PSBJ December 2019

www.psbj.co.uk £4.00

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

December 2019

AN INNOVATIVE FUNDING MODEL FOR SCHOOLS Hawkins\Brown completes education-led mixed-use school and residential development in Hackney Downs

Drowning out sound

Future preparations

Leaving the EU...

Effective solutions for reducing impact sound within hospitals

Are today's educational establishments ready for Generation Z?

An opportunity to improve procurement processes within the UK? Scape Group reports

Mediation Training Programme A facilitative and evaluative approach to mediation in the built environment Highly practical and intensive, the RICS Mediation Training Programme will prepare you to mediate the most complex disputes to the highest standards across land, property, construction and infrastructure.

This face-to-face course embraces the facilitative and evaluative approaches to mediation. Our expert trainers will provide you with in-depth, practical coaching and you will receive feedback from both your trainer and your peers.

To enrol today visit: w rics.org/mediation

t 02476 868 584

Welcome Note Editor

Rebecca Kemp rebecca@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Print & Digital Advertising Sam Ball

sam@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Jim Moore jim@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Print Design Manager Jack Witcomb

jack@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Digital Design Manager David Perry

david@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Production Assistant Philip Coyle

Hawkins/Brown has completed a mixed-use school and a residential development in Hackney Downs. See page 22.

philip@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Accounts

Jackie Dearman jackie@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Sales Support & Administrator Klare Porter

klare@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Publisher Sam Ball

sam@crossplatformmedia.co.uk Published by

Cross Platform Media Ltd.

Barham Court, Teston, Maidstone, Kent, ME18 5BZ T: 01622 232725 www.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 editor's hands.

In the absence of an agreement the copyright of all contributions, literary, photographics or artistic belongs to Cross Platform Media Ltd. The Publisher accepts no responsibility in respect of advertisements appearing in the magazine and the opinions expressed in editorial material or otherwise do not necessarily represent the view of the publisher.

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

Welcome to the December issue of PSBJ...

2020's almost in reach, and as we conclude the end of 2019 there's much to reflect on. Firstly, the continuity of Brexit has presented no change to the nation, aside from scaremongering and dreaded – yet repetitive – 'uncertainty'. However, compared to last year's political position, Boris Johnson has taken over in delivering Brexit – nevertheless with, so far, no success. Next month's General Election will, hopefully, shed some light in misty conditions and put an end to a subject that's been the talk of the town for far too long.

In other news, following the tragic Grenfell disaster of June 2017, the construction industry has been coming together over the last year to tighten up on fire safety within all types of structures; particularly high-rise and HMO buildings. Although there has been a greater recognition achieved within the industry, last week confirmed we still have a long way to go. On the morning of Saturday 16th November, we were greeted with news reports of yet another housing block engulfed in flames. The Cube in Bolton – student accommodation that houses more than 200 students – went up in flames on the night of Friday 15th, leaving two injured. As we edge into a new year, it's clear to see there's still much training and awareness to be given on the importance of fire protection.

One other key element of public sector construction that's been investigated this year is acoustics within public spaces and how poor acoustics can impede our productivity and concentration levels. To round off the year, we've talked to Altro about the impact of ill-equipped acoustics within healthcare environments and how this can negatively affect patients who may be enduring traumatic procedures and experiences. On page 18, Altro's Chris McElroy looks into noise-reducing elements that start from the ground. Elsewhere in this issue, Joe Cilia, Technical Director at the Finishes & Interiors Sector (FIS), looks at how good acoustics dramatically improve occupier wellbeing. Turn to page 26 of this month's issue to find out more.

Finally, on behalf of PSBJ's publishing house, Cross Platform Media, I'd like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Rebecca

Rebecca Kemp | Editor | rebecca@crossplatformmedia.co.uk 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 news, including charity events, awarded contracts, completed projects and much more.

08 Upfront Compete with an impressive rooftop running track; Brighton College was designed by OMA, and CCL was brought in to design and supply the bearings. Here, Ilyas Meslek at CCL talks through the technicalities of the project and explains how the project achieved acoustic excellence.

12 Housing In this article, Adam Cherry from Boiler Guide looks at social housing efficiencies and how the future of heating needs to adapt with environmentally-friendly solutions and gas boiler alternatives.

16 Leisure

08

A partnership between Inverclyde Leisure and Alliance Leisure has seen a 75% increase in income and a 51% rise in membership over the past three years.

20 Talking Point

24 Legal & Business

In this article, Aaron Taylor from Stantec questions whether education design is fit for the tech-savvy Generation Z.

18 Healthcare

22 Education

Scape Group’s Mark Robinson looks past the pessimism surrounding Brexit and explains how we can turn a negative into a positive with the opportunity for improved procurement.

Altro's Chris McElroy explains why controlling noise in healthcare facilities is imperative. Here, he looks into flooring with noise-reducing capabilities.

Hawkins/Brown has completed a mixeduse school and a residential development in Hackney Downs on behalf of Hackney Council and Londonewcastle.

26 Technical Focus Joe Cilia at the Finishes & Interiors Sector (FIS) looks at how good acoustics can improve occupier wellbeing.

HAVE THEY GOT

THE RIGHT CARD?

Make sure those carrying out scaffolding operations on your site are qualified to do so with our FREE scaffolder card A1 site poster. Email enquiries@cisrs.org.uk for your copy today.

For more information visit www.cisrs.org.uk

4

Contents

16 22 32 HVAC & IAQ

34 28 Floors, Walls & Ceilings Meeting Passivhaus compliance at a cohousing scheme, Anne Thorne Architects (ATA) specified breathable insulation that offers optimum heat control.

30 Building Maintenance David Morgan, MD at Wates Property Services, clarifies there’s never a one-size fits all approach to housing repairs and maintenance.

Does the Future Homes Standard Consultation go far enough? David Bowen, Founder & CTO at Logicor, reports.

34 Doors & Windows

12

Michael Brooke at Secured by Design (SBD), believes a sensible and practical level of security is essential to a successful teaching and learning environment.

36 Product Showcase A dedicated focus of industry news, products and case studies to help specifiers and local authorities make informed decisions.

26

SETTING THE STANDARD FOR SCAFFOLDING The NASC is the national trade body for access and scaffolding in the UK and has been setting the industry benchmark for nearly 80 years. Our full contracting members are among the best in the business, accounting for the vast majority of the UK’s scaffolding spend – with a total annual turnover in excess of £2 billion – and are independently audited every year.

For demonstrably safe, skilled and compliant contractors it has to be NASC. www.nasc.org.uk

5

News

INDUSTRY UPDATES

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

Latest phase of East Lothian Community Hospital completes Foundations strengthens senior leadership team Liverpool City Council’s ethical housing company, Foundations, has announced four appointments to strengthen its board and senior management team. Foundations is the flagship housing policy for the Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, who wants to use the company to rebalance the city’s housing stock, revolutionise the rent-to-buy sector and drive up council tax receipts for the council. The new Non-Executive Directors are Darrell Mercer and Angela Forshaw who have joined Foundations’ board, bringing with them a range of industry skills and experience. Foundations has also recruited two new colleagues to its senior management team. Louise Davies has joined Foundations as Development Director, bringing with her more than 17 years’ experience in the housing sector. Foundations’ new Finance Director, Liam Knowles, will join the company from Sovini Group.

Work underway at Norfolk leisure centre The start of construction of the new state-ofthe-art Sheringham Leisure Centre, in Norfolk, has been marked with a ceremonious groundbreaking event. The new centre, which will replace the existing ‘Splash’ facility, was designed by Cambridge-based architecture practice, Saunders Boston Architects. The project will include a six-lane, 25m pool; a 13m learner pool with a moving floor to cater for different activities and user groups; a fitness suite; community spaces; multipurpose studios; a spin studio and a cafe.

Following planning permission being granted in late 2018, construction contractor, Metnor, has now started work on-site, with the new facility expected to be ready for use in the summer of 2021. The design incorporates a combination of water-saving measures, air source heat pumps and solar hot water.

6

NHS Lothian and East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership have been given the keys for the remainder of the newly completed East Lothian Community Hospital building.

A significant milestone for the project, the team are now finalising migration plans and hope to move patients in over the next couple of months. This marks the completion of the penultimate phase of construction and follows the successful handover of the outpatients department, which has been benefiting patients since March 2018. The final phase will focus on the car park and landscaping, with the entire development being complete in spring 2020. The completion of the new three-storey, 22,000m2 hospital building in Haddington means that patients and staff will have access to mental health services, IV treatment and an increase of inpatient beds as well as other new and existing services already provided in East Lothian.

Strood Waterfront opportunity brought to the market Carter Jonas has brought the site of the former Civic Centre in Strood, Medway, to market on behalf of Medway Council. It forms part of the Strood Waterfront regeneration project with the council looking to select a development partner to create a new residential-led mixed-use development.

The masterplan for the site indicates potential for over 550 residential units with new community facilities and supporting commercial, leisure and retail uses adjacent to the High Street and Rochester Bridge. The illustrative design sets the buildings – a mix of four- to 11-storey apartment buildings and two- to three-storey townhouses – around a central public space and back from the riverside to create a new walkway. There is potential for a new footbridge to link the site to Jane’s Creek; extending the riverside walk and providing access to existing open space.

School places boosted

by Morgan Sindall The number of school places in Essex has received a significant boost following three major school expansions delivered by Morgan Sindall Construction. More than 400 school and boarding places have been delivered on behalf of Essex County Council via its £300m four-year Essex Construction Framework (ECF) which has supported the construction of thousands of new school places across the region. The projects; Lexden Springs School, Glenwood School and Ryedene Primary and Nursery School have all received major upgrades as part of a wider drive to meet the growing demand for school places across Essex. Morgan Sindall Construction has recently handed over a £19m expansion to Lexden Springs School, a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school, in Colchester. The major relocation and expansion project has increased the school’s capacity from 120 to 200 pupils.

“Long-term plan for Wales must be bolder” The Welsh Government’s draft National Development Framework (NDF) is a ‘welcome start’ to efforts to combat climate change but must be supported by stronger evidence, detail and clarity to guide decisions, says Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Cymru.

The planning body says that it recognises the challenge of having to achieve a sustainable pattern of development for the longer-term while taking into account the climate change agenda. However, it believes that the Welsh Government has missed an opportunity to ‘push boundaries’, pointing out that the NDF must provide the context and evidence for taking difficult national decisions and informing long-term investment goals. Director of RTPI Cymru, Dr Roisin Willmott OBE FRTPI, said: “In order to start to address the issues surrounding climate change, RTPI Cymru believes that we need a framework that can guide a behavioural change across the industry in the way that we approach planning and developing the places we live, work and enjoy.”

We Made That selected for masterplan trio We Made That has been selected for a trio of masterplans, secured through the GLA/TfL ADUP Framework, including Battersea’s new Design & Tech Quarter, expanding the creative economy in Kensal Canalside Opportunity Area and reimagining Basildon town centre.

Across the three masterplans, the practice will lead multidisciplinary teams in supporting the growth of local economies, creative communities and bring about thousands of new jobs and homes. Battersea Design & Tech Quarter is part of Nine Elms on the South Bank opportunity area which aims to build on a strong existing creative economy which is forecast to develop further with future investment in the Nine Elms area, including the arrival of the UK headquarters of Apple and Penguin Random House. The team – We Made That, Hatch Regeneris, Urban Movement, Graham Harrington Planning Advice and Stockdale – has been commissioned by London Borough of Wandsworth to produce an employment-led development framework for the strategic industrial location and industrial business park at the western end of the opportunity area.

2019: Over 2800 social housing repossessions Sell House Fast has analysed the latest statistics from Gov.uk to discover how many social housing repossessions have occurred in 25 major cities across England and Wales during the first half of this year (January and June 2019). Sell House Fast found that London had the highest number of social housing repossessions between January and June 2019 at 1291 – the equivalent of four social housing repossessions a day in the capital. Thereafter, Birmingham experienced 295 social housing repossessions in the first half of 2019. In third position, Sheffield had 144 cases of social housing repossessions in six months. Notably, Liverpool (135) and Manchester (115) are the other two cities which have had more than 100 social housing repossessions between January and June 2019.

NTU partners with Morgan Sindall Construction

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has published its key demands for the next UK Government in a manifesto ahead of the 2019 General Election. From neighbourhoods to nations – the importance of planning has been sent to every current Member of Parliament seeking re-election in December.

The document sets out key issues that need to be addressed at a political level to ensure town planners and the planning system are able to create sustainable, well-designed, successful urban and rural places into the future, and planning’s role in delivering zerocarbon targets.

Nottingham Trent University (NTU), along with strategic partner Morgan Sindall Construction, are delighted to be working with the CITB on one of their four pilot schemes to improve procurement practices for home-building and infrastructure projects.

The four pilot projects are set to receive £3m in funding in total but are expected to achieve £25m in savings, involving 1900 construction employers and focusing on collaboration to mitigate risk, as well as an emphasis on quality and whole life outcomes, not just time spent.

