PSBJ February 2024 by Red Hut Media Ltd

Public Sector Build Journal February 2024

Healthcare

Education

GT3 Architects takes a closer look at designing for dementia

Leisure

psbjmagazine.com

Issue 138

SECURE SETTING BOASTS ACTIVE RECOVERY ‘Village campus’ is vital to the future delivery of modern and effective forensic mental health services

Housing

What could EPC ratings for social housing look like in the future?

Selecting the right powder coat finish for architectural aluminium

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WELCOME NOTE

Editor

Hannah Woodger

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Rebecca Kemp

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Print & Digital Advertising Sam Ball

sam@redhutmedia.com Image: ©Richard Chivers

Jim Moore

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Designed by Medical Architecture, Sycamore at Northgate Park Hospital is vital to the future delivery of modern forensic mental health services in the north east of England. See page 08.

Print Design Manager Jack Witcomb

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Digital Design Manager Matt Morse

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Publisher Sam Ball

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Welcome to the February issue of PSBJ... Research suggests that there are more than 944,000 people in the UK living with dementia – with one in 11 people over 65 with the condition. Despite being hailed as a welcome step in the right direction, that number could increase, however, following new studies that a simple blood test could revolutionise the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. Researchers have evaluated a commercial blood test, already on the market, which could be just as good as the lumbar punctures and expensive scans at detecting signs of Alzheimer’s in the brain. For those who have had first-hand experience of living or caring for someone with dementia, you will agree that what was once deemed a simple or routine outing may now induce stress or cause distress to someone suffering with dementia. A trip to the local leisure centre to enjoy the mental and physical benefits of exercise, for instance, could be seen as a barrier, especially if the building is considered confusing or unsuitable by its users. As we embark on this potential upward trajectory of dementia diagnoses, our built environment should most certainly accommodate the proportion of society that would benefit from an inclusive design approach. This month, we hear from GT3 Architects’ Senior Architect and Research & Development Lead, Judith Atkinson, who explores not only the impact of design on those with dementia but also uncovers some key features of dementia-friendly design, from appealing to the senses, offering nostalgic references, practical design aspects, signage and wayfinding and biophilic design. Turn to page 12 to read more about this fundamental approach to design. Elsewhere in this edition, Build Test Solutions considers what future EPC ratings could look like in social housing properties, Nuaire discusses the urgent need to address mould and condensation in social housing and Vanguard Healthcare Solutions explains how modular facilities are proving to be a versatile solution for stopgap requirements and longer-term planning of medical buildings and spaces.

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CONTENTS

06 News

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

08 Upfront

Designed by Medical Architecture, Sycamore at Northgate Park Hospital is vital to the future delivery of modern forensic mental health services in the north east of England.

12 Leisure

GT3 Architects takes a closer look at designing for dementia, how architects can raise awareness and why it should be considered in the early stages of a project.

14 Legal & Business

Mark Edgerley, Associate Director of Boyer, reflects on the recent bankruptcy of Birmingham City Council and considers how this impacts the proposed Infrastructure Levy.

16 Doors, Windows & Balconies

Sapphire Balconies looks at how ‘nextgeneration’ manufacturing means companies taking responsibility for not just their carbon output but also the materials they use.

08 18 Housing

Build Test Solutions explores what the future EPC ratings in social housing properties could look like, drawing from research that suggests EPCs are based on assumptions.

20 HVAC

Wendy Thomas, Nuaire Residential Product Manager, discusses the urgent need to address mould and condensation in social housing, including changes to the law and best practice.

22 Paints, Coatings & Finishes

When it comes to selecting the right powder coat finish for architectural aluminium i.e., windows, doors, cladding, unitised panels etc., it helps to understand how the powders are rated.

24 Healthcare

Vanguard Healthcare Solutions reveals how modular facilities are proving to be a versatile solution, both for stopgap requirements and longer-term planning of buildings and spaces.

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CONTENTS

16 34 Technical Focus

12 26 Golden Thread

What is the big idea behind the Golden Thread and its significance in enhancing building safety? Simon Blackham, Senior Technical Manager at Recticel Insulation, explores further.

28 Education

Bentley discusses the problems weather can cause education construction during this time of year and how offsite construction can provide a welcome solution.

30 Bricks & Blocks

A fabric-first approach should be the mantra for the construction of all social housing if we are to ensure homes are affordable for residents to heat, explains H+H.

32 Talking Point

A switch from an architecture- and engineering-led to a landscape-led approach to masterplanning is critical to the delivery of modern-day placemaking, says OPEN.

Diarmuid Murphy, Director of Property at Murphy Geospatial, explains why asset owners on the journey to decarbonisation should invest in a digital twin.

36 Futurebuild Preview

Returning from 5 to 7th March to London’s ExCeL, Futurebuild will continue its mission in taking a stand for a better built environment.

38 Product Showcase

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

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NEWS

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

Sustainable Leisure and Wellness Centre opens in North Yorkshire North Yorkshire Council has delivered a new £17.5m energy-efficient Leisure and Wellness Centre to the residents of Knaresborough. The new-build centre, developed by Alliance Leisure through the UK Leisure Framework, was originally commissioned by Harrogate Borough Council and is now part of a wider £47.9m leisure transformation project by the newly-combined North Yorkshire Council. Investment has also delivered an extensive refurbishment of The Harrogate Hydro – rebranded the Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre, which creates a network of modern, sustainable leisure and wellness hubs designed to serve the community for many years to come. In Knaresborough, the new Leisure and Wellness Centre delivers a range of wet and dry facilities for all ages to enjoy. In addition to a six-lane 25m pool, complete with pool pod, a leisure pool with flume and a 60-station fitness suite, there is also a sauna and steam room, a group fitness studio, an immersive group cycling studio and a cafe. Outside, a children’s play area constructed from natural materials will open this year and has been designed to blend in with the surroundings. Electric car charge points and bicycle storage have also been added to encourage sustainable travel.

Fusion21 appoints suppliers to £346m Building Improvements Framework Procurement expert Fusion21 has announced the suppliers successfully appointed to its national Building Improvements Framework worth up to £346m over a four-year period. Following a competitive tender process, a total of 70 specialist firms (74% being SMEs) have secured a place on the framework, which has been developed to support public sector organisations, including housing, education and healthcare providers. The framework offers a wide range of internal and external improvement works from the installation of kitchens, bathrooms, windows and doors to roofing work. It has been enhanced to include four new dedicated lots covering damp and mould, external environmental improvements (such as fencing, driveways, walls, hard and soft landscaping), insulation and aids and adaptations. Peter Francis, Executive Director of Operations at Fusion21, said: “In addition to working with a team of technical procurement experts, Fusion21 members accessing this offer will benefit from a compliant and efficient route to market, flexible call-off options and geographical coverage across the UK, down to a regional and local level. As with all Fusion21’s frameworks, the Building Improvements Framework will also support our members to deliver social value to their communities, aligned to their organisational priorities.”

Green light for campuswide refurbishment of Edinburgh College of Art Planning consent has been granted for a campus-wide development plan to consolidate and improve the Edinburgh College of Art’s (ECA) existing estate. This Hawkins\Brown-designed scheme will see five ECA buildings retrofitted to align with the university’s ambition of becoming more outward-facing, accessible and inclusive. A key strategic move is to consolidate key facilities to allow more flexible teaching and studio spaces for students. This enables the university to increase its capacity and integrate the School of Music into the ECA campus to sit alongside existing disciplines and foster creative collaborations. The Grade A-Listed former fire station will be fully refurbished to create a range of workspaces for staff and to house digital making facilities and a material recycling hub, while being respectful of the character of the building. Adaptations will be made to the two other listed buildings to improve their operational efficiency. The works will improve the buildings’ environmental performance; upgrading the thermal performance of the building envelopes, installing air-source heat pumps in lieu of existing gas boilers as well as specifying energy-efficient fittings. Increased cycle facilities will encourage active travel, and the courtyard landscaping will enhance biodiversity.

Ceremony marks start of works for new Tamworth school Works have officially started to construct a new primary school in Amington, Tamworth, which will provide much-needed new teaching provision for the local area. Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, is delivering the construction of the £7m Garden Village Primary School on behalf of Staffordshire County Council and alongside Entrust as the project manager and concept architect. Procured through the Constructing West Midlands (CWM) framework, the school will be managed by Fiertè Multi Academy Trust. Due to open its doors to its first cohort of pupils in September 2024, the new two-storey 1FE school located on Eagle Drive in Amington will provide 210 primary and 26 nursery places to meet the demand for residents in the nearby housing developments. The facility will comprise nine classrooms, staff offices, an indoor school hall and catering spaces, alongside an outdoor play area to enable pupils to take part in a number of sporting activities. The energy-efficient design will ensure a good amount of daylight and natural ventilation to the building and to ensure the scheme adjusts to temperature changes, high levels of insulation and thermal mass will be applied to walls and ceilings. Chris Flint, Managing Director of G F Tomlinson, said: “We have a longstanding relationship with Staffordshire County Council and Entrust and it is a privilege to build on this as we commence our ninth scheme working together.”

NEWS

Holmes Miller appointed as lead architect for new Dundee FC stadium Holmes Miller Architects has been appointed by Dundee Football Club to begin work on designing a new stadium for the club. The project will see the development of plans for a proposed new, state-of-the-art stadium as part of a mixed-use development at Camperdown, to replace the club’s current home of Dens Park, which dates back to 1899. Holmes Miller has worked with LJRH of Dundee, to develop a masterplan with the new stadium concept at its heart. A Planning Permission in Principle application (PPiP) covering the proposals was lodged in January 2024. An expert in stadium design, Holmes Miller has designed and delivered a diverse portfolio of stadium, arena and leisure projects across the UK over the past four decades, including the recent vision for Hampden Park in Glasgow. With a capacity of around 12,500, the stadium will be designed to amplify matchday atmosphere, featuring a home-end safe-standing tribune, activated concourse areas and LED screens. The scheme will also feature a 1000-capacity multi-use venue, tiered hospitality experiences and a 250-capacity brewhall. Net-zero design and inclusivity will be at the core of the project, as the proposed stadium will meet international standards for accessibility and sustainability, underpinned by cutting-edge AV and communication technologies to enhance the experience for all.

Pagabo launches new knowledge initiative Seeking to further knowledge across the built environment and public sector, national framework provider Pagabo has launched a brand-new knowledge initiative, Pagabo Live. The first episode launched on 24th January with a webinar discussing the recent changes to the Building Safety Act. Drawing on its extensive procurement ecosystem, Pagabo’s experts were joined by Willmott Dixon’s National Product Director Graeme Whitty and Richard Glazzard, Regional Director at AtkinsRéalis. Topics for upcoming episodes of the new monthly series include the most efficient way to approach ‘summer works’ for the education sector, as well as funding and budgeting for major projects and developments. As well as presentations from the guests, the webinars will also feature a question and answer section, with audience members able to submit their own queries to the live panel. Jason Stapley, Chief Procurement Officer at Pagabo, said: “The key aim of launching Pagabo Live is to distil and discuss some of the built environment’s current hot topics with the help of some of the industry’s leading experts. But, more importantly, the discussions are designed to help public sector organisations navigate their route forward, make better decisions and best use of funds for maximum impact.”

