PSBJ February 2020 by Red Hut Media Ltd

Public Sector Build Journal

Healthcare

Education

Leisure

psbjmagazine.com

February 2020 Issue 90

SCHOOL FURNITURE FIT FOR THE FUTURE How furniture in schools is evolving to reflect the pace of social and technological change

Housing

The key building trends we can expect to see in the coming decade

Why manufacturer guarantees are essential in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s market

Industrial spaces: the huge, untapped opportunity for local authorities

WELCOME NOTE

Editor

Rebecca Kemp

rebecca@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Print & Digital Advertising Sam Ball

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Jim Moore

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Glenn Dixon

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Print Design Manager Jack Witcomb

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Digital Design Manager Matt Morse

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Production Assistant Philip Coyle

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William Tonkinson, MD of Deanestor, looks at how furniture in schools is evolving to reflect the pace of social and technological change . See page 30.

Accounts

Jackie Dearman

Welcome to the February issue of PSBJ...

Sales Support & Administrator

With the inauguration of 2020 well and truly behind us, the industry is already showing positive signs that it’s happily settling into a new decade; with brand-new contract wins and public sector building completions just two months into the new year. Find out more about the latest openings and successes in the field by turning to pages 06 to 07.

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Klare Porter

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Publisher Sam Ball

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February also presents the start of a busy year of trade shows for public sector construction professionals; with leading events dedicated to all aspects of architecture and building. This month, we’ve previewed a handful of shows apt for those working within the division. Firstly, at the end of this month, kbb Birmingham returns to the NEC with a host of suppliers and seminars. Turn to page 40 to find out more about this year’s event. Meanwhile, on page 38, discover what the 2020 edition of Futurebuild has in store for attendees and plan your schedule. This year, PSBJ will be exhibiting at Futurebuild. Find us at stand A82 (Cross Platform Media) at London’s ExCeL to pick up the latest edition and find out more about our sister publications, i-build and FC&A, and meet the team behind the titles. Elsewhere in this issue, William Tonkinson, Managing Director of Deanestor, looks at how furniture for schools is evolving to reflect the pace of social and technological change and Stuart Reynolds, Head of Product and Marketing at AKW, discusses what ‘good lighting in an accessible bathroom’ looks like. I hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget, you can also access all of the magazine’s features, product news and supplier information on PSBJ’s user-friendly and engaging website. Fully responsive, the website allows you to read all the latest stories on-the-go either on your phone or tablet. Simply visit www.psbjmagazine.com.

Rebecca

Rebecca Kemp • Editor • rebecca@crossplatformmedia.co.uk Find us on Social Media:      @psbjmagazine

CONTENTS

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

08 Upfront Keith Taylor, Managing Director of UK Land Estates, explains how local authorities can boost income streams through investing and developing on existing business parks.

12 Housing Chris Proctor, CEO at Oneserve, shares his thoughts on the Phase One report on Grenfell and explains why housing providers must act now.

14 Leisure Washroom solutions for the £1bn Manchester Airport Transformation Programme had to tick all boxes in a complex matrix of requirements, which the range of compact, low-energy Diamond Dryers has done.

16 Healthcare Bagnalls offers its top tips on ensuring hygiene standards are met within healthcare environments such as hospitals, doctor’s surgeries and care homes.

20 18 Drainage & Landscaping

22 Legal & Business

Phil Sutton, Director & Founder of Econpro, looks at the link between sustainability and drainage and explains why local authorities and contractors are making the most of recycled materials as drainage solutions.

Martin Bidewell, Head of Technical for Sika Roofing, considers the importance of guarantees in today’s market.

20 Education Tom Devaney, Global COO at Scape, looks at the art behind designing and building purpose-built student accommodation.

24 Talking Point In this article, Gail Cook, Global Head of Marcoms at Glen Dimplex Heating and Ventilation, predicts the key building trends we can expect to see in the coming decade.

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CONTENTS

28 37 Naidex Preview

30 Interiors

William Tonkinson, MD of Deanestor, looks at how furniture for schools is evolving to reflect the pace of social and technological change.

Europe’s most established event dedicated to the disability and independent living industries is back for its 46th anniversary, on 17 and 18th March 2020 at Birmingham’s NEC.

32 Fire Safety

38 Futurebuild Preview

Ian Cowley, Regional Director (UK and Scandinavia) at Promat UK, explains why traceability is the key to achieving assured passive fire protection.

Futurebuild 2020 (3rd to 5th March at ExCeL, London) will inspire professionals working in public sector construction to join fellow industry leaders and innovators to be the catalyst for change and deliver a more sustainable built environment.

34 Technical Focus

26 RCI Here, Martin Bidewell, Head of Technical for Sika Roofing, offers his advice for successful roof installations and specifications.

Craig Birch, Product Category Manager at UNION, explains why the long-held perception of mechanically operated push button locksets as a security device for public buildings is potentially placing people and assets at risk.

28 Lighting

36 Smart Home Expo Preview

Stuart Reynolds, Head of Product and Marketing at AKW, discusses what ‘good lighting in an accessible bathroom’ looks like.

The UK’s ultimate event for the smart technologies revolutionising the way we live is back for another year on 17th and 18th March 2020 at Birmingham’s NEC.

40 kbb Birmingham Preview kbb Birmingham, Europe’s largest dedicated kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms exhibition, returns for 2020 from 1st to 4th March, offering a wide range of design inspiration from KBB suppliers and manufacturers.

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

Making Making Schools Schools Safer Safer

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NEWS

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

GRAHAM appointed to Procure Partnerships National Framework The Mannings receives planning approval Plans for the regeneration of The Mannings in Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex, designed by AHR for Southern Housing Group, have been approved by Adur District Council. The regeneration on Surry Street will see the existing, aged 40-flat building replaced by 74 welcoming and attractive new homes, 100% affordable, with a mix of social rent and shared ownership tenures. All homes at The Mannings will enjoy access to a private balcony or terraced gardens, plus a communal rooftop garden and enhanced public realm. The Mannings follows AHR’s previous collaboration with Southern Housing Group on Passivhaus scheme Cameron Close in the Isle of Wight, also made up of entirely affordable housing.

GRAHAM has been appointed to the Procure Partnerships National Framework, which will run for four years and is valued at £8bn to support the delivery of public sector facilities across England and Wales. Procure Partnerships is structured around 10 regional frameworks and is divided into 20 lots to provide local delivery with national governance. GRAHAM has been appointed to nine lots, consisting of six lots for works valued at £4m to £12m in Yorkshire, the East Midlands, East of England, London and South East, and three lots for contracts over £12m in value across the East of England, London and South East. The framework has been developed for use by organisations across the public sector including local authorities, NHS Trusts and education providers at all levels, and started operating with a pilot in the North West last year, which GRAHAM was one of the delivery partners for.

West Calder High School scoops Project Demolition begins of the Year award on £95m Park The multi-award-winning West Calder High East development

School was given the much-coveted ‘Project of the Year’ title at the Education Buildings Scotland Awards recently. The £32m project to deliver a state-of-the-art learning facility in West Calder opened to pupils last year, and is West Lothian Council’s largest single investment in education. The Project of the Year title recognises its innovative design and the collaborative working, which made the project such a success. This win came at the end of the first day of the Education Buildings Scotland Conference in Edinburgh, which provided an opportunity for everyone involved in education to come together with those directly involved in creating great buildings to discuss how the built environment can support the best possible educational outcomes for our children, young people and wider communities.

Demolition has begun on the £95m Park East redevelopment in Erith, south east London. The project, which is being delivered by Wates Residential and Orbit, in partnership with the London Borough of Bexley, will see 320 new homes built, of which 80% will be for affordable rent and shared ownership to ensure a mixed, aspirational and sustainable community for local residents. It comes after Wates Residential and Orbit completed six years of work on the nearby Larner Road estate, transforming it into the award-winning, mixed-tenure community Erith Park with 587 new homes. As part of the venture, Wates Residential and Orbit have also pledged to kick-start training opportunities from local residents by hiring at least 31 apprentices and at least 25 people in full-time employment from the local area.

Asset management agreement signed with Knowsley Council NewRiver is pleased to confirm that it has been appointed by Knowsley Council to become a strategic asset manager of Kirkby Town Centre, Merseyside, following the council’s acquisition of the asset. NewRiver has signed an Asset Management Agreement with the council, marking the fourth mandate signed to NewRiver’s third-party asset management platform since its launch in May 2018. The platform was initially launched in September 2018 through the appointment by Canterbury City Council to manage Whitefriars Shopping Centre. This was followed by further appointments this year including two high street units for Market Harborough District Council and Nicholsons Shopping Centre for Areli Real Estate. Under the terms of the agreement, NewRiver will provide strategic asset management and business planning advice to the council, and ongoing asset management services, in exchange for an annual fee.

Saunders Boston Architects helps leisure centre get back in shape Saunders Boston Architects continues its commitment to improving local leisure and community facilities with a £1.8m refurbishment design for Newmarket Leisure Centre – the first phase of which is due for completion by the end of the year. The architects’ design incorporates a range of improvements to the existing centre, including an extension to the gym to facilitate and encourage the local community to lead an active lifestyle. On top of this, the practice has designed a variety of additional features, such as a soft play area with dedicated sensory space, an enhanced cafe, and studios offering classes such as yoga, pilates and meditation to encourage mindfulness and mental wellbeing in the community.

NEWS

Morgan Sindall Construction marks milestone at academy GRAHAM ‘top’ of the class at new Oundle School Sports Centre GRAHAM has marked a major milestone in the construction of a new Sports Centre at Oundle School with a topping out ceremony. The event gathered representatives from the privately-owned contractor and Oundle School to celebrate the progress of the £24m project. Once complete in spring 2020, Oundle School Sports Centre will accommodate a 50m swimming pool, an eight-court sports hall that offers adaptable playing space for a range of sports, as well as the opportunity for whole school assemblies through the use of retractable seating, a 70-station fitness suite, a dedicated dance studio, and three further multi-purpose rooms. Dual-use has been factored into the development to ensure that there will be year-round community and sports club access to the state-of-the-art facilities that span 5000m2 of space.

Morgan Sindall Construction inspires next generation of workers Morgan Sindall Construction is helping to inspire young people in Cambridge to pursue a career in the built environment. The company has joined forces with the Cambridge Forum for the Construction Industry (CFCI) and local charity R70L to ‘adopt’ Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology (CAST), as part of a drive to boost construction skills in the region. The joint venture is part of the Class of Your Own ‘Adopt a School’ programme, which will provide funding for a Design Engineer Construct! (DEC) teacher to train a class of students at the college in the skills and knowledge needed for a career in construction. In total 26 students have enrolled onto the DEC course, which will provide them with a Level 1 to 3 qualification in the built environment.

Morgan Sindall Construction has marked a major milestone in the refurbishment and expansion of Great Yarmouth Charter Academy, with a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the building’s steel superstructure. The project, delivered for the Department for Education (DfE) via the DfE framework, involves the construction of a brand-new, two-storey science block building comprising nine new general science labs, three new specialist science labs, two seminar classrooms and two general classrooms. It will also feature a new multi-use games area (MUGA), hard play area and extra space for bicycle and car parking. Great Yarmouth Charter Academy is part of the Inspiration Trust, a multi-academy trust of academies and free schools in East Anglia. Once complete, the new development will increase the academy’s capacity from 750 to 1350, and create an additional 150 places for a new cohort of sixth form students.

Contract close achieved on Castlebrae high school The replacement Castlebrae project has reached an important milestone as contract close was achieved this week. Contract close occurs when parties reach agreement on all the documentation required to progress with the main construction works. Although advance works began on site in October, it means that the main construction works can now begin this year as planned, with the school due to be completed by August 2021. The £28m project is being delivered by Hub South East in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council, with Morrison Construction appointed as main contractor. Plans for the brandnew 700 capacity secondary school (with the potential to extend to 1200) were developed after extensive consultation with educationalists, service users and the local community and were approved by the council earlier this year.

Jestico + Whiles wins high school competition Jestico + Whiles has been appointed to design a new school building for the Cayman Islands Government. The project, won in an international competition, is the practice’s fourth large secondary school overseas project. The practice assembled a multi-national team from the UK, Canada, US and the Cayman Islands to compete for the project. Located in the capital, George Town, on Grand Cayman, the John Gray High School project was initially conceived over a decade ago to designs by US firm Fielding Nair. The innovative scheme will create a centre for excellence for its 1000 students and 120 staff. Jestico + Whiles carried out extensive consultation with the school community, Government and education authorities to ensure the new design meets educational needs.

Unique new housing vision for Lambeth The future of housing services to more than 60,000 residents in Lambeth are set for a new direction after Lambeth Council signed a joint agreement with all 10 housing associations operating in the borough. The Lambeth Housing Partnership ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ was signed on Monday, 20th January, and is the first of its kind in London. It aims to find more costeffective and efficient ways of providing housing services, as well as addressing a range of issues including building new homes, tackling homelessness, improving safety on estates and boosting youth opportunities. The housing partnership work plan is based on Lambeth’s key priorities which are contained its Borough Plan.

UPFRONT

THE BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES There’s a huge, untapped opportunity for local authorities to increase their incomes. A fundamental shortage of properties for small- and medium-sized businesses means rents have grown steadily over the last 10 years – particularly in prime locations where businesses can access skilled workers, writes Keith Taylor, Managing Director of UK Land Estates.

talking about industrial W e’re spaces such as workshops and manufacturing units, as well as offices and distribution centres. By supporting and encouraging more properties – councils can boost business rate incomes and grow local economies in a sustained way, without taking bets.

Where should councils focus? But investing in the right location can be the difference between fast returns or long-term financial burden. Greenfield regeneration schemes – big “build it and they will come” projects to develop office parks and manufacturing clusters – are often fraught with problems. They’re disconnected from amenities such as lunch venues, shops and fitness centres that can take some years to establish a foothold. The fixed costs of setting up new amenities – particularly larger ones such as supermarkets – can also be much lower when there’s a large customer base already established. Existing parks provide scale and density – both important to employers who want to hire from a pool of nearby, skilled workers and drive efficiencies by being close to key suppliers. While new parks provide impactful PR opportunities that show bags of ambition, the smaller incremental building of existing clusters can make for stronger economic growth with more lasting power.