News

RTPI publishes demands ahead of General Election

New Director for Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering Balfour Beatty Ground Engineering has announced the appointment of Jane TowseLaval as Director, responsible for providing strategic leadership to the company’s portfolio of geotechnical projects across the UK. Having joined Balfour Beatty as a Graduate Engineer in 1988, Jane has spent over 30 years with the company playing a key role in the successful delivery of diaphragm walls, plunge columns and piling works across a number of prestigious projects including Heathrow’s Terminal 2B – one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe – the One Nine Elms development and Marble Arch Place. Most recently, Jane held the position of Director of VolkerGround Engineering since 2018, leading its transformation from an internal support capability to a successful business in its own right.

Big Innovation Pitch returns for Futurebuild 2020 The Big Innovation Pitch is back with a bang for Futurebuild 2020. With innovation running through the veins of the event, which takes place from 3rd to 5th March at ExCeL, London, the timing of the competition’s return is perfect. The 2020 edition will up the ante, with innovative product manufacturers putting forward radical solutions to Futurebuild’s six key challenges, before one is crowned champion. Hosted across Futurebuild in conjunction with BRE as technical partner, the competition will be the industry’s largest call-out for innovation to date and will identify and celebrate novel new approaches to some of the biggest challenges facing us all.

Conlon’s pledge to boost future construction workforce Conlon Construction has signed an Employment and Skills Pledge with Lancaster City Council to raise aspirations and support employability within the local community. Conlon Construction is the first employer to sign the council’s pledge, which will see the contractor partner with a variety of organisations to ensure that local people are given education and training opportunities that enable them to gain meaningful employment. The Employment and Skills Plan (ESP) forms part of Conlon Construction’s ongoing development at Lancaster University, where it is currently working on a major extension to the site’s sports hall. The 1347m2 sports centre extension will house several full-size sports courts, including a basketball court and eight badminton courts. The £4m project will provide additional recreational facilities for the university, as well as local residents, and work is due to complete in time for the 2020 Roses event.

7

Upfront

Project: Brighton College Location: Brighton Engineer: CCL

The building includes 18 university standard laboratories and a five-lane, 25m swimming pool

ON TRACK FOR INTEGRATED SCIENCE & SPORTS LEARNING AT BRIGHTON COLLEGE Ilyass Meslek, the CCL Engineer who designed the acoustic bearings for Brighton College’s new School of Science and Sport, discusses the technical elements of the project and how the innovative facilities are set to inspire teachers and students across the independent and state school sectors.

8

Ilyass Meslek is the CCL Engineer who designed the acoustic bearings for Brighton College’s new School of Science and Sport.

the calibre of built assets and facilities available to students in independent schools. The independent sector is not only driving innovative thinking that is influencing the design of state school learning environments, however; in some cases, it is actively engaging with state schools to offer a valuable educational hub for both teachers and students.

A best practice example of this is Brighton College. A coeducational school for students aged three to 18 located on a 12-acre city campus, Brighton College was recently named ‘England’s Independent School of the Year 2019’ by the Sunday Times.

Behind that accolade is an innovative approach to learning which is reflected in the build programme that continues to transform the campus.

Maximising the potential of its grounds, the school is investing in new facilities to sit alongside its historic gothic buildings.

These new assets are designed to inspire students and nurture a multi-disciplinary approach to learning, knowledge-sharing and social interaction.

Upfront

schools in the state M any sector can only aspire to

Building connections

The topography of the site means that the lower ground floor becomes a basement level at the far end of the linear layout

The latest of these projects is the School of Science and Sport, an impressive five-storey building designed by renowned architectural practice, OMA. The concept is all about leveraging the synergies between science and sport to foster a holistic approach to learning and deeper understanding. Combining the study of science and sport in a single learning environment, the building includes 18 university standard laboratories and a five-lane, 25m swimming pool. It also boasts two running tracks; one inside the building and a rooftop running track, which required an engineered approach to managing noise and vibration, achieved thanks to acoustic bearings designed and supplied

by CCL. Alongside the goal of connecting ideas and observation within a single facility is the aim of connecting Brighton College and its pioneering approach with the outside world. The school  already works extensively

9

Upfront Brighton College was recently named ‘England’s Independent School of the Year 2019’ by the Sunday Times

with state schools and has an ongoing partnership with the London Academy of Excellence (LAE) which Head Teacher, Richard Cairns, helped to establish in 2012. The School of Science and Sport will become a learning hub for the region and engagement with local schools and universities is all part of the plan for maximising the value of the new facilities beyond Brighton College’s own student community. It’s a model of public sector engagement that has already proved successful through the school’s Creative Learning Centre Building and will allow students from all backgrounds to access Brighton College’s world-class facilities.

Learning from others around the world is also integral to the vision behind the School

of Science and Sport. The new building includes facilities to welcome sports teams to play away matches, with dedicated away team changing rooms and an underground car park designed to accommodate minibuses. It also boasts a cinema auditorium that will be used to show experiments and events taking place at other schools and universities live on screen, as well as providing a lecture space and a venue for film nights for boarders.

World-class facilities A striking five-storey building that opens out directly onto the school’s sports pitches, the School of Science and Sport has been designed to promote visibility between the indoor facilities and the outside. This design goal includes connecting

the interior spaces with each other and playing with levels in the building, which incorporates both single and double-height accommodation, with some areas visible from above.

The building’s main entrance is at lower ground floor level, and a number of offices and classroom spaces can be found here, along with home and away dry change areas, which open directly onto the pitches, staff changing rooms and a medic room. The swimming pool and wet change areas are also located on this level, beyond which is the basement level car park. The topography of the site means that the lower ground floor becomes a basement level at the far end of the linear layout and the school has incorporated two vehicle lifts to enable entry into the car park directly from the road.

The rooftop running track required an engineered approach to managing noise and vibration, achieved thanks to acoustic bearings designed and supplied by CCL

10

The ground floor main lobby is located in a cantilevered section of the building and accessed by precast concrete steps. This floor is also home to an aerobics and dance studio, a gym and an indoor running track which leads straight into a 900m2 double-height sports hall. On this storey, the way that the building plays with different levels and uses internal glazed partitioning to connect the spaces is particularly evident.

The cinema auditorium, three physics labs and a sports classroom are located on level one and from here students will climb the stairs below a full-scale 8.5m replica of a whale skeleton before reaching the physics, chemistry and biology labs on level two, complete with a greenhouse where plants will be grown for study in biology.

Throughout the building, glazed partitioning, extra-wide corridors and breakout spaces have been designed into the facilities to spark curiosity and conversation.

It is perhaps the final, rooflevel storey that will prompt the most inspired conversations, however. Keen to make the most of the building’s footprint and its city campus, the school has made this a fully accessible teaching and recreation space. The roof level includes a number of terraces looking out across the sports fields, planting for biology studies and a running track that extends the whole length of the building.

Upfront Throughout the building, glazed partitioning, extra-wide corridors and breakout spaces have been designed into the facilities

Attention has been paid to ensuring the rooftop space is both safe and functional, with balustrades to provide edge protection and access controls installed for both the lift and the door to the roof, preventing any unsupervised entry.

Noise and vibration Safety was a key operational consideration in the design of the rooftop storey at the School of Science and Sport, but it was acoustics and vibration that posed the biggest engineering design challenge.

When fully occupied, the building will accommodate up to 500 students, so managing the acoustics has been an important design consideration.

The combination of open-plan teaching areas and breakout spaces, hard surfaces including glass and concrete, and wide corridors have prompted clever design touches and specification decisions to help absorb and disperse sound.

When it came to the roof level, however, the location of the running track directly above the laboratories on the floor below required a specialist approach to mitigating both noise and vibration. While ordinary footsteps on a roof terrace would have minimal impact on the floor below, the pounding of runners along the track combined with the sensitivity of equipment in the labs below and the acoustically challenging surfaces of lab accommodation meant that acoustic and vibration controls had to be designed into the roof build-up.

The design team’s approach to this challenge was to incorporate acoustic bearings into the roof

design. Sometimes referred to as isolation bearings, these are a proven solution which is commonly used in buildings located above or close to underground or railway systems to isolate the building or building elements in order to mitigate noise and vibration.

As a specialist in engineered solutions for structures with wideranging experience of bearing design, CCL was brought into the School of Science and Sport project at Brighton College to design and supply the bearings.

CCL’s specialist bearings team used data on the vertical loads and frequency for the running track to ensure the design for the bearings meets the specific requirements for the building, based on full use of both the rooftop running track and the labs below.

In total, CCL provided 800 acoustic bearings, each of which has been precision engineered and is just 90mm in diameter and 50mm high. These were installed in the floating floor structure

during construction to absorb noise and vibration between the track and the soffit above the lab.

As the building design is so unusual, this is the first time CCL has ever provided acoustic bearings to manage noise and vibration from a rooftop running track, however, the bearings will provide an effective solution.

Building synergy into the structure In design terms, the rooftop running track does much more than maximise the footprint of the building. A bright red stripe that is visible from across the campus, the track articulates the building’s purpose as a centre for sports education, just as clearly as the green roof elements connect the physical learning space with the teaching of the biology syllabus.

Indeed, the whole building reinforces the idea of a crosspollination of teaching, learning and ideas across science and sport. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the labs connect science learning

spaces with the sports pitches outside, and the unconventional staggering of sports and science environments with split levels within the building creates visibility between the varied areas of study and practice.

To achieve those split levels, the contemporary aesthetic and the striking open aspects between both the varied indoor spaces and the indoor and outdoor environments, the building is highly engineered.

Once again, even the physics of the structure, down to the 800 bearings in the roof, echoes its academic purpose and inspires a desire to know more.

With the School of Science and Sport, Brighton College has not only achieved its goal of creating an exciting and attractive building that pioneers new approaches to multi-disciplinary learning, it has also delivered a blue print for using academic building design to encourage curiosity and drive a thirst for knowledge. 

 www.cclint.com

When fully occupied, the building will accommodate up to 500 students, so managing the acoustics has been an important design consideration

11

Housing

THE GREEN FUTURE OF SOCIAL HOUSING In this article, Adam Cherry from Boiler Guide looks at social housing efficiencies and how the future of heating needs to adapt to environmentally-friendly solutions with gas boiler alternatives.

2017, I found I noutDecember that I was going to become a father. As the news sunk in, I was stunned into silence as I began to process the excitement and anxiety that took over my body.

12

I had a sense that everything I felt was perfectly natural, but there was another feeling I hadn’t expected: overwhelming guilt that my child would be living in a world paying the price for the

actions of previous generations – including my own.

I immediately started making changes. I went vegan, I completely ruled out the idea of learning to drive – unless I could

find an instructor with an electric car (still looking), I started cycling to work, and liquid hand soap became bars of soap as we cut out single-use plastics.

All of these changes and yet there’s still one thing I haven’t been able to shake the guilt of: heating my home.

In my role as a Copywriter at Boiler Guide, I research and write about central heating systems and their efficiencies on a daily basis. Doing so has made me more aware of the effect that our homes are having on the planet.

The residential sector is responsible for almost a quarter of all UK carbon emissions.

That’s around the same as all the emissions from vehicles out on the roads.

One of the main reasons why our homes are responsible for emitting such a large amount of carbon? Burning fossil fuels for central heating.

As part of the UK’s target to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, it was clear that something would have to be done about how we heat our homes.

And then, earlier this year, the news came from the Government that installing gas boilers into new-build homes will be banned from 2025.

If Governments and councils are so serious about reducing the carbon emissions of the residential sector, they will need to lead the way with environmentally-friendly social  housing developments.

BESPOKE ROLLER BLIND SYSTEMS

OVER

REFLECTANCE

If you know of a blind that gives more than 80% solar reflectance, use it.

If not, visit www.reflex-rol.co.uk

De Leeuw Ltd., incorporating Reflex-Rol U.K. and Mermet U.K. are associate members of ES-SO

www.es-so.com

Reflex-Rol is a division of De Leeuw Ltd

Reflex-Rol (UK) Insulating Solar & Glare Control Systems

Reflex-Rol (UK), Ryeford Hall, Ryeford, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire HR9 7PU Tel: 01989 750704 Email: info@reflex-rol.co.uk Online: www.reflex-rol.co.uk

Housing

developers might want to turn their attention to Germany, where the Passivhaus is being developed.

What is a Passivhaus?

Thanks to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which rewards those with a renewable heating system with Government payments, there’s been an uptake in the eligible technologies: Solar thermal panels Air source heat pumps Ground source heat pumps.

Finding alternatives to the gas boiler for social housing Social housing accounts for around 17% of all UK homes and, according to a report by Sustainable Homes, existing developments aren’t in a fit enough condition for the UK to achieve 2050 targets. As a result, future social housing development has a significant role to play in reducing CO2 emissions.

When it comes to finding an alternative to the gas boiler, there isn’t always an obvious solution.

The gas boiler has been commonplace in properties right across the UK for as far back as most of us can remember. Yet, housing developers will now

14

need to come up with alternative heating solutions as well as improved energy efficiency measures to help the UK reach climate targets.

This will mean a drastic change in the way housing developers approach new developments and, for many, could mean having to pick up an entirely new skillset.

After all, developing housing for a carbon-neutral world is a whole new challenge.

Rather than burning fossil fuels like natural gas, the homes of the future will likely need to turn to renewable energy. There are many sustainable sources of energy that can be harnessed and converted into heating for the home from sunlight to geothermal energy.