New state-of-the-art £5.6m operating theatre completed A new modular Laminar Flow Operating Theatre at Newark Hospital can now deliver up to 2600 extra surgical procedures per year, thanks to the efforts of a collaborative construction team. The project, funded by NHS England’s Targeted Investment Fund (TIF), was procured through the ESPO Property, Building and Infrastructure Advice & Management Services Framework, with multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard delivering architecture, landscape architecture and principal designer services, Hexa Consulting acting as structural engineer and Pulse Consultants as project manager. The state-of-theart facility, valued at £5.6m and named the Newark Elective Hub, will significantly increase Newark Hospital’s service offering and improve patient access, care and waiting times within the local community. Connected to the main hospital via a newly-constructed link corridor, the new operating theatre allows up to 50 extra procedures per week to be carried out, complementing existing orthopaedic and trauma services. Utilising innovative modular design concepts, the project minimised onsite construction time, allowing for most of the implementation of the new suite to take place over a single weekend. This ensured there was minimal disruption to Newark Hospital’s vital ongoing patient care and procedures. As well as the laminar flow theatre, the suite comprises a new recovery area, anaesthetic room, scrub facilities, as well as a new staff change area.

New details of Coventry citycentre regeneration revealed Further details have been revealed of plans for the transformation of Coventry city centre as development partners, The Hill Group and Shearer Property Group (SPG), have submitted a reserved matters application for the first of two phases of the highly-anticipated City Centre South regeneration project. Phase 1 includes 991 new homes, of which 200 will be affordable, as well as 8000m2 of new commercial space, all set within 17,000m2 of public open space. Phase 2 will provide further commercial space and up to 584 homes. Urban regeneration specialist SPG has partnered with awardwinning housebuilder Hill to deliver the visionary £450m mixed-use development, which received outline planning consent in January 2022. The landmark proposals are set to radically transform the centre of Coventry, creating a pedestrian-friendly residential, shopping and leisure hub that will put the city firmly on the map as a leading destination within the West Midlands. Subject to planning permission, work on site is expected to start in summer 2024, with the first homes delivered by the end of 2026. Guy Shearer of Shearer Property Group said: “City Centre South will bring an entirely new, lively quarter to the city centre. Phase 1 will provide a wide range of quality boutiques and shops offering a diverse range of commercial space. Restaurants, bars and the latest social and hospitality leisure occupiers will create an exciting new mix of offers that will complement and enhance the existing retail offer within the market and city centre.”

UPFRONT

All images: ©Richard Chivers

A CHOICE OF SECURE SETTINGS PROMOTES A MEANINGFUL DAY FOR PATIENTS Developed around the concept of a ‘village campus’, a new medium secure hospital, at the heart of the £60m redevelopment of Northgate Park Hospital, provides a wide variety of indoor and outdoor settings for relaxation and activity, relieving boredom and addressing the risk of challenging behaviours and poor physical health. by Medical Architecture and built by Sir D esigned Robert McAlpine for NTW Solutions – Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Sycamore at Northgate Park Hospital is vital to the future delivery of modern and effective forensic mental health services in the north east of England.

The consolidation of services The new facility is the catalyst to allow all secure services across the trust to be brought together from previously-dispersed sites, consolidated in a single, integrated secure centre of excellence. The entire redevelopment provides a total of 116 male inpatient beds, located in a combination of new and reconﬁgured existing buildings. The new-build element, named Sycamore, provides inpatient accommodation for 72 male patients with a range of forensic mental health needs, including patients with complex personality disorders and/or learning disabilities. The project, which was delivered through Cohort 1 of the NHS New Hospital Programme, fulfils one of the trust’s key strategic priorities, forming part of its £72.6m Care Environment Development and Re-provision programme (CEDAR).

A meaningful day in a unique woodland setting The existing hospital site is a large open campus, containing a mix of buildings and facilities. Much of the eastern portion, which was earmarked for development, is neighboured by a broad area of mature woodland. Proposals set out to develop a portion of the land for the new building, with the remaining allocated for housing development. Early feasibility work demonstrated benefits to siting the new hospital where it would be flanked by an aspect of trees on three sides: the natural setting enhancing the therapeutic nature of the accommodation. It is well recognised that in secure mental health inpatient units, boredom leads to challenging behaviours and poor physical health. Therefore, a key driver for the design was to ensure a meaningful day for all patients, promoting recovery through activity. As a result, the facility is devised as a ‘village campus’ focusing on the individual patient and staff experience, with as many spaces as possible, both inside and out, offering opportunities for mitigating boredom. This is achieved in a range of settings that can be accessed autonomously, from bedrooms to living spaces, and sheltered gardens to open courtyards, with opportunities for both structured and unstructured sports and activities.

UPFRONT

An inclusive outdoor space for communal wellbeing

Choice of open or private outdoor space

The six patient wards are paired together and arranged around a large recreation courtyard. Each building is adjoined, creating a secure boundary without the need for fences, minimising the feeling of confinement. With rich landscaping and integrated security measures, this shared space does not feel like a typical forensic mental health facility. The courtyard is separated into two distinct character zones – ‘Passive’ and ‘Active’ – to ensure that all patients and staff are able to benefit from its therapeutic qualities. The ‘Passive’ zone provides opportunities for refuge, with restful places to sit amongst plants and grasses. These smaller-scale spaces offer a sense of enclosure, combined with views out to the wider recreation area to provide gentle enticement into the activities offered. The ‘Active’ zone includes a 200m jogging/walking loop, activity spaces and a fitness ‘trim trail’ to promote physical activity and the associated wellbeing benefits. Within the main reception building – which provides the public frontage to the facility – a covered sports barn allows activities to continue in all weather conditions.

In addition to these communal spaces, at the centre of each ward, a private landscaped courtyard for relaxation is provided, and between each ward pair is a designated activity courtyard, with sports court markings. This arrangement offers safe access to a variety of different outdoor areas. In each ward, the bedrooms are arranged to face outwards, with views to the surrounding woodland. The majority of the day activity and living space is at the centre of the ward with direct access into the courtyards. Abundant daylighting, attractive views and a sense of spaciousness contribute to the therapeutic qualities of the environment and play an important role in patient rehabilitation.

Personal spaces for individual wellbeing Whilst use of the common spaces is actively encouraged, it was acknowledged that this patient group may choose to spend time in their own room, particularly in the morning and evening. To maximise the opportunity for activity, the design of the bedrooms stemmed from a detailed re-imagining of how these spaces could work. In

an evolution of previous designs for the trust, the bespoke fitted furniture is devised to assist with a personal workout outside of scheduled recreation time. Adequate floor space for exercise and a television, which can be easily viewed from the bed or floor, enables a patient to either be active or to rest. The transition from private bedroom to shared circulation and day spaces has been considered to provide a reassuring path into more stimulating environments. The bedroom corridors are singlesided, with immediate views to the landscaped ward courtyards from each bedroom door, providing orientation, good observation and balancing circadian rhythms. 

UPFRONT

Challenging the stigma around mental healthcare The exterior appearance of the new facility is extremely important and has a major role to play in reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness, as well as engendering pride in the building as a workplace. The front reception building provides a secure boundary to a large section of the internal plan, reducing the need for high fencing. A visible and publicly-accessible cafe with integrated artwork provides a welcoming space for visitors and staff working across the site. A consistent and controlled palette of materials and architectural styles has been developed to integrate the building with the most recent additions to the hospital site and to present a positive image for visitors and new arrivals. Paul Yeomans, Director at Medical Architecture, said: “It is fantastic to see this important project realised. The technical requirements for forensic mental health buildings, particularly with regards to security, can present challenges to the creation of supportive and recovery-focused environments. However, standing in the thriving central courtyard, it is hard to tell you are in the middle of a forensic hospital. That normalising of the accommodation will have such a positive impact on patient wellbeing.” Mark Gibson, Healthcare Sector Managing Director at Sir Robert McAlpine, said: “Working closely with CNTW NHS Foundation Trust and our outstanding team of specialists, we are delighted to have delivered these state-ofthe-art mental health facilities. The Sycamore building provides healthcare excellence for the benefits and welfare of patients in the region and their families.” John Carson, Head of Capital Development at NTW Solutions, said: “This has been a fantastic scheme to deliver for CNTW and there was a true team spirit with all involved, especially with the clinical teams on site. That teamwork has paid off and it is inspiring to see the unit in use and heartening to hear the early feedback from clinicians about the quality of the accommodation. This is a flagship development, and it has set a new standard, not just for our future projects but for the whole mental health sector.” 

www.medicalarchitecture.com

PROJECT TEAM: Client: NTW Solutions – Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust Architect: Medical Architecture Contractor: Sir Robert McAlpine Services engineer: CAD21 Structure and civil engineer: Billinghurst George & Partners Landscape design: Colour Fire safety: Centurion Fire Safety Solutions CDM coordinator: Richmond Safety Services Acoustic engineer: SRL Technical Services Project management: Projeeco Art consultant: Dan Savage Artstop Studios Building control: Bluekeep Building Control BREEAM consultant: Tetra Tech

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LEISURE

DESIGNING FOR DEMENTIA In this article, GT3 Architects’ Senior Architect and Research & Development Lead, Judith Atkinson, takes a closer look at designing for dementia, how architects can raise awareness, why it should be considered in the early stages of a project, and offers some design features that can help to make a dementia-friendly environment. shows that there are more than 944,000 people R esearch in the UK living with dementia, with one in 11 people over the age of 65 with the condition. Despite these large numbers, many people feel there is still a significant lack of inclusivity in many public buildings, and much work needs to be done on understanding and raising awareness of the condition.

What inclusive design means at GT3 Architects Part of our methodology and our ‘people architecture’ ethos is to fully understand who we are designing for, and to really consider how those people use and move through our spaces. We believe that designing with the different needs of different types of user groups makes our designs better and our buildings more enjoyable places to be. Inclusive design for us is not a buzzword or an afterthought; it is a fundamental part of our design process. GT3 is developing a series of inclusive design guidance pieces, with each research project focusing on a different demographic of public and leisure building users. These user groups have been suggested and driven by our team (usually because of personal connections or experiences) and currently include designing for caregivers of young children, designing for individuals with autism and/or learning difficulties, designing for blind people and designing for the hearing impaired. Although detailed design guidance does exist within the industry for these groups, as designers and consultation specialists, we find it to be severely lacking in the sport and leisure sector, particularly for wet leisure (swimming pools and changing areas). Although our guidance can be applied across any sector, the expertise of our team and the breadth of our leisure portfolio has naturally focused our attention on wellness and fitness spaces. It’s also been driven by demand – on nearly every project, we speak to users who struggle to use and enjoy these spaces as they were intended; they are noisy, bright, have changes in temperature and environments, and usually involve the user requiring changing facilities. Senior Interior Architectural Designer Charlotte Stone and Architect Holly Forsyth both have experience of caring for someone

with dementia and were passionate about driving this project forward. They interviewed carers of people living with dementia from various settings, as well as hosting a workshop with a local dementia group, visiting a dementia-focused care home and interviewing specialist consultants. The resulting guidance is now used to educate all at GT3 when designing and to provide a checklist of best practice design moves.

Understanding the impact of design on those with dementia Dementia is not a disease itself. The word ‘dementia’ is an umbrella term for symptoms such as memory loss, confusion and personality change. Dementia is caused by diseases of the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common but other causes include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia. It is important to understand the fundamental challenges people with dementia and their carers face, before looking for solutions and improvements. People living with dementia, as well as their family and carers, have unrivalled expertise and experience of dementia. This knowledge must be respected and used in partnership with design professionals to create more inclusive architectural spaces.

Barriers to accessibility An important focus group was the Morpeth Dementia Group – a collection of community members from the North East, each with first-hand experience of living with, or caring for, people with dementia. 100% of the attendees had never attended a leisure centre with someone with dementia – it was perceived as simply too difficult. It is this social belief that buildings are mostly unsuitable for people with dementia that needs to be challenged and culturally changed, so that everyone can feel confident accessing and enjoying our public amenities. This can only be done through thoughtful and considered designs that are inclusive of a variety of needs, and for this to become not just best practice but the standard for all buildings.

