PSBJ January 2017

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January 2017

EMBRACING CHANGE How life safety systems for public facilities can be incorporated into the smart cities movement

Off-site solutions

Ensure resident comfort

Increasing profit

Off-site manufacturing methods are meeting the demands of education environments

Why social landlords should ensure their properties meet indoor air quality standards

The inherent cost benefits that structural timber frame offers house-builders

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The term 'smart cities' is widely used to describe urban environments that are better connected. See page 14

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Welcome to the January issue of PSBJ...

The new Chancellor, Philip Hammond, delivered his Autumn Statement at the end of November, with several pledges that will be instrumental in the growth and development of housing and infrastructure across the country.

In the statement, Hammond not only pledged to release £2.3b towards a new Housing Infrastructure Fund – which will be used to support the construction of up to 100,000 new homes – but on top of that, he also unveiled that £1.4b will be used to provide a further 40,000 new affordable homes.

The housing crisis is one of the biggest challenges faced by the UK, so these announcements are a major boost for the construction industry, and in light of last year’s Brexit outcome, sceptics must remember it could have been a lot worse.

Despite the plans to build more homes, the application process in order to be a part of these schemes is likely to be competitive. In this month’s issue, Jason Ruddle, Chief Operating Officer at Elecosoft, considers how the pressures on construction contractors bidding for housing contracts may be impacted in 2017 by the recent policy announcements.

Also in this edition, we bring you the latest high-profile case studies and talking points on Paints, Coatings & Finishes, HVAC/HVP, Acoustics & Sound and Energy Management. You will also find a dedicated focus on each of the four key areas of the public sector – Housing, Healthcare, Education and Leisure.

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

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

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

08 Upfront With universities facing greater competition and even higher student expectations, more institutions are turning to off-site solutions.

14 Talking Point Simon May at Hochiki Europe discusses how life safety systems for education, healthcare and other public facilities can be incorporated into the smart cities movement.

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16 Leisure

20 Legal & Business

24 Housing

Fencing can be the differentiator with new leisure sites, especially if specifiers engage manufacturers in their aspirations, says Zaun’s Mo Ali.

John Houlden, Procurement and Projects Lawyer at Burges Salmon, explains what is a balanced scorecard and how it is to be used.

Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association, highlights the inherent cost benefits that structural timber frame offers.

18 Technical Focus

22 Education

26 Healthcare

PSBJ profiles the Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre, which features an undulating roof structure with hanging timber cables suspended between large concrete buttresses.

A lesson in timber systems as Stewart Milne Timber Systems completes £3.6m Holy Cross primary school in Swindon with architecture firm, Cullinan Studio.

Independent management, design and construction consultancy, Pick Everard, has delivered a new MRI scanner facility at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

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

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

Search ‘psbj’

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www.psbj.co.uk

Contents

18

38

24

28 Paints, Coatings & Finishes

36 BIM

A selection of colours from the Dulux Trade Diamond Eggshell range has blurred the boundary between inside and out at a new school in Wales.

Jason Ruddle of Elecosoft considers how the pressures on construction contractors bidding for housing contracts may be impacted in 2017 by recent policy announcements.

30 HVAC/HVP

38 Energy Management

Vent-Axia explains how social housing landlords can fulfil their duty of care to tenants by providing good indoor air quality in their properties.

Schneider Electric, in partnership with EFT, has been working with Swansea University and St Modwen’s to implement a number of energy management solutions.

34 Acoustics & Sound

40 Product Showcase

The acoustic insulation specialist, SIDERISE, has delivered an impressive acoustic performance at world-class arena, the ÂŁ125m SSE Hydro in Glasgow.

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

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

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News

INDUSTRY UPDATES

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

Work starts on exciting Bedford ‘learning community’ An ambitious £20m scheme to create a new secondary school, primary school and nursery is set to transform learning environments in Bedford – catering for more than 1200 students and pupils.

Construction work has now started on the new Wixams Academy in Green Lane.

There will be a secondary free school and a primary and nursery setting on the same site – but the two schools will be separate establishments and, as such, will be run by two different trusts. However, both buildings are being designed at the same time and will be built by one contractor simultaneously.

Expert designer of public buildings, Lungfish Architects, has created the innovative schools in response to Bedford Borough Council’s need for more school places in the area which has arisen as a consequence of the new Wixams housing development continuing to grow.

The new Wixams Academy will eventually accommodate an intake of 500 11-17 year olds and 324 pupils aged 17 plus, along with 70 staff. The new primary school will cater for 420 pupils alongside 39 staff as well as a 26-place nursery.

New project to bring 59 new apartments to Scunthorpe Specialist developer, Pulse Modular Homes, is working with North Lincolnshire Council to develop and build 59 apartments in a new, modular housing project in Scunthorpe’s town centre. Pulse will complete the St John’s multimillion-pound housing project by the end of 2017.