While these might all be ideal solutions for traditional households, when it comes to high-rise buildings, they’re not always practical. An alternative solution for housing developers could be district heating.

Rather than each home having its own boiler or heating system, a district heating system is made up of a single large boiler that provides heating to a whole community of households. For this reason, district heating might be of particular interest to social housing developers, as the several properties are often in close proximity to one another.

The large boiler at the heart of the district heating system would be able to run on natural gas, waste heat from industrial processes or biomass. They run much more efficiently than individual boilers and could considerably reduce the carbon emissions of a development.

Finding an alternative to the gas boiler is only part of the battle for housing developers, keeping the heat within the property is equally as important.

For inspiration, when it comes to the future of social housing,

A Passivhaus, or Passive House, is an eco-friendly development that greatly reduces heat loss – if they even need heating at all.

Developers in Norwich have already adopted the Passivhaus way of thinking, grabbing headlines and winning awards for their environmentally-friendly council housing. Goldsmith Street is made up of 105 houses that boast thick insulation, triple glazing and a ventilation system that’s able to recirculate waste heat around the property.

With social housing built to higher energy-efficient standards, tenants will be paying less for energy bills, making it easier for them to pay the rent.

Residents of Goldsmith Street could be paying as little as £150 to heat their home each year – a saving of up to 70%.

When housing developers have the environment at the forefront of their minds, everyone can benefit – the residents, the planet and our future generations.

Housing developers aren’t the only ones who need to keep the environment in mind; all of us can do our bit to help in the fight against climate change.

Even something small like turning your thermostat down by a single degree can make a bigger difference than you might think.

Every day I cycle to work with my plant-based lunch in my bag knowing that when my daughter is old enough to understand climate change, I can look her in the eye and tell her how I tried to help.

But for the moment, as a tenant in a rented property, how I heat my home is something I can’t change. If this was 2025, instead of the gas boiler in the kitchen we may well have had a heat pump in the garden, and that bit of guilt I currently feel when turning up the thermostat wouldn’t exist.

As private and social housing tenants can’t make the big changes necessary, it’s time for housing developers to lead the way. 

 www.boilerguide.co.uk

Specify Specify Specify Specify Specify CFA CFA CFA CFA CFA members members members members members Specifying Specifying Specifying Specifying aSpecifying CFA a CFA member a CFA member a aCFA member CFA for member member for your for your next for your for next your flooring your next flooring next next flooring project flooring flooring project project could project project could mean could mean could could the mean the mean mean thethe the difference difference difference difference difference between between between success between between success success —success or success — aor —flooring aor— flooring — aorflooring orafailure. aflooring flooring failure. failure.

Most failure. failure.

Most ofMost the ofMost Most the of UK’s the of UK’s ofthe UK’s theUK’s UK’s largest largest largest and largest and largest best and best known and best and known best best known Manufacturers, known Manufacturers, known Manufacturers, Manufacturers, Manufacturers, Distributors, Distributors, Distributors, Distributors, Distributors, Contractors Contractors Contractors Contractors Contractors andandandand and Consultants Consultants Consultants Consultants Consultants areare CFA are CFA members are CFA are members CFA members CFAmembers —members and — and — forand — for good —and for and good reason. for good for reason. good good reason. reason. reason.

• CFA members promote high standards, knowledge and expertise • CFA members promote high standards, knowledge and expertise • CFA members promote high standards, knowledge and expertise • • CFA members promote high standards, knowledge and expertise CFA members promote high standards, knowledge and expertise • Specifying CFA members will maximize your investment and • Specifying CFA members will maximize your investment and • Specifying CFA members will maximize your investment and • • Specifying CFA members will maximize your investment and Specifying CFA members will maximize your investment and minimize costly flooring failures minimize costly flooring failures minimize costly flooring failures minimize costly flooring failures minimize costly flooring failures • All members have to pass a vetting process • All members have to pass a vetting process • All members have to pass a vetting process • • All members have to pass a vetting process All members have to pass a vetting process

Tel: Tel: Tel: 0115 0115 Tel: Tel: 0115 941 0115 0115 941 941 1126 941 1126 941 1126 1126 1126

www.cfa.org.uk www.cfa.org.uk www.cfa.org.uk www.cfa.org.uk www.cfa.org.uk Email: Email: Email: info@cfa.org.uk Email: Email: info@cfa.org.uk info@cfa.org.uk info@cfa.org.uk info@cfa.org.uk

Making Making MakingPublic Public PublicBuildings Buildings BuildingsSafer Safer Safer

Antimicrobial Antimicrobial Antimicrobial protection, protection, protection, exclusive exclusive exclusive to Contour to to Contour Contour Heating Heating Heating

Radiator Radiator Radiator Covers Covers Covers - -LST -LST LST Radiators Radiators Radiators - -Pipe -Pipe Pipe Casings Casings Casings 01952 01952 01952 290 290 290 498 498 498

sales@contourheating.co.uk sales@contourheating.co.uk sales@contourheating.co.uk contourheating.co.uk contourheating.co.uk contourheating.co.uk

15

Leisure

Boglestone Activity Centre has been transformed with the introduction of a Fitness for Less gym

“We have something for everyone and to suit all budgets. For example, our Fitness for Less gyms are attracting people who couldn’t afford our traditional gyms and allow us to engage with new audiences,” says Kieron Vango, CEO of Inverclyde Leisure.

“We are investing in our facilities even though we have declining income from our management fee. We need to offset this decline and working with Alliance Leisure has helped to increase sustainable participation and income.”

DIVERSIFYING TO MEET LOCAL NEEDS

A long-term development partnership between Inverclyde Leisure and Alliance Leisure has resulted in a 75% increase in income and a 51% rise in membership. in 2001, Inverclyde F ormed Leisure delivers leisure, cultural and community activities – including 10 leisure centres – on behalf of Inverclyde Council.

The trust operates in areas of high deprivation as well as affluent wards, and since 2014

has developed a diversification strategy to appeal to all sectors of the local market.

This includes implementing premier, budget, CrossFit and ladies-only fitness facilities under sub brands IL Fitness Plus+, IL Fitness for Less, IL

Boglestone Activity Centre completed in June of this year

16

CrossFit, IL Express Ladies Fitness, as well as children’s active play and cafe models to ensure the trust meets the demands and expectations of its customers. Today, the trust serves approximately 80,000 active members.

Alternative leisure provision Inverclyde Leisure appointed Alliance Leisure as its Development Partner in 2014 to identify opportunities within the trust’s portfolio to meet the needs of all residents.

“The first thing we did was to analyse if the business was performing to its full potential.

Where performance had potential for improvement, we set about implementing a strategy which would transform the facilities to positively impact the community,” says James Foley, Commercial Director at Alliance Leisure.

Ravenscraig Activity Centre was the first site identified for redevelopment. Opened in 1984, the dry-side centre had been well used in the past but changing user habits and expectations combined with good quality competing provision in the education sector meant that the facility was running at a deficit of £65,000.

“The normal thing to do with a facility that’s costing money and not producing outputs is to consider closure, but we looked for alternatives. We focused on understanding the business and identifying opportunities to improve performance. We also studied drivers for physical activity and identified local health needs, all of which helped us to generate the product,” says Foley.

The options appraisal showed there was a need for physical activity, health and fitness

Leisure

provision in the area. Alliance Leisure identified a new mix of facilities that would match that need and subsequently delivered these as part of a £1.2m project. Ravenscraig Activity Centre was transformed with the introduction of a low-cost gym; soft play facility; XHeight Climb; F&B provision, including party rooms; and a Proud to Serve Costa Coffee cafe. Upgrades were also made to front of house, services and changing facilities.

Since the investment, Inverclyde Leisure has seen membership increase by more than 3000%, membership usage rise by over 1000% and direct debit income grow resultantly.

Understanding community needs Keen to replicate the success of Ravenscraig Activity Centre elsewhere in its portfolio, Inverclyde Leisure partnered with Alliance Leisure to update Lady Octavia Sports Centre.

Opened in 1993 with a gym, sports hall and all-weather pitches, the centre is located in a deprived area with high levels of unemployment.

Studies highlighted a need to drive physical activity at the centre. Alliance Leisure didn’t want to replicate the offer at nearby Ravenscraig, so the team looked at how the two sites could complement each other.

“Lady Octavia is a great example of how to manifest change quickly, easily and in the most cost-effective way possible,” says Foley.

The 16-station gym was modernised and extended to 60 stations and relaunched as a Fitness for Less offering membership from £9.99 per month for unlimited access.

The changing areas were refreshed and the team created a more welcoming reception area.

The £500,000 investment has resulted in a 570% increase in fitness memberships.

“Inverclyde Leisure has a very good understanding of both its current and potential users, and the price points that stimulate engagement. The trust created a gym with a user-led pricing approach, which has driven this phenomenally successful project,” says Foley.

Lady Octavia Sports Centre is a great example of how to manifest change quickly, easily and in the most cost-effective way possible

More people, more active Boglestone Activity Centre, the latest site to be regenerated under the Inverclyde Leisure and Alliance Leisure partnership, completed in June of this year.

The centre has been transformed with the introduction of a Fitness for Less gym and a spacious children’s soft play area alongside an adrenaline play frame featuring a sports zone with a basketball and sports pitch area. A Proud to Serve Costa Coffee cafe was also included in the project totalling £1m.

Once again, the project has generated impressive returns.

A few months following its completion, the site reported over 450% increase in memberships.

Alliance Leisure is now working with Inverclyde Leisure on the next phase of their longterm partnership. Currently going through planning, this fourth project proposes a new-build indoor tennis centre at Rankin Park, featuring three courts, a gym, toddler play area and cafe pod housed next to an existing pavilion.

“Thanks to the investment we’ve made in our facilities,

we are getting more people active and attracting people who weren’t previously using our facilities. Without our partnership with Alliance Leisure, it would be very difficult for us to have achieved what we have. To deliver these projects on time and on budget is a real skill we benefit from in this partnership” says Vango.

Overall, Inverclyde Leisure’s net income from 2013-2019 has increased by a staggering 75%, while membership has grown by 51% over the same period. 

 www.allianceleisure.co.uk  www.inverclydeleisure.com

Ravenscraig Activity Centre was transformed with the introduction of a low-cost gym; soft play facility, XHeight Climb and F&B provision

17

Healthcare

A QUIETER LIFE FOR HEALTHCARE BUILDINGS Effective acoustic performance is important in any public sector building, but controlling noise in healthcare sites is absolutely crucial. Noise levels have a significant impact on patient recovery times, quality of care, and staff wellbeing, says Chris McElroy, Altro Specification Consultant. management I neffective of noise is typically responsible for poor sleep quality in patients, affecting the patient’s ability to rest, heal and recover, and has also been linked to ICU psychosis, hospitalisation-induced stress, increased pain sensitivity, high blood pressure and poor mental health – increasing pressure on the NHS. For this reason, guidelines on background noise levels have been issued by both national and international

18

health bodies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that, for a good night’s sleep, background noise levels should not exceed 30 dB, with no peaks over 45 dB. For the UK specifically, the Department of Health Technical Memorandum 08-01: Acoustics provides recommended maximum noise levels for specific zones across the hospital, to take into account the needs of different groups of patients and the activities carried out.

Hospitals face significant challenges; however, when trying to meet these recommended levels. Researchers at John Hopkins University identified that average daytime sound pressure levels in hospitals increased from 57 dB in 1960 to 70 dB in 2006, with a rise in average night-time levels from 42 dB to 60 dB. These levels have exceeded WHO guidelines for many years, and continue to worsen. The problem also impacts on hospital staff. A separate study, by researchers

at Heriot-Watt University, has associated excess noise with elevated levels of stress among staff, affecting performance and wellbeing, compromising caring behaviour, and contributing to burnout.

So what practical measures can those involved in the creation of public sector buildings take, to assist healthcare teams in their efforts to create peaceful environments for hospital patients, staff and visitors?

Acoustic performance is, of course, taken into consideration when designing new hospital buildings. In the UK, the overall requirements are outlined in the Health Building Note 0001: General Design guidance for healthcare buildings. This document should be consulted alongside the Department of Health Technical Memorandum 08-01: Acoustics, which explains the requirements in greater detail. It states, for example, that washable, acousticallyabsorbent materials may be required in some areas to support the hospital’s infection-control regime. It requires that impact sound is controlled at source, advising that internal planning of buildings should ensure that heavily-trafficked corridors are not placed near wards. A weighted standardised impact sound pressure level (L’ nT,w) of 65 dB is considered a reasonable maximum value for floors over noise-sensitive areas. It also recommends that individual areas may require additional sound reduction (for example, floors over multi-sensory rooms).

Healthcare In older hospital buildings, however, alteration to the fabric of the building to improve acoustic performance may not be feasible.

Acoustics is, of course, a specialist field, and an acoustician will be able to calculate the acoustics of the site, so that you can be confident that improvements will comply with Building Regulations.

Alongside specialist advice, it is useful for all parties to have an understanding of how sound behaves, to determine how day-to-day decisions, such as the types of floor and wall surfaces employed across the site, can assist this process.

