FC&A March 2020 by Red Hut Media Ltd

FUTURE CONSTRUCTOR & ARCHITECT

ISSUE 121

MARCH 2020

Mediation Training Programme A facilitative and evaluative approach to mediation in the built environment Highly practical and intensive, the RICS Mediation Training Programme will prepare you to mediate the most complex disputes to the highest standards across land, property, construction and infrastructure. This face-to-face course embraces the facilitative and evaluative approaches to mediation. Our expert trainers will provide you with in-depth, practical coaching and you will receive feedback from both your trainer and your peers.

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MARCH 2020

EDITOR Rebecca Kemp rebecca@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 Glenn Dixon glenn@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 P R O D U C T I O N A S S I S TA N T Philip Coyle philip@crossplatformmedia.co.uk ACCOUNTS/CREDIT CONTROL Jackie Dearman jackie@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

ustainability is front of mind for most of us. Whether you’re attempting to be more eco-friendly in your home life or while designing or building at work, the words of eco-warriors such as Sir David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg have all spoken to us in one way or another. In fact, in a visit to last month’s Surface Design Show, it was clear to see that sustainability wasn’t going anywhere, and it’s incredibly reassuring to recognise the omnipresence of the movement in all divisions of the art and design sectors. Sustainability’s long-term stay is music to the ears for many championing the importance of environmental consideration within the architectural and construction industries. This month, we’ve spoken to sustainability heavyweight Margot Krasojević; an Architect who’s certainly no stranger to the pages of FC&A. In this exclusive interview, Margot talks to us about her architectural background before the opening of Margot Krasojević Architecture. With an impressive CV, comprising positions at studios including the likes of Zaha Hadid, Margot talks us through some of her most groundbreaking, awe-inspiring projects. Please turn to pages 12-13 to learn more about

SALES SUPPORT & A D M I N I S T R AT O R Klare Porter klare@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

her innovations. Meanwhile, on page 16, we’ve showcased another of Margot’s majestic masterpieces, the Russian-based Hydroelectric Sculpture Gallery – an oscillating water column gallery that uses renewable energy to redefine typologies in architecture and the built environment. Elsewhere in this issue; we visit one of London’s most-talked-about redevelopments of the decade, Battersea Power Station. With the light still very much shining on sustainability, wellbeing and biodiversity; Dave Maginnis, from BriggsAmasco, highlights how green roofs are helping to transform the London landmark site into a thriving mini-city. Turn to page 24 to learn more. 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.fcamagazine.com.

Rebecca

REBECCA KEMP

ON THE COVER:

PUBLISHER Sam Ball sam@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Editor, Future Constructor & Architect

Margot Krasojević reveals her most recent innovation, the Hydroelectric Sculpture Gallery in Russia.

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MARCH CONTENTS

NEWS

INDU ST RY U PDAT E S :

VOICE OF T HE I N DU S T RY:

LEGAL & B U S I NE S S :

FC&A rounds up this month’s industry news, including awarded contracts, completed projects and much more.

Dave Maginnis, Managing Director at BriggsAmasco, highlights how green roofs are helping transform London’s landmark Battersea Power Station site into a thriving mini-city.

This month, Nifty Lift takes a look at recent laws that been introduced to the industry and explores the impacts they will have on the construction sector.

PORTFOLIOS

HY DRO E L E C T RI C S C U L PT U RE G A L L E RY, MARGOT K RAS OJ E V I Ć ARC H I T E C T U RE :

DESJARDI N S G ROU P, MONTRÉ A L TOW E R, PROV E NC HE R_ ROY:

Margot Krasojević reveals her most recent innovation, the Hydroelectric Sculpture Gallery. Based in Russia, the structure follows an oscillating water principle that uses renewable energy to redefine typologies in architecture and the built environment.

Following its restoration, Montréal’s Olympic Tower is welcoming its first tenants into the newly-renovated rooms of the 12-storey building. Here, FC&A takes a tour of Desjardins Group’s Provencher_Roy-designed offices.

FEATURES

HVAC :

BU ILD F OC U S :

BU ILDI NG AC C E S S:

GLASS & G L AZI NG:

R ENEWAB L E T E C HNOLOG Y:

TECHN I C A L F OC U S:

FIRE SA F E T Y:

From third- to fourth- and fifth-generation systems, the latest efficient technologies for district heating are explored in this article from REHAU Building Solutions’ Steve Richmond.

Retail:

A round-up of the latest updates from the retail sector, and top tips from some of the industry’s leading suppliers.

In our ever-evolving world of access control, Allegion UK’s Trevor Ball explores whether we genuinely understand the importance of seamless system integration.

Scott Sinden, Managing Director of leading glass manufacturer and processor ESG Group, looks at the importance of specifying fire safety glass within buildings.

Matthew Trewhella, Managing Director of Kensa Contracting, looks at The Future Homes Standard and explains how Bristol City Council is embracing the low-carbon approach.

With the liquid roofing and waterproofing sector rapidly growing, Victoria Ramwell from Kemper System offers best practice advice on how to specify and install liquid systems.

Following the second stage of the Grenfell inquiry, Ian King, Chief Operating Officer at Zeroignition, explores how construction’s culture must change at every stage. 9

FC&A – MARCH – 2020

INDUSTRY UPDATES

NE W S I N BR I E F: CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON 30-STOREY TOWER IN CANARY WHARF Rockwell has begun construction on the scheme at 82 West India Dock Road which will include London’s largest and tallest Premier Inn hotel, alongside new homes, adjacent to Westferry DLR station. The £151m project will mark Westferry as a destination and rejuvenate the formerly derelict site. The new mixed-use scheme, which sits between West India Dock and Limehouse Causeway, was granted planning permission in October 2018 by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. John Sisk & Son are the appointed contractors for the development, which is scheduled for completion in early 2022. Rockwell will create the landmark scheme at Canary Wharf which will also include a restaurant, cafe, gym facilities and a landscaped pocket park, alongside communal gardens for new residents. Designed by architect firm SimpsonHaugh, the 30-storey mixed-use development is a gateway to Canary Wharf’s central cluster.

PRP + HAMILTONS ARCHITECTS GETS GO-AHEAD FOR LUXURY HOTEL The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has granted planning permission for a 120-bedroom hotel on Pavilion Road in Knightsbridge, London, which will be designed by PRP + Hamiltons Architects on behalf of Beaumont Properties. The scheme will cost £70m and replace a multistorey car park with a luxury boutique hotel and public facilities, including a business centre, a lounge, a restaurant and a bar. A separate fitness club, restaurant and 23,000ft2 of retail space will be provided at ground and basement level. The architects commented: “This development will breathe new life into the area with a high-quality, contextuallyoriented contemporary architectural design that will attract people.”

FC&A – MARCH – 2020

INDUSTRY U P D AT E S FC&A ROUNDS UP THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS AND UPDATES

FOSTER + PARTNERS WINS DESIGN COMPETITION FOR RESIDENTIAL PROJECT IN SHENZHEN The winning design for Qianhai Talents’ Apartments – an innovative residential project in Shenzhen aimed specifically at the rental market – has been revealed. WWW.FOSTERANDPARTNERS.COM

he project is envisaged as a building exclusively for ‘talents’ – professionals who would have an intensive work-centred lifestyle. Mostly single or living away from their families, their primary desire is for privacy and exclusivity, while also craving a sense of community in a relaxed environment. Reimagining this new building type, the design offers an innovative layout that redefines the residents’ living experience.

Luke Fox, Head of Studio at Foster + Partners, said: “As working practices evolve rapidly, so do patterns of living. The residential rental sector in China is fertile grounds for innovation as more people move to the cities in search of opportunities. Located at the heart of Qianhai financial district, the Talents’ Apartments recreate the intimate feeling of home. The shared spaces within

the complex facilitate real connections and create a positive impact on people’s lives.” Extensive research into co-living spaces around the world has revealed a common theme that brings people together – food. A small kitchenette in every apartment provides the necessities while grouping the remaining area to form a new common shared space for communal cooking. The shared kitchen groups 12 residential units across three levels to form a cluster. It is a place where people can gather, food, sharing ideas and lives. The three-level shared dining space also has views out and is both a cultural and a social heart for the residents. The communal dining space is complemented by the podium deck, offering

PERSONNEL The latest appointments from the construction and architectural industries

OPEN CITY ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECTOR

LEEDS-BASED FIRM BREWSTER BYE EXPANDS TEAM

Open City has appointed Phineas Harper as its new Director. Harper was previously Deputy Director of the Architecture Foundation where, for the last five years, he has been working with Ellis Woodman to reboot the organisation. Alongside his work here, he was Chief Curator of the Oslo Architecture Triennale. He brings extensive experience in public programming, education, charity management and critical engagement with the built environment. Prior to the Architecture Foundation, Harper was the Deputy Editor of the Architectural Review and a trustee of the educational children’s charity, Woodcraft Folk.

Brewster Bye Architects has appointed three architectural assistants as part of its future talent development programme. Rebecca Hazzard joins as a RIBA Part 2 Architectural Assistant and Andrew Stanway and Ben Crayton as RIBA Part 1 Architectural Assistants. All three will work with the firm’s established teams on projects in the residential and commercial property sectors. Chris Austin, MD at Brewster Bye Architects, said: “Our latest talented trio are a welcome addition to our ever-expanding and experienced team.”

Following an exciting period of growth, CPMG Architects has announced two senior promotions within its head office team. Ruth Evans has been promoted to Associate and will head up and nurture a team of designers on the delivery of high-spec interior design schemes. Another long-serving member of the team, Jason Evans, has been promoted to Associate after initially joining the team in 2000, following his studies at the University of Derby. He has built up vast amounts of experience within CPMG, leading the delivery of work across the education, commercial, residential and transport sectors.

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INDUSTRY UPDATES

NEWS IN BR IEF: INITIAL PLANNING SUBMITTED FOR BAKERHICKSDESIGNED HMP GLASGOW

Image: ©Foster + Partners

a new tranquil urban oasis – a place for calmness and relaxation for the residents. Amenities such as the residents’ clubhouse, wellness and spa centre, resident townhall and coworking space sit within the sky gardens. There are curated events and gatherings in the amenities

where public and residents can get together. Future flexibility is key and modular construction allows for prefabrication, saving time and ensuring quality control. Two shear walls enclose every two units, allowing flexibility to combine the units in the future. Although each unit type may differ, interior

elements within these units are standardised and allow for construction efficiencies. “We are delighted to have won this design competition, and we look forward to developing our proposals for an innovative new residential typology with the client over the coming months,” added Fox.

Integral Group Chair and Founder, Kevin Hydes and Associate Principal of Sustainability, Nathan Millar are at @FuturebuildNow next week. This year’s theme is ‘Responding to the emergency’. Get in touch to arrange a meeting and discuss the climate emergency further. #Futurebuild

I’m participating in a panel discussion with @CDBB on Overcoming obstacles of BIM adoption in the Digital Impact zone at @FutureBuildNow 2020 at Excel London on the 5th of March. Join us and register for free at https:// futurebuild.co.uk #Futurebuild #DigitalImpact

We are happy to announce we have partnered with @FuturebuildNow this year 3-5 March. If you are attending this great event please register and join us on day 02 at the WIB networking session here: http:// ow.ly/fl2q50ynRh2 #Futurebuild #Diversity – @PlanningPortal

– @elementa_uk

– @HadeelSafaa

I’m Participating in a Panel discussion with @CDBB on overcoming obstacles of BIM adoption in the Digital Impact zone at @FutureBuildNow 2020 at the Excel London on 5th of March. Join us and register for free at https:// futurebuild.co.uk #Futurebuild #DigitalImpact

@Terra_Perma_EB have confirmed their booking to support and exhibit with #NBUK in the #NaturalBuilding area at @FuturebuildNow 2020. They will also be there to help run the area and answer any questions about #Building with #NaturalMaterials #Futurebuild #ExCeL #ZeroCarbon

– @Hadley_group

– @NaturalBuildUK

TWEETS #Futurebuild

Join @profjacquiglassat #Futurebuild on Wednesday 4th March for the session future of the workforce: delivering MMC. – @SpecifiedBy

We’ll be at #Futurebuild2020 asking attendees to #ActNow on the #ClimateEmergency. @SueRiddlestone invites you to join us at stand (G118) for practical advice on creating high-quality places

Planning Permission in Principle (PPiP) has been submitted for HMP Glasgow, which is being designed by multi-disciplinary design and engineering company, BakerHicks. This marks a milestone in the Scottish Prison Service’s (SPS) plans to deliver a modern, fit-forpurpose replacement for HMP Barlinnie. Working closely with commercial property firm Colliers, BakerHicks developed the drawings and documents for the submission, seeking consent in principle to develop a new prison on a site formerly occupied by National Grid and adjacent to a gas storage and transportation facility owned and operated by SGN. The new prison will replace the overcrowded Victorian-era facility, HMP Barlinnie, which currently serves Glasgow and the West of Scotland. Once complete, the new facility will accommodate 1200 adult male offenders with a flex to manage current population levels and fluctuations in sentencing.

LHG WINS PLANNING TO TRANSFORM FORMER GREENWICH MAGISTRATES’ COURT LHG (London Hotel Group) has won planning permission to convert and extend the former Greenwich Magistrates’ Court and two empty educational buildings into a 293-bed boutique hotel. Located within the Ashburnham Triangle Conservation Area in Greenwich, London, the project – designed by Squire & Partners – will retain the Grade II Listed Magistrates’ Court and the two redundant school buildings.

– @Bioregional 11

FC&A – MARCH – 2020

INDUSTRY UPDATES

ARC H IT EC T I N P RO F I LE After attending South Bank University, completing her Masters at The Bartlett and eventually submitting her PhD, Margot Krasojević went on to work at the offices of Zaha Hadid, NOX, Morphosis and Michael Squire. Fast-forward to 2020, and she has two architecture design studios in London and Beijing. Here, FC&A talks to Margot about her career and finds out what inspired her to take the architectural route. MARGOT KRASOJEVIĆ ARCHITECTURE

MARGOT KRASOJEVIĆ is the Founder of Margot Krasojević Architecture

and geometry also inspired me. Growing up, there were always mathematics and physics books lying around – equations and their formal representations. The transition between letters and numbers to spatial representations, I found fascinating.

Please tell us a bit about your career background Upon completion of my education, I ran architecture design studios at The Bartlett, University of Greenwich, University of Washington, Berkley, Austin, University of Western Australia and acted as invited juror and critic worldwide. However, it was only after I finished my architectural education that I knew what really interested me. This is when I started post-doctoral research on sustainability, digital design (focusing on simulation and animation techniques), digital fabrication, renewable energy and smart materials.

margotkrasojevic.org FC&A – MARCH – 2020

Who has been your greatest influence and source of inspiration? I think Mies van der Rohe, NOX, Claude Parent and Zaha Hadid have inspired me all for very different reasons. The one thing they had in common is the determination to realise every project in the manner in which it was conceived. I think it takes great courage to have this vision, believe in it and not be influenced by other’s interpretation or criticism of your work. Everyone has an opinion and is entitled to this, but it is rare to defend an approach at the risk of losing it – I respect this. Also, Professor Lebbeus Woods, who was a great mentor to me and believed in my work, publishing and editing two of my books, `Spatial Pathology, Floating Realities’ and Dynamics & Derealisation’. When I started teaching, I was hugely inspired by Jan Kaplicky

Had you always wanted to pursue a career in architecture? When I was around 10 years, old my friend’s mother showed us her architectural projects, most were computer-generated – very different to the visualisation and detail simulation graphics we use now – but I found them beautiful. I had no idea what I was looking at; they were like X-rays. After this, I became more aware of architecture – the different styles, types and historical references. Spaces and experiences were never the same again. Patterns 12

and Future Systems, Lars Spruyboek, Diller and Scofidio. The way they investigated haptic surfaces, smart materials, digital concepts and interactive space. 20 years later, their projects and publications are still relevant; technology has caught up with even dictating the possibilities they wrote and first designed in the 1990s. They were ground-breaking visionaries; forerunners of the built environment and an extreme and needed shift from the exhausted and overexposed architects like Rem Koolhaas. Personally, I find current new frontiers in architectural design lacking in this kind of innovation. What has been your most notable project to date? The Eco-Crematorium. I find this brief the most interesting as the site integrates this programme within a lively and dynamic context whereby one is the antithesis of the other. I find it extraordinary that there is a greater demand for recycling leftover metals after cremation – from stainless steel and copper to precious metals that are reused in aircraft, construction and the automobile industry; to name a few. The evolution of crematoria is currently using clean solar

INDUSTRY UPDATES

energy, partly avoiding the 400 kilos of carbon dioxide and other pollutants caused by gases during one cremation. This, for me, has been the most interesting commission as it deals not only with renewable energy within an urban coastal context but embraces recycling at the most fundamental level. The very idea that people are accepting this as a source for recycling, with bereaved families embracing the concept, I find a strong indication of how important and aware people are of recycling, and it’s connotations – a visionary societal shift. Another project is the Hydroelectric Turbine house, which focused on a symbiotic relationship between powerplants and homes. It was a turning point for me in addressing the use of turbines and marine engineering in my designs. The importance for me is typologies which enable sustainability like a home generating energy to sustain it and possibly feed back into the grid. How do you approach your projects? I focus on integrating renewable energy as part of a design criteria. I also question how this programme and design addresses sustainability without negatively affecting the building’s infrastructure, for it to be either carbonnegative/-neutral, energypositive and sustainable. All building programmes can adapt to harness renewable energy; we have an obligation to strive for sustainable, selfsufficient architecture. Society has changed, and with more people embracing recycling, sustainability, eco-friendly biodegradable materials – both marine and land pollutants – and environmental nurturing, this awareness should be a part of every architectural design criteria. Industries responsible for water, environmental pollution, metal contamination and un-recyclable by-products should at least financially compensate or invest in environmental energy through architecture and the built environment. The majority of my clients wish to give back to the environment; attempting to balance the damage already caused. A conscientious effort for the responsibility for our environment is important.