Kingsway North, Team Valley, Gateshead

Why changes in the market matter The shift from high street retailing to online has caused a seismic shift in the property market. Not only has this left many heavily-invested local authorities vulnerable to decline values and rents, but it has also created a demand for smaller distribution hubs near centres of population. While the shopping centre and high street property market consolidates, the demand for well-placed logistics hubs has been created by a reconfiguration of retail supply chains. Smaller-sized delivery or ‘fulfilment’ centres on the edges of major housing areas are increasingly in demand. Speed and efficiency are the key criteria – and existing sites served well by roads and utilities tick the boxes. Automated, robot-driven warehouses are also changing the nature of property itself. Now, multi-level facilities, where goods are stacked on different floors, are becoming more common where ground space is at a premium. Long-term re-letting prospects may seem subdued, but all signs point to a growth in the online retail market. There’s an opportunity for local authorities here.

Right now, market uncertainty created by the political landscape is stopping some potential tenants from signing up to new developments where the risks are perceived as greater. However, existing estates are seen as a known quantity. 

UPFRONT

An opportunity in practice Project commenced: Team Valley trading estate is home to the largest concentration of manufacturing and logistics SME companies in the North East of England. Across the region, there is currently a shortage of modern industrial units available for immediate occupation. Without grant subsidy, there is no prospect of speculative development to meet this need. Established estates like Team Valley provide a potential solution to this challenge. UK Land Estates has a number of significant development opportunities on the Team Valley, the most notable being the 11-acre former site of Huwoods Mining Engineering, which had been in continuous industrial use since the 1930s. Although new planning permission has been secured for circa 150,000ft2 of industrial space, there are significant financial obstacles to be overcome. There are the costs of groundworks – including remediation – road infrastructure costs and the provision of sustainable drainage. Together they mean the project isn’t financially viable. Unlocking land and releasing difficult sites for development requires persistence, ingenuity and a readiness on the part of all agencies to work together and seek a common solution. UK Land Estates is now working in close partnership with Gateshead Council to find a funding solution for the site. It is more important than ever to have local authority intervention to support planning and growth. Authorities need to recognise local strengths and opportunities, and how to capitalise on them. Councils should be empowered to work with private sector businesses, using innovative funding methods, to realise potential. The public sector has a defining role in shaping the region and providing certainty through clear leadership and strategic direction that investors and developers seek.

UPFRONT

Managing risk

Seizing the opportunity

The past five years have seen a dramatic rise in the amounts invested by councils in commercial property. In 2017, this was as high as £1.8bn – and the trend has attracted some criticism from bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountancy and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives who have voiced worries about the perceived volatility attached to the market. The precarious retail sector has exposed some councils to massive losses. It highlights the need for local authority decisionmakers to be well advised and capable of analysing risk. For perspective, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors’ Q3 2019 market survey showed demand for retail space was down 60% on the previous quarter, while demand for industrial space increased 9%. What’s more, the amount of leasable industrial space on offer was unchanged – meaning industrial rents continue to rise. According to RICS’ analysis, this trend will continue well into next year. Focusing on these types of properties makes sense.

If local authorities want to build long-term, steady income streams, they should look to existing commercial property estates on their doorstep where kick-starting development comes with a much smaller price tag and less risk. For example, UK Land Estates speculatively developed a 58,000ft2 facility on one of its existing core estates, which was let to a national manufacturer during construction. The engineering business relocated some 91 employees and has plans to grow this towards 140. The total build project cost £3.8m, supported by a £1.03m Local Growth Fund grant. The tenant pays £83,000 per year business rates – a substantial amount for the local authority and central Government. Councils can even take advantage of the opportunity without adding to their balance sheets. Where there’s planning cooperation and grant funding, landlords can shoulder the risks and get properties built and let within a year. By developing on well-connected, established estates, they can generate easy returns where there’s plenty of demand. 

www.uklandestates.co.uk

UPFRONT

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HOUSING

GRENFELL TOWER INQUIRY PHASE ONE REPORT; THE HOUSING SECTOR MUST ACT Proactivity is the key if the sector is to ensure the safety of tenants and reputation of the industry, says Chris Proctor, CEO at Oneserve.

ir Martin Moore-Bick’s Phase One Grenfell report was delivered on 30th October 2019. It is a comprehensive review of the horrific incident with a number of criticisms and recommendations. The Government too have made commitments to bring in various legislation to help to ensure that such an incident can never occur again. Whilst Phase One focused on the causes of the fire, how it spread and how the emergency services reacted, there are a number of points that all of us in the housing sector need to take in and react to. Phase Two will certainly bring with it even more recommendations for our sector, but with the media and public focus very rightly continuing to be on housing, the time to act is now.

The impact of Hackitt and Moore-Bick’s reports The lessons and changes needed after such a disaster as Grenfell are wide-ranging and significant. The pressure on local authorities to implement changes immediately is huge. The Government has already vowed to implement the recommendations in Moore-Bick’s first report as well as providing funding, although to what extent remains as yet unclear.

However, the pressure on local authorities to carry out the recommendations in a timely manner makes it likely that other front-line services will be held up or cancelled due to a lack of time, resource and money. Indeed, Birmingham City Council, which has 10% of the country’s publicly owned high-rise blocks, has already warned that the £93m that it will have to spend on fire safety measures within its properties as a result of the recommendations of the reports will force them to cut back on basic repairs. Despite the Government releasing money to assist with the new fire requirements, the already over-stretched, public bodies are struggling. Indeed, a recent FOI request found that one council had 651 overdue fire assessments, a staggering figure considering the urgency now placed on councils since Grenfell. The same FOI request found that councils were already struggling with the day-to-day repair and maintenance of properties with one council admitting that the number of jobs that were completed within the first appointment was at 0%. For some local authorities already struggling to maintain properties, the extra pressure to undertake urgent fire assessments and any associated work could lead to a collapse of other front-line services and leave their tenants in a repairs and maintenance limbo.

The Government has already committed to implementing the recommendations in full and without delay – just with these two areas in the initial report, housing providers are under real pressure. Implementing regular checks on fire doors whilst implementing the other, crucial day-today maintenance will be a challenge, and housing providers need to get organised quickly.

Technology playing a role

What can local authorities and the housing sector do? So, with the housing sector and local authorities already struggling with the dayto-day maintenance of properties, adding the extra strain of implementing the recommendations from the reports is on the face of it an impossible task. The increase in public, media and central Government attention nevertheless means that housing providers should act now as they cannot afford to get it wrong.

Effective communication In the days and months after the fire, it became clear that tenants had warned of the risk of fire, the placement of boilers and gas pipes, and the absence of a building-wide fire alarm or sprinkler system. Their warnings were allegedly “brushed away” by the council and tenant management organisation, a criticism that can be all too common in the housing sector. This apparent reluctance to engage with tenants is one of the many lessons all of us in the housing sector must ensure changes.

HOUSING

Another impact is to rightly keep housing and standards at the forefront of the media and political agenda. The focus remains on the sector, and with more phases of the inquiry to be published, this is likely to remain the case for the foreseeable future. The horrific nature of the Grenfell fire also means that any incident that looks anything like it will likely garner unprecedented press attention. The November fire at student accommodation in Bolton highlights this. What in all likelihood would have remained a local story preGrenfell was suddenly very much a national one, with the housing provider under heavy scrutiny.

The level of ‘customer experience’ that tenants are receiving from across a range of services mean that their expectations are now higher than ever, and effective communication between tenant and housing association, council or other authority is a very basic but fundamental lesson that has to be learnt from the Grenfell disaster.

Acting before regulations are brought in With so many regulations likely to be brought in over the next few years, it will be crucial that housing providers act quickly

and proactively. Implementing changes now, rather than waiting till regulations are brought in, will allow housing providers to better plan for the future. Indeed, although Phase One has focused on the timeline of events and the emergency services’ response, there are already areas for housing providers to act on. The two main areas of focus for the housing sector were lifts, and the need for a working ‘take-control’ mechanism for the fire brigade, and fire doors, where MooreBick has recommended urgent inspections and three-monthly checks going forwards to ensure that they are always up to standard.

With so many changes over and above the day-to-day challenges housing providers are already experiencing, it is clear that they are going to need some form of additional support. Aside from taking a proactive approach to implementing changes before new regulations are enforced, housing providers have to look elsewhere for solutions that will assist them. This is where technology can play such an important role by managing and evidencing their compliance responsibilities, as well as ensuring that the day-to-day activity continues, scheduled as efficiently as possible, alongside these new requirements. The level of change already hinted at in the Phase One report points to a comprehensive review in Phase Two, which has always looked to be the more relevant phase for the housing sector. Without technology, many housing providers will struggle to keep up with the increasingly complex and stringent regulatory landscape, let alone being proactive. Technological support can also help housing providers better manage their dayto-day activities, helping to deliver more effective communication and better customer service – this in itself can alleviate many of the major concerns emanating from tenants and regulators alike. What is ultimately clear though is that we all need to be proactive in our approach to the reports and investigations, to ensure the safety of tenants and the reputation of our industry. 

www.oneserve.co.uk

LEISURE

OPTIMISING SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE LONG-HAUL The design and specification of washrooms in public buildings need to consider the long-term operational performance of the whole building, its sustainability credentials, lifetime costs and customer approval ratings, amongst other things, says Peter Jackson, Business Development Manager for low-energy hand dryer manufacturer Diamond Dryers.

rriving at a specification that meets these numerous, often contradictory goals, however, is being made easier with the latest generation of hand dryer technology as the team behind the UK’s largest airport development project has discovered. The phased transformation programme of Manchester Airport has commenced with the newly-expanded Terminal 2, which has more than doubled in size to become the airport’s main terminal building. Many further improvements across the airport will follow to deliver a facility

capable of handling 55 million passengers a year, including upgrades to Terminal 3 to cater for increased demand and flight schedules. Washroom facilities are a key touchpoint for the public. An individual’s experience of using washroom facilities, and what they take away from its appearance, cleanliness and upkeep, ease of use and functionality, is significant in forming their opinion of the whole building and the organisation behind it. Hence why good or bad washroom experiences can boost or harm an organisation’s reputation.

For the team responsible for delivery of the £1bn Manchester Airport Transformation Programme, the washroom strategy was, therefore, a very important consideration, especially given its strong reputation on the global stage, world-leading sustainability performance and the high volumes of passengers it handles at peak times. Any solutions for its 100+ washrooms across its three terminals had to tick all the boxes in a complex matrix of requirements, which the range of compact, low-energy Diamond Dryers has done.

Sustainability – both energy and waste One of the most important factors in Manchester Airport Group’s (MAG’s) decision-making was how any solution would support its broader sustainability objectives to continuously minimise its carbon footprint and maintain the carbon-neutral status it has held since 2016. A combination of factors were significant here, most notably how much electricity the hand dryers would use in operation and how they would compare to alternatives like paper towel dispensers or pull-down towels.

Reliability, maintenance and longevity No busy public building can afford for hand dryers to frequently be out of order or for the repairs process to be long-winded and complicated. If a hand dryer is out of action, queueing to use hand dryers in washrooms during busy times can result. And if this extends over days or even weeks, while waiting for replacement parts or a service engineer to attend, that will affect large numbers of customers. Plus, in the case of Manchester Airport, passengers being held up in washrooms could cause delays to boarding and flight departure delays. Using hand dryers with a simple design thanks to a limited number of components, therefore, helps in this respect. The Diamond Dryer units which are being installed at Manchester Airport, have only three replaceable parts which on-site engineers hold in stock and can be installed by them easily in minutes to minimise downtime. The brushless motor technology that the dryers use is also superreliable, and the units are backed with a seven-year warranty to offer long-term peace of mind.

Cleaning and housekeeping How much attention does the hand dryer need during routine cleaning and will cleaning operatives find this process simple? Dryer designs which require little or no cleaning help to avoid communication breakdowns between cleaning operatives and shift teams. This is a particular problem with larger cleaning teams, so keeping it simple will reduce the risks. Having a dryer design like the Diamond Dryer, which needs nothing other than a simple surface clean, helps hugely in this respect.

Speed of hand drying In busy public buildings with significant peaks in traffic, washrooms must be able to cope with a sudden influx of people without queues and congestion forming. Airports face exactly this challenge, which is why a fast-drying solution makes a major difference to foot traffic flow and throughput. The Diamond Dryers specified by MAG meet this challenge, taking just 10 seconds to complete the hand drying cycle.

LEISURE

The latest generation of hand dryer technology, as utilised by Diamond Dryers, uses a powerful brushless motor, ensuring that electricity consumption is minimised thanks to a low 300W rating, to save 90% compared to conventional hot-air dryers. But this is not just about energy consumption. The collection and disposal of waste matter hugely too. Here, using hand dryers instead of paper towels immediately helps by reducing waste generation by users, its collection and removal – all of which has a carbon saving to deliver environmental and costsaving benefits.

Aesthetics and context The overall visual appearance of each washroom is a vitally important issue too. Yes, the washroom must be clean to make the right impression, but the way it is equipped and finished has to reflect the rest of the building. Ugly or badly coordinated hand dryers can be detrimental to a washroom’s overall look, but also consider how the unit will look in smaller washrooms. The newest generation of dryers need not be bulky, packing a punch without being cumbersome. This was a major factor for MAG. The sleek, contemporary design of the new Terminal 2 applies to every aspect of the building, and similarly high-quality refurbishment programmes to Terminals 1 and 3, ensure that passenger expectations are exceeded. Choosing the compact Diamond Dryer units in colours and finishes to match the decor provides an obvious sense of integration and cleanliness which reflects positively on the whole airport complex.