Saint-Gobain Ecophon explain that sound behaves in different ways according to the types of floor and wall surfaces in the room: Transmission: Sound flows through and between materials Absorption: Sound energy is lost when sound waves come into contact with, for example, walls and floors, and is not reflected back into the space Reflection: Sound is reflected back into the space Diffusion: Rough surfaces reflect sound, scattering it in all directions.

when one object impacts another, resulting in the generation and transmission of sound into the floor below – even through solid structures and cavities. Footsteps are a good example of this. How loud this sound is depends on how hard the impact was, what made the impact and the type of structure that is being impacted.

A quietly comfortable room should ideally have surfaces which absorb sound and reduce reverberation time. Surfaces of this type will also help to mitigate the problem of escalating noise, described by the Lombard effect.

This is the involuntary tendency of speakers to increase their vocal effort when speaking in noisy spaces to enhance the audibility of their voice.

When reducing impact sound, installing flooring with noise reduction capabilities is an

effective solution. This helps to reduce transmission of sound, breaking the auditory ‘vicious circle’ of escalating noise due to Lombard effect. There are two key methods, both of which are suitable for areas where equipment needs to be moved on a routine basis. Firstly, acoustic flooring products are available with different sound absorption characteristics.

These are typically of a greater thickness than standard floorcoverings, delivering sound reductions of up to 19 dB, for example, and providing comfort underfoot for staff who spend much of the time on their feet. Some flooring ranges combine slip resistance with sound reduction features, and the wide choice of colours and effects make it possible to bring enhanced acoustic performance

throughout the healthcare site – even in high traffic areas.

The second option is to fit an underlay beneath a traditional vinyl floor to enhance its impact sound reduction performance.

This improves the overall impact sound performance from just 5 dB, for example, to around 17 dB. Combining underlay with safety flooring could be particularly helpful in areas with high slip risk, such as bathrooms or kitchens.

An acoustician will, of course, be able to consider the full range of noise reduction opportunities for the healthcare site. Careful consideration of flooring is an important part of the solution; however, creating a quieter environment for patients, visitors and staff. 

 www.altro.co.uk

Hard interior surfaces such as floors can reflect rather than absorb sound. This causes noise to bounce around, overlap, echo and reverberate. Reverberation causes noise to prolong and echo in the environment, meaning it takes longer before the sound stops.

There are two types of sound – airborne and impact.

Airborne sound travels through air – examples include speech and music. Impact sound occurs

19

Talking Point

An Architect and RIBA Client Adviser, Aaron Taylor drives Stantec’s UK business development activities and is the company’s education and cultural sector lead in the UK. Aaron’s specialism in education has led him to work at all levels within the sector, on both publically- and privately-funded schemes.

IS EDUCATION DESIGN READY FOR GENERATION Z? Aaron Taylor from architectural practice, Stantec, discusses how best practice from innovative workplace environments can be used to transform future education environments. every generation W ith comes new educational policy and curricula, designed to help educators prepare today’s students for their future careers. Technology has had an extraordinary influence on the way universities teach and the way that students learn. The journey from the first computing degrees to

the ubiquitous use of the interactive whiteboard and e-learning tools is relatively short, and yet technology is now completely embedded in education from foundation stage to post-graduate study.

With technology advancing at an exponential rate, it’s hard to predict what tools we will use to educate future

generations, which makes it equally challenging to reimagine education buildings.

However, with some experts predicting that as many as 65% of the jobs today’s children will be doing 20 years from now don’t even exist yet, something has to be done to create more flexible, agile education environments.

If the core challenge is aligning evolving educational needs with evolving workplace needs, it makes sense to take learn from commercial workplaces. Moreover, as employers continue to prioritise strategies for attracting and retaining the best talent, the commercial sector is seeing huge investment in research into workplace design. At Stantec, we have combined our international experience of designing education environments with the latest workplace thinking to generate a ‘learning and earning’ philosophy to explore ways that work environments and future workplace trends can be embedded in educational design.

Who are Generation Z, and what inspires them?

While it is Millennials that will dominate the workforce over the next 20 years, they will need to create workplaces and education environments that not only appeal to Generation Z but also respond to Generation Z cultures and behaviours.

20

Talking Point

Generation Z refers to anyone born after 1997; these are digital natives who have grown up in an era of superfast broadband, interactive gaming, sharable content and online social networks. They have seen such rapid change that they expect and accept it, just as they expect information to be instantly accessible and personalised experience to be readily available. Today’s undergraduates are drawn from Generation Z and if we consider how different their day-to-day experience is from that of their grandparents, it’s easy to see that the lecture halls and seminar rooms of the past are no longer in tune with their needs, even if the blackboard has flipped to white and uses a wireless internet connection rather than chalk.

Those belonging to Generation Z are collaborative and entrepreneurial learners who are ambitious for rapid success. Those characteristics are shaping design for progressive workplaces, and we now need to take our understanding of that culture and use research from the commercial world to develop a new era of education design.

If today’s universities are to equip students for tomorrow’s careers, they must reflect those influences and provide environments that nurture creativity and collaboration. In this way, we not only ensure education environments are more engaging, appealing and appropriate for students but also aid students’ future transition into the workplace, which is likely to be very different from the dedicated workstations and boardroom meeting environments their parents knew.

Creative and collaborative

Wellbeing and the human touch

There have been much publicised new models for progressive workplace environments, with game-changing companies such as Google, Apple and Tesla creating more creative and collaborative work environments. It’s no coincidence that these are technology-based businesses and their inventive new workplaces integrate the use of technology with flexible, multi-purpose spaces for collaboration, quiet time and social interaction.

We need to replicate the new workplace models, and the goal should not be to find ways of plugging technology into traditional environments but to understand the ways in which technology has enabled new approaches to learning, ideas and collaboration. We may be taking inspiration from technology businesses, but the companies in question are all organisations driven by creativity and collaboration.

In an increasingly technological age, wellbeing and social interaction must also be key design drivers, both in the workplace and in educational environments.

Opportunities for human contact must be built into learning spaces to nurture collaboration but should also be embedded in a social framework that includes cafes, collaborative study areas and social spaces.

All of this must be designed with a flexible approach to enabling individual choices to suit varied personality types, course requirements and social and cultural demographics.

Just as our needs might change depending on the tasks we have lined up for the day in the workplace, students should be able to choose different spaces for quiet, private study or collaborative learning and it’s vital to build ‘third spaces’ into the design where students can relax or ‘escape’.

The flexibility of these spaces must be considered beyond the layout and scale of the indoor environment to incorporate elements such as acoustics, connectivity, sensory engagement, natural light etc. allowing both the education provider and the student to adopt different locations within the building or the campus for different activities.

New concepts of the campus While Stantec is using research into workplace environments to help us advise education clients on design strategies, there

are already some universities engaging directly in the need to align learning and earning environments. For example, the University of Warwick has taken space for its business school in the Shard, while the UCL management school has invested in teaching spaces at Canary Wharf. As it stands, there is no model template to inform the future design of higher education environments, but it is clear that innovation is needed and it must take its cue from the workplace.

  www.stantec.com/uk

21

Education

Clad in light cream and ivory-coloured glazed terracotta, the two tower pavilions of 11 and 14 storeys mark the corners of the site

Project: Tiger Way Location: Hackney Downs Architect: Hawkins\Brown

has H awkins\Brown completed an education-

All images ©Jack Hobhouse

NEW MIXED-USE SCHOOL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR HACKNEY DOWNS A development on Tiger Way delivers a new two-form entry school and nursery for 420 pupils, cross-funded by the development of 89 homes for private sale.

On the first floor, the school’s ‘park room’ provides views across Hackney Downs

22

led mixed-use school and residential development in Hackney Downs on behalf of Hackney Council and Londonewcastle. The project used a cross-funding model to provide investment for the redevelopment of the school, with Londonewcastle’s OTTO housing development delivering funding needed by Hackney Council to build a new school.

Hackney Council has relocated and expanded Nightingale Primary School into a purpose-built modern school building on the lower two storeys of the development.

The 420-pupil primary school and nursery is split across two wings, with outdoor play areas distributed across the site in spacious courtyards and roof terraces. Each of the school’s 18 classrooms looks out onto a play area, which features high-quality equipment and extensive greenery.

The school benefits from high ceilings, and provides high levels of natural light with natural ventilation throughout. Spacious circulation and common areas exceed DfE guidelines.

Classrooms and specialist spaces – for design and technology, drama and cookery – combine high design quality with state-ofthe-art facilities.

A multi-functional hall and outdoor games pitch provide space for PE provision and are joined by a double-height climbing wall with automatic belay systems that has proven extremely popular with pupils.

The Learning Resource Centre and central circulation is located in a double-height ‘heart’ space linking the building’s east and west wings and providing additional breakout space.

On the first floor, the school’s ‘park room’ provides views across Hackney Downs with full-height glazing in a multifunction space designed to provide additional assembly and gathering space for groups of children with teachers and support staff.

Education Rebecca Watts, Project Associate for Nightingale School at Hawkins\Brown, said: “Nightingale School uses an innovative funding model to overcome the current culture of budgetary constraint in education and deliver very high-quality primary school accommodation, with a high proportion of common areas that contribute to the sense of community within the school.

“The school is united with the housing above through a shared materiality and architectural language but subtle variations in palette allow each part of the building to express its own identity.”

Hawkins\Brown intelligently delivered a variety of external play space, utilising the school’s roof terraces for outdoor play and learning, skillfully worked into the dense urban site: the east wing roof includes quieter story-telling areas, jungle gym and ping pong table; the west wing roof provides opportunities for horticulture with growing gardens and a bee garden; on the ground floor, the sports zone incorporates an area for PE and after school clubs.

The nursery and central KS1 playspace feature educational waterplay features with dams and water pumps.

Abigail Hopper, Head Teacher at Nightingale Primary School, said: “Our new school is a fantastic resource for the local community. The children and their families have responded very positively to the building and we have seen a real increase

Hawkins\Brown intelligently delivered a variety of external play space, utilising the school’s roof terraces for outdoor play

in the engagement that children are showing in lessons, particularly now that they have the opportunity to take part in practical subjects such as cookery, art and drama.

“The quality of the light in the space and the views across Hackney Downs Park makes it very calming and this shows in the way the children move around the building, engage with their peers and respond to their teachers. Children talk about how they are really proud of their school and they love to show it off to visitors.”

Careful planning articulates a clean break between the school and the residential accommodation. Located in two towers joined by a strip of accommodation to the south of the site, OTTO comprises 89 apartments with a selection of three-bed family duplexes (ground floor) and one- to three-bed homes (upper levels).

77% of the new homes are dual aspect, with all single-aspect units south facing to look out over the park. A selection of ‘1.5-bed’ homes offer the flexibility to convert between

a home study area and an additional bedroom to allow for changes in lifestyle.

Clad in light cream and ivorycoloured glazed terracotta, the two tower pavilions of 11 and 14 storeys mark the corners of the site. Each home includes a recessed corner balcony, terrace or raised front garden, offering panoramic views across Hackney Downs, wider Hackney ‘and beyond’ to Canary Wharf, the Shard and Alexandra Palace. 

 www.hawkinsbrown.com

Spacious circulation and common areas exceed DfE guidelines

23

Legal & Business

BREXIT AND PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDING: IMPLICATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES

It’s already been over two and a half years since the UK voted to leave the EU, and we are now facing a further extension that takes us into 2020.

Although the exact outcome is still unknown, the public sector must be prepared for both the risks that our exit poses and the opportunities it will present, writes Mark Robinson, Scape Group’s Chief Executive. no doubt T here’s that building in the UK has been impacted since the referendum vote.

Project pipelines have slowly diminished, the UK’s access to vital construction skills has been limited, and we have seen price impacts on material and product imports. Similarly, local authorities have been hit with a cruel cocktail of fiscal austerity and the loss of €10.6bn worth of Structural Funds which has been vital in funding investment in many parts of the UK. Last year, the Government announced that a Shared Prosperity Fund would be introduced to mitigate against the loss of EU structural funding; however, as with much of Brexit, there is still a continued lack of clarity on the detail, and as of last month, there was still no timetable in

24

place for its introduction. This makes it incredibly difficult for communities and local authorities to plan beyond the next couple of months.

Regardless of Brexit timescales, local authorities need certainty and clarity for the future so they can continue to invest in local communities.

It’s essential that we achieve a smooth transition in funding so as not to disrupt the day-to-day delivery of vital services.

But although exiting the EU has brought plenty of complexities and risks; it also presents an opportunity to improve procurement processes in the UK. In a post-Carillion era, good public sector procurement practices have never been more important, and once the UK leaves the EU, it will have the ability to create its own

procurement system which is simple, more flexible and less bureaucratic, which can act as an incredible force for change.

Prices and quality have long dominated our current process, but social value practices should also be embedded within decision-making, ensuring that projects leave a legacy within communities. As we leave the EU, it is time to take a best practice approach and create a new UK procurement model that delivers maximum value for local communities, as well as the economy.

Scape Group has been championing this more holistic approach to assessing bids for several years, and we have long called for a 20% minimum social value requirement on every public sector project. If this policy was put in place, almost £57m could be unlocked

Mark Robinson has enjoyed 28 rewarding years in the public sector, starting his career as an YTS Apprentice spending 16 years in local Government.

Mark champions smarter procurement and best practice in efficient construction.