What do you think is the greatest challenge for designing in sustainability? I believe this to be redefining typologies, too many obsolete typologies give the impression that they are still needed, as they do not address renewable energy, energy convertors or sustainability – these redundant programmes are forced into relevance by developers. They are; however, money-making urban investments, so it is difficult to get into a sustainable mindset. For example, when faced with a client who wants to be associated with the idea of sustainability but is committed to it as a trend, rather than an environmental responsibility that should be part of the design process from the beginning. Clients responsible for some of the biggest known environmental pollutions want to be associated with this approach, but very few want to invest in sustainability as an architectural language. The cost of smart materials, digital fabrication and crossdisciplinary knowledge are also challenging to assimilate as it alters building approaches. This can be overwhelming and daunting, leading to a fear that some building programmes would be left useless – this troubles the construction industry from a financial standpoint. I believe the manner in which materials, methods of construction and research that have been applied to marine, aviation and renewable engineering industries should be applied to the built environment. Corrosion, material life expectancy and replacement (through stereolithography and other fabrication methods makes it easier for on-site construction and renewing parts of the building). Even using air-cured Hempcrete – a sustainable material which, when treated with lime, can be stronger than concrete yet has zero-carbon output. Change stifles outdated approaches but also takes a while to become the norm. Integrating typologies will define new more relevant ones, I believe that all architectural designs should harness renewable energy, in a way making most programmes behave like small powerplants.

What is your favourite building? My favourite building is NOX’s FreshWater Pavilion in Holland, an interactive digital art space. This was a forerunner for what is happening now; only they built it in the late ‘90s. The idea that a fully immersive, simulated and interactive building dictates the way in which it should be experienced through these environmental simulations was overwhelming for me to experience. I had just started acting as lead tutor running an architectural undergraduate programme and design studio at Greenwich University and The Bartlett and took all my students to visit. I think this building greatly influenced how I regard architecture as a dynamic space; animating the public by showing us how to perceive it. Another favourite of mine is Diller + Scofidio’s ‘Blur’ building for the 2002 Swiss Expo. What I value is their use of technology to simulate and redefine the public experience of space, even the brain-coat to enhance the shared experience of a mist-infused building which disappears and reappears. These buildings have a very different programme to more permanent structures; their 13

deceptive playfulness is a protagonist in experimental design; however, the structural and technological aspects can be applied to more static programmes. I think these two buildings were ground-breaking and have changed the way I regard architecture. It is still a very subservient discipline, and I find that disheartening; commercial practices and developers have made it so. As a result, we are progressing very slowly even though society and the environment are changing at a fast pace around us. We are out of synch, and this is all thanks to financial gain. What can we expect to see from Margot Krasojević Architects in the future? Working with more hemp and projects in India, mining companies and factories in South Korea. These companies want to work in a more ecofriendly manner and are investing in new builds and the regeneration of redundant mines; which will take a great effort to deal with existing ground and river pollution, ground excavation, metal and mine/factory contamination. FC&A – MARCH – 2020

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he new development, Cryfield Village, is built as a series of townhouse-style apartments and studios and will eventually house around 830 residents. The new buildings are fitted with photovoltaic panels that convert the sun’s energy to electricity, supporting the university’s aim to reach net zero carbon by 2030. Terracotta shades have become very popular and Powdertech Corby has many such shades in its Landscape and Evolution ranges. Richard Besant, Powdertech Director, explains: “The designers were keen to make a statement with the village properties and to impart a warm and welcoming feeling for the first year students. The appealing, warm and eye-catching finish is a marked improvement on the outdated existing buildings.” In line with all architectural powders used by Powdertech, Resilient Clay meets the Reaction to Fire Standards for fire classification A2-s1,d0, suitable for use on multi-storey residential buildings. The finish also has a 25-year guarantee for gloss, colour and adhesion and Powdertech’s rigorous pre-treatment system will help to keep the panelling free from corrosion for up to 40-years.

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HYDROELECTRIC SCULPTURE GALLERY, MARGOT KRASOJEVIĆ ARCHITECTURE

A NEW BREED OF SUSTAINABILITY Located in Sochi – a coastal city on the Black Sea in Russia – Margot Krasojević Architecture has designed an innovative oscillating water column gallery that uses renewable energy to redefine typologies in architecture and the built environment. MARGOT KRASOJEVIĆ ARCHITECTURE

he building uses the oscillating water column principle to harness wave energy, converting this mechanical energy to generate electricity; all while accommodating a sculpture gallery. The symbiotic programme merges a small power plant capable of producing up to 300kW with a sculpture gallery to redefine typologies and accommodate self-sufficiency by generating sustainable energy that is fed back into the grid. This project aims to supply energy to 200 households and businesses within its vicinity. FC&A – MARCH – 2020

Responding to the environment The Black Sea is a contained body of water, an inland sea with a surprisingly strong swell and coastal wave energy potential, sufficiently effective for water turbine engineering. The building overhangs the coastline; projecting over the existing promenade, it is cantilevered and partly submerged into the sea, angled at 45º to the coastline for maximum wave exposure. Similar to the nearby jetties, it increases wave generation as swell refracts around it to produce high-quality right-handers. The partly submerged projected element is designed to function as an oscillating water column, increasing 16

tidal strength on impact with the building and reducing land erosion. The angle of the coastline sculpture gallery matches the angle of the swell, which, in turn, creates point break waves that do not lose their strength as they travel. The architecture influences the waves. It is not an obedient structure accommodating its environment. Instead, it stands apart from it, making us reconsider our relationship with this environment and our immediate context. As wave energy converges against the projecting building element and sculpture gallery, it activates the oscillating water column section.

HYDROELECTRIC SCULPTURE GALLERY, MARGOT KRASOJEVIĆ ARCHITECTURE

Creativity drives sustainability The art gallery comprises two areas connected by walkways and ramps – it rises out of the promenade, its primary steel structure sections rolling into each other like waves. An array of turbines line the partly submerged power plants oscillating on the water column surface. As seawater flows into the submerged chamber, airflow pressure increases, forcing the five wells’ turbines, located at the top of the chamber, to rotate as the seawater rises and falls. Wells’ turbines always rotate in the same direction regardless of airflow direction. This mechanical energy is converted into electricity with an average 70% efficiency rate. Generators are positioned on the promenade to the rear of the building, revealing the very nature of the architecture and emphasising this hybrid typology. The small power plant feeds electrical energy back into the grid by supplying climate-friendly energy to approximately 200 homes and businesses in its vicinity. 17

FC&A – MARCH – 2020

HYDROELECTRIC SCULPTURE GALLERY, MARGOT KRASOJEVIĆ ARCHITECTURE

The sculpture gallery is woven into the power plant structure – its roof rolls like a point break wave between both the energy plant and the sculpture gallery. The steel-clad layered ceiling mimics the waves by changing densities across its section from structural to cladding the self-supporting structure, which projects the turbine water column into the surf. The gallery’s open-plan space simulates breaking waves underwater to create a calm backdrop for the exhibited mobiles and sculptures. The roof’s cross-section comprises a frequency of densities that relate to the turbines in scale, whereby movement is the dynamic criteria for both parts of the design, be it mechanical or representational and sculptural. The waves which crash against the turbine surface are drawn up into the oscillating water column, splashing seawater onto the art gallery’s roof, thus adding to the dynamic nature of the immediate environment, programme and architecture.

Engaging with nature This architecture employs new typologies for renewable energy to make it a priority of its design criteria. The mobiles and sculptures, which predominantly focus on Russian constructivism, reflect the very nature of the changing environment, attempting to work with and in a manner that choreographs nature’s effects even at its most hostile. This architecture does not solely blend in a submissive manner with the elements but also defines their movements to produce clean energy. It is not simply a subtle design for a static environment, but it rather engages with nature’s forces. This has always been the intention of making renewable energy the motivation behind the design. Russian constructivism was inspired by the industrial revolution and factories, reflecting the modern age by representing machine-influenced designs. Following a similar intention, this architecture brings together a new type of industrial typology, a synthesis between two extremely different programmes working in sync like the crashing waves that sustain it. FC&A – MARCH – 2020

Seamless design

that takes over environments, landscapes or immediate contexts at the cost of destroying the fundamental criteria driving this programme. But at the same time, I also do not advocate for one that retains or suspends the environment, treating it as an exhibition piece. Preservation of the environment should be embraced using the environment efficiently and working with it to sustain itself and us. This demands a fine balance between

An architecture that embraces the environment, it is built into by not being overly cautious, it uses the environment’s characteristics to generate clean, sustainable energy, without affecting the quality and nature of the landscape. “If these were hampered, we would be creating obsolete architecture with a short life term as it changes the very qualities of its environment,” says Margot Krasojević. “I do not believe in architecture 18

intervention for a purpose and complete merging with the existing, which I find rather empty, architecturally. I do not believe we need to be too cautious with the environment by making minimal design interventions. We need to understand the environment, and though it can certainly be hostile, we must build to exist with it and not to be subservient to it or destroy its nature.”

www.margotkrasojevic.org

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FC&A – MARCH – 2020

DESJARDINS GROUP, MONTRÉAL TOWER, PROVENCHER_ROY

FACT FILE: City: Montreal, Canada Location: 4141, avenue Pierre-De Coubertin, Montréal, Québec, Canada, H1V 3N7 Client: Desjardins Gestion immobilière Year: 2018 Areas: 150,000ft2 on seven floors Reception area with an interactive window Espace carrière et co-création Seven multifunctional conference rooms 11 meeting rooms One auditorium 26 coaching areas 1200 open area positions for 1400 employees 23 closed offices A 400-seat dining room including a 150-seat multifunctional room Six coffee spaces Six entertainment areas Three lounges 25 collaborative living rooms A wellness centre, including an exercise room.

NEW LEASE OF LIFE FOR MONTRÉAL’S OLYMPIC TOWER During the summer of 2018, Desjardins Movement’s online services’ office spaces moved to the Montréal Tower, once known as the Olympic Tower of Montréal. Unoccupied since 1987, the tower has transformed into an office space, following the design work carried out by Provencher_Roy. PROVENCHER_ROY

esjardins is becoming the first site’s tenant for the next 15 years. Its call and administrative centres occupy seven of the 12 floors of this mythical place, representing 80% of the rental space available. During the work renovations initiated in 2015, long-planned by the Olympic Park, Provencher_ Roy replaced the existing prefabricated concrete envelope with a curtain wall for more abundant transparency and fenestration, thereby augmenting the presence of natural light within while respecting the original architecture. FC&A – MARCH – 2020

A significant update to standards The Montréal Tower had a major makeover to better reflect its new corporate vocation. Designed by Architect Roger Taillibert, the original tower employed prefab concrete panels pierced with vertical strips of windows to provide the zenithal lighting suitable for its initial use. The architecture was originally designed to accommodate sports federations; therefore, it had to be readapted to accommodate many of Desjardins Group teams. 20

The employees of the financial institution now enjoy those modern workspaces, bathed in natural light. To achieve this result, almost all the Montréal Tower’s mechanical systems had to be renovated to bring them up to code and standards. However, the biggest challenge was undoubtedly the stripping of the tower’s prefabricated concrete panels to make way for the transparency afforded by a glass curtain wall covering 60% of the facade – an essential element in creating a pleasant work environment. In addition to exposing the spectacular structure of the architectural icon, the approach also brings the tower to life and gives it a new energy.

DESJARDINS GROUP, MONTRÉAL TOWER, PROVENCHER_ROY

FC&A – MARCH – 2020

DESJARDINS GROUP, MONTRÉAL TOWER, PROVENCHER_ROY

“After its 30 years of concealed existence, we finally unveiled to the whole world the new structure of the Montréal Tower,” says Claude Provencher, Senior Partner and Co-Founder of the architectural firm.

Symbolic interior design In addition to ensuring a work environment that encourages exchanges and creativity, the main purpose of the adopted concept was to symbolise the history of the tower. The remarkable space offered by the seven floors of this Québec architectural symbol is now enhanced by a design adapted to the organic forms of the stadium, being able to offer all employees a stimulating and cooperative work environment. Several historical references to the first vocation of the stadium are found within different areas. Among them, the ceiling’s poppy-shaped details in the waiting area remind us of the old orange roof canvas, as seen before when inside. “It was a privilege to work on such an exceptional site that represents so much in the collective imagination. Our design strategy has been to showcase the spectacular architectural character of the Montréal Tower, still imbued with the Olympic spirit. Interior design encourages collaboration and sharing of knowledge in a healthy environment, as well as drawing a parallel with the values of Desjardins,” explained Julien-Pierre Laurendeau, Interior Designer at Provencher_Roy. From inside out, the impressive concrete structure was highlighted by the neutral hues of the surfaces. The spacious and bright rooms now have a pale grey floor. The windows are unobstructed to allow the creation of an architectural promenade offering employees a magnificent view of the stadium and the city. Spaces of collaboration and relaxation were also arranged along the imposing glass walls. The place is articulated as a working tool, with the ultra-modern offices incorporating the latest technological equipment in order to attract and meet the needs of employees aged 25 to 35. The lounges, entertainment areas, coffee counters and multifunctional rooms were designed specifically for a young and active clientele. The streamlined and the contemporary styles of its interior design creates for Desjardins employees a strong sense of belonging, transforming the development of a ‘workplace’ into a real ‘living space’. Desjardins Group’s new premises’ inauguration took place during summer 2018. This unifying revitalised project revived everyone’s pride and sparked a wave of enthusiasm and curiosity among the population. More than a symbolic place that was once dedicated to the Olympic Games, the Montréal Tower is now an indelible mark on the collective imagination.

www.provencherroy.ca/en FC&A – MARCH – 2020

MET TIRANA RESIDENTIAL BUILDING, MARIO CUCINELLA ARCHITECTS

From Ocean Pollution to Noise Solution UK based acoustic solutions manufacturer Soundtect® began 10 years ago when their engineering team launched a pioneering process to recycle the carpets they manufacture for exhibitions from post consumer PET into acoustic panels as a third generation product.

Soundtect® has grown into a Worldwide supplier of acoustic solutions with a wide range of products for walls and ceilings which not only reduces noise, but adds positive design features to any indoor space.

Soundtect® Ranges include; 3D Panels, CLASS Ceiling Baffles, CLASS Rafts and Freestyle, a semi-rigid felt used for wall applications, hanging partitions, ceiling rafts... in fact just about anything!

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enquiries@soundtect.com 23

www.soundtect.com FC&A – MARCH – 2020

VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY

LANDSCAPED ROOFS PUT GREEN SHEEN ON LANDMARK CITY DEVELOPMENTS In recent years, green roofs have become increasingly popular throughout the UK, with industry experts estimating that the number of ‘gardens in the sky’ being installed across the UK has risen by 40% since the start of the decade. Dave Maginnis, Managing Director at BriggsAmasco, highlights how these earthy installations are helping transform London’s landmark Battersea Power Station site – one of the largest redevelopment spaces in Europe – into a thriving mini-city. BRIGGSAMASCO

Planning from pallet to roof

onto a roof via a mixed substrate. An ecology report will determine how many plants are required per square metre, whilst the green layer is generally laid to a depth of between 70 and 100mm. The only potential issue with the installation of the substrate is people walking over it whilst it’s in situ. Plants need to be planted between April and September. Good logistics will again pay dividends to avoid projects finishing outside of these optimum times. The main challenge of any roof installation is transferring the material – particularly the substrate – to the top of a building. For instance, laying a substrate to a thickness of 100mm across a 1000m 2 roof, that’s a few tonnes-worth

BriggsAmasco installs two types of green roof systems – sedum and plug plant. Each has its challenges in terms of installation. The sedum mat is, generally, a more robust system to fit. It’s grown in a greenhouse before being rolled-up and transported to site. Good forward planning is essential to ensuring a smooth transfer from pallet to roof. A sedum mat will not survive on a pallet for longer than three days; therefore, the roof’s waterproof insulation should be in position in good time before its green layer arrives. Plug plants arrive prepotted and rooted – which is the same as buying from a nursery – and are planted FC&A – MARCH – 2020

of bags that need taking to the roof. In such instances, the process is made easier – though not necessarily quicker – by spreading the load and using more bags. This increases the amount of lifts, but ensures a leaner operation. A hoist is often used to convey materials, a job that a crane could carry out far more time-effectively. Following a project’s handover to the client, the green roof’s maintenance is provided by a qualified sub-contractor. A sedum roof doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. Generally, once established, it thrives in the temperate UK climate. Plug plants need to be nurtured and watered regularly – if not, the system will die.

VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY

Case study – Battersea Power Station There can be no doubting the benefits a green roof brings to the environment. Aestheticallypleasing and environmentallyfriendly, it encourages a sense of health and wellbeing in a building’s occupants as well as adding a biodiverse layer to an otherwise grey, underutilised space. The breath-taking redevelopment of the Battersea Power Station site in London provides a fine example of how a green roof system is being employed in a thoroughly modern, residential and commercial complex. On behalf of main contractor, Carillion, BriggsAmasco was selected to install a multiple-level roof system for phase one of an eight-phase project which helped transform the derelict 39-acre Battersea Power Station site in southwest London into a thriving mini-city, replete with retail stores, restaurants and bars, a six-acre park, community theatre and residential apartments.

The initial phase involved 12 high-rise residential blocks to the west of the site. It comprised 850 residential apartments, as well as retail facilities, theatre space, business studios and two levels of parking. BriggsAmasco supplied six green roofs and two lower-level roofs consisting of limestone paving, which linked seamlessly with the internal spaces of the various winter gardens of the apartments. For all roofs, a Hydrotech Monolithic hotmelt membrane was fullybonded to the substrate. The system provides excellent root protection and allows immediate access to waterproofed areas. Its membrane is designed to last a building’s lifetime, offering seamless, waterproof protection for podiums and highly-detailed water feature projects. Rigid extruded polystyrene insulation (XPS) provided the membrane’s insulation layer. Due to its compressive strength, XPS is ideal for specialist applications such as car park decks and inverted roofing. A plug plant system constituted the roof’s sustainable, green finish.