LEISURE

Some of the features that make a dementia-friendly environment Designing with dementia in mind requires a sensitive, considered approach. Whilst there are many commonalities in the challenges faced by those living with dementia, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. What helps one person, may distress or confuse another. It is important to discuss this approach with the client at the early stages of the project, so the full team can understand, support and justify bespoke design solutions. Considering the following design principles can help deliver a more inclusive environment: The senses – it is common for people living with dementia to experience difficulty with their sight, which can cause them to misinterpret their surroundings. Clear wayfinding should be a priority, using icons instead of words where possible in case recognising letters has become difficult. It’s also helpful to consider ways to allow people to put their other senses into action so we often encourage things like an open-plan cafe so individuals can use their sense of smell. Personal precedents – creating a sense of nostalgia or remembrance through the use of local historical photographs and colourful artwork can act as a reminder of the past, particularly about the building they are in or the local area. Small prompts like this can be very helpful in the recollection of past memories they may have struggled to remember otherwise. Comfort precedents – work to create a state of physical ease, wellbeing and a feeling of independence. Examples include comfortable supportive furniture, private areas and natural lighting. Practical precedents – this includes design aspects that will physically affect those with dementia, such as ramps, adaptable furniture, specific consideration of colour and contrast so that differentiation between objects can be easily seen. Biophilic design – a focus on a human’s innate attraction to nature. Including things like indoor greenery and external views of nature has been proven to be calming and restorative.

How do we move forward? As a nation, we are well versed in the benefits of regular exercise and activities, not just physically, but mentally too. Regular cardiovascular activity can help reduce the overall risk of dementia, whilst regular exercise of all kinds can help to combat other Alzheimer’s disease risk factors, such as depression and obesity. As we discuss ageing populations, cost-of-living crises and an ever-rising demand for public health services, it is imperative that designers are aware of the implications of this condition. It is our hope that by taking a closer look at specific user-group requirements in a leisure setting, we can help make a real difference to local communities across the globe. 

www.gt3architects.com

LEGAL & BUSINESS

Mark Edgerley started his planning career in 2002 and has been involved with the preparation and implementation of numerous Local Plans for authorities across Suffolk and Essex. In March 2020, Mark joined Boyer’s Colchester office as an Associate Director and uses his local authority experience to provide advice to a range of clients on projects across the east of England.

THE FUNDING ISSUES FACED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES Mark Edgerley, Associate Director of Boyer (part of Leaders Romans Group), reflects on the recent bankruptcy of Birmingham City Council and considers how this impacts the proposed Infrastructure Levy. news that S eptember’s Birmingham City Council had issued a Section 114 notice sent out a message that resonated far beyond the West Midlands: that local authority financing was in serious trouble. Birmingham’s finances revealed a projected gap of £87m between income and expenditure for the 2024/25 financial year. Birmingham can no longer service its significant debt and clearly the businesses that it created to generate income had both failed to do so and contributed to its financial downfall. Sadly, this is not uncommon. In November, the County Councils Network’s survey found that 10% of senior local authority staff are not confident that they can balance their budget in 2023. The figure increased to 40% in 2024 and 60% in 2025 – despite councils planning to make over £2bn worth of ‘challenging’ savings and service cuts over the threeyear period.

Furthermore, the Chartered Institute of Housing warned that 44% are reducing housing programmes, while a quarter had already done so. The Government hopes to address the financial constraints through a new Infrastructure Levy to replace both the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 payments. The rationale is ‘ensuring local communities can take back control’. This includes borrowing and budgeting powers: a new ‘Right to Require’ to strengthen local Government’s powers in negotiation increased requirements for financial support from developers. With much of the levy payable on completion rather than throughout development, it would also give local authorities additional borrowing powers. But will this benefit local authorities, which are almost universally under-resourced and whose circumstances have sometimes been worsened

through poor commercial decisions? Would enabling local authorities to borrow against future receipts lead to more Section 114s? Under Section 106 and CIL, funding may not be used by local authorities to fund in a commercial and speculative manner. While this limits the opportunity for creative investments, it also reduces risk and ring-fences funds for community infrastructure and provision of housing and services associated with the new development. The downside of increased ‘flexibility’ is that more mistakes could be made in public expenditure. Financial decision making by locally-elected politicians are invariably compromised by politicians, understandably, being motivated by achieving and electoral support within a specific political cycle – shortterm successes, rather than the longer-term approach that strategic investment requires.

Rather than councils taking on an increasing responsibility for commercial and investment decisions directly, while having increased responsibilities for budget allocation, I propose greater collaboration with the private sector. Previously, public/private partnerships have created successful housing and regeneration bodies, and the private sector has provided various resources – from helping with nutrient neutrality or working on a local plan. In these arrangements, both parties can play to their strengths and the council can dedicate time to decisions that only they can make – such as budgeting. Like many in the development sector, I have reservations about the Infrastructure Levy. If it is implemented, I would suggest that the greater flexibility that it bestows on the public sector is supported by greater flexibility in public/private partnerships. 

www.boyerplanning.co.uk

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DOORS, WINDOWS & BALCONIES

RECYCLED MATERIAL VS THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION Where does recycled material sit in the conversation of ‘the future of construction’? Nick Haughton, Head of ESG at Sapphire Balconies, looks at how ‘next-generation’ manufacturing means companies taking responsibility for not just their carbon output but also the sources of the materials they use. Whilst design flexibility may be raised as a reason not to use recycled materials, the question needs to be raised, does recycled material come at the cost of design flexibility?

Recycled material

The use of aluminium has played a significant role in companies striving towards more sustainable and innovative climate solutions, and is proven to be remarkably useful to construction industries and customers alike. Recycled material should not be underestimated when it comes to sustainability. Its durability and availability in different grades (or purities) makes it an incredibly versatile material to work with. However, with industry attention often placed firmly on sustainable economies, how do recycled materials, such as aluminium, stack up?

greener energy sources like wind, solar and hydropower to curb emissions. Aluminium extrusion, a process of refining aluminium shapes, has gained traction in product design and manufacturing thanks to its ability to simplify construction. With the ability to extrude aluminium into various strength grades with up to 70% recyclability, it demonstrates a strong strength-to-weight ratio. This process, combined with different aluminium grades, allows for customisable shapes and thicknesses of components, reducing carbon emissions impact by up to 44% through intelligent use of material and reduced material wastage.

Aluminium extrusion

ESG explained

All forms of manipulating materials for light, heat or movement require energy, often sourced from unsustainable fuels like oil, natural gas or coal. This results in harmful emissions, which is why sustainability has been a major focus over the last 15 years, urging industries to shift away from fossil fuels and adopt

Given that many companies globally are adopting an ESG framework, it’s crucial to understand exactly why ESG is important from a sustainability perspective. ESG goes beyond simple carbon-cutting measures and incorporates environmental, social and governance strategies into a business at a fundamental level.

Recycled content contributes to the ‘environmental’ pillar of ESG. By reducing the amount of extruded aluminium a company produces, energy consumption and waste generation can further be reduced as a by-product.

How valuable is recycled material if you can’t prove it’s recycled? Reaching net-zero carbon emissions is an absolute for a company aiming for sustainable practices, but carbon credits and greenwashing aren’t the way to go about it. To strive for true sustainability, you need to prove that your material is recycled and provide a form of traceability to show the source of the material. Attempting to find the source of all materials can be strenuous and so many companies opt to buy carbon credits in an attempt to offset their carbon emissions. However, this is not true sustainability as these credits simply ‘allow’ a company to avoid what they might see as an inconvenience. For true sustainability, either traced recycled materials must be used

DOORS, WINDOWS & BALCONIES or other methods of reducing carbon emissions must be considered, such as reducing levels of transport, reducing the amount of material in your product or making sure your waste products are recycled properly.

The limitations of recycled material Global demand for aluminium profiles and the means to extrude them has remained strong into late 2023. Considering the enduring influence of the coronavirus pandemic, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the continuing impact of Brexit, increased global demand is still an issue and has forced many countries to increase production, leading to scarcity of supply. Limiting your opportunities by focusing too heavily on achieving a highly-recycled material can be a hurdle for many buyers of extruded aluminium. The importance of recycled content should lie in the weight of CO 2 per item, not the percentage of recycled content in the materials themselves. Reducing the total emissions in a product is far more sustainable than increasing the percentage of recycled content used, as the less embodied carbon used by weight will directly impact how sustainable a product can be. There are no hard and fast rules on what you should or should not do when it comes to the materials you use, but by staying informed on the role of recycled material, we can all make more informed and more viable choices. Adopting a wellthought-through ESG strategy can make a great difference to your approach to sustainability.

Aluminium, for example, is an incredibly malleable construction material to begin with, but by using recycled aluminium, custom extrusions can be formed without extra waste from an ore extrusion. In this instance, aesthetics actually come as a benefit when using recycled material.

Is recycled content the future of construction? Recycled content holds a great deal of potential for the future of the construction industry. Through a massive impact on sustainability, resource conservation and aesthetic possibilities, recycled material can reduce a project’s carbon footprint and alleviate the burden on finite resources. A paradigm shift appears to be incoming – with a laser focus on ESG strategies in the lead up to 2030 and beyond, companies will likely begin to embrace recycled content not just as a carbon-saving measure, but also as a commitment of responsibility for construction for generations to come.

Removing aesthetic limitations

Conclusion

Most recycled materials can easily be customised to meet specific design requirements. This flexibility enables architects and builders to tailor the appearance of construction elements to match the desired aesthetic of a project.

No, sustainability does not need to come at the cost of design flexibility. Thanks to recycled content’s malleability and flexibility, architects and developers are provided with

the ability to tailor construction elements to meet specific aesthetic preferences. Whilst there are still limitations with recycled content, such as global demand and scarcity of supply, the benefits largely outweigh the detractors. Sapphire’s Next Generation suite of balconies, as well as their further range of products, use recycled materials to maintain a level of sustainable manufacturing throughout the entire process. There are no hard and fast rules on what you should or should not do when it comes to the materials you use, but by staying informed on the role of recycled material, we can all make more informed and more viable choices. Adopting a well-thoughtthrough ESG strategy can make a great difference to your approach to sustainability, and Sapphire are proud to have published their ESG strategy earlier this year, available at https:// balconies.global/vision2030/. Recycled content is likely to be a pivotal force in shaping tomorrow’s construction landscape, benefitting resource conservation, sustainability and the industry’s commitment to responsible construction practices for now and the future yet to come. 

www.balconies.global

HOUSING

WHAT EPC RATINGS OF THE FUTURE COULD LOOK LIKE EPCs only predict the thermal performance of a building correctly in 44% of cases, according to new research. Conducted by Build Test Solutions and the Energy Saving Trust, on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the research argues that EPC calculations are based on assumptions rather than real data, leading to misleading results. problem is that people rely T he almost entirely on visual methods when surveying homes,” says Luke Smith, Managing Director of Build Test Solutions. “Most EPC ratings are determined in this way, with an assumed level of performance calculated. But visual methods can only go so far in determining the presence and effectiveness of insulation. We shouldn’t be relying on this method to accurately represent the true thermal performance of our homes.”

The current situation No matter the skill or experience level of the assessor or surveyor, the true extent of air leakage or thermal bridging cannot be determined visually. This can result in ineffective solutions being installed. The disconnect between fuel poverty and EPC ratings supports this claim. While a social housing property might look to be in a good state of repair, it is what is underneath that causes thermal performance issues. The result is a social housing property that is hard to heat, greatly impacting residents’ costs and their living conditions. To eradicate fuel poverty and deliver carbon neutrality, properties must be affordable to run and have minimal

environmental impact over their operational lifecycle. Without tailored and accurate building performance knowledge, this will be challenging to achieve.