Meeting the needs of the visually impaired Aligned to aesthetics, it is important that hand dryers do not blend so seamlessly that they are difficult to find for the visually impaired. Manchester Airport’s specification, therefore, includes hand dryers that are finished in a contrasting colour to the wall on which they are mounted, making them easy to distinguish. In considering all these factors as part of its washrooms strategy, MAG has been able to arrive at a specification that will deliver the best solution for the long-term. The process they have adopted here shows the potential for any other public building operator to benefit from advances in hand dryer technology and work towards a more sustainable future. 

www.diamonddryers.com

HEALTHCARE

HYGIENE’S ROLE IN HEALTHCARE Having a hygienic environment in healthcare is essential to look after patients with weakened immune systems and to stop the spread of disease within the hospital. Being thorough is key; if procedures are not carried out properly, it could worsen the health of a vulnerable patient. In addition, a National Audit Office report discovered that “the best estimate of treating healthcare infections remains at least £1bn”, whilst “each avoidable healthcare-associated infection costs the NHS £4300”.

safety and financial T heresponsibilities for hygiene, therefore, have widereaching impacts and must be taken very seriously. Hospitals, doctor’s surgeries and care homes already utilise various cleaning methods to assure high levels of hygiene. Antibacterial cleaning solutions and mopping are regularly used methods – the NHS require that walls, floors and doors should be “visibly clean”. Whilst these processes are important; they may have limited effects without several other key considerations which are too often overlooked. Read on for top tips on ensuring that hygiene standards are met.

Handwashing facilities Despite the emphasis on strict hygiene for surgeons and healthcare professionals, there is less attention paid to patient hand hygiene. Studies have shown that the transfer of micro-organisms between hands within hospitals is a major factor in the spread of disease. This can be combatted by the installation of hand sanitizers and other handwashing facilities throughout hospitals. Placing these at key locations throughout hospitals, such as the entrances, means everyone coming in will be encouraged to maintain good hygiene.

HEALTHCARE

Informing patients and visitors In addition to improving the handwashing facilities, it is important to improve education on the significance of hygiene and the importance of using these facilities. This can be done through posters or video messages – these need to convey information quickly and concisely in the fast-paced hospital environment. Placing these strategically next to washbasins and hand sanitizers is a great way to promote hand hygiene in these environments.

Is your building up-to-scratch? Whilst regular cleaning is key to maintaining hygiene; this process can contribute to the wear and tear of the interior of a hospital or other healthcare centre. To help combat this, specialist wall coatings have been developed to resist rigorous scrubbing and even steam cleaning. As a representative of painting and decorating company Bagnalls commented, these products must be made and applied in a way which “can withstand daily cleaning for many years”. Given the stress these systems are placed under, this requires specialist paints specifically designed for such roles. Bagnalls recommends ensuring these products are being manufactured

to high specifications which have been tested thoroughly. Equally important is checking that the company installing these is aware of the specific requirements of these products as well as the needs of your healthcare centre.

Interior design Whilst the NHS constantly invests in finding the best ways to treat and combat infection, there are simple ways to reinforce these efforts through “hygiene coatings” and products which passively fight HCAIs (health careassociated infections). In addition to their resilient qualities, many of these wall coatings are also are inherently hygienic. These often include silver ion technology, which inhibits the spread of MRSA and E-Coli across the paint surface as well as killing bacteria. The nature of these surfaces also does not allow the growth of mould or fungus. As the benefits of these wall coatings become more widely known, hospitals around the country are widely adopting them to reduce risk. Another popular option for the protection of walls and doors is protection panelling. These panels reduce bacteria through protecting walls from the dents and scratches which can be caused by moving trollies and equipment. Dents to a wall can greatly reduce hygiene levels, as

they make the wall more difficult to clean and can harbour bacteria. In addition to this, many of these wall protection panels discourage the growth of bacteria: a representative of Yeoman Shield Wall and Door Protection explained that: “The materials PVCu is manufactured from are ‘rigid’ and, therefore, do not support the growth of bacteria or mould”. Installing either of these protection systems makes

sure your hygiene efforts in the healthcare environment are supported by up-to-date interior design. These tips provide some great ways to support the hygiene processes already in place in your hospital or other healthcare centres, however, they do not replace the need for regular cleaning and attention to good hygiene practice. 

www.bagnalls.co.uk

DRAINAGE & LANDSCAPING

Econpro’s Durachannel

SUSTAINABLE DRAINAGE SOLUTIONS ‘Climate emergency’ and ‘plastic pollution’ are not often phrases you hear together in relation to drainage. However, the two issues are now inextricably linked as we see local authorities and contractors look for more sustainable solutions as part of their CSR efforts, and environment agencies up the ante in flood defences by incorporating better drainage systems into new residential and highways construction, says Phil Sutton, Director & Founder of Econpro.

we have observed C ertainly, an increasing interest in sustainable alternatives which help drive the construction industry towards a circular economy. Since 2003, we’ve witnessed a gradual increase in

Econpro’s Duradrain

both public and private sector organisations recognising the need to reduce their carbon footprint in line with the EU’s commitment to be carbon-neutral by 2050. For example, Hampshire County Council recently

announced that its highway contractor, Skanska, was to trial plastic kerbs as part of its move to reduce carbon emissions. The rising popularity of plastic – in particular, recycled plastic – in the construction industry is

down to the material’s incredible durability, versatility and costefficiency. And when you team those three qualities with the ease in which it can be handled, it means that construction of drainage for new developments and highways becomes a much simpler and safer process too. Plastic is such a lightweight material so it can be easily handled; plus, it doesn’t rot or need painting, meaning it also requires less skilled labour during handling and installation. In fact, from a worker safety perspective, using recycled plastic materials can’t be bettered. Musculoskeletal problems in construction workers are commonly caused by regular lifting and carrying of heavy loads. The HSE reports that on average, 2310 workers per 100,000 in the UK building industry suffered musculoskeletal disorders between 2015 and 2018. Using drainage systems made from recycled plastic instead of concrete can reduce the weight by 90%, meaning they can be manually installed without the need for heavy lifting equipment. At the same time, recycled plastic does not contain known carcinogenic, respirable crystalline silica (RDC), which is responsible for the deaths of approximately 450 construction workers per year, according to the HSE’s cancer burden study. Operationally, the benefits are obvious when you examine drainage systems made from recycled plastics compared to traditional concrete composites. However, if this more environmentally- and userfriendly alternative is not officially specified, it is unlikely to be adopted across the board. Local authorities and contractors need to know that recycled plastic drainage is just one of many products available to the industry that could really change public and private sector building industries. These range from kerbing to asphalt – all using lightweight materials like recycled plastic that can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of a project. We shouldn’t be afraid to use it as a means of making infrastructure more sustainable: it is a very valuable resource with a vast number of benefits, it just needs to be managed in the right way. 

www.econpro.co.uk

17 & 18

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EDUCATION

MECHANICS OF DESIGNING AND BUILDING SMALL SPACES There is an art in designing and building purpose-built student accommodation. As Tom Devaney, Global COO at Scape – the student living specialist – explains there is an intelligent design philosophy underpinning the mechanics of designing and building smaller spaces. living specialists, A swestudent understand that students expect more from their own space. It is not only a bedroom to sleep in, but also their secondary study, dining room and lounge area.

Their student accommodation will be their home for an entire year and will be an integral part of their higher education. We implement design solutions to create cleverly designed rooms, whilst also working to maximise

the wellbeing of our residents. For instance, we create optimised spaces with modular furniture design, compact shelving units and multi-use areas; this ensures the rooms work for them on multiple levels.

Scape creates optimised spaces with modular furniture design, compact shelving units and multi-use areas; this ensures the rooms work for students on multiple levels

Cinema rooms are built into many of Scape’s properties for when students want to escape their day-to-day

By incorporating a range of smartly hidden storage areas within our rooms, we have given students much more space to utilise as they see fit. For example, our mattresses can be lifted effortlessly to introduce a large hidden storage space. In the kitchen, the fridge is neatly found behind a cupboard and in the bathrooms, the mirrors open to reveal a shelving system. Rooms with a window seat also add extra space to the room as these seats extend to provide an additional area for relaxation and shelving. Giving students as much storage space as possible allows them to organise and curate their space without stress-inducing clutter. We believe that the maximisation of space is vital to student wellbeing. All our rooms have a clean white aesthetic which helps to make them feel more spacious – we also carefully combine them with a pop of colour to add personality. All Scape rooms are designed with large windows that allow natural light to flood in. We find that the functional, yet characterful design of our communal spaces help to naturally foster a sense of community and connection amongst students, encouraging them to utilise all

EDUCATION All Scape rooms are designed with large windows that allow natural light to flood in

the areas on offer within our residences. Our communal spaces follow our intelligent design philosophy that, above all else, offer comfort and practicality. For example, at each desk space in our study areas, you can find lamps that reduce surrounding noise. Details such as this provide students with areas they can go to work and be completely undisturbed when studying for an important exam. Our buildings also have onsite gyms that are open 24/7, providing a great stress reliever to students whatever time of day they need it. Cinema rooms are also built into many of our properties for when students want to escape their day-to-day and immerse themselves in the latest blockbuster. In order to make the most of spaces, it’s also important to go to the experts. At Scape, we work with acclaimed designers on our properties, such as Ab Rogers, who we worked with to bring a sense of place and homeliness into our residences. To mirror our brand mission of providing students with a year that lasts a lifetime, our spaces offer dynamic and exciting decor and use of colour, with the aim to inspire and shape great minds.

All Scape’s rooms have a clean white aesthetic which helps to make them feel more spacious

The key to designing and building spaces fit for students is to consider all the above factors. For decades students have been living in badly designed spaces. Now, with there being more

pressure on young people than ever before, the role of where they live has never been more important. Through meticulously and expertly planning spaces with the student in mind, a

space can foster creativity and productivity – offering an inspirational home away from home to all who take residence.



www.scape.com

LEGAL & BUSINESS

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RIGHT GUARANTEE Martin Bidewell, Head of Technical for Sika Roofing, considers the importance of guarantees in today’s market. that’s able to A contractor offer a guarantee sets themselves apart from their competitors, as this is the most effective way to offer quality assurance to their customers. Offering a guarantee also enables them to submit and win tenders on contracts where, for instance, an Insurance-Backed Guarantee (IBG) is required. Another benefit is that it provides vital protection and security to the building owner. But there are questions around the IBG sector of the marketplace. Previous changes within the financial services market, designed to strengthen regulated insurance businesses within the UK, changed the climate. The FCA imposed new rules that led to tightening in the market, making obtaining insurance terms longer than 10 years more difficult and increasingly uneconomical. In the past, IBGs were limited to 20 years, but now they’re generally reduced to 10. Does this matter? It certainly should, as the market is generally demanding

longer guarantees, often up to 25 years, which is more difficult to achieve with insurance backing. The changes also made things more complicated. Insurance and guarantees have always been an area that needs clarity – checking what is really required, understanding terminology and reading the small print are not just sensible steps, but imperative. Ask the questions, is the guarantee true to its description and does it have the value and backup required if called upon? There’s also the additional complication of making sure that the insurer is not an offshorebased company. If based outside the UK, they’re outside the jurisdiction of any European or UK mandates and consequently the UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme does not cover them. As such, consideration should be given to the size and reliability of these insurance companies, along with the terms of their policies. It’s likely there are quite stringent requirements to be adhered to so that the full

cover remains in place. Typically, for the first 12 months after installation, the liability still lies with the contractor, and this can be a key time for any problems to be addressed. After that time, the cover kicks in. So, what’s the best strategy when looking at guarantees? The answer is to be thorough in your selection, ensure you understand what’s on offer and that your choice suits the requirements. A single-point system guarantee – offered with the backing from an established and reputable product manufacturer with considerable financial security – simplifies the whole procedure. It offers added assurance and confidence, providing peace of mind that customers strive for. Comprehensive manufacturer guarantees are often preferred by specifiers and building owners. If there’s a problem with the roof during service, the client only has to make a single phone call to resolve the matter and not rely on multiple third-party manufacturers. Some guarantees

Martin Bidewell Head of Technical at Sika Roofing, has over 20 years’ experience in construction and has been working at Sika for 17 years. Responsible for the technical services team across multiple Sika Roofing brands, Martin is also an active member of SPRA Technical Committee and a Fellow of the Institute of Roofing.

can even be extended to cover errors in workmanship, should the contractor cease trading. This option often saves time and money too. IBGs will cost varying percentages of the project cost, so can be expensive and usually only provide maximum 10-year cover. There may also be, above a certain sum, a requirement for an initial chargeable inspection. In the case of manufacturerbacked guarantees, the period of cover commences immediately and can go up to 25 years, and there are often no additional inspection costs. The objective is to offer premium quality roofing systems with a wide range of comprehensive guarantee periods, backed by industry-leading customer service. We are able to offer that choice, and in our minds, there’s no competition. Don’t take the decision lightly! 

https://gbr.sarnafil.sika.com

FIRE DOOR HARDWARE As important as the door

A fire door is an essential part of a building’s passive fire protection system. A critical component of every fire door is the hardware on it. At ZEROplus we have been independently fire testing door hardware for over 20 years, to be able today to offer an extensive range of tested products. Seals Hinges Locks Euro Cylinders Lever Handles Door Closers Letter Plates

Door Stays Vision Frames Louvres Door Viewers Flush Bolts Panic & Emergency Exit Hardware

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TALKING POINT

HOW THE BUILDING INDUSTRY CAN MAKE A MARK ON SUSTAINABILITY Now we’re in 2020; we are entering a transformational decade for building construction. Gail Cook, Global Head of Marcoms at Glen Dimplex Heating and Ventilation, predicts the key building trends we can expect to see in the coming decade. projections P opulation suggest that 340,000 new homes are needed each year in England until 2031. Set this against the Government’s targets to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and the building industry must adapt. With its high impact on our natural environment, the building sector has an obligation to reduce its carbon footprint. Almost half of all emissions (45%) in the UK are linked to construction, operation and maintenance of the built environment. As a result, the challenge today is to provide high-quality, attractive homes that are also low-carbon, energy- and water-efficient and climate-resilient. Customers are also demanding buildings that are better for the environment and the climate. Indeed nearly 8 out of 10 people (78%) in the UK believe that the environmentally sustainable performance of a building is important when choosing a new home.

