FC&A March 2023

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EDITOR IAL

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Hannah Woodger hannah@redhutmedia.com

PRINT & DIGITAL ADVERTISING

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PRINT DESIGN MANAGER

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SALES SUPPORT & STATISTICS

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PUBLISHER

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Lately, there has been growing concern regarding personal safety in public spaces, particularly during the winter months when daylight is scarce, making certain areas feel unsafe. The recent disappearance of Nicola Bulley and the tragic death of Sarah Everard in 2021 have brought to the forefront the issues of safety and being mindful of our surroundings when we are out and about, especially for women. Personally, I am consistently advised by others to always be aware of my surroundings when walking alone, even in daylight. Having been a victim of an attempted mugging, I am acutely aware of how quickly perpetrators can catch you off guard. Now, like many others, I prioritise safer, well-lit paths when outside, even if that means taking longer routes.

In this issue, we bring you an insightful feature on designing public shared spaces that are safe to use in the dark by Johanna Elvidge, Head of Design at Marshalls, a hard landscaping specialist. The article focuses on the perceptions of public shared spaces in the UK and the challenges that arise when designing safe public spaces. According to the research conducted by Marshalls, four out of five people feel more unsafe when it's dark in public spaces, and they are 12 times more likely to avoid such areas than in daylight hours.

The findings show that there is a growing need to address the issue of designing public spaces that are safe to use in the dark. In response to this need, Johanna proposes a set of seven guiding design principles, including eyes on the street, vision and wayfinding, acoustics, accessibility, familiarity, technology and maintenance. Read the full article on page 28

Elsewhere in this edition, Geberit looks at embedding acoustics in washroom design and ROCKWOOL UK explains how recladding can breathe new life into the UK's existing housing stock.

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VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY:

Here, Andrew Brewster, Head of Technical for CA Group, discusses third-party verification of tested building systems.

LEGAL & BUSINESS:

FEATURES

24 26 28

ENERGY EFFICIENCY :

The Retrofit Academy explores what is needed to futureproof, decarbonise and make the UK’s housing stock more energy efficient if we are to meet the UK Government’s net-zero targets by 2050 and explains how it's committed to delivering 200,000 competent retrofitters.

DOORS, WINDOWS & BALUSTRADES:

In this article, ECLISSE explores the rise and fall in the popularity of different mechanisms to open and close interior doors.

LANDSCAPING & DRAINAGE:

Marshalls uncovers new research findings on the perceptions of public shared spaces and makes recommendations for the future of sustainable design in these spaces, using principles such as designing for dark, wayfinding and acoustic considerations.

RCI:

From improved fire safety, acoustic protection and thermal performance to reduced emissions and a fresh new look, ROCKWOOL UK runs through factors you need to consider when planning a recladding project.

TECHNICAL FOCUS:

Ensure the safety and structural integrity of your residential building with proper balcony drainage design. Learn more about the drawbacks of traditional drainage methods and explore alternative solutions with Sapphire Balconies.

PAINTS, COATINGS & FINISHES:

What are the benefits of silicone coatings? Pedro Doors, Senior Application Development Engineer for GE-branded construction sealants, explains how repairing facade leaks with silicone coatings rather than opting for invasive renovations can be beneficial from a practical, financial and sustainability perspective.

BUILD FOCUS: Healthy Buildings: Antony Corbett, Product Applications Engineer at Geberit, explores the significance of unwanted noise in the home and why UK acoustic standards must be overhauled.

PORTFOLIOS

VETRO, SIMPSONHAUGH & DEVELOPER ROCKWELL:

Designed by SimpsonHaugh for ROCKWELL, Vetro is east London's latest high-end residence with stunning views. The completed collection of limited-edition apartments in Westferry offers open-plan designs, bespoke interiors and access to a range of luxurious amenities.

FALSE CREEK, MVRDV :

With the ever-changing landscape of construction compliance, it’s important for architects and designers to stay ahead of the game. From procurement strategies to product substitutions, Ravago Building Solutions UK explains how to protect your original specification and ensure a safe and successful building project. 14 18

MVRDV, as part of a team named North Creek Collective, tackles rising sea levels in Vancouver with a series of innovative proposals. Discover how buildings, landscapes and infrastructure can adapt to the challenges of a changing world.

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THE BRICK AWARDS 2023

Have you completed a wonderful brick project in the last two years? What are you waiting for? Enter it for a Brick Award today!

THE BRICK AWARDS

Th e Brick Awards differs from many other award schemes in that it is free to enter and benefits from an exceptionally well-credentialed judging panel. As such, it has established a reputation as one of the industry’s most respected and well-attended events.

T he awards celebrate the best examples of clay brick in our built environment. Each year, the awards attract the entry of exemplary projects

from leading architects, housebuilders, developers and contractors across 18 hotly-contested categories.

Four of the awards are judged and voted for independently. These are Contractor’s Choice, Architect’s Choice, Sustainability and Supreme. The Sustainability award is brand new and has been added to reflect the intentions of British brick manufacturers and highlight the positive, sustainable initiatives taking place within the industry.

www.brick.org.uk/brick-awards

N ow in its 47th year, The Brick Awards encourages everyone who is passionate about the built environment to enter their brick projects. The prestigious Brick Awards ceremony will take place on 8th November at the Royal Lancaster Hotel. The evening is a great opportunity for the entire industry to come together and celebrate the beautiful possibilities of clay brick. The deadline for entry is 17th May 2023.

Radley College Chapel, by Purcell (last year’s Supreme Winner)

IN BRIEF: LICHFIELDS SECURES PLANNING APPROVAL FOR RETROFIT OF FLEET HOUSE OFFICE

Lichfields, on behalf of Atenor, secured planning approval for the retrofit of Fleet House in London to create a sustainable workspace. The building, designed by HOK, will retain more than two thirds of the current structure, reducing environmental impact. Fleet House will provide 77,000ft 2 of high-quality, BREEAM ‘Excellent’-standard workspace across eight storeys, with features including cycling parking, end-of-trip facilities and external terraces. The rejuvenated building will prioritise users’ wellbeing and biophilic design. Atenor recently achieved a 5/5 Star GRESB rating and is committed to sustainability and wellbeing in its projects.

NEW FORUM BRINGS CLARITY TO FIRE SAFETY IN BUILDINGS

The Passive Fire Knowledge Group (PFKG) is a collaboration of Tier 1 contractors, specialist installers and trade associations focused on promoting passive fire protection guidance to improve its design, specification and installation. Tier 1 contractors play a critical role in managing the transition from design to finished building and need to understand the procedures, systems and products involved. The PFKG aims to resolve design challenges and ensure the construction industry delivers safe buildings. The group will initially focus on education, process and testing for compartmentation, starting with service penetration sealing and compatibility with fire-resistant partitions.

INDUSTRY UPDATES

FC&A ROUNDS UP THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS AND UPDATES.

HOLLAWAY STUDIO DESIGNS 15-ACRE INLAND SURF RESORT WITH 120-BED LUXURY HOTEL

Hollaway Studio has designed a pioneering inland surfing space creating Kent’s first surfing ‘wave lagoon’, alongside a 120-bed luxury spa hotel on land at former colliery, Betteshanger Country Park, near Deal.

Th e Seahive, a £50m project, is set to open in April 2025 and will feature a 15-acre site with a surf lagoon at its centre. The lagoon will use Wavegarden Cove technology that offers up to 1000 perfect waves per hour, with 20 different wave types and can be used by 80 people at a time. The site will also include a Lagoon Surf Hub with 15 accommodation pods, a wellness centre, a clubhouse with a surf academy, conference facilities, a retail outlet, work area and chill-out spaces. A dedicated learning hive will offer full-time courses for children via surf therapy and educational programs to improve mental health. The project also includes plans for a 120-bed, five-star hotel, spa and gym.

T he Seahive will offer a new surf experience to people in Kent who otherwise drive six hours to Cornwall or fly abroad to surf. The area is not well known for surfing, as the local sea conditions are not suitable. Hollaway Studio, the award-

winning architecture practice, has designed the project and has shown its commitment to giving back to the community, as seen in its design of the world’s first multi-storey skatepark in Folkestone.

T he Seahive project will take up 15 acres of the popular Betteshanger Country Park, and measures have been taken to ensure the area’s sustainability and biodiversity are not damaged. The country park’s wider plans for expansion include the recent additions of a

Mining Museum, cafe and restaurant, cycling tracks and play areas.

T he Seahive project aims to provide a safe, inclusive space where people can connect with their communities, experience personal growth and push boundaries. It will offer opportunities to the local community in Deal and the surrounding areas while also addressing the lack of hotel rooms in the area.

www.hollawaystudio.co.uk

HOLLAWAY STUDIO

Betteshanger Country Park

Betteshanger Country Park

PERSONNEL

The latest appointments from the construction and architectural industries.

CPMG ARCHITECTS BOOSTS TEAMS ACROSS THE UK

CPMG Architects has made eight appointments across multiple disciplines in both Nottingham and London. The additions to the team in Farringdon, London, include Architect Anna Luff and Part 1 Architectural Assistant Oliver Smith, who will support the firm’s expanding portfolio of work across sectors. In Nottingham, the national headquarters has welcomed Architectural Assistants Dora Farrelly, Cesar Jaramillo, Hope Mumford and Mike Lynch, as well as BIM Support Technician Luke Williams, Finance Assistant Danute Walsh and interior design graduate Aimée Mason. CPMG’s Director, Nick Gregory, said the firm promotes growth both personally and professionally, and it’s excited to see what its new staff will achieve.

GLEEDS APPOINTS SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR

International property and construction consultancy, Gleeds, has appointed Dave Wakelin as Director of Sustainability, in an effort to expand its sustainability team. With over 20 years of experience, Wakelin has worked on high-profile projects like the Ministry of Justice’s £4bn zero-carbon expansion programme and Manchester City Council’s Our Town Hall scheme. He will be responsible for supporting businesses in reducing carbon emissions, increasing climate resilience and delivering social value worldwide. Wakelin will help clients navigate sustainability issues and work to embed sustainable practices in every project stage. Gleeds’ CEO, Graham Harle, says that Wakelin will help the company better understand the monetary and environmental costs of a scheme and deliver innovative solutions.

MARTIN SAMWORTH APPOINTED TO CHAIR NEW RICS BOARD

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has appointed Martin Samworth as the chair of its new board. Martin brings 40 years of experience in the real estate and built environment sector to his new role. He has a broad range of experience in both the professional and advisory side of the industry, as well as the markets side. Martin’s passion is to bring new and diverse talent into the profession and promote leadership that supports progression for all within the industry. Martin is a proud member of RICS for 35 years. The new RICS Board is a recommendation from the recent Bichard RICS Review and will be a majoritymember board overseeing day-to-day operations at RICS. Martin has a proven track record in real estate and will be a key figure in addressing important issues.

IN BRIEF: ARCHITECT FIRM ANNOUNCES SUSTAINABLE SISTER COMPANY

Saunders Boston Architects has launched a new sister company, SB Sustainability, to offer in-house advice on sustainability projects. The business will enable clients to integrate sustainability into their projects from start to finish. Experts will provide consultancy advice to set sustainability goals, instead of adding them as an afterthought. Kerry Davies has been brought in to lead SB Sustainability, bringing her 10 years of experience in the sustainability sector to the table. Kerry is thrilled to work with Saunders Boston to instill sustainability values and objectives right from the beginning. SB Sustainability aims to help teams embrace sustainable initiatives and work towards a greener future. The service will be available across branches in Cambridge and Exeter.

NHBC TECHNICAL STANDARDS 2023

The new edition of NHBC’s Technical Standards has taken effect, applying to new homes registered with NHBC where the foundations have been laid on or after 1st January 2023. The standards have been updated with stakeholder input, with changes including aligning with British Standards, new guidance on horizontal movement joints and garage walls and addressing the Low Carbon Agenda by increasing cavity wall widths and focusing on renewable technologies. The standards will continue to support builders and developers in delivering the highest quality new homes and improving their standards. Mark Russell, NHBC Standards and Policy Manager, said the updated standards will be a useful reference point for the industry.

Betteshanger Country Park

ARCHITECT IN PROFILE

John Harding, a respected Architect and Partner at Studio Moren, dishes on his favourite projects, go-to architects and thoughts on sustainability in this exclusive interview with FC&A. With a degree from the Polytechnic of Central London, a diploma from the University of Westminster and a vast portfolio of large-scale hospitality projects under his belt, John has 12 years of experience at Studio Moren.

www.studiomoren.co.uk

Please tell us a bit about your career background. I gained a degree in architecture at the Polytechnic of Central London. Then my Diploma at the University of Westminster, followed by stints in various practices working on a wide range of projects until joining Studio Moren about 12 years ago.

Have you always wanted to pursue a career in architecture?

I guess so, though the journey was long, and I came to the formal subject relatively late. My family had all been involved in construction. I remember, as a very young child, being given some building blocks that my father made from timber offcuts. He explained how a brick bond could help with structural stability, so I became very interested in observing different brick bonds, brick types and walls. This naturally progressed into looking at buildings and how they go together.

Later, I became a technician investigating defects in domestic buildings, which required a lot of research into the rectification measures. I became a kind of disrepair detective, an invaluable experience for any designer, but it wasn’t as creative as I wanted it to be. I wanted to design and make things in a way that avoided such issues.

Ultimately though, it is a love of architecture and the built form that drove me to the formal study of the subject, and it was definitely the right choice. I couldn’t believe that our lectures were all about looking at and studying architecture.

Who has been your greatest influence and source of inspiration?

My architectural training has generally been heavily influenced by the early modernists and the Bauhaus movement. Their analytical approach to the process of design and willingness to challenge the status quo is both admirable and courageous. Le Corbusier’s body of work is astounding. We are now immersed in architectural duplicates of these types of buildings, but their impact at the time of construction must have been shocking.

What has been your most notable project to date?

I’m proudest of our team for producing the multistorey Travelodge London Docklands because it was delivered on a brownfield site on budget, three months early and just missed achieving BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ by a gnat’s whisker!

How do you approach your projects?

