as screens or open-topped pods, without disrupting the acoustic spray finish applied on the ceiling above. Taking steps to provide quality acoustics within commercial buildings will directly improve the comfort and productivity of occupants as they return to work. Simultaneously, building owners stand to benefit as they make progress towards meeting the WELL Building Standard, the blueprint for creating better spaces, as well as other essential wellbeing and sustainability design certifications. Additionally, for employers, there are tools and building certification systems available that architects and contractors can work towards when designing new workplaces, empowering employers to put the health of their employees first.

Wellness and duty of care Whether it’s for a fit-out, refurbishment, or new build, taking workplace acoustics seriously and removing distractions caused by excess noise will ensure workspaces sound as good as they look. Our survey of 2000 UK employees found that 44% can’t concentrate when it’s noisy at work. Exactly half believe noise and bad acoustics negatively affect productivity. Employers have a legal obligation to protect their employees and could be lining themselves up for potential future claims if they do not take the issue seriously. We are making progress, but education is still required to reduce the scourge of noise in workspaces, protect business interests and safeguard the health of employees. It’s time to turn down the noise.

www.oscar-acoustics.co.uk 31

FC&A – JUNE – 2021

RCI

ROCKWOOL UNVEILS INTERACTIVE CITY FOR EASIER SPECIFICATION AND PRODUCT VISUALISATION The virtual 3D cityscape aims to inspire design, save time and lead to faster decision-making. ROCKWOOL

OCKWOOL has further enhanced its range of resources for specifiers, contractors and building owners with the launch of the ROCKWOOL Interactive City, a 3D environment that makes visualising, specifying and learning about its non-combustible stone-wool insulation easier. Intuitively designed using cutting-edge augmented reality, the ROCKWOOL Interactive City allows users to explore its solutions across the whole of the built environment – from housing and offices to transport hubs and education in a single simulated space. Through features like Zoom, 360º Views and pan-able application build-ups, the city provides a virtual ‘handson’ experience when it’s not possible to touch, see or hear products in practice. Featuring a wide variety of applications, the tool can also be used to explore the versatility of ROCKWOOL’s solutions, understanding where its noncombustible products can enhance thermal, acoustic or fire performance in places users might not expect. As well as saving specifiers time and aiding building design, these capabilities lead to smoother, faster decision-making and a more collaborative process for project stakeholders.

www.rockwool.com/uk/interactive-city

The ROCKWOOL Interactive City has also been developed to help achieve the all-important golden thread of construction data. Each 3D application provides a complete package of suitable ROCKWOOL solutions, with quick links to product documentation, installation guides and BIM objects that can be downloaded for use offline or integrated into construction modelling software.

01656 868400

customersupportcentre@rockwool.co.uk

ROCKWOOL EXPANDS FLAT ROOF RANGE WITH NONCOMBUSTIBLE UPSTAND BOARD ROCKWOOL

In its latest step to help specifiers and contractors mitigate fire risk in the fifth facade, ROCKWOOL has launched HARDROCK UB34, an insulation solution specially designed for parapet walls and upstands on flat roofs. HARDROCK UB34 has been fully tested and classified as Euroclass A2-s1, d0, meaning it’s suitable for use on buildings over 18m that are affected by the ban on combustible materials. HARDROCK UB34 is manufactured from cement board and a ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation slab that has a thermal conductivity of 0.034W/mK to reduce thermal bridging.

www.rockwool.com/uk/flat-roof-hub 01656 868400 customersupportcentre@rockwool.co.uk

SIKA UK APPOINTS NEW GENERAL MANAGER SIKA UK

Sika has appointed Tom Forsyth as General Manager, a role that will see him build on the continued growth of the company across its multiple UK markets. Tom joined Sika in 1992. Based at the Welwyn Garden City head office, he has a breadth of experience in sales, marketing and product management, joining the management team in 2007 as the Business Unit Manager for the concrete division. Further to the successful management of this part of the business, he assumed responsibility for the waterproofing division in 2013. The new appointment will see him build on the already well-established Sika brand in the UK.

HOSPICE PROJECT RECEIVES OUTSTANDING INSULATION SOLUTION FROM STO STO

A new hospice building in the Midlands has shone the spotlight on Sto’s ability to provide an integrated package of proven insulation products. The company’s StoTherm Classic M system was specified for the new day hospice building at Mary Stevens Hospice in Stourbridge. Sto products were originally used on the extension and refurbishment of an inpatient unit, which represented phase one of the hospice’s ongoing development. This building subsequently went on to win two RIBA architectural awards in 2015. The new day hospice building represents phase two of the project and was designed by KKE Architects of Worcester.

www.sto.co.uk www.sika.co.uk FC&A – JUNE – 2021

01707 394444

enquiries@uk.sika.com 32

0141 892 8000 info.uk@sto.com

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RMIG PERFORATED AND EXPANDED METAL

Form and function in complete balance TAKE CREATIVE FREEDOM AND AESTHETICS TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH PERFORATED METAL Architects around the world work creatively to create architecture to harmonise buildings within their surroundings. This has led to several award-winning projects where perforated metal from RMIG plays a signifi cant role as a functional and durable facade cladding or sun screens. We look forward to bringing your ideas to life. RMIG Ltd | 1-7 Adlington Court | Risley Road | Birchwood Warrington | WA3 6PL Cheshire | Tel: +44 1925 839610 | info.uk@rmig.com | city-emotion.com