In addition to the main roofs and terraces, the project presented access and logistical challenges relating to numerous service risers which could have compromised the main works programme and that of other trade contractors. BriggsAmasco used its Exemplar cold-applied PMMA waterproofing to these areas. PMMA is a product that is durable, cost-effective and allows seamless integration with the complex facade interfaces. BriggsAmasco completed the complex, multi-roof Battersea Power Station installation in April 2017. It has helped steer 25

this formerly drab, derelict site towards a brighter future as one of the most attractive commercial/residential hubs in the capital. The company’s expert implementation of a number of waterproof green roof systems has added to the residential buildings’ sustainable credentials as well as off-setting the surrounding built environment by introducing a natural element which is pleasing to the eye and increases the wellbeing of the apartments’ occupants.

www.briggsamasco.co.uk FC&A – MARCH – 2020

HVAC

DISTRICT HEATING – AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION District heating networks are increasing in stature as the Government looks to shrink the country’s carbon footprint and reduce homeowner heating bills. In turn, this has placed the future of traditional fossil fuel heating systems in doubt. Taking this into account, Steve Richmond, Head of Marketing & Technical at REHAU Building Solutions’ division, discusses the latest innovative and efficient technology, and steps companies are taking to drive the new generation of district heating solutions. REHAU BUILDING SOLUTIONS

he growing issue of climate change is making fossil fuel boilers a less attractive option for heating our homes, and refocusing priorities toward developing more efficient and sustainable heating systems that can also cut energy bills. This has led to a renewed focus on district heating systems, which supply buildings with heat and hot water from a central source, connected to individual buildings via a network of underground pre-insulated pipes. By supplying multiple buildings through this network, carbon emissions can be lowered while removing the need for maintaining individual boilers. As it stands, the majority of district heating systems being installed in the UK are of the third generation, with water in circulation at 70 to 95ºC flow temperature. However, with the introduction of fourth-generation systems with water circulating at 40 to 60ºC, FC&A – MARCH – 2020

a transition to this newer design is underway. Because of the lower temperatures, heat loss in the network is reduced, allowing the system to meet consumer energy demand more efficiently.

Benefits of the fourth generation Opportunities for smaller pipe sizes, combined with reduced heat loss and lower capital and operational costs, means fourth-generation systems are highly attractive to developers. Furthermore, lower installation and maintenance costs, alongside reduced homeowner bills, makes the technology an appealing option for housing associations and the public sector. 26

A further benefit of these fourth-generation systems is that they have been designed with a low-carbon heat source in mind. The lower temperatures made possible through these networks make them ideal for centralised air, water or ground source heat pumps, and lead to markedly lowering carbon emissions compared to their gas-powered counterparts. It is, therefore, clear to see the appeal of fourth-generation solutions as an efficient, sustainable and future-proof heating system.

Lowering carbon emissions The need to transition to heating systems with lower carbon emissions is more prevalent than ever. This was underscored by last year’s investigations by the Committee for Climate Change (CCC), which included proposals for reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency in the heating market. In the aftermath of this report, the Government has set policy for achieving a UK-wide net-zero carbon emissions rate by 2050, and has also established the Future Homes Standard for 2025, banning the installation of fossil fuel boilers in new-build homes. Against such a backdrop, district heating systems are becoming a preferred alternative solution. However, developers must still carefully consider flow temperature within these networks, especially considering that the CIBSE/ADE CP1 – the code of practice setting out minimum requirements for a heat network – recommends a maximum flow temperature of 70ºC in new systems. Heat pumps have become even more of an attractive proposition following the publication of the new lower emissions factor for electricity in the 10th version of the Standard Assessment Procedure for Building Regulations (SAP10), which is out for consultation

HVAC

and comes into effect this year. In contrast to the value 0.519 kgCO2/kWH set out in the existing SAP 2012, SAP10 denotes a value of 0.233 to be adhered to. Following this, October 2019’s Draft SAP 10.1 consultation provided an even lower value of 0.136, a 75% improvement in carbon savings of electricity used by a heat pump from the original SAP 2012 figures. This quick and developing trend toward grid decarbonisation is, therefore, setting the stage for a future of low-carbon heat pumps. As well as this, the Heat Networks Investment Project (HNIP) have encouraged projects using commercialscale heat pumps and very low or ambient temperature distribution systems through their scoring of projects applying for grants or loans.

Polymer – the way forward Carbon and cost reductions are, therefore, key drivers behind the transition to district heating technology. Consequently, interest in modern, efficient

heat networks, such as those using polymer pipework, has grown accordingly. To meet spiking consumer, developer and governmental demand, companies like REHAU are creating district heating solutions that efficiently provide hot water and space heating while also lowering emissions and heating costs. Indeed, despite their relatively new involvement in district heating networks, many studies and Government reports have included the fact that polymer pipes have typically lower installation costs than traditional materials. Furthermore, the risk of corrosion associated with steel pipework is greatly diminished with a polymer system, along with the subsequent possibility system failure and costly repair work this would require to resolve. The reduced flow temperatures of fourth-generation networks instead enable a polymer pipework lifespan well in excess of 50 years, and with welding not required for pipe connections, installation is also swift and simple. The material’s flexibility offers further benefits for developers and contractors seeking freedom throughout the design process and on-site during installation. REHAU’s pre-insulated PE-Xa pipework systems RAUVITHERM and RAUTHERMEX offer a reliable and proven solution suitable for district heating networks. RAUVITHERM’s combination of flexibility and low heat losses makes it an ideal choice for small- to 27

medium-sized heat networks or house connections off a main spine. RAUTHERMEX uses a high-performance polyurethane foam, making it an ideal option for a large district heating network. The insulation afforded by the polyurethane rigid (PUR) foam ensures minimal heat losses across the network, further enhancing system efficiency. REHAU’s latest generation of large-diameter PP-R pipework now offers developers a real alternative to steel for a network’s main spine, allowing a 100% polymer network. Fifth-generation heat networks also exist alongside fourth-generation networks, and use flow temperatures of around 10 to 30ºC – much lower than the 40 to 60ºC possible with their fourth-generation counterparts. Key to the design of these systems is the use of individual heat pumps in each building, boosting the temperature from a low-temperature heat source (e.g. boreholes). A benefit of this type of set-up is that heat losses are reduced across the network, but, in contrast to a fourthgeneration network, individual heat pumps are typically required rather than a centralised one. Polymer systems, such as those offered by REHAU, are becoming an increasingly appealing prospect to specifiers, developers and contractors. Indeed, they have an instrumental role to play in the district heating market’s transition traditional higher-temperature heat networks that are reliant on fossil fuels, to a lowertemperature set-up that uses renewable or waste energy sources. Reducing emissions continues to be a hot-button topic in the construction sector, and district heating is an effective option for those looking to improve sustainability while heating homes and buildings in an energy-efficient fashion.

www.rehau.uk/districtheating FC&A – MARCH – 2020

LEGAL & BUSINESS

WHAT RECENT CONSTRUCTION LAWS MEAN FOR YOUR FIRM The construction industry has undergone many changes in recent years and has consistently adapted. New laws have been triggered by nationwide changes, devastating disasters and the current political climate – unpredictable events have led to sudden legislative amendments. If construction businesses aren’t prepared for what is going to be thrown their way, they will fall behind, and their business will suffer. So, for the sake of both businesses and potential clients, Nifty Lift takes a look at recent laws, and how they will affect this affluent industry. NIFTY LIFT

GDPR The instrumental changes in GDPR law came into play on 25th May 2018. Although all seems to have quietened down about this legislation, the alterations must be constantly considered by all businesses. This also includes those within the construction industry. GDPR (or The General Data Protection Regulation) laws regulate how businesses attain, store and use personal data. As a European Union regulation, GDPR serves to protect the safety and privacy of all European citizens. It was created in response to such data scandals as Cambridge Analytica’s Facebook data harvesting. GDPR affects all sectors, and the construction industry needs to stay vigilant about how it is handling client and staff data in order to avoid penalties. The maximum penalty for noncompliance is €20m, or 4% of global turnover (whichever is highest), so make sure your business is in check.

UK VAT change Another law to be aware of is the VAT reverse charge. This law intends to put an end to tax fraud within the construction sector by requiring customers to pay VAT directly to HMRC, rather than going through their chosen construction company. FC&A – MARCH – 2020

The need for this legislation has been made apparent by the frequency of tax evasion within the construction industry.

In a recent survey, it transpired that 69% of construction firms were unaware of the imminent introduction of this reverse charge.

Grenfell – two years on

It has become common malpractice for suppliers to charge VAT to their customers, then failing to pass on the money to HMRC – profiting from tax evasion. This new law intends to cut out construction industries as a tax middleman, and make sure the VAT is collected directly from the consumer. 28

We are now two years on from the Grenfell disaster that claimed the lives of 74 high-rise residents on 14th June 2017. So, what has changed? And how have recent laws reflected this travesty? In light of last year’s Hackitt report, many recommendations were made regarding the use of combustible cladding by construction companies. The report identified a need for an “industry-wide cultural shift away from cost-focused agendas and towards prioritising good quality service and products.” And since then, there have been adjustments to laws regarding cladding on highrise buildings. Combustible cladding has not yet been banned outright. But a new regulatory framework has been put in place around its utilisation. Currently, the minimum height requirement for a building project to demand noncombustible cladding is 18m. A new law that was set to roll out in Scotland in October 2019; however, will decrease the minimum requirement to 11m – hopefully creating a safer structure which will slow the spread of fire.

LEGAL & BUSINESS

The Hackitt report also emphasised the importance of reassessing existing buildings rather than simply focusing rules and regulations around new builds. Within the report, it was stated that buildings of over 10 storeys were to be considered “multi-occupancy higher risk residential buildings” and, therefore, at greater risk of fire. Building Regulations, and the safety of access platforms, will need to be considered by the construction industry in light of these requirements for multistorey buildings.

Adjudication Laws around adjudication have been under scrutiny in recent years. ‘Smash and grab’ adjudications have become a major concern, and new regulations mean they are set to become a thing of the past. The basis of ‘smash and grab’ adjudications is when one party claims an amount higher than the true valuable payable in said adjudication, on the grounds that the other party has failed to pay the correct amount by a particular deadline. Thanks to recent legislation, the second party can initiate their own adjudication attempting to retrieve the ‘true’ value after an overpayment has been made. Both general laws aimed at all sectors, and legislation directed specifically at the construction industry are set to continue having a big impact over the next few years. The best way that you and your company can be successful is to remain aware and adaptable. This way, you’ll be ready for anything new legislation throws at you.

Sources: https://www.ukconstructionmedia.co.uk/features/year-developments-construction-2019/ https://www.clarkslegal.com/Blog/Post/20182019_5_key_themes_in_Construction_Law https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/ file/707785/Building_a_Safer_Future_-_web.pdf https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/news/construction-industry-not-prepared-for-major-uk-vat-change

www.niftylift.com

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-48967214 29

FC&A – MARCH – 2020

BUILD FOCUS: RETAIL

BUILD FOCUS:

RETAIL

FC&A rounds up the latest case studies, advice and stories from the industry’s leading professionals. This month’s Build Focus shines a light on the Retail sector; with top tips on subfloor preparation and wet-on-wet liquid waterproofing.

MARTIN CUMMINS

VICTORIA RAMWELL

UK TECHNICAL SUPPORT

UK MARKETING MANAGER

MANAGER AT BOSTIK

AT KEMPER SYSTEM

PREPARING THE SUBFLOOR IN A RETAIL ENVIRONMENT

LIQUID WATERPROOFING: WHY USE WET-ON-WET APPLICATIONS?

A range of considerations should be taken into account when preparing a subfloor to receive floorcoverings in a retail environment, says Martin Cummins at Bostik.

Victoria Ramwell from Kemper System explains the benefits of using wet-on-wet liquid waterproofing solutions for retail refurbishments.

BOSTIK

KEMPER SYSTEM

our first consideration should be the type of flooring you are working with. Various floors are common in retail buildings, all with their own preparation requirements. Due to high footfall, a popular type of flooring in retail environments is carpet tiles. When installing these, it’s a good idea to use a tackifier adhesive that will provide a permanently tacky film when dry. This facilitates the easy removal and replacement of individual tiles once they become worn, and allows designs to be changed over time. Similarly, vinyl often requires a specialist adhesive to protect against plasticiser migration, which occurs when the plasticisers in the flooring react with the adhesive. Plasticiser migration can cause the flooring to discolour, soften or in the worst-case scenario, slide around as the adhesives dissolve and stop holding the floor in place. The specific area where the floorcovering is being installed should also be considered. If it’s subject to constant sunlight or heat, you may need to use an adhesive that performs well in areas of high solar gain, without losing strength. Along with choosing the correct adhesive, there may be specific performance characteristics required from your choice of smoothing compound too. For example, with thin sheet vinyl and luxury vinyl tiles (LVT), a high flow smoothing compound is recommended, as this will ensure a smoother finish without any undulations in the completed floor.

uick and easy to apply, and with solvent-free options available, liquid roofing and waterproofing solutions can minimise disruption for busy retailers. However, when specifying liquids for retail environments, it is important to establish whether a wet-on-wet or wet-on-dry system is appropriate. For example, achieving a consistent coverage rate can be more challenging when using a wet-on-dry liquid waterproofing product, especially with the topcoat. If not applied correctly, this can lead to UV damage to the base layer and subsequent system breakdown. Specifying a wet-on-wet system with a reinforcement fleece, means it is easier to obtain a consistent coverage. Operatives know enough resin has been applied when the fleece is no longer visible. The resin then cures to form a single, fleece-reinforced, chemicallybonded membrane that is UV stable. Furthermore, as operatives don’t have to wait until the first application of waterproofing resin has dried before the final layer is installed, a wet-on-wet system can generate significant time savings and less site disruption, especially if part of the retail site is still occupied. Wet-on-dry systems that require the base coat to cure before application of the UV topcoat can also be more prone to wind-borne debris or moisture forming on the surface overnight. This is less likely with wet-on-wet applications as they are laid in a single process. Whichever liquid waterproofing solution is specified in a retail setting, it is always advisable to opt for an experienced liquid manufacturer with full system training and warranties.

www.bostik-profloor.co.uk FC&A – MARCH – 2020

www.kempersystem.co.uk 30

Discover Discover Nordic Copper Nordic Copper for Architecture for Architecture Copper: Nordic Blue Living 1, Project: Royal Academy of Music, London Architects: Ian Ritchie Architects, Photo: Adam Scott

Copper: Nordic Blue Living 1, Project: Royal Academy of Music, London Architects: Ian Ritchie Architects, Photo: Adam Scott

Architectural Copper Surfaces and Alloys Copper is a constantly evolving, natural and durable material with an indefinite design-life. It is fully recyclable, safe to use, non-combustible and requires no maintenance. Nordic Copper is an impressive portfolio of surfaces and alloys for architecture, including Nordic Brown pre-oxidised copper. The Nordic Blue, Nordic Green and Nordic Turquoise pre-patinated ranges share properties and colours based on the same brochantite mineralogy found in natural patinas. Alongside Architectural Copper Surfaces and Alloys traditional Bronze and Nordic Brassand alloys, the innovative Nordic retains its rich golden colour over time.safe Nordic Copper offers limitlessand possibilities Copper is aNordic constantly evolving, natural durable material with an Royal indefinite design-life. It is fully recyclable, to use, non-combustible requires for no innovative contemporary architectural and interior design. Discover Nordic Copper now. maintenance. Nordic Copper is an impressive portfolio of surfaces and alloys for architecture, including Nordic Brown pre-oxidised copper. The Nordic Blue, Nordic Green and Nordic Turquoise pre-patinated ranges share properties and colours based on the same brochantite mineralogy found in natural patinas. Alongside traditional Nordic Bronze and Nordic Brass alloys, the innovative Nordic Royal retains its rich golden colour over time. Nordic Copper offers limitless possibilities for innovative contemporary architectural and interior design. Discover Nordic Copper now.

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FC&A â&#x20AC;&#x201C; MARCH â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2020

BUILDING ACCESS

THE RISE OF WIRELESS AND IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRATION In today’s fast-paced digital age, we’re constantly subject to change – and it’s no different for access control. Trevor Ball of Allegion UK asks whether we truly understand the importance of seamless system integration in today’s shifting access control market. ALLEGION UK

cloud systems, for example, take access control online, creating a new streamlined security infrastructure – and this is a market that’s set to continue growing exponentially. But this upgrade doesn’t come without challenges.

he world of access control is changing. Ask anyone active in the industry and the likelihood is that they’ll confirm a shift in landscape. Take a step back, and you realise how quickly access control has advanced, moving from traditional lockand-key methods to the techdriven security solutions we find in our facilities today. Generally, as we continue to seek convenience through technological development, we’re seeing a rapidly advancing trend in the implementation of wireless connectivity. Whether this be the devices you find around the home (think wireless headphones or smart home devices) to the advancing market of wireless access control solutions. Today, the idea is to connect devices together, wherever and whenever possible. The development of wireless access control, in particular, has provided facilities with an abundance of options, including what we now know as ‘cloudbased’ access control. ‘Pure IP’ FC&A – MARCH – 2020

Change is good? This adoption of new technologies is mostly viewed in a positive light, seen as an opportunity for improved security and an industry moving forward. However, for some, with change comes more responsibility and, perhaps far worse, uncertainty. Present an online access control solution to those with an existing physical security system, and questions are raised. Will it improve security? How much will it cost? And is it possible for me to integrate the solution into my existing system? Although cloud-based systems can offer a more modernised, assured security network, not everyone is inclined to see it that way at first glance. 32

BUILDING ACCESS

“Whilst there’s still a place for physical hardware, facility managers can no longer deliver the expected level of security with a mismatch of security systems running through their buildings” TREVOR BALL

To those with an already established system (no matter how effective it is), upgrades can mean hassle with additional installations, internal network systems and costs all needing to be considered. Yet, misconceptions concerning time, costs and integration are just that – misconceptions. The advancing market has given us access to solutions that can recreate or even convert older systems into something that is compatible with new access control software. Pure IP cloud systems, in particular, can improve the overall management of a building’s security with simplicity.

