PSBJ February 2019

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February 2019

GREENWICH SCHOOL PLANS REVEALED Bowring Sports Ground proposal provides permanent, purposebuilt accommodation for International Academy of Greenwich

Insurance post-Grenfell

Futurebuild 2019 Preview

Falls from height

How to plan ahead when renewing Professional Indemnity Insurance

Who's speaking and exhibiting at one of the most anticipated shows of the year

A contractor is injured after falling off a scaffold. In legal terms, who is responsible?

The future of the built environment Introducing Futurebuild 2019 Futurebuild is the evolution of ecobuild. It brings together opinion-shapers, decision-makers and product innovators under a common purpose to explore the latest technologies and approaches, and debate the biggest issues facing the built environment – now and in the future – both in the UK and overseas. @FuturebuildNow

Futurebuild is home to six focused Hubs dedicated to knowledge sharing across key elements of the built environment and an industryleading content programme driving meaningful debate on the biggest industry issues.

/FuturebuildNow

/FuturebuildNow

Register for free today www.futurebuild.co.uk/register

/FuturebuildNow

FuturebuildNow

Welcome Note Editor

Rebecca Kemp rebecca@mixedmediainfo.com

Editorial Assistant Paige Smith

paige@mixedmediainfo.com

Print & Digital Advertising Sam Ball

sam@mixedmediainfo.com

Print Design Manager Jack Witcomb

jack@mixedmediainfo.com

Digital Design Manager David Perry

david@mixedmediainfo.com

Production Assistant Philip Coyle

philip@mixedmediainfo.com Architecture Initiative submits Greenwich school plans. See page 06.

Accounts

Jackie Dearman jackie@mixedmediainfo.com

Managing Director Sam Ball

sam@mixedmediainfo.com Publisher

Mixed Media Information

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Welcome to the February issue of PSBJ...

With the long-awaited month of February finally on our doorstep, it's time to start planning your trip to next month's anticipated arrival of Futurebuild. Returning with a revamped programme and an entirely new title from the team at Futurebuild Events, it's worth noting the ecobuild brand hasn't been forgotten and lives on via the event's 'ecobuild conference'. This year's show promises over 500 hours of structured learning across an inspiring conference programme and 11 seminar streams throughout the three-day event.

As well as conferences and seminars, Futurebuild will play host to more than 500 marketleading exhibitors, who will each be showcasing their innovations as well as disclosing their professional knowledge and advice on issues currently facing the industry. The Mixed Media team will be roaming the aisles at this year's show; so if you'd like to meet a member of the team, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Alternatively, if you'd like to pick up a copy of a Mixed Media publication, don't forget to visit the media area during the event. For more information on this year's show and to find out what's in store for Futurebuild's first influx of visitors, turn to page 36 for a line-up of attractions and seminar topics.

Elsewhere in this issue, PSBJ talks to Nick Mann, Founder of Habitat Aid, about the lack of biodiversity in the built environment – turn to page 20 to discover Mann's account on putting biodiversity into practice. Meanwhile, on page 18, Bryan Banbury, Managing Director of leading independent insurance broker Russell Scanlan, discusses the impact of insurance postGrenfell and advises how companies can plan ahead when renewing policies.

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

Rebecca

Rebecca Kemp | Editor | rebecca@mixedmediainfo.com Follow us on Twitter:

@psbjmagazine

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

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Contents

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

08 Upfront Achieving the Passivhaus standard is no mean feat, but the benefits of the end product are significant. In this article, James Elliment of Willmott Dixon explains how the firm achieved perfection with a highly intelligent building at the University of Leicester’s George Davies Centre.

12 Housing Having experienced asthmatic symptoms after living in social housing, Byron Dixon OBE, Scientist and Founder of Micro-Fresh, understands the suffering that mould and damp causes residents. Here, he looks into the issue.

14 Healthcare Minimising disruption and enhancing efficiencies, the first fleet of EMS Healthcare’s decontamination units are helping NHS Trusts’ endoscopy units across the nation. Read up on how they’ve helped alleviate pressure.

32 16 Leisure With over eight acres to cover with sloping banks and dense vegetation, SafeSite Facilities has successfully secured the perimeter and restricted access to the public as part of a recent regeneration project in Worthing, West Sussex.

18 Legal & Business Bryan Banbury, Managing Director at Russell Scanlan, offers his advice on Professional Indemnity Insurance after the tragic Grenfell disaster in 2017. Here, he discusses the impact the blaze has had on the insurance industry.

20 Biodiversity Nick Mann, Founder of Habitat Aid, takes a holistic approach to biodiversity in the built

environment. Here, Mann makes a strong case for reconnections to nature within the public sector.

22 Talking Point Adrian Rooney, Chair of the NASC Health & Safety Committee and Managing Director of Midland Scaffolding Services, advises on liabilities from falling from height.

24 Education Toby Buckley, Managing Director of REL Building Services, discusses the firm’s involvement in the construction of the first Muslim-faith primary school in East London.

Seek fee-earning work as a qualified adjudicator RICS Diploma in Adjudication Develop the skills and knowledge you need to successfully apply the law of adjudication to the construction industry. The RICS Diploma in Adjudication in Construction has been designed to provide you with the necessary in-depth knowledge of the legal principles and how to apply these to the adjudication process.

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Contents

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26 Tenant Safety

36 Futurebuild Preview

Blackpool Coastal Housing (BCH) offers its residents the highest level of security and access control. Here, BCH’s Mechanical & Electrical Officer, Anthony Walker, discusses the route the housing association took when securing and improving the accessibility of a BCH site comprising 80 blocks.

One of the industry’s most anticipated events for the built environment returns with an alteration to its line-up, with new and exclusive features and, perhaps most importantly, a new title. Running from 5 to 7th March, Futurebuild plans to tackle the most significant issues facing the industry.

28 Flood Defence Doors

38 The RCI Show Preview

Kevin Kiernan, National Sales Manager at Bowater by Birtley, looks at why local authorities and housing associations should consider installing flood defence doors on new and existing properties.

The leading event for anyone looking for products and services within the roofing, cladding and insulation realms returns this March. Taking place from 27 to 28th at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, the RCI Show boasts an abundance of conferences and exhibitors.

32 Fire Doors Do you know the key features you should be looking for when specifying fire doors?

Mark Lester, Internal Door Manager at Hörmann UK, explains.

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

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NATIONAL ACCESS AND SCAFFOLDING CONFEDERATION

SETTING THE STANDARD FOR SCAFFOLDING NASC full contracting members operating across the UK are audited and accredited every year – so you can rest assured that their operatives are highly skilled,

professional and reliable. For more information and to find an NASC scaffolding contractor visit www.nasc.org.uk

www.nasc.org.uk

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News

INDUSTRY UPDATES

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

also backed the innovative project, which combines leisure, community and wellness facilities, by providing a £1.5m grant. Network Space is delivering the £15m scheme on behalf of Tameside Council on brownfield land next to the new Denton link road in the heart of Denton. The new facility at the former Oldham Batteries site will bring to Tameside an eight-lane, 25m competition swimming pool with room for 150 spectators, learner pool, a spa area including sauna, steam and treatment facilities, fitness suite and 10-pin bowling alley.

Architecture Initiative submits Greenwich school plans Architecture Initiative has submitted plans to the Royal Borough of Greenwich, London, for a school project on behalf of the Department for Education. The proposal to redevelop the Bowring Sport Ground site provides permanent, purpose-built accommodation for the International Academy of Greenwich, which is currently housed in temporary accommodation nearby. The design responds sensitively to the surrounding ‘greenbelt’ Metropolitan Open Land, with high-quality architecture and materials. The school also features green spaces and sports facilities which will be available for the local community outside of school hours. The proposed playing fields are a highlight of the school’s design, being unusual for a new-build London school due to limited space.

ISG secures five contracts on DfE framework ISG has secured the first school building projects it is to deliver as part of the Department for Education (DfE) construction framework. The contractor has been selected as the preferred bidder on five, medium-value contracts in London and the South West. The largest of the contracts will see a 630-pupil primary school built in Midsomer Norton, Somerset.

Designed by Hatcher Prichard Architects, the school site will cover an area of 6.5 hectares. ISG will also deliver medium-scale schemes designed by Scott Brownrigg and Rock Townsend including a tech-led digital primary academy in Monkerton, Devon, and three special education needs (SEN) facilities in Swindon, Ealing and Redbridge.

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New Henry Royce Institute tops out The Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials Hub, a new £150m national materials science research centre at the heart of The University of Manchester’s campus, has been ceremoniously topped out by the university’s key stakeholders and project team. The institute’s hub is the latest building championing materials science research in the United Kingdom.

Designed by architect firm NBBJ with a project team led by Arcadis; the design team includes contractor Laing O’Rourke, structural engineer Ramboll and building services engineer ARUP. The 16,000m2 Institute Hub building received planning permission in March 2017 and will be the base for the UK’s leading materials research and commercialisation, housing state-ofthe-art equipment and collaborative space for industrial engagement.

Work begins on Sport England-backed wellness centre Work on building the Tameside Wellness Centre has started on site after Tameside Council and developer Network Space signed a construction contract. Sport England has

Significant £2.5m expansion transforms Bedfordshire school Six new classrooms and a 690m2 sports hall at Henlow Church of England Academy, Bedfordshire, have now completed, completely reimagining the 600-pupil school’s teaching facilities and sports opportunities. PCMS Design designed the modern, new extension to the original school site, with Building Services Design (BSD) providing M&E engineering support for the project. BSD provided technical support to PCMS Design to ensure that the delivery of the M&E engineering services for electricity, gas, water and the fire alarm system ran smoothly and to specification.