He works closely with some of the biggest construction companies in the UK and leading industry bodies to help improve the built environment across the public estate.

for local communities on Government contracts alone.

This is a huge opportunity for the public sector.

By acting as a catalyst for change, public sector frameworks can create social value not only through the physical environments they help to create and maintain, but also the economic activity they generate, both locally and nationally.

Local authorities must engage with Government and stakeholders to outline the importance of community investment and the need for a policy which supports the industry through a smooth exit from the EU. But at the same time, we must not let the opportunity to improve our procurement systems pass us by. 

 www.scapegroup.co.uk

Cistermiser Cistermiser Cistermiser Keraflo Keraflo Keraflo

REDUCERISK. RISK.SAVE SAVEMONEY. MONEY.TAKE TAKECONTROL. CONTROL. REDUCE REDUCE RISK. SAVE MONEY. TAKE CONTROL.

OURWORLD WORLDISISWATER WATER OUR

OUR WORLD IS WATER

LinkThru LinkThru LinkThru

CISTERMISER’S SENSAZONE CISTERMISER’S SENSAZONE controls waterSENSAZONE and lights with just CISTERMISER’S controls water and lights with just onewater system inlights building washrooms. controls and with just one system in building washrooms. one system in building washrooms.

MONITORING TECHNOLOGY MONITORING TECHNOLOGY MONITORING TECHNOLOGY

CISTERMISER’S CISTERMISER’S new LinkThru TMU water temperature CISTERMISER’S new LinkThru TMU water temperature new LinkThru TMU helps water estate temperature monitoring platform and monitoring platform helps estate andand monitoring platform helps estate facility managers to comply with HSG274 facility managers to comply withwith HSG274 facility to comply HSG274 and themanagers need to maintain records. and the to maintain records. and need the need to maintain records.

CISTERMISER WASHROOM PRODUCTS CISTERMISER WASHROOM PRODUCTS CISTERMISER WASHROOM PRODUCTS 1. Infrared Taps – improve hygiene and 1. Infrared Taps – improve hygiene and 1. Infrared Taps – improve hygiene and reduce water consumption with our range reduce water consumption withrange our range reduce consumption ofwater hands-free taps. with our of hands-free of hands-free taps.taps.

2. Infrared Urinal Flush Control (IRC®®) – ® )– 2. Infrared Urinal Flush Control (IRC ) –cistern 2. Infrared Urinal Flush manages supply ofControl water to (IRC a urinal manages of water to aonly urinal cistern manages supply of water to when a urinal (PIR)supply to provide water it iscistern needed.

(PIR)(PIR) to provide waterwater only when it is needed. to provide only when it is needed.

3. Hydraulic Valve Urinal Flushing – 3. Hydraulic Valve Urinal Flushing – 3. Hydraulic Valve Urinal Flushing patented mechanism prevents water–waste patented mechanism prevents water water waste patented mechanism and enables hygieneprevents flush option forwaste period and and enables hygiene flush option for period enables hygiene flush option period of non-use.

Fit and forget, qualityfor and reliability. of non-use.

Fit and qualityquality and reliability. of non-use.

Fitforget, and forget, and reliability.

4. Direct – Infrared controlled 4. Direct FlushFlush – Infrared SensorSensor controlled 4. Direct valve Flush– –automatically Infrared Sensor controlled urinal urinal valve – automatically flushesflushes urinals urinals urinal valve – automatically flushes urinals afterensuring use, ensuring the highest after use, the highest level oflevel waterof water after ensuring the highest level of water withuse, minimum of water. with minimum volumevolume of water.

KERAFLO manufactures KERAFLO manufactures KERAFLO manufactures proven products designed to proven products designed to proven products designed to Tank be used within cold water water be used within cold Tank be used within cold water Tank Management systems, including Management systems, including Management systems, including top-quality action ’key ’key top-quality delayed delayed action top-quality delayed action ’key shaped’ float valves shaped’ mechanical mechanical float valves shaped’ mechanical float valves and system that and the the Tanktronic Tanktronic system that andelectronically the Tanktronic systemwater that monitors electronically monitors water electronically water levels temperatures. levels and andmonitors temperatures. levels and temperatures.

with minimum volume of water.

5. Easyflush – nosensor–activated touch sensor–activated 5. Easyflush DirectDirect – no touch 5. Easyflush Direct – no touch sensor–activated toilet flushing technology. toilet flushing technology.

toilet flushing technology.

1

To find out more about our products To find out more about our products orout to register your interest please contact: To find more about our products or to register your interest please contact:

or to register your interest please contact:

1

1

2

2

2

3

3

3

4

4 4

5

5 5

Cistermiser Ltd & Keraflo Ltd, Unit 1, Woodley Park Estate, 59-69 Reading Road, Woodley, Berkshire RG5 3AN. Cistermiser Ltd & Keraflo Ltd, Unit 1, Woodley Park Estate, 59-69 Reading Road, Woodley, Berkshire RG5 3AN. Tel: | |Email: info@ourworldiswater.co.uk | www.ourworldiswater.co.uk Cistermiser Ltd &969 Keraflo Ltd, Unit 1,Email: Woodley Park Estate, 59-69 Reading Road, Woodley, RG5 3AN. Tel:0118 0118 9691611 1611 info@ourworldiswater.co.uk | Berkshire www.ourworldiswater.co.uk

Tel: 0118 969 1611 | Email: info@ourworldiswater.co.uk | www.ourworldiswater.co.uk

33229 Cistermiser Reduce the Risk A4 Ad (Dec18) AW.indd 1 33229 Cistermiser Reduce the Risk A4 Ad (Dec18) AW.indd 1

33229 Cistermiser Reduce the Risk A4 Ad (Dec18) AW.indd 1

+44 (0)114 282 3474 info@timberplay.com www.timberplay.com

14/12/2018 12:06 14/12/2018 12:06

14/12/2018 12:06

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RICHTER SPIELGERÄTE TO CREATE OUTSTANDING SPACES FOR PLAY

25

Technical Focus

IMPROVING WELLBEING WITH GOOD ACOUSTICS When sound is overlooked, it can be to the detriment of an employee’s wellbeing and their ability to concentrate, work collaboratively and productively or communicate. It can be the key to the success of a new facility and is why it has become so important to understand a product’s acoustic performance and the manufacturer’s data being offered. Joe Cilia, Technical Director at the Finishes & Interiors Sector, looks at how good acoustics can improve occupier wellbeing and to ensure good acoustics are achieved, and how specifiers, designers and contractors can rely on the Acoustic Verification Scheme to provide undeniable data to ensure performance is achieved. of the biggest O neworkplace grievances and a leading source of dissatisfaction within the environmental conditions of an office is that of noise. Noise impacts people’s behaviour making it difficult to focus, and it can lead to additional stress.

It’s an issue that has become particularly important due to the proliferation of open and agile working environments.

When you create an environment that manages noise, you are instantly helping to create an environment that promotes wellbeing and in doing so, creates a happier and more productive workplace.

When looking at the design of office interiors, architects and designers need to consider the acoustic needs of the interior space early in the

26

design process. Sound can be controlled either through absorption, which deals with reverberation within the space and makes it a better place to work in; and through insulation, which deals with the control of sound from one space to another.

Office buildings commonly feature hard reflective surfaces such as glass, concrete and plaster which will require specifiers to counter that with sound-absorbing products such as ceilings, rafts and wall panels to reduce reverberation and dampen unpleasant noises in the environment. The sound absorption properties of these materials can be impacted on site by the way in which they are installed. For example, if products are tested with a void behind them, but installed

directly against the slab or a wall, it will have a detrimental impact on the absorption performance on site.

A common source of noise disturbance is the transmission of sound through walls or floors. Poor sound insulation (also referred to as attenuation) between adjacent rooms will result in disturbance and a loss of privacy. Partitions and cavity barriers are generally used for sound insulation and provide privacy or a division from a noisy and potentially disturbing activity.

The inherent challenge for designers, architects and contractors is being able to understand the acoustic claims, what conditions the products should be installed and ensure that the results aren’t misleading.

The Acoustic Verification Scheme With the acoustic performance of products so important and in a bid to curb growing incidents of ‘passing off’, a new Acoustic Verification Scheme has been created by the Finishes and Interior Sector (FIS) in response to confusion and concerns related to the comparability of acoustic airborne sound insulation claims.

For FIS, the journey to the acoustic verification process began with operable walls. It found users were complaining these walls were not performing in the way that was expected. This was partly due to the installation process and partly due to it being the only partition that was dismantled and re-erected on a regular basis by non-trained staff. If the acoustic seals are not exactly right, acoustical integrity can be compromised by leakage and flanking sound coming through. FIS also found evidence of falsification, and in some cases, tests revealed that manufacturers were treating an operable wall like a normal fixed partition, and physically sealing every joint. It actually needed to be tested like a door and operated five times before the test commenced to demonstrate it was completely operable. This made a huge difference, enough to put some manufacturers in front of their competitors.

As part of the FIS acoustic verification scheme, which provides a method in which independent acoustic consultant Cundall verifies acoustic test data,

TYPICAL SOUND PENETRATION PATHS: Top: The partition is installed to the underside of the suspended ceiling, without a cavity barrier.

Lower left: The partition is installed to the underside of the suspending ceiling, with a cavity barrier in the ceiling and floor void.

Technical Focus

FIS was then able to verify all of the test evidence that was being put forward and highlighted companies who had not tested operable walls as they should have done. In other words, it highlighted those who were testing an operable wall as a fixed partition. During that process, some companies withdrew from the scheme.

For contractors such as Wilmott Dixon, the verification scheme meant they could specify manufacturers in confidence that it was a level playing field. They had been tested in the same way and had comparable figures. As a result, the contractor is only using operable walls that have met the requirements of the scheme.

Kevin Dundas, Supply Chain Manager (Products) at Wilmott Dixon, said: “There is a growing understanding of the intrinsic link between good acoustic management and wellbeing for occupants, and this scheme helps to deliver what our customers expect from us and our industry.”

Lower right: The partition is installed between the raised floor to the underside of the slab, with attenuators installed within the ducts.

Raised access floor and associated void Concrete floor structure Pipework and ducting Suspended ceiling and associated void

Level playing field Verifying data was driven by FIS members who were not confident that everyone in the market was working to a level playing field. Whilst fixed partitions are different to operable walls as you can seal all the joints, FIS agreed a set of parameters that would constitute a test that could be used for comparison reasons. This would then provide specifiers and architects with assurance that if they choose a product from this list that all products will be tested in the same way and all data has been verified. It’s essentially a verification process; FIS is simply taking the data companies are providing in test reports and verifying it meets the criteria required to meet the scheme.

The scheme has been created to ensure that those seeking to exemplify best practice are recognised and rewarded for this and prevent inaccurate or misleading information from undermining the market and responsible manufacturers. The verification framework provides consistency and enables the comparison of products and systems on a ‘like-for-like’ basis. 

 www.thefis.org

Room-to-room sound transmission – each flanking path will result in a discrete source of noise, and the resulting level in the receiving room will be a combination of these discrete sources.

27

Floors, Walls & Ceilings

The healthy homes

Anne Thorne Architects chose to render the homes externally with Lime Green’s coloured renders

Project: Cannock Mill Location: Essex Architect: Anne Thorne Architects

RENDERING A COMMUNITY Cannock Mill is a co-housing scheme in Essex comprising 23 homes; six flats and 17 houses. Every home within the project is built to Passive House standards.

“C

annock Mill is all about building a sustainable community,” says Anne Thorne, Founder and Architect at Anne Thorne Architects (ATA). “We wanted to create natural, energy-efficient and, most importantly, healthy homes.

A sustainable build “Sustainability is core to our ethos at ATA,” says Anne. “We put a lot of work into sourcing breathable materials for the building's fabric to ensure the homes built were healthy for both their occupants and the environment.

“As the housing is designed to be affordable, it was also important the homes were budget-friendly for occupants to run, so materials with a high energy efficiency were a must. Ultimately, we wanted to create a community of homes which looked beautiful and performed well.”

Choosing the right materials Initial work began on site at Cannock Mill in spring 2017 and was scheduled for completion in October 2019.

28

Anne went on to explain: “To achieve a healthy build, we chose timber frame for the walls of the homes with Lime Green’s external Warmshell insulation system over the timber frame studs. This system consists of woodfibre board insulation rendered with Prepbond WP and Finish WP. “We chose the Warmshell system as it not only promotes breathability but also delivers excellent heat control. This has resulted in extremely low, Passive House-compliant, U-values for each of the buildings, making the homes very economic to run.

“The average fuel bill for the properties is estimated to cost the equivalent of a cup of coffee per fortnight.

“We also chose to render the homes externally with Lime Green’s coloured renders as we’d used these products previously on a school in Romford and the final result looked great.

“We involved the future occupants in the design from a very early stage through various workshop sessions. The colours of the renders, Ironstone, Ochre, Corfton and Terracotta, were decided by them.

“The natural colouring of the lime renders makes them really easy to maintain over time while retaining the breathable structure of the buildings.”

“We agreed very early on in the project that the homes should be built to Passive House standards,” says Phil McGeevor, a future resident at Cannock Mill. “We’d visited Passive Houses before and loved the sense of fresh air without the presence of a draught, there was a nice even temperature throughout. This was something we wanted to achieve in the new homes at Cannock Mill.

