PSBJ April 2017

www.psbj.co.uk ÂŁ4.00

Download the PSBJ app for iPhone, iPad & Android Search 'PSBJ'

April 2017

THE WAY OF THE WORD South Tyneside Council’s partnership with Muse Developments has delivered a new icon for the North East region

Building up

Inclusive design

Collaboration is key

Can we ease the housing shortfall by building onto high-rise stock?

Top considerations for future-proofing kitchens in social housing

Partnership builds successful school development whilst meeting challenges

We have a style to match yours

Aluminium

Traditional and modern gutters, pipes and hoppers come in a comprehensive range of aesthetic styles, materials and colours to suit all buildings and budgets.

For more information please call 0113 279 5854 or email info@rainguard.co.uk

GRP

Cast Iron

Copper, Zinc & Stainless Steel

w w w. r a i n g u a r d . c o . u k

Welcome Note Editor in Chief

Hannah Frackiewicz

hannah@mixedmediainfo.com

Editorial Assistant Rebecca Kemp

rebecca@mixedmediainfo.com

Print & Digital Advertising Sam Ball

sam@mixedmediainfo.com

Karl Neal

karl@mixedmediainfo.com

Studio Manager Chris Lilly

chris@mixedmediainfo.com

Production

Image © Hufton+Crow

Jack Witcomb

jack@mixedmediainfo.com

David Perry

The opening of The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, is simply the first phase of a hugely ambitious plan to regenerate South Shields’ town centre. See page 08.

david@mixedmediainfo.com

Sofia Franchi

sofia@mixedmediainfo.com

Accounts

Simone Jones

simone@mixedmediainfo.com

Charlie Ivy

charlie@mixedmediainfo.com

Managing Director Sam Ball

sam@mixedmediainfo.com Publisher

Mixed Media Information

Pear Platt, Woodfalls Industrial Estate, Gravelly Way, Laddingford, Kent, ME18 6DA T: 01622 873229 F: 01622 320020 www.mixedmediainfo.com ww.psbj.co.uk

PSBJ is a proud supporter of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists.

Contributions are invited and when not accepted will be returned only if accompanied by a fully stamped and return addressed envelope. No responsibility will be taken for drawings, photographs or literary contributions during transmission or in the editors hands. In the absence of an agreement the copyright of all contributions, literary, photographics or artistic belongs to Mixed Media Information Ltd. The Publisher accepts no responsibility in respect of advertisements appearing in the magazine and the opinions expressed in editorial material or otherwise do not necessarily represent the view of the publisher.

The Publisher does not accept any liability of any loss arising from the late appearance or non publication of any advertisement.

Welcome to the April issue of PSBJ...

As the housing industry deciphers the best way to move forward in achieving the goals set out in the Government’s recent White Paper, experts are considering alternative ways to ease the housing shortage.

According to Tim Lewis, a PhD researcher at Birmingham City University: “High-rise is an iconic form of housing that has divided opinion since its inception and has become a symbol of social housing and the welfare state, whether good or bad, it deserves a re-evaluation to inform its continued viability as housing.”

With a significant amount of housing needed, architects, local authorities and registered housing providers are increasingly coming to recognise that high-rise could in fact hold the key to meeting the demand – by building up and adding more floors to existing housing stock.

In this month’s issue, Nicolas Maari, a Partner and Head of Architecture at Pellings, unveils a host of considerations that should be explored when adding to existing high-rise housing stock, and what should be taken into account if you wish to sell these dwellings to the open market in order to finance improvements. Turn to page 14 to find out more.

Also in this edition, we bring you the latest high-profile case studies and talking points on Roofing, Cladding & Insulation, Kitchens, Bathrooms & Washrooms, Lighting, Landscaping, and Glass & Glazing. You will also find a dedicated focus on the four key areas of the public sector – Housing, Leisure, Healthcare and Education.

I hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget, you can access all of the magazine’s features, product news and supplier information at your fingertips via Public Sector Build Journal’s state-of-the-art app. To download your version free of charge, simply search ‘PSBJ’ on Google play or the App Store.

Hannah Frackiewicz | Editor in Chief | hannah@mixedmediainfo.com Follow us on Twitter:

@psbjmagazine

Download the PSBJ app for iPhone, iPad & Android Search 'PSBJ'

3

Contents

06 News A round up of the latest industry updates including charity events, awarded contracts, completed projects and much more.

08 Upfront Muse Developments explains why The Word is instrumental when it comes to the regeneration of South Shields.

14 Talking Point Head of Architecture at Pellings questions whether the way to relieve the housing shortage is by building up.

16 Leisure Is it time to rethink UK planning policy for play facilities? API’s Chair, Mark Hardy, explores further.

22

18 Technical Focus

22 Education

28 Healthcare

Impregnated foam tapes can be seen as an increasingly attractive alternative to traditional silicone sealants for architects and installers.

Designed by Lungfish, the new Bluecoat Academy Primary in Nottingham shows that collaboration is key in building successful developments.

Antony Corbet at Geberit looks at the piping solutions that can help specifiers and installers limit disruption in healthcare environments.

20 Legal & Business

24 Housing

30 Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

When it comes to asbestos, safety management practices can be improved with full use of advanced sampling and testing measures.

Two new South Lakeland housing developments have welcomed their first residents, giving local families the opportunity to stay in their community.

Using IKO's special waterproofing solutions, the repair and upgrade for the roof at Hatton Hall gives a new lease of life to the 80s building.

The all-new psbj.co.uk Your revitalised and purpose-built portal for public sector building specification PSBJ unveils the new-look online resource for building products designed for the public sector built environment.

Offering more content in an easy-to-navigate format, this refreshing, tailor-made new portal delivers the right content to the right audience in the shortest time possible.

Search ‘psbj’

4

www.psbj.co.uk

Contents

16

24

40 Landscaping

14 34 Kitchens, Bathrooms & Washrooms

Nicholas Horton, Managing Director of Forest Pennant, the commercial brand of Forest of Dean Stone Firms, explains the key factors when specifying British natural stone.

42 Glass & Glazing

James Dadd, Marketing Director at AKW, explains why adaptations in the kitchen are critical in helping to resolve the housing crisis.

The new Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) HQ building, to be known as the Jack Copland Centre, makes extensive use of glass to maximise natural light.

39 Lighting

45 Product Showcase

An energy-saving initiative undertaken

by Hampshire County Council is on track to save the local authority an estimated ÂŁ11,000 a year.

A dedicated focus of industry news, products and case studies to help specifiers and local authorities make informed choices.

42

Read the latest issue online Gain insight from industry experts Source products and suppliers Keep up to date with industry news Discover new innovative technologies Browse the archive of features and issues Manage your subscriptions Download the PSBJ app for your iPad, iPhone or Android

5

News

INDUSTRY UPDATES

Each month PSBJ rounds up the latest public sector construction updates, from new contracts to industry awards.

Restoration of Grade II Lower Lodge completes A two-year project to bring the handsome Grade II Listed Lower Lodge Gatehouse, which was originally the main entrance to Bristol’s Ashton Court Estate, back to its former glory has completed. The restoration of the Gothic revival Lower Lodge, which was formerly on Historic England’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register, was led by AustinSmith:Lord on behalf of client Bristol City Council. Situated within the Bower Ashton conservation area and on one of Bristol’s busiest gateways, the A370, Lower Lodge has also been given a new lease of life as a community hub and heritage learning centre. The new centre will be managed by Ashton Park School. Lower Lodge is the last of the five estate lodges to be restored by Bristol City Council through grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund and funds raised by Bristol Buildings Preservation Trust. Built

by Henry Wood, the fanciful Gothic Lower Lodge, which originally opened onto a sweeping drive leading up to the mansion, has a castellated bathstone exterior and heraldic entrance. Original features include the wrought iron gates and bell pull, which together evoke the period of carriages and servants at the time of construction.

Hub South East to deliver new £18.6m Wallyford Primary As development partner to East Lothian Council, Hub South East is delighted to have been appointed to deliver the new Wallyford Primary in East Lothian. Hub South East has in turn selected Morrison Construction as the preferred contractor to build the new school, which is likely to

6

be complete by autumn 2018. The £18.6m phase one of the new school, being built as part of the new St Clements Wells development on the outskirts of the village, is currently in its planning stages.

A planning application has been submitted to East Lothian Council, outlining detailed proposals for the new facility which will initially provide 28 classrooms, as well as 120 pre-school pupil places. A further phase, to be developed at a later date, could see space constructed for an eventual primary and pre-school roll of 1300+, one of, if not, the biggest primary schools in the country.

Richard Park, Hub South East’s Operations Director, said: “This is a major investment in education for our client, East Lothian Council, and we are delighted to be working in partnership to ensure its successful delivery. The new Wallyford Primary will allow pupils and staff to enjoy modern, fit-for-purpose facilities and the community will benefit from investment in the local area. We look forward to further developing this project to make these plans a reality.”

Could high-rise accommodation help ease UK housing shortage?

A new academic project will explore whether post-war, high-rise public housing in London and Birmingham still has a role to play in providing homes, amid a growing shortage of housing and a trend to replace the architecture of the period. Tim Lewis, a PhD researcher at Birmingham City University, will look into the raft of tower blocks built in urban areas between the 1950s and 1970s and reassess the reasons for their construction, the problems they encountered and their viability as homes today. Tim Lewis said: “High-rise is an iconic form of housing that has divided opinion since its inception and has become a symbol of social housing and the welfare state, whether good or bad, it deserves a reevaluation to inform its continued viability as housing. Clearly if some of the best examples of its type can be retained and conserved, we not only maintain a record of our past and continue to provide muchneeded housing, but we also protect our environment by minimising the ecological impact of demolition and rebuilding.” Case studies will examine examples in London and Birmingham and explore whether

the original ideals may meet the needs of modern urban housing. The research will ask whether properties deemed to be unsuitable for many of the original tenants – such as families – could provide a viable solution for a new demographic of people living in cities.

CALA Homes Dunbar development approved by council A new development in East Lothian has been given the green light, promising muchneeded, high-quality homes that will ease the substantial shortfall and help meet high demand. CALA Homes’ Beveridge Row site near Belhaven was approved convincingly, subject to provision of a permanent vehicular access onto Beveridge Row, at a planning committee on Tuesday 7th February – giving full consent to 90 new homes. The approved detailed plans – in line with Planning Permission in Principle (PPP) awarded in 2014 – include 25% on-site provision of affordable housing amongst a wide mix of two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom properties. Approval secures substantial financial contributions for enhancement to Dunbar Grammar School and West Barns Primary School, while CALA has pledged improvements to footways on Edinburgh Road to ensure pupils have a safer route to school. The plans, which have been adapted following public consultations, include a belt of mature trees along its eastern edge to minimise any visual impact on existing properties, along with areas of open space, a play area and a village green. The timeline for development is still to be confirmed; however work could start on site in spring this year with the first homes complete early 2018. The properties will include a mixture of detached family homes, cottage-style apartments and terraced units – 23 of which will be affordable.

Fusion21 launches Education Modular Buildings Framework Fusion21 has announced the launch of its Education Modular Buildings Framework, offering a potential combined worth of £225m over a four-year period. Designed specifically to help the education sector provide cost-effective and sustainable learning environments, the new framework has four lots including: Lot 1: Hire of Modular Buildings – Temporary Accommodation; Lot 2: Modular Construction with a value of up to £750k; Lot 3: Modular Construction with a value between £750k and £3m; and Lot 4: Modular Construction worth £3m and over.

Multiple and single supply partners are being sought for appointment and various calloff options are available as a result of the lotting strategy in place – creating a range of benefits including: competitive tension, early supplier engagement, transparency of costs, integrated team working and collaborative working. The framework is now available on the mytenders web portal – www.mytenders. org – under Notice ID FEB138891. Applications are welcome from interested organisations that meet the criteria set out in the tender documentation. The submission deadline for the Education Modular Buildings Framework is Wednesday 5th April 2017 at 12 noon.

Morgan Sindall wins three school projects in Devon Construction and infrastructure company Morgan Sindall has been appointed to deliver three expansion projects totalling £3.5m at schools in Devon. The first project will see the firm replace temporary classroom blocks with a new school building at Withycombe Raleigh Primary School in Exmouth. The building will include four classrooms and will improve the quality of teaching spaces for pupils.

The Withycombe Raleigh Primary School project, which is being delivered for Devon County Council, is part of a wider strategy to accommodate increasing numbers of primary age pupils in the Exmouth area and will be

ISG commences £14m Leeds College of Art expansion scheme ISG has commenced work on its first college project procured under the new YORbuild2 public sector framework – a £14m scheme to extend Leeds College of Art. This is the largest capital investment the college has ever made and underpins the institution’s ambition to transform itself into the first specialist arts university in the north of England. The scheme sees ISG construct a circa 65,000ft2 extension, up to five storeys in height and connecting to the existing Blenheim Walk campus building.

The steel frame structure will provide muchneeded extra capacity for the burgeoning college and accommodate art, design and performance facilities, as well as community spaces including a coffee shop and public exhibition gallery. An enterprise centre within the new building will also allow the college to engage more fully with regional businesses, and the local and wider communities of Leeds. Designed by architecture practice DLA Design, the extension will feature a striking facade including gold anodised curtain walling, translucent polycarbonate elements and insulated render panels. A central, full-height street provides flexible breakout space and allows light to flood into the heart of the building, with specialist facilities including a 230-seat auditorium, alongside music, film and photography studios. Acoustic performance is a key consideration in the new extension with acoustic baffles and rafts deployed within the high-specification interior fit-out.

Unite warns Haringey Council not to get into bed with blacklisters Unite, the UK’s largest union, has urged Haringey Council not to get into bed with blacklisters, in a £2b project which will see hundreds of longstanding Tottenham tenants

removed from their homes. The council is proposing to establish a joint venture company with developer Lend Lease, which will see thousands of tenants on the Northumberland Park Estate removed from their homes and the entire site redeveloped. The redevelopment proposal includes 1300 homes and 500 shops.

Unite’s Assistant Chief of Staff, Adrian Weir, addressed Haringey Council’s overview and scrutiny committee about the blacklisting activities of Lend Lease. The meeting took place after a number of Labour councillors ensured that the council’s plans to go ahead with the controversial scheme were revisited by “calling in” the decision. Lend Lease, and its predecessor company Bovis, were involved in the notorious Consulting Association blacklisting scandal which resulted in 3213 construction workers having their lives ruined. In 2013, Unite issued high court proceedings against the companies involved in the blacklisting scandal and Lend Lease was eventually forced to settle.

News

completed in time for the 2017 academic year. Morgan Sindall has also been appointed to construct a sports and fitness building at Honiton Community College. The £1.8m centre will take eight months to complete and replace the school's current 1940s gym with a state-of-the-art facility. The building will include a dance studio, fitness suite, changing and shower facilities and a new gym, as well as three specialist classrooms, office space and an ICT suite. The project is being delivered in partnership with TFQ Architects. The firm has also been appointed to design and build a new teaching and training space at Combe Pafford School in Torquay. The £642,000 project includes the delivery of a two-storey teaching block, which will include three classrooms, a hairdressing salon and an office for staff.