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One of the key benefits of this modular building project is that it can be completed in under half the time of a project using traditional building methods. It also exceeds many of the Building Regulations, such as thermal insulation, and has a very low level of noise transfer because of the high-quality acoustic insulation which is incorporated within each modular building unit.

The modules of the apartment building will all be built off site in a specialist factory which ensures that they are not subject to weather delays and damage. They will then be taken to site for quick assembly.

The St John’s project, which was initially announced in May this year, has been expanded from 48 to 59 apartments with a mix of one- and two-bedroom units. This development is one of the cornerstones of a multimillion-pound scheme to help regenerate Scunthorpe town centre, and it has received a grant of £290,000 from the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency.

Putting Nottingham back on the map for skateboarding As skateboarding gets set to become an Olympic event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Nottingham is looking to give the sport a new home in the heart of the city.

Work to build a brand-new skate plaza at King Edward Park in St Ann’s isn’t just another building project. Plans put together in collaboration with community skateboarding organisation, Skate Nottingham, Nottingham City Council (NCC) and local contractor, Robert Woodhead, include influences from iconic parks around the world.

Designs have now been finalised by specialist skatepark design firm, CANVAS, and work is set to complete on the £80,000 scheme

by Christmas. The project has been made possible thanks to WREN funding.

The new park will include inspiration from some of the world’s most iconic skate plazas.

From the John F Kennedy Plaza in Philadelphia to the city of Malmo in Sweden, which has gone from a city that once deemed skateboarders a ‘nuisance’, to one that is internationally recognised as a premier skateboarding destination.

Conlon completes school schemes in Lancashire Conlon Construction has completed two school refurbishment projects in Lancashire, valued at almost £7m.

Commissioned by Lancashire County Council, the projects saw the Prestonbased contractor refurbish Southlands High School in Chorley and build new facilities for Lancaster Road Primary School in Morecambe.

Both were to provide larger facilities to cope with growing pupil numbers.

The £3.6m project at Southlands High School delivered a new sports hall, changing rooms, classroom, offices and reception and increased intake by 30 pupils per year – taking capacity from 190 to 220.

Lancaster Road Primary School is now a three-form entry establishment following a £3.2m programme of works. The new single-storey building now comprises six classrooms, a multi-use hall, group/interview rooms, a new entrance and a staff room. The project also included extension of the car park and kitchen facilities.

Guy Parker, Managing Director at Conlon Construction, said: “As a main contractor with a raft of experience in the education sector amassed over the last 55 years, we are well-versed in delivering school, college and university projects and utilised these skills to provide modern facilities for children in Chorley and Lancaster that will encourage pupils to be the best they can be.”

New central London homes released for council tenants In 2013, Southwark Council made an ambitious pledge to build 11,000 new homes in 30 years across Southwark, one of London’s most dynamic boroughs. These homes will be built to the highest standards and, crucially, will be available to social housing tenants at target rent.

Last month, in SE1 close to the riverside, the final touches to the Long Lane (now Villier’s Court) site were completed and 21 brand-new council homes and one commercial unit will soon be available to let in one of London’s prime locations.

Designed by Levitt Bernstein, the new homes will be part of Leathermarket JMB, one of the country’s most successful tenant managed organisations.

Fundamentally, the housing is designed to be of a standard that is comparable with, or even exceeds, the quality of much of London’s current private housing. All the homes will be let at target rent – which is around 40% of the area’s local rent levels.

The building has impressive architectural credentials, in keeping with the council’s commitment to build high-quality homes, and is designed to London Housing Design Guide standards as well as Southwark’s new homes design standards.

Surgo wins West Newcastle Academy Surgo Construction, one of the region’s leading building contractors, has been appointed to the £2.6m West Newcastle Academy project.

The site, which is on land south of Armstrong Road in the west end of the city, was previously occupied by terraced houses.

These were demolished in 1982 and since then the site has lain dormant.

Surgo has now commenced site preparation work to enable the project to begin and is anticipating a completion date that will allow the academy to become fully operational in readiness for the start of the autumn 2017 term.

Currently operating from temporary buildings within the Benwell Nature Park, the new West Newcastle Academy will cater for approximately 200 Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils, offering a novel learning environment where children spend two days

Scape Group CEO responds to Autumn Statement Mark Robinson, Scape Group Chief Executive, comments on the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement: “It’s certainly refreshing to hear the Government investing in affordable housing with £1.4b of funding for 40,000 homes, because housing associations have been under huge funding pressure for many years now, and this move is long overdue.