“It was very important to us that all of the materials used were sustainable and low in toxicity, creating a natural and healthy environment for people to live and visit.

“Price is always a factor in decisions like this and although it did cost a little bit more to build to Passive House standards vs current Building Regulations initially, the resulting low fuel bills and healthy environment will, in the longer-term, more than make up for this additional cost.”

Leaving the last word with Anne, she says: “I’d definitely recommend Lime Green’s products to any architect looking to deliver a healthy, beautiful and long-standing project.” 

 www.lime-green.co.uk

The colours of the renders, Ironstone, Ochre, Corfton and Terracotta, were decided by the future occupants

Seven new sealed and polished concrete designs.

0.55mm

4.5mm

R10

Wear layer

Thickness

Slip resistance

Inspired by concrete, our seven new Karndean LooseLay designs feature a mix of polished, sealed and rustic stone.

From cool arctic-greys to the warm earthy tones of natural slate, these large tiles measure 500mm x 610mm (19.7� x 24�), have a 0.55mm wear layer and are quick and easy to fit.

T: 01386 820104 | karndean.com/LooseLayTile2019 Featured floor:

Alaska LLT215 and Vermont LLT217

Building Maintenance

INTEGRATED ASSET MANAGEMENT IS KEY TO HIGH-QUALITY SERVICE Every housing association and local authority has its own model of delivering responsive and planned maintenance, strategies that are designed to provide quality and assurance to their customers, writes David Morgan, Managing Director at Wates Property Services. housing repairs and O urmaintenance business, Wates Living Space, currently services 500,000 homes across the UK – be it responsive repairs, capital works or an integration of the two – and

every one of our client's R&M models has been uniquely refined over time to meet their own individual objectives.

For this reason, there can never be a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to housing repairs and

maintenance. What may work for one, simply may not work for another. For instance, if you have an HA that operates across a large geographical area, their fleet management processes may be completely different

to an HA operating within a smaller, more concentrated area. However, through our experience, we have found one thing to be universally true – investment in capital works reduces the long-term need for responsive repairs and delivering the two side-by-side is the key to real efficiency.

Integrated asset management facilitates smart use of data A common challenge in our industry is that the majority of maintenance issues are due to an asset passing its useful life.

When this happens, having a strategy to replace the asset would be much more costeffective than repairing it, and furthermore, it would reduce the need for additional responsive maintenance investment further down the line. Of course, this isn’t always possible. Allocation of budget and spending priorities may mean that repair is the only viable option.

30

Building Maintenance

That said, there is a way that HAs and LAs can harness repairs data to forecast necessary capital spend, thereby giving themselves a long-term view of necessary investments and reducing some, but not all, responsive works. By integrating asset management, our clients can use data to inform planned works and proactively spend to save. Taking preventative steps is far better than finding a cure, and while this seems a simplistic view, capital works and responsive repairs are very often procured as separate contracts. Landlords, therefore, run the risk of missing the opportunity for this kind of data sharing and analysis.

Integrated asset management in practice in Birmingham In 2016, Wates Living Space commenced its largest social housing maintenance contract to date with Birmingham City Council to deliver planned and responsive maintenance for 31,000 homes across the city. This has been a major undertaking for the team, and its success recently resulted in a contract extension for a further two years. One of the greatest successes in Birmingham has been the integration of our responsive and planned works.

By sharing intelligence on repair demands and the needs of residents, the team has facilitated a long-term view to link the responsive service with capital works, supporting the council in achieving its target of saving £13m over the duration of the contract. The right hand has very much been talking to the left, and social landlords can learn a lot from this approach.

creates a conversation where lessons can be learnt and value created. If responsive and planned services are procured and run side-by-side, then the two can be much more collaborative, and this presents an invaluable opportunity for best practice.

The ultimate objective is to improve quality of life for customers There is a core principle that governs everything we do at Wates Living Space – to do our utmost in supporting

our clients in fulfilling their obligation to their customers.

On paper, this may mean installing a new kitchen, carrying out a gas inspection or repairing a leak, but in practice, it is about much more than this; it is about improving quality of life. If a resident has a string of ongoing repairs, though necessary, this has the potential to impact their life in a multitude of ways. Integrated asset management, therefore, becomes as much a matter of service quality as an exercise in saving money.

Now, more than ever is a pressing time to invest in planned maintenance with fire safety having become even more of a priority than ever before. By applying integrated asset management, landlords can be even more strategic when mapping their planned maintenance. This, I believe, will improve the quality of assets, facilitate budget efficiencies and most importantly, create better environments in which our clients’ customers can live. 

 www.wates.co.uk

Learning lessons creates value Of course, Birmingham City Council isn’t the only local authority taking this course of action. We have done some great work with both Brent and Camden Council, each one using data intelligence from their responsive contracts to inform where they spend their capital budget. In all cases, the golden thread that runs throughout the process is collaboration with service providers. Collaboration

31

HVAC & IAQ

DOES THE FUTURE HOMES STANDARD CONSULTATION GO FAR ENOUGH? The Future Homes Standard Consultation, released by the MHCLG in October, offered an indication of where we are moving as a nation in terms of house-building, writes David Bowen, Founder & CTO at Logicor.

32

far, I think the UK S oGovernment has done a commendable job in laying the strategic foundations for the decarbonisation of heat, particularly the greening of the grid1. However, setting a heating strategy which capitalises on this will be trickier, and I believe this has become apparent within the scope of the consultation document.

In my and the Logicor team’s opinion, too much emphasis has been placed on technologies which do not use the strategic advantage the green grid gives us. This includes heat networks, which are likely to be fossil fuelbased (even if more efficient than individual boilers) and hydrogen (still a fossil fuel and cumbersome to deliver).

Equally, too much emphasis has been placed on groundsource and air-source heat pumps. These will never be a mass-market solution.

Ground-source heat pumps require large boreholes so are not an option for those limited on space. Furthermore, both ground-source and air-source heat pumps also need large radiators or underfloor heating together with a well-insulated home to be effective. As such, heat pumps won’t satisfy most homeowners, and they aren’t suitable for flats either given that they lack suitable outside space for the condenser units.

HVAC & IAQ

At present, there appears to be a lack of emphasis on driving an innovative approach to direct electric solutions. It’s as if the Government’s imagination and resolve have suddenly vanished when it comes to bending the green grid to the major purpose of decarbonising heat, as highlighted in major research conducted by Policy Connect2.

One reason for this reluctance is that our policymakers are hasty to assume direct electric heating is ‘too expensive’ and that it may have a significant, disruptive effect on the national grid. Government needs to be as brave and driven as it was with the grid, looking for ways to surmount or circumvent these two potential, resolvable issues.

Rather than assume legacy electric heating technology is our only option, Government, businesses and industry should seek out new electric technologies, as they are doing with electric cars. For example, for the first time, infrared heating technology has been raised on a national platform.

This technology is just one of many with the capability to deliver central heating which is cheap and avoids the morning and evening strain on the grid.

As we know from experience, uptake of new technology tends to be slow, but Government has the influence, opportunity and responsibility to play a larger role in accelerating its adoption. If this were to happen, the UK could find itself in a unique position amongst developed nations, with an end-to-end solution for decarbonised heating.

Turning away from the policymakers and looking to the construction industry itself, electric heating system manufacturers have struggled to establish a voice until recently.

For the last couple of decades, the national focus has been firmly placed on gas solutions.

Due to cost implications and poor EPC ratings, many in the built environment community have historically been apprehensive about specifying electrical HVAC products.

I think it’s time to start being a little more adventurous. As the framework changes, there is definitely an opportunity for electric solutions.

The good news is that, as the grid goes green and electricity starts to become a more sustainable option, people are taking notice. For our part, we have had some interesting discussions with various contractors wanting to explore the potential of alternative solutions such as infrared.

Infrared is a unique and totally natural type of heat – it works like gentle sunlight but without the ultraviolet. So, when a wall is confronted by an infrared emitter, the room gets warm when it has absorbed as much energy as it can. When you turn the heater off,

the wall emits all the heat; like a sponge being squeezed of water, it just falls out. That effect can last up to nine hours. This unique property of infrared allows us to create a system which is highly energy-efficient, which means it reduces your carbon footprint and reduces utility bills.

It also means an infrared system is uniquely able to work with solar and battery. In other words, there is a real prospect that your solar panels and battery can run not just your lighting and appliances, but also largely heat your home. This is a game-changer.

The rise in these new systems, of which infrared is just one, represents an exciting opportunity for the public sector, which is constantly battling issues like high energy costs and fuel poverty. As electricity becomes more affordable, it is our challenge to convince the industry that conduction is better than convection. 

 www.clear-heater.co.uk https://www.ft.com/content/e685dec6ec16-11e9-a240-3b065ef5fc55 2 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ business-50041077 1

33

Doors & Windows

This school in London shows the coming together of defined perimeters and entrances to accommodate roadways and footpaths

OPTIMUM SECURITY FOR EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS Secured by Design (SBD), the national police crime prevention initiative, works with architects, developers and local authority planners to build in crime prevention measures and techniques into a wide range of building types. The purpose is to deter and reduce crime, keep people safe and build safer communities. Research shows that crime reductions of up to 87% can be achieved, writes by Michael Brooke, Head of Operational Services at SBD. advice O urandpolice guidance in the education sector is contained in our SBD Schools Guide, one of our range of authoritative design guides produced to support the building and construction industry.

Our Schools Guide encompasses schools ranging from a single building at a single site through to multiple buildings at multiple sites, used for full- or part-time education of pupils aged between two and 19, and other community uses, such as being open in the evenings and weekends for local community activities including adult education, sport and social events.

The advice in this guide is also a useful source of reference to college and university authorities too. A new version

34

of this guide, which is to be called SBD Education Premises, is scheduled to be launched by March 2020.

Whether the educational establishment is a newbuild project or a major refurbishment, each one is going to be different – including the actual layout of the site and its local surroundings. This is why it is so important to seek advice from an SBD trained Designing Out Crime Officer, who is attached to your local police force. Their advice is best sought at the concept or pre-planning stage of a new development or refurbishment.

They will undertake a risk assessment on crime in the area and recommend a realistic level of security, commensurate with that risk.

To gain an SBD Award, educational premises must meet our requirements for both the external environment and address such considerations as boundaries, landscaping, lighting and access control together with achieving Police Preferred Specification for security items like doors and windows to ensure they are sufficiently robust to withstand physical attack from opportunistic criminals.

In our Schools Guide, there is an entire segment devoted to our physical standards including fencing and gates, external and internal doorsets, glazed curtain walling and window walls, roller shutters and grilles as well as external lighting, CCTV, intruder alarms and much more. Meeting our requirements will demonstrate

that security has been taken seriously and help discharge any third-party obligation that may have been imposed.

We believe a sensible and practical level of security is essential to a successful teaching and learning environment and will help to reduce the risks of crime against people and property, such as burglary, theft and antisocial behaviour.

A clearly defined perimeter and perimeter entrance Welded mesh fencing, railings or a wall will provide a secure boundary to limit trespassing and to channel visitors to authorised entrances, without creating a fortress impression.

As well as combatting uninvited access, it will serve to prevent

Doors & Windows The £12.4m Whatriggs Primary School Campus, which brought together two schools onto a new site in Kilmarnock. Police join representatives of the school, local council and developer to show off their SBD Award.

Insp Scott Carlin and PC Dale Logsdon with pupils displaying their SBD award at the new £9.3m Bellsmyre Education Campus, near Dumbarton

very young children from wandering off site and even reduce unauthorised absences.

On a large site with an extensive boundary that would be expensive to protect, an inner security fence surrounding the main assets of the building can be used to provide additional protection. It may also be a more cost-effective option.

Site access gates should match the adjoining perimeter fencing system so as not to comprise the overall security of the boundary. A single entrance at the perimeter of the site serving both vehicles and pedestrians is preferred with clear demarcation between the roadway and footway. Alternatively, separate entrances located in close proximity to one another to aide mutual supervision should

be provided. Vehicles and pedestrians should continue to be kept apart within the school grounds using gates and fences or high kerbs and dwarf walls.

Bicycles, lighting and CCTV Secured, roofed buildings for cycles should have fixed ground anchors, be lit during school hours and be within view of school offices and classrooms.

Strategic use of lighting a school after dark will improve the chances of detection and discourage intruders. Lighting should be coordinated with CCTV installation.

External furniture Benches, planters, sports and play equipment should not only be vandal- and graffiti-resistant, but also should be fixed to

The new Town House is set to be the main entrance to Kingston University in South West London. At the time the photo was taken, police had been involved in its design over the previous four years, eight months – before planning permission was granted.

the ground to prevent it being moved around for climbing or for using as a means to gain forced entry.

School building entrances There should be one main entrance which may incorporate two sets of doors – one set for volume access for students, and possibly staff, and another set for parents and visitors.

An ‘airlock’ door system can be used whereby two sets of automatic doors are controlled from reception. In multi-building schools, further entrance doors will be required, and electric door solutions may be suitable including automatic deactivation of the lock during breaks between classes as well as the use of card swipes and proximity read fobs.