Building quality sign off The success of a multi-million-pound social housing project investment is often based on regulatory sign off, improved EPC ratings and positive resident satisfaction survey responses. These survey methods, while offering some benchmarking, are highly subjective and anecdotal. Specific and proactively measured insights are often overlooked or, at best, simply seen as a checkbox requirement for compliance. This is partly down to a misconception that the measurements are difficult and expensive to obtain. It is also due to a lack of understanding about how measurements relate to strategic objectives, such as reducing CO2 emissions, lowering fuel bills and tackling fuel poverty. Social housing providers must proactively seek to invest in their housing stock and create better living conditions for their residents. The best way to do this whilst ensuring that they are acting in their occupiers’ best interests is to be led by a robust understanding of housing stock performance beyond basic EPC ratings.

The future of EPC Luke explains: “EPCs are imperfect yardsticks that change with time. Instead, reliable, quantifiable data is needed to verify the true impact of spend. More specific measurements should be the future of EPC ratings. “We need more SMART objectives that are based on directly measurable parameters that can be linked directly to the headline strategic objectives of the business.” Luke outlines potential areas of measurement, including: Heat loss (W/K); mould risk (0-100); overheating risk (0-100); airtightness (m3h/m2); air quality (CO2, PPM, VOCs) and U-values (W/m2K).

Pre-works testing Changes to EPC standards could also better encourage pre- and post-retrofit testing of social housing properties to measure the baseline thermal performance level. By having a provable measure rather than an assumed performance level, social housing providers can use data to compare properties and assign funding to the homes or rooms in greatest need. Better measurement would highlight the problem areas of each property and allow providers to invest in the most impactful retrofit solutions first, rather than having a blanket approach across properties.

Encouraging testing after retrofit through an EPC scheme would allow accurate data comparison between the tests carried out before work was done. This comparison will evidence the true value delivered by the investment committed by social housing providers. The financial strains on social housing providers force them to re-evaluate their priorities and retrofit investments constantly. Rather than relying solely on resident satisfaction surveys, housing providers can validate the delivered outcomes and prove a project has met the desired goals. Without data-based testing and validation that directly quantifies success, investments could be reduced and residents could suffer. “By carrying out thermal performance measurements and air leakage tests, people can take a ‘right-first-time’ approach to retrofit,” adds Luke. “The housing provider can use data to directly determine the most cost-effective retrofit solutions that offer the best return on investment while making the most impact on tenants’ lives.” New builds should also be assessed against the design intent to prove if it has met the intended thermal performance specifications. With such data fed back into EPCs, it could allow housebuilders to easily spot any thermal performance issues and sort them out before residents flag them as issues once they are living in the property.

HOUSING

Post-works testing

Supporting technology The measurement solutions that will allow the housebuilding and retrofit industry to stop making EPC assumptions already exist. With the increased adoption of IoT, smart thermostats and other internetconnected appliances that can share useful performance data from buildings, getting this information is becoming much easier. This data can help drive tools, like SmartHTC and Mould Risk Indicator, to provide powerful insights into the overall performance of the building fabric and the effectiveness of the ventilation. Measurement solutions are also on the market that help assess air permeability, like Build Test Solutions’ Pulse. This can be used to better understand energy performance and background ventilation rates, all while properties are occupied. This allows the cost of heating a property to be understood and problem areas to be identified. U-value measurement technology, like Heat3D, can also be used to get an accurate understanding of heat flow and U-values across a whole surface. This can show where insulation has failed or where additional insulation is needed to ensure insulation is only added to areas that need it. Utilising these technologies will help create more accurate, reliable and effective EPC ratings, driving an informed approach to building improvement and retrofit. 

www.buildtestsolutions.com

HVAC

GETTING TO GRIPS WITH DAMP AND MOULD IN OUR HOMES Wendy Thomas, Nuaire Residential Product Manager, discusses the urgent need to address mould and condensation in social housing, including changes to the law and best practice, plus the steps social housing providers can take to prevent mould from forming. and mould in homes, especially D amp in social housing, has become headline news. Images of people living in rooms dripping with condensation and with foul-looking mould on walls and ceilings are to be found across news sources and social media. The accompanying stories are often disturbing and, in some cases, heartbreaking; none more so than the death of Awaab Ishak in December 2020 whose death was attributed, by a coroner, to prolonged exposure to black mould in his Rochdale Boroughwide Housing-rented flat. This is the first ruling of its kind and its impact has been considerable.

The response: Awaab’s Law The Social Housing (Regulation) Act, which received royal assent in July 2023, sets out to change how social housing is managed, with increased regulation of social landlords and new rules for protecting tenants from serious hazards in their homes. This has been partly introduced in response to the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire tragedy, but also the death of Awaab Ishak. Awaab’s Law has been introduced as part of the act to ensure social housing landlords fix damp and mould to set deadlines, or rehouse tenants in safe

accommodation. Those who don’t, and fail to meet the standards required, could face unlimited fines. Whilst the act is now law, many provisions within the act need to be determined before the regulations come into force. For example, the timeframes within which landlords must take appropriate action is yet to be determined. Also, what framework needs to be in place to deliver information to residents on their rights, and how can they complain if their rights are not being met? So, there’s still a way to go, but these details that will make the act workable are expected to be published this year.

Mould: More than a cosmetic issue Damp and mould in our homes is nothing new. In our northern climate, damp and condensation are something most of us have experienced in our homes at some time. What is new is our understanding of the health implications of damp and mould. The NHS states that: “If you have damp and mould in your home, you’re more likely to have respiratory problems, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma. Damp and mould can also affect the immune system1.”

Everyone is potentially at risk from living in these conditions but some are more vulnerable than others, including the young and old, those with existing skin and respiratory problems (including asthma), and those with a weakened immune system. There are different types of mould, with some producing allergens, irritants and even toxic substances. Inhaling or touching mould spores may cause an allergic reaction, a runny nose, red eyes, skin rash and asthma attacks. Mould is so much more than a cosmetic issue.

Why does condensation and mould form? There are multiple ways to prevent condensation and damp in our homes. But first, let’s briefly look at how condensation and mould forms, to get a better understanding of the problem and possible solutions. Everyday activities, such as cooking and cleaning, creates moisture in a home. In the summer, windows are often open for long periods of time, so the moisture dissipates and/or dries in the warmer temperatures. In the winter, when windows and doors are shut to retain the heat, the moisture is trapped if there is inadequate ventilation.

HVAC

Cost-effective solutions for existing properties

When the trapped moist, warm air meets a cold surface, like a window or external wall, it turns to condensation. Too much condensation, combined with a warm home, are ideal settings for mould spores to grow. Mould not only forms on walls and ceilings, but also on fabric. In most cases, ventilation is the solution to removing the damp air from our homes. In new-build properties, there are many ventilation options to meet all different size and types of properties. But there are also well-established, effective ventilation products and systems for existing properties too.

Mechanical ventilation for new-build homes In new-build properties, Building Regulations Part F (ventilation) sets out the minimum requirements for ventilation. Revised in 2022, airflow rates have increased to ensure sufficient ventilation to all parts of a home, especially the bedrooms. Wholehouse mechanical ventilation systems, including mechanical extract ventilation (MEV) and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR), such as Nuaire’s MRXBOX, will be necessary for compliance.

In existing properties, which make up the majority of social housing, retrofitting whole-house ventilation systems is not always a practical option due to the extensive ductwork required. Here, Building Regulations allows for ‘natural’ ventilation systems in less airtight homes with a design air permeability of ≥5. Natural – or background – ventilation is the passive supply of external air into a room via ‘a small ventilation opening’, such as intermittent extract fans, trickle vents in windows and airbricks in the wall. Latest Building Regulations require these to be sized differently than before, calculating them on a room-by-room basis rather than based on the overall size of the property. In nearly all cases, this will mean an increase in the size of background vents and sometimes the number as well. For extract fans, that means replacing existing ones with more powerful and efficient models, such as Nuaire’s Cyfan extract fan, used in conjunction with decentralised mechanical extract ventilation (dMEV) fans, such as our new Nuaire FaithPlus, for an efficient yet cost-effective solution. These fans are easy to replace as part of a planned maintenance schedule. Some properties will require extra measures. In these instances, positive input ventilation (PIV) systems, such as the Nuaire Drimaster-Eco, can be fitted. Installed in a loft, with a small hole cut through the ceiling for the vent, PIV systems draw fresh air into the loft space directly from outside, which is then filtered before gently dispersing into the home via a central diffuser at a continuous rate, encouraging movement of air from inside to outside. Tried and tested, PIV systems are highly effective at preventing condensation dampness. Whether new or existing properties, damp and mould need to be banished from our homes. We have the knowledge and the technology to achieve this and with Awaab’s Law, we now have a renewed urgency in place. 

www.nuaire.co.uk FOOTNOTE: https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/ lifestyle/can-damp-and-mould-affect-my-health/

PAINTS, COATINGS & FINISHES

A CLASS APART John Park-Davies, Group Managing Director at Vertik-Al – one of the UK’s market-leading independent powder coaters – discusses the importance of powder coating architectural aluminium and reveals the essential class system for coatings. actively specifying products for Therefore, specified products must work T hose the public sector are under immense harder than ever to prove suitability and pressure to select appropriate products with proven performance, balanced against the requirements of the UK construction industry, decision makers and end users.

work within the confines of restricted budgets. This is felt more keenly by those designing and specifying products and materials for external use. Image: ©Galliard Homes

Architectural aluminium has long since been a popular choice for facade designers, architects and specifiers. Renowned for being lightweight with inherent strength and long lasting, it also boasts characteristics that appeal to more modern sensibilities, it is aesthetically pleasing and infinitely recyclable making it a positive, environmental choice. Powder coating architectural aluminium further enhances its performance, especially for external applications. The powder coat is applied electrostatically to aluminium in a dry powder and cured under heat to form a hard finish, tougher than conventional paint. The benefits of this are far reaching. The durability makes it a cost-effective and long-term finish. With exceptional weather resistance, the powder coating will not only protect the aluminium surface for many years but it will maintain its colour without fading and retain its gloss level. When it comes to selecting the right powder coat finish for architectural aluminium i.e., windows, doors, cladding, unitised panels etc., it helps to understand how the powders are rated. The classes are set by QUALICOAT, one of the world’s leading quality labels for the coating of aluminium, with each coating system evaluated against the scale. The classes rank one to three: Class 1 – Florida exposure one year; Class 2 – Florida exposure three years and Class 3 – Florida exposure 10 years. The class determines the coating’s ability to maintain colour without fading and retain gloss levels over time, in a harsh environment with high humidity and strong sunlight. The higher the number, the more likely the coating will withstand extreme conditions, such as intense sunlight, temperature and exposed locations.

Class 1 Image: ©Kencar

This is the most economical of all the classes and the most widely used. Provided the pre-treatment processes specified by QUALICOAT are followed, the durability and adhesion of the finish will be identical to Class 2 and 3 powders.

Class 2 Also known as super durable powders, they offer enhanced visual integrity, with tighter tolerances over time on colour variation and gloss retention without sacrificing the high substrate protection offered by the powdercoating process.

Class 3 These powders offer an enhancement of the properties of Class 2 powders. They are typically used in extreme locations, such as the Middle East. With the ever-changing climatic conditions across the planet, we are experiencing an increase in enquiries for Class 3 products. For coastal regions, determined by QUALICOAT as within 5km from any coast or tidal estuary, the quality label has a specific Seaside Class, which is available for all classes of powders. 

www.vertik-al.com

TF_Sept_SEN.pdf

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Depending on the requirements our Workstations come with a choice of full shelf storage, left or right units or no storage at all.