Going modular As the industry responds to changing requirements and demand, there are growing trends in green building technologies that will become more popular as we move through the next decade. This is especially relevant given all new housing must be Nearly Zero Energy (nZEB) by December 2020, paving the way for ultimately achieving Net-Zero Carbon (NZC) buildings. Modular housing will also become more popular in the drive to deliver carbon-neutral construction. Often referred to as a ‘prefabricated building’, a modular build is pre-built in sections. Each of those sections is then transported to the location where the building will stand, and the building is assembled on-site. Not only does a modular build require less time and labour, the controlled environment means it generates less material waste too. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) shows that a 90% waste reduction can be achieved by increasing the use of off-site construction.

Modular buildings are subject to the same regulations and planning laws as traditional builds, but this won’t stop modular builds developing at a fast pace. Modular builds represent a quick way to rectify the housing shortage, and this will be a key driver in the growth of modular builds in the UK. Modular buildings could emerge as the future of urban construction, given the increasing demand for urban homes. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs predicts that 68% of the world population will live in urban areas by 2050, so the ability to quickly construct quality urban housing could be crucial to ensuring that demand is met. Croydon’s 101 George Street briefly held the title for the world’s tallest modular tower, standing at 135m in height and containing nearly 600 apartments. The title has since been taken by the Clement Canopy towers in Singapore. Both examples showcase how it is entirely possible to construct quality high-

Gail Cook is Global Head of Marcoms for Glen Dimplex Heating & Ventilation, with a 20-year marketing career across leading global brands. At GDHV, she is responsible for driving the brand strategy and championing the sustainability agenda.

rise homes quickly in the urban environment. One of the blockers to modular builds growing in popularity could be the fact that manufacturing pre-fabricated sections will require investment in factories and skilled workers to support. However, a collective of organisations that includes Homes England, Urban Splash and the largest modular house-building company in Japan, Sekisui House, has come together to support a £90m initiative that will see the building of modular homes increased in the UK.

Building materials turning green Rethinking building materials and sourcing locally will contribute significantly to gaining nZEB status. Materials with practical and ecological benefits such as

TALKING POINT cross-laminated timber will, over time, usurp virgin concrete that uses more energy and depletes natural resources. Fitting heat pumps and mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) systems will support high energy performance in new buildings and achieve low household bills, a double win for meeting carbon-cutting targets and the homeowner’s back pocket. Renewable energy itself will continue to experience its surge in popularity, propelled by technology innovations. Advances in battery storage will help to combat the fluctuating natural sources of wind, solar and water. Cutting-edge sensors and devices will take smart technology to a new level, with heating, cooling, lights and water controlled in more intelligent ways.

The industry must show and tell In an effort to address climate change, builders and engineers can embrace these green technologies in 2020 and beyond. The industry can also respond in other ways:

Understand the language of sustainability The UK Green Building Council is working with the Government to help shape the meaning of the ‘net-zero’ terminology but understanding its precise definition and what it means for your business and your customers is essential. What is the shift to carbon-neutral buildings?

Educate customers A home can have excellent energy efficiencies but maximising them is reliant on those who live there.

Many construction companies now provide energy efficiency training to new residents and motivate them by sharing performance data on their nZEB homes.

Make a declaration Using products with Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) is becoming increasingly important for the construction industry. These green certifications demonstrate sustainability credentials, helping to improve a property’s longterm value and attract and retain tenants and residents. Climate change and energy efficiency are all driving factors that will change the building industry as we know it in the coming decade. There is no silver bullet for global warming or

the challenges generated by a growing, urbanised population. However, the building industry is a significant driver of social change and a substantial contributor to the environmental footprint. As architects and engineers are forced to take these growing challenges into consideration, it’s important to remember that the buildings we inhabit need to be desirable, comfortable and affordable too. Modular buildings and materials that cause the least harm to the environment throughout their lifecycles present the building industry with an opportunity to overcome the challenges that changing legislation and intensifying demand will bring. 

www.gdhv.com

RCI

BIG ATTENTION TO SMALL DETAILS PAYS DIVIDENDS IN ROOF SPECIFICATION When it comes to specification, paying close attention to seemingly small details will go a long way to ensuring a roof remains watertight and problem-free during its lifetime, says Martin Bidewell, Head of Technical for Sika Roofing. technical support, D esign, surveying and contract management all have a part to play in successful roof installation. Such details are crucial to ensuring a building’s uppermost, protective layer remains as impervious to the elements as the day it was installed. As with most, if not all, roofing projects selecting an appropriate waterproofing system is crucial in applications involving a plethora of plant materials. PV panels, air conditioning units, rooflights and the like require regular maintenance. Therefore, great care should be given to the type of protection installed if the roof is to perform as required

and remain watertight. This is also true of other details such as junctions and upstands, which if not properly accounted for, can compromise a roof’s watertight performance.

minimises the risk of future problems. Oversights in relation to insulation or rainwater outlets, for example, could lead to water-ponding and premature wear and tear.

Ready expertise

Assurance scheme

The specification of a singleply system can help alleviate risk when it comes to roof installation. This outcome is easiest and best achieved in conjunction with companies such as Sika, which works closely with customers on the selection of a suitable system for a wide range of roofing applications. Engaging with a specialist roof manufacturer at the start of the roof specification process

Once the single-ply membrane and installation method has been specified, the relationship between the manufacturer and the roofing contractor becomes absolutely crucial. Utilising the expertise of a manufacturer and producing highly-detailed plans before the project begins, assures a roof’s waterproofing project is completed correctly first time, every time. Whatever

the installation; specifiers, contractors and their clients must turn to manufacturers and designers such as Sika to ensure a quality specification that meets the very highest standards. It will also minimise the potential for a project falling foul of the unseen devil in detail.



https://gbr.sika.com

17 & 18 MARCH 2020

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LIGHTING

SIMPLE YET EFFECTIVE LIGHTING FOR ACCESSIBLE BATHROOMS The bathroom is a particularly high fall risk area, where good lighting is essential. Surprisingly though, very little attention is paid to it when an accessible bathroom refurbishment is carried out. Here Stuart Reynolds, Head of Product and Marketing at AKW, discusses what ‘good lighting in an accessible bathroom’ looks like and shows how one local care organisation in Merseyside has put good lighting into practice, to reduce falls and other accidents in inclusive bathrooms in their city.

What is good lighting for accessible bathrooms? In a traditional bathroom, lighting is often associated with creating a look and feel in the space; be that crisp and contemporary, or warm and welcoming. However, when it comes to accessible bathrooms, the key thing to consider is the set of limitations that that particular user has and how to meet their needs. In the majority of accessible bathroom installations, an IP65 LED bulkhead is traditionally specified for use. Although this is highly adequate for lighting the space for general use, it doesn’t allow users with specific challenges, such as mobility challenges, visual impairments or dementia the extra help that they need.

For those with low vision or mobility issues, the avoidance of shadows, dark areas and glare are key to safe movement around a bathroom. With this in mind, a mix of ambient and narrow beam lighting is ideal. As to the types of lights and their positioning, AKW has worked with occupational therapists to create a simple-to-use guide on what to install and where, for maximum user benefit.

In summary, the key points of the guide are: • Include ambient lighting to maintain general light levels. This can be achieved with the use of LED ceiling lights, as these provide shadow-free illumination and are ideal for those with

visual impairment challenges, or dementia. • Include narrow beam LED downlights over specific ‘task-based areas’ such as the shower, bath, sink or toilet. Most LED downlights on the market have a beam angle of 60°; however, for those with low vision or mobility issues, a specialist task light with a 30° beam angle is best. This is because it delivers more ‘light where it is needed’ for the user. • AKW’s Task Focused Lighting Kit has been developed to help anyone looking to install lighting in an accessible bathroom. The kit contains everything needed for a standard-sized bathroom, but additional items can be added for larger spaces.

Accessible bathroom lighting in practice in Merseyside The St Helens Council’s Private Sector Housing department works hard with tenants and landlords to improve housing conditions in homes across the borough of St Helens, Merseyside. On hearing of the challenges faced by a disabled resident with additional visual impairment challenges, the department worked with AKW, one of the UK’s leading providers of accessibility solutions, to include a new lighting scheme in the accessible bathroom refurbishment, promoting the resident’s safety and independence. As well as ensuring housing standards are upheld, the Private Sector Housing department also advises landlords on best practice to help accommodate those with specific accessibility requirements. As part of this remit Technical Officer, Ioannis Leontaris, was tasked with specifying an accessible bathroom for a private residence, that not only accommodated

LIGHTING

An accessible bathroom for a person living with visual impairment – before and after showing a mix of AKW ambient and task-focused lighting

the resident’s mobility challenges but addressed their visual impairment limitations as well. Following talks with AKW, where the company’s new Task Focused Lighting Kit and ‘occupational therapist-advised lighting guide’ were discussed, Ioannis decided to recommend the lighting be used on this particular wetroom bathroom refurbishment.

Spotlight on lighting Alongside the replacement of the bath with a wetroom, new tiling, flooring and a moveable shower seat, the lighting was installed using the occupational therapist-advised AKW lighting guidelines. The inadequate existing lighting was replaced with two long-lasting, bright (1764lm) ambient LED ceiling lights for general illumination. In addition, five narrow beam (30º) ceiling LED task lights were installed: three over the shower area and one over both the basin and toilet. Following a request from Ioannis, the lighting was split into three different zones, with each operated by a separate light switch. The first switch controlled the toilet and basin task lights, the second was for the showering area, and the third operated the general illumination LED ceiling lights. The reason for the lighting zoning was so that the resident could have options regarding brightness, depending on their reason for visiting the bathroom. Laura Walsh, Sales Business Development Manager at AKW, explains further: “Adequate light levels are essential for any bathroom, but even more so when the user has vision and mobility challenges. By combining very narrow beam, highly-focused task lighting and high light level ambient lighting in the same kit; shadows, dark areas and glare in accessible bathrooms can be eradicated, ensuring safe movement around the space.” Ioannis Leontaris, Technical Officer at St Helens Council’s Private Sector Housing department, comments: “Our overarching mission is to improve the housing conditions in homes across the borough of St Helens. My work involves advising landlords and offering specific advice in relation to adaptations. I am pleased to say that this recent wetroom refurbishment has led to a dramatic improvement in bathroom accessibility for the resident. She is able to choose what level of brightness she wants in the bathroom, dependent on the task that she wants to undertake. The mix of ambient fittings, taskfocused lighting and zone switches have been a real success.” For those looking for further guidance on this subject, AKW’s Task Focused Accessible Bathroom Lighting Guide, developed in conjunction with occupational therapists, is available as a free download. 

www.akw-ltd.co.uk/lighting

INTERIORS

SCHOOL FURNITURE – MEETING PACE OF SOCIAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE In this article, William Tonkinson, Managing Director of education furniture and fit-out specialist Deanestor, looks at how furniture for schools is evolving to reflect the pace of social and technological change. has shown how R esearch children excel in stimulating, inspiring learning environments. With good design, schools can be much more than a place to deliver learning. They can be used to improve the education experience for both students and teachers. Every inch of our schools is now scoured for the ability to contribute to learning. Corridors are being widened to become extensions to the classrooms; stairs can provide seating spaces; learning plazas encourage social interaction to replace under-utilised foyers; previously single-use spaces such as dining halls and libraries are being designed to have multiple functions, accommodating performances and group learning hubs.

Social spaces to develop knowledge Secondary schools are moving towards a campus-style design which is closer to a college or work environment to better prepare young people for higher education or the world of work. Students now have more ownership of their learning, and there is a clear move away from

the teacher being the focal point at the front of the class. This is a significant shift driven by the curriculum but is also facilitated by new technology. A range of different spaces such as learning plazas and hubs encourage collaborative learning and a more fluid approach to teaching with a higher level of social integration for all age groups. Furniture has to be more agile, mobile and easy to reconfigure to reflect this transformation. Classrooms were typically separated by opaque structures such as walls and doorways. Open layouts now have glass partitions and uninterrupted lines of sight, utilising design ideas from cuttingedge workplaces such as Google and Apple campuses.

The importance of flexibility The pace of social and technological change is disorientating and modern learning environments are rapidly evolving as a result. Fundamental to making educational spaces work is incorporating long-term flexibility so that as technology, curriculum

and pedagogies continue to develop, those changes can be supported and not hindered. Teaching staff need to be able to tailor the learning environment to allow for short-term changes of layout and use – and for long-term expansion and contraction as capacity fluctuates in line with local demographics. This means movable or modular furniture that allows spaces to be rearranged with ease to reflect curriculum requirements. Furniture often has multiple functions. A bookcase would now be mobile and could have an integrated whiteboard so it can be both a room divider and a teaching aid. Lockers can have integrated booth seating or workstations, again encouraging social interaction. Teaching spaces have to be more versatile than ever before. We often have to configure furniture to work both in individual classrooms and in a large double classroom which can be opened up using movable or retractable walls. Super science laboratories can now accommodate two large classes working simultaneously on practical and written work.

The impact of technology Technology in schools today represents a huge leap forward. It is invisible, personal and mobile. This reduces students’ dependence on the teacher, promoting peer-topeer collaboration and widening the sphere of learning beyond the confines of the classroom to the whole school campus. In many secondary schools, each child is equipped with a tablet, and the majority of learning materials are digital; which reduces the need for physical storage. Modular workstations allow students to mirror screens, casting their digital work onto teaching walls, encouraging discussion and interaction. Furniture needs to integrate with the latest technology and accommodate future developments – such as the transition from desktop computers to tablets, but also projectors and digital recording equipment. Considerations that impact on furniture specification include docking stations, decluttering, space saving, disability access and device sharing.

Bringing nature into the learning environment Nature has a calming effect and children’s cognitive performance can improve in naturalistic environments. Research has shown the benefits of biophilic design for schools, and we are now seeing more projects extending this theme beyond primary to secondary schools. Biophilic is an interior style that recreates nature and incorporates nature-inspired features. Examples include the use of muted colours such as greens and blues replacing

INTERIORS bright primary colours, wood finishes, soft seating, carpets rather than hard floors, and high levels of natural light.