FC&A – JUNE – 2021

DOORS, WINDOWS & BALCONIES

IG LINTELS BRINGS CHARACTER AND THERMAL EFFICIENCY TO BEDFORDSHIRE HOMES Bespoke square bay lintels and the award-winning Hi-therm+ lintels from IG Lintels has ensured the character, thermal efficiency and build quality of an exclusive range of new-build homes is second to none. IG LINTELS

urrounded by beautiful countryside, the Market Reach development in the historic market town of Potton consists of 85 luxurious three-, four- and five-bedroom homes. Developer Mulberry Homes’ philosophy is to ensure homes offer a strong character and identity whilst at the same time constructed with thermally-efficient building envelopes. To achieve their fabric-first approach, IG’s awardwinning Hi-therm+ lintels feature across a range of plots while bespoke IG square bay lintels added character and increased natural daylight. Ben Cheetham, National Specification Manager for IG Lintels, said: “Mulberry Homes wanted to build in a way that considered the environment, taking into account the most sustainable options for the building fabric, without compromising on the interior and exterior build quality to achieve Part L SAP calculations.” IG’s BBA-approved Hi-therm+ lintels provided a lowcost solution to improve energy efficiency within SAP. Incorporating a thermal break, Hi-therm lintels are up to five times more thermally efficient than a traditional steel lintel.

www.iglintels.com

Hi-therm+ lintels were installed at window and door junctions, accommodating different lengths throughout the building envelope to reduce heat loss in key problematic areas. This fabric-first approach helped Mulberry Homes to lower carbon emissions and minimise running costs for the homeowner. Furthermore, ongoing maintenance repairs and improvement upgrades are not required with Hi-therm+ lintels, unlike other costly bolt-on renewable technologies.

02886 762184

info@thekeystonegroup.co.uk

ISO CHEMIE’S WINFRAMER IMPROVES WEST MIDLANDS HOUSING ISO CHEMIE

ISO Chemie’s thermalinsulating and load-bearing bracket support system has been specified as part of energy-efficiency improvements to dozens of residential homes in the West Midlands. The move sees WINFRAMER units being retrofitted under an initiative to bring poorly-insulated properties in Coventry up to current energy-efficiency standards and provide better quality housing for homeowners along with long-term cost savings. Passivhaus certified and fire rated to up to 30 minutes, WINFRAMER is a pre-fabricated installation frame, manufactured to accommodate cavities up to 250mm that allows windows to be supported independently from the face of the wall, regardless of any external cladding being in place. Quick and easy to install, the product’s application in Coventry is seen as part of a solution to meet a wider Government strategy to reduce carbon levels in housing that has single-skin walls or non-cavity walls – these buildings have a reputation for leaking considerable amounts of energy, heat and sound.

HYGIENIC PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC CONTROL FROM TORMAX TORMAX

Offering a modular solution to the pressing need for shops, offices, public buildings and schools to more closely regulate the number of people entering their facility, TORMAX has launched a new add-on module, TORMAX count+go. Working in tandem with any TORMAX sliding or folding automatic entrance, this module effectively controls the number of people entering an area, setting the door to close when a pre-set limit is reached. It also synchronises the timing of entry to ensure a hygienic physical distance is maintained between individuals. In addition to closing the doors when the maximum number of people entering an area has been reached, TORMAX count+go issues a clear acoustic signal to alert pedestrians to wait. As soon as a person exits the building, bringing the number back down, the door returns to the open operating mode. For further visual announcements to users, TORMAX count+go is also available with an elegant display stand featuring a large monitor for customised messaging.

www.iso-chemie.eu/en-GB/home/ 07837 337220 a.swift@iso-chemie.co.uk FC&A – JUNE – 2021

www.tormax.co.uk

01932 238040 sales@tormax.co.uk

DOORS, WINDOWS & BALCONIES

BRETT MARTIN ANNOUNCES ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATIONS Brett Martin Daylight Systems (BMDS) is delighted to announce Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for two of its site-assembled and one of its factoryassembled rooflights. BRETT MARTIN DAYLIGHT SYSTEMS (BMDS)

n order to support customers with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for its most popular products, Brett Martin approached the highlyrespected Building Research Establishment to commission two site-assembled and one factoryassembled EPD. For configurations not covered by the EPDs, Brett Martin is able to generate a configuration-specific assessment. This also means that the embodied carbon of Brett Martin’s industrial rooflight systems is available for specifiers and building owners to respond to enquiries from the market. Commenting on the EPD verification scheme, Bill Hawker, Technical Director at Brett Martin Daylight Systems, said: “As we head to a low-carbon future, the importance of transparent and independentlyverified environmental data is increasingly valued. For a company committed to supplying sustainable products and one which constantly invests to make

www.brettmartin.com

its products and manufacturing processes more sustainable and efficient, this is a great advance.” All of Brett Martins’ products are designed, developed and manufactured in the UK in its own ISO 9001 quality-accredited and ISO

0289 084 9999

NEW STS202 TEST STANDARD FOR TD68

mail@brettmartin.com

SAPPHIRE SHOWCASES OFFSITE EXPERTISE AT SOUTHBANK PLACE

JACK ALUMINIUM

The TD68 thermal commercial door from Jack Aluminium has passed STS202 – BR2 testing with flying colours, with a new hardware offering on a 2.5m-high double doorset. It gives architects and specifiers a large, remote access control double doorset option with this premium security accreditation, as part of Jack Aluminium’s expanded range of high-security, standard door combinations for the market. STS202 – BR2 is a very thorough test that accredits doors for protection against continuous attacks using hand tools and levers, focusing on the glazing, beading and locking systems. Sales and Marketing Director, Jeff Pearson, says: “By expanding our range of fully-tested commercial door options to meet today’s market demand, we can give architects and specifiers a full suite of high-performing door options that provide the excellent levels of security necessary for high-specification commercial projects. The TD68 continues to perform and pass testing standards, remaining one of the most secure and robust aluminium commercial doors available. It is the perfect option for projects where a higher security standard door is specified.”

www.jackaluminium.co.uk

14001 environmentally-accredited factories. With BBA certification and CE marking throughout the range, Brett Martin has built up a reputation for providing the best rooflight product, backed by full technical support, to suit every application.