Green light for £35m mixed-use development A joint venture between Reef Estates and Arcus-PCD has been granted planning consent

by Horsham District Council to redevelop Piries Place in Horsham town centre and create a high-quality, mixed-use scheme that will regenerate the local area and boost the local economy through the creation of new jobs.

Designed by urban revival specialist Holder Mathias Architects, the mixed-use scheme will be located within the award-winning market town centre of Horsham, directly adjacent to the Horsham conservation area. The architectural concept will be considerate to the town’s history while providing a progressive leisure offering with a new independent Everyman Cinema, 92-bed Premier Inn hotel, shops, offices and restaurants. The buildings’ cladding will comprise two types of brickwork, as well as bronze-coloured metalwork, and takes inspiration from the local architectural style of historic buildings located in Carfax and the nearby conservation area. The surrounding public realm will be enhanced by new outdoor seating and improved pedestrian routes, designed to help reinforce links between the local areas and the existing car park.

Construction is due to start in June, with completion expected September 2018.

7

Upfront

THE WORD ON THE STREET

Project: The Word Location: South Shields Architect: FaulknerBrowns Architects

The three-storey, circular cultural centre overlooks the town’s refurbished Market Place

The opening of South Tyneside Council’s The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, is simply the first phase of a hugely ambitious plan to regenerate South Shields’ town centre and transform the fortunes of this once thriving North East town.

South Tyneside Council’s 365 masterplan in brief: Provide an enhanced market offer Create a town centre which has stronger connectivity Provide a new central consolidated travel interchange Improve the retail and leisure offer in the town Enhance the town centre environment to increase dwell time Muse Developments will work with the council to deliver the £100m vision over the next 10 years to ensure that, in 20 years from now, South Shields will be: An attractive and vibrant town, recognised nationally as a place where people will choose to live, do business, visit and spend their holiday time

The ‘wow’ reaction from everyone who has entered The Word so far sums up this stunning building

8

A place where the quality of life and place will attract investment and has a range of services and activities, which are second to none.

Upfront

Wells, Regional D avid Director of Muse Developments, South Tyneside Council’s development partner, explains how the building, which has just been nominated in three separate categories for the RICS NE regional awards – Community Benefit, Design Through Innovation and Tourism & Leisure – is not just an iconic destination in its own right but also the tip of an iceberg when it comes to the future plans for South Shields.

“The Word opened to national acclaim in October last year and has already welcomed over 150,000 visitors in its first four months.

Designed by Newcastle-based FaulknerBrowns Architects, with Bowmer & Kirkland as main contractor, the threestorey, circular cultural centre overlooks the town’s refurbished Market Place and incorporates a library and digitial media space. It also boasts an impressive range of facilities including exhibition space, a computer gaming area, a FabLab with 3D printers and vinyl and laser cutters, digitised archives, meeting rooms, children’s immersive storytelling area, OpenZone IT suite, cafe and a rooftop space and terrace providing stunning views over the river.

“It cost £16m and offers an inspirational and exciting celebration of the written word through a rolling programme of high-quality exhibitions

Image © Hufton+Crow

33 weeks of the 70-week construction period were taken up with the 1500m3 concrete structure

The Word is just part of the first phase of the 365 Regeneration Plan

(the first celebrated the life and work of locally-born Sir Ridley Scott with scripts, props and models from both his advertising career and as a famous Director of international blockbuster movies such as Alien and Gladiator), events and workshops in addition to fulfilling a traditional library service with some 72,000 books.

“The ‘wow’ reaction from everyone who has entered The Word so far sums up this stunning building. We’re delighted to be part of this exciting regeneration programme and with the first phase complete with The Word and refurbished Market Place now open for business, we’re already busy with planning

for phase two, the transport interchange, and future phases that will deliver new leisure and retail facilities to the town centre.

“The overall redevelopment also makes The Word more accessible from the town centre, the foreshore and the riverside, which is a priority in the overall plan for the town.

Collectively, these three areas provide a broad and exciting offer of commercial, leisure, cultural and retail opportunities for residents, visitors and businesses. This mix gives South Shields a unique offer, unrivalled amongst other coastal towns of a similar size in the North East and the overall regeneration plans capitalise on that. 

9

Upfront South Tyneside Council’s partnership with Muse Developments has delivered a new icon for the North East region

“Designed, and on track, to achieve an 'Excellent' accreditation from BREEAM, the terracotta panel-clad building features three floors around a central atrium linked by a feature staircase and lifts. 33 weeks of the 70-week construction period were taken up with the 1500m3

concrete structure whilst over half a million man hours were worked on the whole project.

80% of all work was delivered by local contractors (based within 40 miles of the site) and 99% of all construction waste generated was diverted from traditional landfill and recycled.

The building is a triumph in both form and function

10

“Significantly, however, impressive though The Word may be (and it is, hugely…!) it is just part of the first phase of the 365 Regeneration Plan, our partnership with South Tyneside Council to regenerate South Shields’ town centre. This first phase, which included the

wholesale refurbishment of the town’s adjacent Market Place, has already had a tremendously beneficial effect on the riverside area of the town, drawing visitors and local people to the venue which occupies a stunning location overlooking the River Tyne to the north.

“The 365 Regeneration Plan will eventually link the three areas of the riverside, town centre and foreshore to provide a broad and exciting offer of commercial, leisure, cultural and retail opportunities for residents, visitors and businesses. This mix gives South Shields a unique offer, unrivalled amongst other coastal towns of a similar size in the North East and the regeneration will capitalise on that.

“Background work is now well underway for phase two of the plan – the construction of a new transport interchange which will bring the town’s Metro and bus services together for the first time, but which is a more complicated proposal involving many other parties and a huge amount of preparatory infrastructure.” 

Upfront The Word’s opening in October heralded a new lease of life for South Shields and the start of an incredible journey

Councillor Iain Malcolm, Leader of South Tyneside Council, added: “The first phase of South Shields 365, with the construction of The Word and remodelling of the Market Place, was actually relatively straightforward as we were developing on land already controlled by the council.

Along with our partners, Muse Developments, we have also been conducting complex negotiations to acquire land and relocate businesses, as well as planning the infrastructure works required for future phases.

“The Word’s opening in October heralded a new lease of life for South Shields and the start of an incredible journey.

The whole of the town centre will be transformed over the next 10 to 15 years as part of our 365 masterplan, with The Word acting as a catalyst for private sector investment.

“What we are already seeing more of is ‘consequential regeneration’, where the council’s investment in the town centre stimulates private sector confidence and investment.

Initiatives like Colmans Seafood Temple on the foreshore and the forthcoming Nexus rail skills centre are indicative of the increasing optimism around the

12

town. We are now talking to a variety of organisations about how they can take advantage of the regeneration.”

South Tyneside Council’s partnership with Muse Developments has delivered a new icon for the North East region with the circular form of The Word ranking alongside the Angel of the North, the Millennium Bridge and the

Sage, to name just few of the region’s landmarks, in terms of dramatic additions to the urban landscape. The building is a triumph in both form and function as its visitor figures are already proving, and the council and regeneration specialist, Muse Developments, are proving that this partnership of public spending and private investment not

only works here, but can prove a workable model for regeneration projects elsewhere.

For more information about the regeneration of South Shields and the 365 masterplan, please go to the website. 

 www.southshields 365progress.com  www.musedevelopments.com

The centre includes a children’s immersive storytelling area, OpenZone IT suite, cafe and a rooftop space and terrace providing stunning views over the river

Talking Point

The structural load capacity of the tower would determine whether the building can cope with both vertical and horizontal wind loads

time, subsequent O ver Governments and

HOUSING REGENERATION – THE ONLY WAY IS UP? There is a huge debate in housing circles looking at how to solve the housing supply crisis; do we build up, do we build out onto the green belt, how much affordable housing is required and what is genuinely affordable?

Nicolas Maari, Head of Architecture at Pellings, explores further.

14

mayors have sought to deal with the housing crisis in different ways and, so far, all have largely failed.

This issue has only progressively worsened and therefore we are now having to look at creative ways to deal with it. The key point being, we are not building enough homes.

Green belt development is highly emotive and subject to nimbyism so building up in existing urban areas has, on the face of it, great appeal.

After all, adding to the housing supply where there is already transport infrastructure and amenity in terms of schools, shops and healthcare, seems to make perfect sense.

So it is no surprise that many local authorities and registered providers are looking at the possibility of adding floors to existing social housing stock.

Also, there is another possible benefit with dwellings that can be sold in the open market or let at market rents in order to help finance the capital cost of improving the interior or exterior of the existing housing stock.

Many post-war housing estates are deteriorating and a way of funding repairs and regeneration can be to build units on top for sale or rent in the open market.

Where an upgrade with apartments on top to help finance the capital cost, or increase housing supply, is being planned, the following needs to be considered:

Nicolas Maari (BA (Hons) Dip (Arch) RIBA ARB) is a Partner at Pellings and head of its architectural division. Nicolas oversees a team of architects delivering a range of new-build, expansion and refurbishment projects in the residential and education sectors for both public and private sector clients.

The first consideration is whether the additional units to be built will create enough value to cover the cost of the upgrade of the existing blocks. This is more likely to apply in London and the South East where residential values are substantial and where a premium may be attached for penthouse properties.

However, the next hurdle to be overcome is whether the additional housing can be

In London, Mayor Sadiq Khan has set the London plan which would need to be considered if it is a 'major' development.

This would mean significantly more investment in amenity areas and ancillary spaces.

This would affect parking standards, play space for children, cycle provision and refuse strategies, among other design considerations which could include the need of an additional lift. In addition, there may also be the need to consider carbon emissions and renewables, which can often be seen as an ‘on cost’ to developers and often difficult to recover.

Because upgrades/ refurbishments are to take place with existing occupiers in situ, there is a need for in-depth and sensitive consultation with tenants and leaseholders.

Once all the above hurdles have been tackled there is also the issue of buildability. When refurbishing and building over tower blocks, the operational and maintenance manuals are crucial. Unfortunately due to the length of time that has

Talking Point

classified as a 'minor' or 'major' development. While the rules are contentious and subject to legal opinion, any development of nine units or over can be considered as 'major' and will then have to include an element of affordable housing.

passed since these were built much of this information may have disappeared requiring full assessment of all mechanical, electrical and structural load capacities.

The structural load capacity of the tower would determine whether the building can cope with both vertical and horizontal wind loads. In London, it is likely that many of the foundations of these buildings were piled and therefore, without access to the as-built structural design information, in-depth analysis would need to be undertaken to investigate the existing foundations. Typically, any load greater than 10% of the existing loads would be unacceptable; therefore lightweight construction would need to be considered.

A modular type of system that can be bolted on is usually the best way to do this as it avoids putting anything too heavy, such as masonry or wet construction methodology, onto the existing infrastructure.

Many of the older towers may have had pirate radio stations or even police control towers on their roofs and in more recent years this space has often been leased to telecoms companies for mobile aerials.

Where this has occurred, legal advice should be sought and termination notices served.

Local authorities and registered providers are looking at the possibility of adding floors to existing social housing stock

Where apartments are being created on upper floors for sale or letting at market rent then consideration may need to be given to upgrading circulation space throughout the whole of the building, including lobby space, so existing residents benefit from the rebranding of towers and marketability of the new units.

Consideration also needs to be given to fire safety.

Adding floors would require a fire escape route and new fire-resistant materials might be required on these routes throughout the building adding to the cost.

A way of funding repairs and regeneration can be to build units on top for sale or rent in the open market

Depending on the type of project and number of units required, there may be the need to improve the mechanical and electrical engineering services with upgrades to plant rooms.

If even more power is required, perhaps building a new substation in or around the building with direct access to the statutory authority.

And after considering all the above, does the building owner have the requisite skills to undertake projects of this magnitude. If not, a joint venture with a private sector developer or bringing in consultants may be necessary which will all have to be taken into account in the development appraisal.

It is to be applauded that there are a growing number of ways of financing upgrades to existing stock and of increasing the housing supply in urban areas, but they come at a price and these all need to be considered at the development appraisal stage. 

 www.pellings.co.uk

15

Leisure

Planning policy restricts children’s play to specific areas

IS IT TIME TO RETHINK UK PLANNING POLICY FOR PLAY FACILITIES?

When it comes to our children’s health and wellbeing, are we planning to fail? That’s the question API’s Chair, Mark Hardy, put to visitors at SALTEX at the end of last year in a seminar called Play & Physical Activity – the Five Ps.

The removal of opportunities for children to play and be physically active – to be children – is scandalous

worked extensively I ’ve in Scandinavia and have

Play has a vital contribution to make in getting children moving more

16

seen first-hand that play is an integral part of society and the urban landscape. Sweden’s public realm is planned to be child-friendly. Multiple play facilities and spaces are planned throughout local communities, with children actively encouraged to roam and play. Here in the UK, planning policy restricts children’s play to specific areas, discouraging that same freedom of movement.

Malmo and Southampton are comparably sized cities. There are no prizes for guessing which city has five times as many play areas than the other, or which country has higher levels of child health and wellbeing.

With a child obesity epidemic sweeping through UK society, I think it’s time to rethink how we plan public play provision.

Of course planning isn’t the only challenge. Data the API has

Leisure

CALL FOR SCHOOL PE SHAKE-UP: The Association of Play Industries (API) supports the call for a radical shake-up of physical activity in UK schools, made by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for a fit and healthy childhood.

The API campaigns for policy recognition of the value of play, and lends particular support to the group’s recommendations that physical activity and play be funded and prioritised in equal measure to sport and PE within schools.

API Chair, Mark Hardy, says: “The current School Sport & PE Premium is too narrow and should be evolved into a more impactful Physical Activity Premium. This would provide the financial support head teachers need to take a holistic approach.

By embedding physical activity in every aspect of school culture, with teaching staff and senior management as role models, healthy habits and routines become the norm.”

The APPG, which is co-chaired by Baroness Floella Benjamin, urges funding from the soft drinks levy for physical activity provision that extends beyond school hours, in order to counter periods of physical inactivity during school holidays. The API argues this step doesn’t go far enough.

Other recommendations made by the APPG include: A cross-department cabinet minister for children to drive childfocused policy A national PE taskforce to devise and implement a new PE curriculum, with a strong emphasis on personalisation Broader provision of physical activity for girls, specifically beyond the confines of competitive sport Improvements to training and CPD for teachers, playtime supervisors and the early years workforce Better opportunities for children with disabilities to be physically active Every school to appoint a dedicated team with responsibility for physical activity across every aspect of school life An overhaul of physical activity provision in early years settings, with new quality guidelines, a review of Ofsted inspection requirements and the appointment of a physical activity coordinator in every setting.

the effects. Play has a vital contribution to make in getting children moving more.