Studio Moren has become something of a specialist when it comes to hospitality design. Every project starts from the site, the location and the history of the locale. Our mantra is ‘everywhere is an idea’. This informs our design from the macro to the micro. The operational needs of our clients and building user experience are very high on our agenda. We take pride in our ability to deliver projects successfully, which requires skilful input from every team member. A recent example is The Westin London City, where a collaborative approach with the design team and regulatory bodies has produced an outstanding building.

JOHN HARDING IS A PARTNER AT STUDIO MOREN

Wilde Aparthotel by Staycity, New Jordan Yard. Studio Moren project.

What do you think is the greatest challenge for designing in sustainability?

Everyone has the best intentions where sustainability is concerned, and a lot of the technical solutions and design approaches are well understood. Still, the tools need to be created to allow for accurate benchmarking. We need a set of standards that aren’t just national but global. We need to take account of the impacts of all aspects of building construction and usage. Our strategic partnership with the Energy and Environment Alliance (EEA) will help steer the ongoing development of the new BREEAM in Use Hospitality (BiUH) standard and develop hospitality-specific standards, metrics and methodologies that will address some of these issues.

What is your favourite building?

I admire many buildings, so it’s difficult to conceive a supreme example, but the Villa Savoye at Poissy jumps instantly to mind. The design is as fresh today as the day it was created and is a perfect example of Le Corbusier’s five points in action. However, the building didn’t perform well, and Madame Savoye’s letters to her architect are famous.

Le Corbusier was way ahead of his time, and the technology available then wasn’t up to the job. However, technology moves on, and it’s interesting to speculate how such a building could be produced using current methods to achieve a zerocarbon equivalent.

What do you think is the greatest challenge for architects today?

We live in a rapidly-changing world, and climate change is top of the list for everyone on the planet, in my opinion. That and the new regulatory regime we find ourselves in following the introduction of the Building Safety Act. It is clear that architects need to be in a position to lead the whole design team, advise their clients sensibly and be indispensable. This might require a change of thinking on the part of the profession, but we are ideally suited to the role.

What do you think is the greatest challenge for architecture students?

As with many areas of our architectural endeavours, education needs to adapt to the demands of the modern world. We need new architects coming forward with enhanced skills that will allow them to operate in the highly-regulated regime post Grenfell. Whilst design has always been at the core of the architectural curriculum, we now need our younger colleagues to have, at the very least, a basic understanding of building safety. We can’t rely on practices to impart this knowledge during Part 1; it must be ingrained by the time students start practice.

What advice would you give to newly-qualified architects?

Design is a hard-won prize, and good design needs to be fought for. I wouldn’t advocate design by committee, but architecture is a team endeavour, and every successful architect invariably has a talented team backing them up. Become a team player and equip yourselves with the skills you need to become an invaluable team member.

What can we expect to see from you over the next year?

Many good things! We will use the climate emergency to help deliver buildings that our clients and their guests will find comfortable, operationally efficient and beautiful. We’re currently on site with several projects. I’m really excited about Cambridge Park Street, which is coming out of the ground now, and the first City ID aparthotel in London, under construction shortly

Travelodge Docklands. Studio Moren project.

Westin St Paul’s. Studio Moren project.

Vauxhall Bridge Road. Studio Moren project.

SHIMMERING HIGHS: VETRO, EAST

LONDON’S LATEST JEWEL IN THE SKY

Vetro, London’s newest collection of limited-edition apartments, has completed, marking Westferry as a new residential destination in east London.

Home to beautifully-crafted apartments with uninterrupted views of the Thames and the city, Vetro is just two minutes from the shops, restaurants and bustling heart of Canary Wharf and seven minutes from the city of London. A limited number of the eight onebedroom and 33 two-bedroom apartments, all of which benefit from open-plan designs and bespoke interiors, remain available, with prices starting from £520,000.

Developed by leading London property developer, Rockwell, all tenants at Vetro gain access to an exceptional portfolio of amenities with healthy living at its core. Vetro is equipped with a state-of-the-art, in-house gym, sauna, relaxation area and concierge service. In addition, the impressive and immaculatelylandscaped podium garden stretching out across the city offers vital outdoor space with glorious views for all residents to enjoy.

Vetro has been designed to deliver on all aspects of urban

living by world-renowned architect firm, SimpsonHaugh, the practice behind other iconic developments like One Blackfriars on London’s South Bank and Deansgate Square, set on Manchester’s River Medlock. The building’s materiality transitions from traditional brick to a slender vertical component of shimmering glass. With stunning clean lines, rich materials and well-considered lighting, each apartment is a true example of expert craftsmanship.

The interior designs and structures of the apartments at Vetro have been thoughtfully designed to offer functional yet luxurious rooms to rest and play, with post-pandemic flexible working trends in mind. Apartments at Vetro feature a flexible multi-function ’winter garden’, which can be used as a study, gym or reading area where tenants can enjoy views of the iconic London cityscape whilst they work, exercise or relax, while expansive windows in each and every room offer continuous natural light throughout the day.

SIMPSONHAUGH/ROCKWELL

Have you completed a wonderful brick project in the last two years?

The 2023 Brick Awards is now open for entries!

The Brick development welcome project entries exemplifying great craftsmanship, innovative design and sustainability.

Enter Now For Free www.brick.org.uk/brick-awards

Now complete, Vetro will lead the area’s rebalancing from financial towards residential and lifestyle spaces. This trend looks set to continue, with the recent launch of the Elizabeth Line station at Canary Wharf bringing many more visitors from across the capital to what is becoming one of its leading cultural and recreational hubs.

C ommenting on the completion of Vetro, Managing Director of Rockwell, Nicholas Mee, said: “Vetro is a world-class development, providing much-needed modern, stylish homes in London, designed to be enjoyed and situated in a great location to reach Canary Wharf and the city. It’s fantastic to see one of our landmark schemes complete, especially considering how the team overcame challenges with construction during the pandemic. We are very pleased to be welcoming residents to their new homes.”

The penthouse collection at Vetro, comprising six duplex homes, is set to launch in Q1 2023, and will offer some of the rarest and most spectacular views of the London skyline and River Thames.

www.simpsonhaugh.com www.rockwellproperty.co.uk

WORKING WITH WATER, NOT AGAINST IT:

MVRDV’S SEA LEVEL RISE CATALOGUE SHOWS HOW CITIES CAN ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE

MVRDV, as part of a team named North Creek Collective, has presented a series of proposals for the City of Vancouver to adapt waterfront buildings, landscape and infrastructure to accommodate to rising sea levels. The collective responded to the Sea2City Design Challenge meant to investigate the urban future of False Creek, a body of water in the heart of Vancouver. The project resulted in an extensive catalogue of options for adaptive buildings. With it, the makers aim to inspire other coastal cities around the world to undertake immediate action to adapt to climate change.

Se a level rise is a global challenge. Many thriving cities are located on the waterside. So a climatechange-induced rise in sea level, combined with increases in storm surges, droughts and land subsidence, threatens cities globally. Typical responses to these challenges have been to resist the water with higher flood barriers and dikes. However, such approaches often worsen flooding in cities, limiting the natural ability of the foreshore to absorb

wave energy, storm surge and runoff. What if cities learned to work with water rather than against it?

A s part of a team named the North Creek Collective, MVRDV has made a catalogue of possible solutions for adapting waterfront buildings and infrastructure to accommodate and absorb encroaching water. This Sea Level Rise Catalogue supplements its entry to the City of Vancouver’s Sea2City Design Challenge, which invited teams

to investigate the urban future of False Creek, a body of water in the heart of Vancouver that is home to a number of the city’s major attractions. The proposals of this catalogue contribute to making Vancouver a more resilient and inclusive city in the future.

“In tackling the next century of False Creek’s development, we looked closely at the context of Vancouver – considering everything from the types of building already found there to the community

values of the city and local First Nations, such as Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh, for whom this is an important site,” says MVRDV Founding Partner, Nathalie de Vries. “With our approach, we offer ideas that can also be adapted to new contexts elsewhere; with the Sea Level Rise Catalogue, Vancouver can become a global leader, showing other cities a way into the future. Sea level rise is a challenge that will impact cities globally, from Miami to Manila.”

T he Sea Level Rise Catalogue offers examples for both adapting existing buildings and areas, developing new structures

with sea level rise in mind. It includes vertical extensions of flood-adaptive townhouses with community terraces, mid-rises stripped back to their structural skeletons to accommodate flexible public programmes and high-rises serving as mobility hubs to connect land- and waterbased transport. Ideas for new constructions include floating habitat islands, adaptive houses, offices, sports facilities and cultural spaces; mixed-use high-rises and small neighbourhoods on stilts; an amphibious restaurant that rises and falls in response to the tide; and inland developments

that bolster the city’s flood resilience by incorporating permeable ground coverings, community spaces and rainwater buffers.

T he catalogue outlines six fundamental principles that cities should consider in new designs, both when adapting existing structures and constructing new ones. From finding new, floodproof uses for underground structures to the development of raised walkways, these principles are designed to ensure that buildings and infrastructure can coexist with water – whether that involves accommodating higher tides on a daily basis, or being prepared for more frequent storm surges.

C rucially, each idea is accompanied by an explanation of potential ‘winwins’. Positive impacts the design can offer that make the city more equitable,

sustainable and liveable, in addition to their ability to address sea level rise. From incorporating renewable energy sources to increasing housing provision and from adding public spaces to improving biodiversity, each proposal offers something in addition to its relationship to the water that can help to ensure widespread support among various stakeholders.

W hen combined, the longterm visions created by the North Creek Collective for False Creek and the Sea Level Rise Catalogue could serve not only to reimagine Vancouver’s relationship to its waterfront but also to provide a guiding light to coastal cities all over the world, showing how to move towards an adaptive, resilient, sustainable future.

MVRDV developed the Sea Level Rise Catalogue as part of team MVRDV + PWL, which also included PWL Partnership Landscape Architects, Deltares and Modern Formline Design, with support from WestMar Advisors, G.L. Williams & Associates, Happy City, Modus and Goudappel.

“

...with the Sea Level Rise Catalogue, Vancouver can become a global leader, showing other cities a way into the future. Sea level rise is a challenge that will impact cities globally, from Miami to Manila.”

– MVRDV Founding Partner, Nathalie de Vries

THE IMPORTANCE OF CERTIFIED SYSTEM PERFORMANCE

In this article, Andrew Brewster, Head of Technical for CA Group, discusses third-party verification of tested building systems.

It is becoming increasingly important for roofing and cladding systems supplied for building envelope solutions to demonstrate compliance through robust, independentlyverified testing and certification standards for many aspects of building performance. While fire has had significant focus and relevance, especially in light of changes to Building Regulations, other aspects of system performance, including air permeability, thermal performance, acoustic performance, security and embodied carbon, have also fallen under the microscope. When considering construction products and systems, specifiers and clients have a myriad of standards and classifications that can be referenced to in order to vet their suitability. These envelope solutions should, in turn, be backed up with comprehensive system guarantees, encompassing all components utilised within the cladding assembly, safeguarding the client or developer in the event of any future problems or issues.

O ver the last 24 months, the market has witnessed unprecedented demand, increases in material costs, shortages of labour and a general escalation in the cost of construction. In an industry that previously has always had more capacity than demand, the last two years have seen a reversal of this, and the market has been constrained by the capacity of established suppliers to meet the surge in demand. The result, naturally, has been the emergence of new building product suppliers in the market.

I t is imperative, when selecting products and systems, to remember the significance of verified system performance. The improvements that had been achieved in recent years through changes to Building Regulations and standards, avoiding desktop studies and ‘untested’ assessments, are at risk of being undermined by the uptake in new suppliers, products and assemblies that might not have invested in full ‘system’ testing and verification.

A grément certification is one excellent example of how a building envelope solution can be independently assessed to ensure that all aspects of product performance meet specification and regulatory requirements.

Agrément certification is a process of independent appraisal, ensuring that specific aspects of a product or system conform to the manufacturers’/suppliers’ stated performance and meet all appropriate standards and Building Regulation requirements. Without independent Agrément certification, specifiers and clients must instead depend solely on self-published data from suppliers, which may or may not conform to national standards or Eurocodes.

T he challenge is to encourage new entrants into a market to take up the appropriate testing and independent certification regime that many long-standing suppliers have invested in over many years. And in a market that is almost overwhelmed with the requirement for physical testing, with a shortage in capacity within test centres (especially for fire testing), there is a growing concern that unverified products that do not comply might be specified.

ANDREW BREWSTER IS THE HEAD OF TECHNICAL FOR CA GROUP

All images: Apex Park, a Prologis development that has achieved BREEAM 'Outstanding'

The need for product testing should not be a barrier to entry for new suppliers, but new suppliers should make the investment to ensure they are able to offer a direct equivalent, meet minimum thresholds of performance and obtain independent third-party verification to provide peace of mind to new clients and insurers. Otherwise, coupled with ongoing shortages in skilled labour, the potential for a long-term issue with build quality may result.

T he UK already has an ageing building stock with real concerns about how older buildings are performing, especially where energy conservation is increasingly important. The prospect of new buildings failing to meet correct specifications and energy performance criteria is frightening when we consider sustainable building practices and the impact on future generations.

T he market is starting to see some relaxation in the surge for demand, while established manufacturers are flexing up their production outputs in an effort to retain market share. These factors combined are addressing the capacity constraints within the market as a whole, reducing the need to resort to untested, untried, unvetted solutions. In turn, this should enable specifiers, clients, developers and principal contractors to enforce client requirements, use preferred suppliers with independentlyverified solutions and well-established supply chains and routes to market – with the goal of ultimately driving up build quality.

There should be no need to compromise on quality and, by adopting suppliers that have committed the investment in robust testing of their products and obtaining independent third-party verification of performance through schemes such as Agrément certification, should be the first step on the path of ensuring clients’ and occupiers’ requirements are fully met and high-quality, lowrisk building solutions are used every time.

www.cagroup.co.uk

HOW CHALLENGING CONDITIONS ARE RESHAPING COMPLIANCE ON THE CONSTRUCTION SITE

Some would say there are three pillars in construction: quality, sustainability and compliance. Today, compliance is arguably number one. For architects and designers, the clearest evidence of this is likely the enormous regulatory overhaul reflected in the Building Safety Act 2022. However, the compliance landscape is also being reshaped in ways that might not be so visible to architects and designers. Richard Powell, Roofing Sales Manager at Ravago Building Solutions UK, probes deeper.