SAPPHIRE BALCONIES

Sapphire has risen to the unique design challenges of two new residential towers at Southbank Place in London. Sapphire was commissioned to design, manufacture and supply 128 balconies for the landmark project on the site formerly used for the iconic Festival of Britain in 1951. The use of a unitised facade meant the building envelope for each tower was manufactured off-site, with every aspect pre-fabricated, including fixings and opening vents. It was essential, therefore, for the specification of balconies and arms to be very precise in order to interface successfully with the facade’s pre-fabricated stubs. A further challenge was the project’s location as Southbank Place has limited aspect due to its position on the banks of the River Thames. Equally, the Central London location meant there was very limited space on site. In response to the demand for ease of install and precision, Sapphire designed, manufactured and supplied balconies using its Glide-On Cassette system.

0247 646 7449 sales@jackaluminium.co.uk

www.sapphire.eu.com

0844 880 0553 sales@sapphire.eu.com FC&A – JUNE – 2021

DOORS, WINDOWS & BALCONIES

CLEAR GUIDANCE ON GLASS Modern glass processing can help address a number of construction challenges. Susan Sinden, Commercial Manager of ESG Group, explains why consulting your glass processor’s technical design team before specifying can give you a clear advantage. ESG GROUP

hen toughened glass was first introduced, the fact that it would shatter into small granular fragments, which fall to the ground without causing much harm, made the potential use of glass in building design much more desirable, especially for balustrades and larger expanses of glazing. The introduction of toughened laminated glass, however, also made more structural elements a practical proposition. Therefore, when you are designing a property or interpreting an architect’s concept, it is well worth talking to your glass processor. Their technical design team may be able to suggest ways in which many construction challenges can be met, especially with the use of specialist interlayers. To create toughened laminated glass, we use a range of specialist PVB (polyvinyl butyral) interlayers, which are introduced when bonding the panes together permanently. With the considerable additional strength that lamination brings, we have been able to increase panel sizes, and can now produce glass panels of several metres in height and width. These panels can be joined unobtrusively to produce large expanses of seemingly uninterrupted glass, allowing the architect even more scope. Your glass processor will certainly be able to advise and explain how glass can be used, particularly as a structural element. Although you will still need the advice of a structural engineer for any

www.esg.glass FC&A – JUNE – 2021

load-bearing items, a technical glass design expert will be able to explain how challenges can be overcome by using the most appropriate glazing product. By laminating sheets of varying thicknesses or more than two sheets together, we can now create extremely robust products which can be used as structural elements. Fixings for these can also be embedded in the interlayers, so that when bespoke glass panels are created to specified sizes, there is no need for further cutting or drilling. This is particularly effective for stair treads and shelving, which can appear to float once installed. Robust glass products can be used for floors, particularly mezzanines and walkways, allowing light to flood through. This added strength has also made glass lift shafts and scenic lifts a possibility. The technical design team may be able to suggest further added benefits. For example, we can use technical interlayers to provide sound attenuation. This is in addition to strength, not in place of it. In settings that require confidentiality, or in urban areas with associated noise nuisance, this is a huge advantage, providing noise reduction while maximising natural light. Traditionally, fire resistance has been the province of opaque materials, but now glass can be used for that purpose too. Your glass processor can give technical design advice about the use of fire-resistant glass, such as ESG Pyrotech, which is classified in accordance with the amount of time that

01376 520061 36

it delays the spread of fire, tested to 30 minutes or 60 minutes of resistance. Using interlayers is extremely versatile in that we are not restricted to adding one characteristic only; we can incorporate several. Fire resistance, for example, can also be combined with properties such as security, sound attenuation or privacy. We can even add colour and other decorative effects. By using multiple interlayers in a single bespoke glass product, we can address several, so, although a bespoke glass product might sound more expensive, it can prove highly cost-effective in place of a raft of other individual approaches. Glass processing technology has advanced enormously, so you may be surprised by the knowledge and experience of the processor’s technical design team, who will be able to provide a tailored solution for almost any application that you can imagine.

sales@esg.glass

DOORS, WINDOWS & BALCONIES

CRL UK IS PROUD TO BE A DORMAKABA SALES PARTNER Following the success of the CR Laurence and dormakaba partnership announced in Germany last year, both companies will now proceed with the same arrangement in the UK and Ireland. CRL UK

s part of the partnership, CRL will hold stock of the most popular dormakaba glass product range and deliver the highest level of technical guidance and support to customers. Simon Boocock, Managing Director of CR Laurence Europe, comments: “We are delighted to be able to form a close working partnership with dormakaba, one of the world’s leading door hardware brands. CRL continues with its commitment to bring customers a breadth of choice, high-quality products with the highest levels of technical advice and service.”

CR Laurence of Europe has been the official sales partner of dormakaba Deutschland GmbH since July 2020. The dormakaba manual sliding door systems, manual revolving door systems, fittings for all-glass systems, clamping profiles, patch fittings, door rail systems, floor spring closers will complement the existing CRL range. More than 220 products will be available directly from stock at attractive prices and with low shipping costs. “With access to countless glass-processing customers, CRL is the perfect sales partner for dormakaba’s glass systems,” explains Andreas Tiedtke, Global Business

www.crlaurence.co.uk

Owner Interior Glass Systems and Vice President Access Solutions DACH of dormakaba, adding: “The national network, competent employees and experience in fast delivery

01706 863600

have convinced us to enter into the partnership with CRL.” A new CRL dormakaba brochure featuring the bestselling products from the range is now available.