According to the National Child Measurement Programme, obesity prevalence in the school year 2015/16 was more than twice as high in year six (19.8%) as in reception (9.3%). Obesity has increased since 2014/15 in both reception (9.1% in 14/15) and year six (19.1% in 2014/15), with over a fifth of children (22.1%) in reception and a third (34.2%) in year six now overweight or obese. Children living in the most deprived areas were twice as likely to be obese than those in the least deprived areas, and boys were more likely to be obese than girls.

Now is the time for those “bold, brave measures” promised – but sadly missing – from the Government’s obesity strategy. The Prime Minister said she would review the national obesity

strategy if its measures weren’t effective. There isn’t a minute to lose. Local authority budgets are under pressure – parks are being sold off and playgrounds closed. Many

children have nowhere to play.

This is a national disgrace and contravenes their fundamental human rights. 

 www.api-play.org

Image © Jupiter Play & Leisure

gathered from a Freedom of Information request to English local authorities shows the scale of playground closures in recent years, with more to come.

Budgets to replace, maintain and repair play equipment are dwindling, and in some cases, aren’t available at all. We hear that the effects of austerity measures are toughest for society’s most vulnerable – none more so than children. The removal of opportunities for them to play and be physically active – to be children – is scandalous.

We are at a tipping point as far as physical inactivity goes. Children are naturally hard-wired to play and be physically active, yet inactivity as a root cause of obesity is now an entrenched health crisis. Without tackling this significant issue from the ground up, we risk overburdening the NHS as it struggles to cope with

Children are naturally hard-wired to play and be physically active

17

Technical Focus

THE ADDED VALUE ROUTE TO INSTALLER GROWTH

These tapes combine high performance with cost competitiveness, providing an effective sealing solution

With optimistic forecasts for sector growth in 2017, impregnated foam tapes can be seen as an increasingly attractive alternative to traditional silicone sealants for architects and installers looking for rapid and longer-lasting sealing around windows and doors, says Andrew Swift, National Sales Manager for ISO-CHEMIE. self-adhesive E xpanding foam tapes are gaining

ISO-CHEMIE supplies its products in a number of application specific packages such as ISO3 WINDOW SEALING SYSTEM

18

traction as an alternative to wet-based sealants for the effective sealing of joints around the windows and doors in new build and refurbishment projects. Here, joint widths can vary considerably and installers can never be certain what they will face when they arrive on site, so it’s advisable to have a versatile foam sealant available that can cater for most eventualities.

The ISO-BLOCO 600 range

of pre-compressed PUR impregnated foam tapes can be used by installers to quickly and easily seal joints up to 42mm, providing a highly effective perimeter seal for windows and doors for both weather tightness and thermal/acoustic insulation, while still remaining permeable to trapped water and water vapour – similar to a flexible breathable style material for the building facade.

Installers fitting windows into multi-storey timber frame

Quick to apply Incorporating fire resistant qualities, the tape provides a highly effective ‘fit and forget’ perimeter seal for windows, particularly at heads, sills and under the roof eaves for both weather tightness and thermal/acoustic insulation, while still remaining permeable to trapped water and water vapour – similar to a flexible breathable style material for the building facade.

Quick to apply on site, T-Max is capable of sealing larger joints ranging in width from 11 to 50mm in a single tape size providing excellent thermal and acoustic insulation properties and can accommodate a temperature range of -30° to +90°. It’s also

impermeable to driving rain with a minimum equivalent to Storm Force 10, making it one of the best performing tapes in its class.

Another product to be considered, which delivers significant installation cost savings is the ISO-BLOCO ONE, which combines both the weather seal and airtight seal into a simple single product.

Hiring access systems, with the associated health and safety issues, can add significantly to the overall cost of a new build or renovation project.

However, foam tapes such as BLOCO ONE enable windows to be easily, and fully sealed from inside, avoiding the need to use time consuming and costly external access systems like scaffolding and ladders.

Moreover, because they can be used in the wet and rain, the installation of windows can be undertaken regardless of external weather conditions, avoiding time consuming and costly delays. This can lead to potential savings of hundreds of pounds per day.

ISO-CHEMIE supplies its products in a number of application specific packages such as ISO3 WINDOW SEALING

Technical Focus

houses often have to deal with structures where they have to compensate for the large amount of differential movement (up to 36mm) which can occur between the internal timber wall, or roofs, and the external brick or block work.

Here, a solution is available with the ISO-BLOCO T-Max sealing tape which has been specifically designed for the timber frame housing market.

Foam tapes can be seen as an increasingly attractive alternative to traditional silicone sealants

SYSTEM for ease of use and to overcome issues relating to onsite access and conditions such as freezing temperatures in the winter months. This system is based on the European RAL principle of three level sealing, offers an external seal providing weather resistance and breathability, while the intermediate seal provides extra thermal and acoustic properties, and the internal layer meets air tightness and humidity requirements. All three levels are designed to accommodate any movement between the adjacent construction materials.

Effective sealing solution

The ISO-BLOCO 600 range of pre-compressed PUR impregnated foam tapes can be used by installers to quickly and easily seal joints

These tapes combine high performance with cost competitiveness, providing an effective sealing solution for the perimeter joint between windows, doors and walls in typical UK building. And with BS8213-2016 compliant tapes

alongside the GGF’s guide to window installation and the demand for installed windows with matching energy-rated gaps, they can combine to provide installers with an added value sales package, presenting an upsell opportunity for installers to close deals by offering a more complete installation to the consumer.

ISO-CHEMIE is one of Europe’s main producers of impregnated foam sealants, specialising in the manufacturer of foam products from polyethylene (EPE), polypropylene (EPP) and polyurethane (PUR) using the latest production techniques.

The company’s UK technical and distribution operation is supported by a dedicated logistics service to ensure customer orders are completed as quickly and efficiently as possible (usually next day delivery). 

 www.iso-chemie.eu

19

Legal & Business

The recommended standard analysis of samples gathered from air monitoring provides quick results

SEM ANALYSIS PLAYS KEY ASBESTOS ASSESSMENT ROLE FOR SCHOOLS

With asbestos in schools again attracting headlines, David Cooper of risk management specialist Lucion Services says that safety management practices can be improved with full use of advanced sampling and testing methods using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). caused by the P roblems presence of asbestoscontaining materials (ACMs) in school buildings have been widely reported in recent weeks.

Given the widespread use of asbestos in building materials and products until it was banned in late 1999, its presence in many different types and parts of school premises should not come as a surprise. In fact, it has been estimated that more than 75% of schools in the UK have some buildings which contain asbestoscontaining materials (ACMs).

However, there are strict HSE and legal duties on schools aimed at reducing the risks to health that asbestos poses and there should no longer be any excuse for anyone being exposed to potentially dangerous levels of airborne asbestos fibres.

Even though the use of asbestos has been banned since 1999, and huge amounts have already been removed from school buildings, there are still many situations where the decision has been made to leave it

20

in situ and manage its presence.

Asbestos that is in good condition and unlikely to be damaged or disturbed is not a significant risk to health as long as it is properly managed. Only when ACMs are disturbed or damaged is the risk of exposure increased through the release of airborne fibres.

It follows that the most common way that ACMs in schools might be disturbed is during maintenance, repair or other building works. Maintenance, repair or other building work in schools can release high levels of asbestos fibres and, if carried out without rigorous controls, can expose the people carrying out the work and the occupants.

Where there is the possibility of the release of asbestos fibres into the environment, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidance on air sampling to ensure worker protection – most typically after building repairs or asbestos removal work.

This process is designed to be used as part of a rigorous

system to provide reassurance that a work environment has been properly cleaned. The recommended standard analysis of samples gathered from air monitoring provides quick results but it does not differentiate between asbestos fibres and other sorts of fibres that may be present, such as clothing fibres.

This issue is particularly important in school premises where many different types of airborne fibres can be present but where most of them are also likely to originate from clothing or other potential sources (including organic fibres or so-called MMMF/ man-made mineral fibres) rather than ACMs. In such circumstances, the analysis of air filter samples using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) can be undertaken in much greater detail than is possible with standard techniques. SEM’s ability to more accurately determine whether asbestos fibres are present means it can better identify the level of any risk that might be present.

Dave Cooper is Commercial Director of asbestos and risk management specialist Lucion Services. He has over 13 years’ industry experience in managing the risks associated with asbestos-containing materials.

In particular, SEM enables asbestos in the air to be quantified to very low levels, achieving lower limits of detection to 0.0005 fibres/cm3 and below, compared to the 0.01 fibres/cm3 capability of standard phase contrast microscopy (PCOM). SEM can also distinguish between different asbestos fibre types using energydispersive x-ray analysis (EDXA).

As a result, SEM is invaluable for the detailed sampling of ambient or indoor air where the anticipated fibre levels are low or for periodic monitoring of areas to check the potential cumulative exposure on teachers, pupils and those using the premises.

In this respect, with an emphasis on preventing exposure to asbestos fibres, the detailed forensic records and diagnostic testing provided by SEM analysis not only represents good safety management practice, but can also provide proof of prevailing schoolroom conditions at any particular time. 

 www.lucionservices.com

CUBE ONE SHAPE, ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES FROM A FLEXIBLE, ROBUST AND HIGHLY EFFICIENT EXTERIOR LUMINAIRE The Cube LED exterior luminaire series offers a versatile solution for lighting designers and architects. The design is a study in clean lines and minimal form which takes the shape of a cube and can be mounted as either a floodlight, wall wash effect feature or on ground bollard. A wide range of beam angles and accessories allow comfortable viewing from any angle. Extremely precise beam spread optics offer the opportunity to create specific light effects.

To see further models in the range please visit our website.

www.concord-lighting.com

Tel: 0800 440 2478

Education

TOP OF THE CLASS

Project: Bluecoat Academy Primary Location: Nottingham Architect: Lungfish

The landmark project was brought to life by Wates Construction through the East Midlands Property Alliance (empa) framework

Designed by Lungfish and built by Wates Construction, the new Bluecoat Academy Primary in Nottingham showed that collaboration is key in building successful developments and meeting the school places challenge. than 2000 new M ore schools must be built within the next four years to accommodate the rising number of primary and secondary pupils in England. Local authorities are expecting an additional 729,000 pupils in education by 2020 – a rise of 8.6% in primary school pupils and 12% in secondary school pupils in England alone.

To tackle this increase, the equivalent of two new schools must be created each working day.

Since 2009, Nottingham City Council has invested an impressive sum of £41.9m to create more than 4000 additional primary school places in the council’s catchment area.

This significant investment is

22

being made to curb the school places issue in Nottingham and ensure as many children as possible are placed at their desired primary school, as well as future-proofing the schools for growing demand. As part of the major expansion plan, £5.7m was invested at Bluecoat Academy Primary, based in Bilborough, Nottingham to create an additional 446 primary and nursery pupil places. Designed by Lungfish – which is part of the public sector-owned built environment specialist Scape Group – for Nottingham City Council and Bluecoat Academies Trust, this was the first primary school in the trust’s portfolio.

The landmark project was

The design brief was to create an inspiring, cost-effective learning environment

brought to life by Wates Construction through the East Midlands Property Alliance (empa) framework, which is managed by Scape Group. empa aims to improve the procurement and delivery of construction projects and property maintenance for public sector bodies, saving time and money for them and, in turn, for council taxpayers.

Creating an inspiring learning space Bluecoat has a rich history spanning more than 300 years; from its modest beginnings, the Bluecoat Academies Trust now supports more than 2300 pupils.

With demand for pupil places increasing further, a new third site was required by the trust. The trust and council’s key objective was that the new building

Education The result is an L-shaped school including 15 bright, airy classrooms, breakout areas, small group rooms, a hall, a playground and SEN suite of rooms

provided an inspiring environment in which to learn and also adhered to 21st century teaching methods.

Using the land of an old school site, the design brief was to create an inspiring, cost-effective learning environment, giving the children as much functional, flexible space as possible. Lungfish’s design harnessed natural light and ventilation to create bright, airy learning spaces that would be enjoyable to use and cost-effective to run. The design maximised floor space and balanced best practice with the school’s own specific vision and practical needs.

Lungfish and Wates Construction worked closely with the school, trust and council during the 41 weeks on site.

At every stage, the goal was to deliver the highest-quality learning environment possible for the budget, using Education Funding Agency guidance to create a successful, efficient building.

The result is an L-shaped school including 15 bright, airy classrooms, breakout areas, small group rooms, a hall, a playground and SEN suite of rooms, plus a 26-place nursery. The large hall, part funded by the local diocese, can also accommodate community and faith activities

without disrupting the school day. Running right through the centre is a wide learning street, creating breakout areas, a library and play spaces. In addition to this, reception and nursery classes have external canopies so that children can enjoy outside learning and play in all weathers.

The new, state-of-the-art teaching facility is expected to fill its additional 420 school places and 26 nursery places by September 2017 and is a world away from its previous temporary accommodation.

Collaboration is key Lungfish and Wates, through the empa framework, worked collaboratively to deliver tangible economic benefit and ensuring the plans for the development were aligned to the project vision.

Regular update meetings with the council and school also allowed the costs and development to be fine-tuned to meet the specific needs of the client.

Lungfish and Wates’ collaborative working, efficient detailing and the use of BIM Level 2 as well as a fully coordinated 3D model, meant that the project started on site one month after the planning was granted.

Adopt a school To ensure that the scheme and its project team left a lasting legacy, empa and Wates Construction launched its ‘Adopt a School’ programme at the school in September 2016 and the initiative is set to continue until autumn 2018. The school mentoring scheme will see Wates stage a series of work-based learning activities for pupils and invite students on guided tours of working construction sites to inspire the next generation and introduce them to the world of construction.

Sian Hampton, Executive Principal at Bluecoat Academies Trust, said: “I am delighted with the opportunities that this new building provides for all the children attending Bluecoat Primary. This allows us to continue our work of transforming the lives of the children in our care in a brandnew, purpose-built school building. This rich learning environment will facilitate outstanding learning delivered by our highly skilled and talented staff team.” 

 www.lungfish-architects.co.uk

The large hall, part funded by the local diocese, can accommodate community and faith activities without disrupting the school day

23

Housing

In Westwood Avenue, Two Castles partnered with developer Russell Armer

Project: Housing development Location: Kendal Housing Association: Two Castles Housing Association

Castles Housing T wo Association has

TWO CASTLES HELPS TO ADDRESS HOUSING SHORTFALL

Two new South Lakeland housing developments have welcomed their first residents, giving local families the opportunity to stay in their community and helping ease the current demand for housing.

completed work on a £2.2m development of 14 new affordable homes in Burland Grove, Kendal, and another two affordable homes on Westwood Avenue, also in the town.

The developments, which were completed in April and May respectively, were in demand with local families and have all already been allocated to people with an existing connection to Kendal.

The new Burland Grove homes, situated in Rinkfield, comprise eight two-bedroom houses and six three-bedroom homes, while the Westwood Avenue homes are both onebedroom flats.