School buildings Toilets, which could be used for anti-social behaviour, should be positioned opposite offices or staff rooms. Wide corridors can act as streets to take a high volume of pupils at any one time and act to maximise sightlines for staff. The same goes for wide staircases which could have passive surveillance viewpoints to view pupils using them.

Shared community facilities Dual-use should be considered at the outset, such as to provide for a reception which allows access to certain corridors and rooms whilst other parts of the school remain secure. 

 www.securedbydesign.com

35

KBB

KBB BIRMINGHAM PREPARES FOR 2020 SHOW kbb Birmingham, Europe’s largest dedicated kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms exhibition returns for 2020. Taking place at the NEC from 1st to 4th March, the show will feature over 400 exhibitors along with showcasing the latest products and innovations. talking point at A key this year’s show will be personalisation. This is a huge trend in the industry right now, with many manufacturers wanting to offer their clients unique products and services that inspire new interior design choices and fits their brief.

Based on this emerging trend, the theme for kbb 2020

is ‘Individuality’ – to provide retailers, architects, designers and developers with the correct knowledge and tools to give their clients exactly what they want.

When a homeowner considers personalisation, there are four main factors that can influence their design choices: function, look, experience and belief.

When designing any room, whether it’s in a residential or commercial setting, function is always one of the top considerations. In residential spaces, this is often seen in rooms such as the kitchen or bathroom where homeowners are looking to make maximum use of the space available; products need to be practical and serve a purpose.

The look and feel of a room can have a huge impact on the way a room is perceived. An aesthetically pleasing space that fits in with the client’s personality and character can really make a room feel like home. Similarly, in a commercial setting, there can be a real benefit to designing a space that fits in with the brand or business that it represents.

A well-designed space has the power to create an atmosphere or a specific experience to fit the room’s purpose. For example, if the homeowner is looking to create a social space for entertaining, seating needs to be taken into consideration as well as logistical factors such as layout to maximise the floor space. Does the room need to be a family space and fit the needs of a busy home with hard-wearing materials?

Design can really alter the feel of an environment, and it’s important to understand what the client is looking for.

Another design consideration that is increasing in popularity is belief. This could range from a client demand for sustainable manufacturing or vegan design, to ways of organising the room such as Feng Shui. Designers, architects and clients will all have their own personal beliefs, and it’s important to weave these into the design of a space – the room needs to represent the brief you are designing for.

Making a space feel personal and creating a space that displays the client or homeowner’s individuality is an emerging trend that shows no sign of slowing down. kbb Birmingham will provide a wide range of inspirational exhibitors to bring these elements to life including; Hettich, Abacus Direct, Abode, Fisher & Paykel Appliances, Frontline Bathrooms, Hafele UK, J & J Ormerod, Franke, Laufen, Formica, CRL Stone, RAK Ceramics UK, BLANCO, Villeroy & Boch (UK), Virtual Worlds by Logicom, Roca, AEG, Ultra Finishing, Nolte Küchen GmbH & Co. KG, Nobilia-Werke, Alno and Smeg.

 www.kbb.com

36

KBB

HOUSING WITH CARE: THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX TO DESIGN IN COST AND HEALTH BENEFITS

Provision of equipment such as toilet lifters and/or wash and dry toilets, reduces reliance on care intervention

The use of assistive technology in housing is receiving additional relevance with the publication of new research and strategies. to Housing A ccording LIN, housing developers and providers can deliver enhanced benefits for residents by constructing more housing with care-type properties*.

Toilet assistive technology manufacturer Closomat, is urging that helpful fixtures are utilised to simultaneously deliver that independent living with care and reduce demand on healthcare services.

Robin Tuffley, Closomat Marketing Manager, explains: “Provision of equipment such as toilet lifters and/or wash and dry (smart) toilets, reduces reliance on care intervention, enabling people to undertake intimate tasks with little or no help. It improves hygiene and, thus, health. It reduces risk of falls. All are factors that would otherwise require healthcare intervention.

“Such equipment also mirrors the definition of housing with care: The combination of ‘independent living, a home with security of tenure, along with care services arranged according to need…housing with modern developments to cater to the needs and individual wishes of people’. The Housing LIN study quantifies that for each person living in housing with care, the financial benefit to the NHS was approximately £2000 per person per annum, in reduced GP visits, hospital admissions, etc. That saving is further amplified when the cost of care intervention versus the cost of assistive technology is factored in**. It all combines to ease the strain on our already stretched health and social care services, whilst improving a person’s independence, health and wellbeing.”

Closomat wash and dry toilets feature integrated douching and drying triggered by user preference. When the user remains seated and triggers the flush mechanism, the Closomat flushes and simultaneously washes the user’s bottom, followed by warm air-drying. The toilet eliminates the need to wipe clean, and all its associated considerations of dexterity, balance, hand: body contact, potential urinal or faecal cross-contamination of hands, body or clothing or skin irritation caused by abrasive toilet tissue or residual dampness from wet wipes.

Closomat’s Aerolet toilet lifter is the WC equivalent of a riser recliner chair. At the push of a button, it replicates the natural motion of sitting down and standing up, supporting and balancing the user whilst gently, automatically lowering and raising them over the WC.

Closomat wash and dry toilets feature integrated douching and drying triggered by user preference

Closomat is already one of the main providers for accessible toilet provision in housing environments. The expertise within the company represents the combined wealth of knowledge amassed from almost 60 years of helping providers to meet the needs of disabled people by optimising their dignity and independence in the bathroom, at home and away.

References: Housing LIN Identifying the health care system

*

benefits of housing with care https://www.closomat.co.uk/resources/cost-

**

of-care.html

 www.closomat.co.uk  info@clos-o-mat.com  0161 969 1199

37

Floors, Walls & Ceilings

Knauf AMF ceilings complete newly built Cork Primary School St Columba’s Boys National School is set to provide a modern and progressive learning environment for its students. The school has been fitted with Knauf AMF HERADESIGN ceilings throughout.

Design and acoustic performance were key criteria for this project, which is why HERADESIGN was the first choice and installed in all the classrooms as floating rafts and throughout the school.

Commenting on the project, Reddy Architecture Architect, Edward Raftery said: “We really love the architectural raw wood wool quality of HERADESIGN. The visible texture was very desirable in this project as we were working with natural materials and it provided the required aesthetic contrast.

HERADESIGN has its own character and we are delighted with how it looks.”

Specified in warm-white, HERADESIGN provided a gentle contrast with the soft charcoal walls and light caramel floors, creating the perfect backdrop for bold bursts of colour at the entrance to each space.

Brilliantly innovative and versatile, robust HERADESIGN has the highest sound absorption, Class A, improving speech intelligibility and creating a more relaxed atmosphere. Valued by architects, specifiers and interior designers for its high-performance characteristics, wood wool aesthetics and environmental credentials, it is available in almost any colour, shape, size and edge detail, and can be fixed to walls or as suspended ceilings, baffles or rafts.  www.knaufamf.com  0191 518 8600

Apprentices get colour confident with Crown at SGS Bell Decorating Academy Designer Contracts named a preferred consortium supplier Designer Contracts – one of the UK’s largest flooring contractors – has been named as a preferred supplier to the Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC).

Established almost 20 years ago and with over 6500 members, the CPC is owned and run by the further education sector. It provides members – including colleges and institutions, universities, sixth forms, academies and schools – with specialist advice, spending practices and how to obtain value for money.

Designer Contracts was awarded a place on the framework as a preferred supplier for the supply and installation of floorcoverings. It covers contract flooring, domestic grade and hygiene treated carpets, entrance matting, wood flooring, domestic and safety vinyl, linoleum, vinyl and carpet tiles.

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

38

Crown Paints and Bell Decorating Group have given trainee painters and decorators at South Gloucester and Stroud College an insight into how colour and technique work together at the college’s recently opened Bell Decorating Academy, as part of a 10-workshop programme with Bell Decorating Group. 17 students at SGS College attended the morning workshop and in the afternoon, the young decorators had the chance to showcase their skills in a competition devised by Crown’s technical demonstrator Kevin O’Donnell – a judge in the prestigious Apprentice Decorator of the Year competition. A close contest saw Unique Bennett chosen as the winner, with Abdinasir Dualeh and Joshua Walker taking second and third place.

 www.crownpaintspec.co.uk

 info@crownpaintspec.co.uk

 0330 024 0310

New StoBrick launch extends options for architects and building designers

The launch of a new cladding product for externally insulated building facades, has expanded the wide range of design options available from Sto UK – one of the leading external wall insulation system designers. Developed in response to a demand for a brick cladding solution for use with mineralfibre-based insulation systems, StoBrick gives architects a far greater opportunity to incorporate genuine clay brick finishes into their facade designs, achieving the required A2-s1, d0 fire rating. There are three types of StoBrick available: hand-moulded, water-struck and extruded. A comprehensive range of more than 50 formats, 10 surface textures and 200 colour variants are now available.

 www.sto.co.uk

 info.uk@sto.com

 0141 892 8000

Childcare institutions with sound design

The design of spaces for children is intriguing because of the permanent influence it can have on them.

A new online theme by Danish acoustic panel manufacturer Troldtekt, explores through articles and expert interviews how good acoustics plays its part when designing these areas. Of course, other

factors such as colours, shapes, robustness and finishes also have an impact – but so does sound.

Children are noisy and active and the rooms they inhabit are typically large.

Magply boards offer fire protection for Peckham apartments A ‘shell and core’-style apartment development in one of South London’s up-and-coming districts is making use of Magply boards’ fire resistance, as the lining to a bespoke timber frame package.

The five flats are being developed on land adjacent to Peckham Rye railway station

by Unboxed Homes, while main contractor Mara Build, has overseen all the service provisions and creation of the sub-

structure. Cambridgeshire-based White Haus is the timber frame specialist that has manufactured and erected the highly energy-efficient structural envelope.

Floors, Walls & Ceilings

School, activity and childcare spaces all affect self-esteem, performance and friendships and help shape the individual into the adults they’ll become.

Studies, such as Bronzaft and McCarthy 1975, have shown the effect noise has on wellbeing and learning. This is the reason why the products of specialist manufacturers like Troldtekt are specified to solve the problems of noise and reverberated sounds. If acoustic absorption is ineffective, discomfort and irritation will result from the reverberations. If it’s designed well, the participant’s interest will increase, as many case studies for new and transformed buildings prove.

Specified throughout the UK and Europe, the benefits of 100% Troldtekt natural wood wool panels include high sound absorption, high durability, natural breathability, low-cost life cycle performance and sustainability. This high performance is recognised by its Cradle to Cradle certification at Silver level. Available in various sizes and in four grades, from extreme fine to coarse, the panels can be left untreated or painted in virtually any RAL colour.

 www.troldtekt.co.uk  info@troldtekt.co.uk  01978 664255

Crucially, given the proximity of the building to neighbouring properties, 9mm Magply has been used to line the timber panels, before being sprayed with a polymer-based membrane to achieve excellent airtightness. The purple finished Magply MgO boards are, therefore, the surface purchasers are presented with to fit-out to their own specification and taste.

Magply boards carry a range of international certifications while its fire performance has been verified through industry standard tests at the worldfamous Warrington fire research centre.

Following a number of high-profile blazes on building sites, such as at Hendon in North London, responsible timber frame manufacturers have been working to reduce their systems’ vulnerability to fire, and Magply provides far better performance than OSB also offering instant protection.

Additionally, Magply’s unique production process keeps the chloride content to just 0.01%, enhancing both stability and long-term durability.

 www.magply.co.uk  john@magply.co.uk  01621 776252

39

HVAC & Electricals

Voice alarm system BIM objects announced

by UK manufacturer Baldwin Boxall has announced the availability of BIM objects for its VIGIL3 and VIGIL2 voice alarm systems.

These new files add to the company’s readily available library of BIM Objects. BIM (Building Information Modelling) increases efficiency, reduces costs and saves time for building and infrastructure projects. There are many benefits to this type of approach for the construction industry and because of this, companies worldwide are increasingly adopting it. The company’s BIM Object files are now downloadable both from its own website and also via the NBS National BIM Library, without charge. Baldwin Boxall is a renowned, well-respected UK designer and manufacturer of voice alarm and emergency voice communication systems. It has a wide-ranging project portfolio and customer survey responses to be proud of. The company strives to always understand the needs of the industry and its customers as well as end-users.

 www.baldwinboxall.co.uk  mail@baldwinboxall.co.uk  01892 664422

Waterloo announces new sales director One of the leading UK air distribution manufacturers, Waterloo Air Products, has announced the promotion of Andy Wardle to the position of Sales Director, with a seat on the Company Board. Over its 100-year history, Waterloo has earned a reputation as one of the leading suppliers of diffusers, grilles and louvres due to the unparalleled quality of its bespoke-fabricated products and excellent customer service.

Andy joined Waterloo in 2005 as Area Sales Manager, having previously gained valuable sales and industry experience at both TROX and GDL. As his career within Waterloo developed, he progressed to Regional Sales Manager for the North before taking on his most recent role as Head of National Sales.

Commenting on his new role, Andy said: “I’m delighted to join the Waterloo Board and look forward to using my wider commercial knowledge to drive market expansion with the support of our fantastic sales team.”

 www.waterloo.co.uk  sales@waterloo.co.uk  01622 711500

Consort Claudgen launches new electric heating brochure

HygroMatik reaches new heights with environmental chamber The School of Science and Technology at Nottingham Trent University wanted a facility that could study how the human body would react to different climates. To this end, it decided to invest in an environmental chamber that could simulate different conditions in order to aid its Sports Science program.