crl@crlaurence.co.uk

VENEERED DOORS – LOVED FOR MILLENNIA, RE-IMAGINED FOR TOMORROW The use of real wood veneers for interior doors have become synonymous with quality and their connection with the natural environment. However, Mother Nature does have limitations, so when it comes to 21st-century living, the desire to push boundaries in design can sometimes be curtailed either by the range of available veneers or by how sustainable they are. Now a new era of design freedom has emerged, with the almost unlimited Naturdor range from Vicaima, re-imagining interior veneered doors for tomorrow. VICAIMA

ith the introduction of Vicaima’s new Naturdor brochure, a vast array of real wood veneered door options has been revealed. Presenting specifiers, developers and designers with an unrivalled choice of grain configurations and tonal possibilities, together with textural feel and surface sheen options. If this were not enough, Vicaima has also expanded its ever-popular stained veneers and image-enhanced veneer technology, creating an almost limitless array of opportunities for interiors, whether commercial or residential. Traditionalists will enjoy the extensive selection of veneers, available in both crown-cut and quarter-cut options, together with an optional deep textured finish on selected veneers where desired.

These can be further enhanced with the addition of either face grooves or decorative inlays to give that finishing touch and a sense of individuality. However, for those looking for fresh inspiration, Vicaima has extended the selection of stained and image-enhanced veneers with two new ranges in particular. Naturdor Stained Extra builds upon the fashionable Exclusive EX70 collection, with a vertical or horizontal quarter-cut stained ash veneer in three contemporary matt shades: Warm Umber, Dark Taupe and Charcoal Brown. For the more adventurous, Naturdor Vision offers a welcome and inventive spectrum from light to dark, for rooms and spaces where openings offer a focal point and comforting interaction with their surroundings; whether for living or working.

www.vicaima.com

01793 532333 37

info@vicaima.com FC&A – JUNE – 2021

DOORS, WINDOWS & BALCONIES

MINIMISING THE RISK OF BALCONY FIRES Nick Haughton, Head of Marketing and Technical Expert at Sapphire Balconies, considers some of the significant changes to building standards to minimise the risk of balcony fires. SAPPHIRE BALCONIES

ire safety is a critical consideration when specifying balconies for today’s high-rise residential buildings. New legislation arising from the Grenfell Tower fire includes the Fire Safety Act 2021. Essentially, this clarifies that property owners and dutyholders for multi-occupancy residential buildings in England and Wales are responsible for fire safety. More specifically, they must effectively manage fire risks associated with a building’s core structure and anything attached to its exterior, such as balconies. Additionally, BS 8579 was published in 2020 and provides a clearer definition between balconies and terraces, which is important as regulations refer to them separately. It also makes a clear distinction between open and enclosed balconies, previously stated by BS 9991 (relating to fire safety in residential buildings). If the facing enclosure is over 50% of the relevant height, it becomes classified as an enclosed balcony. Enclosed balconies are, by definition, an internal

www.sapphire.eu.com FC&A – JUNE – 2021

room, adding to the distance that any person needs to escape in the event of a fire. BS 8579 also gives guidance regarding the proximity of balconies, fire resistance and reactions to fires. For example, where enclosed balconies are stacked, the need for fire-separating floors and walls is triggered.

This debate has driven extensive research by Sapphire into the testing of laminate glass products in isolation, and in full balcony scenarios, and our findings form part of a whitepaper to analyse this critical point and provide clarity for our customers and the wider market.

Laminate glass

Soffits

BS 8579 recommends noncombustible material on all balconies in accordance with the 2018 combustible cladding ban. Specifying laminate glass in balcony balustrades has been hotly debated, as the interlayer – while only 1.5mm thick – is combustible and, therefore, non-compliant. However, many view laminate glass as a safer alternative to monolithic glass due to the safety risks in the event of broken panels. While monolithic glass leaves a void and allows particles to fall from the balcony, the interlayer in laminate glass typically contains the fragments and preserves the barrier until the panel can be replaced.

The inclusion of soffits in balcony design not only provides a sleek finish to the balcony structure but also assists in limiting the spread of a balcony fire. Furthermore, aluminium soffits have been shown in practice to reduce the possibility of rising or falling embers affecting balconies above and below a fire.

Cavity barrier integrity Cavity barriers are essential in maintaining the integrity of a building during a fire and are also essential for fire-stopping. When specifying balconies, it is also important to consider the penetrations required to secure the balcony and to ensure balcony connections

0844 880 0553 38

do not undermine the integrity of the cavity barrier. Lightweight balconies, like Sapphire’s Glide-On aluminium Cassette system, not only reduce the load on the building but they also require fewer connections.

Conclusion Balcony fires often begin as a result of accidents like overturned barbecues or cigarettes landing on combustible furniture. While such accidents can be minimised through education, the regulations require that all necessary precautions be made to limit fire spread at the design stage. At Sapphire, we believe in taking a comprehensive approach to balcony design and consider the use of the balcony from all aspects, safeguarding residents from fire spread where possible, and ensuring every reasonable precaution is taken. To download a copy of Sapphire’s fire safety whitepaper, go to https:// sapphire.eu.com/knowledge/ white-papers/.

sales@sapphire.eu.com

K C I R HB

IS T I R YB

Buy your clay bricks from a Brick Development Association Member and ensure quality every time Bulmer Brick & Tile Co Ltd www.bulmerbrickandtile.co.uk

Michelmersh Brick Holdings Plc www.mbhplc.co.uk

Coleford Brick & Tile Ltd www.colefordbrick.co.uk

Northcot Brick Ltd www.northcotbrick.co.uk

Forterra Plc www.forterra.co.uk

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H.G. Matthews www.hgmatthews.com