On e of the most confronting findings of the Hackitt Report was an ostensible lack of “consideration [by individuals] as to how work may interact with the work of others”. There’s a huge moral and professional imperative for building designers to be alive to the realities of the construction site, which includes understanding how clients and contractors are responding to current market forces and supply chain challenges and how that, in turn, might impact the way you specify products.

According to data from tax advisory firm Mazars, almost 17,000 constructionrelated companies were at “significant risk” of insolvency at the close of 2022. Now, imagine you’re a contractor: you’ve negotiated a package of work for a roof, and one of the companies goes bust. You can’t complete the roof. Suddenly, you’re having to explain to the client that the work that should have been started two months ago is being delayed even further – meanwhile, raw material prices have shot up, dragging product costs up in tandem.

A pproaches to procurement

This is where strategies such as early procurement and vesting are coming in. Material prices across the UK construction industry in September 2022 were over 16% higher than a year before, and experts anticipate that this high rate of inflation

could persist into 2024. In response, we are seeing increasing numbers of contractors looking to purchase or make advance payments to reserve materials long before they’re needed to get ahead of any future price increases. This can be a smart solution – one that even contractual experts are recommending – but, in some cases, it’s throwing up new complications, such as storage.

Evolving ‘Employer’s Requirements’

When large quantities of building materials are sitting around the site – or a lock up, or even a field – for months at a time, there’s obviously a greater risk to the product, project and people. In the past 18 months or so, it’s become increasingly common for the client or main contractor’s Employer’s Requirements (ERs) to insist on insulation containing a flame retardant and for flammable materials to be covered in flame retardant sheeting. It’s important to consider that a product that looks suitable on paper could end up being stored for much longer than usual and/or in an unconventional manner, and account for the practicalities of this within your specification.

Product substitutions

P ackage renegotiations mean contractors also face the inevitable question from the client: “Isn’t there a cheaper alternative?”

Terms such as ‘or similar’ in the specification allow named products to be substituted for another that the contractor deems equal or equivalent. The issue, of course, is that it’s not always straightforward to determine equality or equivalence, and the term is inherently subjective. What contractors don’t always realise is that the product put forward as ‘similar’ sometimes doesn’t match the expectations of the specifier.

A rchitects should be aware that there is huge pressure on contractors to keep costs down and the client happy, so swapping for a cheaper product is often the most obvious solution – even when it is not a like-for-like substitute. For example, an awful lot of people are not aware that many XPS insulation manufacturers have quietly removed flame retardants from their products. There’s a certain amount of liability involved here, particularly if the material is going to be stored on site for long periods of time: do you feel comfortable with the idea of a huge polythene tarp being the only safeguard against errant cigarette butts or power tool sparks?

Protecting your original specification

Taking a more interrogative and prescriptive approach to specifying products could ensure compliance at every stage of the construction process by preventing unwanted or unsuitable product substitutions and taking factors such as storage into account.

G ateway two will make this even more urgent come autumn when the new building safety regulator can begin to block the start of any construction project where there are doubts about the compliance of the design. My advice: don’t risk it – protect your original specification and don’t sub-contract material specifications to contractors.

www.ravagobuildingsolutions.com

RAVAGO BUILDING SOLUTIONS UK

RICHARD POWELL IS A ROOFING SALES MANAGER AT RAVAGO BUILDING SOLUTIONS UK

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WHY IT’S VITAL TO PRIORITISE THE UK’S SKILLS GAP TO MEET ENERGY-EFFICIENCY AND LOW-CARBON TARGETS

The Retrofit Academy explores what is needed to futureproof, decarbonise and make the UK’s housing stock more energy efficient if we are to meet the UK Government’s net-zero targets by 2050 and explains how it’s committed to delivering 200,000 competent retrofitters.

Th e UK has the oldest and leakiest housing stock in Europe. Energy prices are soaring, meaning it is now vital to make our current housing stock more energy efficient with sustainable and renewable sources to reduce energy demand.

I f we are to meet the UK’s net-zero deadline of 2050, we need to improve the energy efficiency in 27 million homes through whole-house retrofit. We need to first look at the fabric of a property and check to see where any heat is escaping from the walls, windows, floors, roofs and doors and put measures in place to ensure a property is well insulated before looking at switching to renewable heating solutions such as heat pumps.

One of the main challenges we are currently facing is that our current workforce is extremely busy due to increased demand. Not enough new skilled and competent people are currently being trained to carry out the above retrofit changes at the pace and scale required. The work required needs to be of a good standard and compliant with the current regulations, such as BSI PAS 2035.

R esponding to this challenge, The Retrofit Academy CIC has a mission to train 200,000 competent retrofitters by 2030. But we can’t simply focus on increasing capacity without ensuring we are building true capability too.

Addressing the retrofit skills gap: C apacity

T he UK Government is starting to recognise some of these challenges, with money now available for social housing retrofit through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF). This is the sector that needs to take action first.

T he existing Repairs, Maintenance and Improvement (RMI) workforce totals approximately 250,000. We are talking about trebling its size in the next seven years – not simply upskilling the people we already have. However, we have a clear picture emerging from central Government around how they see net zero being delivered in social housing. We have a staging post in 2030, at which point all socially rented properties will need to achieve EPC B and C. In rough

terms, that involves improving and futureproofing 1.7 million homes.

The retrofit skills gap: C apability

We need people and organisations that are competent to retrofit too. We have seen far too many examples of poor retrofit in the past. And we know the cost of remediating poor retrofit is roughly six times the original cost of doing it right the first time. We also know that most poor retrofit results from knowledge and skills gaps or trying to do too much too quickly with too little money. So, the capability issues are much broader than just the technical challenges – they extend to social landlords as client organisations too.

To ensure we’re not achieving this by storing up problems for the future, we need to be adopting a ‘whole-house’ and ‘fabric-first’ approach. Retrofit can help to tackle climate change – if energy efficiency is improved so much that the homeowner can avoid burning fossil fuels, CO 2 is not being emitted into the atmosphere. Retrofit can also help to tackle fuel poverty by reducing people’s

energy bills – if you live in a highly energy-efficient home where renewable energy systems are utilised, you are not paying for gas or electricity via the National Grid.

S HDF puts a major focus on engaging with residents effectively in the retrofit process, not just imposing it on them. All SHDF projects will be delivered under the BSI PAS 2035 Standard. This means that every home must be surveyed properly by a Retrofit Assessor and must have an improvement plan developed by a Retrofit Coordinator. A retrofit designer must also develop appropriate design solutions, and the installation must be undertaken by a suitably qualified tradesperson. These requirements provide some helpful wayfinding when prioritising investment to fill the most acute skills gaps.

T he Retrofit Academy has a great deal of experience of working with both social landlords and local authorities in the retrofit space. The company is yet to find one who would say that retrofit is a core competence. Yet it stands to reason that retrofit is going to be central to just about every housing association for the next few decades, and therefore, this skills gap needs to be addressed, from the boardroom to the toolbox.

To support this, The Retrofit Academy is working with BEIS, local authorities, LEPs, FE Colleges and large employers up and down the country to put together a programme based on the experience of working in the social housing sector.

I ndividual competence and compliance

To ensure individuals are competent and comply with the current regulations, new qualifications are needed that train people effectively to undertake the core roles in retrofit.

T he Retrofit Academy CIC has developed four nationally accredited qualifications:

Level 2 Award in Understanding Domestic Retrofit

Level 3 Certificate in Retrofit Advice

Level 4 Award in Retrofit Assessment

Level 5 Diploma in Retrofit Coordination and Risk Management.

For example, right across the industry, our built environment professionals, such as surveyors, architects, consultants and engineers, are not taught enough about retrofitting with a ‘whole-house’ and a ‘fabric-first’ approach.

Delivering the vision

The Retrofit Academy has developed a roadmap to deliver on its mission of training 200,000 competent retrofitters by 2030. It is focused on building partnerships with key clients, employers, local authorities, architects, surveyors and training providers to build the future workforce and create social value.

www.theretrofitacademy.org

THE HISTORY OF DOORS

The current definition of a door varies slightly, but it is something along the lines of: “A swinging or sliding barrier used to close or open the entrance of a room or building.” And perhaps due to its multitude of configurations and stylish nature, it may also be considered a piece of furniture. Yet, the humble door is, in fact, much more than that. With a history dating back around 5000 years, it has developed and evolved over millennia into various shapes and designs.

Early conceptions of the door

It’s believed that the door was first conceived in Ancient Egypt around 3000 B.C., made of stone. However, recent findings may suggest otherwise. In 2010, archaeologists discovered and excavated a wooden door on a dig near Zürich, Switzerland. It was well preserved and found to be around 5000 years old (estimated from examination of the growth rings found in the poplar timber from which the door was made), making it the oldest wooden door ever discovered. Whilst around the same age as the stone doors from Egypt, it is arguably more modern in design.

The evolution of the door

Doors evolved over the centuries, and so did the mechanisms for opening and closing them, ranging from rolling to sliding, folding and rotating and hinged. Although there is no date for the invention of the hinge, the earliest pivot hinge discovered dates back to 1600 B.C.

There are reports of the Romans using sliding doors in Pompeii, Italy, as early as the 1st century. The 8th century saw the invention of Shoji screens by the Chinese, and the Japanese began using a sliding version named fusuma in the 11th century. The latter half of the 19th century saw the first revolving door – invented not just for show but to improve the energy efficiency of buildings by helping to regulate temperature and air pressure.

In this article, however, we are going to focus on the rise and fall in the popularity of different mechanisms to open and close the interior door.

Inventive Victorians

Hinged doors have remained popular over the centuries, but it was the Victorians who popularised sliding pocket doors, considering them to be perfect for entertaining purposes. Indeed, anyone familiar with television period dramas will no doubt have seen lavishly-dressed members of the aristocracy gliding from the dining room to the parlour by opening a set of beautiful panelled dark-wood double pocket doors.

The Victorian era saw a number of patents filed for different mechanisms that would enable a timber door to slide into a cavity in a wall. According to American Architect Clarence Howard Blackall, the first sliding doors “were usually carried on sheaves, or rollers, located at the bottom of a door, these rollers travelling on a metal track, which was either inserted in the floor or placed on its surface”. Another competing technology at the time, patented by Edwin C. Prescott in 1881, was an assembly of flat rivetted bars that operated like scissors allowing the doors to be suspended, requiring neither a bottom nor top track. By the early 1880s, a third solution appeared involving overhead tracks, cast-iron door hangers and top door plates. However, as the Victorian era came

to an end, tastes shifted and pocket doors were once again marginalised and rarely used again for almost half a century.

Post-war practicality

Post-war, saving space became a serious consideration, and in the 1950s, various solutions such as wall-mounted sliding doors, bi-fold doors, PVC concertina doors and pocket doors were all used. However, as they all tended to suffer from various inherent mechanical faults and design shortcomings, they never gained any significant market share and the hinged door continued to gain popularity.

Opening up and closing off open plan

In the 1960s, architects began to experiment with the concept of open-plan living, and combined lounge/diners or kitchen/ diners became very popular. Subsequently, doorways were removed and dividing walls were ripped out to create large, open areas.

Open-plan living has remained popular into the 21st century. Although with it comes a need to find ways to also close off the open-plan space to make areas feel cosier and the need to retain heat and to shut away the mess of a kitchen or a children’s play space at the end of a long day. As a result, expensive moving walls and panels, basic multi-panelled bi-fold doors and pocket doors – incorporating two or four door panels – have featured more heavily in interior design solutions.

Pocket doors re-engineered and a resurgence

By the 1980s there was a clear and obvious need for the pocket door to undergo a major redesign, and this is exactly what Luigi De Faveri did when he established ECLISSE in 1989. Still suffering from a bad reputation due to unreliability, and still based on a patent dating back to the mid 1950s, pocket doors at this point in time were not considered to be a positive design feature. They were noisy and frequently either jumped out of, or got stuck in, their tracks.

De Faveri set about re-engineering the entire concept to create a metal-framed system that is installed as a complete unit into studwork. Everything was considered, from the design of the track that prevents the rollers from jumping out, to the quality of the nylon ball bearing rollers, to the ease of assembly and even down to the ease with which the floor guide attaches to the frame. ECLISSE UK has been perfecting the system ever since and now boasts a wide range of pocket door options, finishes and accessories.

Popular mechanisms for opening and closing interior doors today

Whilst open plan remains popular, so does flexible living, broken-plan living and the need for the everyday home to adapt to the changing needs of the family. House prices continue to be high, and with the rise in heating costs and also interest rates, the ability to make space usable, flexible and multi-functional becomes increasingly important.

And that’s why we’re once again seeing a resurgence in the popularity of pocket doors. ECLISSE UK pocket door systems create more usable space as the doors are top hung rather than side hinged to enable the door to slide into a pocket, which frees up the space that would otherwise be taken up by the arc of the door, as well as the wall space behind. Furniture can be moved closer to the edges, making the centre of the room feel more spacious as well as creating opportunities for freestanding shelving or artwork.

So today, whilst hinged doors continue to dominate, there has been a resurgence in the use of pocket doors and sliding doors, with the barn door style being popular for a number of years. Wall-mounted sliding doors have gained popularity due to their ease of installation, but because the door runs along a track on the wall, it still limits the room layout, and the acoustics are poor. The only other notable, though quirky, development in door closing and opening mechanism design in the 21st century has been the invention of the origami-style, or rotating and folding doors though they have not been adopted into the mainstream.

In recent years, due to their ease of installation, wall-mounted, barn door-style sliding doors have gained popularity despite some obvious limitations with regard to room layout and acoustics. The only other notable 21st-century development in door closing and opening mechanism design has been the invention of the origami-style door that rotates and folds, yet as this is very quirky, it is unlikely to ever be adopted into the mainstream.