Making school design more personal People are more invested in the environments they can influence. In schools, if you give students the opportunity to change their learning space, engagement is enhanced. This means increased choice and variation in furniture types, different seating arrangements and finishes within the learning environment. In primary schools, children are given instructions and projects to work on independently, involving them more in their education, and this needs to be reflected in the furniture design. Collaborative spaces allow students to learn alongside and from each other. A quieter space for thinking or reading can improve concentration simply by making it easier. The flexibility of seating and desk or table arrangements allows students to create personalised learning spaces for the groups they are learning with – or for individual study. In classrooms, students tend to choose the same desk every time which restricts social interaction and the opportunity for shared learning. Removing desk barriers, for example, with modular furniture, can bring a class together to enhance discussion and collaboration. Lightweight chairs, soft seating, tables of different heights and moveable walls can transform alcoves into quiet reading spaces or suit small group learning or instruction.

Early engagement for a successful school project A typical new-build school will be fully designed before the furniture specification is developed at a much later stage. The issue here is the M&E services are often installed before the furniture specification has been finalised – and the services may not then work with the furniture. This means an excellent building cannot be used to its full potential. By bringing the team together at pre-construction stage – users, architect, contractor, M&E consultant, furniture and fit-out specialist – every aspect is fully coordinated, leading to a much more successful project. Cost planning is more accurate, and there are fewer design changes to the furniture, improving cost efficiency. Services should be located around the precise layout of the furniture – not vice versa.

Tips for specifying furniture, fittings and equipment for high-quality learning environments: • The furniture and fit-out specialist should be willing to engage with the design team and user group at the outset of a project to provide support and expertise in product and specification. An extensive product range is also important to meet the differing educational needs – from nursery and primary schools to secondary education, SEN, colleges and universities. • Well-designed furniture should be appropriately sized for different ages of children – with sufficient adult-sized furniture

where needed. For example, we are now being asked to provide teaching aids such as whiteboards at a higher level for teachers and lower levels for primary school children to use. • All furniture has to be durable to stand the test of time. Samples should be checked and the warranty package designed for longevity. Warranties for school furniture are typically for five years but can be extended up to 20 years for secondary school seating, for example. Here, developing productive, long-term supply chain partnerships are important. • Room layouts should be carefully planned with lightweight, movable and multi-function furniture. Irregular layouts mean reconfiguring furniture can be difficult. Can power or data supplies be safely accessed in the required locations? • Good ergonomic seating is vital. Any discomfort wreaks attention and concentration so seating should be comfortable for longer, more focused learning sessions.

• Writable surfaces are now increasingly being specified in secondary as well as primary schools to give children the opportunity to express ideas through sketching. This has been proven to facilitate learning and enable memory recall. • Sample rooms allow user groups to assess the look and feel of the interior layout at the initial design stages. This helps to avoid the cost of late design changes. • We advise bringing in equipment specialists at handover to show the teaching staff how equipment works in areas such as science, SEN, craft design and technology and home economics. The specification of high-quality, adaptable furniture for schools emphasises the value placed on learning by children, teachers and the community. Well-designed and robust furniture and fittings can promote high levels of positive interaction to help achieve education excellence. 

www.deanestor.co.uk

FIRE SAFETY

TRACEABILITY KEY TO ASSURED PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION The report into the cause of the fire at The Cube student accommodation building in Bolton, and how it spread, will help to shed light on how compatible modern approaches to construction and refurbishment are with the delivery of effective fire protection, says Ian Cowley, Regional Director (UK and Scandinavia) at Promat UK. from every T hefirelessons incident enable architects, clients and fire safety professionals to look for opportunities to adapt future building designs to eliminate risk. However, many projects will have a complex supply chain where multiple different suppliers and installers are contributing to a building’s delivery. This introduces risks with weak points in the supply chain having the potential to compromise design objectives which intend to provide adequate fire protection. Passive fire protection, through the integration of materials and systems that will resist fire and heat for a specified period in the event of a fire, is the foundation for a safe building. Separating key elements, such as fire doors and fire-resistant glazing, provides that crucial timeframe to allow for safe egress and the opportunity to minimise

damage and preserve assets should a fire break out. Whilst the focus of attention following the fire at The Cube – as with Grenfell Tower – will be on the materials used within building’s exterior cladding, it would be naïve to think that shortcomings can only exist in the area of the exterior envelope. In the 40+ years since Promat UK has been manufacturing fire-resistant products for the building sector, including core materials and intumescent seals for fire doors, fire-rated glass and complete glazing systems, we have seen countless incidences of products being wrongly specified, substituted for inferior alternatives or for products that haven’t been fire tested as part of the complete assembly in question, as well as poor installation. These errors are not made deliberately, but there appears to be a misunderstanding of how fire can behave.

That’s why we have been so proactive in the past three years in promoting the message of ‘Specified for a Reason’, which Promat UK has now registered as a trademark. This ensures that we can play our part in the creation of safe buildings by supporting clients in the specification and installation of fire doors and interior glazing. When it comes to fire doors and fire-resistant glazing, evaluating the suitability of any product needs to take into account its evidence of testing and approvals in the chosen design styles. Can the fire performance claims be substantiated for the type of specific application being specified?

Testing times There are five testing and approval methods which can indicate a passive fire protection product’s suitability for an application:

Primary test report Product performance is demonstrated through a specific test report from a UKASaccredited or notified European test laboratory. Raw data is published from a physical test in which a product or complete assembly is built and burned, conducted privately or via a thirdparty-accredited test facility.

Assessment report Used in lieu of a test report to criteria determined by the PFPF (Passive Fire Protection Forum), these are based on the overriding premise that the assessed performance would be achieved if the construction were tested. Assessments can only be made by appropriately qualified persons and are useful for a range of variants to systems when testing would simply be impractical and uneconomical.

Field of application report Appropriate when an extension to a product is deemed to be slight and, therefore, representative of expected performance for very specific applications, and with strict scope and conditions attached. The manufacturer will be clear about the range of situations in which their product can be sold.

FIRE SAFETY

Classification report

Track and trace

Written by an accredited body to provide a summary of the data from a test, including information on products and performance. Certain data may be redacted for IP reasons, but a classification report is accepted as proof of performance.

All of the above report approaches form the compliance governance of what can be used together, enabling a decision to be made about a product or system. But can we be certain that the products specified will ultimately be the ones that are installed? This is why traceability of components is the next vital consideration in passive fire protection. It ensures the pedigree of a product can be trusted that it is correctly sourced and not substituted, as all items are known from source. This also makes them easier to replace or recall if a problem arises. The transparency and clarity that traceability affords in the supply chain fosters loyalty, trust and confidence amongst customers and end-users, as well as allowing for easy benchmarking if alternatives are being considered. Ultimately, understanding how the various testing, assessment and accreditation methods work, which all have an important place in the passive fire protection supply chain, and specifying traceable products, will provide a clear picture on the capabilities and expectations from an installation. î&#x2122;ł

Third-party accreditation Third-party accreditation offers independent monitoring along the supply chain to ensure standards are being upheld at every stage. These schemes have a requirement for systems and products to be included which go over and above the fire test, with membership dependent on product sampling when testing, FPC audits and production controls, as well as a product recall procedure; should this be required. In addition, the installer should also hold some training certification which may be system-specific, or industry recognised such as FIRAS. All these methods originate with a test conducted to BS 476 or BS EN 1364 parts 1-4, and BS EN 1634-1:2008 specifically for doors. However, important differences exist between the five main routes used to provide evidence of compliance, so an understanding is needed for a confident, informed judgement to be made about the specification.

www.promat-industry.co.uk

TECHNICAL FOCUS

ASSURED SECURITY AND ACCESS CONTROL FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS The ownership, management and use of public buildings have evolved over recent years, meaning balancing security and access control for staff, assets and users can be something of a challenge. Here, Craig Birch, Product Category Manager at UNION, explains why the long-held perception of mechanically operated push button locksets as a security device for public buildings is potentially placing people and assets at risk, as well as the latest changes to the BS 8607 standards affecting this product that can help overcome this issue.

echanically operated push button locksets are used in public buildings around the world, to help manage access control at a site, as well as protect assets and people. However, it is an uncomfortable truth that these products very rarely offer any real level of security. They are, in fact, generally more a means of access control. Yet, for many years, mechanically operated push button locksets have been purchased as a means of securing an area where only authorised personnel are permitted. This is a commonly-held misconception of the purpose this product should serve.

Put simply, mechanically operated push button locksets are vulnerable to physical attack. A strong shoulder charge or kick would likely force most older ones open â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not ideal for a device that is thought of by many as a security solution. This is because the locking device typically used with traditional mechanically operated push button locksets is simply a tubular latch. These can be easily pushed back and do not offer any sideload resistance. Furthermore, many models can often be overridden because manufacturers do not supply the product with a code

that differs from the original factory setting. As a result, there is a risk that many mechanically operated push button locksets will unlock from the same code, unless someone has taken the initiative to update this. Many of those responsible for security and access control in public buildings have tried to overcome these shortcomings by using two devices on a single application. For instance, a British Standard lock with a key will be used, as well as a low-security access control device as well. However, operators are then faced with the task of deciding who needs to access this room and

how many keys need to be issued, all of which comes at a cost and presents other opportunities for security to be compromised. However, BS 8607 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the standard for mechanically operated push button locksets â&#x20AC;&#x201C; offers a series of grades that these locks can meet for strength and robustness. Grade 5 is the newest and most stringent level for delivering assured security and access control. But what does it offer that grade 4 does not?

Setting the standard Both grade 4 and grade 5 of BS 8607 stipulate that products meeting these standards must be

TECHNICAL FOCUS suitable for “applications where security, abuse and usage levels are expected to be equivalent to BS 3621”, which relates to thiefresistant locks. Products for both grades 4 and 5 also undergo a General Vulnerability Assessment, using tools such as vice grips, cordless drills, picking tools, chisels and wedges. But if the security, abuse and usage levels are the same, what then is the difference between the two grades? Essentially, those rated grade 4 can only achieve this standard with the help of an integral additional locking unit. So, with a grade 4 product, users must lock

and unlock the solution from the inside with a key, and then operate the mechanically operated push button lockset from the outside to unlock the door. In contrast, a mechanically operated push button lockset that meets grade 5 standards provides a ‘one-stop’ security and access control solution; one that does not require a separate locking unit. With a grade 5 product, the latch and lock are integrated and tested together, without the need for an additional key. This means that, when it shuts, a grade 5 solution automatically locks. Then, should a user need to exit a room, it is

simply a one-handle operation to unlock the door. While it is intended that both grade 4 and 5 devices offer the same resistance to attack and it is simply the way it is locked that is different, the fact that a user has to physically lock a door themselves with a grade 4 product means the technology is reliant on key holders to secure the premises themselves. Ultimately, those in charge of a public building’s access control and security measures need to take responsibility and ownership for this. But with a grade 5 solution, security is assured as the door will lock automatically.

In addition, third-party certification, inspection and testing of products conforming to security standards is also recommended. BSI certification offers a scheme specifically for products conforming to grade 5 under its Kitemark brand. This means the product will have been fully tested and inspected to this certification, offering complete peace of mind to those responsible for maintaining security and access control in these buildings and environments.



www.uniononline.co.uk/codeguard5

SHOW PREVIEWS

NAIDEX 46: ASPIRING FOR A BETTER FUTURE OF INDEPENDENT LIVING With 20% of the UK’s population being disabled, it’s time for disability to be in the spotlight – welcome to Naidex 46. most established E urope’s event dedicated to the disability and independent living industries is back for its 46th

anniversary, on 17 and 18th March 2020 at Birmingham’s NEC. Always looking to bring you the latest solutions that allow

disabled people to live more independently, this year’s show will put its focus on the key topics taking the industry by storm –

from inclusion and accessibility to mobility and employability, Naidex 46 has you covered. You’ll be able to shop from 400 world-class suppliers and try before you buy, but Naidex has always been much more than a marketplace where visitors can find the latest innovations – it is a place where people come together and learn about the industry’s future. As the epicentre of the disability and healthcare world, Naidex 46 will also boast an unparalleled speaker line-up, providing you with 300 inspirational seminars. Throughout both days, seminar theatres will be brimming with information and advice, leaving audiences uplifted and empowered. What’s more, you’ll be able to visit Naidex Trade, the sister show that comprises an exclusively B2B marketplace. With all this lined up, Naidex will once again become the hub of the disability world, offering all the innovations that are empowering people with a disability. Register for your free ticket via the below website. 

www.naidex.co.uk

SHOW PREVIEWS

SMART HOME EXPO 2020: THE UK’S ULTIMATE EVENT FOR SMART HOME TECHNOLOGIES 38% of UK consumers own or use smart technology, and with this number rising, it’s evident why smart tech is continuously making the headlines. Welcome to Smart Home Expo. The UK’s ultimate event for the smart technologies revolutionising the way we live is back for another year on 17th and 18th March 2020 at Birmingham’s NEC. bringing C ontinuously you the latest solutions and innovations in smart technologies that are a must for any future renovation or refurbishment project, this year’s show will put its focus into key topics taking the industry by storm – from smart buildings and commercial spaces, to smart homes and their future, Smart Home Expo has you covered. For 2020, the show is evolving to another level with the launch of the new zone, Smart Buildings LIVE – the UK’s hub for the innovations driving smart buildings forward. This feature groups together speakers, panel sessions, workshops and visitors from commercial property end-users to real estate developers – this has attracted a whole other audience to the show. You’ll be able to shop from world-class suppliers and try before you buy, but Smart Home is much more than just a marketplace where visitors can find the latest innovations – it is a place where people come together and learn about the industry’s future.