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HEALTHCARE

A MODULAR SOLUTION TO ONE OF THE NHS’ BIGGEST PROBLEMS Lindsay Dransfield, Chief Commercial Officer of Vanguard Healthcare Solutions, discusses how modular facilities are proving to be an exceptionally versatile solution, both for stopgap requirements and longer-term planning of buildings and spaces. nothing new about the T here’s fact that the NHS has long had a capacity and waiting list issue, and the pandemic really couldn’t have come at a worse time, with its legacy of backlog. Whilst the Government may have promised new hospital builds and facilities, these are long-term

strategic assets, whenever they might arrive, they don’t solve the problem in the here and now. Whilst this is a clinical issue first and foremost, it’s also one about buildings, physical structures and real estate, the gamut of healthcare estates decision makers up and down the country.

Modular offsite construction provides a range of advantages that can address some of these challenges effectively. Unlike conventional construction, which can take years, modular buildings are ready for use in a matter of months, quickly addressing the need for additional medical capacity where there is a strain on existing infrastructure. They also offer versatility and speed in adapting to emerging needs, providing a degree of futureproofing and long-term relevance and value. This was the case for Skåne University Hospital (SUS) in Malmö, Sweden’s third-largest and one of two national centres for cardiothoracic surgery, which is undergoing a major, seven- to 10-year construction programme. During the build, an urgent need arose for increased capacity for performing high-risk orthopaedic procedures, and the hospital’s management wanted an interim solution that would be quick to implement, while being robust enough to fill the gap until the new building was complete. Installing a 324m2 operating theatre complex to strict requirements, it included an ultra-clean air system, the latest surgical lights and a bespoke building management system. The interim facility was to be integrated with the existing operating theatre department on the third floor of the hospital to ensure a seamless extension, something that involved a precision-engineered steel construction that was fixed at the exact same height as the existing facility. The entire project was completed within just 10 months from start to finish, and, while commissioned as an interim facility, the complex is designed to serve the hospital for a period of up to 10 years. In terms of value to the public purse, modular facilities represent remarkably cost-effective solutions to very specific capacity problems. The streamlined manufacturing process and shorter construction timelines for a start. We all know the NHS is under financial constraints and budgets simply aren’t available for large-scale healthcare infrastructure overhauls, including the fact that buildings undergoing renovation or construction will be out of action for long periods of time with all the knock-on issues this implies. Resultant cost savings can quickly be redirected towards other pressing elements of the clinical pathway in addressing capacity and patient outcomes.

Regarding cost control, there is one other final, but I think especially important, point. Estates managers – in fact, all budget holders in the public realm – need as much control over their budgets as possible. It’s often a challenging balancing act for them as new pressures come in on what is meant to be a plannable year. However, because of the standardisation of components designed into modular solutions, there is budgetary predictability and dependability. It really is possible to get certainty with modular, right down to the last penny. In the same way, hybrid solutions, combining modular facilities with one of Vanguard’s standard units, the vehicleborne mobile theatres, or indeed with existing fixed buildings, can help to expand the hospital’s capacity seamlessly, flexibly and quickly. This was the case at Kettering

General Hospital during the pandemic, which commissioned a modular ward at the start of the pandemic to provide a COVIDfree zone. This standalone ward facility was completed within a period of just five weeks, despite the restrictions imposed by the lockdown protocol that was in place at the time and reinforcing the nimble and rapid solution that modular is. It is important for NHS estate managers to know how they want to benefit from the modular concept before they commit to it. For example, modular buildings are not just static but can be repurposed to meet new needs, be it more beds or surgical facilities. NHS trusts implementing modular buildings need to seek advice from modular constructors to understand what they need and then how to make modular solutions effective in the healthcare environment.

HEALTHCARE

Because healthcare is such a highlyregulated sector, it’s important that modular suppliers understand the implications, and yet incorporating these regulations into modular structures can be complex and requires meticulous planning and coordination with relevant health authorities to ensure compliance. Modular structures need to be flexible enough to accommodate different clinical settings, equipment and technologies. Achieving this adaptability while maintaining a standardised approach across different modules can present its own challenges, it’s not a generic solution to a generic problem. Standardisation of construction methods, materials and finishes is important to guarantee that every module meets the same high standards. As with any building project, but more so in healthcare, is the importance of ensuring consistent quality across all module installations, requiring meticulous construction planning and assembly and an intimate understanding of the complexity of delivering critical services. Integrating modular structures with existing systems, such as electrical and plumbing, demands precise planning and coordination and, again, an understanding and familiarisation of NHS environments. While modular facilities offer potential cost savings compared to traditional construction, they still require significant upfront investment. Balancing the initial costs with long-term savings is important. Fixing modular build costs makes this easier, which is why rental schemes and other ways to offset the upfront investment are attractive. The patient experience should lie at the heart of good design process. Modular facilities that are comfortable, conducive to patient needs and efficient in delivering care is what NHS estates managers are striving for. Involving clinicians and patients in the design phase can provide valuable insights to create patient-centred spaces. Meanwhile, the ability to expand or reconfigure the facility as demands evolve ensures its longevity and cost effectiveness. The integration of modular facilities holds the potential to reduce waiting times significantly, without disruption or delay, all whilst improving patient experiences and at genuine value for an already-overstretched public purse. Pressed NHS management and estates professionals need solutions that are quick to deploy, effective in delivery, responsible to budgets and versatile enough to cope with changing needs. For their sake, and the patients they serve, modular facilities must be higher on the agenda. 

www.vanguardhealthcare.co.uk

GOLDEN THREAD

THE GOLDEN THREAD: A PATH TO ENHANCED BUILDING SAFETY In the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, eminent Engineer and Government Advisor, Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent report ‘Building a Safer Future: Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety’, highlighted the importance of a “Golden Thread” of information throughout a building’s lifecycle. So, what is the big idea behind the Golden Thread and its significance in enhancing building safety? Simon Blackham, Senior Technical Manager at Recticel Insulation, explores further. Golden Thread refers to the T he vital flow of digital information that should be present throughout a building’s lifespan; from its design and construction through to its maintenance and occupation. It encompasses key information regarding the building’s design intent, materials used, construction methods and maintenance requirements. The Golden Thread serves as a comprehensive record, ensuring transparency and accountability at each stage.

The importance of the Golden Thread The Golden Thread has several key benefits. It maintains a comprehensive record of building information, promoting transparency and accountability among stakeholders involved in a building’s lifecycle. This provision of accurate and accessible information enables property owners and responsible parties to better manage a building, addressing any safety concerns promptly. In respect to fire safety measures, the Golden Thread allows for

ongoing assessment and improvement in this crucial area. It facilitates the identification of potential weaknesses and helps drive necessary modifications and upgrades.

A blueprint for a new era of UK construction The Government has committed to implement Dame Judith’s Golden Thread, with her recommendations being a defining element of the Building Safety Act. The new legislation outlines three stages of a building’s development: Planning, building control and final certificate. At these key points, referred to as ‘gateways’, the Golden Thread of information must be provided to a building safety regulator. This is part of a process that will confirm a building’s safety risk is being managed correctly for a project to progress.

Inspiring higher standards As a manufacturer that is committed to producing products that facilitate the creation of safe, comfortable, healthy buildings, Recticel welcomes the Building

Safety Act’s implementation of the Golden Thread. We have long embraced its methodology by ensuring the information we provide is correct, up to date and accessible across a variety of platforms. We shall strive to continue and adapt our practices to ensure compliance with new measures as and when they are introduced. The Golden Thread is an initiative that will encourage improved communication between parties across the building supply chain. It is set to become a new blueprint for the UK industry, inspiring higher standards in property safety and performance, thanks to the greater clarity it will bring to all stages of the building process. 

www.recticelinsulation.com

EDUCATION

OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION CAN AID THE EDUCATION SECTOR IN THE FIGHT AGAINST UK WEATHER The UK has seen three major storms in as many months, causing flooding and disruption across the country. Spells of bad weather, such as this, can often put a temporary stop to construction projects, and with education construction schemes often working to hard deadlines for term time, it’s imperative contractors are able to stick to their previously-agreed timelines. Guy Brooks, Director at leading construction consultancy Bentley, believes offsite construction can provide a welcome solution to the education sector, as it aims to navigate important projects through the increasingly-challenging British weather. not just the education sector that is to the works. That’s why more and more I t’shugely disrupted due to bad weather contractors are now exploring offsite – figuratively speaking, all construction projects are likely to be affected by poor weather conditions. Having said that, with the education sector, there is an increased need to meet deadlines as there is little to no room for pushback, given the fact the building needs to welcome pupils for the new school term. As such, the traditional way of building is becoming more challenging, as the UK’s climate means you will inevitably run into a case of bad weather that will bring a halt

construction as a way to guarantee a project can continue as programmed, come rain or shine.

What elements of a build are most affected by bad weather? Bad weather comes in various forms, all of which have an extremely negative affect on the programme with sustained rainfall affecting the overall site and the resultant standing water means sites become unworkable and often increases the risk of

injury to persons and damage to materials. These conditions will mean jobs are carried out at a substantially slower pace than all parties would like and, of course, when a day is ‘rained off’ that stops things altogether. Even when using modular systems, such as SIPS, these non-working days have a profound knock-on effect to the rest of a project – for example, if groundworks are not complete then slabs can’t be prepared and the site is, therefore, not ready to receive the modular parts of the build and, from that point on, contractors find themselves trying to make up lost time.

EDUCATION Bad weather will also have a big impact on costs as water management doesn’t come cheap. Whether that be raised walkways, lime and cement stabilisation, silt busters or general water management kit – all of the aforementioned products are often costs that hit the contractor’s profitability.

How offsite provides a solution and the wider benefits Whilst modular construction still requires elements of traditional-build technology, it can drastically reduce the reliance on other traditional trades, such as brickwork, blockwork and rendering, which are affected by wet weather and low temperatures. Offsite construction also allows you to bring the construction of some units forward and build simultaneously – something that, again, wouldn’t be possible with traditional building. Those utilising offsite construction will notice a big increase in quality with key parts of the build being created in factory conditions, as opposed to being constructed by a team on site. Offsite also often contributes to an overall better design as the M&E will have to be considered at the design of the panels stage to ensure everything fits as it should.

On the other hand, some may argue that you lose some flexibility working in this way as it is more difficult to make additions later down the line – so this reiterates the case of making sure everything is sufficiently developed at the design phase. Another benefit of offsite construction is standardisation, with the factory setting again contributing to a consistent delivery. Finally, offsite also helps with having fewer materials on site and the chances of these materials being hindered, with bricks, cement and steel all losing their quality due to water damage. Fewer materials on site also reduces the chance of site theft, which is a continuous problem within the industry.

When bad weather can also affect offsite construction While offsite construction substantially reduces the risk of bad weather affecting a project, it is not completely immune to these issues. This is due to the fact that you wouldn’t erect a crane in high winds, so consultancies, like Bentley, expect contractors to make allowances for inclement weather, such as rain, high winds, low temperatures, etc. In the case of SIPS, high winds are, by and large, really the only time weather can stand in the way of offsite construction.

We are currently providing projectand cost-management services to the construction of a forest school in the East Midlands, which will open to pupils for the 2024/25 term. The recent weather we’ve had, combined with the settings in which these schools are often situated, would have meant that our autumn deadline would have been unachievable without offsite construction.