While hinged doors continue to dominate, there has been a resurgence in the use of pocket doors and sliding doors. Functional in nature but creative in form, they’re an excellent choice for smaller rooms – such as utility rooms, en-suites or washrooms – for which you might also choose a fully-tempered, frameless glass door to allow in extra light and add a touch of elegance.

To find out how you can make the most of your space and add refinement by using ECLISSE UK pocket door systems, visit the website below. www.eclisse.co.uk

DESIGNING FOR DARK

Johanna Elvidge, Head of Design at hard landscaping specialist Marshalls, uncovers new research findings on the perceptions of public shared spaces and makes recommendations for the future of sustainable design in these spaces, using principles such as designing for dark, wayfinding and acoustic considerations.

Fo r a decade, design and Government policy has focused on environmental sustainability in public spaces, resulting in dense shrubbery, tall plants and little or no lighting after dusk becoming commonplace features. Consequently, our research revealed that four out of five people feel more unsafe when it’s dark in public spaces and are, on average, 12 times more likely to avoid such areas than in daylight hours.

W ith limited sunlight hours in the UK’s winter months, using public spaces in the dark is vital for day-to-day living – whether exercise, commuting or evenings out for leisure – meaning more should be done to consider how spaces function after dusk.

P ublic opinions on safety

W ithin our whitepaper, we uncovered that 70% of people tend to feel vulnerable when out and about alone. Within this, women and younger people were two groups who were more safety conscious overall. Amongst women, 84% tend to feel more vulnerable when out and about alone (40% more than men), and 67% of those under 21 agreed that they felt more vulnerable alone all the time.

O ne female survey respondent commented: “I feel more vulnerable at night, especially walking to my car after work. There aren’t as many people around and less visibility.”

MARSHALLS

We also explored perceptions of safety in day versus night scenarios, with all public places avoided by respondents much more after dark than in daylight hours. Marshalls found that parks and gardens were considered the least safe spaces, with 80% of people avoiding them when it is dark –40 times higher than in the daytime.

Waterways, such as canals, were considered the least safe public spaces. During daylight hours, 11% stated they actively avoided such places; however, when it is dark, this figure increases almost seven times to 76% of people surveyed actively avoiding them.

R esidential streets were considered the safest of all public spaces, yet nearly a quarter (24%) said they still avoided them when it’s dark.

A survey respondent stated: “Naturally, there’s a far higher chance of being mugged or assaulted at night, as it’s easier for the potential perpetrators to remain unidentified. Street lighting is often patchy and inconsistent.”

Designing for dark

T here are far-reaching benefits to creating safer public spaces, from increasing physical and physiological safety to positive impacts on community cohesion and the economy.

T he last decade has seen an increase in biodiversity and sustainability design principles used in public spaces, driven

by Government policy. However, this need not be at odds with creating safer spaces.

U sing insight from the research and working with leading industry partners, including the Landscape Institute, we have created a set of seven guiding design principles that can help people feel safer in public spaces, both during the day and at night.

T he pillars – eyes on the street, vision and wayfinding, acoustics, accessibility, familiarity, technology and maintenance – should be considered during feasibility and concept stages of any public space design. When considered at the project’s inception, the principles can be seamlessly integrated, working alongside biodiversity or accessibility aims and often enhancing them.

Eyes on the street, vision, wayfinding and acoustics

Our research showed that people commonly change their behaviour to improve their perceived levels of safety when out in public. The most frequent modification is walking a longer route that is busier and/or better lit (64%), followed by crossing the street to avoid others (58%). Further changes include only wearing one earphone or listening at a lower volume (32%) and carrying a personal alarm (11%).

I n contrast to home life, when in public spaces, the feeling of being overlooked by ‘eyes on the street’ is a welcomed contributor towards safety.

D esigning with vision, wayfinding and acoustics in mind for both day and nighttime usages can often be overlooked during new planning schemes. However, how much someone can see or hear can greatly impact how safe they feel in a space and, ultimately, affect how much a space is used.

C onsidering, for example, the height of plants and shrubbery or the use of materials that better absorb sound can result in public spaces feeling safer. Dynamic lighting is another solution that can improve the safety of public spaces. When strategically placed, it can also give the general impression that an area is well looked after and possibly monitored.

Accessibility, familiarity, technology and maintenance

A ccessibility should remain a key focus for all public spaces to promote inclusivity and reduce feelings of vulnerability from users. As our research indicates, this becomes even more important in a space after dark, with 80% of participants with disabilities citing that they feel vulnerable in public spaces after the sun goes down.

Familiarity can create feelings of safety at any time of the day and night. Using recognisable features and local area characteristics when designing can support the creation of spaces that feel familiar and, therefore, are safer.

C reating safer spaces

O ur findings show that there is work to be done to address how people feel using public spaces overall, especially in the dark. To make spaces truly welcoming and beautiful both day and night, those responsible for shared spaces must achieve the right balance between the conflicting demands of different uses, users and scenarios to find a solution that truly works for all.

A s all designers of public spaces know, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. However, by working towards these principles of designing for both light and dark and working with manufacturers who can support beyond product supply, the results could change how we live, work and interact for the benefit of all.

For access to the full Creating Safer Spaces whitepaper, visit the below website.

www.marshalls.co.uk/ saferspaces

RECLADDING – GIVING OUR BUILDINGS A NEW LEASE OF LIFE

Lisa Stephens, Building Envelope Product Manager at ROCKWOOL UK, explains the benefits of recladding and which factors need to be considered when planning a new recladding project.

In recent years, regulations governing the cladding of buildings, especially highrise buildings, have been scrutinised and strengthened. While the main function of the facade system, including the cladding, has always been to protect the building and its residents from external environmental influences, other advantages of installing high-quality cladding have also become important, such as acoustic protection and fire safety.

Safety first

T he ban on combustible materials in the external walls of relevant buildings over 18m, which came into force in 2018, requires building materials to achieve a minimum class of A2-s1,d0 in the Euroclass fire performance rating. In England, ADB also provides guidance on the use of combustible materials in residential buildings over 11m. In Scotland, the ban applies to buildings over 11m.

A s a result, many building owners are recladding existing buildings with noncombustible materials to either meet new regulatory requirements or provide greater safeguarding to users.

Facade systems are constructed with external cladding, insulation and an air gap, which are attached to the structural frame to create a through-wall build up. The insulation layer provides a barrier against adverse environmental conditions, mainly heat and noise. To ensure all elements of the building envelope are noncombustible, only insulation materials that achieve the required Euroclass fire performance rating can be used in the facade system.

Non-combustible by nature

Stone wool is naturally noncombustible, which means it will not contribute to fire spread, nor will it emit significant toxic smoke if exposed to flames. There are stone-wool insulation products that have been specifically developed for use within ventilated cladding systems, as well as sealed systems such as curtain walling. Some of these stone-wool insulation solutions are manufactured using Dual Density technology. With these, the outer surface of each insulation slab features a distinctly higher density than the underside. This provides a

ROCKWOOL UK

firm and robust surface for the application of fixings, while the underside can accommodate unevenness in the substrate. Once installed, the higherdensity outer surface works in combination with a factoryapplied water-repelling agent to give improved resistance to rain ingress during construction.

C reating a comfortable environment

T he main function of insulation in buildings is temperature control. It is vital to keep the indoor climate comfortable and healthy, which means effective temperature regulation as opposed to simply keeping the heat in. With the recent climate changes, hotter summers mean that insulation is also needed to keep the heat out.

W ithout appropriate insulation, the increased demand to heat or cool buildings raises energy consumption, associated costs and CO 2 emissions. Around 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK are caused by heating buildings 1 The EU has calculated that proper insulation can reduce a building’s heating needs by up to 70% 2

Noise is another environmental factor that can be managed with the right insulation. While it is highly subjective as to which sounds are considered noise and which are deemed bearable, insulation helps to regulate building acoustics to the required levels. S tone wool is very effective in acoustic protection because the fibres in stone wool are randomly orientated. As sound waves try to pass through the air trapped within the fibrous structure, they get absorbed by friction as the individual fibres are made to move back and forth. In addition, the random orientation of the fibres gives rise to high tortuosity, which makes it very difficult for sound to find a path from one side to the other. To provide greater support with specifying stone-wool insulation for sound control, ROCKWOOL rainscreen products have been independently acoustically tested and shown to reduce the transfer of external noise into buildings.

Improved looks

I n addition to the improved thermal and acoustic performance that new cladding can provide, it also gives the building a facelift.

With the modern building materials available, architects and designers can create innovative new designs and rejuvenate sometimes tiredlooking older buildings. A newlook exterior can also help to regenerate the area and make the buildings stand out.

Looking forward

Since the Grenfell disaster, potentially dangerous cladding has become a complication for buyers who are looking to secure a mortgage for a flat in a cladded building. New guidance by the Royal

FOOTNOTES:

Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has led six of the biggest UK banks to review their policies. The banks will offer mortgages on properties in buildings above 11m where there are safety issues, but an agreed remediation plan funded by either the Government or a developer has to be in place3

Following this development, recladding could secure the future of many high-rise buildings in the UK for years to come.

www.rockwool.com

1https://www.rockwool.com/uk/about-us/sustainability/energy-efficiency/ 2https://www.rockwool.com/uk/about-us/sustainability/energy-efficiency/ 3https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/major-mortgage-lendersreveal-mixed-approach-on-cladding-as-new-guidance-takes-effect-79618

RETHINKING DRAINAGE: A CRITICAL LOOK INTO INCREASED RAINFALL ON BALCONIES

Balconies serve as an extension of living spaces, providing fresh air and a view of the surroundings. Balconies undoubtedly add sales appeal to the apartment lifestyle – especially when they are designed and built to high standards that ensure lasting safety for occupants. However, one critical aspect often overlooked in balcony design is proper drainage.

Fo r too long, the conventional method of draining water towards a single outlet has proven to be problematic and a threat to the structural integrity of buildings. This outdated principle must soon be revised, as it puts the building and its occupants at risk. In this article, Sapphire Balconies delves into the drawbacks of this approach and explores alternative solutions to ensure effective balcony drainage.

W ith severe weather events seemingly on the increase, balconies can now be designed and constructed not only to remain rigid at all times but also to allow for the safe dispersal of rainwater –especially during and after winter storms.

W ithout today’s drainage and safety requirements, balcony flooding might lead to water ingress and subsequent damage affecting apartment interiors as well as the main structure of the building. This was certainly a risk with ‘traditional’ balconies built on the part of the concrete floor slab. Further to this, concrete balconies are particularly susceptible to freeze and thaw

damage and parts cannot be replaced in the same way that an aluminium balcony can, exacerbating the cost of repair.

As a leading offsite manufacturer, Sapphire Balconies has taken steps to ensure that its products meet – even exceed – not only the design criteria of each development but also the regulatory requirements for rainwater management that underpin the overall long-term safety and reliability of residential buildings.

S apphire has also assembled a bank of knowledge covering various aspects of balcony design and safety to give architects – and others involved in the design and development process – the tools to facilitate informed decisionmaking. Using Sapphire’s innovative balcony specification and visualisation tool, COACH, balcony design with drainage in mind has become faster and easier than ever. The tool is publicly available at www. coach.balconies.global.

D ispersal of rainwater – especially during and after heavy downpours – is always a key consideration, and Sapphire

has addressed this issue in detail in a separate whitepaper on balcony drainage strategy and methods, which can be found on its website.

O ffsite-built Cassette balconies, connected to support arms protruding from the main structure, are installed after the completion of the building envelope. Projecting balconies may serve as partial ‘canopies’ shielding parts of the building facade from oblique rainfall. They may have the same benefit for balconies below them. At the same time, solid balustrades will reduce the amount of rain falling on each balcony surface.

B ut the behaviour of falling rain is largely shaped by wind speed and direction, so design decisions should be based on the ‘worst-case’ likelihood of heavy, near-perpendicular rainfall. Whatever the severity of the weather, rainwater that falls on a balcony should drain easily so that the balcony surface remains safe underfoot.

S apphire says official guidelines on balcony drainage – including Building Regulations and warranty provider guidelines – have tended to be unclear or open to interpretation. It says, however, that BS 8579 has improved standards and clarified descriptions. This standard identifies two systems:

Piped or positive drainage, where water drains from the surface into downpipes Controlled (or edge) drainage, which prevents water ingress to the interior, staining to the exterior and nuisance to people under the balcony.

SAPPHIRE BALCONIES

T he standard also identifies ‘free drainage’ with water passing directly through to the balcony below. This is something Sapphire does not recommend unless there is a specific architectural requirement.

Further, BS 8579 recommends water discharge should be 400mm from an adjacent facade to minimise the risk of staining.

S apphire’s general recommendation for balconies involves secure balustrades, safe glass (where specified in place of railings), slip-proof decking and soffits.

S offits are important as they enhance the underside appearance of balconies by concealing the supports, they can reduce the danger of fire spreading upwards, and they minimise the risk of drips from the floor above and instead provide a channel for diverting rainwater.

S apphire recommends controlled drainage with 400mm-wide soffit trays, which have a nominal 20mm fall to aid self-cleaning and rapid water dispersion along the length of a balcony. It says this had been adopted with great success in many projects – up to 30 storeys in height – throughout the UK and Ireland.

C ontrolled drainage is the most costeffective solution, taking into account risk and safety considerations. It says incorporating piped drainage typically adds 25% to balcony costs and makes construction more complex.

C ontrasting with the enhanced appearance provided by soffits, visible rainwater pipes are ugly – unless hidden in the facade, which adds complexity. It adds: “Balconies draining to an RWP need to be significantly deeper to accommodate the pipework, which makes them look chunkier.”

Two further regulations affecting balcony drainage decisions are:

BS EN 12056-3:2000 NC6 says gutters and rainwater pipes may be omitted from tall structures where runoff would be dispersed before reaching the ground – such runoff should be directed to avoid undesirable pattern staining and splashing of windows

BS 8579 also confirms that positive drainage should be adopted for balconies over private gardens, public pathways or building entrances –unless a suitable canopy or alternative protection is provided.