Environmental control specialist TIS Services undertook the project to faithfully imitate the humidity of any location in the world. This required precision control, which led them to specify HygroMatik’s FlexLine Plus steam humidifier to control variables such as temperature, humidity and altitude. The FlexLine units are available as electrode or heater element humidifiers, depending on water quality and the desired level of control.

 www.hygromatik.com  info@hygromatik.co.uk  02380 443127

40

Consort Claudgen has launched its latest heat brochure, which includes a host of new heating controls and heaters in its product range.

The 48-page brochure features motion-activated and waterproof run-back time controllers, new heater models in the electronic seven-day timer range and advanced wireless controllers which are now compatible with Consort’s RX and SL heaters.

As well as several other new products, it showcases heaters with safety monitoring features. All of these are detailed in the brochure along with the established panel and fan heaters, convectors, LST heaters, air curtains, downflows and towel rails.

 www.consortepl.com  sales@consortepl.com  01646 692172

The world leader in timber preservation technology ®

Protim

TRIED AND TRUSTED METHOD OF PRESERVING TIMBER AGAINST FUNGAL DECAY AND INSECT ATTACK, FOR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL TIMBER THE ORIGINAL WOOD PRESERVATIVE AND STILL THE BEST FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit: www.kopperspc.eu Email: kpc@koppers.eu Call: +44 (0)1628 486644 Fax: +44 (0)1628 476757 Protim Solignum Limited, Fieldhouse Lane Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 1LS ™ Protim Solignum Limited trading as Koppers Performance Chemicals. Koppers is a registered Trademark of Koppers Delaware, Inc. Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in this document, Protim Solignum Limited gives no undertaking to that effect and no responsibility can be accepted for reliance on this information.

Information will be updated when the need arises. Please ensure you have an up to date copy. All products are produced by independently owned and operated wood processing facilities. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners. Koppers Performance Chemicals, Protim Solignum Limited, Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1LS. Visit: www.kopperspc.eu, Email: kpc@koppers.eu, Call: +44 (0)1628 486644, Fax: +44 (0)1628 476757. Registered in England 3037845. © Copyright 2018.

by Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Manufacturers Of Wood Preservatives Protim Solignum Ltd Marlow, Buckinghamshire

Doors, Windows & Facades

North East firms join forces to develop pioneering framed mesh system Two manufacturers from the North East have joined forces to create an innovative new product which can protect buildings and update their look, through its pioneering design and simple installation.

BTS Facades and Fabrications, in Newton Aycliffe, and The Expanded Metal Company, in Hartlepool, have collaborated on a joint project

that sees the launch of a new expanded mesh frame system for architectural decoration – the first of its kind in the UK.

Both companies create products which complement each other. BTS Facades and Fabrications manufacture facade and rainscreen systems under its Vantage brand, while The Expanded Metal Company produce a wide range of expanded metal meshes for building cladding and for use in the creation of architectural features.

The Expanded Metal Company recognised a gap in the market for the installation of its expanded metal mesh material but could not source a fixing system in the UK – only in Europe – which is where BTS came in.

The finished product is part of the Vantage EM range, which is a protective mesh bracket and rail system affixed to buildings to create a pleasing aesthetic.

With framed and non-framed versions available, the completed look is entirely the creation of the client’s imagination.

Displaying its striking visual effect, the Vantage EM F (Framed) range can be used in a variety of architectural facade applications, including shrouding areas such as fire escapes, mezzanines and balconies.

The Vantage EM SA (Site Assembled) non-framed range has wider commercial applications, such as car parks and open structures.

 www.btsfabrications.co.uk  enquiries@btsfabrications.co.uk  01388 816883

Shelforce plays part in Birmingham’s first modular home Shelforce, based in Erdington – one of the leading window and door manufacturers in Birmingham – has played a part in a housing first for the city.

Shelforce manufactured all the aluminium windows for Birmingham City Council’s first-ever modular home, which was unveiled in Hockley in June.

Just Solutions manufactured the property after the company recognised the national need for affordable housing, as well as the need to utilise brownfield sites.

Birmingham City Council’s housing arm Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust (BMHT) chose to partner with Just Solutions to deliver their first ModPod, while Shelforce is the council’s chosen manufacturer and supplier having worked on a huge number of local authority projects in the past.

The ModPod comes in two units – the ground floor and first floor – both of which are essentially steel frames

42

with the necessary insulated walls and customisable facades.

It features a 4mm-thick acrylic brick finish on the bottom and a corrugated aluminium exterior on the top. Sleeping up to four people, it has everything expected of a modern home, including an upstairs and downstairs bathroom, while the master bedroom boasts a balcony.

It took around 20 weeks to build, however, on a live production line Just Solutions has mentioned this could be shortened to just two weeks. The unit took an hour to crane into place and was available for tenants to occupy on the same day.

BMHT already have council approval to build a further 54 units across six sites over the next 12 months.

 www.shelforce.com  shelforcesales@birmingham.gov.uk  0121 603 5262

FIRE SAFETY

THE ONUS IS ON YOU!

Vital all round defence

ED FIRE RAT DOOR TION PROTEC

For more information call 0113 279 5854 or email sallyann@yeomanshield.com

w w w. y e o m a n s h i e l d . c o m

Focus & Innovation

Hauraton high capacity channel system drains extensive car park at Skypark, Exeter The Skypark Business Park is located just North of Exeter International Airport, Devon and East of the M5 off Junction 29.

The Park is a Joint Venture Partnership between St.Moden, the UK’s leading regeneration specialist and Devon County Council.

When complete, the development will cover 130,200m2 and comprise office, industrial and manufacturing premises.

Ancillary retail development and a hotel are also planned as part of the scheme.

Set in landscaped grounds, it includes numerous car parks requiring effective surface water drainage.

Three sizes of the Hauraton RECYFIX MONOTEC high capacity surface drainage system have so far been installed in the extensive asphalt car parks: 145m of MONOTEC 100/230mm, 136m of 100/280mm and 45m of 100/380mm. Each channel grating has a width and internal

dimension of 100mm, while the latter measurement refers to the overall height of the channel model. The 326m of channel supplied provided a total hydraulic capacity of just over 7717 litres.

The MONOTEC 1m-long channel component is of a sturdy monolithic design where the HEELSAFE grating, and the tongue and groove linking system, are integral to the channel moulding.

The channels have a loading category of up to Class D400, and the whole unit is made of tough, virtually unbreakable polypropylene (PP).

Hauraton is proud to say that all of its surface water drainage systems comply with European Standards (hENs) and carry the CE mark.

 www.hauraton.co.uk  ts-uk@hauraton.com  01582 501380

RICS launches new Social Impact Awards The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ (RICS) new Social Impact Awards will search for the UK’s best built projects transforming lives and communities.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has launched a new awards programme. Entries are being sought for the RICS Social Impact Awards, which recognise the positive and transformational contribution that the built environment has on people’s lives across the UK. The RICS Social Impact Awards assess the human, social and environmental impact, and the innovation and collaboration, that has gone into development and infrastructure projects in the commercial, education, healthcare, heritage, infrastructure, land and rural, leisure, residential and student accommodation sectors.

44

Projects will be assessed at a local level, in 12 regions across the UK, and all category winners will then go head-tohead against other regional winners to compete in the RICS Social Impact Awards Grand Final in October 2020, for the chance to win the national accolade in their respective category and the overall ‘Outstanding Contribution to Society Award’ for the best UK project. A ‘Lifetime Achiever Award’ will recognise an individual nationally who has delivered great social benefit through their work.

The launch of this new awards programme follows the announcement about RICS’ new

‘Value the Planet’ campaign, which aims to encourage the built environment industry to help safeguard the planet by taking climate action and adopting the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals.

Entries for the RICS Social Impact Awards are now open until 31st January 2020. Various sponsorship packages are available too. Please visit the RICS website for further details.

 www.rics.org/awards

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

Focus & Innovation

BMI UK & Ireland is green and blue all over with its new Active Roof Systems

Deanestor awarded £4m fit-out contract for Circle Square in Manchester

Deanestor – one of the UK’s leading contract furniture specialists – has been awarded its largest contract to date in the private residential sector. The £4.3m project for John Sisk & Son is for the manufacture and fit-out of kitchens and furniture for one of the biggest private rental schemes in Manchester. The £247m project forms part of Circle Square, a £750m mixed-use development on the former BBC site in the heart of the city.

Deanestor will manufacture and install 683 kitchens and around 2000 fitted wardrobes, finished in contemporary cashmere with a sleek metal edge handle, for the premium one-, two- and threebedroom modern apartments.

 www.deanestor.co.uk  enquiries@deanestor.com  01623 420041

BMI UK & Ireland has enhanced its portfolio of pitched and flat roofing technology solutions with new Green and Blue Active Roof Systems. Active Roof Systems is how it describes roof coverings that perform a greater function beyond shelter and protection. With the right technologies, roofs can be transformed into power stations, rainwaterrecycling systems or an opportunity to reduce energy costs. The BMI Canopia Green Roof offers the chance to create natural spaces in the sky, improving air quality, biodiversity and wellbeing for building users, while the Blue Roof systems control water flow from rooftops and limit flooding during heavy rainfall.

 www.bmigroup.com/uk  marketingukandi@bmigroup.com  01908 015760

A guide to reducing ligature risks A new guide on anti-ligature solutions in mental health and secure sectors is now available to download. A need has arisen for psychiatric wards, high-security units, and prisons to reduce ligature risks, which is currently accounting for 77% of suicide cases in the UK. Despite this alarming statistic, there is a lack of information on regulations and best practices. Contour has aimed to address this in its free guide, which covers key definitions, statistics, official guidance and risk control. Download a free copy today here: http://bit.ly/33f8Mze.

 www.contourheating.co.uk

 sales@contourheating.co.uk

 01952 290498

McAvoy awarded £5.5m contract for new School Art, Design and Technology Centre in Peterborough The McAvoy Group – one of the UK’s leading off-site specialists – has been awarded a £5.5m contract for the off-site construction of a new three-storey Art, Design and Technology Centre at The Deepings School near Peterborough. Due to be handed over in summer 2020, the entire building will be constructed off site at The McAvoy Group’s production centre. This solution will radically reduce disruption to staff and children during construction. The new centre will provide an exemplar educational environment and will feature multi-functional learning spaces for food technology; constructional textiles; ICT, and craft, design and technology as well as general classrooms.

 www.mcavoygroup.com/education  info@mcavoygroup.com  0288 774 0372

Wrekin’s 10-year guarantee on manhole covers and gully grates Engineered for a long life and assured performance, the Unite series of manhole covers and gully tops from Wrekin Products now comes with a 10-year guarantee – the first time a manufacturer has demonstrated such confidence in this type of product. The leading designer, manufacturer and supplier of products for the civil engineering industry is so certain of the range’s durability – which has been in service on highways around the UK for more than 11 years with zero failures on 250,000 installations – that it is now providing any compliant Unite product installations with added reassurance of their performance.

 www.wrekinproducts.com

46

 sales@wrekinproducts.com

 01543 440440

Offsite Solutions acquires steel fabrication business Offsite Solutions, one of the UK’s leading bathroom pod manufacturers, has acquired Taylor and Kilduff, a steel fabrication business, in a deal which represents an exciting new phase for both companies. Taylor and Kilduff has supplied steel base frames to Offsite Solutions for more than 15years. It now fabricates around 10,000 units a year for all types of Offsite Solutions’ steel-framed bathroom pods. By bringing the manufacturing in-house, Offsite Solutions will benefit from the increased skillset and expertise in steel fabrication, and complete security of supply, which will help to meet its ambitious growth strategy.

 www.offsitesolutions.com  info@offsitesolutions.com  01278 780807

• UK manufacturer with over 25 years’ experience, specialising wholly in furniture for mental health, learning disabilities and associated challenging behaviours • Current customer base includes many NHS Trusts, secure hospitals, private care groups, local authority housing providers, PICUs, CAMHS and charities • Tough Plus range includes anti-ligature security features, suitable for low and medium secure environments.

• Modular approach across all ranges allows for efficient maintenance and a cost-effective lifespan.

• Tough Plus Options range available in 4 extra colours – Cream and Oak, Light Elm, Dark Elm and Oak • Continuous investment in CNC technology allows us to offer a high level of bespoke design to solve the problems of challenging environments • 75% of our business comes from repeat customers

sales@toughfurniture.com www.toughfurniture.com 01588 674340

CONTEMPORARY DESIGN ENGINEERED FOR SAFETY Polysafe Stone & Wood fx is a distinctive collection developed to capture the beauty and authenticity of material surfaces, across a range of high clarity stone, concrete and wood effect flooring designs.

Virtually invisible aluminium oxide particles are integrated throughout the performance layer to provide a safety flooring that is both functional and beautiful. Polysafe Stone & Wood fx offers full HSE compliance and sustainable wet slip resistance, achieving 36+ on the pendulum wet tests.

FREE

SAMPLES

0161 767 2551 polyflor.com

info@polyflor.com