The revolution is coming So, as increased connectivity continues to drive market trends, will it eventually force facilities to make the switch? That debate can only be answered with time. However, we only have to look at the accelerating growth of mobile credential usage to see that these disruptive trends could be moving faster than we think. And for that, we must prepare. Seamless integration really is key here. As more choose to update the systems on their premises, we must ensure that building security isn’t compromised in the process. Whilst there’s still a place for physical hardware, facility managers can no longer deliver the expected level of security with a mismatch of security systems running through their buildings. The incorporation of IoT-led security devices (designed to integrate with existing systems) should be seen as a step forward. Providing systems have been designed with integration, scalability and flexibility features in mind – building security and

operations can be improved. Take a larger premises with numerous buildings, such as a hospital or a university campus, for example. With various building types and numerous access points, a set of facilities such as this can own multiple security systems. Today, integrated networks can help facility managers successfully manage multiple geographically dispersed locations in real-time – something that has not been possible from one system until recently. Adding to that, the data that is collected and monitored via these systems is invaluable for facility managers, allowing them to better aid the flow of movement and even understand weak areas of security. 33

Seamless upgrades Although the phrase “integration” has almost become clichéd in our industry, the reality is that it is a concept of great importance and one that can no longer be ignored. In short, pairing existing systems with fullyintegratable modern access control can not only streamline processes but also improve existing security networks. And as market demand shifts and manufacturers continue to offer these simplified security systems, it could only be a matter of time until most premises choose to incorporate them. After all, the benefits are clear, and the technology is available. And with this in mind, maybe access control truly does belong on the network.

www.allegion.com Sources: https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/at125-cagr-wireless-connectivity-market-size-poised-to-touchusd-1279-bn-by-2027-2019-07-04 | https://www.allegion.co.uk/ en/aboutus/ourglobalbrands/isonas.html | https://www. businessdailymirror.com/2019/10/30/network-access-controlnac-software-market-expert-guide-to-boost-the-industry-inglobal-market-share/ | https://www.securityworldmarket. com/uk/News/Business-News/mobile-vs-physical-accesscredentials-a-tough-battle1#.XbrU40X7SlN FC&A – MARCH – 2020

GLASS & GLAZING

FIRE SAFETY GLASS – TIMING IS EVERYTHING Since October 2006, when The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 came into effect in England and Wales, replacing over 70 pieces of fire safety law, it has been essential for contractors and architects to be aware of fire safety in the built environment. Whether building a new public building or a commercial property; or conducting a major refurbishment; part of the solution for almost any non-domestic premises will be fire safety glass, as Scott Sinden, Managing Director of leading glass manufacturer and processor ESG Group, explains. ESG GROUP

or every commercial or public building, a responsible person, as defined by The Regulatory Reform Order 2005, must conduct a five-point risk assessment of the property. The fourth step in this process includes recording potential fire risks and what has been done to alleviate them. Fire-resistant glass can provide a vital fire safety measure in that it can delay the spread of smoke and flames. Valuable minutes can be gained, allowing the occupants to be evacuated to safety or, depending on the scale of the fire, it may be possible to tackle the fire and contain and extinguish it before further damage is done. Fire-resistant safety glass comes in several forms, and, therefore, it is vital to specify the right type for each project. While budget is always a consideration when specifying any product, it is reassuring to know that modern production methods have ensured that fire-resistant safety glass doesn’t come at a disproportionate cost; it can be specified with the purpose and function of the building in mind. The amount of time FC&A – MARCH – 2020

needed to evacuate a building will be a critical factor in choosing the type of glass to install. Fire-resistant safety glass has traditionally come in two main types. The first is Integrity-only fire-resistant safety glass, classified as type ‘E’ under BS476 Pt 22 and BS EN 1364 Pt 1 1999. In case of fire, this type contains flames, smoke and gases, but not heat. The second type is Integrity and fully Insulating fire-resistant safety glass, denoted as type ‘EI’ under the same regulations. In addition to containing the fire, this also limits the transfer of heat. Using modern processing methods, however, we can now produce a hybrid product, denoted as type ‘EW’ under BS regulations, which can deliver a partial containment of radiated heat, but without carrying a prohibitive price tag. Essentially, this represents the best of both worlds. It gives the architect scope to specify a practical and cost-effective product; while owners of the building can have confidence that, should there be a fire, the safety glass will help limit damage to the building, as well as safeguarding its occupants. 34

Fire-resistant safety glass should be specified according to the time that it delays fire, under strict testing in fire conditions. Depending on the size and function of the building, 30 minutes may be sufficient. Buildings routinely occupied by fit, active individuals can be rapidly cleared. However, if the premises are used for sleeping, by the elderly, or those with limited movement, it is vital to delay any fire for longer; and a product which gives 60 minutes of protection will be advisable. The use of the premises is key – a warehouse storing flammable materials will need careful consideration, as will a residential care home, for example.

GLASS & GLAZING

You must bear in mind when specifying the needs of the occupier, so it is wise to consult the owner or end-user, as well as taking advice from fire and rescue services. The effectiveness of fire-resistant safety glass is partly dependent on the frames in which it is installed, and when specifying, it must be confirmed that the glass and the frames are compatible. One problem historically was finding large enough panels of Integrity-only fireresistant safety glass to use with steel frames. When specifying larger expanses, therefore, it is essential to look for glass such as ESGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pyrotech 660, a toughened laminated fire-safety glass which passes all relevant BS standards, and has been developed expressly for this purpose. Full insulation is also possible using a multilayered fire-resistant glass, which can provide up to 120 minutes of protection, so it is also a good idea to ask the glass processor for advice on the best product to use. A good indication of a suitable product is CERTIFIRE approval. CERTIFIRE is an independently run, UKAS-accredited centre which assesses test evidence from fire-resistant safety glass products, and gives guidance on the kinds of materials with which they can be used, without compromising their effectiveness. In areas where a fire-resistant safety glass partition is to be installed, this is a useful doublecheck for the specifier. The performance of fire-resistant safety glass is also affected by damage, so any cracked or broken panels should be replaced immediately. Provided fire-resistant glass and its frames are correctly specified; modern glass processing is now helping to protect a wide range of organisations from the worst effects of fire, including damage to the fabric of the property and disruption to business or public services.

www.esg.glass 35

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RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGY

THE FUTURE OF HEAT WITH THE FUTURE HOMES STANDARD The Future Homes Standard, effectively the follow up to the “ban the gas boiler” announcement, sets out what we can expect from our buildings from 2025, writes Matthew Trewhella, Managing Director of Kensa Contracting. And how we are going to get there via its “transitional arrangements” could see an almost overnight ban on oil, LPG and electric as soon as mid-2020; under the standard gas will get much harder and heat pumps many times easier to introduce into new-build homes. KENSA CONTRACTING

he proposed new SAP calculation is intended to allow assessment of the effects of the Future Homes Consultation proposed options. One of the headline-grabbing proposals in SAP 10.1 is the proposed carbon factor for electricity at 0.136 – this will mean ground source heat pumps have carbon factors of 0.030 – 0.045 compared to a gas boiler at 0.23.

That’s a saving of more than 80% in carbon emissions just by switching heating to ground source heat pumps. With lots of councils across the country declaring climate emergencies, many of which commit to carbon-neutral targets ahead of the UK’s 2050 ambition, a growing number of new-build developments are already embracing the low-carbon approach.

In adherence to the Committee for Climate Change’s recommendation that homes should make use of low-carbon sources of heating, in particular electrically-powered heat pumps that produce no point-of-use emissions, and the new National Design Guide, which singles out ground source heat pumps and district heating systems as recommended heating technology, Bristol is witness to a number of new-build schemes utilising this ultra-low carbon, non-air polluting, and low-cost heating solution to support its 2030 carbon-neutral pledge. 50 affordable homes are being constructed at Shaldon Road in Bristol to Passivhaus standards by United Living in partnership with United Communities and the Bristol Community Land Trust. The energy-efficient ‘self-finish’ properties will each feature a mini Kensa Shoebox ground source heat pump connected to an ambient shared ground loop array. Complementing the low-carbon ground source heat pumps will be an MVHR system and solar PV panels. The homes will be constructed using a thermally -efficient, single-skin Porotherm block. A green transport plan and protected green corridor harmonise the projects’ environmental credentials. The push by local planning authorities to place energy efficiency and carbon-saving requirements on buildings that go beyond the requirements of the national Building Regulations is resulting in some groundbreaking ultra-low carbon, energy-efficient developments. Notably: 1: Bristol City Council requires developers to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% and to follow a heat hierarchy that encourages renewable and low-carbon heating. 2: The Greater London Authority requires developers to reduce CO2 emissions for new developments by 35% (10% must be from fabric improvements) compared to current Building Regulations. The Future Homes Standard consultation proposes reductions of 20% (option 1) or 31% (option 2) in CO2 emissions for all new dwellings. However, it is also consulting on whether to remove the ability for local planning departments to impose deeper reductions via the planning process. This threatens the planning process being a major influence to impact CO2 emissions and achieve the UK’s zerocarbon targets. The London Energy Transformation Initiative (LETI) comments “local authorities will lose the ability to meet their climate emergency zero-carbon commitments if they are stripped of their powers to go above and beyond the new Part L”. Whilst the Future Homes Standard offers many significant highlights, the lowlight of lower carbon compliance targets is troubling. Kensa has addressed this in its response to the consultation.

www.kensaheatpumps.com FC&A – MARCH – 2020

DISABILITY

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www.xylem.com/uk 37

FC&A – MARCH – 2020

TECHNICAL FOCUS

LIQUID WATERPROOFING BEST PRACTICE With the liquid roofing and waterproofing sector rapidly growing, Victoria Ramwell from Kemper System offers best practice advice on how to specify and install liquid systems. KEMPER SYSTEM

he growth of the liquid roofing and waterproofing industry has provided specifiers and contractors with more product choice than ever before. The range of technologies now available also means liquids can be used for a huge variety of applications ranging from roofs and balconies through to walkways and car parks. But regardless of the type of liquid solution being applied, there are some important steps to follow to ensure the system performs to the required standard and the building or structure remains waterproof.

including the compatibility of the surfaces to be waterproofed, ability to withstand substrate movement, and resistance to damage from anticipated load levels or trafficking. Independent product accreditation is used to effectively communicate conformity and suitability, so it is advisable to research the manufacturer’s current product certification. An example is BBA certification, but there are others. If in any doubt about the suitability of a product, the Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing Association (LRWA) may be able to assist.

Product research

Wet or dry

With such a large number of liquid roofing products now available, specifiers must ensure they thoroughly research which one is most suitable for the application. We’ve seen some new manufacturers offer liquids through distributors at low prices and claim guarantees of around 25 years. Specifiers need to tread carefully and establish whether a product is suitable for the purposes intended. If not, they risk a product being installed which may not perform effectively. As a first step, consider requirements such as compliance with Building Regulations, including resistance to fire of the proposed roof build-up, as well as any specific performance characteristics,

It is also important to establish whether a wet-on-wet or wet-on-dry system is appropriate. When specified from a manufacturer with appropriate thirdparty accreditations such as BBA or BDA certificates, both should offer a durable waterproofing solution, but there are key differences to consider before making a choice. For example, when applying any liquid waterproofing product – whether it be by brush, roller or spray – it is often very difficult to achieve a consistent coverage rate. This means that although the average membrane thickness may be as required, when the system begins to cure, it could still be thin in parts, creating weak spots.

FC&A – MARCH – 2020

In addition, if a consistent depth of liquid has not been achieved, the liquid manufacturer’s warranty could be invalid and not conform with any third-party accreditation. Any remedial work required will then have to be carried out at the contractor’s or even client’s expense. Achieving a consistent coverage rate can be more challenging when using a wet-on-dry liquid waterproofing product, especially with the topcoat. If not applied correctly, this can lead to UV damage to the insufficiently protected base layer and subsequent system breakdown. Specifying a wet-on-wet system that utilises a reinforcement fleece, means it is easier to obtain a consistent depth and coverage as the liquid system completely saturates the reinforcement layer. Operatives know enough resin has been applied when the fleece is no longer visible, meaning it has been fully saturated. The resin then cures to form a single, fleece-reinforced, chemically bonded membrane that is completely UV stable. This helps to avoid potential problems of inter-coat adhesion, thin spots or delamination. Furthermore, as operatives don’t have to wait until the first application of waterproofing resin has dried before the final layer is installed, a wet-on-wet system can generate significant time savings and less site disruption.

TECHNICAL FOCUS

KEMPEROL WATERPROOFING TO COLD ROOF – UPSTAND TO BRICKWORK 04 04

05 01

K E Y: 04

1: 2:

KEMPEROL waterproofing membrane

Metal cover flashing, dressed and fixed

Prepared substrate primed with appropriate KEMPERTEC primer

into chase

Mastic pointing/sealant, applied as per manufacturer’s instructions

Suitable for non-porous surfaces: termination bar, fixed as manufacturers instructions

KEMPEROL WATERPROOFING TO COLD ROOF – ROOF BUILD-UPS

07 06

02 01

K E Y: 1: 10

02 01

The Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing Association (LRWA) advocates that all liquid waterproofing systems should provide a reinforcement layer as part of the application to optimise the system’s performance, but there are some products on the market without this. Without a durable reinforcement, problems can develop. During specification, it is advisable to look for a liquid waterproofing solution with a reinforcement layer – typically a polyester fleece material when using a wet-on-wet solution or a fibreglass mat if using a weton-dry system, for example.

Thorough preparation

Reinforcement

Prepared substrate primed with appropriate KEMPERTEC primer

2: 3: 4:

KEMPEROL waterproofing membrane KEMPERDUR surfacing layer Loose laid geotextile seperation layer/ protection fleece

5: 6:

Paving/decking on proprietary spacers KEMPERTEC EP/EP5 alkalinity/protection/ bonding layer as per manufacturer’s instructions

7: 8:

Paving on mortar bed/dabs Combined protection/attenuation/filtration and drainage layer (or to client specification)

9: Growing media (to client’s specification) 10: Green roof sedum/plant (to client’s specification)

When it comes to installation, a crucial consideration is substrate preparation. If this is not carried out properly, there is a chance that the liquid installation will fail prematurely. Before applying roof coatings, the surfaces to be coated must be firmly fixed and free from any contaminants that could prevent the primer or membrane from adhering properly. Most primers and coatings also require a dry surface to maximise the adhesion. Surface profile should also be considered. Applying a liquid to a rough surface such as concrete will increase consumption and, therefore, your costs. In this situation, it may be more costeffective to mechanically prepare the peaks in the substrate or fill the troughs with an approved material to flatten the profile. Generally, a coating will perform better under stress if it is applied to a uniform thickness. Conversely, smooth metal surfaces may need to be abraded. This will normally improve adhesion.

Expert advice and guidance Once the most appropriate liquid has been specified, operatives must also ensure they closely follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Each liquid waterproofing system is different, so the manufacturer will have its own set of instructions and recommendations for effective application, including suitable substrates, surface preparation, mixing and application. It is advisable for contractors to take advantage of manufacturers’ training courses to ensure they’re fully up to speed on the product to be used and how to apply it, ensuring a robust waterproofing solution that will last for many years to come.

www.kempersystem.co.uk 39

FC&A – MARCH – 2020

FIRE SAFETY

FIRE SAFETY – WHAT MUST CHANGE? The second stage of the Grenfell inquiry opened with what the inquiry’s chief lawyer called a “merry-go-round of buck-passing”, as the contractor, architect and cladding installer gave their statements. Two weeks before the inquiry reconvened, Dame Judith Hackitt, Author of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, shared her frustration around the pace of change following the devastating fire. Her view is the construction industry has not moved fast enough to change its practices and culture, writes Ian King, Chief Operating Officer at Zeroignition. ZEROIGNITION

orthcoming legislation should at least begin to speed things up. Previous disasters such as Hillsborough and Zebrugge resulted in both increased regulation and improved industry practices, and the Government looks set to take similar action on Grenfell. January saw the unveiling of plans to include establishing a new building safety regulator within the Health and Safety Executive. Meanwhile, there are also set to be changes to Building Regulations and a new fire safety bill (expected this summer). At this stage, the details are still uncertain, but it is clear that legislation alone won’t solve all the ills facing the sector. The industry has significant challenges around poor communication, lack of ownership and a reluctance to be held accountable. The statements and submissions made in the first week of phase two of the Grenfell inquiry illustrate perfectly why this is problematic and

FC&A – MARCH – 2020

just how widespread the issues are. This is supported by recent research from the CPA (Construction Products Association) conducted by NBS. The research, which looked into how building materials are incorporated into projects, reveals a culture of poor communication and piecemeal product-by-product approaches. And, crucially, a focus on cost above all else. This potentially lethal combination puts lives at risk. Fire safety needs to be considered at every stage of a building’s design. Construction projects are incredibly complex and involve a myriad of choices, regardless of scale. Each decision has a knock-on effect and can generate unforeseen results. Yet, just 18% of respondents to the CPA study said that impact on other products were always considered when making a substitution. In this context, it’s easy to see how just a few small changes could have fatal results.