The project was funded by Central Bedfordshire Council and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

New £5m visitor centre completes in Sherwood Forest Sherwood Forest has benefited from a new visitor centre which will accommodate the forest’s 350,000 annual visitors. The Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre was completed by Woodhead Construction and designed by JDDK Architects. The national building services consultancy Building Services Design (BSD) provided mechanical and electrical engineering (M&E) services for the project and was appointed by Kartar Consulting – which provided employer’s agent and quantity surveying services. The new centre is run by an RSPB-led consortium, working together with Nottinghamshire County Council.

The 560m2 gross internal area (GIA) of the building boasts a contemporary reception area, retail space and a double-height atrium which houses the centre’s cafe with views out over the forest.

Housing associations launch pledges to councils to tackle homes shortage A group of housing associations, responsible for almost 600,000 homes, has pledged to form a “united front” with London’s councils to build more affordable homes and launch a new assault on the housing crisis. Announcing a series of pledges to the capital’s 32 local authorities, the G15 group has renewed its commitment to work with councils to deliver more homes at social rent levels and tackle homelessness. The group undertakes, among other commitments, to build homes for councils, enter new notfor-profit partnerships, share development expertise, and take action against homelessness, including increasing the number of homes available for the Housing First programme and signing up to the ‘Commitment to Refer’ which applies to public bodies.

The architectural practice behind the multi-award-winning Aerospace Integrated Research Centre (AIRC) at Cranfield University has designed four new buildings on the Bedfordshire campus. CPMG Architects is delivering a new agri-informatics facility, water sciences building, an extension to the existing pilot hall, and a new fire station to enhance research and learning facilities for staff, students and visitors as part of a 25-year masterplan. A ground-breaking agri-informatics facility will create a new home for the university’s National Soil Inventory. The £2.2m development will consolidate data and resources – including samples and maps from around the world – into a leading centre for soil science and data analysis.

Housing survey reveals 12% affected by mould and damp Research carried out across more than 300 local authorities in England and Wales has revealed a 12% tenant complaint rate relating to mould, damp and condensation.

Through the Freedom of Information Act, industry specialist CIT (Consultancy, Investigation, Training) questioned 326 local authorities about the number of properties they were responsible for and the number of complaints they had received between January 2012 and May 2018 relating to the three issues. Of the local authorities that responded, 57,739 complaints had been received from tenants in the timescale set. The responding authorities were responsible for a total housing stock of 474,923 – a 12.2% complaint rate.

LPAs need clarity on biodiversity strategy In the wake of the Government’s new NPPF and the 25-Year Environment Plan, LPAs are in need of clear strategies to tackle stringent biodiversity requirements in their local plans. Ecological planning consultancy EPR has highlighted that, with local authorities under pressure to allocate sites for housing, very few have been able to respond with local plans that have measurable targets for biodiversity.

In order to help councils reconcile requirements with declining budgets and targets for housing, EPR has launched a

service entitled ‘Planning for Wildlife’.

The aim of the initiative is to enable LPAs to work with developers to help deliver projects that avoid or mitigate cumulative harm on habitats, and clearly provide the opportunities for biodiversity net gain that arise from housing development.

News

AIRC Architects appointed to boost Cranfield University campus

Works underway to create 210 school spaces in Hucknall Construction works are underway for a school building on the Harrier Park development at the Rolls-Royce site in Hucknall, following a £3.7m investment from Nottinghamshire County Council. Due to be operated as an academy by Flying High Trust, the school is being delivered by Arc Partnership – a joint venture between Nottinghamshire County Council and Scape Group – and is set to complete in summer 2019. The school, known as Hucknall Flying High Academy, will offer 210 places. Flying High Trust already has strong links to the area through the highly successful Hillside Primary & Nursery School, situated on Roberts Lane and is pleased to strengthen those ties further.

Bisley formally launches public sector division Following its successful appointment to the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) supplier framework RM3812, Bisley has launched its public sector division. CCS brings together policy, advice and direct buying; providing commercial services to the public sector, who are tasked with delivering monetary saving and value for the taxpayer. As one of the CCS-approved suppliers, Bisley provides reassurance to public sector organisations that the high standards have been met in quality and service. In 2017, Bisley became the first organisation to cover all five lots, demonstrating its ability to enhance all varieties of workspace by providing intelligent, useful and often bespoke storage solutions to create organised environments adapted to fit any client’s needs.

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Upfront

Project: The George Davies Centre Location: University of Leicester Construction company: Willmott Dixon

in Germany D eveloped during the early 1990s,

BALANCING PERFORMANCE WITH USER COMFORT – PASSIVHAUS AS A LIVING CASE STUDY The multi-million-pound George Davies Centre (formerly Centre for Medicine) at University of Leicester – the largest non-residential Passivhaus building in the UK – has continued to scoop awards for its size and complexity, being recognised across the higher education sector and the UK as a whole.

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Passivhaus is the world’s leading fabric first approach to low-energy buildings. Its excellent thermal performance has reduced the university’s energy bill for its new teaching and medical research facility. However, “with great performance comes great responsibility,” claims Willmott Dixon’s James Elliment; who worked on the project.

He said: “This pioneering project for the higher education sector has attracted the attention of a number of institutions around the country as they are continually challenged to reduce their environmental impact.

Achieving the Passivhaus standard is not easy, and it requires absolute buy-in from the customer, but the benefits of adopting it are significant.

“At Willmott Dixon, we have been working with the University of Leicester to deliver a three-year soft landings programme for George Davies Centre. A year after the project’s completion, we achieved an A-rated DEC, showcasing just how effective the building’s credentials have been in action.”

From a green wall featuring 75,000 individual plants to CTB blinds that track the sun and automatically close to prevent solar gain, this highly intelligent building presented very real challenges to the team that delivered it. For example, the industry standard for airtightness is 5m3/hr/m2, but Passivhaus requires five times less than that.

Passivhaus as a solution to the performance gap “Despite many buildings achieving high energy performance ratings, the reality can be quite unpredictable, as day-to-day usage is very different to that laid out in tests – sometimes as much as 200 to 500%, according to CIBSE’s Zero Carbon Hub. “As part of the soft landings process, we are actively monitoring and tracking energy usage, taking corrective action,

Upfront

such as controls and equipment, carrying out reviews with the customer ahead of full occupation, and conducting workshops with buildings' users to further reduce energy and close the performance gap of the building. It’s been a learning curve for the whole project team, as we are working with a living and breathing building, which supports and underpins the work of so many people.”

With state-of-the-art heating, cooling and ventilation systems, the building’s intelligent energy efficiencies include a groundto-air heat exchange system, external blinds for active solar shading and embedded soffit cooling. With Passivhaus only being previously applied to domestic buildings, sourcing air handling units (AHUs) that met the needs of a building of this size and complexity, as well as Passivhaus requirements, was challenging. Working jointly with the mechanical and electrical services contractor, Willmott Dixon created 10 fully bespoke AHUs, which were BSRIA-tested to ensure certification to the required standards.

Speaking of the project’s success, Elliment said: “Gaining the Passivhaus certification is so challenging that many buildings aim to achieve it but fall slightly short due to its finer complexities. However, as the George Davies Centre shows, the environmental benefits are outstanding and worth perseverance and dedication.

“In fact, the George Davies Centre is over five times more energy-efficient when compared with other higher education buildings, as its total energy consumption per annum has been 61.2kWh/m2 and has a DEC rating of 59, while the higher education sector average is at 320kWh/m2 (according to DEC data*).

“The efficiencies in George Davies Centre’s design have allowed the university to close old and inefficient buildings earlier and extend the hours of usage at George Davies Centre beyond its usual operating hours. This has reduced carbon emissions across the campus and means users get access to a more comfortable environment.”

Striking a balance “Throughout the three-year soft landings process, we have been able to really understand how to use the building as efficiently as possible.

Part of this has involved

working very closely with the building’s users to educate them about how the building functions – explaining why the lights automatically dim, how the radiators know when it is too cold and when blinds close

themselves so that the building can perform to its optimum levels. Without this education, the performance gap and payback period grow; which is something we have  worked to avoid.

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Upfront “The real challenge for our team has been finding the balance between efficiencies and comfort for the building’s users. For example, the ultraintelligent lighting system, which monitors natural sunlight in the building and adjusts the lighting accordingly, has presented a conflict for some users. Many people want their lights on regardless of the sunlight available, so we have had to work with them to strike a balance in how much control they can have, and how this impacts the building’s performance. Another similar issue is regarding heating throughout the building, as many users are used to hotter working temperatures or prefer cooler climates. This has required us to constantly evaluate the usage and adapt the building’s heating to ensure its performance isn’t drastically affected, but it still offers users a comfortable environment.”

Throughout the soft landings process, Willmott Dixon has worked closely with the university to ensure the George Davies Centre continues to bridge its performance gap, with phenomenal results and careful consideration of user needs.

“The building management system continually monitors CO2 levels in each room and communicates with AHUs to increase or decrease the level of fresh air supply to each room.