Rob Brittain, Property Services Director at Two Castles Housing Association, said: “We’re delighted that all of our new homes in Kendal have already been allocated to residents so quickly after completion, proving just how vital our affordable homes are.

“The combination of high private rental costs and aboveaverage levels of second home ownership means there is a real shortage of affordable homes across South Lakeland and our new homes will go some way to addressing this shortfall.

“Looking ahead, with demand remaining high as families struggle to stay in the communities they call home, we will continue to work hard with partners to address the shortfall in housing, focusing our efforts on the communities that need it most.”

Meeting demand

All of these homes have been either sold under shared ownership agreements or let at affordable rents

24

Working with partners, Two Castles Housing Association has built 104 homes in 2016 across Cumbria in areas where demand is at its highest. All of these homes have been either sold under shared ownership agreements or let at affordable rents, providing a vital supply of affordable housing at a time when many people are finding themselves priced out of the market.

Housing The new Burland Grove homes, situated in Rinkfield, comprise eight two-bedroom houses and six three-bedroom homes

According to recent figures released by the National Housing Federation (NHF), even the average ‘affordable’ property in parts of the North West would cost more than eight times the salary of local residents. In South Lakeland, for example, the average affordable home costs £148,950 – that’s 8.2 times the £17,950 average full-time income of residents.

The new homes in Burland Grove were developed in partnership with South Lakeland District Council (SLDC), which provided the land and £250,000 towards building costs, and Esh Property Services. In Westwood Avenue, Two Castles partnered with developer Russell Armer.

Councillor Jonathan Brook, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Innovation at SLDC, said: “SLDC has a long-standing commitment to enable the delivery of 1000 affordable new homes to rent across the district by 2025.

“These 16 wonderful new homes will help us to keep on track to meet this ambitious target. More importantly, 16 local families are now living in decent, modern affordable homes, right here in South Lakeland.

“That’s exactly what our policies are designed to achieve, local affordable homes for local people.

We are doubly delighted to work

wherever possible with Cumbrian partners to achieve these objectives and we look forward to the delivery of more of these types of excellent affordable homes over the next few years.”

Esh Border Construction’s Operations Director, Steve Beattie, said: “It’s always pleasing to see the introduction of essential affordable homes to the South Lakeland market, helping to ease local demand in rural areas of acute need. We are proud to have played a key role in the delivery of Kendal’s newest developments at Burland Grove and Westwood Avenue.

“We believe that they will provide lasting value, but more importantly, attractive, highquality, sustainable places to live.

That the 16 homes have already been allocated in their entirety tells us that the community wholeheartedly agrees.

“As a company, we have a strong onus on providing family homes that allow residents to stay in their communities, and these properties will do exactly that.”

Martyn Nicholson, Managing Director of Russell Armer Homes, said: “We are pleased to work with Two Castles to provide another two much-needed affordable homes in South Lakeland.” 

 www.twocastles.org.uk

The Westwood Avenue homes are one-bedroom flats

25

Doors

Four of the doors consist of one fixed leaf 765mm wide and two sliding leaves that combine to give a clear opening of 1450mm in a full width of 2215mm

STANLEY DURA-CARE DOORS FOR SPIRE HARTSWOOD HOSPITAL Five Stanley Dura-Care 7500 telescopic sliding doors have been installed by Axis Automatic Entrance Systems at the Spire Hartswood Private Hospital in Brentwood, Essex.

Meecham H alliday Architects was looking to replace timber doors on the five patient ‘pods’ used in the recovery area for day-care procedures. The previous doors restricted access for moving beds in and out of the rooms and also created a very closed and detached environment. While researching alternatives, Halliday Meecham Architects found the Stanley Dura-Care door range featured on the Axis Automatic Entrance Systems website. The fully-glazed doors create a much brighter and attractive ambience in the recovery rooms and the breakout facility makes moving beds around much easier. Four of the doors consist of one fixed leaf 765mm wide and two sliding leaves that combine to give a clear opening of 1450mm in a full width of 2215mm. The fifth door is slightly smaller but of similar proportions.

The Stanley Dura-Care 7500 is a manual sliding door system

26

designed to meet the specific needs of hospital intensive and cardiac care units (ICU/ CCU). This telescopic door is available in three- or six-panel packages and those installed at Spire Hartswood Hospital feature emergency breakout on the leading sliding leaf, positive latching and are a trackless design to provide completely unimpeded access.

The 6.4mm laminated glass panels have made the whole area much brighter and lighter and are proving very popular with patients and staff alike compared to the previous unglazed doors. Frosted film has been applied to parts of the glass to give privacy without reducing the overall brightness.

Project Manager Kevin Hill, of building contractor M&O, was also impressed with the service provided by Axis, particularly the way problems were overcome and the final completion date strictly adhered to.

Spire Hartswood Private Hospital, Brentwood, Essex, is part of the Spire Healthcare hospital network that offers a comprehensive range of private hospital services. With a catchment area covering Brentwood, Billericay, Basildon, Romford and the surrounding areas of Essex and east London,

Spire Hartswood offers NHS ‘Choose and Book’ services, plus a range of treatments and procedures to insured and selffunding patients. The hospital also holds the Macmillan Quality Environment Charter Mark for chemotherapy and breast care pathways.

The Stanley Dura-Care range of ICU/CCU doors offers a selection of sliding, swing, folding and bi-folding door configurations. They have all been designed to maximise clear space openings and have many features ideal for healthcare environments, including smoke and draft controls, positive/ negative pressure environments and anti-microbial protection.

Electronic privacy glass can be fitted that instantly turns from clear to opaque with the flick of a switch for patient privacy.

Stanley is a world-leading automatic door manufacturer and Axis Automatic Entrance Systems is the sole UK distributor of Stanley automatic door equipment. Axis offers a wide range of automatic and manual doors suitable for clean room or healthcare environments, including the multi-award-winning Flo-Motion manual sliding doors that were originally developed for the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital but are now installed in a number of hospitals throughout the UK and Ireland. 

 www.axisautomatic.com  sales@axisautomatic.com  01604 212500

The fully-glazed doors create a much brighter and attractive ambience in the recovery rooms and the breakout facility makes moving beds around much easier

BIM Conference 2017 Towards Digital Built Britain 6 June 2017, Hilton Tower Bridge, London Returning for 2017 the RICS BIM conference comes six months on from the launch of the UK BIM Alliance’s “BIM in the UK: Past, Present & Future”, which targets BIM adoption levels of 75% across the supply and demand chain.

As the government’s focus shifts to BIM Level 3, join the discussion on moving forward the realisation of Level 2 within the private sector and among SMEs. Speakers include: • Mark Bew MBE, Chairman, UK Government BIM Task Group • Anne Kemp, Director of BIM Strategy and Development, Atkins and Chair, UK BIM Alliance • David Philp, Global BIM/IM Consultancy Director, AECOM • Fred Mills, Founding Director, The B1M. Highlights include: • Review the UK BIM Alliance’s State of the Nation Report • Consider the future of BIM in the UK and assess the Digital Built Britain strategy • Join dedicated break out groups for Cost and Planning Managers or Facilities Managers to discuss specific professional concerns and routes to improved collaboration • Learn how embedding exhaustive information security protocols can secure shared project data.

Hear from those leading the way in the BIM arena and gain invaluable project insight where BIM has been implemented.

Find out more at: rics.org/bimconference2017

Healthcare

PRESSED FOR TIME? Building redevelopments in healthcare establishments can be particularly challenging, with downtime needing to be kept to a minimum or, very often, not an option at all. Safety is also a key factor due to the high footfall of building occupants. Antony Corbett, Product Manager for Geberit, looks at the piping solutions that can help specifiers and installers in the public sector meet these challenges.

Carbon steel was used for the closed circuit and chilled heating systems at the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI)

REALISING THE BENEFITS OF CARBON STEEL: Getting the most out of carbon steel depends on ensuring oxygen is kept out.

The products must be kept in a well-ventilated area that is clean, dry and away from pipes of different materials.

Once in situ, we recommend using an oxygen monitor to highlight any issues before they take hold, allowing building maintenance staff to investigate and correct problems, rather than rely too heavily on chemicals. Where any repair work is required, this ideally must also be done in carbon steel. The system should never be left partially filled during maintenance.

When installed and looked after correctly, it is an extremely effective solution – a return visit to the Mater Hospital in Ireland, where Geberit Mapress Carbon Steel was installed some 14 years ago, showed corrosion-free pipework as effective as the day it was comissioned.

Pressed pipe is far easier to install than soldered or screwed piping

28

Healthcare

are arguably the H ospitals most important public sector buildings of all, and for the specifiers, installers and maintenance engineers tasked with upgrading and keeping these building’s operational, they present the most challenges. Moving vulnerable people is not an option and where closure for upgrades or completely new building works are required timeframes are tight. As we all know, the NHS is under enormous pressure at the moment and any available hospital space is precious.

As in all buildings, plumbing is an essential part of the hospital‘s makeup, providing general sanitation, heating and drinking water to patients and staff, as well as being used within the operating theatre.

When choosing the right pipes for this environment, specifiers must first and foremost look to products that ensure reliability and longevity, followed by solutions that are easy and quick to install, allowing for an efficient turnaround. Pressing solutions, which can be used for every plumbing scenario – from gas central heating, to potable water – provide an extremely versatile option; here’s why:

Why press?

Pressed pipe is far easier to install than soldered or screwed piping and as a consequence, time on site can be reduced by around 35%, according to

Carbon steel is particularly well-suited to a hospital’s closed-circuit system

a BSRIA report, cutting total installed costs by 27% compared with screwed steel pipework.

No hot works are required, making it a far safer solution for installers and building occupants, and comissioning can take place while the system is still wet, further reducing downtime. Leaks are easily identified during the test phase, ensuring customers are not left with issues after handover.

Fit for purpose Pressing solutions come in a variety of formats, from standard copper pipe, to more specialist options, such as carbon steel. Carbon steel is particularly well-suited to a hospital’s closed-circuit system

When choosing the right pipes for healthcare environments, specifiers must first and foremost look to products that ensure reliability and longevity

– it is up to 50% lighter than traditional steel pipe, further enhancing its easy-to-install and cost-saving credentials. And, as fewer materials are used in its manufacture, carbon steel‘s environmental impact is also reduced.

Owing to these benefits, carbon steel was used for the closed circuit and chilled heating systems at the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI), which has undergone an £80m upgrade. Transforming one of the oldest hospitals in the country, first opened in 1735, the redevelopment has encompassed the old parts alongside the new, bringing the famous teaching hospital’s historic site up to 21st century medical standards to better service patients and students alike.

Some of the most far reaching changes include a new ward block, including integrated assessment, short stay and state-of-the-art intensive care units, a surgical floor, medical floor and leading-edge clinical centre. Modern wards have been created in newer parts of the build to accommodate inpatients from the BRI Old Building – the oldest part of the hospital which is being decommissioned and used for redevelopment.

Apart from carbon steel, Geberit Mapress copper was used for domestic plumbing and stainless steel for external works, demonstrating its versatility as a ‘total‘ plumbing solution.

Contributing to BIM As mentioned, one of pressing’s key benefits is that it’s extremely quick to install. This makes it an ideal solution in the fastest turnaround projects using Building Information Modelling (BIM).

For example, pressing was used for water and natural gas at the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute, located on the Health Science Campus at Belfast City Hosptial. Built in a record 17 months, thanks to the latest BIM, making it Northern Ireland’s largest completed Level 2 BIM application.

Robert Hall, from the Harvey Group, explained: “We chose Geberit piping systems for the versatility, ease of installation and quality. The project was under specific time constraints and the Mapress press fit system worked with the BIM modelling in terms of getting the project completed in the fastest time possible.“

Ticking all the boxes In the hospital environment there is no room for error, which is where solutions like pressed pipe come into their own. Specifiers can be confident that the plumbing elements stand the best possible chance of getting completed on time and with safety, quality and cost savings also high on pressing’s agenda, this product serves to tick a number of the challenging boxes demanded by public sector projects. 

 www.geberit.com

29

Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

The project took six weeks and was delivered on time and on budget

Project: Hatton Hall Location: Wellingborough Housing Association: Orbit Heart of England

IKO, UK manufacturer of roofing and waterproofing solutions, was commissioned to investigate and, if necessary, re-roof the building. Any repairs or replacement had to be carried out without disturbing the residents who would remain in their homes throughout the project. And the work had to take into account the listed status of part of the building.

Identifying the problem

ROOFING UPGRADE FOR HISTORIC HATTON HALL The repair and upgrade for the roof of sheltered housing complex, Hatton Hall – without disrupting the occupants or damaging the adjoining listed building – has given a new lease of life to the 80s building. part of Hatton T heHalloldest in Wellingborough still standing, dates from the early 18th century, though there has been a building on the site since Tudor days. But time has not been kind to the historic building and little now remains of the original. The building has been a children’s home, a staff training college and a reception centre for foster children. By the 1970s, only the original south and west facades (now Grade II Listed) survived intact – the rest had been remodelled too often to make it worth preserving. In 1980, a sheltered housing complex of 21 flats was built on the site, with the new flat roofed building adjoining the remains of the old. It is now managed by Orbit Heart of England Housing Association, one of the largest housing providers in the country.

By 2015, the flat roof which had been in place since the modern apartments were first built was showing signs of failing. Water was

30

leaking into the building causing problems in residents’ bedrooms.

Leakage had also stained the listed facade. Geoff Cowley, Project Manager at Orbit Housing Association, was concerned about the impact the faults were having

on the residents. “We noticed internal features were breaking down,” says Geoff. “Some of the insulation was damaged, water was leaking in and residents’ property and comfort were at risk.”

The work had to take into account the listed status of part of the building

Andrew Moore of IKO conducted a visual and a thermographic survey of the roof, producing a detailed report which concluded that, although the existing roof was leaking in places, the water penetration was at pipe details, outlet points and the perimeter parapet detail. While this had allowed water into the building, there was no general water saturation of the insulation. This meant the majority of the roof could be overlaid and upgraded with additional insulation without stripping the existing roof coverings. The survey also showed that the existing falls directed water away from the outlet locations which led to severe ponding. In addition, the main cause of the leaks which stained the listed 

Advantage Tennis Mesh - Now Available with Super Rebound

(t): +44 (0)1902 796 699 | (e): info@zaun.co.uk | (w): www.zaun.co.uk Tennis Mesh 185mm x 122mm.indd 1

22/06/2015 10:49:37

In-Ground (Flip Lid) Units

Retractable Service electricity, water and Units supplying data points to public places Our Pop Up Power Units have been specified on: • Markets • Heritage • Town Centres • Universities • Recreational Areas • Sports Stadiums

Power Bollards

Pop Up Power Supplies® Ltd Telephone 020 8227 0208 Email info@popuppower.co.uk Web www.popuppower.co.uk

Pop Up Units

P O W E R W H E N Y O U N E E D I T. . . H I D D E N W H E N Y O U D O N ’ T

31

Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

facade was a problem with the parapet walls where the concrete coping was allowing some water penetration through the open coping stone joints, so the existing chase and flashing parapet detail needed attention. The modular rooflights did not meet current standards for thermal performance and fragility, so it was advised that these items should also be replaced. The overall thermal performance needed improvement too so it complied with current Building Regulations.