The future of offsite construction in the education industry There has already been a seismic shift to offsite construction with the education sector and we anticipate this to continue throughout 2024 and beyond. As mentioned previously, for builds in which there is less flexibility with deadlines – which is common in the public sector – you need to negate the risk of external factors hindering your progress and offsite construction allows you to do that. That’s not to say there isn’t a place for traditional construction within the sector. Projects with a longer timeframe, multistorey height or those taking place in less harsher months can benefit from traditional ways of working. But when time is of the essence and the conditions aren’t great, offsite construction ticks the boxes. 

www.bentleyprojectmanagement.co.uk

BRICKS & BLOCKS

HIGH FABRIC STANDARDS ARE KEY TO AFFORDABLE ENERGY BILLS A fabric-first approach should be the mantra for the construction of all social housing if we are to ensure homes are affordable for residents to heat. That needs to start with the materials used in their construction, says Jenny Smith-Andrews from H+H. future of social housing in the T he UK is fabric-first construction. That is because minimising a building’s heat loss by ensuring the building envelope achieves the highest standards will deliver a low-carbon, sustainable home that will be affordable for residents to heat. A fabric-first approach will be fundamental to meeting the requirements of the 2025 Future Homes Standard. The consultation on the Future Homes Standard was published on 13th December 2023. In this consultation, the suggested U-value for walls remains at 0.18W/m 2K – the standard required by the current Part L of the Building Regulations. New homes will use low-carbon heating and will be ‘zero-carbon ready’. In other words, housebuilders will need to pursue a fabric-first approach by specifying high-performing fabric materials from the outset. For the external wall structure, this will not involve any changes in current practice because, with careful design and detailing, conventional materials, such as aircrete, have been shown to readily achieve the fabric standards needed to meet the demands of the Future Homes Standard. Project 80 is a pioneering development of new homes being built to the Future Homes Standard for Midlands Heart

Housing Association in collaboration with researchers from Birmingham City University. In its first phase, 12 homes were designed and constructed in a variety of styles using a range of materials. These homes were then monitored and their performance evaluated. The results were positive, showing that when heat pumps and PV panels were combined in a masonry home, a 70% carbon reduction could be achieved over gas-heated homes. Data from the project has already provided valuable recommendations for what needs to be done to achieve an 80 to 90% carbon emissions reduction. These include increasing insulation in walls, enhancing the window specification, increasing the levels of airtightness, educating occupants on effective heating and ventilation strategies and providing advice on how lifestyle impacts a home’s operational carbon emissions. A key takeaway from this initial study is that good buildable junction details need to be available to assist designers, which is something aircrete manufacturer H+H has readily available in both CAD and PDF formats. Amos Rodrigues, the H+H representative working on Project 80, is clear about the benefit of aircrete in achieving a fabric-first approach, stating: “We see aircrete as the building material

for sustainable, resilient modern homes and are delighted to be involved in a project planned to provide accurate data allowing different materials and methods of build to be accurately compared.” H+H has a track record of working collaboratively to help developers achieve ever-higher fabric performance standards, including projects involving the application of modern methods of construction (MMC). For the Cameron Close development of 16 semi-detached Passivhaus homes on the Isle of Wight, for example, H+H worked with the scheme’s developer Southern Housing on the application of Thin-Joint blockwork. Here, H+H’s 200mm-thick Celcon Plus blocks have been used to construct Thin-Joint aircrete, load-bearing walls. As well as speeding up construction, the Thin Joints help improve the homes’ airtightness and, consequently, their energy performance. The Thin-Joint aircrete walls of the houses are insulated externally with a 230mm-thick layer of phenolic insulation before an acr ylic render finish is applied. The external walls are super insulating with a U-value of just 0.08W/m 2 K . As a landlord reliant on rental income, Southern Housing’s motivation in adopting the Passivhaus ‘fabric-first’

BRICKS & BLOCKS approach for this development was to reduce residents’ energy bills to help it avoid situations where tenants might default on their rent. Jack Ostrofsky, then Head of Design and Technical at Southern Housing, said: “It has been a phenomenal success because residents aren’t spending any money on heating their homes. People have been telling us they haven’t turned on their heating all year, and that’s a regular occurrence.” At the Norton Farm development for Bromsgrove District Housing Trust, another MMC aircrete product has been used to speed up construction of the building’s energy-efficient fabric. Here, H+H’s Vertical Wall Panels, part of its i-House MMC system, have been used to construct 164 units. The panels are held in place by H+H Element Mortar – a fast-setting, strong thinlayer mortar developed specifically for use with the system. The Vertical Wall Panels are manufactured in aircrete to the storey height of a standard house. Panels measure 100mm thick and 600mm wide as standard. Where a panel’s width is required to be less than 600mm, or in cases where the panels are used under windows, units can easily be cut to size on site. Use of the Vertical Wall Panel system on this project enables the external brick or rendered-block facade to be taken off the critical path. More importantly, the Vertical Wall Panel system is a key element in creating an insulated, airtight building envelope, something that will be increasingly important in future construction of social housing. 

www.hhcelcon.co.uk

TALKING POINT

PLACE AND SPACE: HOW LANDSCAPE-LED MASTERPLANNING CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE As the Government and policymakers look for the golden bullet to solve the housing crisis, traditional approaches to the where, how and why of masterplanning are being challenged. Pol MacDonald, Director at OPEN, part of SLR, says that a switch from predominantly an architecture- and engineeringled to a landscape-led approach to masterplanning is critical to the delivery of modern-day placemaking. a general election on the horizon While both approaches have a role to W ith at some point in 2024, housing play in any successful development, targets are very likely to form a key battleground for the political parties to park their tanks upon. However, whatever those targets end up being, the key thing that needs to be front of mind is that these homes cannot be built in isolation – they need to be part of a wider landscape, and one cannot exist successfully without the other. For a long time, masterplanning has been architecture and engineering led, focusing on and prioritising the nuts and bolts of infrastructure and what a specific house looks like. There is a time and place for this level of design, but masterplanning needs to consider so much more and respond to wider elements, putting both people and the environment at the heart of a project.

there has been a paradigm shift in perceptions around place since the coronavirus pandemic, and people are more cognisant of their surroundings and the role they play in their wider lives and the correlation of that in the context of a climate emergency.

Challenging perceptions Although it does play a part, ‘landscape’ in this sense isn’t just the ‘green stuff’ that people see in an area or a site – it’s a living organism that combines all the components of the situation, be that the physical components, such as topography, woodland and ecology, for instance, but also the combination of community needs, culture and the context or anything else that feeds into a wider sense of place.

Pol MacDonald is a Founding Director of OPEN, part of SLR. Pol leads the team providing masterplanning, architecture and landscape design and has more than 25 years of experience in the built environment. He is passionate about how social and cultural trends influence our everyday places.

While the red line boundary of the site is, of course, important, masterplanning now needs to look beyond that and take an integrated approach to urban design. When this happens, you create places that are not only attractive and fitting, but are also deliverable from a commercial aspect as you draw people in from the wider area into a place that is distinctive. In some respects, this is where the system of local plans across the UK has fallen short in delivering those much-needed homes and supporting infrastructure, stretching back over a couple of generations. It’s not since the third wave of new towns in the 1970s that there has been a comprehensive and cohesive plan for creating settlements that are deliverable from a technical and a commercial perspective, and this has left local plans with many areas that simply can’t work for the purpose they were intended.

TALKING POINT Part of the challenge here is with changing perceptions around the varying approaches to placemaking and masterplanning. Traditionally, there has been a tendency to see landscape as a product rather than an approach, but this doesn’t square up with what people need in 2024. Take the example of someone looking for a house, and what is important to them in that process is often centred around location and a sense of place. However, what is usually marketed to them is a product – the house itself – with limited consideration for the surrounding environment. While this landscape-led approach isn’t anything new, it hasn’t been anywhere near as pervasive as it needs to be, meaning that there is a real education piece needed across the board.

Regen’s role Local authorities are a key player in helping these attitudes and approaches become more widespread, and have a real opportunity to do so. Development in towns and city centres has a big role to play in helping solve the housing crisis and addressing the climate emergency, and taking a landscape-led approach to urban and brownfield regeneration is absolutely critical in making this work. While they are under resourced in many areas, one thing local authorities have in abundance is space and land, but this is often not fulfilling any function. By taking a landscape-led approach to regeneration, they can repurpose these under-utilised areas and lead the way in creating distinctive and attractive places, while using landscape to reimagine the type of infrastructure we actually need to live.

For us as a nation to build anywhere near the number of homes we need, what we currently perceive places as will have to change. Multifunctional spaces are going to become increasingly the norm as we look to create the places that we live, work and play in the future, and landscape-led approaches will be the backbone of truly resilient towns and cities. By masterplanning in a way that combines the physical elements of placemaking with social inclusion, community needs and an understanding

of what makes a space work from a commercial perspective, we can create places that are distinctive and attractive, and that people will choose to live in. Urban centres – be they towns, cities or new settlements – are living, breathing landscapes in which multiple areas interact and interconnect, and it is incumbent on those planning these spaces to ensure that their approach matches up with that. 

www.slrconsulting.com

TECHNICAL FOCUS

REAPING THE REWARDS OF A DIGITAL TWIN Diarmuid Murphy, Director of Property at Murphy Geospatial, explains why asset owners on the journey to decarbonisation should invest in a digital twin. was a year that seemed as if it was rarely without 2 023 weather warnings. As we saw more instances of extreme heat, flooding and cold, the question as to whether our buildings were fit for purpose was raised more frequently. The construction and property sectors are also preparing for legislative changes that will come into effect in the not-toodistant future. It certainly feels that the pressure to decarbonise our built environment is increasing to face up to the climate change impact in real time, as well as new regulation. In the UK, homes will soon be subject to whatever is outlined in the 2025 Future Homes Standard. From April 2023, it became unlawful in the UK for commercial buildings to let or continue to let a commercial property with an EPC rating of ‘F’ or ‘G’. In Ireland, the property and construction sectors are adapting their operations following the European Parliament’s publication of two new directives, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive in March 2023. The corresponding legislation mandates that all new buildings occupied, operated or owned by public authorities must be Zero Emission Buildings from 1st January 2026, and that any new leases must be for NZEBs – this will significantly impact state decision making. What’s clear is that for asset owners on the long journey to decarbonisation, there will always be room for improvement. Whether that’s due to the technology available at the time, the resources available to invest or changing legislation, it will never be ‘job done’. This makes it tricky to know where to prioritise investment given the complex nature of buildings and infrastructure. Digitalisation offers a cost-effective opportunity for asset owners and managers to understand the impact of proposed changes without putting a spade in the ground. The method that shows increasing promise is a digital twin.

The digital twin and how you use it A digital twin is a living digital representation of the built environment or asset. Not just a moment in time, a digital twin is fed live data using IoT sensors. Digital twins are underpinned by geospatial data; collected, verified and analysed by geospatial experts and other stakeholders to create an indistinguishable virtual model. This digital twin allows multiple operatives to collaborate, including reviewing options for decarbonisation; allowing asset owners to model different solutions, adaptations and improvements, and to test how these would function in the real world. Not only will the digital twin facilitate the process of retrofitting and refurbishment when decarbonising assets, but it will also prove to be an asset for facilities managers. With an intuitive digital twin, facilities management can be automated, made more efficient and responsive to the changing needs of the building, including reduced footfall and changing weather conditions.

The role of the digital twin in decarbonisation Many asset owners and managers are now mandated to report on their ESG performance regularly to investors, banks, boards, Governments and employees, with a new level of detail. This can mean tracking and reporting their carbon emissions, alongside other performance indicators monthly. Without an accurate starting point, it’s difficult for an asset owner or facilities manager to demonstrate any improvement. Energy generation, consumption and conservation is often one of the most carbon-intense elements of business operations in the built environment and, therefore, often the first consideration in most environmental plans. Whether asset owners are looking at changing how power is generated, consumed or conserved, adaptations to address these business activities require an understanding of existing infrastructure to determine a) what’s possible and b) what’s best.