The CO2 levels have been kept under 500ppm for the majority of spaces and have very rarely exceeded 1000ppm in both winter and summer, and the

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same statement is true about internal temperatures, which have remained comfortable throughout the year.

“We have designed a summer thermal comfort strategy to minimise the number of hours when the temperature exceeds 25˚C. In fact, the strategy gives priority to passive measures such as automatic external shading blinds, openable insulated panels for natural ventilation, rooflights with external shading and exposed thermal mass.

Only when all these measures fail does it bring in mechanically cooled air from chillers.

Evolving and adapting “Overall, working with the university to monitor the building’s usage and its performance has been incredibly informative; showcasing how performance and user comfort can coexist with the ongoing support of our team. To date, the soft landings process has enabled us to provide benefits to the customer and the building’s users in understanding how to use the building and why certain measures exist within the Passivhaus standard.

“As the George Davies Centre continues to be used and enjoyed by the university, it will continually need to develop and alter its usage. Changes, such as opening hours, will potentially have an impact on the building’s performance, so we are working with the university to ensure they are implemented in the best possible way, still allowing the building to deliver the

criteria it was designed to meet.

We learned that designing for low energy does not necessarily mean that building users will use it that way. Training during the handover has been key, alongside repeated messages on how the building is to be used throughout the soft landings process.

“The George Davies Centre is one of the lowest energy facilities of its kind in the

country and has illustrated beyond doubt that it is possible to meet the challenges of energy reduction while developing an estate and highlighted the importance of working with users throughout the process. This project is exemplary and a benchmark for developments of this scale. It continues to turn heads across both the higher education and construction sectors.”

Speaking of the project, Chrispal Anand, Carbon & Energy Manager at the university, said: “The George Davies Centre has provided our medical students with a state-of-theart environment in which to study medicine in the UK. It has created a long-lasting legacy for the university and will continue to act as an energy-efficient hub for studying; providing comfort for staff, students and visitors from the local community. Willmott Dixon has been extremely supportive throughout the soft landings programme, allowing our teams to flag concerns and ask questions when necessary.” 

 www.willmottdixon.co.uk

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Housing

BREAKING THE MOULD IN UK SOCIAL HOUSING Damp and mould are constant, and as of yet, unanswered threats to the UK’s social housing stock. Byron Dixon OBE, Scientist and Founder of Micro-Fresh – an ingredient that was originally formulated to prevent the growth of mould on products in transit from the far corners of the world – discusses the extent of the issue and how plaster manufacturers need to consider a new solution. issues continue to M ould be a nagging problem for social housing providers; not only in terms of maintenance and refurbishment costs but also the recognised threat to the health of tenants.

Temperature, humidity and inadequate air circulation are key drivers for mould growth which affect both plaster and plasterboard to cause aesthetic and structural deterioration often.

The inhalation of mould spores can lead to asthma and other pulmonary conditions such as aspergillosis as well as other irritations and allergic responses such as sick building syndrome, which has symptoms of headaches, itchy skin, sore eyes and rashes. Scientists at Rutgers University have conducted research that even suggests a compound emitted by mould could be a contributing factor in the development of a neurological condition that increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease.

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I personally developed asthmatic symptoms from living in social housing which suffered from damp and so this is a topic that is very close to my heart.

Without a change to the current ways of thinking and working, social housing residents will continue to suffer, and the cost of removing and repairing the damage will remain a problem. Furthermore, damp and mould negatively impacting plaster is likely to become more prevalent as occurrences of flooding are expected to increase.

As a relative newcomer to the plaster and wider construction industry, and from the position as a scientist to boot, it was a huge surprise that there is still little official research relating to how different wall structures react to varying drying regimes, how moisture moves in liquid and vapour form on plaster, and how long potential pathogens grow and survive. It’s madness to think that many landlords

are still relying on residents opening their windows or using an extractor fan to reduce moisture levels.

One of the challenges is that, at the moment, mould is only tackled at a later stage when it has visibly formed on the plaster.

This is clearly not ideal when looking to create housing that will be fit for purpose for as long as possible, with minimal refurbishment or repair costs, let alone ensuring the health of the tenant. There is no strong thrust towards identifying the threat earlier or even prevention at the time of application.

This need for an anti-mould solution was behind my decision to personally invest in research to determine whether the properties of Micro-Fresh – which reduces bacterial growth by 99.9% on fabrics and textiles – could be applied to plaster.

Creating what would be considered a good alternative to current solutions meant overcoming barriers including

price-point, limitations such as high humidity or temperatures over 52º, whether the chemicals involved are sustainable and safe to human skin, and ensuring that no moisture or water would impact the product during transit or when in storage.

A number of tests of different Micro-Fresh formulations in various conditions were conducted. The results happily reported that in comparison to existing superhydrophobic coatings that need to be sprayed onto plaster in two applications, the successful Micro-Fresh formulation can be integrated into a raw material to create a composite.

The use of silver in plaster products that are already on the market makes them expensive

Housing to produce. Furthermore, this additional cost is often passed on to the contractor or social housing provider and, ultimately, rules them out of being applied to large-scale projects such as whole social housing developments.

Our solution was a formulation that uses silver or zinc but in an ionic or chelated form, complexed with a derivative of cellulose.

This can be introduced into the paper skin of plasterboard or combined with the semianhydrous gypsum plaster during mixing. The result was the creation of MF 1911, a spray application for plasterboard, and MF 2111, an additive to be added into the manufacture of plaster. Both formulations demonstrated no mould growth

during humid testing conditions.

As well as being something of value to plaster manufacturers, we were pleased that there was an opportunity to offer the formulation as an additive to be stocked by merchants as a standalone product.

The benefit to the social housing provider and the contractor is that it takes the hassle out of installation and specification of the plaster to ensure an efficient and consistent result. On the other hand, the positive for the industry is that this is not only an effective solution but also a non-invasive method. Current solutions rely on an external application which, of course, adds another step into the construction process, and therefore, additional time and cost.

The other factor likely to be holding back the success of existing anti-mould options is that as fungicides; they are toxic in their own right. By working with natural substances and avoiding the use of nano-technology, the Micro-Fresh solution can be considered ‘green’. By also achieving a registration with the Biocide Product Regulations (BPR), UK manufacturers can have added confidence in what they are working with which also means they are more likely to invest in an anti-mould solution.

These credentials remove the harmful fungicides that tenants would otherwise be exposed to making them similarly important to the social housing provider. The argument could even be made that there would be a potential reduction in CO2 due to there

no longer being a need for the ongoing ventilation of properties.

It’s clear that construction, particularly in relation to social housing in the UK, is ripe for innovation and that there is demand. This line of thinking in terms of mould is significant when you look at the damage and cost that it causes to properties and even more worryingly, the tenants. However, a proven solution is now waiting to be picked up and introduced to the market. Manufacturers, landlords and developers need to take a single and combined approach to make an impact as quickly as possible, and through our own research, we’ve proven that there is a scientific way of doing just that. 

 www.microfresh.com

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Healthcare

INNOVATIVE MOBILE SOLUTION MEETING NHS DEMAND The first fleet of mobile decontamination units is creating significant efficiencies for endoscopy departments. departments E ndoscopy across the UK are benefiting from access to the UK’s first fleet of mobile decontamination units, from leading mobile medical unit provider, EMS Healthcare. Quest+ Decontamination is a groundbreaking innovation designed to save hospitals considerable time and money.

With this new fleet, hospitals can continue endoscope reprocessing services without disruption, creating efficiencies either when in-house

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decontamination is running at full capacity, department refurbishments are required, or equipment has reached the end of its eight- to 10-year lifecycle.

The units, which have been designed in accordance with JAG guidelines and developed in partnership with Cantel (UK), include four RapidAER Endoscope Reprocessors, a double endoscopy grade heightadjustable sink, integral RO plant, a track and trace system and clean and dirty areas enabling a one-way flow for scopes.

The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust is one of the latest trusts to bring the Quest+ Decontamination unit to the hospital estate. Collaborating with EMS Healthcare and Cantel (UK), the unit will be stationed at Leicester General Hospital for 12 months, alleviating pressure whilst the trust undergoes centralisation of its decontamination departments.

Claire Jones-Manning, Decontamination Lead at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, commented: “When

we made the decision to centralise our decontamination departments, we were faced with a period of sustained disruption across the trust.

Working with EMS Healthcare, we’ve been able to avoid this, finding a solution that will ensure the smooth delivery of services for our patients.

“Crucially, EMS Healthcare’s support has allowed us to take a proactive approach to tackle capacity challenges – a real benefit to the overall efficiency of our trust.”

The new contract at Leicester follows the successful deployment of the first Quest+ Decontamination unit at Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield.

Jo Quarterman, Account Manager at EMS Healthcare, added: “To be able to follow up the deployment of our first mobile endoscopy decontamination unit at Pinderfields Hospital so quickly is a huge show of confidence in this solution. When developing the

Healthcare Quest+ Decontamination unit, we worked closely with leading healthcare providers and market experts to create a solution that could address capacity challenges just like this, so it is especially encouraging now to see the unit having an impact on the ground.”

had a hugely positive impact on patient satisfaction. The trust is operating in line with our twoweek waiting time target, and we’ve been able to open a fourth endoscopy procedure room within the hospital as a direct result of increased efficiencies.”