The solution A new tapered insulation scheme was designed to conduct the falls to the existing drainage outlets, eliminating ponding.

The existing chase and flashing parapet detail on the older part of the building was redesigned to carry the waterproofing up and over the parapet wall, eliminating the leakage which had stained the facade.

The repair, carried out by IKO-approved contractor Breyer Group, used IKO’s UPXL Torch-On system, an engineered waterproofing system which uses quality components to improve application and create a superior waterproofing solution. UPXL Torch-On also provides a new granular finish with improved adhesion and better coverage, meaning less

The repair, carried out by IKO-approved contractor Breyer Group, used IKO’s UPXL Torch-On system

foot-marking. It is designed to allow rapid installation of the built-up system, while the warm roof build-up allows for an option for the system to be installed up to the underlay without the need for hot works.

The client’s chief requirement was long-term, trouble-free waterproofing so the 30-year guarantee against faulty design, materials and workmanship, was a key factor in choosing IKO for the project.

UPXL Torch-On provides a new granular finish with improved adhesion and better coverage

32

Tom Titler, Flat Roofing Manager at Breyer, comments: “The roof at Hatton Hall had been leaking for some time.

We have a long-standing relationship with the client, Orbit Housing Association, and we knew they wanted the reassurance of a long guarantee. IKO is widely regarded as a reputable manufacturer and its 30-year warranty, coupled with the suitability of the products used,

made them the obvious choice for this project.”

All the occupants of Hatton Hall are over 60, and they stayed in their homes for the duration of the work, so fire safety was an important factor both during construction and in operation. One section of the roof to be repaired was on top of dormers in the old part of the building. Flame-free UPXL membranes were used on the dormer, where there is a pitched tiled roof abutment.

IKO UPXL roofing membranes contain IKO Prevent graphite (halogen-free) technology, achieving the highest levels of fire performance in both UK and European fire tests. This allows unrestricted use under current UK Building Regulations. The coping stones were removed and the new waterproofing membrane was dressed up and over the parapet walls, finishing in a GRP edge trim.

The existing fragile and thermally-inefficient rooflights were replaced by IKO Superlite Rooflights.

The project took six weeks and was delivered on time and on budget. The residents stayed in their homes while the work took place and the new roof is guaranteed for the next 30 years. 

 www.ikogroup.co.uk

NOW. PUMP TECHNOLOGY OF THE FUTURE.

WILO-YONOS MAXO: WIDE RANGE OF PUMPS Catering for a wide range of commercial applications, the Wilo Yonos MAXO range combines high-efficiency motor technology, simple yet precise control and easy-to-use pioneering technology.

With an LED display for delivery head and fault codes, pre-set speed stages for quick settings and simple wiring with the Wilo-Connector the Yonos MAXO is quick and easy to install and service. A collective fault signal ensures system availability.

For more information visit www.wilo.co.uk or call 01283 523000

33

KBB

INCLUSIVE KITCHENS: A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

The design of appliances installed and their location is important when building inclusivity into the kitchen

Suitable social housing for the elderly and those with disabilities can dramatically reduce the need for additional social care and limit the pressure on the NHS, yet there is still a shortage of homes that are designed to meet their needs. James Dadd, Marketing Director at AKW, explains why adaptations are critical in helping to resolve the crisis. all, specifically 96%, A lmost of occupational therapists believe that adaptations in housing for the elderly and disabled will cut the need for social care and ease the burden on the NHS. Indeed, poor housing costs the health service approximately £600m every year, yet there remains a substantial shortage of homes that are specially designed to meet needs of those with a disability.

Some 300,000 people with an impairment are on social housing waiting lists across Great Britain, while about a quarter of households in the social rented sector – 22% of housing association tenants and 23% of local authority tenants – containing at least one person with a long-term limiting disability state their accommodation is unsuitable for their needs. In fact,

34

there are five million people in the UK with a mobility problem who could benefit from a disabilityfriendly home.

While the sheer scale of the problem seems overwhelming, taking small steps to remedy the situation can have a significant positive impact on residents and allow them to be more independent. Health and welfare charity Leonard Cheshire Disability highlighted how various adaptations within a property can alleviate the pressure on the social care system and pointed out that alterations in the kitchen, in particular, enable disabled people to prepare their own food, rather than relying on care staff to come into the home to do it for them. This kind of change not only cuts public spending but it also boosts the quality of life and wellbeing of the resident.

Although disabled people are twice as likely as non-disabled people to be social housing tenants, the challenge for public sector property developers and managers is to make sure that buildings remain accessible and

inclusive for all regardless of age and ability so that housing stock remains suitable for multiple residents long into the future.

Improvements in the kitchen are unlikely to exclude certain types of user and, in fact, will enhance 

Adapting kitchens to accommodate and suit all users future-proofs properties and keeps housing stock relevant

EDUCATION CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION Westminster, London 18 May 2017 This one-day conference and exhibition will create a platform for clients and their professional advisers, contractors and project managers to network with industry experts and discuss the latest offsite construction solutions that will help to deliver the building requirements of the education sector.

SPEAKERS INCLUDE

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? The event is aimed at attracting construction clients; estates managers, local education authorities, construction professionals: architects, surveyors, engineers; facilities managers; building product manufacturers and suppliers.

Bryan Evans - Education Funding Agency Cal Bailey - Sustainability Director, NG Bailey Iain Geldard - Product Manager for Sunesis, Willmott Dixon Keith Patrick - Project Director, Graham Construction Keith Waller - Senior Advisor, Infrastructure & Projects Authority Peter Blunt - Managing Director, Innovare Systems Wayne Yeomans - Senior Business Development Manager, McAvoy Group Rachel Stephenson - Programme Director, PSBP Richard Crosby - Education Funding Agency Stephen Wightman - Managing Director , SIG Offsite Steve Newell - General Manager, Portakabin

BOOK

‌& many more!

Ticket prices - ÂŁ125 + VAT

To book your place go to www.exploreoffsite.co.uk/book

KBB

hobs, sinks and preparation surfaces, and are especially good for multi-user environments beyond just domestic properties, making them ideal for commercial kitchens, schools and offices where people of different abilities are using the facilities.

Just as importantly, rise and fall units are simple to operate with clear and understandable push-button controls and safety is built-in with collision detection that prevents accidents. In addition, flexible devices, such as those in AKW’s ActivMotion range, come in a variety of easyto-install sizes and configurations, including L-shaped units, and are available in both freestanding and wall-mounted options to suit any space.

Adapting kitchens to accommodate and suit all users future-proofs properties and keeps housing stock relevant.

With a few simple changes and the implementation of easy-toinstall equipment, developing inclusive rooms becomes a less daunting task. Ultimately, this type of home is not just good for the people who need them but also for public services and the taxpayer, going some way towards combating the social housing ticking time bomb.  There are five million people in the UK with a mobility problem who could benefit from a disability-friendly home

safety and ease of use for all, while also ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

Abandoning the traditional working triangle, for instance, to make a kitchen more accessible for those using a wheelchair or other mobility aids will not render the room unsuitable for people that do not and are ambulant, it just optimises the space available. Equally, installing units that allow space for wheelchair access beneath the worktop and sinks that are shallower in depth than standard – 125 to 130mm is recommended – will suit all users, including the disabled. Other additions, such as ergonomically-designed handles and taps, soft-close drawers, 170° hinge cupboard doors and extra durable units that can withstand frequent contact with mobility aids will also guarantee ease of access for any tenant.

The design of appliances installed and their location is also important when building

36

inclusivity into the kitchen. For instance, positioning the oven so that the middle shelf is in line with the work surface makes the transfer of hot dishes easier, while induction hobs that only heat up when magnetic pans are placed on them reduces the risk of burn injuries. It is also worth considering the placement of controls as the buttons that operate the hob may suit users better if they are placed at the front of the work surface as opposed to on the top.

For ultimate flexibility, adjustable work surfaces and units allow a kitchen to respond to the needs of each individual tenant at any time. Rise and fall technology means that sections of a kitchen can be independently altered to the most appropriate height to ensure users can complete essential day-to-day tasks safely and with ease in the right position for them, without having to overstretch or lean.

They can be used for cupboards,

 www.akw-ltd.co.uk

Adjustable work surfaces and units allow a kitchen to respond to the needs of each individual tenant at any time

Nationwide Windows has been providing high quality design, manufacture and installation of windows and doors to the social housing sector for almost 30 years.

Windows & Doors

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP to help raise social housing standards

WITH US YOU CAN BE SURE OF: • Three Decades of Design, Manufacture and Installation

• Commitment to Quality

• National partnering and frameworks with the UK’s leading RSLs

• Customer Care Charter Driven

by KPIs

• Specialist Housing Staff Training

Tel: 01788 224 466 | Fax: 01788 224 477 Email: enquiries@nationwidewindows.co.uk

www.nationwidewindows.co.uk

Trust our expertise

Nationwide Windows | Nationwide House | 74-88 Somers Road | Rugby | Warwickshire CV22 7DH

37

EXTERIOR WOOD PROTECTION

FOR MORE ATTRACTIVE AND DURABLE WOOD

01.

ROT & FLAME PROTECTION

02.

DIRT & WATER REPELLENT

03.

0 12 9 6 3 2 3 7 7 0 w w w.organowood.co.uk

38

ORGANIC CLEANER

HAMPSHIRE COUNCIL LIGHTING THE WAY

An energy-saving initiative undertaken by Hampshire County Council is on track to save the local authority an estimated £11,000 a year following the implementation of a transformational energy-efficient lighting investment project. financial efficiency W ith and carbon reduction targets in mind, the council was looking to improve the energy-efficiency of buildings across its estate, and identified the Milestones Museum in Basingstoke as an opportunity to achieving these goals.

The museum of living history, which recreates Victorian life in modern-day Hampshire, was subject to high energy bills as a result of outdated lighting fixtures, something exacerbated by the building’s high ceilings, which made maintenance work challenging, further impacting upon costs.

Recognising the potential financial and energy savings of upgrading to more energyefficient technologies, the council sought to implement a lighting replacement programme at the museum, utilising a £55,000 interestfree loan from Salix Finance – a Government-funded, not-for-profit organisation that provides funding to the public sector across the UK to improve its energy-efficiency.

The project involved replacing all existing lighting, including T8 tubes, compact

fluorescents, halogen spotlights and floodlighting, with more energy-efficient light emitting diode (LED) solutions to significantly reduce energy and maintenance costs, as well as improve the quality of light for the general visitor experience.

Lighting controls and a dimming system were also installed to optimise energy-efficiency, enabling each individual light to be programmed separately so that

the required amount of light is used as and when it is needed.

Because of this, the lighting systems can be adapted quickly and easily to accommodate different activities and events.

In total, the new technologies are expected to save the council approximately £192,480 over their lifetime.

The museum is now on track to not only achieve the first year of predicted savings, but to exceed them.

Project: Milestones Museum Location: Basingstoke Architect: Hampshire County Council

Lighting

In total, the new technologies are expected to save the council approximately £192,480 over their lifetime

Commenting on the refurbishment, Paul Roebuck, Engineering Manager at Hampshire Council, said: “The structure of the Milestones Museum, with its high roof to accommodate the internal buildings and exhibitions, had proven to be an obstacle in the maintenance of the previous lighting fixtures, which in turn increased the cost of our energy bills.

“The new lighting will not only vastly reduce our energy and maintenance costs but the improvements to lighting levels and colour will also help to greatly enhance the customer experience. We’re already seeing the benefits of the upgrades, and are very thankful to Salix for their support which has made these energy-efficiency improvements possible. We look forward to continuing our energy reduction efforts across the county in future years to come.”

In addition to the museum lighting upgrades, Hampshire County Council has recently rolled out an estate-wide smart metering strategy, which allows it to view fiscal oil, gas and electric meters on all of its sites, enabling the council to monitor usage and identify areas for improvement. 

 www.salixfinance.co.uk

The structure of the Milestones Museum had proven to be an obstacle in the maintenance of the previous lighting fixtures

39

Landscaping

CONSIDER BRITISH NATURAL STONE

Nicholas Horton, Managing Director of Forest Pennant, the commercial brand of Forest of Dean Stone Firms, explains the key factors when specifying British natural stone.

T

he UK is fortunate to enjoy a wealth of natural stone resources, from sandstone to limestone, slate to granite.

These materials are distinct to a region or run as a band across the country, each mineral formed during a geological period. It is this locality that plays a fundamental part in the specification of appropriate materials, from conservation to planning regulations. When selecting hard landscaping for the public realm, specifiers should consider materials that complement the vernacular, often those local to or historically associated with the area.

Physical properties The properties of natural stone vary from mineral to mineral.

Strength, density, absorption and resistance combine to determine a stone’s performance and suitability for application. When specifying an external paving product, the material must be strong enough for purpose and not fail in the weather. By its very nature, natural stone is suitable for an external application and has an almost indefinite service life. Forest of Dean Pennant sandstone, for example, is a

40

proven hard landscaping material with a high Slip Resistance Value (SRV) of 83 (mixed colour), far exceeding the minimum SRV for external use.

The Forest Pennant paving was supplied in three gauge widths, forming part of a rolling regeneration programme by Bridgend County Borough Council

Reliable source When specifying a suitable hard landscaping material, it is easy to overlook the source, opting instead for the most cost-effective option, a by-product of value engineering. With some suppliers and merchants selling material without a proven or reliable supply chain, it is little wonder that specifiers turn to imported material from India and China. Yet there are many UK stone suppliers which own and manage their own source of material. Forest Pennant, for example, has an enviable supply of Forest of Dean Pennant sandstone in its Barnhill Quarry, with two million tonnes of reserves.

With provenance and reliability key to the specification of natural stone, there are added benefits to selecting a British stone, corporate and social responsibility and reduced carbon footprint – two attributes that make for an attractive material choice.

Sandstone is an established hard landscaping material,

Natural stone is suitable for an external application and has an almost indefinite service life

renowned for its slip/skid resistance and low abrasion.

As such, Forest Pennant paving products have been used extensively by architects, designers, developers and contractors, forming the pavements and walkways of some of the UK’s most iconic urban spaces. Yet no two projects are the same. Not only does the tonal variation of the stone dictate that one paver is different to the next but each specification is bespoke, with material selected and cut to order.

Proven performance When Bridgend County Borough Council specified Forest Pennant paving they “wanted to achieve a more natural look, one akin to a more traditional paved area,” said Allen Lloyd, Project Manager of Bridgend County Borough Council. “Historically, paving isn’t cut-to-size, the sizes reflected the nature of the stone. Unlike a modern concrete product, it’s about working with the material rather than making it ‘fit’. This specification also minimises waste during the production

Landscaping When selecting hard landscaping for public realm, specifiers should consider materials that complement the vernacular

process by maximising the potential of each block, helping to reduce costs for the client.”