TECHNICAL FOCUS Project teams can only design and install closed-loop renewable energy systems – whether that’s ground-source or air-source heat pumps, PV panels or energy storage batteries – if they understand how and where current services operate. They need to know exactly where the pipes and cables are, the depth of the foundations, the size of the rooms they’re trying to heat, cool or light up – there are a lot of variables to consider. An architect cannot decide how thick they can make a building envelope, or how much insulation they can add, without accurate measurements of the existing layout. These questions of what exactly can be found where, and what’s possible next, can be answered using a digital twin informed by accurate geospatial data. Thanks to the technological advances we’ve witnessed in the last few years, it’s also now possible for surveyors to collect more detailed data at higher speeds so it’s easier to explore alternative options as problems arise.

A new way of working Building and infrastructure renovations and retrofitting – which are essential steps for the built environment to decarbonise – have previously been viewed as costly, time consuming and something

considered once every other decade at most. The demands from Government, clients, citizens and what products are available in the market will continue to change, and those who invest in a digital twin so they can be agile and accurate in their decision making will reap the rewards. A digital twin used on an ongoing basis will also take away the need for the lengthy preparations that usually correspond with putting together proposals to adapt buildings or infrastructure. Simulating changes in a digital twin means any work you propose is more likely to succeed both on time, on budget and with the project outcomes you wanted – that’s the sort of surety that appeals to investors, too. A digital twin also has its own value, becoming an intangible asset for the owner with a full service history that is backed by consistent data. Whilst the job of decarbonisation may never be ‘done’, a digital twin offers the agile environment the property and construction sectors need to understand their current baseline, to test and execute changes and, importantly, to measure and report on success. 

www.murphygs.com

FUTUREBUILD SHOW PREVIEW

FUTUREBUILD 5-7TH MARCH 2024

2024 include: Smith Mordak, Chief Executive at UKGBC; Muyiwa Oki, President at RIBA, and Sara Edmonds, Co-Director at National Retrofit Hub, to name just a few.

Scaling up high-quality retrofit

FUTUREBUILD BRINGS TOGETHER THE BEST IN INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION Futurebuild, the built environment’s most influential event for innovation and collaboration, is back for 2024, taking place from the 5 to 7th March at London’s ExCeL. Promising to be the most transformative yet, it will continue its mission of taking a stand for a better built environment with this year’s key theme as ‘take a stand for change’.

Increasing the inspiration For the first time, Futurebuild is partnering with The Retrofit Academy to co-locate its National Retrofit Conference alongside the Futurebuild conference. The Futurebuild conference, curated by The Edge and sponsored by Soprema and One Click LCA, is a highly-

More than just a conference As well as the two conferences, Futurebuild, one of the industry’s largest exhibitions, will feature over 400 innovative brands and six stages that will host 500+ industry-leading speakers across sections, FutureX, Buildings, Energy, Materials, Sustainable Infrastructure and Digital. The knowledge programme has been made possible with the help and support of event sponsors and 80 partners.

Embracing innovation respected gathering of influential innovators and collaborators tackling the industry’s problems head on. The three daily themes are: Pathways to change, Levers for change and Sharing visons for change. Featuring a line up of the who’s who of the built and natural environment; guests for

www.futurebuild.co.uk

Sponsored by Sustainable Building Services UK, the National Retrofit Conference will bring together visionaries and industry leaders to focus on a crucial mission – decarbonising our existing housing stock. The three-day conference will focus on skills, innovation and policy and provide practical solutions that attendees can take away to drive their retrofit programmes forward, with a line up of speakers that includes thought leaders from inside and outside of the sector.

As the industry platform for innovation, Futurebuild has continued to partner with game-changing brands. Follow the Innovation Trail to meet innovation partners: Advantage Austria, NexGen, MKc Training Services, Bauder, The Concrete Centre, Tepeo, Sugastune UK, SDS, Qvantum, Mixergy, LKAB Minerals, Glen Dimplex Heating and Ventilation, Curv360 Limited, Aico, 540 World and Kensa. The FutureX section, sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, The Carbon Trust and Innovate UK, is an exciting zone that showcases start ups’ and SME’s innovative ideas and technologies that will make net zero possible. The Big Innovation Pitch also returns for 2024, and will highlight the newest and brightest solutions to built environment challenges in an exciting presentation battle, taking place in front of a live audience. Futurebuild 2024 invites industry leaders, visionaries and enthusiasts alike to join us share ideas, embrace innovation, and help create the blueprint for a better tomorrow. Don’t miss out on Futurebuild 2024. Visitor registration is now open.

Fire rated glass

Steel Framed Fire doors and screens

To further compliment our range of fireglass, Firman now offer complete steel framed fire doors and screens. Built to the most demanding specifications for commercial buildings, shop fronts, entrances, interior fire screen walls and virtually any other application. Each system is designed specifically to suit the requirements of the particular application. Sections can be provided in mild steel, finished to any standard RAL colour, aluminium clad as well as our new range of stainless steel sections available in either a satin or bright polished finished. Firman offer a full selection of fireglass, on either a supply only or a supply and install basis, providing fire protection from a basic 30 minute integrity only rating through to the highest levels of integrity and insulation.

To find out more about these products visit www.firmanglass.com Firman Glass,19 Bates Road, Harold Wood, Romford, Essex RM3 OJH Tel: 01708 374534 Fax: 01708 340511 Email: sales@firmanglass.com

www.firmanglass.com

ROOFING, CLADDING & INSULATION

NEW SOUND INSULATION MEMBRANE FOR ROOFTOPS AND TERRACES CMS Danskin Acoustics has a new sound-reducing underlayment product specially developed for external surfaces, such as on rooftops, terraces and balconies, which also provides rainwater drainage and membrane protection. REGUPOL sound and drain 22, exclusively available from CMS Danskin Acoustics in the UK, is a polyurethane elastomer composite with a dimpled profile on the underside to facilitate drainage and a geotextile-laminated top to prevent dirt penetration. It provides impact sound insulation with effective acoustic results in a range of different structures. REGUPOL sound and drain 22 provides high-impact sound insulation levels of 28 to 37 dB depending on the specific build up, is rotproof, largely resistant to ageing, gives good drainage and water flow capacity and functions as a protective layer. Acoustic test data is available for six floor assemblies, including varying thicknesses of concrete tiles, wooden decking boards and ceramic tiles, as well as test data confirming compressibility, fire, thermal and moisture behaviour and resistance to ageing.

Made from recyclate, REGUPOL sound and drain 22 is 15mm thick and has a load-bearing capacity up to 50kN/m². Projects to date include The Marienturm in Frankfurt am Main, a 38-storey building primarily occupied by offices, and 36-38 Berkeley Square, a new office and retail development in London’s Mayfair. REGUPOL sound and drain 22 is a Bronze level Cradle to Cradlecertified product. Cradle to Cradle

ROCKWOOL DEVELOPS CPD TO PROMOTE FIRE SAFETY OF MULTIFUNCTIONAL ROOFS ROCKWOOL, one of the UK’s leading stone-wool insulation manufacturers, has launched a new CPD module to help roofing contractors and specifiers assess and mitigate potential fire safety risks for flat roofs used as additional functional space of a building. This CPD aims to improve understanding of the role of the modern flat roof, and how to identify and mitigate fire risks above and below the roof and is based on the recently-launched white paper ‘Flat roofs: The functional fifth façade’. Participants in the ‘Flat roofs: The functional fifth façade’ CPD will learn about the requirements of the Building Regulations for flat roofs and the role of guidance documents like Approved Document B, or regional equivalents. The final section of the CPD outlines ROCKWOOL’s range of fire-resistant stone-wool insulation products that are compatible with a variety of modern flat roof systems. The new module is available through the manufacturer’s bespoke learning platform, ROCKWOOL Learning, or as a traditional in-person course. To learn more about the CPD, and to register for a place, visit the website below.

01656 868400

rockwool.link/ffcpd customersupportcentre@rockwool.co.uk

is a multi-attribute standard for designing and making products that enable a healthy, equitable and sustainable future. Distributed in the UK by CMS Danskin Acoustics, REGUPOL products are specified worldwide for their noise- and vibrationreduction properties.

www.cmsdanskin.co.uk 01925 577711 info@cmsdanskin.co.uk

STO RAINSCREEN CLADDING SYSTEM STREAMLINES CONSTRUCTION AT BLAR MOR A Sto rainscreen cladding system has provided an alternative construction method for a new housing development, generating time and cost efficiencies. Located in Fort William in the Scottish Highlands, Blar Mor comprises 117 one- to four-bedroom affordable homes, which have been built by TSL Contractors. The main contractor partnered with AFS (Scotland) to deliver a durable cladding system for timber-frame homes, removing the requirement for traditional construction. Steve Avery, Director of AFS, explains: “Having used Sto’s products for numerous new-build projects, we recommended the StoVentec rainscreen cladding system.” Sto reviewed windload information and provided a Sto fixing assessment to assist AFS in the installation of the StoVentec system. Comprising StoVentec carrier boards, these were installed on the timber battens to create a ventilated cavity. The next stage of the installation process was to apply a layer of StoArmat Classic Plus, a cement-free base coat, embedded with Sto-Glass Fibre reinforcing mesh to the exterior of the StoVentec boards. The final facade finish was completed with StoSilco K1.5, a silicone resin render in white.

0330 024 2666

www.sto.co.uk d.newton@sto.com

ROOFING, CLADDING & INSULATION

KNAUF INSULATION LAUNCHES FIRST ONLINE CONDENSATION RISK TOOL Knauf Insulation has launched the industry’s first online condensation risk analysis tool. It will save architects and specifiers time by enabling them to evaluate the risk of interstitial condensation and generate U-value calculations in less than five minutes. “Interstitial condensation can result in rot or corrosion within the structure,” explained Bradley Hirst, Technical Services Manager at Knauf Insulation. “So calculations evaluating this risk give architects and specifiers peace of mind that their design will not cause unintended damage to the building’s fabric. “The problem is they take time. We know architects and specifiers often do multiple U-value calculations for housing developments, but if they wanted to assess the risk of condensation, they needed to contact our technical team or enter the same data into previously-downloaded, third-party software. Then, if they change the U-value, they have to start the whole process again. “By integrating a free condensation risk analysis calculator into our online U-value calculator, we have reduced a process that could take up to 24 hours to just a few minutes.” The condensation risk analysis tool is quick and easy to use. First, users need to generate the U-value by choosing from a range of typical build ups and tweaking the data using dropdown menus to match their exact specification. They then have the option to analyse the risk of condensation.

Opening this function pre-populates the tool with the build up and U-value data. Users then need to enter the postcode for the building location, which automatically identifies the country and the nearest available region for climatic data. Next, they select the property type from the dropdown menu. Once the risk of condensation has been calculated, users can view the boundary conditions (data used) and download the calculation, including the temperature data and dewpoint graphs.

01744 766666

www.knaufinsulation.co.uk/uvalue-calculator technical.uk@knaufinsulation.com

mail@sureset.co.uk +44 (0)1985 841180

• • •

Permeable UV stable Hardwearing

• • •

SuDS compliant Low maintenance 21 year guarantee

www.sureset.co.uk

FOCUS & INNOVATION

Embarking on a new educational development journey is always timely. The specialist’s building systems cater to a spectrum of educational levels, from nurseries to universities, emphasising aesthetic flexibility and enhanced building performance. Partnering with Wernick ensures your education facility is operational well before the next academic year, which showcases the company’s commitment to efficient and reliable solutions.