A domino effect

The power of partnerships

Introducing a fleet of four mobile decontamination units has allowed EMS to respond to increasing demand, with Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust being the most recent to follow suit. To date, over 6000 scopes have been reprocessed inside the mobile units, with this number expected to continue to rise in the coming months.

Russell Snellgrove, Decontamination Manager at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals, said: “When faced with a need for vital refurbishment works, the obvious side effect is major disruption to services. In the case of our decontamination department, we were faced with having to reduce patient lists, which would significantly increase waiting times. Instead, EMS Healthcare provided us with a solution that could be deployed quickly and safely on site, enabling the smooth transition of services for the trust.

“In the short time the unit has been on site, it has already

EMS Healthcare has officially partnered with reprocessing equipment provider, Cantel (UK), and RO plant provider, Veolia Water Technologies, on the Quest+ Decontamination units. Collaborating in this way has allowed EMS Healthcare to provide trusts with an entirely self-sufficient solution for all decontamination needs.

Nic Barnes, Sales Director at Cantel, said: “When we put this partnership with EMS Healthcare and Veolia in place, we aimed to be able to support hospitals in the delivery of uncompromised care. This has now been realised and is resulting in real cost and time efficiencies for hospitals embracing the solution.”

recommended to begin 10 years earlier at the age of 50.

The aim of the standalone facility is to provide trusts with a complete endoscopy solution, from procedure through to decontamination, utilising state-of-the-art equipment in a comfortable and relaxed environment for patients and staff alike. The decontamination unit will connect to the main endoscopy suite.

Keith Austin, CEO at EMS Healthcare, said: “This is a game-changer for the endoscopy market. Not only will it make a real difference to the marketplace, addressing pressing healthcare challenges including patient waiting times, capacity issues and continuity of service but it will also provide a first-class patient experience.” 

 www.ems-healthcare.com

Looking ahead Responding to changing market demands, EMS Healthcare has unveiled plans for its next cutting-edge solution; a fully integrated endoscopy unit. The announcement follows a change in recommendation from the National Screening Committee on bowel cancer screenings, now

15

Healthcare Leisure

RESTORATION KICKSTARTS £2M REGENERATION LEISURE PARK MASTERPLAN

Project: Brooklands Park Location: Worthing, West Sussex Building equipment hire: SafeSite Facilities

A £2m masterplan for the regeneration of Brooklands Park in Worthing, West Sussex, has begun with the renovation of its central lake, which is a large balancing pond serving a third of the local areas and an important wildlife wetland habitat. works, carried out I nitial

by SafeSite Facilities for Five Rivers Environmental Contracting, involved securing the perimeter around the lake; restricting access to passers-by while the lake was drained down and ensuring site safety around the area while the renovation work was being completed.

This was no easy task with over eight acres to cover and several obstacles to overcome, such as dense vegetation and sloping banks. Walkways around

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the park were still in constant use by pedestrians, so it was essential that the lake was secured quickly and safely.

A heavy-duty security solution in the shape of temporary steel fencing was installed around the perimeter, with a close-mesh ‘anti-climb’ design providing an additional deterrent.

This galvanised fencing provides weather resistance; the panels can be easily deployed and, if required, repositioned as work

progresses – making them a very flexible option.

The panels were secured and linked using feet, clips and steadfast struts and, in just eight hours, 1300m of fencing was installed – and the lake and river at Brooklands Park completely protected. The team from SafeSite Facilities also walked the park weekly to ensure the perimeter remained secure.

HSE guidelines that help protect the public are a major consideration when it comes to

site safety, and the temporary Heras fencing system meets HSE standards. The system has even been tested by Sheffield Hallam University and has proved to resist wind speeds in excess of gale-force.

Local councillors have commended the transformation of the lake at Brooklands Park.

As a result of the restoration, the water quality is much better, and the habitat has been improved.

Greig McGarva, Sales Team Leader at SafeSite Facilities, said: “We’ve really enjoyed being involved in this restoration project, supporting Five Rivers to revive the lake and ensuring the site was safe and secure for the public. Reaching this milestone is a huge step towards preserving the green space at Brooklands Park for residents to enjoy for many years to come.”

Ben Sharp, Site Manager for Five Rivers – whose team moved more than 17,500m3 of silt from the bottom of the lake – said: “It was a great project to be involved in, even though much of it saw us wading through mud during an extremely cold and wet winter.”

Leisure Brooklands Park masterplan The £2m regeneration project proposed by Worthing Borough Council will see Brooklands turned into a science adventure park, with an emphasis on learning through fun, play and exploration.

Key new features will include a new cafe and lakeside picnicking area in the centre of the park, as well as improved walks and fitness trails, areas for outdoor events and an adventure play area.

Councillors have said the aim is to “make Brooklands a fantastic green space for families to enjoy”, and “a destination for people from outside the area as well as locals”.

Some of the park’s existing ‘nostalgic’ attractions such as the miniature railway, golf course and go-karts will be removed, but councillors insist the new plan is safeguarding the long-term future of the park.

The proposed design also includes an indoor leisure activity centre in the south-west corner of the park to ensure it remains attractive to visitors all year round. The final plan for the activity centre is still part of an

ongoing engagement process; however, the location lends itself well to an environmental focus, particularly with the Rampion Wind Farm situated off the local coastline. The position of the central lake also supports learning opportunities around natural science and nature.

There is also an aim to improve access between Brooklands Park, the seafront and beach; with plans to improve transport links and increase

the number of parking spaces and coach drop-off areas.

Work is underway to fund all the proposed new features with developers seeking capital investment, corporate sponsorship and external funding through grants.

Work is expected to begin in early 2019 and is planned to be completed in stages in order to keep some areas of the park open at all times, and as funding becomes available.

The most recent work to be carried out at the park is the installation of a new boardwalk and essential maintenance around the lake. New planting on some of the islands is providing a natural habitat for wildlife. The riverbanks are in the process of being landscaped and seeded and, once established, will create a lush, vegetative covering. 

 www.safesitefacilities.co.uk

17

Legal & Business

RUSSELL SCANLAN’S INSURANCE ADVICE POST-GRENFELL Following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, the negative spotlight on cladding materials had a major knock-on effect for the construction industry, from builders and sub-contractors to architecture firms. Days after the incident, cladding installed on buildings more than 18m in height was called into question by the Government, leading to significant increases in premiums for Professional Indemnity Insurance. Bryan Banbury, Managing Director of leading independent insurance broker Russell Scanlan, discusses the impact on the insurance industry and advises how companies can plan ahead when renewing policies. insurance market T hechanged radically post-Grenfell, particularly with a significant increase in Professional Indemnity Insurance premiums. The focus on cladding meant that insurers began to perceive any tall building as a higher insurance risk. Some of our clients, who had previously found renewing insurance policies straightforward prior Grenfell, discovered their premiums had increased significantly when the time came to renew.

The insurance market for architects has proven to be very challenging, not only have

18

premiums increased, insurers have, on occasions, declined to renew policies or imposed exclusions which take essential cover out.

Going forward, the best way for businesses to deal with changes to insurance premiums post-Grenfell is good preparation.

Everyone with a Professional Indemnity Insurance policy has to fill in a proposal form with key information about the company, and this should be completed as early as possible – it certainly needs to be completed no less than 30 days before renewal.

If you’ve made any previous claims, make sure you include a

precise summary which states all information clearly, and give yourself plenty of time to answer any questions that arise.

Professional Indemnity Insurance policies contain a number of exclusions, and it’s vital for businesses to understand what these exclusions mean. Post-Grenfell, companies in the construction industry require policies covering work they are yet to start as well as previously completed projects.

This could potentially leave a company in a difficult position if they are unable to find the right cover by the time their current policy runs out. For this reason,

Bryan Banbury joined Russell Scanlan in 1988 as an Account Handler for commercial clients before working his way up through the business becoming a Director in 2001 and taking on the 'top job' in 2007 after leading the successful MBO. As well as looking after his own clients, Bryan is responsible for the overall management of the business and is also a Director of UNA, the alliance of independent insurance brokers of which Russell Scanlan is an active member.

it’s important to make sure you have a very early conversation with your broker or insurer to understand how the work you have previously completed sits within the exclusions of a policy.

The impact of the Grenfell Tower fire on the insurance market is expected to continue for the foreseeable future, so it’s important to build a good relationship with your broker and/or insurer. This will lead to a shared understanding of the risks and sector trends within an industry and help to achieve the best coverage possible. 

 www.russellscanlan.com

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Biodiversity

GREEN GAINS CAN PROFIT EVERYONE It’s time to put biodiversity into practice rather than simply preach it, says Habitat Aid Founder Nick Mann.

‘B

iodiversity’ is suddenly a word many of us would understand – as in ‘biodiversity loss’. Although it has been going on for the last 40 years in the UK, it is only now that people are beginning to talk about it as the threat it is.

I’m not in the camp that describes it as an ‘ecological apocalypse’, although strictly speaking, that might be true; an apocalypse driven by habitat loss and pesticide use. Some conservationists have been very successful in promoting awareness of it by using this kind of language. All power to them. The problem now is –

20

rather than everyone just hiding under the table – we have to go out there and come up with simple, inexpensive, practical solutions to turn this around.

The policy wonks at DEFRA have, seemingly, got the message. The key plank of the Government’s post-Brexit agricultural policy is for us to pay for public goods, rather than just subsidise land holdings. There’s the inevitable arm wrestle going on about what constitutes a ‘public good’, but the hope is this might include things like tree planting, wildflower meadows and wetland schemes. We may even

take unproductive land out of agricultural use altogether, and encourage rewilding projects. The jury is still out as to whether they will deliver, of course, but it’s a good start.