The Forest Pennant paving was supplied in three gauge widths; 300, 450 and 600mm in random lengths, forming part of a rolling regeneration programme by Bridgend County Borough Council; the renewal and improvement of streets and footways throughout the town centre, split over four phases.

Forest of Dean Stone Firms supplied 4000m2 of 75mm Forest Pennant paving, around 1000m2 of standard Forest Pennant setts, fluted drainage channels and copings, in its mixed colour Pennant sandstone.

The council wished to minimise the carbon footprint of the new scheme by selecting a local stone while also helping to reduce whole life costs. “We

investigated several Pennant quarries in Wales and England,” continued Allen Lloyd, “and were satisfied that Forest Pennant [Forest of Dean Stone Firms] could deliver our requirements.”

Allen and his team attended an open day at the company’s stoneworks and Barnhill Quarry which secured the order. “The open house event was invaluable in the specification and order process,” said Allen Lloyd.

Sandstone is an established hard landscaping material, renowned for its slip/skid resistance and low abrasion

“The company offered a good, repeatable product along with sustainable business methods, knowledge and expertise.”

The importance of maintenance For optimum performance and aesthetics, natural stone requires regular cleaning and maintenance. Using lowpressure warm water with a mild detergent and rinsing with clean water produces the best results. The use of jet or pressure washers is not recommended as it can damage the surface of the stone and jointing, and destabilise the installation; something that is not always appreciated by maintenance contractors. For a deep, more intensive clean, Forest Pennant recommends contacting a specialist cleaning contractor. Surface treatments can also be applied to preserve the appearance and assist the cleaning of the stone.

British natural stone has been used as a building and landscaping material for millennia, how many other materials can claim such provenance and proven performance? 

 www.forestpennant.com

41

Glass & Glazing

The building has been designed to be free of columns, and instead glass and glazing is used throughout

FULL TRANSPARENCY

The new Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) HQ building will be called the Jack Copland Centre and it is due to complete and be fully operational by the summer of 2017. Once finished, it will be the most advanced facility of its type in Europe. through a D eveloped joint partnership of Kajima and Interserve, it is being constructed at the HeriotWatt University Research Park, Edinburgh. The facility will centralise all processing, testing and distribution of blood, tissue, platelets and cell products for the whole of Scotland.

As the demand for red blood cells and platelets is predicted to increase by up to 25% in the next 10 years, the new centre will be instrumental in meeting this escalating demand.

The centre has been carefully designed not only to meet stringent safety requirements but to ensure that the building fosters a collaborative working environment. Whilst it has been essential to ensure that the level of safety is not compromised, efficient and integrated working is at the heart of the design. It is hoped that this will improve the productivity and efficiency of staff and ultimately staff retention and output.

To optimise the use of space and foster a sense of flow, the building has been designed to be free of columns, and

42

instead glass and glazing is used throughout. The glass ensures that materials and products are kept apart but a sense of connection and belonging is maintained. Specialised glass has been used for high-grade

labs ensuring that they remain airtight, in-line with stringent requirements, whilst standard glass partitions are used in the rest of the building.

The arcade forms the heart of the Jack Copland Centre.

Project: SNBTS Location: Edinburgh Contractor: Kajima and Interserve

Surrounded by glass, it dissolves visual boundaries by drawing daylight and air into the centre of the building. The pathways in the building ensure that all staff and visitors will pass through the arcade, providing not only a centrepiece and social area in which to relax, but also a fascinating glimpse into what is literally the life blood of the building – the blood processing laboratories.

The facility has been orientated to maximise effective use of natural light.

South-facing social areas are flooded with light through vast windows looking out to the countryside, while laboratories receive indirect or north light helping to keep these areas in optimal condition.

Careful architectural design and the use of glass and glazing as the most prominent material in this £33m state-of-theart Centre of Excellence has brought together the social and technical functions of the building – its work spaces and its people – to form one effective, functioning cohesive whole. 

The centre has been carefully designed to ensure that the building fosters a collaborative working environment

 www.kajima.co.uk

Glass & Stainless Limited offer a range of architectural glazing solutions to enhance the aesthetics of any building. Our systems include:

G-GLAS BESPOKE GLASS Available in a variety of different thicknesses and finishes from screen printed to curved.

G-CUVA CANOPY SYSTEMS & POINT FIXINGS High quality 316 grade components are used in either connecting rod or universal wall mounted system.

G-LINE SLIDING GLASS DOOR & PARTITIONING SYSTEMS To suit a wide range of applications from fixed and non-fixed panels and have the ability to mount to a wall, ceiling or glass.

G-RAIL ALUMINIUM AND STAINLESS STEEL RAILING SYSTEMS Premium quality modular balustrade systems designed to offer flexible solutions to everyday challenges.

G-CUBE GLASS SHOWER CUBICLE SYSTEMS Hinges, handles, knobs, channels and clamps.

G-FLOR BESPOKE GLASS FLOORS Made to measure bespoke glass floor individually tailored to suit your home, manufactured on a either a supply and install or supply only basis.

Request a copy of our 2017 brochure at glassandstainless.com

Get in touch:

0843 504 4545

sales@glassandstainless.com

www.glassandstainless.com

Glass & Stainless Limited | Martins Court | West Street | Congleton | Cheshire | CW12 1LB

NATURAL WOOD FINISHES YOU CAN RELY ON

01296 481220 | osmouk.com

DECKING-OIL: Highest quality colour and protection for wood

ü

|

ü

|

ü

|

ü

|

ü

MICROPOROUS DURABLE UV-RESISANT OIL-BASED HIGH COVERAGE

Accept No

Imitations Trust experience and expertise Our Range of ModuSat® Eco-efficient Heat Interface Units (HIU’s) feature • • • •

Wide Delta T Low Return Temperatures Weather Compensation Smart Metering

T: 01372 722277

www.evinoxenergy.co.uk

EVI11633-Half-Page-District-Heating-ad.indd 1

44

• The Only Truly Integrated Pre-Payment Technology • BSRIA Tested

08/06/2016 12:56

LOW-MAINTENANCE DECKING THAT STANDS THE TEST OF TIME James Latham is seeing the popularity of its premium-quality composite decking – ProFi – soar due to its outstanding performance properties, which include minimum maintenance, superior stainresistance, extra-high impact strength and a high friction surface. impressive features T hese mean that ProFi – which is manufactured in Finland, Germany and the United States by UPM – is perfectly suited to high traffic areas, continuing to perform to optimum levels while looking fresh, smart and clean for years to come.

In addition to withstanding typical traffic usage, such as the constant moving of chairs and tables, ProFi also resists staining from hazards such as cooking oil, sun lotion and drink spillages, as well as other exterior factors such as birds, plus, it can endure extreme temperature changes (-40°C to +40°C) from the extreme cold, snow and ice of northern Scandinavia to the searing heat and relentless sunshine of the Middle East.

2017 sees UPM ProFi celebrate its 10-year anniversary as one of the leading European WPC decking producers. In that time, the boards have benefited from continual research and development and, this year, UPM is revisiting decks installed during

the first years of manufacture which are still looking fresh and modern and performing well 10 years after installation.

ProFi Deck comes in two stunning design styles, UPM ProFi Classic Deck and UPM ProFi Design Deck. UPM ProFi Classic Deck range offers the beauty of a hardwood deck without the high maintenance.

Wood and cellulose fibres are encapsulated in specially selected polymers to provide lasting protection from the weather. The advanced composite technology provides superior resistance to UV, frost, stains and impacts when compared to traditional composite or wood decks.

The UPM ProFi Design Deck range gives outdoor living a fresh and modern feel. Renowned designers from around the world have been inspired to work with the wide colour range and clean looks. The Design Deck range includes UPM ProFi Deck 150 which offers high impact and scratch-resistance, a reversible profile, a closed surface for low

Decking

In addition to withstanding typical traffic usage, such as the constant moving of chairs and tables, ProFi also resists staining from hazards such as cooking oil, sun lotion and drink spillages

maintenance and lignin-free colour durability. Plus, it is also manufactured using more than 50% recyclable materials.

Richard Mosson, James Latham’s Group Cladding and Decking Manager, commented: “As the popularity of WPC decking grows in the UK, customers are looking for a premium-quality product that will deliver and UPM ProFi ticks all the boxes.

“With 10 years of continued investment and R&D, the quality of the UPM ProFi deck range is exceptional. Long life and ultra-low maintenance has been engineered into the product, plus, due to the innovative use of recycled materials – some of the range is made using up to 95% – it has won several international awards, with the product making a major contribution to reducing traditional landfill and incineration which is really important to James Latham as well as many of our customers.” 

 www.lathamtimber.co.uk  marketing@lathams.co.uk  0116 257 3415

ProFi Deck comes in two stunning design styles, UPM ProFi Classic Deck and UPM ProFi Design Deck

45

Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

SOCIAL HOUSING TENANTS WARM TO KEMPER SYSTEM'S ROOFING SOLUTION

Combining Kemper System's Kempertherm PIR insulation board and the company's Kemperol V210 cold-applied liquid waterproofing membrane, the warm roof upgrades form part of a £29m, 30-year plan

Kemper System's Stratex warm roof system has been used to upgrade the roofs of five social housing apartment blocks as part of an investment programme supporting a £20m stock transfer from Gloucester City Council to housing association, Gloucester City Homes.

Kemper C ombining System’s Kempertherm PIR insulation board and the company’s Kemperol V210 coldapplied liquid waterproofing membrane, the warm roof upgrades form part of a £29m, 30-year plan, which also includes construction of 100 new social housing dwellings by 2020; the first to be constructed in the city since 1991.

Delivered by main contractor, Mears Group, the improvement works focused on an external upgrade to five tenanted blocks; two on Sweetbriar Street, two on Union Street and one on Columbia Street. All works had to be carried out while the homes remained fully occupied, so the use of Kemper System’s cold-applied liquid membrane was the ideal solution for delivering a robust solution with a BBA-accredited service life of 25 years, without causing undue disruption or risk to tenants.

Roofing contractor, Rateavon,

46

stripped the existing metal deck roof of each block and installed a new OSB (oriented strand board) deck as part of the strategy for maximising the service life of the existing accommodation.

A Kempershield primer was then applied to the roof surface and allowed to cure before the installation of a Kempershield vapour control layer (VCL).

Kemperfix adhesive was applied onto the roof surface and the Kempertherm insulation board was adhered to the roof, using the system’s tongue and groove structure to interlock each piece of board and provide a uniform finish.

The Kemperol V210 coldapplied liquid waterproofing membrane was then applied in a single wet-on-wet process involving the application of liquid resin to the substrate followed by installation of the reinforcement fleece onto the wet resin. More resin was then immediately applied to

ensure complete saturation of the fleece before the system was allowed to cure to form a durable, monolithic waterproof membrane that cannot delaminate and remains permanently elastic and UV stable.

Comments Stuart Hicks from Kemper System: “The upgrades to the five blocks

form an important milestone in Gloucester City Homes’ initiative to improve social housing in the city, enhancing existing assets for both current and future tenants and maximising their service life.” 

 www.kempersystem.co.uk  enquiries@kempersystem.co.uk  01925 445532

All works had to be carried out while the homes remained fully occupied, so the use of Kemper System's cold-applied liquid membrane was the ideal solution for delivering a robust solution with a BBA-accredited service life of 25 years

Last April, the Government's BIM mandate came into force, requiring all centrally procured public sector building projects to be BIM Level 2 compliant. However, many people still do not fully understand BIM. This was highlighted in the results of NBS’ 2016 National BIM Survey, which revealed that 41% of respondents are unclear on what they need to do to comply and 90% perceiving the construction industry as not ready for BIM. Here, Nigel Blacklock, Technical Director at flat roof manufacturer, Bauder, investigates further.

Benefits of BIM The fundamental benefits outlined by the Government are lower costs (through the reduction of waste), faster delivery and lower emissions; but beyond this is the opportunity for greater levels of quality control, collaboration, efficiency, asset and risk management, maintenance, sustainability and exploration of ‘what if’ scenarios.

Another significant challenge is the lack of BIM objects currently available and, more specifically, the lack of bespoke objects available, which may explain why only 37% of people use the models from project inception through to completion.

Focus & Innovation

BIM Level 2 – are you in the 90% that believes the industry is not ready?

BIM objects that includes models for all of our bituminous, single-ply, cold liquid-applied, hot melt and green roof system options, which can easily be dropped into 3D models and plans.

Bauder and bespoke BIM At Bauder, we acknowledge these challenges, which is why we support our clients and suppliers with the development of their own BIM knowledge and objects.

This is why we have created a comprehensive library of

Challenges for BIM One of the challenges that needs addressing is the broad gap in BIM knowledge and skills across the industry.

 www.bauder.co.uk  info@bauder.co.uk  0845 271 8800

@psbjmagazine

Follow PSBJ on twitter & facebook • • • • •

receive live updates chat with the team comment on articles debate online get networking!

47

Floors, Walls & Ceilings

Power Bollards provide safe, secure outdoor power supply

Pop Up Power Supplies' Power Bollards have provided an outdoor power supply for an area outside the civic centre for Gravesham Borough Council.

Specified in a Button Top Supply Bollard with a hatch closure that allows passing cables with plugs to be inserted, the slim bollards are all located around the perimeter area next to walls and, as a result, have a limited impact on the outdoor area.

The Power Bollards are a popular choice of street furniture as they are of an elegant design and complement the surrounding environment well with their sleek aesthetics. They provide a reliable, secure outdoor power supply and are totally encased – therefore are a safe option for the large footfall the area receives. Made of AISI 304 stainless steel AISI 316 – with a plate thickness of 2mm – Pop Up Power Supplies’ Button Top Supply Bollard can also be painted for exterior environments.

For further information on Pop Up Power Supplies’ Button Top Supply Bollards, alongside its other products, please visit the company’s website.

 www.popuppower.co.uk  info@popuppower.co.uk  0208 227 0208

Polyflor safety flooring helps to improve acoustics in GP surgery Expona Flow helps to refresh University Hospital Wales restaurant

High design commercial sheet vinyl flooring from Polyflor’s Expona Flow PUR collection was recently used to create a vibrant restaurant area at University Hospital Wales. Approximately 600m² of Polyflor flooring was installed throughout the restaurant. The grey-toned Silver Oak and Smoked Oak wood-effect designs from Polyflor’s Expona Flow flooring collection were installed alongside each other throughout the servery stations, cashier desks, dining areas and around vending machines. The Expona Flow PUR collection of heterogeneous vinyl flooring features 50 wood, stone and abstract designs in a 2m-wide sheet format with a 2mm gauge and 0.7mm wear layer, making it ideal for heavy commercial environments – including the healthcare sector.

 www.polyflor.com  info@polyflor.com  0161 767 1111

48

High-performance Polyflor vinyl flooring, designed to provide dual sustainable slip-resistance and improved acoustic performance within a building, was recently installed at Downing Drive Surgery in Evington, Leicester. Polysafe Wood fx Acoustix PUR in American Oak was fitted in the surgery’s reception and circulation areas, whilst Polysafe Standard PUR in Ash Grey was fitted in all the consulting rooms. Suitable for demanding, hightraffic commercial environments like in this healthcare facility, Polysafe Wood fx Acoustix floorcovering provides an impact sound reduction level of 19dB thanks to its integrated foam backing, exceeding UK Building Regulations Part E requirements of a minimum 17dB.

 www.polyflor.com

 info@polyflor.com

 0161 767 1111

Outdoor protection in all climates with FILA Hydrorep Eco FILA has launched a new water-repellent protector for outdoor surfaces. FILA Hydrorep Eco is a solvent-free treatment for surfaces spanning from stone pavers to exposed brick walls.