As the epicentre of the smart home and building world, you’ll be under the same roof as the industry giants courtesy of the unparalleled speaker lineup, providing you with inspirational seminars. Throughout both days, seminar theatres will be brimming with information and advice, leaving audiences informed, educated and empowered. What’s more, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in countless interactive features, join the training sessions at the Smart Building Workshop and be face to face with the most innovative brands such as Tesla and its masterclass to learn from the experts themselves. With all of this, and more lined up, Smart Home Expo and Smart Building LIVE are sure to become the hub of the smart world, offering all the innovations that are empowering people within the industry. Register for your free ticket via the below website. 

www.smarthometechlive.co.uk

FUTUREBUILD PREVIEW

Visit PSBJ magazine on stand A82 at this year's Futurebuild

FUTUREBUILD 2020: BE THE CATALYST FOR CHANGE From recent demonstrations to Government declarations, the message is clear – we need to work together if we are to succeed against the climate change challenges that we all face. this backdrop, A gainst Futurebuild 2020 (3rd to 5th March at ExCeL, London) will inspire professionals working in public sector construction to join fellow industry leaders and innovators to be the catalyst for change and deliver a more sustainable built environment.

Setting the agenda Futurebuild is recognised for its industry-leading conference offering, and the programme is evolving to be more unmissable than ever for 2020. Sessions will take place at the conference stage arena and will follow a three-day progression with the central theme of how to respond to the climate and ecological crisis and commit to making a real change. Highlights will include London Mayoral Candidate Rory Stewart joining an esteemed panel for the ‘Carbon-neutral cities for the future’ session on day two (4th March) of the event. The panel will discuss the actions that cities across the UK and abroad are taking to ensure a liveable future for all, from improving mobility to urban greening to combatting air pollution.

With the conference focusing on the biggest issues facing the built environment at a macro level, six keynote stages located across the event floor will look at the specific challenges impacting Building, Offsite, Energy,

Interiors, Resourceful Materials and Critical Infrastructure. This programme of solution-driven sessions will share the latest thinking and research, to educate, inform and inspire visitors to make a positive change.

Sessions set to be unmissable for public sector professionals include ‘Building a safer future – what steps are being taken towards fundamental reform’ (on day one of the event). Following on from the Grenfell disaster, a panel of experts will discuss what progress has been made in building competency and what this means for the industry and its supply chain. Other highlights include a discussion on day three (5th March) on ‘How social value can drive better practice’. This session will explore what social values look like within the context of the built environment and the recent progress that has been made on social value measurement.

Beyond the stages Around each keynote stage, there will be an exhibition of innovative brands, offering unique solutions to the challenges discussed in the companion knowledge programme. The exhibition will feature some of the largest headline brands in the sector, alongside SMEs and start-up organisations. Connecting the whole event will be the Innovation Trail – a guided route where visitors will discover innovative products, solutions and materials and meet the leading thinkers behind them.

The game changers are back With the focus of Futurebuild 2020 on innovation, the event will also see the return of the Big Innovation Pitch. Hosted in conjunction with technical partner BRE, the competition will identify and celebrate unique approaches to some of biggest challenges facing us all. Entrants will present their ground-breaking ideas on each of the six keynote stages on day one before shortlisted entries go head-to-head in the arena on day two. A panel of renowned judges will determine the overall winning idea, which will be incorporated into BRE Academy Training and showcased in the BRE Innovation Park. 

www.futurebuild.co.uk

SMART INNOVATIONS ON DISPLAY AT FUTUREBUILD Smart Architectural Aluminium will be showcasing a wide range of systems at this year’s Futurebuild exhibition – hall 1, stand B30 – with displays featuring its comprehensive Heritage Collection, as well as examples of some of the innovative solutions that the company has developed and produced for individual projects. At the heart of the stand will be a stylish room set, designed to display the company’s proven Alitherm Heritage Window and Door and Designer Door systems,

together with brand-new interior screen and walk-on roof systems, both of which are being previewed for the first time at the show.

GEBERIT ANNOUNCES INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP AT FUTUREBUILD 2020 Bathroom designer and manufacturer Geberit will be an 'Innovation Partner' at Futurebuild in ExCeL, London, from 3rd to 5th March. Futurebuild, the leading event for the built environment, has launched a new Innovation Partnership for 2020 with the most innovative brands from across the built environment. As an Innovation Partner, Geberit will be joining other leading brands in offering specifiers and decision-makers the opportunity to explore revolutionary products, solutions and materials through the event’s Innovation Trail. During the event, Geberit will also be showcasing its full package of acoustically-optimised solutions at stand C413, including behindthe-wall installation frames, cisterns, drainage pipes and its space-gaining Supertube drainage system, which was launched to the UK market last year. It will also be demonstrating how architects, consultants and developers can embed acoustics into projects without compromising on design.

www.geberit.co.uk/en enquiries@geberit.co.uk 01926 516800

As part of the company’s innovation display, a section of the stand will also be dedicated to a number of the project innovations that the experienced Smart design team have developed to meet the specific design objectives of individual projects, working closely with architects and contractors to develop solutions that deliver aesthetic, performance and construction benefits. Commenting on the company’s presence at the show, Managing Director, Eddie Robinson, said: “We are

FUTUREBUILD PREVIEW

delighted to return to ExCeL for Futurebuild 2020, and particularly to be involved in the Innovation Partnership, which provides a great opportunity to showcase just some of the examples of innovation that take place right across our business. “We are also looking forward to talking to visitors about the continued growth of our UK manufacturing base, which has recently been recognised through our accreditation by the ‘Made in Britain’ network, as well as the steps we continually take to drive sustainability throughout our business. From responsible material sourcing right through to waste recycling, we are proud of our environmental record and determined to keep leading the industry in this area.” For more details, visit the company in hall 1, stand B30 of this year’s Futurebuild exhibition.

www.smartsystems.co.uk sales@smartsystems.co.uk 01934 876100

OFFSITE SOLUTIONS LAUNCHES NEW DEVELOPMENT IN POD TECHNOLOGY AT FUTUREBUILD 2020 Offsite Solutions will be launching a major new development in pod technology at Futurebuild this year on stand G52 – its new range of MEP utility pods. An industry first for a UK bathroom pod manufacturer, the steel-framed utility pods are designed to accommodate all the mechanical, heating, technology and building services for individual apartments or studios for build-to-rent or build-to-sell schemes. The utility rooms will be delivered to site pre-plumbed, pre-wired and fully fitted out to reduce installation time to just a few hours. Futurebuild visitors can experience the quality of offsite manufacturing firsthand and the scope of solutions available. Its team of offsite specialists will be on hand throughout the event to advise on the design and procurement process for pods, and to discuss how taking an offsite approach to bathroom and utility room construction can accelerate the construction of new housing and achieve unparalleled consistency of quality.

www.offsitesolutions.com info@offsitesolutions.com 01278 780807

KBB BIRMINGHAM PREVIEW

KBB BIRMINGHAM 2020 TO OFFER LAYERS OF INSPIRATION FOR ARCHITECTS kbb Birmingham, one of Europe’s largest dedicated kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms exhibitions, returns for 2020 from 1st to 4th March, offering a wide range of design inspiration from KBB suppliers and manufacturers. The show, taking place at the NEC, will feature over 400 exhibitors showcasing the latest products and innovations. year’s theme is T his‘Individuality’ – and the show will feature a range of exhibitors ready to inspire visitors with many layers of design inspiration for kitchen, bathroom and bedroom spaces. Some examples of the brands reflecting this theme and highlighting innovative new products at kbb 2020 include:

Kitchen inspiration BLANCO UK, which specialises in manufacturing innovative kitchen sinks and taps, will be launching its new Smart Tap Collection, this includes a filter tap, a sensor tap, a volume measurement tap and a hot tap, making it perfect for consumers wanting a convenient yet sustainable choice. Samsung’s BESPOKE line up is a new category of refrigerators that allows users to set up their kitchen in a customised style. They are designed to be either freestanding or recess fit, meaning they can have cabinetry fitted around the fridge, to maintain the built-in look which is a whole new category option in the market.

Cambria, a producer of natural stone surfaces, offers a diverse palette of trendforward, sophisticated designs, colours and tones ranging from traditional to contemporary and bold to eclectic, showcasing timeless beauty inspired by nature and innovated for real life. At kbb, the brand will be displaying innovative designs from its most recent launch: Golden Dragon and Islington.

Bathroom inspiration Danish design brand Dansani will be displaying its new YOU bathroom furniture collections as well as its new towel warmers. Dansani produces and supplies modular bathroom furniture as well as shower enclosures and towel warmers. The brand creates solutions that allow consumers to make life – with all aspects involved – easier and more beautiful, also more meaningful. Tilelook is an online marketplace where you can create 3D photo-realistic designs with product lists, quantities and

pricing. On Tilelook, you will find over 250k tiles from a range of international brands. A must-see for this year, Tilelook will be hosting live demos throughout the show. QA Flooring Solutions is a leading manufacturer of luxury vinyl tiles and other flooring accessories. Its award-winning Luvanto Design Flooring range adds style to any room, and the brand will be exhibiting its latest ranges at this year’s event.

Bedroom inspiration Blum specialises in Moving Ideas; manufacturing and distributing lift, hinge and pull-out systems for furniture in all living spaces. At this year’s event, Blum will be showing its new SPACE STEP, a plinth solution which takes storage to new levels, AVENTOS HK top, a lift system, though small in size, which inspires with many integrated features, and a pull-out shelf lock, which offers a discreet space-saving mechanism which securely holds an open pull-out shelf in place.

www.kbb.com

KITCHENS, BEDROOMS & BATHROOMS

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KBB

SUSTAINABLE, COMPLIANT AND SAFE – THE DRINKING WATER SYSTEM THAT TICKS ALL THE BOXES The notion of health and safety in the workplace has evolved in recent years. It has been widened to not only consider working conditions and the safety of equipment but also the wellbeing – both physical and mental – of the building’s occupants, from employees and visitors to students and patients.

ealth and safety in the workplace is important not only to minimise sick leave but also to attract and retain

employees in the longer term. In fact, work-related illness and injuries cost UK Industry an estimated £14bn in 2016. But

it seems that the public sector isn’t quite meeting the mark in the same way that the private sector is. Research carried out on behalf of testing and certification company SGS revealed that there is a marked difference in how the public and private sector prioritise health and safety. More than one in two (54%) private sector organisations claim to conduct health and safety inspections on a monthly basis, compared to only 27% of public sector organisations. The research also highlighted a big difference between the private and public sectors when it comes to the adoption of systems that help enforce health and safety. 61% of private sector organisations comply with ISO 9001, while only 18% of public sector organisations do. The ISO (International Organization for Standardisation) gives specifications for products, services and systems that ensure quality, safety and efficiency. The benefits of complying to ISO

standards are fruitful. It ensures that products and services are safe and reliable. For business, they are strategic tools that reduce costs by minimising waste and increasing productivity. Zip Water’s innovative range of mains-fed filtered drinking water solutions are ISO 9001-compliant. Manufactured to the highest standards, the products are robust and reliable. The range also boasts a number of key features that ensure the health and safety needs of all users are met, waste is reduced and productivity improved. Selected models in Zip’s HydroChill range – environmentally-friendly bottle filling solutions – are available with additional UV Out filtration functionality. Working to prevent the growth of bacteria at the dispensing point where bottles come into contact with the tap, UV Out filtration acts as a strong steriliser, minimising the risk of retro-contamination. The Zip HydroTap also has a host of features that keep the user’s health and safety at the forefront. Zip’s marketleading MicroPurity filtration technology not only removes dirt, bacteria, microplastics and other contaminants larger than 0.2 microns from tap water, but also up to 97% of chlorine and 99.9% of microbiological cysts, if present. Additional accessibility features are available for selected models, including braille levers and the newly introduced DDA remote for wheelchair and visually impaired users. On top of these unique safety features, Zip’s mains-fed filtered drinking water systems keep users hydrated without the need for unsustainable plastic water bottles. Easy access to pure-tasting drinking water not only encourages users to drink more – improving health and efficiency – but also helps to reduce plastic waste. With annual budgets coming to a close, now is the perfect time for the public sector to consider how any remaining budget can be spent on making a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the people in these organisations. Transform your drinking water provisions. Get in touch with Zip Water before the 31st March for your competitive and bespoke quote.

specify.zipwater.co.uk/public-sector 01362 852247

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FLOORS, WALLS & CEILINGS

HAURATON CHANNELS DRAIN BLUE BADGE SCHEME PARKING BAYS AT RHS WISLEY On 10th June 2019, Alan Titchmarsh, MBE, opened the first phase of The Welcome Building and surrounding landscape at Royal Horticultural Society gardens, Wisley, Surrey. The new facility has transformed the experience for visitors to the gardens with new buildings including a spacious arrivals hall, cafe, shop, plant centre and a 100-seat restaurant. There are now three large car/coach parks including Blue Badge scheme, easy access bays for visitors in park two. 100m of Hauraton RECYFIX PRO 100 channel system, fitted with FIBRETEC C250 9mm HEELSAFE slot gratings, was used by groundwork sub-contractor GPB Construction to drain the asphalted Blue Badge parking bays for visitors. The channels were installed between the bays and the path leading to the entrance of the new arrivals hall. Since its launch in February 2010, the RECYFIX PRO 100 surface water drainage channel, featuring

the innovative FIBRETEC grating, has been specified and successfully installed in numerous UK drainage projects, including rail station platforms, public squares, shopping malls, sports fields, tartan running tracks and many other commercial and private applications. Hauraton specially developed the material, PA-GF used to make the FIBRETEC grating. The tough, UV-resistant, fibre-reinforced moulding offers high stability and huge strength for its weight. Complying with loading category Class C250 (BSEN 1433), the grating can easily take the weight of cars and commercial delivery vehicles. The design is a real innovation as its non-corrosive material provides a visually appealing surface finish that retains its black colour.

www.drainage-projects.co.uk sales@hauraton.co.uk 01582 501380

CHATHAM APARTMENTS’ RENDER FINISH BASED ON MAGPLY PERFORMANCE As well as its colourful naval history, the Port of Chatham also faces regular assault by storms blowing off the Medway. This prompted the designers for an apartment development on an elevated site, to specify a highly weather-resistant render finish to the elevations, applied across Magply boards. For the upper storeys, the 12mm Magply boards are secured across the timber framework infilling the main structure. The render system was applied and the finish to the apartments was primarily white with inset panels of light grey. Magply boards carry a variety of internationally-recognised accreditations including the recent award of a BDA Agrement certificate.