The house-building sector has started to respond too.

Bellway has been working with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to improve its developments for pollinators and recently announced a more comprehensive tie-up with the wildlife trusts. The RSPB has been consulting to Barratt Homes at Kingsbrook, a project that has attracted national coverage.

A cynic might say this kind of initiative is pre-planning for another Govian policy, recently announced, which will require new developments to “complement and enhance, rather than threaten, the local and natural environment”. Specifically, through a process of offsetting, new developments will be required to produce net gains for local biodiversity. How this will be done, again, is rather moot.

I take a more optimistic interpretation. The industry seems to be beginning to identify this as a significant point of difference in the marketplace for private housing. In other words, there is a commercial advantage to be had from introducing attractive and ecologically sound landscaping and habitat features into developments. People have been increasingly removed from nature and now, seemingly, want to reconnect. They are beginning to be aware of the crisis in wildlife we’re facing, and want to do their bit to help out.

There is a strong case for doing this in the public sector too, of course. Quite apart from helping wildlife recover directly by providing habitat, an intelligent and informed approach to soft landscaping is good for the broader environment and good for people’s mental and physical health. While this has been well known and is, frankly, pretty blindingly obvious, we continue to discover more about this.

Biodiversity A recent study showed the humble hedge could reduce roadside particulates by up to over 60%*. This was a surprise – hedges turn out to be much more effective than trees in reducing certain types of pollution.

Mixed native hedges turn out to be a bit of a golden bullet, in fact. They’re a good security and privacy barrier too, and look attractive throughout the year if sympathetically managed.

They provide food, shelter and safe movement for a range of birds, mammals, amphibia and invertebrates. Forget cutting hedgehog holes in fences; these ‘wild ways’ are a much better fix to putting together fragmented habitat. Very typically, this kind of feature – rather than hard landscaping – has obvious benefits relating to drainage and reducing the urban heat island effect. Native hedges are cheap too, although admittedly bring extra management costs.

Ecologists are, of course, keen on sustainable drainage systems generally. Simple wetland features like swales can have very high biodiversity value. They can be planted or seeded with attractive native species like loosestrife, water mint, ragged robin and yellow iris to give visual appeal too. Rather than using sedum mats, green roofs can also host a range of helpful plants at the drought end of the spectrum; vipers bugloss, native thyme and rock rose, for example.

This extends to amenity areas generally. There are many attractive, relatively long-lived and easily managed perennials to choose from rather than ecologically unhelpful and expensive annuals. Forget that formal Trumpton flowerbed look; areas of parks are now being managed more like meadows.

Ecologists endlessly argue the relative merits of native as against non-native flowers; I’m not sure in an urban environment whether it matters much. On the one hand are what I would call more traditional hay meadows, on the other; pictorial meadows, which don’t

include grass but do include nonnative flowers. The key point is that meadows of all sorts provide a valuable resource for pollinators and other wildlife.

They’re attractive too, although an information board is always a good idea, particularly for traditional meadow areas, which the public sometimes sees as signs of neglect.

Generally, though, they love these areas and the wildlife they immediately bring.

People are generally keener on buying things rather than plants, however. Integral bat boxes, specialist bird boxes (e.g. for swifts and swallows)

and solitary bee bricks all perform well and should be encouraged. BREEAM loves them. To be honest, though, I’m a bit more ambivalent. Box ticking – forgive the pun – is less important than a holistic approach to habitat restoration.

Emphasis on soft rather than hard landscaping for amenity land, and choosing native shrubs, trees and flowers rather than expensive and less helpful ‘exotics’ represents an easy win. 

 www.habitataid.co.uk University of Surrey Paper in

*

Atmospheric Environment, January 2019

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Talking Point

Adrian Rooney is Chair of the NASC Health and Safety Committee and Managing Director of Midland Scaffolding Services.

FALLS FROM HEIGHT – ARE YOU LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE? A contractor is injured after falling off a scaffold. In legal terms, who is responsible?

Adrian Rooney, Chair of the NASC Health and Safety Committee and Managing Director of Midland Scaffolding Services, advises. people answering M ost this question correctly apportion liability to the contractor’s employer and the scaffolding contractor; however, many respondents completely overlook another party that could be held to blame; the principal contractor or developer.

Worryingly, many principal contractors and developers are themselves unaware of their legal responsibilities under Work at Height Regulations 2005 – and the financial penalties they face for breaching this legislation.

In April 2018, a principal contractor received an eightmonth sentence suspended for two years and was ordered to pay £5000 compensation and £2000 in costs after a self-employed worker fell from height and suffered lifethreatening injuries.

Leeds Crown Court heard how the operative fell approximately 8m onto a paved floor, resulting in a traumatic brain injury, bruising and damage to his left arm.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that scaffolding erected on the site did not extend fully across the intended area

22

of works and did not provide a protective area along the ledge where the operative was working. The principal contractor failed to ensure suitable and sufficient measures were in place to prevent persons falling a distance liable to cause personal injury.

This case demonstrates the need for developers and principal contractors using scaffolds on their projects to be fully responsible for managing this equipment. HSE regulations state that they should check that anyone they appoint has the

skills, knowledge, experience and, where relevant, the organisational capability to carry out their work safely and without risk to health.

But what does this mean in practice and how do those organisations protect themselves from the possibility of prosecution and potentially severe financial penalties?

The NASC would remind everyone with responsibility that scaffold inspections are undertaken weekly as required by the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and that all

tradesman using the scaffolds are fully aware of how to work on the scaffold safely and have received appropriate training.

We also strongly recommend that their procurement process is robust. They should be able to demonstrate that the scaffolding contractor they appoint has the necessary competence and experience to erect and dismantle scaffolding safely with skilled operatives and can evidence that they are health and safety compliant. 

 www.nasc.org.uk

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Education

Project: Al Noor Primary School Location: Ilford, East London Building services: REL Building Services

MAKING THE GRADE Toby Buckley, Managing Director of REL Building Services, discusses the construction of a new primary school in East London and explains how the building services solution is helping to optimise efficiency and aesthetics. in Ilford near East L ocated London, Al Noor Primary School is the first Muslim-faith school in the local area and the last of six new-build schools to be built under the Education Funding Agency (EFA) School Framework in the Redbridge borough.

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Built by Kier, the contemporary three-storey building replaces an existing school and an adjacent pub.

Opening its doors in September 2018, it has already welcomed 120 pupils in four classes and will expand one year at a

time, with the addition of two new reception classes each subsequent year. New facilities include play areas on the ground floor and a roof deck.

Appointed by Kershaw Mechanical Services, our scope of works included the design

and installation of all electrical services, including lighting, small power requirements, data, fire alarms, DDA systems and PV on the roof.

Boosting efficiency REL was brought into the project team during the preconstruction stage to help develop the electrical design using Level 2 BIM, prior to being awarded the contract.

This early engagement is a growing requirement for both public and private sector construction projects as it can drive efficiencies. For M&E contractors, this often means that more specialist skill and time is required, but the results are beneficial for all parties. It ensures the most appropriate M&E design and a solution that’s tailored to the brief. In doing so, any potential issues can be identified at the beginning of the project, saving time and potentially costs during the installation stage.

The building was targeted with achieving a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, so energy efficiency was another priority.

The construction of the school also had to meet the requirements of the London Plan, which demands energy savings 30% above Building Regulations.

Education This saw us source and install PV panels on the roof, use LED lighting in the communal areas and high-efficiency T5 lighting in the classrooms with enhanced lighting control.

Looking up Another key requirement was that each room had an aesthetic appearance, which also impacted the M&E design.

Traditionally, M&E contractors would use the ceiling to hide all the cabling, pipework and ductwork that are needed to make a school run but that nobody wants to look at. However, times have now changed in line with

design trends and the need to cut carbon. Exposed ceilings are becoming the norm, not only because they improve thermal massing but offer a much more contemporary look.

As a result, we had to work closely with the local council and members of the project team to ensure the building services installation was as aesthetic as possible. This meant that all electrical, mechanical and structural elements had to be coordinated as part of the ceiling design, ensuring they were set out perpendicularly and installed as neatly as possible.

Importance of BIM The use of BIM was a critical part of this process. During the early design stages and before we’d stepped foot on site, using BIM meant that we could effectively coordinate the electrical works with the structural and mechanical elements such as the sprinkler systems, drainage and water pipework.

For each room, two design drawings were developed – one reflective drawing showing the lighting, and the other detailing all the other services such as pipework, smoke detectors, cabling and PIR sensors. These drawings were provided to the council on a room-by-room basis

so that the project manager could sign-off before we started the installation process.

This extensive level of detail enabled us to provide the council with a comprehensive BIM model spanning from Stage 2 to 5, which will assist them should they wish to make any future alterations or carry out maintenance.

Ticking the right boxes The education sector is continuously evolving in line with new teaching methods, an increasing focus on wellbeing, and a need to improve efficiencies not only in terms of cost but environmental performance.

The effective design and installation of building services plays a vital role in meeting many of these demands.

Increasingly, that means M&E contractors must offer more specialist skills and be part of the design process right from the outset, but clients and end-users benefit from a far more effective and streamlined installation.