W H Collier Ltd www.whcollier.co.uk

Ibstock Plc www.ibstockbrick.co.uk

Wienerberger Ltd www.wienerberger.co.uk

Ketley Brick Company Ltd www.ketley-brick.co.uk

York Handmade Brick Company Ltd www.yorkhandmade.co.uk

The Brick Development Association is the national authority on clay bricks and pavers. Our membership accounts for almost 100% of the sector’s productivity here in the UK. Our role is to communicate the collective interests of our members and to ensure their products remain the material of choice in the UK’s built environment. The Brick Development Association The Building Centre, 26 Store Street London, WC1E 7BT brick@brick.org.uk 020 7323 7030 www.brick.org.uk

Matclad Ltd www.matclad.co.uk 39

FC&A – JUNE – 2021

FLOORS, WALLS & ACOUSTICS

SOUND INVESTMENT The significance of good acoustics is often overlooked. A fire door installed in a building may not be required to perform as tested in a laboratory if the building is not affected by fire, which in the majority of cases, thankfully does not happen. MORALT AG

or acoustic doors, however, the confirmation of test performance as carried out in a test facility occurs in real life on a very regular basis. In hospitals, hospices or other places of respite, noise can be harmful. Every support from good acoustics is of considerable benefit.

moralt-ag.co.uk FC&A – JUNE – 2021

In schools or other places of education, external unwanted ambient noise is an interference to learning. Wellperforming acoustic products are critical in this environment. Hotels and other hospitality facilities require a reduction of sound to ensure privacy and comfort in the surroundings.

For this reason, since 2010, the specialist German producer of certified technical door solutions with classleading fire, smoke, acoustic, thermal and security performance, Moralt AG has put its focus and resource into creating door products that fulfil these needs. Moralt acoustic door cores do not just tick boxes to conform to specification, but instead, push the boundaries. The better the acoustic performance, the greater the chance that the scenarios outlined above are met. Most UK door blanks cover the acoustic requirement up to dB35, as do Moralt with their two FireSmoke cores, but it is the dB40-plus acoustic territory, through the Moralt FireSound range, that stands out; dB40 FireSound 44mm (FD30), dB42 FireSound 54mm (FD60) and finally dB43 with FireSound 59mm that is up to FD90 fire rated. Acoustics are also an integral part of the Moralt FD90/FD120 Xtreme range, with dB36 and dB44 operational performances, respectively. Yet higher acoustic ratings – dB48 up to dB66 – are achieved with a combination of these high-quality cores as so-called inter-connecting doors as often found in hotel bedrooms and in between conference rooms. All of these products are timberbased, sustainable, UK stocked and third-party accredited. “We‘re tremendously proud of our ongoing testing programme, which is pretty unique in the industry,” said Steven Dennard, who is responsible for international sales at Moralt AG. “Indeed, just last month, we conducted an intensive two-week programme of successful acoustic testing at the IFT Institute in Arnsberg, Germany. As well as a number of exciting new products we have in development, this testing included the use of concealed door closers, which have increased in popularity because they are aesthetically more pleasing than the face-fixed options – as well as concealed hinges that again offer a nicer design finish to a door.” Most noise, however, will come from outside a building. So, the Moralt external door range – Moralt FERRO – has also covered acoustic performance more than any other door core producer. An operational dB47 is achieved with the FERRO Akustik door core, and even to Passivhaus standard, the Moralt FERRO Passiv FireSafe Akustik – which is also FD30 fire rated – attains an excellent dB42 acoustic performance.

info@moralt-ag.de 40

FLOORS, WALLS & ACOUSTICS

LEVIAT LAUNCHES THERMALLYEFFICIENT ANCON WINDPOST Leviat, a world leader in connecting, fixing, lifting and anchoring technology for the construction industry, has launched a revolutionary new thermally-efficient Ancon windpost, designed to minimise thermal bridging in masonry cavity walls.

ollowing extensive research and testing, the patented Thermal Windpost (TWP2), part of the Ancon range of steel construction fixings, offers up to an impressive 70% reduction in thermal transmission through the span of the windpost. This guarantees it meets the BRE level for thermal performance provided in BR 443 as a minimum and offers opportunities for more stringent thermal specifications to be met. The Thermal Windpost features integral mineral fibre insulation to ensure continuity of insulation in the cavity, and its innovative design means the windpost sits level with the outside face of partial-fill insulation so it can be taped to further reduce thermal heat loss. This provides the additional benefit of eliminating time-consuming cutting of insulation to fit behind/around the windpost, increasing the overall speed and consistency of installation. Manufactured from stainless steel with a teardrop fold for strength and engineered to minimise weight, the Ancon Thermal Windpost is up to 35% lighter than traditional windposts, making it easier to handle and install on site. Again, this significantly improves the speed of installation by reducing the requirement for complex manual handling procedures for longer lengths. Used largely in commercial and multi-storey residential developments, and also increasingly in housing to provide more open-plan spaces, windposts provide lateral support to long panels of brickwork without piers or supporting walls, or as hidden support within piers adjacent to large window or door openings. Usually, they create small voids

LEVIAT

in the insulation layer, which can be difficult to properly fill or can easily be overlooked when installing insulation. Variations arising from inconsistency in cutting or omission of insulation in these small voids can often be overlooked when undertaking thermal calculations. This new product ensures proper continuity in the insulation layer, and makes the installation of the surrounding insulation more consistent and straightforward, helping both contractors and building designers realise the thermal performance aspirations of the detail. With UK housebuilders facing the ‘zero-carbon-ready’ Future Homes Standard from 2025, building design for new residential developments must change. The Ancon Thermal Windpost addresses one of the many thermal heat loss issues across a building’s fabric that contribute to the ‘performance gap’ between designed and realised thermal performance, and is part of Leviat’s continual drive towards innovation with products that improve performance to help create better buildings. Commenting on the launch of the Ancon Thermal Windpost, Leviat’s Lisa Sherburne-Kilby, UK Commercial Operations Director (Masonry), said: “The new thermally-efficient Thermal Windpost (TWP2) is a game-changer and a fantastic addition to our range. Windposts, and other cavity intrusions, have the potential to seriously downgrade the thermal performance of the wall, unless correctly specified, detailed and installed. Getting them right is important if we are to achieve the sort of levels of fabric heat loss now being considered in our race for zerocarbon construction.”

www.ancon.co.uk/thermal-windpost

Leviat, a global leader in connecting, fixing, lifting and anchoring technology, designs and manufactures Ancon stainless-steel support and restraint fixings for masonry cladding, engineered concrete connections and reinforcement continuity systems.