www.magply.co.uk

john@magply.co.uk

FIREFLY MEMBRANE WP OFFERS CERTIFIED PROTECTION FOR WALL CONSTRUCTIONS

01621 776252

CROWN TRADE ADDS FINISHING TOUCH TO NEW POOLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT Using a combination of products from Crown Trade’s popular high-performance Clean Extreme and Fastflow ranges and drawing on Crown’s expert colour specification advice, Poole Housing Partnership’s new supported living accommodation provides a welcoming space where residents will feel right at home for years to come. Crown Trade’s innovative Clean Extreme Stain Resistant Scrubbable Matt was used on the walls in the hallways, lift lobbies and other common areas within Block C, as well as private spaces in the supported living flats. Interior woodwork was decorated using Crown Trade’s Fastflow Quick Drying Undercoat and Satin, while Crown Trade’s Covermatt emulsion was also applied to all ceiling areas.

www.crowntrade.co.uk

info@crowntrade.co.uk

0330 024 0297

As an independently tested, provenin-practice and versatile construction material, Membrane WP from the Firefly range is ideally suited for use within facade build-ups and other wall constructions. It offers weather and fire protection while allowing moisture vapour to be vented from the structure. Firefly Membrane WP is manufactured in the UK by Lancashirebased TBA Protective Technologies and has been certified as Class A2 NonCombustible under the challenging EN 13501-1 standard by industry-renowned Warrington Fire laboratories. This means the membrane will not support a flame, propagate smoke, toxic gases, flaming droplets or particles – and has achieved a rating of A2, s1, d0.

www.tba-pt.com mrolfe@tba-pt.com 01706 758817

FLOORS, WALLS & CEILINGS

DESIGNER CONTRACTS SUPPORTS CHILDLINE FOR SECOND YEAR

MODERN BARN CONVERSION GIVES LISTED STONE RUINS A NEW LEASE OF LIFE

Designer Contracts, one of the UK’s largest flooring contractors, has sponsored the services of leading children’s charity, ChildLine, for one day. It’s the second time the company has supported the charity, which needs £30,000 each day to operate its counselling services, helping thousands of young people up to the age of 19 throughout the UK. Peter Kelsey, Designer Contracts MD, said: “We’re delighted to offer our support for the second year running. There are around 800 young people calling in to the charity in any one day, desperately seeking advice and assistance, so the generosity of the public is essential for it to operate effectively.” Designer Contracts sponsored the service for one day on Tuesday 3rd December 2019. Designer Contracts operates across 15 UK regional facilities. As well as flooring, the company provides curtains and blinds, furniture and lighting, and operates a showhome and design services division.

The historic listed ruins of a former farm estate property, dating back to the 19th century, required sympathetic repair whilst ensuring minimal disruption to the already fragile structure. These partially collapsed rubble stone walls had suffered from years of weathering and deterioration but were now to be incorporated into the annexe of a modern farm conversion. Flexible HeliBars were used to stabilise the ruins providing the ideal solution to the irregularities in the direction of the mortar beds. HeliBars were also suitable for reinforcing the chimney breasts and fireplaces, which were important features to retain from the previous split-level property the ruins once were. Once the concealed installation was complete, the ruins were fully stabilised and reinforced. The original materials were retained, structural integrity restored and the ancient walls could now be incorporated into the new annexe.

www.designercontracts.com enquiries@designercontracts.com 01246 854577

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

www.helifix.co.uk sales@helifix.co.uk 0208 735 5200

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

riserdeck@steponsafety.co.uk

01206 396446

          

www.steponsafety.co.uk

HVAC & ELECTRICALS

REACH GREATER SAVINGS WITH DANLERS IP66-RATED PIR SWITCHES

RENEWABLE HEATING HELPS CREATE WARM AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY HUB A new village hall in Trimingham, North Norfolk, has created a warm and welcoming hub for the community, thanks to a ground source heat pump installed by renewable heating expert Finn Geotherm. It specified and installed a Lämpöässä Vmi 17 three-phase ground source heat pump with integral 480-Litre thermal store in a purpose-built plant room. Built on a paddock, the 1200m ground loop array was laid in the area surrounding the village hall with the system now heating the entire building via underfloor heating. Although there were some obstacles to overcome, including a protected area for the wildflower Purple Broomrape, Finn Geotherm completed all the necessary groundworks.

www.finn-geotherm.co.uk info@finn-geotherm.co.uk 01953 45240

DANLERS has launched a new range of cost-effective IP66 -rated presence detection PIR switches for the automatic control of lighting and ventilation. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use, the products detect movement within the detection area and control the load accordingly. All controls in this range feature a high-definition sensor for greater detection accuracy. The new CEPD 17MH versions can be ceiling mounted up to 17m high with a detection range of 24m diameter. The WAPD IP66 versions can be wall mounted with a detection range up to 10m. Each control is suitable for switching up to 10 amps (2500W) of most loads and 6 amps (1500W) LED (PF ≥ 0.95).

www.danlers.co.uk

01249 443377

OMNIE UNDERFLOOR AND GROUND SOURCE PACKAGE WARMS STYLISH WELSH PROPERTY An individually designed and highly energy-efficient private house, nearing completion in South Wales, is making extensive use of the technologies available within the OMNIE range. Two types of underfloor heating systems were chosen to maximise the efficiency and comfort delivered by an OMINE SWCV 122 H1 ground source heat pump. The heat pump was chosen to supply both ample domestic hot water for the multiple bathrooms and space heating throughout. Using a flow temperature of just 40oC, the heat delivery is via OMNIE’s TorFloor UFH system across the ground floor rooms, while the LowBoard 15 alternative was preferred upstairs.

www.omnie.co.uk

CAMPUS FUTUREPROOFED WITH NETWORKED FIRE SYSTEM FROM ADVANCED

projects@omnie.co.uk

01392 363605

BIM FOR IP65 ASSISTANCE ALARM AVAILABLE

Swansea University has installed a network of Advanced fire alarm control panels to protect its 65-acre, £450m Bay campus from the threat of fire. The university has installed 25 one-, two- and fourloop MxPro 5 fire alarm control panels throughout its 11 academic Bay campus buildings. Installed alongside over 5000 Hochiki and Apollo protocol devices, each fire panel has been programmed as a standalone, with all information reporting back to the main security command centre repeater panel. As the campus continues to grow, further panels can be added to the site-wide network wise ease, creating time and cost efficiencies, while minimising disruption to the university’s staff and students. MxPro 5 is one of the fire industry’s leading multiprotocol fire system solutions and was recently certified by FM Approvals to the EN 54 standard. It offers customers a choice of two panel ranges, four detector protocols and a completely open installer network, backed up by free training and support.

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

sales@danlers.co.uk

Baldwin Boxall has announced the availability of BIM objects for its IP65-rated assistance alarm products. The products are tested and certified to IP65, therefore, enabling installation in wet environments where traditional-style products fail after a short period of time. The product range was developed as a result of frequent requests received by the manufacturer to supply waterproof toilet alarms. There are four products in the IP65 range: a ceiling pull cord, reset button, call button and call and reset point. The units, available separately, are designed so that they can be combined with the UK manufacturer’s standard toilet alarm products. This makes it possible for installers to fit the IP65-rated items where required, such as the pull cord and reset button in a shower with a standard overdoor light outside the room. For a working system, control can be via either the four-way toilet alarm controller or one of the EVC systems manufactured by the company.

www.baldwinboxall.co.uk mail@baldwinboxall.co.uk 01892 664422

CONSORT CLAUDGEN UPDATES BIM LIBRARY WITH NEW LST HEATERS Consort Claudgen has added new BIM objects to its BIM library, which consists of panel and fan heaters, recessed ceiling heaters and air curtains. The new objects are low surface temperature heaters from the Electronic sevenday timer range. All BIM objects are downloadable from the Consort Claudgen website or the NBS National BIM Library. The BIM objects featured in the NBS National BIM Library include technical details such as dimensions, ratings, insulation standard classes and electrical specifications to aid architects and specifiers in their design process.

HVAC & ELECTRICALS

WATERLOO DELIVERS REMEDY FOR HOSPITAL REFURBISHMENT The £170m redevelopment of Glan Clwyd Hospital in North Wales has seen Waterloo Air Products provide a wide range of air terminal devices which met the exacting hygiene standards of a healthcare facility whilst ensuring the wellbeing and optimum comfort of patients. In collaboration with M&E contractor Crownhouse Technologies, tasked with upgrading the hospital’s building services, Waterloo has provided over 600 of its air distribution products. With efficient ventilation and air distribution imperative for patients, visitors and staff, Waterloo’s Louvre Face Diffusers were specified across the various phases. This versatile, multi-cone, multi-directional diffuser easily mounts in a lay-in ceiling. With the ability to remove the central core, allowing easy cleaning and maintenance, it provided the ideal solution to maintaining the highest possible standards of hygiene in a healthcare environment. In addition, the specification also saw Waterloo supply its Vane Swirl Diffusers. Designed for rapid mixing of air in high ceiling areas (2.6-4m) and ideal for controlling airflow, these diffusers feature adjustable deflectors enabling different discharge directions.

www.consortepl.com/bim-modelling sales@consortepl.com 01646 692172

www.waterloo.co.uk sales@waterloo.co.uk 01622 711511

HAVE THEY GOT HAVE THEY GOT THE RIGHT CARD? THE RIGHT CARD? Make sure those carrying out scaffolding operations on your site are qualified to do so with our FREE scaffolder site poster. Email enquiries@cisrs.org.uk for are yourqualified copy today. Make sure card thoseA1carrying out scaffolding operations on your site to do so with our FREE scaffolder card A1 site poster. Email enquiries@cisrs.org.uk for today. visit www.cisrs.org.uk Foryour morecopy information For more information visit www.cisrs.org.uk

DOORS & WINDOWS

VBH PROVIDES A SAFE GREENTEQ EXIT

SECOND £10K DONATION BY THE WINDOW COMPANY (CONTRACTS) TO MOAT’S CHARITABLE FOUNDATION The Window Company (Contracts) has reinforced its commitment to the charitable foundation run by its client MOAT Housing. The Chelmsford-based commercial installer, which is partnered with MOAT on its window and door replacement framework for properties across Essex, London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, is giving more backing to the MOAT Foundation’s community hubs. The company’s original £10,000 donation in November 2018 helped to fund the opening of a brand-new community hub in Maldon, Essex, and this additional £10,000 will now allow the hub to scale up the range of services it offers to local residents. This includes everything from job clubs and digital skills workshops to activity sessions for the elderly and young children.

www.thewinco.co.uk thornton@thewinco.co.uk 01245 268120

Award-winning hardware specialist VBH has added Anti-Panic emergency exit and panic hardware to its greenteQ range of products. Manufactured in Italy, the range consists of panic bolts and panic latches in cross-arm and push-pad versions, and is available from VBH stock in white and silver finishes. Touch bars, mortice and electric devices, and other finishes, are all available on a special order basis. Panic latches are available as either single-point or three-point versions. All Anti-Panic bolts and latches are tested, certified and CE-Marked to the relevant BS EN1125 or 179 standards. greenteQ Anti-Panic devices are reversible, cutting down on a fabricator’s stock holding and eliminating handing errors.

www.vbhgb.com

01634 263300

YALE DOOR AND WINDOW SOLUTIONS OFFERS HARDWARE SUITE TO MEET FD60 Committed to improving fire safety in residential, commercial and public buildings, Yale Door and Window Solutions has successfully tested a number of its products to meet the FD60 fire door specification. The FD60 specification tests doorsets to withstand at least 60 minutes of protection against fires. Yale’s AutoEngage multi-point door lock, KM TS007 1-star Cylinder, TS008 letterplate and TS007 2-star handle were collectively fitted and tested on a 54mm door with Lorient’s intumescent seal, passing the test requirements of BS 47622:1987 and exceeding the FD60 time test by an additional 25%. This doorset assembly now allows architects, specifiers and OEMs to be FD60-compliant, helping to defend buildings against the spread of fire.

www.yaledws.co.uk

PREMIUM SOLUTION FROM ISOCHEMIE TO WINTER SEALING As winter’s icy grip bites, faster and easier joint sealing in temperatures as low as -30°C is provided by new ISO BLOCO 600 Premium Edition foam tape from ISO-Chemie. The precompressed impregnated self-adhesive foam tape, which has been independently tested and is BBA-approved, can be used on joints up to 42mm, providing a high-performance weathertightness and thermal/acoustic insulation seal for fenestration and facade applications. The versatile ISO BLOCO 600 Premium Edition can be used to provide effective gap seals to accommodate expansion and movement while remaining permeable to trapped water and water vapour in extreme weather conditions – similar to a flexible, breathable-style material for the building facade. Quick and easy to apply, the tape can be used to seal joints providing excellent thermal and acoustic insulation properties. The product can accommodate a temperature range of -30° to +90° and is impermeable to driving rain with a minimum of 600 Pa, making it one of the best-performing tapes in its class.

www.iso-chemie.eu a.swift@iso-chemie.co.uk 07837 337220

gary.gleeson@vbhgb.com

01902 366800

MORLEY GLASS & GLAZING AND SAINTGOBAIN GLASS TAKE RECYCLING TO THE NEXT LEVEL Integral blinds manufacturer Morley Glass & Glazing is working in partnership with Saint-Gobain Glass to take recycling to the next level. The two companies are joining forces to recycle and re-use post-consumer glass; that is glass that has been taken out of old windows that have reached the end of its life. Saint-Gobain Glass already operates the UK’s largest cullet or waste glass return scheme and, since the introduction of using cullet in the manufacture of float glass, the company has been able to increase the amount of recycled material utilised to 35% – rising to 41% in some cases. Morley Glass & Glazing has now stepped in and offered its 50,000ft2 manufacturing space in Leeds, to serve as a collection centre for post-consumer glass and has installed a glass crushing machine and employed one new member of staff to manage the scheme. Visit the website to find out more about the recycling scheme.