Importantly, this approach also ensures the building services solution is aesthetically pleasing, and that can be a big tick in the box for local councils as well as those who use and enjoy educational spaces. 

 www.relbuildingservices.co.uk

25

Tenant Safety

ACCOMMODATING BLACKPOOL COASTAL HOUSING’S ACCESS CONTROL REQUIREMENTS Blackpool Coastal Housing (BCH) was set up in 2007 by Blackpool Council to manage its housing stock of almost 5000 homes. To offer residents the highest level of security, access control and door entry products from PAC and GDX by STANLEY Products & Solutions have been installed across its estate, in order to utilise the benefits of cloud-based remote monitoring. a mission to W ith provide, and maintain, good quality homes for Blackpool Council’s tenants and leaseholders, BCH has won a number of awards and accreditations for housing, repairs, customer services and community projects.

New and improved The safety and security of residents is a high priority for BCH, which is why it’s turned to STANLEY Products & Solutions

26

for many years. During this time, the primary system was made up of a GDX5 door entry system, along with an Indigo 1000 access control system, which was fully integrated.

“We have a policy of continual improvement in the service we provide,” explains Anthony Walker, Mechanical & Electrical Officer at BCH. “Although the previous configuration performed well, I was convinced that the business and operational benefits of remote

monitoring and the cloud could be utilised by upgrading the Indigo 1000 with a PAC 512 access control system.”

Innovative technology An upgraded system was specified for a BCH site comprising 80 blocks. It utilises the existing GDX5 front panels, which have been integrated with the PAC 512 controllers to create a highly innovative remote monitoring platform that can be accessed via a

Blackpool Coastal Housing (BCH) was set up in 2007 by Blackpool Council to manage its housing stock of almost 5000 homes

Project: Blackpool Coastal Housing (BCH) Location: Blackpool Access control: STANLEY Products & Solutions

PC, tablet or smartphone.

This is achieved through the use of a general packet radio service (GPRS) platform, which is a faster and cost-effective means of connecting remote sites via a mobile network. It provides an enhanced service over traditional mobile/landline telephone connections and makes administration of the system more flexible.

The PAC 512 devices control all aspects of two secure doors, with up to two card readers installed as entry and exit readers on each door. Each door also has a programmable auxiliary input that may be used for alarm system integration, and an auxiliary output that enables a buzzer or strobe to activate when security is breached, or a door is left open.

In the event of communication loss, the PAC 512 allows all local functionality to continue until the server connection is restored, while the system features an auto-dial or email

Up in the sky BCH can also access information via the PAC Residential Cloud – helping to enhance its remote monitoring operation further. Remote diagnostics, technical issues and servicing can be carried out, and it’s also possible to remotely view status, set and unset a system and access an event log. For instance, if someone loses a key fob, BCH can access their information, carry out an authorisation check, let them into their abode and, if necessary, deactivate the missing device. It also allows the incumbent installer to remotely access the system’s software to physically input any special information such as extended door release times for specific residents.

With a number of vulnerable residents, BCH worked with STANLEY Products & Solutions to generate reports which show when a key fob hasn’t been used for a specific period of time. Walker continues: “If the report indicates non-use of a fob, we can take measures to deactivate it, and/or send someone over to check on the person concerned and, if necessary, notify next of kin or the relevant authorities.

In extreme circumstances, we can also remotely open doors to allow access to the

Tenant Safety

alert programme that, in the event of an equipment failure at one of the locations, sends a notification so that the issue can be quickly rectified.

Explaining the benefits of using PAC 512, Andrew Burton, Area Sales Manager at STANLEY Products & Solutions, says: “The cloud revolution has had a dramatic effect on the physical security equipment industry.

Its development into access control technology means that not only can a system be managed remotely, specific personnel can even be granted or denied access to certain areas at different times, making it not only good for security, but also health and safety.

Furthermore, in the event of theft or antisocial behaviour, it is possible to pinpoint exactly who was where and initiate appropriate action, using the live events and reporting.”

emergency services. Having the ability to immediately and remotely programme fobs has been particularly beneficial to our customers who previously would have had to travel to our offices for this to be completed – saving both time and money and making the best use of our resources.”

Hassle-free With a large number of residents, each with their own key fobs, Walker was keen to avoid any disruption during the upgrade and wanted to ensure that the process was achieved as seamlessly as possible. Configuring the physical hardware was helped by the installation team’s existing knowledge of STANLEY Products & Solutions’ technology. On-site training was also provided by experts from STANLEY Products & Solutions and, on the very rare occasion when there was a problem, a full support and advice package was available.

Installing a new access control system can often result in replacing existing key fobs with new ones – not only is this costly and inconvenient but there is also an administrative burden associated with transferring all the information to the new devices. However, all these issues were circumvented, as the use of the PAC Residential Cloud meant that the migration of tenant fob information into a new system was straightforward – so much so that tenants didn’t even realise any change had taken place. In addition, having access control data in the cloud means that it is always backed up.

The use of the PAC Residential Cloud meant that the migration of tenant fob information into a new system was straightforward – so much so that tenants didn’t even realise any change had taken place

Home help BCH’s Walker considers the installation a total success and concludes: “I initiated this upgrade project because I firmly believed that it would improve tenant satisfaction and make our overall operation more efficient. I’m delighted that both of these objectives have been achieved and that STANLEY Products & Solutions’ access control technology has improved security, safety and protection across our estate.” 

 www.sourcesecurity.com

An upgraded system was specified for a BCH site comprising 80 blocks. It utilises the existing GDX5 front panels, which have been integrated with the PAC 512 controllers to create a highly innovative remote monitoring platform.

27

Flood Defence Doors

RISING TO THE FLOOD CHALLENGE

In light of the Met Office’s new climate change predictions, Kevin Kiernan, National Sales Manager at Bowater by Birtley, looks at why local authorities and housing associations should consider installing flood defence doors on new and existing properties.

UK Climate T heProjections 2018

1

(UKCP18) produced by the Met Office Hadley Centre is said to be the “most comprehensive picture yet of how the climate could change” in the UK. Released in November 2018, the report includes projections of how temperatures, rainfall, cloud cover and humidity

28

could change in the coming decades and illustrates a range of future scenarios until 2100 – showing increasing summer temperatures, extreme weather and rising sea levels.

The projections also show that Britain will experience much wetter winters and summers as a result of these changes and the largest

increases in sea levels will be towards the south of the UK; with London “very likely” to see between 0.53 and 1.15m of sea level rise under a highemissions scenario.

Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, responded to the report by echoing the prediction that flooding was one of the key ways in which changes would become manifest in the UK2 with our wettest days seeing an average increase in rainfall by 17%.

Although a record £2.6bn has been invested in flood defences2 since 2010, according to the Government’s own figures3, nearly two million properties in floodplains along rivers, estuaries and coasts in the UK are still potentially at risk of river or coastal flooding.

Furthermore, 80,000 properties in towns and cities are at risk of flooding from heavy downpours that overwhelm urban drains.

Prevention is better than the cure It seems obvious, but floodwater not only destroys possessions but also causes severe damage to the property if left to stand.

The total cost in England of the 2015 to 2016 floods, for example, is estimated to have been between £1.3 and £1.9bn4.

The duration of the flood and the height of the water can determine how much damage it creates. Housing associations and local authorities, therefore, need to consider how they can ensure their properties, both existing and those due to be developed, can best withstand the threat of floods to keep the building, residents and their belongings safe.

Unfortunately, you can never eliminate the risk of flooding entirely, but you can reduce the risk of water from getting in. We have all seen countless images of flood-hit homes with sandbags piled high over main entrance doors to try and prevent the water from entering a property.

That’s because doors are often the largest ground-level opening into a home and most susceptible to flood waters.

A flood door is, therefore, one of the most effective forms of defence and they are now regularly fitted in properties at risk. Their great benefit is that  they are a permanent and

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Flood Defence Doors

discreet solution that requires no intervention by the occupier, yet can prevent water up to a depth of 600mm from entering a property.

Flood doors are also one of the most cost-effective and tried and tested methods of protecting a property and the costly damage floods cause, and will help local authorities to future-proof their properties and their tenants’ belongings.

When it comes to choosing a flood defence door, the starting point is to make sure it has been tested to PAS 1188-1:2014, the UK standard for flood protection products.

All products tested to PAS 1188, such as our 68mm composite flood defence door, are subject to an initial type test and the facility that manufactures the product is also assessed for quality at the start of the process.

Bowater by Birtley is one of a handful of companies in the UK that can offer a fully certified flood door tested to this standard.

Summary Flooding is a growing concern for many residents and homeowners in the UK and potentially devastating for those affected, not only in terms of damage to the building but the risk to life. With a number of studies identifying millions of homes at risk, there is a need to start future-proofing properties now.

One of the most effective ways of doing this is by specifying a suitable flood defence door, which means it has PAS 1188 certification, whilst the benefits of a 68mm double rebated door, both in terms of ease of installation and performance are already widely understood.

Flood doors are a cost-effective, tried and trusted method of protecting a property from flooding and the damage it creates and will, therefore, help local authorities and developers to future-proof their properties. 

 www.bowaterbybirtley.co.uk UK Climate Projections 2018, Met Office

1

2 www.metoffice.gov.uk/news/ releases/2018/ukcp18-launch-pr 3 Foresight Future Flooding produced by the Flood and Coastal Defence project of the Foresight programme (2004-2018) 4 DEFRA (2018). The national adaptation programme and the third strategy for climate adaptation reporting. Making the country resilient to a changing climate.