I n conclusion, balcony drainage is a many-faceted challenge requiring a multi-faceted solution. The old method of directing all water towards a single outlet is no longer appropriate and can cause harm to buildings. To ensure safe and effective balcony drainage, alternative solutions must be considered. By doing so, balconies can continue to be valuable outdoor spaces for occupants to enjoy.

www.balconies.global

THE BENEFITS OF

USING SILICONE COATINGS FOR FACADE LEAK REPAIRS

What are the benefits of silicone coatings? Pedro Doors, Senior Application Development Engineer for GE-branded construction sealants, explains how repairing facade leaks with silicone coatings rather than opting for invasive renovations can be beneficial from a practical, financial and sustainability perspective.

From rising energy costs and the ongoing risks of recession to the lingering consequences of the coronavirus pandemic – the last few years have been challenging for all industries, including construction.

T hese financial pressures can be seen in restricted budgets, as well as the type of work being contracted to builders, heads of sites and architects as both customers and contractors increasingly look for cheaper solutions that still deliver longterm performance.

C hoosing to repair, rather than totally replace, areas of deterioration on a building can be an effective way of doing this – but the success of a repair job is dependent on the quality and type of product used.

The strength of silicone

W hen it comes to successful construction projects, materials matter. The long-term durability and viability of materials are integral to the success of projects – and silicone can have some distinct advantages over other chemistries.

T he robust properties of silicone were demonstrated in 1983 when we ran a 30-year test to evaluate the long-term durability of a variety of sealant types to ascertain which performed best over time.

D ifferent chemistries were evaluated on criteria that included adhesion, flexibility, resilience, toughness and hardness change – and silicone sealants ranked higher than alternative chemistries for most of these.

T hese properties can make silicone products excellent candidates for repair and restoration projects situated in challenging environments and capable of offering real value for money over decades.

A high-performing, practical choice

W hether it’s heavy rainfall, icy winds or a flurry of snow – the unpredictable British weather can wreak havoc on buildings, leading to damaged exteriors and harmful water ingress.

If left undetected and treated, water leaks can seriously damage the structural integrity of domestic and commercial

buildings, triggering problems that are both costly and invasive to fix. Damage can vary in severity but includes warping, rotting, staining, mould growth and, in some instances, asset loss.

However, whilst major leaks in the facade can typically require extensive and invasive repairs, this doesn’t always have to be the case. A high-quality silicone architectural coating can provide a lasting solution for leaks. It can be easily applied to create a waterproof, breathable, vapourpermeable and flexible membrane that protects a project for years to come.

O ne of the perceived disadvantages of using silicone coatings on buildings is that it can impact the original look of the structure. In these cases, translucent silicone coatings can be used to provide long-lasting protection without detracting from the overall aesthetic of a building.

S ilicone coatings are also easy to apply, with some solutions requiring no primer or additional materials to work. They can be quickly painted onto specific areas of deterioration with just one coat – offering a far more practical option when compared to a full and lengthy renovation, which may delay project deadlines and require additional labour.

A cost-effective alternative

T he cost to repair commercial water damage depends on several factors, including the size of the property, how much water remains on site and, finally, the extent of the damage.

MOMENTIVE PERFORMANCE MATERIALS (GE SILICONES)

However, the scale of these constructions means that it has the potential to get very costly. This highlights the importance of using quality products with durable characteristics when undertaking repair jobs to ensure that the end result isn’t just a temporary fix but a long-term solution.

S ilicone coatings can offer protection against leaks and adverse weather from the date of application and well into the future – while taking significantly less time to apply than physically removing sections of the facade or undertaking invasive brickwork repairs. This makes them excellent candidates for commercial projects, as they can offer the best value for money and help to make budgets go further – all whilst bringing a range of practical benefits to a building.

W hen considering the growing financial pressures on building contractors and building owners – silicone coatings are a valuable and useful candidate for many repair projects.

Potential sustainability benefits

I n addition to offering practical and economic advantages – silicone coatings can also be a more sustainable option to help building owners advance their ‘green’ credentials.

Waste is a big problem in the construction industry, with the development of new properties and extensive repair jobs generating a significant amount of material sent to landfills.

R epairing a leak with a silicone coating – rather than ripping out brickwork – however, reduces the quantity of this waste material, reducing the overall impact that our industry has on the planet.

T he durability and long-term performance characteristics of silicone further reduces the generation of waste material, as it minimises the need for future repairs or renovation work.

Using silicone for future repair jobs

As we continue to navigate an uncertain economic climate – it’s never been more valuable for contractors to use costeffective solutions that don’t compromise on performance.

W hen applied correctly, the right silicone coatings can deliver on this criteria and are a cost-effective yet practical solution to facade leaks. Durable, robust and effective in as little as one coat, silicone coatings have established themselves as an ideal candidate for a wide range of projects and offer quality protection from the date of application and well into the future.

G E-branded silicone construction sealants include a range of solutions for the whole building envelope, comprising high-quality sealants and coatings that are extending the life and enhancing the performance of all kinds of buildings all over the world.

www.siliconeforbuilding.com

BUILD FOCUS:

HEALTHY BUILDINGS

Today’s homeowners may view the home as a place of refuge from the hectic pace of modern life; a place to relax, recharge and escape from the noise. But too often, the built environment adds to the noise pollution we face day to day. And this issue isn’t just limited to the outside world, with research by Geberit finding that unwanted noise inside the home affects more than half of us – and it’s having a direct impact on people’s wellbeing.

EMBEDDING ACOUSTICS IN WASHROOM DESIGN

Antony Corbett, Product Applications Engineer at Geberit, explores the significance of unwanted noise in the home and why UK acoustic standards must be overhauled.

No ise pollution created both inside and outdoors can lead to a range of health problems and have negative effects on mental health. From the hum of the refrigerator to the sound of a dripping tap or flushing toilet, there are unwanted noises in just about every room in the home that can have undesired effects on wellbeing.

However, we don’t have to live with noise. A radical rethink of acoustic regulations in the UK would revolutionise residential environments and eliminate the most common causes of unwelcome noise.

The impact

To get better-informed insight surrounding public opinion on noise and wellbeing, Geberit commissioned a YouGov survey in 2020 of more than 2000 people across the UK, and the results highlight a wider problem than we first thought.

O ver a third of respondents (38%) said they’re affected more by internal noises in the home rather than traffic outside, and more than half (51%) said unwanted noise negatively impacts their wellbeing.

B athroom sounds disrupt a quarter of us (28%) either at night or when relaxing, and one in five (19%) said they are disturbed by noises like flushing toilets, taps, pipes and drains. And yet, despite bathroom elements directly touching walls and floors, we’re lacking clear regulations governing wastewater noise in new buildings.

The need for sound regulations

C urrent regulations surrounding the control of noise in UK buildings are vague and include little clarification on which products should be used to achieve specific sound pressures, particularly in the case of water and sanitary noise.

GEBERIT

ANTONY CORBETT IS A PRODUCT APPLICATIONS ENGINEER AT GEBERIT

For instance, Building Regulations (2010) Approved Document E, ‘Resistance to the passage of sound’, although stipulating that walls and floors should reduce sound transmission to conjoining rooms by 45 dB, doesn’t mention acoustically-optimised products. Nor does it set maximum sound levels.

B SI’s British Standard 8233:2014

Guidance for Sound Insulation and Noise

Reduction in Buildings simply states that water systems, including hot and cold water services and waste pipes, “are not to cause disturbance in normal use”. This unclear guideline is the document’s only reference to reducing sanitary noise in buildings, even though research shows that more than a quarter of homeowners are regularly affected by bathroom noise.

I n contrast, Germany’s DIN 4109 acoustic standard sets maximum limits for acoustics inside a building. DIN 4109 outlines sound insulation in buildings, including requirements and verifications.

S o, is noise at the bottom of our agenda here in the UK?

O vercoming the challenge

T here is no defined approach to testing, so there is no motivation for multiple suppliers working across one project to collaboratively undertake testing to ensure that they achieve the best acoustic rating, as is currently the case for heating or energy loss.

S o, what is the solution? We are all aware that buildings need to consider acoustics, and, of course, many of those in the sector will undoubtedly have an in-depth knowledge of the product solutions required to overcome the challenge of unwanted noise in the home.

A rchitects can reduce the impact of noise from toilet flushing, drainage and pipes, delivering a better experience for the end user.

How Geberit can help

T here are products available in the UK market to mitigate the impact of noise. Soundoptimised drainage piping, such as Geberit’s Silent-db20, can reduce noise transfer from flushing water, washbasins or showers. Likewise, wall-hung toilets with concealed cisterns and pre-wall frames, such as Geberit Duofix, decouple from the construction, preventing noise from travelling down the wall and through the floor.

To reduce sanitary noise, we must think about the source, path and receiver. There are a number of ways to achieve better sound insulation through sanitary technology, either at the source, path and/or receiver.

T he long-term objective is to ensure that sanitary noises become a thing of the past.

www.geberit.co.uk/acoustics

ARCHITECT@WORK

22ND-23RD MARCH 2023

ARCHITECT@WORK RETURNS TO THE TRUMAN BREWERY FOR 2023

ARCHITECT@WORK, a two-day trade fair aimed at the British architecture and design community, will take place at the Truman Brewery in London from 22nd to 23rd March.

Th e 10th edition will see a stellar line up of talks and over 200 of the latest product innovations in surface solutions, lighting technology, as well as interior and exterior fixtures and fittings, showcased by a selection of leading architectural suppliers. All exhibitors undergo a rigorous selection process, with an external judging panel overseeing the product selection, to ensure that ARCHITECT@WORK remains one of the UK’s most highly-respected trade shows of its kind.

O ther show highlights include the RIBA Bookshop and a photographic exhibition by World-Architects. With a free bar and catering throughout, visitors will be able to network in a modern, creative and loungelike atmosphere.

Talks programme

T his year’s theme, Energy & Ecosystems, will allow the talks programme to explore a range of different projects, places and experiences. Talks will take place both in person and via live stream.

T he keynote talk in the series will be with Amin Taha. After working for a number of architectural practices, such as Chris Wilkinson Architects (later Wilkinson Eyre) and Zaha Hadid Architects, he founded Amin Taha Architects in 2003 in London, which

ARCHITECT@WORK

later changed its name to GROUPWORK. Author Dr Ruth Lang will be in conversation with Taha about the journey to a future built on the past. It is now well established that keeping our existing building stock and repurposing it is one of the best things we can do for the environment. This retrofit revolution has not gone unnoticed. It is the cornerstone of campaigns and is being debated in parliament.

For the first time, ARCHITECT@WORK will host a Negroni Talk. Created in 2018, ‘The Negroni Talks’ – hosted by architect firm Fourthspace and sponsored by Campari – were set up to replicate the lively and provocative debates that took place in the European cafe culture of the early 20th century. This lively debate series has taken the architecture scene by storm, picking up an Archiboo Award in 2021 and spawning a host of articles and wider industry conversations. ‘Net zero – fact or fallacy?’ will question what the concept of net zero really means. With carbon offsetting taking place abroad, there is a fiery debate raging about the ethical and practical implications of net zero.

‘ Positive About Energy Saving’ will explore how the energy our buildings consume (or operational carbon to the initiated) is one of the big challenges architects, designers and developers

www.architect-at-work.co.uk

face. Tenants want to work in green buildings, and new regulations are shifting towards more efficient places to live and work. How do we manage this from the concept and financing through to the landscape and lighting?

D ecisions about little things can have a big impact as you reach critical mass. ‘Making The Most Of Waste’ will question how we fit out our homes and workspaces with materials that make the most of waste and whether this affects aesthetics – chaired by Debika Ray, Editor of Crafts Magazine.

‘ Earth Building: what can the planet provide?’, chaired by Curator and Writer Vanessa Norwood, will explore how we create a new built environment using the materials supplied by Mother Earth. Ancient buildings were made of straw, timber and stone. It looks like a brighter and more sustainable path might be tread if we return to our roots, but we will need research and clever engineering.

H istorically, places and spaces have been commissioned from an extremely homogenous perspective. Creating climate equity will discuss how the key to making better environments for all is through inclusivity and diversity. We can create spaces that work better for different communities by listening to a broader spectrum of opinions.

THE WORKPLACE EVENT – THE HOME FOR WORKPLACE AND FACILITIES INNOVATION

The Workplace Event is the home for workplace and facilities innovation. An evolution of The Facilities Event, it brings together workplace professionals and practitioners from facilities, HR, technology, real estate, design, architecture, consultants and advisors to share best practice, expertise and ideas to create effective working environments, employee experience and drive optimum organisational performance.

Th e three-day event from 25 to 27th April 2023 at the NEC Birmingham comprises a Workplace Leaders Summit, Workplace Leaders Top 50, Knowledge Hub seminar programmes, an exhibition and a Wellbeing Village.

The Workplace Event is free to attend and is part of The Safety & Security Series. Co-located with The Security Event, The Fire Safety Event, The Health & Safety Event, National Cyber Security Show and new for 2023, Professional Security Officer Live.

The Workplace Leaders Top 50

New for 2023, The Workplace Event introduces the Workplace Leaders Top 50. This honours the individuals who make the

THE WORKPLACE EVENT

workplace such an inspiring and resourceful sector. It is one of the cornerstones of activities that celebrate the industry. This is the influential and celebratory list of inspiring leaders, innovators, pioneers and changemakers of the workplace today.

The Workplace Leaders Summit

The Workplace Leaders Summit, sponsored by EMCOR, runs across three days. This will feature influential speakers and high-level content specifically curated to present transformational ideas, aid proactive conversations and deliver actionable takeaways in order for attendees to reshape the workplace experience and facilities management of tomorrow.

Day o ne – t he VUCA sessions

D ay one will focus on VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous). The global events of the past five years have sent shockwaves through all corners of our lives. Brexit, the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have all contributed to unpredictable and difficult-to-manage challenges in the workplace and facilities sector. The morning session will explore how organisations are navigating a VUCA world.

Day t wo – t he Future Sessions

O n day two of the summit, the programme will imagine a new future. Collating ideas shared over the last two days discussing what the future of work will look like and how best to support that. Visitors will also explore new business models, new mindsets, new strategies and new tactics. This is a commitment to shaping the future, not waiting for it to happen. A fun finish to wrap up the day commences with Have I Got Workplace News For You, where two panels of workplace experts are put through their paces in a quiz based on the infamous BBC programme.