It protects against water, weathering and efflorescence, and also hampers the build-up of algae, moulds and lichen. The breathable treatment can be applied over residual moisture, for a fast application in all seasons and does not alter appearance. Part of FILA’s award-winning Green Line, FILA Hydrorep Eco is a ready-to-use, one-coat treatment that is applied by brush or airless pump. The water-based formulation dries after just four hours, resists UV radiation and does not alter frost-resistant properties.

 www.filasolutions.com

 filauk@filasolutions.com

 01584 877286

Specifier's Guide to Tiles & Stone returns for 2017 Kick-Start Publishing has launched the essential 2017 guide for the tile and stone specification market, in print and online.

The Specifier’s Guide includes comprehensive information and insightful commentary on a wide spectrum of subjects relating to the art and science of tile and stone. Content topics include stone and composites, tiles, adhesives and grouts, alongside other ancillary products.

It also features the expertise of Editor, Joe Simpson, whose unique knowledge of the UK tiling industry has been honed over 25 years of experience.

In addition to analysing contemporary design trends, the guide contains expert technical information on the installation

Designer Contracts launches new ranges As carpet remains a staple flooring option for the home in 2017, Designer Contracts has unveiled a number of new flooring collections. Soft Focus is a luxury, super-soft, easy-clean collection, manufactured from 100% finesse polypropylene. Sensation Twist is a luxury stain-resistant twist, while Portobello has a completely natural look and feel. Designer Contracts has also launched Sovereign – a sumptuous Saxony – made from 100% PA imprel finesse bounceback, it comes in 11 contemporary tones. Forest Twist in 40 and 32oz weights is created from 80% wool and 20% polypropylene. These affordable wool rich twists in 12 natural shades have wool fibres to provide strength and durability for all areas of the home.

 www.designercontracts.com  enquiries@designercontracts.com  01246 854577

On The Level wins rewarding contract On The Level (OTL) has been selected to supply 300 bespoke bathroom and shower room floors at the Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC) at Headley Court. A standard procedure for On The Level is that it creates gradients in the floor base to take shower water away quickly and this feature had to be included in all 300 pod bases. In addition, waste outlets had to be located in each case according to the architect’s exact specification. OTL’s floors were then covered in a non-slip vinyl sheet in order to waterproof the floor and provide a suitable surface for patients to shower safely and freely.

 www.onthelevel.co.uk

 info@onthelevel.co.uk

 0843 634 2345

Doors & Windows

of tiles in interior and exterior settings.

Technical contributors include Mapei and Kerakoll, with other manufacturers providing their perspectives on subjects ranging from wetroom tanking systems to 3D tiling innovations. The guide’s initial distribution includes over 22,000 architects, as well as developers, interior designers and facility managers.

“If you think tiles are just glazed, coloured squares or rectangles, it’s time to think again,” Joe Simpson contends. Over the course of the 184-page publication, Joe – and the guide’s guest contributors – make the case for the “virtually limitless potential” of tile and stone. This potential is truly global and, reflecting that, the guide provides an overview of the tile industry, not only in the UK but throughout the world; Brazil, China and a multitude of other countries’ tiling sectors are explored for an in-depth picture of the international marketplace.

The team behind the UK’s leading trade publication for the professional ceramic tile and calibrated natural stone sector – Tile and Stone Journal – is also responsible for the 2017 Specifier’s Guide.

 www.specifiersguide.co.uk  john.passmore@ kick-startpublishing.co.uk  01892 752400

Updated brochure shows full Nexus range Specifying modern brick-faced soffits just got easier with the publication of Ancon’s 16-page Nexus brochure. Developed by Ancon and Ibstock Kevington, Nexus is an advanced lightweight system that makes modern brick-faced soffits and lintels simple and achievable, particularly in fast-track environments. Expanded and updated to include the full Nexus range of soffit units and lintels, the brochure shows the various options now available for achieving different visual effects by varying the style and type of lightweight stainless steel carrier and real brick slip facing. Detailed case studies are also included to show how the prefabricated, modular units have been used to provide flawless soffit solutions for three distinctly different building types.

 www.ancon.co.uk/nexus  info@ancon.co.uk  0114 275 5224

49

Doors & Windows

The entry solution needed to fit the building's sustainability, security, service and design criteria to seamlessly integrate with the existing design

provide disabled access without the need for a separate pass door to be installed – this was a key criteria for the council’s building.

The technology incorporated into the product’s mechanism ensures extremely quiet and smooth movement of the doors, whilst the air curtains installed inside the building’s lobby are designed to effectively reduce the air exchange and infiltration at entrances. This ensures that the entrance lobby can regulate the internal temperature as part of the building’s energy efficiency.

Ian Goldsmith, Head of Sales at Boon Edam, commented: “We are thrilled to have been able to provide an entry solution for this building. Through close collaboration, we were able to determine the exact requirements and provide the ideal solution for this outstanding project.”

For more information on Boon Edam’s Circleslide range and other entry solutions, please visit the company’s website. 

 www.boonedam.co.uk  contact@boonedam.co.uk  01233 505900

BOON EDAM'S ENTRY EXPERTISE ENSURES BESPOKE SOLUTION FOR BREEAM PROJECT

Camden Council's new 14-storey building, 5 St Pancras Square, is host to council offices, a leisure centre, cafe and a library. This innovative building is classed as one of the leading green buildings in the UK; having achieved an 'Outstanding' BREEAM sustainability rating. part of the design E very required careful consideration to achieve this rating. So when selecting the door entrances for the award-winning building, Boon Edam – a global market leader in entry solutions – was consulted.

The entry solution needed to fit the building’s sustainability, security, service and design criteria to seamlessly integrate

50

with the existing design. With 140 years’ experience and a portfolio of products to accommodate a range of entry requirements, Boon Edam’s experts were able to provide the ideal solution using the Circleslide product range. Not only did the product successfully integrate with the building’s design, but it was also able to mitigate any concerns regarding energy loss.

The Circleslide products used at 5 St Pancras Square consist of two sets of curved automatic sliding doors. This selection ensured that the elegant rounded look of a revolving door was achieved, along with meeting the high capacity throughput demands; realised by a wider throat-opening design. The design of the door is also DDA-compliant in order to

The Circleslide products used at 5 St Pancras Square consist of two sets of curved automatic sliding doors

Doors & Windows

Hazlemere completes epic, two-phase job for Epping Forest District Council Hazlemere has expanded its impressive list of completed developments by expertly-renovating the civic offices of Epping Forest District Council.

The first phase of renovation saw Hazlemere complete a £200k contract replacing the existing windows of the council’s Conder Building with thermallyefficient, thermally-broken alternatives. The firm designed and manufactured a bespoke steel framework to properly accommodate the new products and then supplied and fitted a large number of white-coated, top-hung Sapa Dualframe 75mm casement windows with Kingspan cladding, chosen for its superb durability, acoustic and thermal performance.

The council was so delighted with the professional job completed, that it enlisted Hazlemere Commercial to complete a second phase of renovation on the main Civic Office Building worth £300k plus VAT. Hazlemere replaced the existing

windows and manufactured and installed replacement aluminium windows using Sapa’s Dualframe 75SI casement coloured windows and its tilt and turn windows. Also fitted were fire-rated commercial entrance doors and the double-glazed aluminium roof lantern was also refreshed.

A large majority of the existing windows also featured traditional blind boxes which, when removed, left larger than usual structural openings. Hazlemere Commercial carefully filled all the voids and added matching RAL-coloured aluminium pressings.

“Over years of experience working on complex local authority jobs, we’ve learned how we can do exceptional work without disturbing everyday operations – and we want to thank everyone at Epping Forest

District Council for their cooperation,” commented Tony Beale, Hazlemere Commercial’s Sales Director.

“To be asked to come back and complete another project shows the trust local authorities and commercial organisations have in us to complete even the most complex of projects.”

 www.hazlemerecommercial.co.uk  info@hazlemerecommercial.co.uk  01494 897600

Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems completes prestigious new-build Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems, with its approved fabricator PAGE Group (Peterborough), has completed a prestigious new-build waterside residential development, Q Apartments, at Tanners Wharf, Bishop’s Stortford. Comar 5P.i open-out and tilt and turn windows, with Comar 7P.i rebated doors, were selected for the apartments – with Comar 7P.i AFT Commercial Doors for the main entrances. For safety, the Comar 7P.i AFT Commercial Doors were fitted with anti-finger trap stiles which were hung directly from the Comar 6 curtain walling. Polyamide Insulated (P.i) window and door systems provide exceptional thermal performance in a market where energy-efficient designs and meeting the demands of the latest Building Regulations are paramount.

 www.comar-alu.co.uk

 projects@parksidegroup.co.uk

 0208 685 9685

VIP treatment for The Window Company (Contracts)'s clients at upcoming FIT Show The team at The Window Company (Contracts) are inviting clients across the social housing, new-build and professional sectors to join them as VIPs at the upcoming FIT (Fabricator and Installer Trade) Show. The show, which is taking place at the NEC from 23rd to 25th May, is targeted squarely at the window and door sector and Chairman David Thornton says clients will be amazed and inspired by what’s on show beyond the standard casements which they normally specify. The Window Company (Contracts) will be using its own stand at the FIT Show (M33) as a hub to meet clients and main contractors and guide them around all the most relevant and innovative products.

 www.thewinco.co.uk

 thornton@thewinco.co.uk

 01245 268120

It's a new angle as Eurocell elevates Skypod range Building upon the success of the market-leading Skypod range of PVC-U skylights, Eurocell is launching its latest model – Skypod Acute. As the name suggests, the new addition features a steeper pitch: 35º in fact, a full 15º more than the current design. The new 35º pitch is visually very different to the standard 20º, making it suitable for more commercial applications such as schools, colleges, hospitals and offices, where this pitch degree is better suited to larger, multi-storey buildings. This market tends to be dominated by aluminium products, so the arrival of the new Skypod provides an aestheticallypleasing and cost-effective alternative.

 www.eurocell.co.uk  chris.coxon@eurocell.co.uk  0800 988 3045

51

Focus & Innovation

We now live in a time where one size does not fit all and developers across the public sector are looking to harness the very best in energyefficient structural systems

ADAPTABLE ENGINEERING FOR PUBLIC SECTOR PROJECTS Through value-engineering, companies are able to create ground-breaking buildings, designed to meet exact specifications and built to last many lifetimes. Steve Thompson, Managing Director of EOS Facades – a leading innovator in light-gauge Steel Framing Systems (SFS) – discusses how the use of custom, prefabricated systems consistently meet and exceed the company's public sector client's expectations.

T

he construction industry continues to evolve rapidly and has come a long way from the concrete blocks rolled out in the 1960s. We now live in a time where one size does not fit all and developers across the public sector are looking to harness the very best in energyefficient structural systems which deliver high-quality buildings at a rapid rate and offer the design flexibility to fit the requirements of each specific build – whether it be an education, healthcare or social housing project.

Steel consistently rates higher than other technologies when it comes to versatility and flexibility of construction.

It can be configured depending on the requirements and prerequisites of each project.

Every sector is different and can benefit from the range of advantages provided by this pioneering material and the advanced engineering solutions

52

that support it. For example, education buildings require spatial planning and flexible use of space, as well as robust structures that hold control over vibrations and acoustics, making SFS infill walling an ideal solution due to maximising internal floor spaces. EOS is able to provide structures that minimise time spent on site through fast, efficient off-site building processes which result in predictable occupation dates.

Here at EOS, we are able to take bespoke design and manufacture a step further than simply selecting the right product for the application or public sector requirement. We believe that it is essential to work on a one-to-one basis with each of our clients to ensure we add value and provide the most comprehensive solution possible. By using our own specialist consulting service, we are able to invest our time into helping our clients

meet their specific needs using value-engineering techniques.

We offer support at all stages of the construction journey; whether it be through the design, engineering, manufacturing, logistics or installation stages.

We are able to provide clients with an all-inclusive, fixed price package – supplied with all the required proprietary brackets and fixings, as well as double studs/opening jambs/DSL lintels and cills – despatched from the factory preassembled. This service is ideal for creating bespoke systems as it is completely flexible – should the client require the product to arrive unassembled, EOS will pre-punch sections in the factory, ghost assemble and supply, together with providing all the necessary screws and special drill bits ready for assembly and installation on-site.

To gain a better understanding of EOS Facades’ bespoke design, estimating and manufacturing process, the company offers a series of informative CPD factory tours. The experienced team guide delegates through the entire design and construction journey offering an in-depth insight into off-site technology and processes.

Factory tours are free and EOS is now taking bookings for the upcoming tour on 21st September 2017. For more information and to book a place, please visit www.offsitehub. co.uk/inside-offsite. 

 www.eos-facades.co.uk/ case-studies  seant@eosuk.org  01325 303030

EOS is able to provide structures that minimise time spent on site through fast, efficient off-site building processes which result in predictable occupation dates

The all-new psbj.co.uk

Your revitalised and purpose-built portal for public sector building specification PSBJ unveils the new-look online resource for building products designed for the public sector built environment. Offering more content in an easy-to-navigate format, this refreshing, tailor-made new portal delivers the right content to the right audience in the shortest time possible.

www.psbj.co.uk Search ‘psbj’

Focus & Innovation

High capacity surface water drainage for Primark Distribution Centre, Kettering The Primark Distribution Centre near Kettering was developed by London Metric Property. Known as Thunderbird 2, the £77m facility comprises a 93,000m2 warehouse, some 5000m² of office space and 50,000m² of hardstanding with parking for 175 HGVs and 530 cars.

A major earthworks operation was necessary to level the ground and create the vast plateau on which the building and hardstandings were constructed.

With such a large hardstanding area, an effective surface water drainage system was essential.

Having supplied high capacity surface water drainage channels for hardstanding areas at numerous distribution centres thorough out the UK, Hauraton was confident its RECYFIX HICAP high capacity channels would comply with the stringent specification asked for by the contractors.

It was decided to drain the hardstanding area using four sizes of RECYFIX HICAP – 100, 200, 300 and 680 because of their overall volume capacities. As well as straight runs of 100 and 200 channels, the 200, 300 and 680 sizes were installed in a step fall arrangement providing an enhanced water volume for these runs of 366,324 litres per metre (l/m). All the sizes supplied had fixed ductile iron and 14mm open slot inlets finished with KTL – a rust-resistant coating.