30

Fire Doors

OPENING THE DOOR TO ENHANCED FIRE SAFETY Doors and glazing systems play a significant role in improving the overall safety of a building in the potential event of a fire. With the performance of passive fire safety products under increased scrutiny, Mark Lester, Internal Door Manager at Hörmann UK, explores the key features architects and specifiers should be looking for when selecting these types of products for new-build and refurbishment projects.

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Dame Judith Hackitt A soutlined in her ‘Building a Safer Future – Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety: Final Report’, products used throughout the lifecycle of a building have a critical impact on its safety, particularly fire-resistant doors and glazing systems. Following the devastating impact and consequential repercussions of recent high-profile fire tragedies, the adequacy of passive fire products, such as those mentioned above, is more important than ever.

For specifiers and architects, it is crucial that all fire-resistant doors and glazing systems are not only fit for purpose, but also offer the highest levels of safety protection available. With the Government currently reviewing how fire-resistant construction products are tested and certified following Dame Hackitt’s recommendations, architectural professionals can achieve compliance during this transitional period by ensuring each individual building element offers the greatest standard of safety.

Whilst a standardisation of industry regulations has not yet been implemented, there will be a harmonisation of national  fire rating standards in

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Fire Doors accordance with European Standards by November of this year. Therefore, architects and specifiers should already be specifying the highest possible criteria, subsequently future-proofing the building by using fire-resistant doors and glazing systems that are already compliant with EN standards.

The requirements that will come into play later this year are in accordance with the Construction Products Regulation 2011, and relate to CE Marking of fire-resistant doorsets and hardware. Fire-resisting doorsets will be covered by a harmonised standard – EN 16034.

After 1st November, all doorsets will require a certificate of constancy of performance, issued by a notified product certification body, along with a declaration of performance and the application of CE Marking. This European Standard identifies safety and performance requirements applicable to all fire-resisting and/or smoke control products intended to be used in fire and/or smoke compartmentation and/ or escape routes. Architects and

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specifiers should take note to ensure each doorset or glazing system is compliant with the above and that all paper trails documenting due diligence throughout the specification process are available, if ever required.

For fire test criteria, in particular, this is detailed in the standards BS 476-22 and EN 1634-1. Architects and specifiers should here note that although both standards include criteria for thermal insulation, an insulation failure does not disqualify the doorset under the current Building Regulations.

The installation of individual door types or glazing systems for each specific area of the building must also receive greater focus under these guidelines to ensure the greatest standard of fire safety is maintained. For example, in an apartment block, the entrance doors for each individual apartment should have a smoke seal to support the compartmentalisation of the building to prevent smoke from escaping and blocking escape routes.

As well as being fire and/ or smoke compliant, it is also important that doors meet the design requirements of a project, and this has resulted in increased demand for wider availability of fire-resistant doors that are constructed of timber, steel or composite. Whether the doors also feature single or dual rebates, architects must be confident the product type they have selected is compliant with all of the above regulations.

In terms of visual appeal, full glazed tubular frame parts are increasingly becoming a popular addition for architects as smoketight glazing systems can offer a consistent aesthetic match with corresponding fire-resistant doors, without compromising on the overall effectiveness of the fire protection.

In addition to this, individual adjustments to the specification of the door, such as additional elements including letterboxes and spy holes for entrance doors, can impact the effectiveness of its fire resistance. This also includes the specifics of the door leaf, frame,

hinges, glazing, ironmongery and seals. It is, therefore, crucial to seek additional advice and information from the manufacturer before specifying and installing these products.

This process can be streamlined through the use of architectural programmes that produce CAD drawings and BIM files for each of the relevant fire-resistant products, enabling professionals to utilise this information in conjunction with wider standard architectural modules.

With a shift change in the way fire-resistant construction products are tested and certified, architects and specifiers can achieve compliance by taking a proactive approach to passive fire safety, selecting doorsets and glazing products that are already compliant with European standards. This also includes any potential modifications of the door, dependent on the type of building being constructed or renovated. 

î˜ą www.hormann.co.uk/ architects/doors

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THE PROVEN LEACH RESISTANT FIRE PROTECTION TREATMENT FOR TIMBER AND SHINGLES ENHANCED PERFORMANCE FOR EXTERIOR TIMBER 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.

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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

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Futurebuild Preview

New and exclusive features

FUTUREBUILD 2019: THE CHALLENGE FOR PUBLIC SECTOR PROFESSIONALS Futurebuild is the leading built environment event for public sector professionals to meet and learn, be inspired and do business. Taking place from 5 to 7th March, the event will focus on exploring and tackling the biggest challenges impacting the industry and will be a unique destination for visitors to gain unrivalled insight and handson experience around the latest thinking, innovations, products and materials in order to address these issues. in conjunction D eveloped with renowned, industry-

Future trends, products and materials

leading partners, Futurebuild will provide over 500 hours of structured learning across an inspiring conference programme and 11 seminar streams – all completely free and CPD-accredited.

More than 500 market-leading brands and organisations will be showcasing their latest innovations and contributing to the extensive knowledge programme. To ensure visitors gain a truly immersive and in-depth experience across all areas of the industry, these exhibitors will be hosted across six curated hubs covering: Buildings, Interiors, Urban Infrastructure, Materials, Energy and Offsite.

Each hub will include unique features and concentrated education programmes hosted by a relevant sectorspecific authority.

The Buildings Hub will tackle challenges across all aspects of building, with exhibitors including Bauder, Internorm, Mapei and ROCKWOOL showcasing their technologies.

A dedicated seminar programme will focus on the latest thinking and initiatives in building quality, performance and occupier comfort, and will explore new tools and delivery approaches to improve new and existing buildings.

Meeting challenges and making commitments Central to Futurebuild is the ecobuild conference, which will inspire visitors to take action on the most pressing challenges through insights from leading experts and knowledge-sharing.

With an overarching theme of ‘Time for Action’, the conference sessions will be collaborative forums where visitors will develop plans for implementing change and proposing action for a more sustainable future.

A total of 13 key challenges will be tackled through this programme. These include how to deliver long-term value and sustainable performance, how to achieve a built environment fit for 2050, how to put health and wellbeing at the centre of design and how to overcome the UK housing crisis.

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Visitors can find the latest solutions across blue, green, grey and social infrastructure in the Urban Infrastructure Hub. Topics such as placekeeping and urban climate-led design will be explored as part of the hub’s seminar programme. Exhibitors here include ACO, Biotecture, Green-Tech, Ronacrete and Wavin.

Across the hubs, visitors will also have access to a variety of new and expanded pavilions and attractions, including: The City Walk, Made In Britain, Vision@Futurebuild, the mindful MATERIALS Certification Pavilion, the Association of Decentralised Energy (ADE) Pavilion, the Home of the Future by Tufeco, the RIBA Stand designed by Gundry + Ducker, and many more.

New for 2019 is the Knowledge Forum – a dedicated area where industry-leading partners, academic and professional bodies will offer a comprehensive look at the biggest issues facing the built environment. Hosting CPD workshops, the Knowledge Forum will provide useful solutions and guidance for visitors to take back to the office.

As an official UK Government Innovation Partner, Futurebuild will also be hosting the Innovation Zone with the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Innovate UK. At the zone, BEIS will be showcasing the work of the Energy Innovation Programme and demonstrating how it is delivering the Clean Growth Strategy. Focusing on true innovation, it will provide a platform for investment and knowledge exchange across three areas: a dedicated threeday seminar series; an exhibition featuring innovative companies BEIS and Innovative UK has provided funding to; and a ‘Business Bar’ in collaboration with the Knowledge Transfer Network – providing one-to-one advice and support on accessing funding.

The Waste Zone will return with new and expanded features, including the new Circular Economy Hub. Curated

by Architect, academic and Author Duncan Baker-Brown, the area will take a unique beach hut format and showcase how waste can be a valuable industry resource. 

 www.futurebuild.co.uk

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The RCI Show Preview

THE ROOFING, CLADDING AND INSULATION SHOW 2019 The largest UK event where the entire roofing, cladding and insulation supply chain comes together allowing visitors to compare and source new products, learn from the experts and hear about the important issues currently impacting the market. place from 27 T aking to 28th March at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, the RCI Show 2019 will be the leading destination for anyone looking for construction products and services including rainwater systems, plant and tools, the latest materials, safety equipment and green roofs plus much more.

The event is free to attend, and visitors are encouraged to preregister via the website.

Returning in March, the RCI Show will comprise three key elements: a keynote conference programme from industry leaders, practical CPD seminars and an exhibition of leading suppliers. Vivalda Group Chairman, Peter Johnson, opens the new conference stream highlighting the opportunities and benefits that off-site fabrication offers the construction industry. He will discuss the challenges of successfully delivering off-

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site fabrication, supply chain readiness and lessons learned from other market sectors. Day two of the show kicks off with Dusty Gedge, from the Green Infrastructure Consultancy discussing the evolution of the green roofing market. Dusty will highlight what factors are driving the market and where the innovations and opportunities lie to increase usage in the UK construction industry.