Day three – t he Data Sessions

F inally, on day three, visitors will focus on how equipped we are for the digitisation of the workplace. What innovations exist that can move the dial? How are jobs going to change, and how will they change the working lives of people?

This morning’s sessions will explore the cutting edge of technological advances and assess their implications for the workplace community and the employees they serve. To close the final day, we welcome back the Workplace Geeks podcast, who will interview a globallyleading academic on the implications of technology on the way we work and how organisations support that work.

LAUNCH OF WORKPLACE LEADERS

Nineteen Group, organiser of The Workplace Event, is excited to announce the launch of Workplace Leaders, a new community designed to support and empower emerging leaders in the workplace.

LEADERS

Wo rkplace Leaders is a comprehensive development programme that aims to help practitioners from facilities, HR, technology, real estate, design, architecture, consultants and advisors to enhance employee experience and workplace performance. Focusing on practical, real-world skills and best practice, Workplace Leaders will provide an essential workplace and facilities management resource through a live in-person summit, industry news, insights, webinars, roundtables, networking opportunities and more.

“We are thrilled to be launching Workplace Leaders,” said Tristan Norman, Group Event Director.

“We believe in the power of strong leadership to drive positive change in the workplace. Following our successful launch of The Workplace Event last year, it was a natural progression to bring Workplace Leaders to the market.”

I n addition to the development opportunities, the launch of Workplace Leaders Top 50 will be part of Workplace Leaders’ yearly rotas to celebrate the most influential figures who have made a significant impact and contribution to the profession. Categories include unsung hero, young pioneer, innovator, inspiring leader, driver of cultural change and thought leader. Nominations were open until 10th February, with The Workplace Event Advisory Council reviewing nominations before the Top 50 list is published and launched at The Workplace Event at the NEC Birmingham, from 25 to 27th April.

D om Brankin, Workplace Services Director at Government Property Agency, will kick off the regular interview feature in conversation with a series of regular bitesize videos. Dom discusses the evolution of workplace and FM initiatives within the business throughout his career and how he got to his position now. Workplace Leaders is accessible to professionals at all levels, from those just starting out in their careers to experienced leaders.

A bout Workplace Leaders

Workplace Leaders is an influential platform providing workplace and facilities management news, articles, events and insights. Covering all sectors from facilities, workplace strategy and design, technology, interiors, furniture providers and real estate, it is an essential resource for every practitioner and solution provider looking to enhance employee experience and workplace performance.

www.workplaceleaders.com

WORKPLACE

DOMUS VENTILATION EXPANDS HRXE MVHR RANGE WITH ZEUS

DOMUS VENTILATION

Domus Ventilation, a manufacturer of market-leading ventilation systems that save energy and improve indoor air quality, has expanded its HRXE range of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery

(MVHR) units with the launch of HRXE-ZEUS. HRXE-ZEUS has been introduced to meet ventilation requirements for large residential properties, which require a more powerful system to deliver the airflow required to meet Building Regulations

Part F. The HRXE-ZEUS high-performance MVHR system combines supply-and-extract ventilation in one system. Using an advanced heat exchanger, up to 95% of the heat typically lost in waste, stale air is efficiently recovered and used to temper the fresh air drawn into the building. The filtered, prewarmed air is distributed to areas of the home, such as living rooms and bedrooms, effectively meeting part of the heating load in energy-efficient dwellings. The system features two independent fans that have full-speed control for background and boost ventilation rates.

www.domusventilation.co.uk vent.info@domusventilation.co.uk

“NOTHING BETTER” CLAIMS FOR NEW VENTILATION WITH HEAT RECOVERY UNIT

GILBERTS BLACKPOOL

In the drive towards reduced net zero, Gilberts Blackpool claims its new MFS-HR surpasses the performance of anything comparable on the market for commercial and public sector applications. Building on Gilberts’ pioneering MFS hybrid ventilation unit – the first of its kind to be developed in the UK – the combined hybrid unit can achieve up to 75% heat recovery. The exceptional and market-leading heat recovery performance means that, when employed as part of a sustainable strategy, including photovoltaic arrays, MFS-HR could achieve energy-negative status. As with the original MFS and other alternative hybrid ventilation systems, MFS-HR is a standalone unit installed through the facade to ventilate, cool and warm the interior. Initial tests indicate each MFS-HR will provide up to 4kw heating and 2kw cooling capacity whilst still delivering an airflow rate of up to 470l/s. It could cost as little as £10/annum/zone to operate.

01253

www.gilbertsblackpool.com

info@gilbertsblackpool.co.uk

IDEAL HEATING AND ACV EXHIBIT AT SPECIFI EVENTS ACROSS THE UK

IDEAL HEATING

VENT-AXIA’S AWARDWINNING MULTIVENT MEV INSTALLED IN ZERO-CARBON STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

VENT-AXIA

Ventilation leader Vent-Axia has supplied over 60 of its Lo-Carbon Multivent MVDCMSH units to provide effective ventilation at a new nine-storey student accommodation scheme in Manchester. Church Inn, on Higher Cambridge Street, has 62 studio apartments with a Vent-Axia ventilation unit installed in each flat. Energy efficient and quiet, the Multivent MEV unit was the ideal solution for the BREEAM 'Very Good' scheme, with low energy and noise levels very important in achieving this credit. The accommodation also meets Manchester City Council’s ambition to achieve a zero-carbon target for Manchester by establishing student accommodation close to educational establishments, reducing the need for travel and minimising emissions.

www.vent-axia.com

0344 856 0590

Ideal Heating – Commercial Products is pleased to announce it is exhibiting at Specifi Mechanical Services events throughout 2023, alongside hot water generation and heating company ACV UK, as part of their Experts Together campaign. Ideal Heating is exhibiting at eight Specifi Mechanical Services events, held in Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London and Manchester. Ideal Heating’s experienced specification managers will be on hand to advise visitors on the latest cost-effective means of decarbonising commercial heating in light of the Part L uplift to Building Regulations for non-domestic buildings, and its new ECOMOD range of commercial monobloc air-source heat pumps will be a key focus at the events.

www.idealcommercialboilers.com

YOUNG LIVES VS CANCER SUPPORTS ALFIE THROUGH HIS JOURNEY

NATIONAL VENTILATION

National Ventilation supported World Cancer Day on 4th February and thanked Young Lives vs Cancer for the support the charity has given Alfie Bills throughout his cancer journey. Alfie, the son of Andy Bills, a Specification Manager at National Ventilation, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in 2019 at just three years of age. With the family gaining support both emotionally and financially from Young Lives vs Cancer at such a difficult time, Andy began fundraising for the charity. National Ventilation then stepped in to support the charity as part of a group-wide initiative, and named Young Lives vs Cancer as its charity of the year, and has so far raised £5766.

www.nationalventilation.co.uk 01823 690290

01482 498376

SOMETHING SPECIAL –PENDOCK BESPOKE CASING SOLUTIONS

Decorative architectural casing and enclosure solutions have been Pendock’s area of specialism for more than three decades, combining the key attributes of aesthetics and practicality to conceal structural elements and building services.

In 1987, when the company was formed, column casings were typically specified for their practical characteristics and were used primarily to give a uniform covering for structural steelwork and concrete columns. Since then, changing architectural demands have evolved and developed to a point where the understanding, acceptance and application of column casings and building linings are now an integral aspect of building design.

PENDOCK

T his design confidence and familiarity with casing solutions have also created opportunities for architectural and specification teams to push the boundaries further and engage with Pendock to develop unique bespoke solutions beyond the more widely accepted and used ‘standard’ products within the range.

P endock’s Technical Project Manager, Gavin Byram, explained: “We have a wide range of standard products, and these still form the largest percentage of our business. This is particularly true of column casings, where most applications can be met by using metal, GRP or GRG, as well as pre-formed MDF and plywood casings from our Radius range.

“ However, we have been involved in many projects where a solution must be engineered to solve the needs of a particular application, whether it involves extended heights, special shapes or non-standard dimensions. In these applications, we typically work with architects to ensure the results are a precise match for the specification.”

A comparatively early example of where bespoke casings were used to meet a complex interior form and create an interior feature was at the Birmingham Medical School. Two 8.8m-high elliptical casings were manufactured using a specially-formed ply substrate and prefinished with a durable Formica laminate in Polar White.

A further challenge to the design was to ensure the head of the column casing matches the precise curvature of the timber ceiling, which was achieved to ensure a seamless join. Ellipses also featured on another bespoke project in Birmingham, at the National Exhibition Centre. To provide easy identification for the exhibition halls, Pendock manufactured a series of slender aerofoil section fins, which were finished with a red laminate and large metallic numbers.

It’s been more than 15 years since the NEC project was completed, which is a testament to the durability of the bespoke casings, but in the intervening period, Pendock has been involved in countless other bespoke projects.

B ringing things right up to date, two of the company’s latest projects have involved column casings reaching more than 11m high in Didcot, Oxfordshire, and a project at Ansty Park, Coventry, where preformed curved metal beam casings from Pendock’s Linea range, are being used to conceal the interior structural supports for a glazed atrium.

“Both of these projects required close liaison between the architects, contractors and ourselves,” added Byram. “However, one of the primary differences between Radius column casings and Linea building linings is that Radius also includes a range of standard sizes, in addition to its bespoke capabilities, while Linea is entirely bespoke, and all products are manufactured to meet individual specifications.”

BANKING ON ACOUSTICS

The Business Garden Wrocław is a remarkable 17,000m 2 development in the heart of Wroclaw, Poland. Comprising nine offices and service buildings along with retail units, this LEED ‘Platinum’ development includes the new headquarters of Santander Bank, designed by architect firm Workplace Solutions.

The headquarters is a remarkable bright, lively and inviting environment for both staff and visitors, a world away from the stuffy banks of old. With large open spaces, breakout areas and conference rooms, the designers needed to find a way to control the acoustics. As a result, they specified over 600m2 of Troldtekt’s acoustic panels across large parts of the building from Modern Classic, Troldtekt’s local partner in Poland.

Troldtekt is the perfect choice for this kind of application because it provides the twin benefits of superior acoustic performance and sustainability. Here, Troldtekt ultrafine panels are used in both natural wood and white to break up the ceilings and create an interesting mosaic effect.

Founded on the Cradle to Cradle design concept and recently attaining Gold certification, Troldtekt’s natural and inherently-sustainable panels are available in a variety of different surfaces and colours and contribute positively to a building’s BREEAM, DGNB and LEED ratings. In addition, panels that incorporate Futurecem, the patented new cement from Aalborg Portland, have a significantly reduced CO 2 footprint. Overall, over the entire product lifecycle, the CO 2 footprint is 26.4% lower than for Troldtekt based on grey cement and a whopping 37.7% lower than for Troldtekt based on white cement.

01978 664255

MAPEI ULTRATOP LOFT COMPLEMENTS VICTORIAN HOUSE IN BALHAM

MAPEI

Warwick-based surface design specialist – BaSE (www.baselifestyle.

co.uk) – has completed a stunning ‘troweleffect’ floor installation using Mapei’s Ultratop Loft. The installation

forms part of a kitchen renovation project within the basement of a period property in Balham, south London. Home to Interior Designer Charlie Nunn and husband, Richard, the large Victorian property has an eclectic style owing to the owner’s creative nature, with colours and artwork adorning the walls. As well as providing a city base for Charlie and her family, the home is used as a location for TV shows and photoshoots and has recently been featured in Amazon Prime adverts. BaSE’s use of Ultratop Loft spans the 50m 2 extended kitchen, providing a striking contrast to the red gloss kitchen cabinets and satin wall finish. During the installation, Ultratop Loft was trowel applied under the existing units and around the cabinet legs; it was applied with a Nuvolato (cloudy) texture in a warm grey called Venezia. The micro-cement-based finish replaced a seamless resin floor, which had faded in sunlight.

0121 508 6970

www.mapei.com

info@mapei.co.uk

SUSTAINABLE PARTITION FOR HEALTHY WORKPLACE STYLE

Coventry Building Society recently opened its new, ultra-modern head office at Binley Business Park. With strong green credentials, the 40,000ft2 development prioritises staff wellbeing through healthy workplace design. In a key meeting area, Style worked with contractor, Barnwood, to divide a large, open-plan space into two separate rooms. Combining effortless manoeuvrability with exceptional acoustic performance, a Dorma Hüppe Variflex moveable wall was installed, allowing separate meetings to run concurrently, undisturbed. Supporting the sustainability aims of the development, the Variflex system has an environmental product declaration (EPD) in accordance with ISO 14025 and EN 150804. In addition, Style is the only UK partitioning specialist that is accredited under the ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System, ensuring operational processes maximise sustainability goals whilst limiting wasted resources. “Specifying a moveable wall system with an EPD shows you are serious about your carbon footprint,” said Steve Williams, Sales Director for Style Midlands.

01202 874044

www.style-partitions.co.uk

sales@style-partitions.co.uk

TROLDTEKT

EASILY-OVERLOOKED CAVITY WALL DESIGN DETAILS?

‘It’s a wrap!’ Whilst best known as a phrase used in filmmaking to signify that a particular scene or film has finished, it’s also an important term used on site. Importantly, it’s a term worth remembering – it will prevent a problem that can otherwise support wet ingress.

Wh ere a gable abuts another wall, and the gable slope finishes at or beyond the external corner of that wall, a direct water ingress route is created. The masonry forming the corner return provides a direct entry route for winddriven rain to permeate the structure.

T his is best demonstrated in the photograph where preformed Type X Cavitrays are protecting the roof/wall intersection. The individual trays within the cavity wall create a DPC staircase with connecting treads and connecting risers. The cavity upstand of each tray is hinged, so they take up the cavity width encountered. Externally, the flashings are already shaped and attached to the trays, so not only is the join between the two assured, but once bedded and flush pointed, the mason’s job is complete – no need to return later to point-in flashings – that task is eliminated.

T he bottom tray is an external angled tray –what is called a wrap tray. Supplied with flashings attached to both external sides, it wraps and covers masonry that is below the abutment corner – an often-overlooked consideration. The external-tointernal masonry connection is externally wrapped.