www.morleyglass.co.uk 0113 277 8722

SIMPLIFYING THE SPECIFICATION PROCESS WITH NEW IRONMONGERY GUIDES Five guides on architectural ironmongery for different applications have been launched for architects and specifiers. The new guides have been created by the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) to ensure that anyone involved in the specification of door and

window hardware has access to the latest, best practice advice. “The guides are really useful and have stayed on my desk ever since I received them,”

says Stephen Wright, Senior Architect at McAdam Design. “It’s good to have each guide on hand to check standards and the different types of certification, as well as remind myself of the different types of products I can choose from for each application. “As an architect, I will always turn to an ironmongery specialist to ensure I’m picking the best products for the project, but these guides help to make me more informed. It gives

DOORS & WINDOWS

me a better understanding of what is going into a building and why, so that when I approach an architectural ironmonger, I already have an idea of what sort of product or solution I’ll need.” Based on the RIBA-approved CPD presentations created by the GAI, the guides cover security, accessibility, fire and escape doors, specialist applications and access control. Each guide contains comprehensive product information, diagrams and detail on the relevant Building Regulations and industry standards. Douglas Masterson, Technical Manager at the GAI, said: “We recognise that specifying architectural ironmongery can be complex, so we’ve pulled together all of the information an architect or specifier will need to help ensure the hardware is not only compliant but also performs as expected and suits the environment it is being used in.”

www.gai.org.uk info@gai.org.uk

High Quality, Traditional Timber Windows and Doors Providing Tailor Made Solutions For Your Project. Period Property Experts. Supply Only, Supply and Install, Draught Proofing and Overhaul. Trusted trader

01344 868 668

www.sashwindow.com

RCI

ALUMINIUM OR PVCU – WHICH IS BEST FOR YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY PROJECT? Shelforce is Birmingham City Council’s chosen manufacturer of choice for local authority building projects, specialising in social housing, education and the new-build sector. With extensive experience in delivering window projects on time and in budget, Shelforce’s Business Manager, Howard Trotter, tackles one of the age-old debates when it comes to windows – which are better for your local authority project, aluminium or PVCu windows?

hen a debate is as long-standing as which material is better when it comes to windows, aluminium or PVCu, it’s usually a sign that it’s almost impossible to answer. Historically, aluminium was the material of choice for windows in the ‘60s and ‘70s, but due to poor thermal efficiency and quality, PVCu took over the mantle and has proved the most popular choice for window frames since the ‘80s thanks to its affordability. Aluminium windows, however, have come a long way over the past decade in terms of affordability, durability, and thermal efficiency. While

aluminium is a firm favourite with architects and commercial entities, housing associations tend to lean more towards PVCu. But what it really comes down to is budget and the kind of project being undertaken.

Strong, stylish and sleek The surge in popularity of aluminium windows can be traced to the stylish look they offer, with sleeker frames and slimmer sightlines creating a clean and modern look. Slimmer window frames allow for a bigger pane of glass, meaning a better view and more natural light coming in. Aluminium is fantastic for

curtain walling, shop fronts and commercial entrances due to its durability and strength, while it’s also the best product for achieving stringent wind load calculations. Thanks to advances in technology, aluminium windows are now among the best-insulated on the market due to an innovative polyamide thermal break within the frame which prevents too much heat from being conducted. And because aluminium is a highly durable metal that doesn’t rust, the frames are practically maintenance-free and can last up to 45 years.

aluminium are available, which now provide the aesthetics called for by architects. PVCu is also resistant to rot which means they require little maintenance and provides good insulation ability, while a PVCu window has a lifespan of 35 years and as a hugely sustainable material it can be recycled 10 times, meaning PVCu can offer up to 350 years of service. Multichambered PVCu frame profiles can also help reduce noise and are also warp-free, which means there will be no distortion in the frame which can seriously reduce the effectiveness of the seal.

Significant advances – and still good value

Application is everything

The popularity of PVCu windows is down to their affordability thanks to material costs and being much quicker to manufacture. But there have also been significant advances in the PVCu market with respect to design and PVCu systems have been introduced that replicate both aluminium colours and sightlines, as well as more traditional finishes, such as flush sashes for traditional timber alternatives. Thanks to the new PVCu designs and colour options, more cost-effective solutions to

It’s clear that aluminium windows have developed over the past 10 years, but there will always be a place for PVCu thanks to its affordability and the significant advances in the PVCu market. But as to which one is better, it comes down to application. For curtain walling or wide span projects, aluminium should be favourite. When it comes to affordable housing, however, PVCu is the material to consider.

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

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

To enrol today visit: w rics.org/mediation

t 02476 868 584

FOCUS & INNOVATION

SUSTAINABILITY GOES BEYOND THE ENVIRONMENT Discussions surrounding sustainability generally focus on the reduction of carbon emissions, the responsible sourcing of materials together with the recycling and elimination of waste, which are all vitally important. However, sustainability goes beyond the environment. Goodwin, Managing A ndy Director for B&K Structures, shares some thoughtprovoking ideas on developing the right talent to sustain the future of the engineered timber industry. With construction experiencing consistent levels of growth, one of the major issues facing the industry today is an ageing workforce and the looming impact of Brexit. The offsite industry has been hailed as the solution but to remain at the forefront of innovation in structural

timber technology, it needs to attract the brightest and best to sustain our national heritage in timber construction. Andy explains: “Great timber engineers are well regarded and highly valued but in the main, applications for these posts come from overseas. Clearly, outside the UK, timber engineering is a profession of choice – so why does this role not broadly appeal to home grown talent, particularly as this is an area where the UK leads the

world? Is it simply, that this career option is not widely promoted by colleges and universities? Or could it be that education providers are struggling to recruit offsite industry experts to teach the next generation of structural engineers. I suspect it is a bit of both.”

So, that’s the dilemma, but what is the solution? Andy adds: “We in the industry need to take responsibility; after all, it is in our own interest. Greater collaboration is needed with education providers to explore ways to engage directly with students. “B&K Structures has formed partnerships with Nottingham Trent University and Derby College. Our Pre-Construction Manager, Jules Peyré, recently took part in a guest lecture at Nottingham Trent University, it was a beneficial experience for all and the feedback was rewarding.” Jason Bierton, Senior Lecturer in Architectural Technology and Chartered Architectural Technologist, said: “We are extremely grateful to industry partners who are prepared to

share their time, knowledge and expertise in assisting our students with their professional development and employability skills. Our architectural technology students appreciated the optimised offsite construction guidance and case studies presented by Jules Peyré from B&K Structures. This will help inform our students’ final-year project and ultimately assist Nottingham Trent University in continuing to provide significant learning opportunities.” Andy continues: “It’s not just guest lectures that we are involved in, we are very proud to report that 25% of the B&K Structures’ team are currently taking part in or have completed apprenticeship schemes and part-time degree programmes. Our Degree Apprenticeships are delivered in collaboration with Derby College and Nottingham Trent University in Quantity Surveying together with Level 3 Apprenticeships in Digital Engineering, Construction and the Built Environment. “We have some fantastic examples of how we are creating the built environment of tomorrow, new techniques such as drone surveys and the use of virtual reality. It is down to those involved in the industry to show the very broad and rewarding career opportunities in construction.”

www.bkstructures.co.uk

NEW COURSE HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF ADR RICS – Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors – has launched a new online training programme to support professionals working in the built environment to acquire knowledge in dispute resolution processes and procedures. When people are involved in potential and real disputes, the ADR – Alternative Dispute Resolution – skills of RICS professionals are extremely

valuable and knowledge of this is a mandatory requirement for professionals working towards becoming chartered with RICS. Martin Burns, Head of ADR

Research and Development at RICS, explains: “When it comes to the built and natural environment, disputes are an everyday occurrence. People fall out over matters such as property rents, construction costs, service charges, land boundaries and much more, therefore, the professional help and advice from chartered surveyors is crucial for clients.” The Foundation Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution and Conflict Avoidance covers

FOCUS & INNOVATION

a range of dispute resolution methods and provides information and guidance for surveyors, irrespective of whether they are directly involved in disputes now or in the future. For professionals working towards becoming chartered, the programme covers the knowledge requirements of the APC mandatory Alternative Dispute Resolution and Conflict Avoidance competency. RICS professionals often represent clients who are involved in dispute resolution processes such as arbitration, mediation and adjudication – all topics covered within the course. Chartered surveyors also take on the role of independent dispute resolvers, and RICS, through its DRS – Dispute Resolution Service – appoints chartered surveyors to act as arbitrators, mediators, adjudicators and independent experts in thousands of disputes each year.

www.rics.org/uk contactrics@rics.org 0247 686 8555

DEANESTOR COMPLETES £1.5M FURNITURE AND FIT-OUT CONTRACT FOR SCOTLAND SCHOOL

NEW YEAR, NEW NAME: POLYPIPE CIVILS & GREEN URBANISATION Polypipe Civils & Infrastructure has changed its name to Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation. “As our cities and towns keep growing, green infrastructure becomes more and more important,” says Steve Durdant-Hollamby, Divisional Managing Director for Polypipe Civils & Green Urbanisation. “It’s not just about making our urban environments resilient to climate change, it’s about improving the quality of life for people living and working in them.” Polypipe’s green urbanisation journey started 12 months ago with its acquisition of Permavoid. A high-load-bearing sub-base replacement system, Permavoid provides shallow stormwater retention and can be used under permeable, hard surfaces, where its passive irrigation system can act as a water source for grass and plants.

www.polypipe.com/civils 01509 615100

Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading contract furniture specialists, fit-out over 200 rooms for the first new secondary school to be built in Scotland in more than 25 years. Deanestor supplied and fitted more than 8000 items of equipment for this project, including teaching aids, sports equipment, raised bleacher seating and lockers as well as soft furnishings. It manufactured around 1200 items of bespoke fixed and loose furniture across the school, which included 1200m of shelving, 300m of worktops, 350 cabinets and over 150 purpose-designed seating booths for the learning plazas and other areas. Sensory equipment and furniture were also supplied for up to 35 children with special educational needs.

www.deanestor.co.uk/schools enquiries@deanestor.com

01623 420041

BLOCKED KEYWAYS TO BECOME A THING OF THE PAST THANKS TO WREKIN PRODUCTS Wrekin Products has created GritBlocker; a solution to blocked keyways, which can encourage unsafe removal methods of manhole cover lids and lead to wasted time on site. Manhole cover lids are removed by inserting and rotating the correct key into the keyway before safely lifting the lid from the frame. However, keyway pockets often fill with debris such as grit and stones, which prevents the use of the lifting key. GritBlocker, a foam insert that sits in the keyway to stop debris ingress and which remains in place whilst a key is inserted and rotated, solves both of these problems.

www.wrekinproducts.com sales@wrekinproducts.com

01543 440440

FOCUS & INNOVATION

SUSTAINABILITY AND SOUND DESIGN AT THE CHAMBERLAIN HOTEL When interior design company Sibley Grove was appointed to re-design the public areas at The Chamberlain Hotel near Tower Hill in London, sustainability was paramount. The company ethos states that design should be a vehicle for positive change – both environmentally and socially. Consequently, to help achieve this, Troldtekt’s wood-wool panels make an important contribution to the overall design of the luxurious interpretation of an industrial basement bar. As part of the concept, the interior has been stripped back to create height and volume, revealing

structural columns and ductwork within. In addition, the facade has been adapted so that natural

NEW WINDOW COMBINES SOUND INSULATION WITH NATURAL VENTILATION

www.troldtekt.co.uk info@troldtekt.co.uk 01978 664255

BMI UK & IRELAND FINDS FLOW WITH SEALOFLEX LIQUID APPLIED ROOFING RANGE

New from HUECK UK is the Lambda SA I. This innovative window solution achieves sound insulation figures of up to 31 dB even in the ventilated position. Bronze winner of the Architects’ Darling Awards in 2019, this window is suitable not only for the residential market, but an optimum solution for all buildings requiring sound insulation combined with natural ventilation. The versatility and excellent performance of the Lambda SA I, not only in terms of sound insulation and ventilation but also visually, offers planners and architects an attractive alternative to impact panes or double windows. Uniform profile depths and fixed frames mean the same external appearance can be achieved for building sections subject to high and low levels of noise. Whether as an individual solution, with a fanlight or bottom light window for inrush ventilation, or integrated into a window strip – HUECK Lambda SA I can be combined in a variety of ways within the Lambda modular system.

www.hueck.com info.uk@hueck.com 0190 5677480

light can flood in and reveal the inner working of the space. By its very nature, this created a lot

of hard surfaces, so Troldtekt’s acoustic wood-wool panels were specified to help combat the problems generated by noise and reverberated sounds. The designers were keen to specify as many sustainable and Cradle to Cradle-certified materials as possible such as wall and floor tiles, timber, carpets and Troldtekt’s wood-wool ceilings (certified to ‘Silver’ level). By specifying these products, the environmental impact is minimal and also that, if and when the time comes for a change, the materials can be reused, re-appropriated, recycled or upcycled. Specified throughout the UK and Europe, the benefits of 100% Troldtekt natural woodwool panels include high sound absorption, high durability, natural breathability, low-cost life cycle performance and sustainability. Available in various sizes and in four grades from extreme fine to coarse, the panels can be left untreated or painted in virtually any RAL colour.

BMI UK & Ireland has enhanced its portfolio with the introduction of BMI Sealoflex. To provide ultimate specification and installation peace of mind, the three systems in the range – Sealoflex Ultima, Sealoflex Prima and Sealoflex Endura – are all backed by the company’s market-leading guarantees and six-step specification service to meet customer design and technical needs. Headlining the new collection is Sealoflex Ultima, a lightweight, seamless and extremely versatile, single-component system. Being low odour and solvent and VOC-free, Ultima is 100% hazardless and a superb choice in refurbishment applications where there may be environmental sensitivities – such as concerns over emission impacts on installation teams or building occupants who need to remain in situ. Its single component chemistry, ‘wet-on-wet’ application and fast cure time of, depending on environmental conditions, 45 minutes to ‘rainproof’ and two hours to overcoating; means installers can get on and off the roof quickly, again important when tenants cannot be decanted and also improving productivity and profitability.

uk.bmisealoflex.com marketingukandi@bmigroup.com

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