FIRE SAFETY

Developing a systematic approach Let’s stop seeing products and start seeing a system. Grenfell was not caused by a single product or poor decision. It was a failure of not just products but of people and practice too. Buildings are much more than the sum of their parts. At every stage, we need to focus on the end result: we are creating a place for people to live and work in, not designing a doorway or a facade.

But change shouldn’t end there. The industry also needs to see: Improved and realistic testing regime Taking a systematic approach still involves the specification of individual components. And, of course, each element must be tested for its individual fire performance. However, the testing regime needs to be built out, and tests need to mimic real life. Groups of products must be tested together to simulate real-world scenarios. Certification should only be granted by independent third-party bodies. The days of manufacturers marking their own homework must end. There also needs to be auditing and spot inspections to check items still perform as certified.

Driving traceability and accountability Unlike the automotive and aviation industries, there’s currently almost no construction chain of custody (CCC). From component manufacture through to installation and maintenance, responsibility is going untracked. Although construction sites often have a local chain of authority, improved safety is contingent on wider oversight of products, installation and construction methods. There needs to be a record joining everything up – the golden thread providing a digital log of what was specified, installed and maintained, along with the person responsible. The sector operates on very low margins, and this has created a culture which values cost above safety. In this respect, construction is an anomaly. Other industries, including automotive, have standards, regulation and oversight which enforce a safety-first approach, no matter the context.

So, what’s the answer? Fire safety to be holistic and considered throughout a project This is RIBA’s current position, and its Plan of Works fire overlay includes designing-in both active and passive measures. There are clearly defined fire safety roles at each work stage from the strategic definition of the project through briefing, design, construction, handover and in-use. Sign off and review must be rigorous and incorporate the client, designers and constructors. This approach needs to be followed

and become standard practice before regulation comes into force. Lives depend on it.

A focus on education and upskilling If laws aren’t being improved quickly enough to save lives and property, then let’s challenge ourselves to know more and bring it into our everyday work. This means fire protection is a key concern rather than an afterthought. It starts with the basics, our study found less than one in 10 architects could define four essential fire protection terms. What’s more, while conducting the interviews, we found that although most architects said they’d had some training, none said that they’d had comprehensive fire protection training. If your knowledge is a bit rusty, RIBA has a fire safety CPD roadshow. Training must be ongoing and careerlong and not just restricted to the regulated professions. 41

Our call to the industry Safety must come first, every time. Although progress is slow, fire safety is moving towards becoming a nonnegotiable essential. While regulation is part of the picture, this must be handled sensibly, and coupled with a stringent and enforced inspection regime. Industry experts now recognise that combining product knowledge, fire-safe system design and figuring out how they work together is essential to building better structures. Ultimately, better product awareness will protect and save lives. Despite all the information available, it is very clear that there is still more to be done across the board to ensure that best practice is fully bedded in. We all have a part to play; let’s step up.

www.zeroignition.com FC&A – MARCH – 2020

RETAILEXPO PREVIEW

RETAILEXPO RETURNS FOR 2020 Taking place at London’s Olympia from 29 to 30th April 2020, RetailEXPO is the go-to event for architects looking for the right tools, solutions, innovations and advice on retail schemes. The two-day expo attracts over 18,000 of the industry’s leading technology vendors and suppliers – from established enterprise-level solution providers to innovative start-up and market disruptors – as well as key decisionmakers from international brands and retailers. RETAILEXPO

n addition to the high calibre of exhibitors and speakers, RetailEXPO provides visitors with a host of networking opportunities, such as The Networking Bar which hosts the ceremony for the Innovation Trail & Awards. These awards celebrate vendors whose innovative products and services deliver enhanced customer experience across their business, from in-store design and digital signage, to payment solutions, biometrics and robotics. The show will also have a ‘digital networking’ app, which provides visitors and exhibitors a matchmaking service to help set up meetings with brands, retailers, vendors and partners. If you’re looking for innovative solutions you haven’t seen before, then head to the Discovery Zone which features exhibitors not seen at the show before, whilst the Start-Up Safari curated by Baringa,

showcases the very latest disruptive technologies pushing the boundaries of retail innovation. Chris Field, CEO of Fieldworks, will also lead a select number of guided visitor tours, showcasing the Innovation Awards shortlisted exhibitors. Not to miss the Stylus Retail Masterclass which gives an exclusive in-depth look at one of retail’s biggest areas for innovation – sustainability – in this masterclass on day one of the show, followed by a live Q&A where Katie Baron, Director of Brand Engagement will answer your most burning retail questions. In addition, the 2020 POPAI Awards, which seek to reward creativity, innovation and best practice in retail marketing, will be showcasing retailers dedicated to achieving excellence instore. RetailEXPO will also be supporting the Student Design Awards initiative, committed to inspiring the next generation of store

designers by setting live briefs in partnership with major retailers and brands. Matt Bradley, Chairman at the RetailEXPO advisory board, said: “Retailers who answer the call for excitement and innovation are flourishing while resistors are falling by the wayside. This year, the show will offer up even more unparalleled levels of

www.retailexpo.com FC&A – MARCH – 2020

insight and inspiration for the retail sector, underpinned by innovative tech and striking design. The result is a more exciting, more diverse industry in which retailers are constantly pushing the boundaries of what they offer and what they do.” Visitors can sign up online for their free pass on the RetailEXPO website.

Modern Art A stunning balance of light and shade, deft brushstrokes, a perfect rendition of its subject – surely the work of an old master. The paintings aren’t bad either. Hand-finished with more tonal variation than any other Millboard decking colour, new Antique Oak recreates the attractive, historic look of aged flooring, while being engineered for the future. It’s slip-resistant, won’t warp or rot and retains its looks for years to come – without restoration. Antique Oak. The art of outdoor design.

Live.Life.Outside.

See the real thing. Request a sample at: millboard.co.uk 43

FC&A – MARCH – 2020

THE FIRE SAFETY EVENT

SUPPORTING THE UK’S FIRE SAFETY INDUSTRY Now in its fourth year, The Fire Safety Event features a powerful combination of education, networking and business support designed to help organisations maintain the very highest standards of fire safety management. The event will feature live demonstrations, talks from key industry figures and an exhibition featuring leading fire safety brands. THE FIRE SAFETY EVENT

he Fire Safety Event will boast an unparalleled line-up of free CPDaccredited content across three theatres. The Fire Safety Keynote Theatre (Sponsored by Advanced) key themes will include Building Regulations review, protecting tall buildings, updates to the Fire Safety Order, a fire safety mock trial and much more. The perfect opportunity to give attendees the chance to hear challenges and changing regulatory landscape to promote best practices in fire safety in buildings and premises. The Tall Buildings Theatre (Sponsored by Evaclite) and curated by the Association for Specialist Fire Protection will be packed with useful tools and techniques for passive fire protection, ideal for professionals managing fire safety in tall and high-rise buildings. New for 2020, the Installer Theatre, which will offer key safety advice and legal requirements for installing fire and security systems across a range of buildings and environments. The new installer theatre will include

key contributions from the National Security Inspectorate – a leading certification body for the security and fire industries. In addition, there will be a number of live demonstrations and nothing more impressive than The DSEAR with a Bang Demo Area, which will feature live experiments based on the requirements of the Dangerous Substance and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002. You will see how ignition sources react with compressed gases, highly flammable liquids, explosion limits and much more. These presentations are part of a safety initiative run by asecos, promoting the best solutions for storing hazardous materials at your place of work. Located at NEC Birmingham from 28 to 30th April and co-located with The Security Event, The Facilities Event and Health and Safety Event, this event series will offer a comprehensive knowledgesharing platform for all professionals working in the safety and security supply chain.

www.firesafetyevent.com FC&A – MARCH – 2020

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DOORS, WINDOWS & BALUSTRADES

TAKING A LEAF OUT OF NATURE’S BOOK Figurative knots and distinctive woodgrain configurations are both authentic and much-loved wood characteristics, which are admired and sought after by specifiers everywhere. VICAIMA

his desire for irregularity and a closer affinity with nature has led leading interior timber door manufacturer, Vicaima, to introduce the new Naturdor Heritage Oak finish. With its open grain and randomly mixed real oak veneer, it takes a leaf out of nature’s book. As a leading exponent in the use of trend-setting designs and with over 60 years’ experience in the manufacture of real veneered products, Vicaima’ s Heritage Oak doors present figured oak veneer that entices the senses of true rustic wood lovers. This new wood veneer treatment has been inspired by authentic influences of nature and reflects a more recent market trend towards wooden doors that embody materials made from more genuine and under refined materials. Naturdor Heritage Oak reflects the unexpected harmony of nature, with

www.vicaima.com FC&A – MARCH – 2020

veneer mixed randomly in a choice of either vertical or horizontal designs. These can have either a matt or standard sheen surface depending on taste. Heritage Oak can be enhanced yet further by the potential collaboration of decorative face grooves, or the option of deep texturing. Introduced for 2020, deep textured allows real veneer to take on a more rustic feel for an even greater tactile experience. Other combinations are afforded by a choice of available frame finishes, ranging from Naturdor Oak and Stained Ash to Dekordor foil or Lacdor paint, creating a unique style to the whole door

assembly. This fusion between a rustic oak veneer appearance, optional face grooves and choice of frame finishes, allows Heritage Oak to blend in and accentuate modern living and working space for a multitude of applications. Emphasising its commitment to the planet and to the sustainable use of natural resources, Vicaima Heritage Oak is covered by the FSC certification. Where performance criteria are demanded, Heritage Oak is also available in fire, acoustic and security solutions. In addition to door-only and door and frame assemblies, matching wardrobes and wall panels can also be provided. For further inspiration and trend-setting ideas, visit the Vicaima website.

info@vicaima.com 46

01793 532333

DOORS, WINDOWS & BALUSTRADES

CRITTALL SCREENS AT THE HEART OF NEW INNOVATION CENTRE An ambitious project to boost the creative industries sector in the North East of England has used Crittall Innervision steel screens and doors as a key design element. CRITTALL WINDOWS

former Grade II Listed post office in Hartlepool’s Whitby Street has been transformed to become The BIS: the town’s new hub for business start-ups offering a range of office and workshop spaces augmented by specialist support. Leeds-based architect firm Group Ginger has retained the existing post office building and augmented it with a modern two-storey extension. A covered courtyard, described as a multi-function open social space, links the two parts of the building. This is where Innervision steel screens and doors, based on Crittall’s Corporate W20 profiles, have been used. Acting as glass walls for individual workspaces, they also look out onto the

social space to encourage collaborative partnership working and interaction between the new occupants of The BIS. David Pogson, Architect at Group Ginger, says: “This is a high-quality project which is the pride and joy of Hartlepool. The choice of Crittall’s Corporate W20 windows was not a difficult one – the quality of the brand product and the design stands out from the rest of the market and offers a unique identity to the courtyard.”

www.crittall-windows.co.uk

hq@crittall-windows.co.uk

The seven bespoke screens, some incorporating doors, are finished in black Duralife powder coating and, by virtue of the slender but strong nature of the steel frames, enhance the transmission of light within the individual offices and the central space.

01376 530800

ABLOY SCOOPS HEALTHCARE INNOVATION PRIZE ABLOY UK

The Medilink West Midlands Medical & Healthcare Business Awards have recognised Abloy UK for innovation within the healthcare sector, thanks to its CLIQ locking technology. The annual awards bring together clinicians, researchers and academics to celebrate the impact organisations have made to the medical and healthcare sector in the West Midlands. Abloy UK took the top prize in the ‘Delivering Innovation into Health and Care’ category, sponsored by West Midlands Academic Health Science Network, which recognises innovations adopted by the NHS which demonstrate an impact on efficiency, patient outcomes and system costs. The security experts have worked alongside a number of West Midlands hospitals to implement its CLIQ locking technology, including Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham City Hospital and Sandwell General Hospital. CLIQ utilises mechanical, high-security disc cylinders combined with highly encrypted electronic locking and identification. It provides a system of remote key management, providing access audit trails and the ability to remove lost or stolen keys.

NEW COASTLINE BROCHURE FROM VBH VBH

Hardware specialist VBH has created a new six-page brochure to help explain the benefits of its greenteQ Coastline range of stainless steel entrance door furniture. The range includes pull handles, lever and knob handle sets, letterboxes, door knockers and butt hinges – all in hardwearing stainless steel. All products are available in brushed stainless steel, with the levers, knockers and letterboxes also available in polished stainless and PVD gold finishes. VBH Marketing Manager, Gary Gleeson, says: “Following market feedwback, we’ve just introduced two new oval profile pull handle options that are proving really popular with fabricators and installers. The Coastline range has expanded to such an extent that it now warrants its own standalone brochure.” Coastline lever handle sets, letterboxes and knockers are interchangeable with its counterparts in VBH’s standard greenteQ suite of door, window and patio furniture so it’s easy for fabricators to upgrade to stainless steel, with its 25-year surface guarantee, when required.

www.vbhgb.com 01634 263300 sales@vbhgb.com

www.abloy.co.uk 01902 364500 info@abloy.co.uk 47

FC&A – MARCH – 2020

DOORS, WINDOWS & BALUSTRADES

HARDWOOD OR SOFTWOOD – WHICH IS BEST? When it comes to timber windows and doors, there is a common misconception that hardwood is always better than softwood because it is more durable and long lasting; this is not the case. GEORGE BARNSDALE

he two categories of timber – softwood and hardwood – have nothing to do with the durability of the timber. Some hardwoods are brittle and soft such as balsa wood, and some softwoods are very strong. The terminology comes from the type of tree. Hardwood comes from deciduous trees, trees that lose their leaves, and softwood comes from trees that keep its leaves/needles all year round. Timber has been used to make doors and windows for millennia. It is the perfect renewable material, which, when properly designed and manufactured to modern standards, will last for a hundred years or more, with basic maintenance. It also gives excellent thermal, acoustic and security performance.

George Barnsdale achieves this by: Good design Ensuring the timber doesn’t get too dry before or during manufacture by carefully monitoring the moisture content of the timber Ensuring that the whole of our storage and manufacturing facility is humidity controlled Carefully sealed end grains, particularly that which is covered in a joint

www.georgebarnsdale.co.uk

All joints sealed with a flexible sealant to allow movement to protect the coating The product is saturated in a preservative basecoat, followed by a clear mid-coat, to preserve and seal all areas A high film building base spray coat and a topcoat to allow further protection and a finish that will last for many years with minimum levels of maintenance.

enquiries@georgebarnsdale.co.uk

01775 823000

GREENTEQ OVAL PULL HANDLES ADD A TOUCH OF STYLE VBH

HARD-HITTING ARCHITECTURE WITH GLASS HARDWARE TRENDS CRL

Hardware is an all-important part of any window and door design. With glass being an increasingly popular material for use on external and internal projects, the hardware that holds it all together doesn’t just have a practical job to do. The finish and style of hardware chosen can make a huge difference to the look and feel of the entire project. A major trend in hardware design currently is towards finishes other than chrome. Matt black, for example, makes a sophisticated and elegant statement that is bold but also timeless. Matt black offers a huge level of versatility, enabling it to be specified for virtually any situation.

www.crlaurence.co.uk crl@crlaurence.co.uk 01706 863600 FC&A – MARCH – 2020

Award-winning hardware specialist VBH has expanded the greenteQ Coastline range of stainless-steel pull handles, with the addition of two new oval profile designs. The stylish, new oval products offer an attractive alternative to the standard circular profile pulls that are already very popular on contemporary entrance doors. VBH advises that oval pulls are manufactured from hardwearing grade 304 austenitic brushed stainless-steel and, as with all the products in the Coastline range, benefit from VBH’s 25-year Coastline guarantee. There are straight and offset options. The pulls are available in four lengths and are available to suit composite, aluminium, timber, PVCu and glass doors.

www.vbhgb.com

sales@vbhgb.com

01634 263300

ALUK JOINS SPECIFI ARCHITECTURE ROADSHOWS ALUK

AluK’s specification support team will be out and about throughout 2020, meeting clients and specifiers at five of the Specifi architecture events taking place around the country. The aluminium fenestration specialist will be in Leeds on March 17th, and then Birmingham in April, Nottingham in May, Liverpool in June, London in July and finally Cardiff in November. Rhodri John, AluK’s Business Development Manager, said: “These roadshows are the perfect place for us to get face to face with specifiers to discuss upcoming projects and see how our window, door and curtain walling solutions can help. There’s no hard sell; the emphasis is on advice and inspiration.”

www.aluk.com

info.uk@aluk.com 48

01291 639739

DOORS, WINDOWS & BALUSTRADES

P C HENDERSON’S TANGENT ROUND THE CORNER SPECIFIED FOR UK’S LONGEST HERITAGE RAILWAY

EXPERTS ADDRESS ‘UNSEEN’ THREAT TO WELLBEING IN MODERN BUILDINGS

P C HENDERSON

P C Henderson has recently been specified for a new-build project at the UK’s longest heritage railway, Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway. Boston Lodge Works is the railway’s main workshop and base for the daily train service. With over 55 carriages in service, the station required a storage facility which could house up to 30 carriages whilst also providing shelter for train cleaning and preparation. The project brief included the need for a robust entrance solution, which could provide easy accessibility to the shed. P C Henderson’s Tangent Round the Corner sliding door hardware was specified for both entrances of the storage facility and then combined with vertical multi-hinge Round the Corner doors to allow for easy access. Catering for metal and wooden doors weighing up to 70kg, Tangent Round the Corner is particularly suited to applications whereby a bunch of parked units is not practical.