Protection without structural weakening

W hen cavity wall insulation is terminated part way up a cavity wall, the top of the insulation should be protected. This detail commonly occurs in house gable walls, where insulation is stopped at the adjacent wall plate level. The top of the insulation must be protected according to the cavity insulation BBA certificates and numerous authoritative bodies. Protection is required against contamination/distortion by mortar droppings and subsequent wet ingress from wind-driven rain, then permeating the insulation – usually via incorrectly-installed or choked wall ties.

The usual DPC protection detail shows roll DPC built into the inner skin, transversing the cavity and then projecting through the external leaf. The arrangement shelters the insulation, but it also weakens the external leaf. The entire masonry triangle is sitting on a potential slip plane. Those who have witnessed leeward wind pressure sucking an entire gable top away from the DPC/masonry off which it previously rested will concur the detail is not a structurally encouraging one and is best avoided.

B ut look at what is really required, and that weakness can be eliminated. The entire outside leaf will get wet in wet weather, and that cannot be changed. Accordingly, building the DPC into the leaf achieves nothing, except it holds the DPC to shape and weakens the external leaf. In contrast, using a preformed Dropcloak does not weaken the external leaf, but it does protect the cavity insulation.

T he external leaf is still wet throughout its height; the difference is the wall is stronger. Traditional building relied on floppy roll DPC that required support. Preformed Cavitrays are self-supporting – they protect without diminishing structural integrity. P rotecting with a Type CD Dropcloak can eliminate potential witness/cracking lines, eliminate the water evacuation consideration and eliminate the structural interruption. Type CD is one of over 200 design solutions offered by the original Cavity Tray Company.

Wrap angle from Cavity Trays

Type CD Dropcloak. Protection without diminishing structural integrity.

YEOMAN SHIELD HIGHLIGHTING DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY WARDS

Wall and door protection specialist Yeoman Shield recently collaborated with a Yorkshire hospital to provide door protection for a ward refurbishment that would be in line with the dementia-friendly environment brief.

YEOMAN SHIELD

The work required the doors along the ward corridor to be protected using different coloured Yeoman Shield protection panels, which had to be compatible with a pre-accepted palette of shades found to be conducive to wayfinding benefits for people with dementia.

Yeoman Shield was able to meet the colour brief drawing from its wide range of 58 plus colours available in the protection panel range. The door protection panels were installed, along with matching door frame protection, by Yeoman Shield’s directlyemployed fixing operatives, in Royal Blue, Aubergine, Raspberry Red, Tangerine,

Lilac, Yellow and Pastel Green shades, providing an attractive, protective and hygienic surface finish.

With the ward experiencing constant, heavy footfall, the door protection panels will play an important role in guarding against detrimental impact damage caused by the movement of beds, trolleys, people and equipment. This can help to reduce the amount of time and money spent on the repair and redecoration of doors.

For more information on how the use of Yeoman Shield’s wall and door protection products not only protects from impact damage but can assist in wayfinding and decoration, visit the website below.

F. BALL PRODUCTS DO THE GROUNDWORK AT £40M HOTEL REFURB

F. BALL AND CO.

CTD ARCHITECTURAL TILES GETS TO WORK ON LATEST OFFICE REFURBISHMENT

CTD ARCHITECTURAL TILES

CTD Architectural Tiles has curated a bespoke tile package for the refurbishment of Birmingham’s landmark 54 Hagley Road shared office building. CTD Architectural Tiles supplied several tile collections for the scheme, including the Aspenwood porcelain floor tile for 54 Hagley Road’s cafe space as well as part of the building’s entrance. The limestone-inspired Flodsten collection was also installed throughout the refurbished communal spaces, including the reception area, to complement Aspenwood’s modern take on natural materials, with both collections used together. Scala & Step completed this commercial tile package, with the collection’s matte black Metro-style wall tile used behind the cafe counter for a sleek finish.

www.ctdarchitecturaltiles.co.uk

0800 021 4835

info@ctdarchitecturaltiles.co.uk

F. Ball and Co.’s Stopgap 1200 Pro levelling compound and F46 pressure-sensitive acrylic adhesive have led the way in refurbishing floors at Heythrop Park, near Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire. Carter’s Flooring (Leisure) was commissioned to install a range of high-spec floorcoverings throughout more than 6000m 2 of the site’s public areas. Stopgap 1200 Pro high-performance levelling compound was used to raise subfloor levels so that LVT floorcoverings and inlaid carpet would sit perfectly flush with previously-installed ceramic tiles. Stopgap Micro Rapid fast-setting, fast-drying floor finishing compound was used to address minor subfloor imperfections. Behind the reception desk, Plusfloor concrete-effect luxury vinyl tiles were adhered with F. Ball’s Styccobond F46 pressure-sensitive adhesive.

www.f-ball.co.uk

01538 361633

STO INSULATION AND RENDER SYSTEM MAKES ITS MARK ON THE BOURNEMOUTH SKYLINE

STO

mail@f-ball.co.uk

One of the tallest new buildings recently added to the Bournemouth skyline has been completed with a combination of external wall insulation and render products supplied by Sto. The company’s StoTherm Mineral M system, with Sto-Rotofix Plus mechanical fixings and StoSilco exterior render, were all used on the new Skyline student accommodation building, which achieved a BREEAM ’Very Good’ rating. The major 17-storey, 430-bedroom project by Gilltown, which was acquired on completion by a major investment company, delivers a combination of purpose-built accommodation and recreation facilities for its residents. StoTherm Mineral is a highly-durable external wall insulation system, which uses mineral-fibre boards that provide outstanding thermal performance and unrivalled fire protection.

www.sto.co.uk

0141 892 8000 info.uk@sto.com

Photo courtesy of Intersect Architects

RED AND YELLOW STEEL DOOR FRAMES BY CLEMENT CHOSEN FOR THIS EXCEPTIONAL LONDON HOME

Clement Windows Group has manufactured brightly-coloured red and yellow steel door frames for a stunning South London home.

Ha nnah Cecil-Harden is a Director at De Gournay, a family business founded by her father, Cecil Gurney. De Gournay makes exquisite hand-painted and embroidered wallcoverings, and the company’s work adorns some of the finest buildings in the world.

H annah recently decided to reconfigure her London property to accommodate her growing family, and the basement was turned into a playroom with adjoining utility and a bathroom. The walls of the playroom are decorated in a beautiful artisan wallpaper scene of London.

H aving worked with Hannah previously, Clement was approached to manufacture the new steel doors included within the designs for this space. Hannah wanted the steel frames to be painted to match the vibrant colours included in the wallpaper.

The steel frames to the exterior are polyester powder painted RAL 9004 Signal Black on the outside and RAL 1016 Sulfur Yellow on the inside, while the interior doors are painted in the same yellow on the playroom side and RAL 3005 Wine Red on the utility and bathroom side.

P eter Clement, Chief Executive of Clement Windows Group, commented: “We always say that our bespoke steel products can be painted in specialist hues from across the entire colour spectrum, and these doors really demonstrate what is possible!”

ASWS RESTORES ART DECO ELEGANCE OF HAMPSTEAD ATHLETICS PAVILION WITH REPLACEMENT STEEL WINDOW PACKAGE ASWS

Despite being best known for its pre-eminence in repairing and restoring traditional metal windows of all ages, ASWS has earned the appreciation of all involved in renovating the Hampstead Athletic Track pavilion through the supply of a ‘replica refurbishment’ package. The London-based company was called in by The City of London’s Chamberlain’s Department to offer its expertise on steel fenestration when it was decided to try and restore the elevations of the brick-built structure to their original appearance. Over the years, many of the original steel frames had been replaced with timber, aluminium and even PVC-U alternatives. The scope of the work also included trying to improve the energy performance and security of the windows. The replacements encompassed three main variations, starting with 1600mm square fixed lights – each featuring a single glass unit – and other smaller paned fixed lights of a similar height, plus 3m-long composites coupled without mullion sections. Above all the fixed-light areas, ventilation was provided by including 600mmhigh double-glazed pivot windows, mimicking the style of louvres.

0208 665 5335

www.asws.co.uk

info@asws.co.uk

SIDEY TRAINING ACADEMY TO PROVIDE SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT TO DEVELOP SKILLS SIDEY

To celebrate Scottish Apprenticeship week this month, Sidey is set to launch its training academy. In response to the declining skilled labour market, the company decided to create the Sidey Training Academy and begin an associated Modern Apprenticeship Installer programme to grow its workforce and promise long-term employment security to those engaged within it. The launch will see Sidey open its doors to local schools, colleges and councillors so they can speak with the team about Sidey’s Modern Apprentice Installer programme and how the company supports the Young Person's Guarantee. Tayside Police will also conduct a ‘Young Driver Road Safety’ presentation for the apprentices along with the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, which will also carry out a ‘Road Safety’ presentation. Donna Montgomery, Sidey’s Community Benefits Manager, commented: “Sidey’s Training Academy extends beyond the physical space created next door to our Perth showroom; it encompasses the resources invested daily in coaching, mentoring and training our apprentices to become exceptional members of our team.”

01738 634803

www.sidey.co.uk

sideyinfo@sidey.co.uk

HIGH-QUALITY TIMBER WINDOWS INSTALLED IN WEST LONDON

The Sash Window Workshop specialises in high-quality replacement timber windows and doors. The company was chosen to replace 17 sash windows and a French door in a Neo-Georgian townhouse in West London.

Th e current windows were singleglazed, spring-hung sash windows, and the customer was looking to upgrade to doubleglazed, spring-hung sash windows to improve the energy efficiency of the property. The new windows needed to be like-for-like and comply with conservation area requirements.

T he Sash Window Workshop’s sales surveyor met with the customer and assessed the current windows. Most of the window frames were in good condition, so a quotation was provided for a mixture of a complete replacement for those items where the frame had deteriorated and for the installation of new sashes into the existing window frames.

A fter discussing further with the sales surveyor, they decided to proceed with the work, and a second survey was arranged to confirm the measurements before the order went into manufacture.

After the work was completed, the customer was very happy with their windows, commenting: “The new windows and doors are exactly what we had hoped for, and we are very pleased with the installation. Your installation team were pleasant and helpful and kept us informed of what they were doing and what would happen next. They also kindly took note of points that we mentioned about our property as they worked their way through the house. Your team did a

THE SASH WINDOW WORKSHOP

great job tidying up, floor by floor, as they completed the work.”

E stablished in 1994, The Sash Window Workshop has extensive experience manufacturing, installing and draughtproofing timber windows and doors across London and southern England. It also offers a supply-only service for new timber windows and doors nationwide.

I n addition to sash windows, the company also works on casement windows, bi-fold doors, French doors, front doors and single back doors. All new windows and doors are manufactured at its workshops in Berkshire, enabling it to ensure that new joinery meets its high standards.

Due to its durability and stability, The Sash Window Workshop recommends using Accoya wood, which comes with a 50-year anti-rot guarantee. It offers a wide range of glass, finishes and ironmongery options to meet your requirements. The materials are chosen to give the best possible performance, combining minimum maintenance with maximum lifespan.

T he Sash Window Workshop has worked on various period properties, from small Victorian flats in Central London to large Georgian mansions and prestigious properties, including Buckingham Palace. Where necessary, The Sash Window Workshop can comply with the conservation area and listed property requirements.

T he company understands the importance of providing excellent customer service, highlighted by the fact that roughly half its orders every year come from existing customers or recommendations. The Sash Window Workshop is also FENSA registered and FSC certified.

RIVERSIDE APARTMENTS INTEGRATE VICAIMA STAINED DOORS

Set in the beautiful surroundings of historic Chiswick in London, and positioned with excellent views over the River Thames, sit a group of select and classic new apartments created by modern living specialist Fruition Properties.

These stylish open-plan apartments have been complemented by their choice of interior doors, where Vicaima Crown Cut Ash Stained from the Vicaima Naturdor Range were selected. The finish specified in this instance was the tasteful Marina Grey option. This finish not only depicts a contemporary tone but also permits the attractive and natural grain configuration to shine through. Doors for the project were supplied in a mixture of both flush and glazed options, blending seamlessly with their surroundings and adding to the tasteful decor, which is a hallmark of Fruition Properties’ exemplary living spaces.

Marina Grey is just one of six attractive tonal options from the Naturdor Original Stained Range and is available in an extensive array of performance options, including FD30 third-party-accredited fire doors.

For other inspirational finish ideas or to download a copy of the Vicaima Interior Door Selector, visit the Vicaima website.

CRL

Sliding glass doors are a practical and attractive partitioning solution, particularly popular in open-plan rooms as a way of partitioning different areas. The hardware chosen for the glass can have a stylish impact too, with on-trend finishes, such as matte black, ideal for a sophisticated look in the contemporary or classic setting. CRL Brooklyn is an innovative matte black framing system for sliding doors that taps into this trend, suitable for residential and commercial use. Allowing practical room partitioning while still retaining a sense of space, Brooklyn combines the minimalistic style of the frame with a door design that makes the very best use of natural light internally. Developed with classic lines, the system complements a wide range of interior styles. It’s perfect for use in restaurants and office environments and is an ideal partitioning solution in locations where an inviting sense of light is key. Brooklyn has many practical qualities too, not least ease of installation. The system is suitable for dropped-ceiling and fixed ceiling applications and allows for a vertical adjustment of +/-3mm.

www.crlaurence.co.uk

01706 863600

crl@crlaurence.co.uk

ISO CHEMIE’S NEW MULTIFUNCTIONAL JOINT SEALING TAPE AVAILABLE AS UK STOCK

ISO CHEMIE

ISO Chemie’s multi-functional joint sealing tape ISO-BLOCO Hybratec is now available as stock in a move to meet the demand for energy-efficient window sealing solutions and product availability from UK installers and specifiers. ISOBLOCO Hybratec is a window joint tape featuring the latest in hybrid technology to provide effective three-level 100% airtight sealing in line with RAL energy performance standards and resistance to driving rain in excess of 1050 Pa. The tape, which also complies with the energy-efficiency requirements of the Building Energy Act, provides excellent airtightness and thermal protection when it comes to the sealing between the inner room and the external climate. Uncontrolled convection heat losses and draughts via the connection joint can be effectively eliminated – an important requirement in energysaving construction. ISO-BLOCO Hybratec also combines considerable expansion force with excellent functional reliability in terms of capacity to absorb long-term movement and expansion of windows.

www.iso-chemie.eu/en-gb/home

VICAIMA

DOOR HARDWARE IS IN THE FRAME WITH BROOKLYN

KEY APPOINTMENT TO SUPPORT KNAUF INSULATION’S HERAKLITH RANGE

Knauf Insulation has appointed Ross Foreman as National Wood Wool Manager for UK & Ireland to meet the increasing demand for its Heraklith range of wood-wool products. The appointment reinforces the company’s commitment to giving architects and specifiers design freedom through a diverse range of insulation solutions.