Other conference highlights include an interactive panel debate discussing diversity, inclusion and respect in construction. Eversheds Sutherland will look at the legal fallout from the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, whilst ITP’s Marc van der Voort will look at the implications for architects, specifiers, contractors and installers following the changes to Building Regulations in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

The popular RIBA-approved CPD seminars are designed to encourage professional development within the industry. Sessions can be prebooked by all visitors, and the programme includes content delivered by the BBA, Monier Redland, Marley Alutec and Surespan and many more.

Visitors come to the RCI Show to source new supply chain partners and build new relationships. The 2019 show brings together an impressive number of suppliers, manufacturers and industry-supporting organisations. Many exhibitors run live demonstrations of tools and systems on their stands. Alongside the main exhibition will be a number of feature exhibits to inspire and enthuse visitors. Features include a demo area hosted by Metal Solutions, a UK-leading fabricator of traditional metal

roofing systems, cladding systems and components.

The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) Pavilion will host member companies providing services and support to UK contractors, and the Welwyn Tool Group will be holding live demonstrations of hot welding equipment.

Online visitor registration is open, the conference and seminar programme sessions are strictly first come, first served so reserving your place is advisable. 

 www.rcishow.co.uk

Seek fee-earning work as a qualified adjudicator RICS Diploma in Adjudication Develop the skills and knowledge you need to successfully apply the law of adjudication to the construction industry. The RICS Diploma in Adjudication in Construction has been designed to provide you with the necessary in-depth knowledge of the legal principles and how to apply these to the adjudication process.

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• How the law of contract is applied to the practice of adjudication • How the law of tort is applied to the practice of adjudication • The practical application in the production of an enforceable decision • Knowledge and understanding of the nature of law and its place in society

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Focus & Innovation

‘Next generation’ Changing Places for shopping and leisure McAvoy awarded BOPAS accreditation for new modular housing solution The McAvoy Group has received accreditation from BOPAS, the Buildoffsite Property Assurance Scheme, for its new modular housing solution. This certification is the industry benchmark for quality and durability. It provides invaluable assurance to lenders that the McAvoy steel-framed building system will deliver consistent performance for at least 60 years. The McAvoy off-site housing system for multi-storey apartments, detached, semidetached and terraced homes was assessed as part of the stringent BOPAS accreditation process. This looked at best practice in key performance areas of each stage of project development – from concept and design to manufacture and construction.

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

A newly-redeveloped town centre, billed as being “the next generation in shopping and leisure”, has taken the ethos through to its customer facilities, especially for disabled visitors. The Lexicon Bracknell represents one of the biggest town centre regenerations in the UK, investing more than the £240m to transform the area. It has added 70 new shops and restaurants, and a new-look state-of-the-art assisted, accessible toilet – a Changing Places.

Supplied and installed by Closomat, the Changing Places incorporates a WC, adult-sized height-adjustable changing bench, washbasin and ceiling track hoist. It complements the Lexicon’s existing accessible toilets, and is located adjacent to them, in the Avenue Car Park.

 www.clos-o-mat.com

 info@clos-o-mat.com

 0161 969 1199

Offsite Solutions launches apprenticeship scheme Offsite Solutions has launched an apprenticeship scheme to attract new talent into off-site manufacturing. Offsite Solutions is an important employer in the South West and recently won the ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ Award at the Business Leader Awards. Working with its training partner Weston College, the company is looking to employ up to six apprentices who will train to be plumbers, electricians and bathroom fitters at its bathroom pod factory in Highbridge, Somerset. The company will also be giving up to 10 existing production staff the opportunity to join a new apprenticeship scheme for team leadership and to train as electricians and plumbers. This will give them additional skills and valuable career progression.

 www.offsitesolutions.com

 info@offsitesolutions.com

 01278 780807

Advanced selected to protect premier shopping destination in Mumbai Timeless revolving entrance for elegant hotel TORMAX has installed a contemporary, three-wing automatic revolving door to the refurbished reception at the DoubleTree

by Hilton Hotel and Spa, Chester. Providing a prestigious access solution that blends seamlessly with the 18th-century manor house and the modern 79-bedroom extension wing, the revolving door is powered by the TORMAX 5201 operator, ensuring ongoing safe and reliable access. For a comprehensive solution, a TORMAX 1201 automatic swing door was installed to one side. “A TORMAX revolving entrance combines timeless elegance with a technologically advanced door drive, that delivers ongoing reliability long into the future,” said Simon Roberts, MD for TORMAX UK. “The convenience of a swing pass door ensures a warm welcome for all visitors, including wheelchair users; for example, or those with bulky suitcases.”

TORMAX was contracted to manufacture and install the revolving entrance combined with an automatic swing door, giving clear and easy access to the grand reception area.

 www.tormax.co.uk  sales@tormax.co.uk  01932 238040

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Industry-leading fire panels from global systems leader, Advanced, have been installed in one of India’s premier shopping destinations in Mumbai. Inorbit has emerged as one of Mumbai’s popular shopping destinations with its diverse and exceptional offerings in food, fashion and entertainment. Over the last 15 years of being in business, the mall has gained a huge fan following because of the unique shopping experience one can enjoy here. The Axis EN system, which has recently received globally recognised FM APPROVED accreditation, was installed

by Advanced partners, Abhay Fire and Security Engineers, who were tasked with replacing the entire system including full reconfiguration, programming and commissioning. The installation, covering the entire shopping mall including all public areas and retail units, comprises two networked eight-loop panels linked to the building management system and exhaust and pressurisation fans for the building’s smoke control function.

 www.advancedco.com  sales@advancedco.com  01670 707111

Subscribe to free of charge - simply visit www.psbj.co.uk /subscriptions

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Focus & Innovation

Resin bound gravel walkway for Sir Nicholas Winton Memorial Garden Changing Places for invisible disability Up to six million people in the UK are affected by continence issues, according to the latest figures from the NHS. For many, conventional ‘away from home’ toilets are still not suitable: they need more space, and/or equipment – a Changing Places toilet. Closomat is a leading provider of helpful toileting solutions, at home and away, including Changing Places and Space to Change toilets. Uniquely, the company can provide an in-house, ‘one-stop-shop’ complete CDM-compliant package for ‘away from home’ assisted accessible toilet facilities, from design and commissioning, through to project management, supply and installation. Uniquely, Closomat can also provide subsequent service, maintenance and repair.

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

Long Rake Spar was very impressed with the new resin bound decorative gravel walkway that was installed at the historic Sir Nicholas Winton Memorial Garden by Addagrip-approved installer Total Protection. The walkway was completed in May 2017, and Total Protection was responsible for laying Addagrip’s BBA-approved Terrabound product that features specialist aggregates from Long Rake Spar. The colour ‘Trent’ was chosen and applied to a circular-designed centrepiece adjacent to a pond and wooden bridge. The remainder of construction work was completed in time for the garden to open this summer, and Long Rake Spar was delighted to have been involved in a project to honour such an inspiring figure.

 www.longrakespar.co.uk

 01629 636210

Timely solution to ease ‘hidden’ housing crisis A report by the Equality & Human Rights Commission maintains that part of Britain’s ‘hidden housing crisis’ is due to the length of time and poor workmanship in completing home adaptations. In the bathroom at least, a solution to facilitate an efficient, professional and timely adaptation is available. Closomat, Britain’s brand leader in accessible toilet and intimate care equipment, is now fully CDM (Construction Design & Management) 2015 compliant. The qualification complements the company’s established service that already offers site survey, design advice, supply, installation and commissioning. Thus, clients can be assured that using Closomat will help address the challenge of making a timely bathroom adaptation.

 www.clos-o-mat.com

 info@clos-o-mat.com

 0161 969 1199

Stevenage Borough Council specifies Fibo panels

Advanced panels recognised with FM Approvals Diamond Mark

Stevenage Borough Council has specified Fibo bathroom panels in a refurbishment of an indoor market in the town centre. “The project took just two weeks to complete,” comments Godfrey Shaw, Building Surveyor for Stevenage Borough Council, who specified the panels. Fibo’s simple tongue-and-groove Aqualock design means the panels can be installed five times faster than tiles. The panels replaced existing tiles behind the mirrors and the urinals in the public toilets. “The tiles were quite dated and needed maintenance,” explains Godfrey. “The new panels not only look better, with a more contemporary look; they are more cost-effective to fit and keep clean. We had a limited budget for this project, so it made sense all round. I was impressed with the service too. Fibo provided samples and gave us advice from the outset on which panels would be suitable and guidance on installation. We plan on using Fibo panels in future projects.”

Axis EN and MxPro 5 fire panels from Advanced have been certified by FM Approvals to the EN 54 Standard, becoming the first UK-manufactured fire alarm control panels to attain this accreditation. The FM Approved Diamond is issued by FM Approvals for products that adhere to the highest property conservation standards in quality, technical integrity and performance. It is a mark of quality and performance that is relevant for any engineer, specifier or building owner wishing to install fire systems that meet the highest property conservation standards. Advanced’s products lead the market in performance, quality and ease of use, and the company has been at the forefront of standards leadership for decades across many of the 80 countries it operates in. As well as holding FM Approval for EN 54 Parts 2 and 4, the Axis EN and MxPro 5 fire panels were among the first to obtain EN 54 Part 13 from VdS.

 www.fibo.co.uk  sales@fibo.co.uk  01494 771242

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grantex@longrakespar.co.uk 

 www.advancedco.com  sales@advancedco.com  01670 707111

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DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY TIMBER SOLUTIONS FOR DECADES 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. Š Copyright 2018.

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