All 1229m of RECYFIX HICAP channel installed complied with loading category Class F900 (900kN).

In addition, some 200m of Hauraton FASERFIX KS 100 channel with HEELSAFE ductile iron gratings were also installed in the site car parks, requiring a loading category of Class C250 (250kN). The gratings were also specified with a KTL coating.

 www.hauraton.co.uk  janine.kennedy@hauraton.co.uk  01582 501380

Improving quality of life through design and function

Avire chooses new Sales Director Tom Davies has been appointed EIMEA Sales Director at lift safety and communication specialist, Avire. “This is a very exciting time to be joining Avire,” comments Tom. “With a strong brand heritage in the lift industry, we will continue to grow by developing innovative new products, supported by increased investment in our local presence to ensure we deliver the very best service and support. Tom joins Avire from Instron, where he was EMEA Commercial Director.

He has a degree in materials engineering and science from the University of Wales, Swansea, and experience in selling channels, strategic product marketing and innovation programmes.

 www.avire-global.com  pr@avire-global.com  01628 540100

54

Geberit Sigma and Geberit Omega frames and flush plates have added style and functionality to washrooms at Bentley House, an awardwinning care home in Hertfordshire. Specified with a white backplate and chrome buttons, Geberit Sigma and Geberit Omega dual flush plates create a stylish look, save water and are easier to use for those with impaired vision.

Bentley House opened in January 2016, winning the Hertfordshire Building Futures Award for ‘Retrofit of the Future’ and also secured The Hilden Style Award for ‘Most Stylish Care Home’. The bathrooms were a critical part of both award wins and it was important that the products met the needs of residents whilst remaining stylish.

 www.geberit.co.uk

 enquiries@geberit.co.uk

 0800 077 8365

Safeguard's Drybase range tackles damp other treatments can't reach

Safeguard Europe’s Drybase range is designed for use when it’s not possible to protect building materials and interior surfaces from the sources of dampness. There are three main products to the range; the first, Drybase Liquid-Applied DPM, is a liquid, polymer-based barrier coating, used to resist penetration of water, gases, salts and other liquids through masonry, stone and concrete. ECS Epoxy Floor Coating is a highly-durable, damp-proof epoxy coating for floors and walls. Supplied as a two-part, water-dispersed epoxy resin, it’s applied in two coats. Lastly, Drybase Flex Membrane is a highly durable, flexible membrane for direct application to walls that have been affected by dampness and salt contamination.

 www.safeguardeurope.com

 info@safeguardeurope.com

 01403 210204

SBP ARY

LIBR

sustainable-buildingproducts.com

Scan this code with your smart phone

swipe to see more!

‹‹‹

app

‹‹‹

swipe to see more!

The

for or iPhone, iPad and Android Free download available now BROWSE | SPECIFY | SOURCE | DIGEST

The smarter way to access news and products for the sustainable building market.

With its easy-to-navigate format, users can benefit from a variety of useful tools, such as the magazine’s latest issue, digital archive, suppliers and newsbank. The App is also synced with SBP Library (www.sustainable-buildingproducts.com) providing an essential specification portal. | Bespoke, reader-friendly features tailored to professionals on the move | | Timely industry news delivered at the touch of a button | | Manage print & digital subscriptions |

Focus & Innovation

Exemplary public realm with concrete Shortlisted for the 2016 Stirling Prize, Trafalgar Place provides an exemplar for high-density developments and the exceptional public realm that helps define the project.

The carefully-designed external spaces, which help define the project, are a result of the close working relationship between landscape architect firm, Randle Siddeley, and an Interpave member paving manufacturer.

The entrance square, central pedestrian street and access ways to dwellings are characterised by high-quality concrete block paving, set out in patterns using five different sizes for visual richness. With a combination of three shades of grey, the paving blocks have been shot-blasted for a sparkling, textured surface. For the more homely northern route and play area, a less formal, ‘rumbled’ concrete block pavingstyle was used in warmer rustic colour tones.

At first floor level, over enclosed car parking, a communal courtyard garden provides a flexible, usable space for

residents. Concrete flag paving provides level access around the courtyard linking the various spaces generated by raised planters of varying heights. The concrete flag paving incorporates up to 60% recycled and reclaimed materials, with granite aggregates providing exceptional performance and durability. A bespoke version was also created for the project using a double process to expose more aggregate, giving a contrasting finish to the main polished flag paved areas.

Trafalgar Place provides an impressive demonstration of the potential for precast concrete paving to enhance housing and other developments while meeting today’s performance criteria.

 www.paving.org.uk  info@paving.org.uk  0116 232 517

New rise and fall endoscopy sinks

DANLERS launches new range of PIR occupancy switches DANLERS’ new range of passive infrared (PIR) occupancy switches with daylightlinked dimming (maintained lux level) is designed for lighting loads controlled by DALI, DSI or 1-10V dimmable ballasts. These products switch lights on when an area is occupied and maintain a chosen lux level by dimming the lights in response to changes in the ambient daylight level. There is also a ‘run-on’ timer (corridor function), which allows the light to return to a minimum background level following a period of occupancy. This extensive range includes flush and surface-mounted PIR switches, as well as both surface high-bay-mounted or batten-mounted, high-bay versions.

 www.danlers.co.uk  sales@danlers.co.uk  01249 443388

56

Pland Stainless has developed bespokesized rise and fall endoscopy sinks specifically for the healthcare market.

These are available in double bowl, double drainer configurations to bespoke sizes to suit room requirements or specific lengths as required. The products can be tailored to suit pillar taps or mixer taps and the units can be pierced with apertures to facilitate automatic dosing. As recommended by the recent JAG report, the sinks are made to size with a rise and fall facility that can be adjusted by remote control from 790 to 1200mm in height to cater for various heights of user, making it an altogether more comfortable work station to operate.

 www.plandstainless.co.uk

 sales@plandstainless.co.uk

 0113 263 4184

uvex sportsline – trainer-style safety footwear uvex’s sportsline safety shoe range brings together functionality, comfort and style in a lightweight, slim and flexible design.

Equipped with a metal-free penetrationresistant midsole and toe cap, the uvex sportsline protects and offers a high level of flexibility when working. The shoe’s toe area is protected against wear-and-tear with a TPU scuff cap helping to increase product life, especially when kneeling. The uvex sportsline is also suitable for ESD areas due to the bleeder resistor under 35 megaohms, together with the SRC-certified slip resistance and a lightly indented arch, safety is guaranteed with every step, even when on ladders, making it suitable in a range of industrial applications.

 www.arco.co.uk

 sales@arco.co.uk

 01482 222522

100mm 95mm

141.5mm

CORE Landscape Products launches flexible edging CORE Landscape Products has launched CORE Edge, a new flexible steel edging that provides the perfect edge restraint for a variety of applications and materials.

Available in three different sizes for domestic and commercial use, CORE Edge’s new design is manufactured to make the

edging stronger. Steel thickness and length options include 1.6 by 1075mm for domestic applications – available in packs of five – and

Bright and colourful learning on laminate Bold and striking Rosso high-pressure laminate from Abet Laminati is making a splash in a children's washing and breakout area at St Helen's Catholic School in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.

As part of a beautifully-designed first floor extension by local architect firm SK Architects, six new classrooms, a studio and a central breakout area has been

added in bold and bright colours more than doubling the school’s capacity.

Specialist furniture manufacturer Benchmark FF&E Solutions was employed

a 2.5mm-thick option with a choice of 1075 and 2275mm length options for commercial applications.

The new CORE Edge range features a unique fold along the centre of the groundspike to reinforce and strengthen the spike, making it ideal for tougher ground conditions, however, if soft ground is encountered, there's an innovative spike extension that simply fixes through the groundspike to house a 300mm galvanised rebar support.

CORE Edge is available in four powdercoated colours, a bright zinc galvanised option and, following current trends, a COR-TEN option – a finish that eventually weathers into a rusty aesthetic.

Quick and easy to install with no specialist tools required, and available in a wide range of colours, CORE Landscape Products has manufactured its flexible steel edging inhouse to guarantee it produces the highest quality at the most competitive price.

The company also offers a range of tree rings in the same colours and design. These options include sizes from 600, 900, 1200 and 1500mm.

For more information on CORE Edge, please visit CORE Landscape Products' website.

Focus & Innovation

Edging cross-section

 www.corelp.co.uk  sales@corelp.co.uk  01753 652555

to create the innovative, scallop-shaped wash and utility stations which were cleverly moulded around yellow columns housing sunpipes. Abet’s bright-red Rosso colour in a high-gloss HR-LAQ finish was used to clad the sides of the stations while compact grade was placed on the top, coupling high-performance with an attractive appearance. The compact grade on the surface was carefully routered out to allow for under-cabinet sinks and drainage lines to be created.

HR-LAQ is a high-gloss finish available in 28 bold and bright colours. Its unique finish comes from a unique formula applied to the surface layer that can maintain the level of glossy shine while offering long lifecycle performance in terms of durability, scratch- and impact-resistance; perfect for this kind of heavy-use environment where children are playing.

Abet Laminati’s compact grade highpressure laminates are also popular for other types of heavy-duty applications, such as lockers, table-tops, vanity units and cubicles. Their finish provides a tactile, hardwearing and attractive surface coupled with excellent resistance to impact, scratches and abrasion.

 uk.abetlaminati.com  sales@abet.ltd.uk  0207 473 6915

57

Focus & Innovation

Powder coating enhances creative facade Powdertech Corby has used high-quality powder coatings

by TIGER Drylac to produce a striking colour contrast for the facade elements of Chapter Lewisham – award-winning, modular-construct student accommodation in Lewisham.

The building is an integral part of Lewisham Council’s town centre regeneration plan.

Architects designed the accommodation using 636 modular prefabricated units and to enhance the uninspiring existing ‘streetscape’ of high-rise developments. An entrance canopy and large windows were introduced to open up the accommodation block by giving a colonnade effect. Panels in shades of yellow were added either side of the windows, achieving a bright facade, distinguishing the accommodation from the dull frontage of some of the surrounding buildings.

In order to retain a fresh, new appearance for many years, these architectural design elements needed to be coated in a finish with excellent durability and requiring minimal maintenance. Powdertech Corby coated soffits, cills, jambs and head sections for the modular build using pearlescent grey (RAL 7048) for the main sections, and a combination of three yellow shades (RAL 1016,1018 and 1023) for the window panels. The high-quality architectural powders from TIGER Drylac have excellent weathering properties and colour retention. e-architect, the global architecture website, has described Chapter Lewisham as one of the largest and most creative modern student buildings to date.

 www.powdertechcorby.co.uk  pcl@powdertech.co.uk  01536 400890

Snickers' WorkTrousers are getting even 'smarter'

Sika system wipes graffiti menace clean away

Sika has the solution to eliminate an ever-present public nuisance and prevent expensive, regular clean-up bills, currently in excess of £1b in the UK each year. Sika has developed a product which not only removes recurrent graffiti with a simple jet wash; it acts as an effective deterrent to illegal fly-posting. The removal process couldn’t be simpler. Sikagard-850 AG Anti-Graffiti and Anti-Poster provides a permanent, transparent coating to mineral and coated substrates, as well as wood and metal. Brush, roller or sprayapplied, all that’s required to ensure this superb system repairs a defaced structure is water jetting or a cold water hose and rubbing the graffiti with a clean cloth.

 www.sika.co.uk  refurbishmentwebenquiries@uk.sika.com  01707 394444

58

Snickers Workwear has always been renowned for its modern designs and market-leading fabric technology. Now, its WorkTrousers are getting even ‘smarter’ with the integration of technology to improve performance and wellbeing at work.

‘Tracker 1’ is Snickers’ first prototype of wearable technology, a chip fitted to a pair of WorkTrousers enabling the user to monitor workplace noise levels, heat conditions and knee impact. David Clark, Managing Director of the Hultafors Group UK, says: “We are well-known for our KneeGuard System, 37.5 fabric technology and technical functionality, but the integration of ‘smart’, wearable technology into our clothing shows the extent to which we are looking at working clothes and wellbeing.”

 www.snickersworkwear.co.uk  info@snickersworkwear.co.uk  01484 854788

BoilerMag launches CPD course on heating system protection

BoilerMag has launched a CPD course on best practice for heating system protection aimed at industry professionals, including architects, specifiers and building consultants.

Experts at BoilerMag are available to visit your office to deliver the entry-level ‘Heating System Protection: Overview of Best Practice’ course, which counts towards annual CPD point requirements. The presentation aims to give an explanation of the best practice for heating system protection, including the reasons and causes for protecting a heating system; what methods to use and what the current regulations are. Sections include: improving heating system efficiency, chemical cleaning, power flushing and chemical inhibitors.

 www.cpduk.co.uk

 service@boilermag.com

 0114 225 0624

S&

S

SAFETYWORKS & Solutions Ltd ...the complete fall protection & access providers

Walkways Flexideck Walkway system is a combination of GRP and polyethylene that provides safe access for foot traffic on fragile roofs.

Ideal for installation on standing seam aluminium roofs where regular access is required for maintenance personnel.

Rooflights, protective fall guard panels.

Access across fragile roofs.

Handrails

Lifelines

Suitable for roof perimeters or the designation of access ways for both retrofit and new build projects.

Available galvanised finished or powder coated.

Easyguard Handrail system - permanent freestanding handrail.

Easyguard II - clamp-on handrail system for modern standing seam roofs.

Bespoke systems also available.

Uniline horizontal and vertical wire-based fall restraint and fall arrest lifeline systems.

Provides secure, hands-free access over high-level areas where solid barriers cannot be achieved.

Survey & Advisory Installation of new systems Annual Service & Inspection

HANDRAILS LIFELINES WALKWAYS FALL GUARDS FLEXIDECK DEMARKATION LADDERS STEELWORK

Tel: 01487 841400

www.safetyworksandsolutions.co.uk

LEVATO MONO porcelain paver system The Levato Mono porcelain paver system is the pinnacle of external raised flooring technology; enabling the specification of lightweight, slip resistant and attractive raised flooring solutions, combining incredible technical properties with uncompromising aesthetics; making them the ideal choice for commercial and domestic use alike.

20mm porcelain pavers 40x80 45x90 60x60 75x75 30x120 40x120 60x120 ‘Floating floor’ – installation over single ply membranes Eternal product - zero maintenance required – offering massive over-life savings

Highly abrasion and stain resistant Highly slip resistant ; R11 and achieved up to +65 wet in the BS pendulum test Lightweight – 45kgs per m2 High load bearing and impact resistance Timber & stone effects; 40+ finishes available

www.thedecktileco.co.uk t: 0845 2700 696

e: info@thedecktileco.co.uk

Completely non porous Ideal for balconies, roof terraces and piazzas, for both commercial and residential use Fire & frost proof Height-adjustable supports from 9mm up to 550mm