Ro ss will work with Knauf Insulation’s regional sales, specification and technical support teams, drawing on nearly 10 years of insulation experience to help architects and designers create design statements with wood wool. Ross said: “Insulation is usually hidden away in the building’s construction, but there are applications where it’s on display. I’m looking forward to working closely with our customers to help them deliver insulation solutions that not only comply with increasingly stringent regulatory standards but look great too.

“ The Heraklith range of products is unique in the UK – it not only delivers the required thermal performance, fire safety and sound absorption but is aesthetically pleasing too.”

www.knaufinsulation.co.uk

ACCESS 360 CELEBRATES CPD SUCCESS

ACCESS 360

K nauf Insulation offers two core products – the Heraklith A2 Decorative Panel, which is a cement-bonded wood-wool panel, and the Heraklith Tektalan A2 SmartTec, which is a cementbonded wood-wool panel combined with a rock mineral wool insulation core. Both products are noncombustible with A2-s1,d0 Euroclass reaction to fire classification. They have bevelled edges and come in a natural tone colour as standard, or can be ordered in any RAL colour upon request to create a stylish, uniform finish.

T he range, which is available from stock in the UK, is supported by installation guides. DDS Plus 75mm and 250mm concrete fixings can also be ordered with the boards.

ross.foreman@knaufinsulation.com

Access 360 delivered over 150 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) seminars throughout 2022, sharing expert knowledge and advice with over 3000 architects, specifiers and contractors. Access 360’s complete suite of RIBAaccredited CPDs provides industry professionals with the latest guidance on regulations and best practice. This includes its most popular CPD, Fire & Smoke Access Solutions, which explores the fundamentals of fire ratings and certification, in addition to successfully managing access, fire safety and security requirements for commercial and residential buildings. The Roof Access and Natural Smoke Ventilation for Flat Roofs CPD outlines current practice regarding the provision of smoke ventilation and roof access whilst discussing new design considerations and applications as a result of latest Building Regulations. Access 360’s flagship CPD, Safe, Practical and Aesthetic Roof, Ceiling, Wall and Floor Access Solutions, provides an essential guide to the specification of access solutions.

www.access-360.co.uk

cpd@access-360.co.uk

M-AR TEAMS UP WITH HOMELESS CHARITY CENTREPOINT TO CREATE A PLACE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO CALL HOME

M-AR

M-AR is nearing completion of an ambitious new-build project in partnership with the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity, Centrepoint. The project’s goal was to create single-occupancy homes for young people experiencing homelessness in London –a first for the charity, which up until now has relied on refurbished accommodation. Working collaboratively with design consultant Modularize and the Centrepoint project team, M-AR manufactured 33 modular homes in its factory to create the new two-storey apartment building. The design features repeatable modular units that can easily be delivered on multiple sites – which means Centrepoint and M-AR will be able to replicate this model on future projects as the Independent Living Programme rolls out to other locations over the next five years. Each self-contained 21m 2 home has its own private access, a small functional kitchen, dining area and a bathroom, as well as space to sleep and relax, making the units a comfortable home for young people to live independently.

www.m-ar.co.uk

01482 635081 buildingrelationships@m-ar.co.uk

SCHÖCK THERMAL BRIDGING SOLUTIONS FOR ‘21ST-CENTURY COUNTRY HOUSE’

The Field House is a ‘modern country house’ set in the Cotswolds, offering a 21st-century vision of a traditional country house and its landscape. Special consent was sought through the National Planning Policy Framework, which allows certain new homes to be built in Areas of Outstanding National Beauty.

Hi storically, country houses tended to impose themselves on their surroundings, but Field House is designed to integrate with the landscape. Traditional themes are reinterpreted as part of the modern design, including the forecourt, the gatehouse and the principal courtyard. The house’s main living space features a rammed earth wall that supports the concrete roof terrace structure; the external walls of the house are constructed from rammed concrete, a dry concrete mix compacted between shutters.

Preventing thermal bridging was crucial

S pecial consideration had to be given to the avoidance of thermal bridging, particularly with the parapets and columns. As the architecture and structure of Field House are closely integrated, there was a high degree of collaboration between Bath- and London-based Integral Engineering Design and South Wales-based Loyn+Co Architects. James Stroud, Director at Loyn+Co, comments: “Minimising the risk of thermal bridging at critical connectivity areas throughout was an important consideration. We had no doubts that the Schöck product solutions used would exceed the performance requirements. As a result, we incorporated the Isokorb XT type A as parapet thermal breaks and the Sconnex type W where columns needed to be thermally broken.”

The Isokorb as a parapet thermal break

P arapets are as prone to thermal bridging as balconies, and the Isokorb XT type A offers a thermally-efficient, cost-effective and maintenance-free solution – avoiding the need to wrap the perimeter of the wall with an insulation barrier. It is extremely durable and impermeable to water – so no maintenance is required – and the 120mm insulation thickness of the product dramatically reduces heat loss. It is assessed as a ‘Certified Passive House Component’, provides BBA certification, LABC registration, NHBC approval and meets full compliance with the relevant UK Building Regulations.

A new solution for reinforced concrete walls

A round 40% of all thermal bridges in a building are caused by walls and supports, which are responsible for about 10% of heating energy losses. The recentlyintroduced Schöck Sconnex type W offers an application-friendly, high-quality solution that minimises the thermal bridge between the exterior wall insulation and the insulation above the floor slab.

H eating costs are lower, and the linear thermal transmittance (Psi) of the connected reinforced concrete wall is reduced by up to 90%. This outstanding insulation performance is combined with an excellent load-bearing capacity, which transmits very high pressure, tensile and shear forces in the longitudinal and

transverse directions. This is due to a pressure buffer consisting of ultra-high performance fibre-reinforced concrete, which achieves compressive strength in excess of 175 N/mm 2 – but with extremely good flexural strength as well. There is also a significant cost reduction when compared to installing insulation beneath the floor slab.

SCHÖCK

Field House. ©Loyn+Co and SEED Landscape.

A graphic of the XT type A in position

A graphic of the Sconnex type W in position

FIRE SAFETY: APPROVED DOCUMENT B

Robust and regulated fire safety is essential in the built environment. In December 2022, the industry’s Approved Document B was updated to support specific requirements and regulations to the Building Regulations 2010.

He re, ONLEVEL examines Approved Document B more closely and its implications when specifying frameless glass balustrading on a build.

Main changes to Approved Document B in the 2022 amendments

To be compliant, all materials on the external face of residential buildings over 11m high must achieve a fire classification of A1 or A2, s1-d0 in full accordance with BS EN13501.

A complete ban on combustible materials in and on the external walls of buildings

M etal composite cladding is now completely banned on buildings of any height, not just tall buildings. Options for the wall construction of buildings between 11m and 18m were limited further.

B alconies should only contain materials achieving class A1 or A2s1,d0 specification, or meet other specific criteria relating to the soffit and boundary line of a single compartment.

S ecure information boxes for residential buildings with a storey at 11m or higher

A new recommendation was stipulated for secure information boxes to be made available to firefighters in the event

of a fire in blocks of flats with storeys over 11m. The boxes should include the contact details of relevant people and floorplans that identify the location of key fire-fighting equipment.

Evacuation alert systems

T he 2022 Approved Document B made a new recommendation for evacuation alert systems in blocks of flats with storeys over 18m, including an additional alarm system that can be operated by firefighters to trigger evacuation alerts for specific areas of the building.

C larifications and corrections

T he 2022 Approved Document B provided revised diagrams, text clarifications and corrections to make the document easier to understand.

What does Approved Document B mean for frameless glass balustrades?

T he performance of all materials used in frameless glass balustrades must meet the specifications of class A1 or A2-s1,d0 ratings:

An A1 rating confirms the product is non-combustible. An A2 rating confirms limited combustibility and very limited contribution to fire.

S1 confirms low smoke emission rate and speed

D0 confirms no generation of droplets.

I ssues such as glass containment and UV stability must also be addressed. Glass containment measures must ensure that when a single ply breaks, the fragments of glass stay adhered to the interlayer, maintaining rigidity and still acting as fall protection, thereby providing the same performance as regular laminated glass.

U V stability is another important consideration when specifying glass in frameless balustrades and must be validated by testing products for outdoor usage, ensuring suitability for use on external balconies. Only suitably tested and warrantied products should be used.

Frameless glass balustrade system materials, such as toughened glass and nanocomposite gel, meet the required classifications.

Want to add glass

balustrades to a residential or commercial project

over 11m?

N ow you can with ONLEVEL’s

‘FLAMELESS’ Glass Balustrading Solution.

The system (including glass) fully complies with Approved Document B December 2018, using A2,s1-d0-rated glass (two panels of fully thermally-toughened glass and a nanocomposite gel).

Fully conforms to Approved Document B

BS EN13501-1-2007+A1 2009 & 2018

Reaction to fi re classi fi cation

Load and design requirements:

BS 6180:2011 –

Barriers around buildings

BS 8579:2020 –

Balcony & Terrace Design

23mm-thick glass

Dry glazed from a one-side install Glass warranty – 10 years.

BOUGHTON’S NATURAL, SCREENED BLS 2 TOPSOIL SUPPORTS GROWTH AT SHELDON SQUARE

BOUGHTON

Located at the heart of Paddington Central sits the Amphitheatre at Sheldon Square. This central hub provides a backdrop to a range of activities and is now undergoing a makeover to provide improved facilities, including better accessibility, a more dynamic performance space and a greener space for all. It is here where Boughton – a leading ‘as-dug’ soil supplier for the construction, amenity and landscape sectors – has been proud to support. Providing over 80m3 of its natural, as-dug, screened, single-source BLS 2 Topsoil to the project, Boughton has played an important part in ensuring the longevity of Sheldon Square’s new planting scheme. From new trees to sun-loving resilient plants, over 40 colourful perennial plant species will come together to reduce pollution, improve air quality and increase biodiversity and climate change resilience. Boughton’s Business Development Manager, Jason Lock, said: “The planting scheme created by Gillespies is truly phenomenal, and we are so glad to support it with our natural, peat-free and organic BLS 2 Natural Topsoil.”

01536 510515

www.boughton.co.uk

info@boughton.co.uk

HOW ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES FROM PRESSALIT HELP LEUCHIE HOUSE GUESTS GAIN INDEPENDENCE PRESSALIT

Advanced assistive products from Pressalit have been installed in Leuchie House, a national respite charity that provides transformational care for its guests. Solutions from Pressalit have been fitted in the new guest kitchen and en-suite bathrooms at the fully-accessible Leuchie House, helping guests benefit from the independence technology can provide. In the newly-fitted kitchen, where guests are able to attend regular therapy sessions, INDIVO kitchen worktop and cupboard lifters have been installed, allowing guests to use the space safely and comfortably. In the en-suite bathrooms, the PLUS track system allows vertical and horizontal adjustment of different bathroom products, such as basin, shower seat or arm supports. The rooms can be configured to suit individual user and carer requirements, optimising space for wheelchair or carer access. At Leuchie House, these bathrooms are used predominately for guests with higher needs and are adjusted in advance of each guest’s arrival according to their individual requirements.

www.pressalit.com

BASTION HOUSE STANDS OUT THANKS TO LIMA BRICKS FROM VANDERSANDEN

VANDERSANDEN

An imposing boutique scheme of nine luxury apartments in Hackney, London, Bastion House is a modern take on a castle-like structure with its multi-faceted walls, tiered form and various-sized openings. The choice of Vandersanden’s Lima facing brick enhances this robust look, while the brick’s light colour contrasts with the black mortar joints and recessed jet-black window frames and balcony soffits. Goldrose Sharpe, the developer of Bastion House, embraced the challenge of carefully detailing the brickwork which, along with the building’s unconventional form, helps it stand out. Specially-cut bricks were employed to achieve the different angled corners – most corners of the building are not at a right angle.

www.vandersanden.com

01954 268075 sales@vandersanden.com

0844 8806950

uk@pressalit.com

KNIGHTSBRIDGE’S NEW CATALOGUE BRINGS THE BEST OF LIGHTING AND WIRING TO 2023

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

Knightsbridge has published the 25th Anniversary Edition of its catalogue. This year sees Knightsbridge celebrating its Silver Jubilee, having been founded in 1998, and this handy A5-sized, full-colour publication is packed from cover to cover – over 3000 items across nearly 500 pages, including over 400 new products –with new range developments, impressive innovations and inspiring ideas. Divided into easy-to-reference sections, the catalogue provides full product details, high-quality lifestyle and detailed product images. New high-design accessories reflect the evolving aesthetic of the home, with Matt Black, Anthracite and Smoked Bronze finishes on electrical accessories and lighting now up there with more traditional items such as white and chrome, both polished and brushed.

www.mlaccessories.co.uk/catalogue-request

IDEAL HEATING LAUNCHES HEAT PUMP RANGE FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

IDEAL HEATING

01582 887760

Ideal Heating has launched a new range of monobloc air-source heat pumps to help improve energy efficiency and reduce reliance on natural gas within commercial buildings. Available in six outputs and seven models (14kW, 14kW [single phase], 18kW, 26kW, 32kW, 50kW and 70kW), the ECOMOD range provides a minimum A++ Energy-related Products (ErP) efficiency rating and high co-efficient of performance (COP) rating of up to 4.85. R32 refrigerant ensures a low global warming potential (GWP). The heat pumps also include an inverter-controlled compressor that can control the building temperature based on specific requirements of the space, further enhancing the efficiency of a building.