0114 275 5224 41

info.ancon.uk@leviat.com FC&A – JUNE – 2021

BUILDING ELEMENTS

THE NEW INSPIRED WORKPLACE Arstiderne architects, a division of architectural and engineering consultancy Sweco, has transformed a large industrial building into a stunning open-plan office to house the 180 Sweco employees at a location near Aarhus in Denmark. TROLDEKT

he clever design retains much of the heritage of the old building, including its curved sawtooth roof and skylights, while insulating it to high standards and transforming the interior to meet the key objective of fulfilling UN Sustainable Development goals. The architects are particularly proud of the way the old building has responded to conversion into an employee and clientfriendly showplace with a unique energising ambience. While the majority of staff work in large open-plan spaces, they also benefit from several smaller selfcontained rooms in the centre of the building.

These box-like structures, bathed in daylight from the skylights and facade windows, are used for a variety of purposes, from a quiet workspace to meetings and socialising. Their design on the original concrete floor contrasts well with the precise finish on their walls. These are clad with Troldtekt acoustic panels in an ultrafine finish creating a high-performance and aesthetically-pleasing appearance. The ceilings and some walls are clad with standard acoustic panels, while specific areas have been decorated with Troldtekt line, which forms part of the award-winning design solutions collection.

www.troldtekt.co.uk

The lengthwise surface grooves form a continuous pattern across the partitions and reception areas, adding interesting texture and depth.

01978 664255

Troldtekt was specified across the scheme for its sustainable characteristics coupled with superior acoustics to provide a comfortable working environment.

info@troldtekt.co.uk

F. BALL ACHIEVES 100% AT TOP LONDON SCHOOL F. BALL AND CO.

Specialist floor levelling compounds and adhesives from F. Ball and Co. have been used to install a mixture of hardwearing, stylish textile and vinyl floorcoverings at Hampton School in South West London, befitting of the independent school’s prestigious status. Old fibre-bonded carpets were first removed, revealing a sound, dry, concrete subfloor, which was primed using diluted Stopgap P131 general-purpose primer before the application of F. Ball’s Stopgap Green Bag levelling compound. The fastsetting, low-odour product was selected for its high strength, making it suitable for an area that will be subject to high levels of wear for years to come. Once the levelling compound had cured, Styccobond F44 acrylic adhesive was used to secure the PVCbacked carpet.

www.f-ball.co.uk

01538 361633

mail@f-ball.co.uk

OFFSITE SOLUTIONS AWARDED CONTRACT FOR BUILD-TO-RENT SCHEME OFFSITE SOLUTIONS

Offsite Solutions has been awarded a £1.6m contract to supply 327 bathroom pods for a £64m build-torent development in the centre of Milton Keynes for Grainger plc, the UK’s largest listed residential landlord. Commenting on the use of bathroom pods for this project, Wayne Catterall, Project Manager at Bowmer + Kirkland, said: “Pods are a brilliant solution, which avoids the need to distribute multiple bathroom products and materials across eight floors. The bathrooms only need to be moved once into their final position. This is far easier to manage, avoids any risk of damage, and delays to the bathroom fit-out programme are highly unlikely because of the greater certainty of factory production.”

www.offsitesolutions.com FC&A – JUNE – 2021

01278 780807

info@offsitesolutions.com 42

OMNIE PACKAGE HEATS LOW-ENERGY HILLSIDE HOUSE IN NORTH YORKSHIRE OMNIE

A contractor/developer is utilising a renewables and underfloor heating package from OMNIE to provide all of the space heating and hot water, as well as to maintain indoor air quality. In a new-build fivebedroom house, Hotham Construction is making use of insulated concrete formwork (ICF) for the walls of the half-buried structure, as well as a highly insulated pitched roof supported by JJI engineered timber joists. OMNIE, therefore, determined that a 7kW LG Therma V air source heat pump would be sufficient to feed the Ultimate and OgeeBoard UFH circuits, along with all of the domestic hot water requirements. OMNIE also designed and supplied a full MVHR system for the house.

www.omnie.co.uk 01392 363605 projects@omnie.co.uk

BUILDING ELEMENTS

GET SUMMER READY WITH DR. SCHUTZ Now that the days and evenings are becoming brighter, brown patios, green fencing and grubby outdoor furniture are just some of the sights we’re beginning to see. DR. SCHUTZ

o aid the dreaded task of exterior cleaning and maintenance, Dr. Schutz showcases three of its most popular products perfect for transforming outdoor spaces.

Wood Refresher Restore the natural colour of outdoor wood with an intensive cleaning agent for all wood surfaces, which have turned grey, with Dr. Schutz Wood Refresher. The product has good adhesion and a non-drip formula, making it easy for any surface to be refreshed.

Stone Care Stone Care is a concentrated cleaner for the removal of dirt, grime, grease and other micro-organisms on stone and tile floors. This product benefits from a high coverage of 1000m2/litre.