ENFIELD SPECIALITY DOORS

A masterclass focused on the effects of noise on health has taken place at London’s Business Design Centre. Hosted by Quiet Mark, the event featured a series of TED-style talks given by experts including Arup, and Saint-Gobain Ecophon, Interior Design Expert and TV Presenter Oliver Heath, and Enfield Speciality Doors. The talks highlighted the increasing evidence of how noise affects mental and physical health. The speakers discussed how a better understanding of the effects of noise is pushing acoustics up the agenda. Enfield Speciality Doors manufactures bespoke acoustic, security, X-ray and fire doors for a wide range of commercial and residential properties. Nigel Sill, one of the keynote speakers, highlighted the challenges of different applications for acoustic doors and some of Enfield’s projects, including Abbey Road Studios and the Alan Turing research centre at the University of Manchester.

www.enfielddoors.co.uk 0208 805 6662 sales@enfielddoors.co.uk

www.pchenderson.com 0191 377 0701 sales@pchenderson.com

Riserdeck® A modern high specification composite alternative to traditional galvanised steel and M&E service riser flooring. Riserdeck® is easy to install. Simply cast into fresh concrete, as the building is constructed, or retrofit at a later stage.”

BENEFITS: Exceptional strength-to-weight ratio. Quick and easy to install. Excellent load bearing capabilities. Lightweight and easy to handle. Bi-directional spanning. Corrosion and weather resistant. Non-conductive. Multi-purpose. Cost effective. Fire resistant (BS 476.) Anti-slip- surface

riserdeck@steponsafety.co.uk

01206 396446

          

www.steponsafety.co.uk

FC&A – MARCH – 2020

HVAC & ELECTRICALS

FREE HOT WATER ENERGY AUDIT FOR ALL HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CENTRES – COURTESY OF RINNAI Rinnai is offering free audits for all hospitals and medical centres in order to maximise energy and financial efficiency in the delivery of hot water at the point of use. RINNAI

aximising efficiencies can lead to fuel savings alone, of up to 30% on current energy prices as the hot water is heated only when it’s used – turn the tap off and the energy costs can stop immediately. The audit, in close co-operation with the site, measures all data concerning use and presents a full and detailed report prepared by CIBSE-recognised engineers. This is all free of any charge.

www.rinnaiuk.com FC&A – MARCH – 2020

Rinnai is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of continuous flow hot water systems, with a range of units that can be manifolded to supply, virtually, limitless temperature-accurate water to a site of any size. It also means less space spent on plant rooms and no or little maintenance as all units are proven to be robust with extended working life and warranties to support this.

Rinnai’s Sensei N Series water heating range offers a new and compact design with enhanced combustion that allows for easier and quicker installation – and gives high levels of operational performance. All components in the range are designed and manufactured by Rinnai, and this ensures maximum quality and reliability from the world leader in commercial continuous flow water heating products and systems. The Rinnai Sensei N Series is also the first-ever continuous flow hot water heating unit manufactured with stainless-steel heat exchangers to be available in the UK – this gives a greatly extended working life. Added to this is the Sensei N Series market leading extended warranties. The advanced burner controls with the Sensei N Series models ensure that all the appliances are well ahead of the NOx requirements set within ErP. The current level of permissible NOx set by ErP is 56mg/Kwh. The Sensei N Series range has been third-party tested at 28mg/Kwh, making them one of the greenest water heating appliances available. As the units do not incorporate storage, its ‘green credentials’ are further recognised by BREEAM and score additional credits under the Building Regulations. In answering the threat of Legionella proliferation – continuous flow technology is recognised as heavily reducing the risk of Legionella proliferation when compared to other types of hot water delivery. The main reasons for this are that there is no storage, system turnover is regular and the area for debris is much lower than storage type systems. The industry uptake of Rinnai’s continuous flow heater systems is proven to be more energy-efficient than conventional storage systems and are increasingly the expert’s preferred method of hot water provision. Rinnai units easily cater for any size projects that need high volumes of water at intermittent or any times of day. Rinnai manufactures over two million water heaters every year and as such, is at the forefront of creating unit cost advantages for installers. Competitively priced, the units offer all technological advances and innovations, all at a similar cost to lower specification competitor models.

info@rinnaiuk.com 50

01928 531870

HVAC & ELECTRICALS

PLUMBING SPECIALIST HAS NEVER LOOKED BACK AFTER TAKING THE PLUNGE WITH WUNDATHERM Compatible with sustainable heat pumps, solar panels or any existing gas/oil boilers, the Wundatherm underfloor heating system can be laid by any competent tradesmen, including builders, carpenters and tilers. WUNDA GROUP

eating expert, Wunda Group, wants more tradesmen to gain from the profitable benefits of Wundatherm – a rapid response wet system with no need to dig up floors – so has asked one of its most valued customers why they use Wunda and why they keep coming back. PW Heating and Plumbing Engineers has been a loyal Wunda Group customer for 10 years, with Managing Director, Patrick Whitehouse, declaring he wouldn’t use anyone else for underfloor heating.

Patrick says: “Over the years, we’ve installed underfloor heating in new builds and renovations and we’ve used Wundatherm as it’s simple to fit. I’ve found that it’s really popular as it’s ideal for people looking to take their radiators out without too much disruption. “There are always reservations with underfloor heating as people are concerned about mess, cost and digging up floors, but you don’t need to worry about that with Wundatherm. “Wunda provides a really good support service. If there’s a problem on a Friday night or a Saturday

www.wundatrade.co.uk

plans@wundagroup.com

morning, the help is there, and that matters. I wouldn’t swap to another supplier now, lots of people in the industry like to try out new products but when I find a good product that is always developing, I don’t need to go anywhere else.” To see Patrick in action, visit the Wunda Group YouTube channel today.

0800 083 2677

ADVANCED ENSURES PASSENGER SAFETY AT LONDON BRIDGE STATION ADVANCED

48 million UK commuters and 80 new businesses who travel and operate within London Bridge Station each year are now protected by MxPro 5 fire panels from fire systems leader Advanced. The fourth busiest station in the UK has undergone a high-profile £1bn redevelopment that has seen passenger capacity almost double – another London landmark protected by Advanced fire panels. MxPro 5 is the company’s highest performance analogue addressable panel, approved to EN 54 parts 2, 4 and 13 offering four detector protocols and a completely open installer network that enjoys free training and support. MxPro panels can be used in single-loop, single-panel format or easily configured into multi-loop, high-speed, 200-panel networks covering huge areas and thousands of field devices. A member of the Rail Industry Fire Association (RIFA), Advanced has panels installed in a number of other rail-related buildings, including the Tottenham Court Road Crossrail station, almost 100 London Underground stations and more.

VORTICE UK SALES TEAM STARTS THE YEAR IN ITALY VORTICE

January began with the VORTICE UK sales team’s visit to the company’s Italian headquarters where they previewed some of the brand’s exciting new product development plans, with the environment being a key consideration. 2020 begins with the roll-out of the Vort Avel HR450D Passive House-accredited ventilation system which was launched at the end of 2019. General Manager, Kevin Hippey, said: “The core business ethos in Italy is replicated in the UK, the desire to provide excellent indoor air quality to the domestic, commercial and industrial markets and our drive to ensure that all our products are as energy-efficient as possible. All of these measures help contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions and assist the Government in achieving zero carbon by 2050.” The technical team at VORTICE will always be happy to work with architects, specifiers, developers and contractors in order to ensure that optimum energy efficiency and good indoor air quality is planned in at an early at the design stage of a project.

www.vortice.ltd.uk 01283 492949 sales@vortice.ltd.uk

www.advancedco.com 0345 894 7000 jmountain@advancedco.com 51

FC&A – MARCH – 2020

HVAC & ELECTRICALS

RINNAI HOT WATER – RELIABLY INSTANT, ENERGY-EFFICIENT AND LOWER FUEL COSTS FOR UK HOMEOWNERS Rinnai’s range of ErP A-rated continuous flow gas-fired hot water heaters now includes models specifically aimed and designed for the UK domestic market. The units guarantee high efficiencies and low running costs combined with consistent water temperatures seven days a week. RINNAI

innai’s range of continuous flow water heating units are being specified and installed in the whole range of domestic properties – studios, flats, houses, high-end residential houses – as installers and end-users become aware of the ease of installation, and the energy and cost-saving benefits. Rinnai manufactures over two million water heaters every year, and as such is at the forefront of creating unit cost

www.rinnaiuk.com FC&A – MARCH – 2020

advantages for installers. Competitively priced, the units offer all technological advances and innovations, all at a similar cost to lower specification competitor models. The reason for the increase in popularity is that continuous flow heating systems are proven to be more energy-efficient than conventional ones and are now the preferred method of hot water provision. Rinnai units meet the demands of any size of home and are ideal where high volumes are demanded at intermittent times of the day, delivering safe-temperature useable hot water.

info@rinnaiuk.com 52

Rinnai’s multipoint 17i water heater, for example, eliminates the problem of sudden changes in water temperature, resulting in cold showers or scalding hot baths – the water temperature you set is the water temperature you get. So, if somebody is happily showering at 42°C and a tap is turned on to draw a bath elsewhere in the property, the temperature does not vary, and there is no chance of either user running out of hot water. The Rinnai 16i interior model measures just 675 x 370 x 139mm and weighs in at 18kg – a one-man lift. The roomsealed unit has a temperature range of 35 to 60°C with direct electronic ignition. Gas consumption ranges between 4.7 and 6.5kW for natural gas and 4.9 and 36.8kW when using propane. Hot water delivery flow is an impressive 16 litre max. Nominal operation pressure is one to seven bar and it uses a 230V AC 50Hz 1ph power supply with an electrical consumption of 68W. Meanwhile, where an external installation is required, the Rinnai 17e external multipoint water heater offers greater flexibility at the design stage and offers a viable solution where flue runs are problematic or internal space is not available. Capable of flow rates of up to 510 litres per hour at a 50°C rise, the 17e is suitable for multiple applications and can be specified for use with natural gas or propane. The 17e has full frost protection and is available with a range of external ancillary items, including pipe cover box – and security cage where necessary. For smaller properties, the Infinity 11i interior unit differs from the 17i as it weighs 2kg less at 16kg and consumes 6.10 to 21.60kW of natural gas and has an 11-litre maximum flow. Key features of the 24kW Rinnai 11i are: compact and lightweight unit for easy installation; robust, durable heat exchanger; user-friendly digital controls; in-built frost protection; ideal replacement for large obtrusive and bulky cylinder; compact design to fit a limited space.

01928 531870

HVAC & ELECTRICALS

THE ENERGY QUESTION IS NOW A ‘TRILEMMA’ Chris Goggin of Rinnai looks at the future of energy supply in the UK with some of the likely outcomes and possible scenarios in response to the inevitability of changing consumer habits and behaviour in the face of the urgent needs to conquer climate change. RINNAI

here is now a consensus that climate change must be halted by a whole raft of changes to our behaviour and habits unless we wish to play chicken with irreversible global consequences. Climate change affects all of us, unless, of course, you happen to be the 45th President of the USA, in which case you can carry on Twittering. Or maybe he has a point? Are the claimed dire consequences overplayed and overstated for wider political purposes? Well, if you accept the logic that even fake news can be genuine sometimes, then we need to look at the facts. The simple, accepted facts. 66% of energy used (officially verified figures) domestically in the UK is for heating, so both the UK heating industry and the UK Government have a vested interest in preventing the potential impact of this macro-environmental theme. There appears to be an urgent need for awareness campaigns that aim to change our perception and habits of using energy in the home environment. These campaigns should be driven by the UK heating industry whilst calling for support from the UK Government to assist in changing the energy consumption behaviours of consumers nationwide. There is substantiated evidence from other areas of the globe that change can happen

www.rinnaiuk.com

and take effect with the strategic response of social marketing in the form of “nudge”-based campaigns. A key element of the energy trilemma is related to the security of energy supplies, which is crucially important if the UK is to produce a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (Spataru et al. 2015). It is noted by many sources that North Sea oil and gas reserves are in decline, a point highlighted by Lovell et al. (2009, pg.12), who states that “the UK’s North Sea oil and gas reserves appeared to have peaked”. This statement is supported by Macalister (2010), who states that “the UK will find itself on the brink of losing its energy self-sufficiency”. The lack of energy sustainability, coupled with a loss of energy security, leads to the final element of the energy trilemma – affordability. To avoid the outcomes of the energy trilemma, the UK must transform its energy sector; this transformation is hindered by great uncertainty as to the central policy objectives and agendas which are driving UK governance (Bolton & Foxon, 2013). Therefore, it appears that one of the most rational avenues of action be that the heating industry, supported by national Government, undertake a programme of social-based “nudge” campaigns to allay and reduce the impact of the energy trilemma by reducing long-term consumption. The UK Government has failed with policy approaches that have sought to incentivise energy reductions in light of the issues stemming from the energy trilemma. For example, the green deal aimed at incentivising more energy-efficient behaviour.

info@rinnaiuk.com 53

The failings of the green deal are described by (Rosenow & Eyre, 2016. Pp. 141) poor policy design, limited financial appeal and narrow engagement with consumers. The key failings of the ‘green deal’ and other Government approaches was its inability to truly understand the audience benefit. These benefits need to be elicited to tap into and satisfy the underlying motivation of groups as discussed by (as discussed by Lefebrve, 2011, pp.58) and these benefits may not be health, a cleaner environment, access to services or even money. This step-change away from monetary incentives towards energy reduction programmes could focus on audience benefit, with an educational approach to changing and evoking social norms related to energy consumption. Sounds drastic? Many would argue that we are in drastic times requiring drastic measures. Or we just go on Twitttering...

01928 531870 FC&A – MARCH – 2020

RCI & WATERPROOFING

NEWTON WATERPROOFING BECOMES EXCLUSIVE UK DISTRIBUTOR FOR TRADECC INJECTION RESINS Newton Waterproofing – one of the leading independent designers and suppliers of guaranteed waterproofing systems – has become the exclusive UK distributor for the injection resins of TRADECC, a Belgian construction chemicals specialist. NEWTON WATERPROOFING

ustomers and partners of Newton Waterproofing can now profit from TRADECC’s 50 years’ experience in the manufacturing of products for waterproofing, water sealing, soil stabilization, concrete repair and structural reinforcement. The agreement is the fruitful result of a longstanding and valued relationship between the two parties, which has officially been forged in 2019. Warren Muschialli, Newton Waterproofing’s Managing Director, states: “Newton’s decades of waterproofing experience combined with TRADECC’s expertise and high-quality product range will deliver huge benefits to any waterproofing project looking for specialised products and experienced support. “This collaboration enables us to offer and deliver effective waterproofing solutions to any large-scale construction, infrastructure and tunnelling project.”

www.newtonwaterproofing.co.uk FC&A – MARCH – 2020

TRADECC is an expert manufacturer and distributor of innovative construction chemicals based on polyurethane, silicate, acrylic and epoxy for water sealing, waterproofing, structural repair and soil consolidation. TRADECC products have been distributed and applied in large-scale construction sites, infrastructure and tunnelling projects worldwide, such as the metros of Cairo, Copenhagen and Sofia. Barbara De Neef, Managing Director of TRADECC, said: “Choosing industry partners who share our desire to provide the very best technical advice and solutions to the market is incredibly important to us. “Newton’s rich history and expertise in waterproofing

projects, their commitment and their growth strategy make them a knowledgeable and highly appreciated partner.” Newton Waterproofing already distributes TRADECC’s key injection resins in the UK market. For more specialist injection resins or waterproofing chemicals, Newton will arrange for direct delivery from TRADECC to any UK address or project. To discuss waterproofing requirements with Newton’s experts, call its technical team today.

info@newtonwaterproofing.co.uk 54

01732 360095

RCI & WATERPROOFING

RMIG ADDS APPEAL TO SUN-AIR HEADQUARTERS A facade with an eye-catching cloud and sky motif made from perforated sheets has been specified by AART architects for the SUN-AIR Aviation Headquarters in Billund, Denmark. RMIG

hen designing its new headquarters, the SUN-AIR Aviation Group wanted an innovative building constructed from sustainable materials. Using RMIG ImagePerf, the facade depicts a cloud formation – a very appropriate motif for an airline office, which also happens to be located on Cumulusvej. The perforated sheets, manufactured and supplied by RMIG, provide shade during the summer and diffuse glare-free light during the winter months.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Raw material: Aluminium EN 5754 Pattern: RMIG ImagePerf Thickness: 4.0mm Surface treatment: Powder coating RAL 9060

www.city-emotion.com

info.uk@rmig.com

FIXFAST INITIATIVES SEEK TO RAISE STANDARDS IN FASTENER SPECIFICATION

SENIOR ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS UNVEILS ITS NEW CURTAIN WALL CPD

FIXFAST

SENIOR

Fixfast, a leading manufacturer and supplier of fasteners, has launched two major initiatives to support the correct specification of fasteners for the building envelope. Architects and contractors can access a comprehensive technical support service providing guidance on project-specific fastener selection and testing. Complementing the new service, a highly-detailed specification guide can be downloaded by specifiers as useful reference material. Both initiatives have been introduced to encourage more consistent and improved specification of building envelope fasteners, and therefore enable the construction of better, safer and longer-lasting buildings. The Specification Support Service promises responses to queries within 48 hours, access to Fixfast’s dedicated technical support team, and advice on what fastener will meet the required system specification while complying with current building standards and regulations. The service also includes support with writing project specifications, preparation of fixing-related calculations (e.g. for windloads, facades and tapered schemes), and access to technical documents and CPD sessions.

ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS

01925 839610

Aluminium fenestration solutions provider, Senior Architectural Systems, has launched a new RIBA-approved CPD seminar entitled ‘Curtain Wall – Design, Detail, Delivery’. The comprehensive new CPD will assist specifiers in developing a greater understanding of the purpose of curtain wall systems, covering the key considerations of aesthetic appeal, performance, sustainability, wind loads and pressures, as well as compliance with the latest energy efficiency targets and fire regulations. Benefitting from Senior’s extensive knowledge gained from over three decades of being at the forefront of the UK’s fenestration industry, the new CPD will also look in detail at the fabrication and installation process, testing procedures, glass specifications and the different design options available. Specifiers will be able to learn more about the specific benefits of aluminium curtain walling, from its strength and flexibility to the fact that the material can be endlessly recycled. The role of the systems manufacturer will also be discussed, and the seminar will cover the benefits of early engagement and collaboration, as well as the technical support that is available.

www.fixfast.com/specificationsupport 0800 0590955 specsupport@fixfast.com

www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk 01709 772600 cpd@sasmail.co.uk 55

FC&A – MARCH – 2020

RCI & WATERPROOFING

METAL ROOF REPAIRS ARE PLAIN SAILING AT ADMIRAL LORD NELSON SCHOOL THANKS TO SIKA PRO-TECTA Named the TES ‘Creative School of the Year’ in 2019, Admiral Lord Nelson School in Portsmouth is a high school for around 1000 pupils aged 11 to 16. The school operates from a striking white building that reflects its maritime location with a cruise ship-style design. SIKA LIQUID PLASTICS

he building was constructed in the 1990s and features a standing seam metal roof. Due to integrity issues across a number of roof areas, dating back to the original build programme, the school was experiencing problems with water ingress. This was causing secondary damage to the internal fabric of the building. A roof refurbishment was required to provide a complete waterproofing solution for the whole roof and this has been carried out as a phased project alongside a programme of internal refurbishment.

Specifying the right system Working with building surveying practice, Kendall Kingscott, the school intended to secure funding for the roof refurbishment through the Government’s Condition Improvement Fund (CIF). In order to submit a successful bid, a system with a guaranteed service life of 15 years was required, making the Sika Pro-Tecta waterproofing (WP) system, with its range of guarantees, an ideal solution. Sika Pro-Tecta also provided a system designed specifically for robust protection of metal roofs and capable of addressing the water ingress issues by encapsulating all the roof details and the metal sheets. The project commenced during the school’s six-week summer break but, due

gbr.liquidplastics.sika.com FC&A – MARCH – 2020

to the size of the roof, the majority of the work had to be delivered during term time, while enabling the school to continue to operate as usual. Consequently, the speed of installation offered by the Sika Pro-Tecta WP system was also a major benefit.

Expert installation Sika Liquid Plastics’ Quality Assured (QA) contractor, Davis Roofing, Kendall Kingscott and Sika Liquid Plastics’ area technical manager carried out a full inspection of the existing roof to assess the project’s requirements. Sika Liquid Plastics worked with the building surveyor and the school to develop the bid. The Davis Roofing team began by removing all the existing aluminium detailing and cleaning and preparing the roof, applying the high-performance Sika Poxicolor HE New metal primer to the roof surface. All detailing was then reinforced using Sika Joint Tape SA for all ridge, hip, apron, eaves and gutter details. The tape was also used to reinforce a total of 5300m of seams on the standing seam roof. A light flash coating of Sikalastic 625 cold-applied liquid membrane was then applied to all reinforced detailing and seams. The Sika Pro-Tecta WP system was completed with a full encapsulation of the roof with Sikalastic 625.

The specification for the roof refurbishment also included replacement of three electrically operated lantern lights and five polycarbonate roof lights, with supply co-ordinated by Sika as part of a turnkey product and service package. Joe Robbens, Commercial Manager at Davis Roofing, comments: “The roof at Lord Admiral Nelson School is very large and has a lot of detailing that needed to be reinforced before we could begin waterproofing with the Sikalastic 625. The Sika Pro-Tecta system’s Sika Joint Tape SA made this process much faster than it would have been using traditional reinforcement techniques, which provided labour cost savings for us and faster project delivery for the client.”

01772 259781 56

RCI & WATERPROOFING

AN EDUCATION IN MULTITASKING AND INNOVATION The iconic 8500m2 former Herman Miller factory, on the banks of the Kennet and Avon Canal in Bath, has been transformed into a new School of Art and Design for Bath Spa University, with the help of some innovative thinking by Structura. STRUCTURA UK

riginally designed by Sir Nicholas Grimshaw in 1976 and Grade II Listed in 2013, the architects returned 40 years later to convert the factory into a modern, bright, functional and flexible space. As part of the conversion, Structura UK worked closely with main contractor Willmott Dixon on the complete building envelope from the entrances and glazing through to repairs, refinishing and creating a complete new glass top floor. This is the country’s oldest GRP building. In order to renew the classic GRP panels, Structura installed two spraying booths on site to remove the panels then sand, recoat, respray and replace. The ability to set up dynamic on-site spraying booths complete with extraction venting saved time and money as well as minimising the risk of transporting and damage to these aged panels. The glazing throughout the building was also replaced by Structura. Given the building’s listed status, this included sourcing bespoke gaskets from Germany which needed to match the original. The result is a stunning series of spaces which are visually connected but also allow for privacy. The clean, sharp steel and concrete interior is complemented by the flowing panels on the exterior while the new rooftop extension is set back from edge of the building to avoid being obtrusive.

www.structura-uk.com mail@structura.co.uk 01233 501504 57

FC&A – MARCH – 2020

RCI & WATERPROOFING

Bedford 405, Bedford. Images courtesy of Goodman.

CHRONUS READY (PATENT PENDING) DELIVERS THE ‘NEXT GENERATION’ OF TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

Bedford 405 has been designed to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, leading to energy, cost and maintenance savings over the lifetime of the building. Delivered to a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard* and targeting an A-rated EPC, it includes the following features: • Carbon-neutral cladding envelope • Highly insulated building • Solar-enabled infrastructure • 12-15% roof lights • Airtightness far in excess of current Building Regulations • LED lighting to offices and external areas + Low NOx condensing boiler.

The demand for large-scale warehousing has doubled in the last 10 years*, in particular, the need for temperaturecontrolled space has increased as with growth in the retail sector, which currently accounts for 35% of warehousing stock in the UK**. CA GROUP

n increase in online commerce has meant the FMCG market has evolved, and there is a much greater focus on supply chain support services, as well as storage. These market factors are some of the reasons why the demand for large distribution centres has become increasingly complex, with building requirements evolving to not only focus on the external building structure but to place equal emphasis on the quality and control of the internal storage space. Buildings servicing retail and food enterprises now need to effectively and efficiently manage and maintain a range of temperature and climatically controlled space, with sophisticated mechanical and electrical equipment. Over recent years, developers requiring cold store and chill store specifications have increasingly needed to work more closely with building

FC&A – MARCH – 2020

envelope providers to best understand the role of the building envelopment and ensure the final design meets these requirements. There are essentially three categories of temperature-controlled storage; ‘ambient,’ ‘cold’ and, more recently, ‘chill’ store, as explained below. Ambient storage space being ‘unconditioned’ provides ‘room temperature’ and normal storage conditions, typically in the range of +5°C to +25°C– often required for commercial, office, industrial, manufacturing, logistics and retail (non-perishable food and non-foods). With regard to the building envelope, there are no special requirements for temperature control and potentially only frost protection; this is how many buildings have traditionally been constructed. Cold storage space is designed for temperaturecontrol where temperatures fall

below ambient requirements. This space is often built as an ‘internal box’, typically used as a refrigeration unit or freezer for the storage and control of perishable goods as demanded by the retail, pharmaceutical, leisure and logistics sectors. This solution has been widely adopted in the construction industry, with temperatures falling as low -25°C. Chill stores are becoming increasingly commonplace and can cater for temperature ranges typically between 0°C and +5°C. The entire internal environment can be temperature controlled, without the need for an additional internal ‘box’ adding, which was often the solution previously. This would typically be required for foodstuffs, e.g., fresh produce, as well as horticultural, agricultural and pharmaceutical supplies. CA Group has invested in product development to

create a more economical, environmentally-efficient and flexible building system that offers the ‘next generation’ of temperature-controlled storage buildings. The aim is to provide a building envelope system specially designed to provide flexibility of temperature-controlled space, making it more commercially viable and commercially attractive to property developers, with added environmental benefits. Built in accordance with the needs of the client, developer, Building Regulations and Local Authority Building Control (LABC) requirements, and through continuous investment in product design, development and testing, CA Group has created a system that delivers dynamic and ‘Adaptable Building Solutions’ for internal temperature applications between 0°C and above. Twin-Therm Chronus Ready (Patent Pending) meets the strict performance requirements

RCI & WATERPROOFING

of a chill store building, enabling temperature control whilst managing condensation with a solution that offers a hugely simplified construction process. Highly certified, robust, but adaptable, Chronus Ready (Patent Pending) has proven to offer advanced functionality, offering a credible chill store solution as an extension to CA Group’s renowned Twin-Therm built-up roof and wall cladding system. The average lifespan of a commercial build means that it will likely undergo several changes in tenancy over time. For developers building speculatively, the need to design for adaptability is fundamental as occupant requirements can vary enormously and changes such as climate and lighting control can pose real challenges for buildings not designed to adapt, as well as present significant reconfiguration costs. A Chronus Ready (Patent Pending) specification facilitates

building adaptability, enabling property agents to attract a wider range of prospective occupiers owing to building flexibility. Furthermore, it also enables change of use more easily, with the ability to alter thermal values, control solar gain and provide climate control, meaning building owners can retain tenants over a long period as the building can be adapted to suit more readily, should a change in business activity occur. CA Group works with some of the UK and Europe’s leading property developers on projects ranging from 100m2 to over 100,000m2 and is a specialist in delivering large-scale, mixeduse, multi-unit schemes. The company recently completed work on Bedford 405, Bedford, a new logistics development by industrial property specialist, Goodman, with 407,143ft2 of cross-docked distribution/ warehouse space and Grade A offices. Located adjacent to the

A421, just seven miles east of J13, the property forms part of a wider mixed-use development, which will incorporate industrial, distribution and business space in an attractive landscaped park environment. Working closely with Goodman and its design team, CA Group implemented Twin-Therm Chronus Ready (Patent Pending) on Bedford 405 to meet with the exacting demands of the building. With a focus on optimal environmental credentials, maximum build adaptability and attractive operational costs, Goodman and CA Group implemented the Twin-Therm Chronus Ready (Patent Pending) specification to deliver multi-temperature space control and flexible warehousing with a highquality, built-to-last, building envelope that offers enhanced performance. The Bedford 405 scheme boasts; space to accommodate single chill store

cagroup.co.uk 59

or subdivided multi-temperature areas, superior airtightness for improved temperature control, optimal environment conditions to store a range of products, minimised heat loss/ gains for enhanced thermal performance. It also provides reduced running costs and CO2 emissions, customisable space with easy-remove rooflights for future building adaptability, enhanced EPC grading and a 25-year guarantee. The BREEAM ‘Excellent’ building is available for immediate occupation. For more information and details, please visit the below website. Serviced plots are available for industrial, warehouse, hi-tech and office use. Sources: *Online Shopping Drives Demand For Warehousing Space, BBC News online, 27th August 2018 | **The Size and Make Up of the UK Warehousing Sector UKWA

enquiries@cagroup.co.uk FC&A – MARCH – 2020

FLOORS, WALLS & CEILINGS

MAPEI PROVIDES A UNIQUE ‘PROSECCO GLASS’ FINISH IN CENTRAL LONDON WITH RENDER SYSTEM MAPE-ANTIQUE STRUTTURALE NHL Mapei products were directly specified by Transport for London through Mapei’s Development Manager, Zane Robinson, with main contractor Oaklands Building Services. MAPEI

he project involved the installation of a complete reinforced breathable render system to the existing facades located along a busy road in front of Victoria Station, creating a distinct yet completely unintentional ‘prosecco glass’-style design. Upon inspection to the facades, Mapei found that the substrate was extremely friable and required a structural solution that could be incorporated within a render system. The walls had become exposed to weathering and water ingress which, over time, would lead to concerns regarding the structural stability. A report on the building found that the substrate was

www.mapei.co.uk FC&A – MARCH – 2020

not structurally sound, thus putting the project on hold until a structural assessment for the evaluation of the facades’ stability could be completed. Following the completion of the assessment, the connections between the facades and flank walls were improved, as required by the engineer, to ensure there were no risks to the public. Mapei provided a structural solution following recommendations by its UKbased structural engineer. All loose and friable material was removed, and then cleaned manually. This was an essential step in the project as this would guarantee a good bonding surface for Mape-Antique Strutturale NHL to adhere to.

16mm diameter holes were drilled at pre-determined centres, to the prepared and clean masonry substrate. MSH Finishes inserted Mapenet EM Connector L20 into the holes, and resin anchored them with Fast Track ready Mapefix EP 385. Made from Alkali Resistant Glass, the EM Connectors are ‘L’ shaped, and are designed to hold the Mapenet EM 40. Following this, the installers applied the first layer of mortar, Mape-Antique Strutturale NHL at 10mm-thick. The highperformance, breathable mortar is reinforced with a composite mesh for consolidating, strengthening and renovating weak masonry. Application of the first layer was completed with a flat metal trowel, ensuring the render was smooth and even. Pre-impregnated alkali-resistant mesh Mapenet EM 40 was then positioned and fixed in place, using the connectors that had been previously installed. A second layer of Mape-Antique Strutturale NHL was then applied at a further 15mm thickness using the same method to completely cover the mesh and connectors. Following the line of the substrate, the unique ‘prosecco glass’ design was created. The Mape-Antique Strutturale NHL solution proved to be the best choice for this project to ensure stability, protection and extra tensile strength, while also improving its appearance.

info@mapei.co.uk 60

0121 508 6970

FLOORS, WALLS & CEILINGS

CROWN PAINTS NAMES ALZHEIMER’S SOCIETY AS ITS CHARITY PARTNER

ECODEK TO UNVEIL NEW NON-COMBUSTIBLE DECKING – ADEK – AT FUTUREBUILD 2020

CROWN PAINTS

ECODEK

Crown Paints has chosen the Alzheimer’s Society as its new charity partner for the next three years. Crown asked its 1100 employees to vote for which charity to support, with Alzheimer’s Society gaining the most votes overall. The charity provides invaluable advice and support for people living with dementia, as well as funding research to find a cure and campaigning for change. The company officially began supporting Alzheimer’s Society on 1st February, and will host a number of fundraising events throughout the next three years at its head office, manufacturing facility and across its network of 140 UK-wide Crown Decorating Centres. All money raised through these activities will be donated to the charity. Commenting on Crown Paints’ support for the next three years, Alzheimer’s Society’s Senior Regional Corporate Partnerships Executive, Natasha Patel, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to employees of Crown Paints for choosing Alzheimer’s Society as their charity partner for the next three years.”

Ecodek is to unveil its new non-combustible aluminium decking system, Adek, at this year’s Futurebuild, which is being held at ExCeL, London, from 3rd to 5th March. This engineered lightweight decking has been specifically designed in response to changing building standards to be Class A2-s1, d0 fire rated, which is now a legal requirement for any material used in the construction or refurbishment of high-rise buildings of 18m or above. This A2 certification means Adek lends itself to several applications, from balconies and terraces to walkways, in both commercial and domestic developments. Made from 100% recycled aluminium, Adek is available in two profiles – 20 and 30mm – which can span 600mm and 1.2m respectively, and with a point load of 4kN both options are strong, durable and long lasting. The system is also extremely easy to install, with concealed face fixings and no need for clips. It’s an ideal solution for both refurbishment projects and new builds.

www.crowntrade.co.uk info@crowntrade.co.uk 0330 024 0297

www.ecodek.co.uk enquiries@ecodek.co.uk 01978 667840

GLOBAL CONSULTING GROUP CONTRACTS STYLE AGAIN STYLE

Delivering flexible space that can be quickly adapted to encourage fluid and collaborative working practices, moveable wall systems are fast becoming the norm for contemporary offices across the UK. Having enjoyed the benefits of a moveable wall that Style installed a few years ago, a major global consulting group recently invited the company back to its London offices to install two further partitioning solutions, effectively sub-dividing a key meeting area. The Dorma Hüppe Variflex ML100 moveable walls allow the open-plan space, where seminars and large group briefings take place, to be closed off, creating three separate rooms for client meetings or smaller gatherings. Thanks to an incredible 59 dB Rw acoustic integrity, all areas can be used concurrently, entirely undisturbed. One of the walls features a writable white laminate finish, while the other has a sophisticated pearl-grey fabric finish that perfectly complements the interior design of the room.