How to procure a modular building

PROVIDING PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE EDUCATION SECTOR Modular construction stands out as an efficient method for creating contemporary and durable educational facilities. Choosing modular buildings over traditional construction brings numerous benefits, leading to a surge in modular schools nationwide. Whether it’s a single- or multi-storey structure required, modular solutions offer adaptable designs, ensuring the creation of an ideal learning environment. Wernick Buildings serves as a reliable partner for all your educational construction needs. From design and construction to swift installation, the company delivers a comprehensive turnkey solution, providing fully-fitted buildings in significantly less time than traditional builds. Your project will be overseen by an experienced construction team, offering a smooth transition with inclusive training and thorough aftercare. Additionally, Wernick’s school buildings boast a remarkable 50-year design life.

Preparing for the next academic year The modular specialist’s modules are built in its South Wales factory and either stored or delivered directly to clients, streamlining the construction process by up to 50% compared to traditional methods. The company offers modern teaching equipment and features, maximising your space’s potential. As part of its turnkey service, Wernick extends support to groundwork and landscaping, encompassing car parks, multi-use games areas and playgrounds.

Embarking on the journey to procure a modular school building with Wernick Buildings involves a wellstructured process designed for efficiency. The initial stage focuses on developing the building’s design and specifications, encompassing surveys, services and planning applications. Following this, the tender submission and evaluation phase includes project planning, tender submissions, client evaluations and transparent communication of feedback. Once the design is frozen, detailed planning ensues and the project is strategically scheduled into the factory’s manufacturing programme. Detailed design covers everything from groundwork to structural, electrical and mechanical elements, ensuring a comprehensive approach. Moving forward, the building warrant application is submitted, followed by clarification evaluations and considerations for factory work commencement. The subsequent stages involve manufacturing building modules in the factory, fitting doors, windows, plumbing and various systems. Concurrently, service applications for water, electricity and other necessities are addressed. Pre-mobilisation conditions, including approvals and permissions, are met before the mobilisation stage, which involves site preparation and community engagement. Groundworks follow suit, preparing foundations, services, drainage and access. The installation phase sees the introduction of building modules and onsite fit-out, ensuring seamless integration. Services, such as power, water and data connections, are established, leading to the commissioning, snagging and finishing stage, where thorough testing of various aspects is conducted. The final steps involve handover, including client training for building operations, key exchange and the sharing of certificates, manuals and reports.

www.wernick.co.uk 0800 112 4640 enquiries.buildings@wernickgroup.co.uk

ROCKWOOL LAUNCHES GUIDE TO BS 5422:2023 To support HVAC and building services professionals in meeting the latest thermal performance guidance, stone-wool insulation manufacturer ROCKWOOL has released its Guide to BS 5422:2023. The new brochure clarifies recent changes to BS 5422, the technical guidance document covering thermal insulation of building services, and is available to download. BS 5422:2023 presents updated specification recommendations for effective thermal insulation of pipework, ductwork and other building services equipment, covering a range of applications throughout commercial and domestic buildings. Changes to the guidance includes the removal of thermal performance for legacy materials, adjustments to the heating tables, and the change from ‘National Class’ reaction to fire to ‘Euroclass’ classifications. The changes presented in BS 5422:2023, effective since 30th June 2023, give designers more stringent thermal performance targets in line with energy-efficiency commitments and the route to net zero. The ROCKWOOL Guide to BS 5422:2023 puts these changes into context, with a clear breakdown of what each means to the designer, on top of providing application-specific advice and best practice.

01656 868400

rockwool.link/bs5422 customersupportcentre@rockwool.co.uk

With wet and windy weeks ahead, it is important to regularly service your automatic entrance system to ensure it continues working at optimum efficiency, whatever the weather throws at it. With a nationwide team of in-house trained engineers, TORMAX can deliver a full service and maintenance programme, or one-off emergency repairs, for almost any automatic door. “At this time of the year, it is especially important to schedule a service call to make sure your automatic door remains legal, safe and fully operational at all times,” explains Simon Roberts, MD for TORMAX UK. “A build up of debris, dirt and leaves, or an ingress of water during heavy rainstorms, can affect the performance of the system or even cause the door to fail entirely. A comprehensive service call out can quickly pick up any potential problems, avoiding long-term damage to the system whilst also providing timely maintenance to maximise the performance of key mechanisms.” Offering a cost-effective solution, TORMAX offers a Planned Maintenance Contract (PMC) with timely call outs scheduled throughout the year, minimising the chance of inconvenient downtime of the system.

01932 238040

FOCUS & INNOVATION

AUTOMATIC DOOR SERVICING SOLUTIONS FROM TORMAX

www.tormax.co.uk sales@tormax.co.uk

Specifying a CFA member for your next flooring project could mean the difference between success — or a flooring failure. Most of the UK’s largest Manufacturers, Distributors and Contractors are CFA members, and for good reason. • CFA members promote high standards, knowledge and expertise • CFA members maximise your investment and minimise costly flooring failures — which is good for your client, your reputation and promotes future business • All members have to pass a vetting process

See the “Downloads” section at www.cfa.org.uk and download our leaflet TODAY

Tel: 0115 941 1126

www.cfa.org.uk

Email: info@cfa.org.uk

FOCUS & INNOVATION

ZENTIA INTRODUCES THE OPLIA PRODUCT FAMILY: A BRIGHT HORIZON FOR CEILING TILE SOLUTIONS Zentia, one of the UK’s market leaders in complete ceiling solutions, proudly announces the launch of ‘Oplia’, the latest family addition to its product portfolio. Formerly recognised as Perla, the renaming reflects Zentia’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of design and functionality in ceiling tiles. The range, launched on 10th January, offers a diverse set of visual and acoustic solutions for interior spaces. All tiles within the range have a smooth, laminated finish for a sleek aesthetic. Oplia hA dB, Oplia hA and Oplia hA+ offer excellent sound absorption, Oplia hA dB and Oplia

dB offer impressive sound attenuation properties and, alongside Oplia Triangles, the range provides the ideal solution for a wide spectrum of communal interiors, such as offices and classrooms. Alongside white, 34 new exciting colours have been added to the range to

experiment with design, create defined zones and assist with wayfinding. Each tile has a high light reflectance of 86% and extremely low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) content, offering overall enhanced health, wellbeing and productivity for the end user. The Oplia dB tile delivers an enhanced sound attenuation performance of 41 dB, reducing the sound between adjacent spaces and making it a great addition for private offices and boardrooms or multilet buildings. Alternatively, the Oplia hA dB is an ideal solution for flexible working spaces, with excellent levels of sound absorption and sound attenuation in one tile. Also, within the new product family, the Oplia hA tile provides a Class A sound absorption rating and performs best in open-plan areas, such as libraries and cafeterias. The Oplia hA+ tile has the highest possible aw coefficient of 1.00 and has been designed for areas that require enhanced focus and concentration, with the light reflectance improving interior light levels, diminishing artificial light reflectance and enhancing user wellbeing. Lastly, the Oplia Triangle tile system offers additional design freedom, formed with interlocking isosceles triangles which, when combined with a choice of 34 additional standard colours, can add a very striking and impactful visual element to any project’s interior. Graham Taylor, Director of Sales & Marketing at Zentia, commented on the launch: “The introduction of Oplia signifies our ongoing commitment to redefining the possibilities within ceiling tile solutions. With a renewed focus on amazing aesthetics and acoustic excellence, the new Oplia family offers a great canvas for architects and designers to innovate and create inspiring spaces.”

0800 371849

www.zentia.com info@zentia.com

FOCUS & INNOVATION

AKW LAUNCHES NEW GENERATION OF ELECTRIC CARE SHOWERS AND P12 SHOWER WASTE PUMP AKW, one of the UK’s leading providers of accessibility solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of its new generation of electric care showers and P12 shower waste pump. The new generation of stylish electric showers comprises updated versions of AKW’s market-leading SmartCare Plus, SmartCare Lever and iTherm products. Design features include fewer parts and surface split lines for easy cleaning, more rounded edges, to reduce the risk of fall-related injuries and illuminated LED displays to aid operation. The showers also all feature a matte-finished central panel to enable straightforward control location for those with visual impairment and dementia. Created to be easy to use and quick to install, AKW’s SmartCare Plus and SmartCare Lever are BEAB Care certified, RNIB tried and tested and DSDC dementia-friendly-product accredited. For even greater shower control flexibility, AKW has added a remote on/off button to the range. Designed to control either the SmartCare Plus or SmartCare Lever shower, this wallmounted button has a wireless range of up to 10m. A stylish new AKW Care Kit has also been added to the range for use with the SmartCare Plus or SmartCare Lever shower. AKW’s new-generation showers are all WRAS approved and feature an optional eco setting, which can limit flow rate to

6lpm, supporting the reduction of both water and energy consumption. The showers come with a built-in timer function, helping users who are wanting to reduce their water and energy bills to make considered showering choices. AKW’s DigiPumps and AKW P12 Waste Pump – with optional wireless module – are ideal for use where gravity drainage isn’t an option. A wireless module connects either a SmartCare Plus or SmartCare Lever shower to either pump and comes with a PCB that is plugged into the shower and pump, connecting them together quickly and efficiently.

www.akw-ltd.co.uk

01905 823298

sales@akw-ltd.co.uk

F. BALL MAKES FOR TOP STORY AT CHANNEL 4 NEWS

GERFLOR TO THE RESCUE WITH LIBERTEX FLOORING Langford Budville Jubilee Hall was opened in October 2012 by HRH The Earl of Wessex, following 30 years of fundraising. The village lies two miles to the north-west of Wellington in Somerset. When the main floor space in the hall needed a fast-track refurbishment, the Parish Council made the decision to specify 200m2 of Taralay Libertex in ‘Amsterdam Light Grey’ from flooring specialist Gerflor. Chris Pursey, Specification Area Sales Manager at the time for Gerflor, said: “The feedback has been exceptional and immensely positive from the users in the hall, including members of the bowls club who play on it frequently. This installation has transformed the village hall, and its rewarding to see that the community will benefit from its investment for many years to come.”

F. Ball and Co.’s Stopgap 300 smoothing compound has been used to create a hard-wearing base for a flooring installation at Channel 4 News’ main broadcast studios in Leeds. Stopgap 300 smoothing compound was applied at a depth of 3mm over the entire subfloor to provide a firm, smooth base over which the floorcoverings could be installed. Stopgap 300 is formulated specifically for use over subfloors in areas that are subjected to heavy-duty traffic, making it ideal for where the production team would be continually moving over the space with heavy TV equipment. It is walk-on hard just 90 minutes after application, allowing for the LVT floorcoverings to be installed little more than three hours later.

www.f-ball.com

01538 361633

mail@f-ball.co.uk

ASWS ADDRESSES LEAD PAINT ISSUES DURING DOVER STREET CONTRACT As an acknowledged specialist in dealing with the presence of lead paint, as well as the restoration of all types of metal windows, Associated Steel Window Services (ASWS) has carried out a detailed contract on behalf of Collins Construction during the refurbishment of 35 Dover Street in London. The London-based company was selected to carry out the painstaking work, which required multiple applications of a non-toxic poultice strip, as the result of its previous involvement with the main contractor on other high-profile projects. ASWS’ team of highly-trained operatives was involved across four of the five storeys to the former ‘Empress Club’ and office building, striping and restoring a total of 36 large steel windows and screens.

www.gerflor.co.uk 01625 428922 contractuk@gerflor.com www.asws.co.uk

0208 665 5335

info@asws.co.uk