Intensive Cleaner This product is a thoroughly-effective and powerful deep cleaner for the removal of dirt, grime, algae, moss, grease and micro-organisms from any outdoor surface. Garden furniture, decking, fencing, stonework, brick walls, garden ornaments, steps, driveways, paths, patios and concrete are just some of the surfaces which can benefit from using this cleaner. Stay on top of cleaning and maintenance this summer with Dr. Schutz.

www.drschutz.co.uk

01296 437827 43

FC&A – JUNE – 2021

BUILDING ELEMENTS

AXIS EN INSTALLATION PROTECTS HO CHI MINH CITY’S LATEST UPSCALE APARTMENT COMPLEX An intelligent network of 20 Axis EN fire panels from fire and life safety systems manufacturer, Advanced, has been installed at HaDo Centrosa Garden in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. ADVANCED CO

o Centrosa Garden is a 70,000m2 development of eight 30-storey luxury residential towers and 115 townhouses located in the heart of Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City. The upscale condominium complex’s facilities will include a swimming pool, tennis and basketball courts, fitness centre, rooftop gardens, a park, school, library and commercial centre. A key requirement for this large-scale complex was a system with high-speed networking capabilities to enable instantaneous sharing of communications between panels. To meet this need, fire protection companies Vietsafe and KP Technology chose 20 Advanced Axis EN fire alarm control panels, alongside 3000 addressable devices, for installation in the eight residential towers. With many successful installations of Advanced products undertaken by both companies, Vietsafe and KP Technology were confident in Axis EN’s ability to deliver the seamless networking needed, while its ease of installation, testing, commissioning and operation would ensure minimal issues once the panels were on site.

www.advancedco.com

Axis EN is EN54 parts 2, 4 and 13 approved, and its panels can be used in single-loop, single-panel format or easily configured into high-speed, multi-loop networks of up to 200 nodes covering huge areas. Advanced’s reputation for ease of installation and configuration, as well as its wide peripheral range, make its products customisable to almost any application.

0345 894 7000

jmountain@advancedco.com

THE BEAUTY OF SPACE IN THE HOME BROUGHT TO LIFE WITH DRAKS’ NEW WEBSITE DRAKS

Clever, beautiful, design-led wardrobe and room divider solutions from Draks are renowned in the housebuilding and residential markets in the UK, where hundreds of bespoke, quality installations have been completed over the past 25 years. A new, crisp, easy-to-navigate website – www.draks.co.uk – has been launched to illustrate the company’s continued prowess today; and it reflects the sheer skill of the team in creating stunning space-saving storage and room-dividing solutions for the ultimate in stylish home comfort. Full of colourful photography, concise text, project testimonials and product information, the website delivers all the housebuilder, designer or homeowner needs to know when considering design schemes for storage solutions.

www.draks.co.uk

01869 232989

info@draks.co.uk

WASHROOM AND CRE8 CELEBRATE TWO SUCCESSFUL DECADES TOGETHER WASHROOM WASHROOM

Washroom Washroom and Cre8 Joinery Solutions are celebrating an impressive 20 years in business together this year. Originally founded as one company by four directors in 2001, the Washroom Group has enjoyed consistent growth over the last 20 years to become a major force in the commercial washroom and joinery market. The business has grown significantly and now employs a team of more than 160 designers, craftsmen, installers and project managers who see each project through from initial design concept to installation on site and at every step along the way. It now operates as three separate but connected businesses – Washroom Washroom, Cre8 Joinery Solutions and WeIntegre8 packaged contractor solutions.

www.washroom.co.uk FC&A – JUNE – 2021

0800 999 8888

sales@washroom.co.uk 44

FLOORING INDUSTRY COUNTS DOWN TO CFJLIVE CFJLIVE

The flooring industry is preparing for CFJLIVE – its first official event in over a year – which takes place on Thursday 1st July. The free-to-attend global exhibition is the UK industry’s first-ever virtual event, bringing together over 100 global exhibitors. It will be broadcast live from a main stage – at FITA’s training centre in Loughborough – and from exhibitors’ showrooms, offices and factories around the world. Fast registration can be accessed now at www.cfjliveexpo.co.uk. CFJLIVE will bring together the industry in real time; crucially, visitors will be able to connect, share knowledge and discuss issues with industry experts within live meeting rooms and via chat and individual meeting requests. The main stage will present live demonstrations and, within the exhibition rooms, key events will include an industry-first sustainability forum.

www.cfjliveexpo.co.uk stuart.bourne@kick-startpublishing.co.uk

BUILDING ELEMENTS

FIRE BARRIER EXPERTISE ON SHOW AT FIREX TBA FIREFLY

TBA Firefly’s senior sales and technical staff will be on the manufacturer’s stand (No. FX13) during this year’s FIREX exhibition at London’s ExCeL Centre, from 12th to 14th July, to offer contractors, consultants and other visitors unrivalled expertise in the field of flexible fire barriers. The well-proven and independently-certified Firefly product range provides effective and economic solutions to prevent fire, smoke and heat from spreading through buildings unchecked: facilitating safe evacuation and assisting the emergency services in tackling blazes. Systems such as Apollo, Phoenix, Zeus and Titan Lite are widely used in the healthcare, education and social housing sectors, as well as across the industry. Applicable to new-build and retrofit situations, they are particularly effective in creating compartmentation within roof spaces and floor voids.

www.tbafirefly.com

01706 758817 technical@tbafirefly.com

NEW UK GENERAL MANAGER FOR VORTICE VORTICE

Richard Williams has been appointed UK General Manager for Vortice. He succeeds Kevin Hippey, who retires after 18 years with the business. Richard brings immense experience of the ventilation industry, having worked in the sector for 21 years. He has a passion for improving standards in the industry, previously being part of the European Committee for Standardisation, and he provides training at the Property Care Association. Kevin Hippey commented: “I am very pleased to be handing over the reins to Richard...I am confident Richard can continue to grow the business and reach new sectors as our product ranges continue to develop to meet the requirements of the industry.”