INTERFACE HOSTS CLIMATE-CONSCIOUS EVENING EVENT FOR ARCHITECTS INTERFACE

In response to UK Parliament, Architects’ Declare and RIBA announcing a climate emergency, Interface has brought architectural professionals together with an environmentally-conscious evening event to discuss the industry’s response – and the need to turn pledges into action. The ‘Climate Dine With Me’ evening was held at the prestigious Garden Museum in Lambeth. The speakers included presentations from British Antarctic Survey Climate Scientist, Ella Gilbert; Hattie Hartman, Sustainability Editor at The Architect’s Journal; Maria Smith, from architectural and engineering firm, Webb Yates and Jon Khoo, Regional Sustainability Manager at Interface. Interface’s Jon Khoo said: “At Interface, we are always looking for new, innovative approaches where we can boost collaboration in our network and provide some climate optimism. This event was created to bring leading minds together, so we can all benefit from greater knowledge sharing and learn from experts who are truly helping to make a positive difference in the fight for a more sustainable future.”

www.interface.com interface.uk@interface.com 0207 490 3960

www.style-partitions.co.uk south@style-partitions.co.uk 01202 874044 61

FC&A – MARCH – 2020

FLOORS, WALLS & CEILINGS

EXTERNAL SURFACE SOLUTIONS FROM ITALIAN LEADER, FASSA BORTOLO Fassa Bortolo – one of the leading Italian manufacturers of render and integrated systems – has been meeting the needs of the global building industry for over 300 years. FASSA BORTOLO

ounded in 1710 in Spresiano, Italy, the family-owned business is trusted around the world for its superior products, advancements in research and sustainable quarrying. With over 1500 staff throughout the UK, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland across 18 production facilities, the Italian render specialist provides applicators with a vast and reliable product offering for all manner of residential and commercial building projects. With a broad portfolio covering external wall insulation systems, interior plasters and through-coloured renders

here in the UK, many of which have been accredited by the British Board of Agrément (BBA), the Fassa team is consistently developing products to assist the ever-evolving construction industry, one of the latest being the Fassarend Timber Frame System. With off-site production quickly becoming a common method of construction, Fassa has delivered a new render system that can be part built off site for convenience. Installed with a simple four-stage installation process, the system is made of lightweight carrier boards that are mechanically fixed onto wooden battens and finished with a thin coat render when on site. Ideal for a wide range of buildings from schools through to new builds, the system creates an attractive exterior finish, while offering a solution that remains in keeping with a timber frame structure. The system is third-partycertified by KIWA and accepted by the NHBC.

www.fassabortolo.co.uk

info.fassauk@fassabortolo.com

01684 218305

ANCON OFFERING ENHANCED NONCOMBUSTIBLE BALCONY CONNECTOR RANGE ANCON

Ancon is leading the way in developing solutions to meet the Government’s tough new fire safety requirements for buildings, with the launch of an upgraded range of non-combustible insulated balcony connectors. The development follows news that the existing 18m height limit for combustible materials in high-rise multi-occupancy buildings, is to be further reduced to 11m, extending the scope of the regulations to buildings over four storeys. Ancon’s insulated balcony connectors have been re-engineered and now feature non-combustible mineral wool insulation and improved fire-rated thermal pads, to maintain its impressive thermal insulation properties and provide the required A1/ A2 reaction to fire rating. As well as complying with the combustibility requirements in the current Building (Amendment) Regulations 2018 for wall components in high-rise residential buildings over 18m in height, the Ancon connectors provide contractors with a fire-safe solution for all multi-occupancy buildings, regardless of height.

ARMSTRONG CEILING SOLUTIONS LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE PRODUCT CATALOGUE ARMSTRONG CEILING SOLUTIONS

Armstrong Ceiling Solutions has released its new mineral ceilings and suspension systems catalogue as an online flip-book, for ease of use and on-the-go accessibility. The 106-page catalogue provides complete technical and product information on the manufacturer’s market-leading mineral ceilings and full system solutions, as well as its range of floating ceilings and options for specific applications. Specifiers can now access all the information they need to make educated design decisions when specifying ceilings for new-build and refurbishment projects. Kicking off with a product selector performance table that makes selection of acoustic mineral tiles super-simple, this ethos is carried through with a suspension systems product selector for quick and easy selection of compatible grid systems and concludes with an acoustical technical glossary detailing all the necessary acoustic performance considerations. The catalogue features an at-a-glance cleaning matrix, reaction to fire advice and references to the manufacturer’s recommendations for installation and maintenance.

www.ancon.co.uk tech@ancon.co.uk 01142 755224

www.armstrongceilingsolutions.co.uk 0800 371849 FC&A – MARCH – 2020

FLOORS, WALLS & CEILINGS

STORM DENNIS CAUSES CAVITY WALL LATERAL TRANSFERENCE Lateral transference is the term used to describe wet ingress progressing ‘sideways’ and in so doing permeating parts of a structure that is intended to remain dry. CAVITY TRAYS OF YEOVIL

he traditional bay window is a good example of part of a building susceptible to lateral transference. As bay fascia or facade heights increase, so do the number of courses between the bay roof intersection level and the bay support lintel level. The greater the vertical distance between them, the greater the bay susceptibility to lateral transference, due to the exterior masonry skin on the outside of the bay running uninterrupted onto the support lintel spans the bay. Such construction permits a ‘sideways soak’. Severe storms can saturate masonry, and consequently wet rapidly soaks into the building and across the bay.

Horizontal transference between intersection level and lintel level can be prevented by building in a preformed DPC cavitray, which vertically connects two levels within the same masonry skin, without adversely interrupting bonding or coursing. Its presence arrests dampness before it can track inwardly.

www.cavitytrays.com

Called a Bay Window Vertical Cavitray (BWVC) and manufactured by Cavity Trays of Yeovil, Type BWVC units are handed and available to suit brickwork and blockwork coursings. Units are introduced at each end of the lintel and provide a cleverly shaped permanent DPC connection upwardly to the lowest Cavitray at roof intersection level. Wind-driven rain saturating masonry to the sides of the bay is thus prevented from continuing soaking inwardly, where the exterior skin becomes an internal skin inside the bay.

enquiries@cavitytrays.co.uk

01935 474769

MAKING SOUND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE With the construction industry using an estimated 36% of worldwide energy and creating 40% of CO2 emissions (source: iea.org), it’s easy to see why environmental awareness keeps dominating the top of the building agenda. This is why so many organisations are involved with sustainable solutions. TROLDTEKT

rom FSC (1993) to LEED (1993), BREEAM (1998), Cradle to Cradle (2012), DGNB (2007) and more recently WELL (2013), countries and manufacturers are striving to make a difference. One company that has embraced these standards together with a first-class CSR policy is the Danish wood-wool acoustic product manufacturer Troldtekt. Troldtekt acoustic solutions contribute positively to the certification of buildings. Its panels are 100% natural consisting of cement and wood. These can also be supplied in the ‘FSC 100%’ (FSC C115450) category, which means that all the wood in each panel meets the requirements for responsible forestry management. Troldtekt is also Cradle to Cradle certified (to ‘Silver’ level) and contributes to all the certifications, especially LEED, BREEAM, WELL and DGNB. Working with Ramboll, the company is also able to provide documentation for its acoustic solutions

which are designed to help consultants assess Troldtekt’s specific contribution to these four schemes. Specified throughout the UK and Europe, the benefits of 100% Troldtekt natural wood-wool panels include high sound absorption, high durability, natural breathability, low-cost life cycle performance and sustainability. Available in various sizes and in four grades from extreme to coarse, the panels can be left untreated or painted in virtually any RAL colour. Samples, case studies and technical information are easily sourced from the website.

www.troldtekt.co.uk

info@troldtekt.co.uk 63

01978 664255 FC&A – MARCH – 2020

BUILDING ELEMENTS

HAURATON SURFACE DRAINAGE AND SERVICE CHANNEL SYSTEMS INSTALLED AT CENTRAL PARK, AVONMOUTH At 600-acres, Central Park, Avonmouth, Bristol, is a warehouse and distribution development strategically located between the M49 motorway on its eastern boundary and the A403 to the west. HAURATON

he shear size of the Central Park development has meant that various companies have invested the park’s facilities. With areas designated for HGV access and hard standing, car parks and areas accessed by smaller commercial vehicles, the road and yard surfaces employed included concrete, asphalt and block paving. This meant that various types of surface channelling was required by the contractor, Churngold Construction, to ensure the drainage needs of the site as a whole.

Hauraton systems; RECYFIX HICAP, FASERFIX SUPER, RECYFIX MONOTEC and ENVIROKERB were chosen to meet the drainage requirements. FASERFIX SERVICE channel was also specified to house cables and coolant pipework. Cat Jones, Hauraton Project Manager for this job, commented: “Although the original Hauraton channel selection was agreed, specification changes during construction meant the channels needed to be changed at short notice.

www.hauraton.com

Working closely alongside the contractor ensured that when changes were required we quickly provided a solution that ensured site-work could continue without delay. Detailed project management is essential when dealing with large sites”.

ts-uk@hauraton.com

01582 501380

AKW LAUNCHES NEW SHOWER WALL PANELLING RANGE AKW

DEANESTOR WINS £1.3M CONTRACT FOR NEW SPECIALIST CRITICAL CARE CENTRE IN WALES DEANESTOR

Deanestor – one of the UK’s leading furniture and fit-out specialists – has been awarded a £1.3m contract by Laing O’Rourke for the manufacture, supply and installation of furniture and fittings for the new £350m Grange University Hospital in South East Wales. Deanestor will manufacture around 3000 furniture items for the 55,000m 2 hospital, including laboratory furniture, shelving, bases and wall cabinets in compliance with all relevant HTMs. Its team will procure and fit more than 22,000 products for around 1450 rooms, from mirrors and medi rails to drug cabinets and specialist catheter storage units.

www.deanestor.co.uk/healthcare enquiries@deanestor.com 01623 420041 FC&A – MARCH – 2020

AKW has launched its new Origins Wall Panel range, offering installers and end users alike even more design, colour and finish choices. The new range comes in both tongue and groove and square edge formats and is available in 16 different colourways. Having the option of 900mm and 600mm width tongue and groove panels or the 1200mm width square edge version means that no matter what the quality of the existing surface, there is a wall panel solution to suit. In addition, the 16 contemporary decors in the range have been inspired by the latest interior design trends, enabling a touch of style to instantly be added to any space.

www.akw-ltd.co.uk

sales@akw-ltd.co.uk

01905 823298

CIRCOFLO SYSTEMS AND SERVICE IMPRESS WEST YORKSHIRE GAS ENGINEER CIRCOFLO

Despite 40 years spent working as a gas installer/gas manager, Andy Neville, had never been involved with fitting or servicing underfloor heating but adding a new extension to his own home, and deciding traditional radiators just wouldn’t suit the space, led him to making use of CircofloPro’s sizedto-fit offering. CircofloPro provided a fully tailored solution including on-site support. The package included using both the FloFloor and CircoBoard systems, along with the necessary pipe lengths, manifolds, controls and other fittings. Andy commented: “Circoflo provided room-specific kits along with the drawings. The systems not only seem robust, but the results have been fantastic.”

www.circoflopro.co.uk 64

info@circoflo.co.uk

01392 360457

BUILDING ELEMENTS

WASHROOM WASHROOM ACHIEVES HIGHEST EVER TURNOVER IN 2019 WASHROOM WASHROOM

Last year, leading washroom designer and manufacturer, Washroom Washroom, enjoyed its 18th consecutive year of growth, achieving its biggest single year-onyear increase in turnover – up 30.5% on 2018’s previous record. It was a hugely successful year for the group, which comprises bespoke joinery company Cre8 Joinery Solutions and its all-new turnkey division WeIntegr8, as well as Washroom Washroom. For the first time, turnover from 2019 was split almost equally between both the washroom and joinery divisions, with the team carrying out more projects involving both joinery and washroom requirements in the last 12 months. Last year the company also undertook an extensive refurbishment programme to extend its factory and increase its in-house manufacturing capability by around 20%. The new factory space is fully functional, and the final touches are being put to the new office space which will provide plenty of workspace to house 65 designers, project managers and support staff with room to grow in the future.

FIRST CPD GOES LIVE FOR TEXTILES MANUFACTURER TEXFELT TEXFELT

Following the award of its BRE-verified Environmental Product Declaration, market-leading nonwovens manufacturer Texfelt has had its first CPD published by RIBA, as it works to raise awareness of the different types of carpet underlay. Focusing on understanding the manufacturing methods, performance and environmental credentials of different types of underlay, the CPD will give architects and specifiers insight into underlay manufacturing methods, the raw materials used, the environmental credentials of different types of underlay, insulation and acoustic properties and applications. The CPD covers needle felt underlay, polyurethane (PU) foam underlay, crumb rubber underlay, eco-engineered recycled PET (EERP) underlay and other types including sponge rubber, combination, underfloor heating underlay, pre-tackified underlay and laminate underlay. Texfelt’s eco-engineered carpet underlay, SpringBond, is made from 85% recycled PET plastic bottles and other single-use plastics. It contains no PU foam, and there are no harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) meaning better air quality.

www.texfelt.co.uk sales@texfelt.co.uk 01274 905411

www.washroom.co.uk info@washroom.co.uk 0800 999 8888

GEC ANDERSON SUPPLIES SEAMLESS NEW SERVERY SURFACES FOR THE OXFORD WINE CAFE GEC ANDERSON

Just as stainless-steel vessels have replaced traditional wooden wine presses across many of the world’s best vineyards, a popular licensed cafe in one of the UK’s most historic university cities has opted for completely modern interior finishes – including replacing outdated wooden and laminate surfaces in the serving area with a one-piece sink and work surface, plus other fabrications from specialist supplier GEC Anderson. Following an online search, the cafe contacted GEC Anderson, and a survey was promptly carried out: the resulting bespoke, highspecification stainless-steel unit, featuring two integral cupboards matching the lines of the faceted counter, was duly fitted by PlumbedWright from nearby Wantage.

www.gecanderson.co.uk

info@gecanderson.co.uk

01442 826999

MCAVOY RECEIVES MULTI-MILLIONPOUND BOOST FROM PRIVATE EQUITY INVESTMENT THE MCAVOY GROUP

The McAvoy Group has secured multi-million-pound investment from London-based Blantyre Capital. The investment will support McAvoy in its continued growth in the very dynamic off-site sector. It will also finance the group’s ambitious expansion programme. The McAvoy family – Orla Corr and Conor McAvoy – remain as shareholding directors and fully active in the business. The current board will continue to be led by Mark Lowry, Managing Director, and will be joined by a director from Blantyre, further strengthening the existing management team. Orla Corr OBE said: “We are extremely excited to partner with a highly respected investment fund that is fully aligned with our vision for future growth and our strategic plan.”

www.mcavoygroup.com

info@mcavoygroup.com

028 8774 0372 65

BERRY SYSTEMS LAUNCH CPDAS – THE CAR PARK DESIGN ADVICE SERVICE BERRY SYSTEMS

The increasing pressures of parking are frequently a key consideration for designers and architects, which is why Berry Systems has launched CP-DAS: the Car Park Design Advice Service. Whether it’s refurbishing an existing structure, designing a bespoke car park, planning a modular parking solution or a facade, this new service offers architects, specifiers and contractors expert advice across all systems and sectors. With more than 45 years of experience, CP-DAS by Berry Systems can provide clients with comprehensive information and consultancy on all aspects of car park design, including access control, safety protection, traffic flow and exterior cladding options.

www.berrysystems.co.uk steve.dunn@berrysystems.co.uk 01902 491100 FC&A – MARCH – 2020

BUILDING ELEMENTS

RAVATHERM APP SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON RAVATHERM XPS X Ravago Building Solutions – one of Europe’s largest extruded polystyrene insulation (XPS) manufacturers – has launched Ravatherm App: a new free digital tool for architects, specifiers and members of the construction industry. RAVAGO BUILDING SOLUTIONS

he app provides quick and easy access to product information about Ravatherm XPS X, the company’s leading range of thermal insulation. App users can also find essential technical data, gain an understanding of how to place and receive product orders, and perform initial U-value calculations for inverted flat roof and flooring applications. Chris Gimson, Commercial Director of UK and Ireland at Ravago Building Solutions, said: “We have been exploring launching an app for a long time, speaking with customers to ensure that Ravatherm App would feature the information and tools they need. “This follows our decision last year to invest in a new packaging line to make it easier to receive, offload and unpack our products. We are continually looking for new ways to support our customers and are keen to learn how we can improve Ravatherm App to make it a must-have

www.ravathermapp.com FC&A – MARCH – 2020

tool for everyone in the construction sector. “Ravatherm XPS X is already the first choice for architects and specifiers looking to deliver the most environmentally-sound buildings, while at the same time pushing design boundaries. Ravatherm App makes it easier than ever to specify our market-leading Ravatherm XPS X products.” Ravatherm App is designed to work on a wide range of modern computers and mobile devices. Access the app via the website, where users on compatible Apple and Android devices will be prompted to install the application to enable offline use.

marian.powell@ravago.com 66

07442 180156

BUILDING ELEMENTS

“AGILE” SCREENING MAKES SPECIFICATION EASY AS A, B, C The choice of screening and ventilation louvres is now as easy as A, B, C; claims Gilberts Blackpool. GILBERTS BLACKPOOL

he company’s new Series WK Kitform Screening Louvre represents a completely new approach to screening systems, that pulls together in one all the best features and benefits currently available on the market. Thus, one core system can form the basis of all screening design and specification. “The system has been thoroughly thought about. It’s been developed completely from scratch rather than being an evolution of an existing system,” explains Ian Rogers, Gilberts’ Sales Director. “We have purpose-designed it to be as agile as possible in its scope to combine performance and aesthetics, whilst delivering best value for the installation contractor.” Central to the system is a unique design of mullion, which enables screen sections up to 3m high to be created without the need for intermediate support. A range of 50, 75 and 100mm blade profiles brings an infinite choice of solidity, transparency, weather protection and ventilation to the screen as required, as blades can be set at variable points within the common mullion. This means different performance or aesthetic requirements can be catered for within one screen.

www.gilbertsblackpool.com

A range of accessories – eliminator blades, insect screens, bird guards, noncombustible insulation and acoustic blanking panels – enables each screen section to be tailored to specific weather and performance requirements, future-proofing the building interior for subsequent alteration of layout and/or usage. Panel depths are optimised – the 50mm blade can form a panel as slim as 46mm – to allow maximum flexibility in screen integration with facade systems and structures. A new design of access panel provides a continuous, seamless appearance. Utilising Gilberts’ advanced in-house powder coating plant means the louvre components can be finished in whatever colour is desired. Gilberts has designed and engineered the Series WK system in-house, and fully tested the system’s

performance to ensure it meets, or surpasses, current regulatory requirements in its state-of-the-art facility. “The Series WK Kitform Screening Louvre System is a bold step in the advancement of building design,” adds Ian Rogers. “It means specifiers have a ‘go-to’, site-assembled solution that they know performs, and can accommodate almost any variation they need.” The louvre system is the latest innovation from Gilberts, which has a heritage of pioneering commercial ventilation solutions that stretches back 60 years. Family-owned, the company is the UK’s leading independent air movement specialist, operating from a 95,000ft2 facility in the Northern Powerhouse of Lancashire.

info@gilbertsblackpool.com 67

01253 766911 FC&A – MARCH – 2020

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