www.vortice.ltd.uk

01283 492949

FRANKE UK

Franke’s Icon tap range has earned international acclaim by winning two prestigious awards. Icon has secured a coveted Red Dot Award in the Kitchen Taps and Sinks category and a sought-after iF Design Award in the Product Design category. Judges considered factors including design, functionality, quality, differentiation, innovation and impact when choosing the award winners. The distinctive Icon tap combines sinuous, nature-inspired aesthetics and maximum functionality. Designed to make a unique, sculpturalstyle statement in contemporary kitchens, the range comprises a Pull-Out Double Jet Shower model featuring an adjustable pull-out spray, which allows users to easily switch between the single or more powerful double jet, and a swivel spout option.

sales@vortice.ltd.uk

DISCOVER THE BENEFITS OF ADVANCED’S LATEST LINE OF PRODUCTS

www.franke.co.uk 01782 599258 ks-info.gb@franke.com

THE NEW KALDEWEI CAYONO WASHBASIN MAKES THE PERFECT TRIO

ADVANCED CO

Advanced’s latest line of EasySafe low-voltage, LED emergency luminaires and exit signs offers higher performance and greater energy-efficiency benefits than ever before. All EasySafe products are designed to work with LuxIntelligent, Advanced’s emergency light testing system. Powered directly from the LuxIntelligent panel, Advanced’s EasySafe devices require no local power supply. All devices are compatible with any existing LuxIntelligent luminaires and exit signs, enabling the easy installation of devices onto existing wiring to form a single, comprehensive intelligent emergency lighting system. The low-voltage lights offer quick and easy fitting and service, with a simple ‘twist and click’ installation onto a first-fix base. EasySafe has been designed to offer true scalability, with just one LuxIntelligent panel supporting up to 200 EasySafe devices alongside an additional 796 locally-powered devices. Switching to EasySafe’s low-energy LED emergency lighting is quick, simple and will, on average, deliver 20% energyefficiency savings compared with fluorescent alternatives.

www.advancedco.com

FRANKE DOES THE DOUBLE WITH RED DOT AND IF DESIGN AWARDS FOR ICON TAP RANGE

KALDEWEI

Until recently, you could only specify the popular Cayono series for bathtubs and shower trays, however, Kaldewei has recently introduced the Cayono range of high-quality washbasins. These include a trend-setting washbowl, countertop and under-counter solution. The new washbasins were developed for modern bathrooms; the models stand out with clear lines and softly curving contours, each combined with the generous interior depth of the individual washbasins. The Cayono Duo bathtub with central waste, the floor-level Cayonoplan shower surface and the spacious Cayono washbasin ensure the perfect match in any bathroom. Cayono is also the perfect economical design solution offering the ideal balance in terms of quality, price and aesthetics. Everything is manufactured from sustainable Kaldewei steel enamel, which is extremely durable, particularly easy to care for and 100% recyclable. For more information on all Kaldewei products, visit the below website.

0345 894 7000 jmountain@advancedco.com

www.kaldewei.co.uk

01480 493046 linda.skelton@kaldewei.com FC&A – JUNE – 2021

BUILDING ELEMENTS

PROTECT YOUR GARDEN HOUSE Gardening is an enjoyable pastime for many people and has only increased since lockdown. It works wonders for your health and wellbeing, and you can even burn up to 400 calories an hour. With more and more homeowners taking up gardening as a hobby or renovating their outdoor space, there is a larger need for external storage space that can house garden furniture, tools and equipment. OSMO

www.osmouk.com FC&A – JUNE – 2021

01296 481220 46

ut how do we protect these wooden structures to ensure they withstand the summer and winter weather, as well as provide an aesthetically-pleasing feature in the garden? Alia, a London homeowner, explains how Osmo County Colour helped her achieve this. Once Alia had completed the internal renovations on her new house, the garden became her next big project. With large sliding doors at the back of the house looking into the garden, she wanted a modern alternative to a standard garden shed, so she invested in a log cabin. The cabin is made of interlocking softwood logs, so it was really important to ensure the logs were well maintained as warping could cause gaps between the logs and would damage the structure. “We weren’t aware of Osmo before this project, but as it was on the shortlist of approved manufacturers and after conducting our own research of all recommended companies, we decided to pick Osmo,” commented Alia. “We wanted a clean and modern look for the cabin that would brighten up a relatively dark corner of the garden, and Osmo had the colour choices that we wanted.” Alia opted for Country Colour White for the main structure, Country Colour Anthracite Grey for the window and door frames, as well as the roof trim, and Country Colour Light Grey for the interior. The Country Colour range promises premium durability and a rich colour, hiding the natural colour and grain of the wood yet maintaining the wood’s natural texture. The solution not only rejuvenates the wood but leaves it protected against the unpredictable British weather. It can be applied to a range of wood species, including oily and exotic materials. Based on natural vegetable oils, the finish allows the wood to breathe. Requiring only two coats, it can be applied using a roller or brush and has an approximate drying time of eight to 10 hours. “We applied two coats of County Colour, and it has provided a solid, smooth finish and superior timber protection,” continues Alia. “We were told that it doesn’t crack or peel and is easy to apply and maintain, which I can confirm, it was. We are really happy with the end product. The cabin looks really special, and we’ve had lots of compliments on it.”

info@osmouk.c om

Removes dirt, grime & algae Slows down regrowth High coverage Can be used on outdoor furniture, decking, fencing, stonework, patio etc.

www.drschutz.co.uk

FC&A – JUNE – 2021

The future is here… Flatglass Rooﬂights are the new benchmark in frame technology. • Innovative, Industry Leading Design • Effortless Roof Integration

• Benchmark In Performance Testing • Sleek and Contemporary Frames

Whatever your requirement we have a new Flatglass Rooﬂight to suit your space.

FC&A – JUNE – 2021

Find out more at www.roofglaze.co.uk