“However we also need to recognise the role that local authorities and city regions can play in the delivery of affordable homes – Metro Mayors will get more powers to borrow for infrastructure, but councils are not allowed to borrow to build homes, and so it is disappointing that this hasn’t yet been addressed by the Chancellor. We mustn’t let the Government’s delayed Housing White Paper become a ‘white wash’ by once again avoiding this reform. We also need to ensure we are getting the balance right between shared ownership, affordable rent and social housing, so the new flexibility for housing providers on developments announced today is also welcome.

“The Government has finally given Scotland its fair share of city deal funding with new commitments to Stirling, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness, but the Treasury mustn’t delay any further in getting investment in these Scottish cities off the ground. More powers for London and Greater Manchester are also a step in the right direction, but Merseyside, Leeds, Sheffield, and Tyneside must not be left behind.”

NEF Green Deal Communities project wins award The National Energy Foundation has won the Local Authority/Community category in this year’s Public Sector Energy & Sustainability Awards. The winning entry was the £2.5m Green Deal Communities Project that the foundation managed on behalf of South

Bucks District Council and a partnership of 14 local authorities across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire.

The project delivered solid wall insulation and other energy efficiency improvements to reduce both fuel poverty and carbon emissions on a street-by-street basis in 577 hard-to-treat homes.

On receiving the award, Sandra Hayes, Senior Project Manager at the National Energy Foundation, commented: “I’m delighted to receive this award on behalf of both the National Energy Foundation and the 14 participating local authorities. Our Green Deal Communities Project was an ambitious and challenging programme but its fantastic achievements, in terms of the number of energy efficiency installations and the subsequent savings in both carbon emissions and householder fuel bills, are an excellent example of what can be achieved when partners come together and cooperate with a clear focus.”

News

each week learning away from the classroom – in ‘forest school’, at the beach, or visiting museums, farms and parks for example.

The design of the academy is unusual in that it operates on three levels with the main entrance at mid-level where there is a general office and large classroom or community room. The lower level has both a double- and single-height piazza providing a spacious and airy circulation area which will double as a dining hall. There is also a kitchen and food technology room here as well as KS1 and reception classrooms. The KS2 teaching space and staff areas will be located at the upper level.

Morgan Sindall constructs two essential units at Crawley Hospital Construction and infrastructure company Morgan Sindall has been appointed to remodel and construct two essential clinical units at Crawley Hospital.

The project is already underway and includes a £5m remodelling of the Urgent Care Centre (UCC) and a £3m Sub-Acute Care Ward at the hospital on West Green Drive. It was commissioned by NHS Property Services through the development company, West Sussex Community Solutions.

The UCC will be used to treat patients with illness and injuries that are not life-threatening, such as minor burns, broken bones, chest infections, nausea, sprains, bites and stings.

The centre will also provide a six-bed Clinical Assessment Unit (CAU) and an improved treatment and waiting area for children.

Morgan Sindall is also constructing a state-of-the-art Sub-Acute Ward at Crawley Hospital which will accommodate 26 patients. The project team is transforming a vacant space located on the sixth floor of red wing to create a bright and modern ward for rehabilitation and treatment. The refurbishment will also see the Morgan Sindall project team cut through the existing building and install a special skylight, which will fill the new ward with natural daylight.

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Upfront

HOW TO SEAMLESSLY EXTEND HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES TO MEET DEMAND

Steve Newell, General Manager at the Portakabin Group, looks at how an off-site solution has helped the University of Cumbria to expand facilities in two phases, to meet the growing demand from students for STEM subjects. universities facing W ithgreater competition and even higher student expectations, more institutions are turning to off-site solutions to expand facilities and enhance the teaching and learning experience.

Off-site construction specialist, the Portakabin Group, handed over a second state-ofthe-art STEM laboratory scheme at the University of Cumbria – on time, on budget and after only four months on site.

The £1.6m building contract on the Fusehill Campus in Carlisle has seamlessly extended

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laboratory facilities completed

by Portakabin in 2015 using a Yorkon off-site solution. The scheme has been developed to meet the growing demand from students for degrees in a range of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects.

Helping to address the national skills gap The investment in the new specialist ‘Category 2’ research facilities will help address the national skills gap for graduates with specific bioscience skills and will support the regional

nuclear and pharmaceutical industries in particular.

The building will also be a catalyst for greater collaboration with local schools to encourage interest in STEM subjects from an early age.

Research by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills showed that 43% of vacancies in STEM roles are hard to fill due to a shortage of applicants with the required skills – almost double the UK average of 24%. In engineering, this is apparent for almost 60% of vacancies.

Project: University of Cumbria Location: Cumbria Construction Specialist: The Portakabin Group

The extension will allow the university to further expand its science portfolio by offering degree-level qualifications

Training in STEM subjects is particularly important for Cumbria given that over a quarter of its economy is based on manufacturing – almost two and a half times the national average.

New regional developments include the GlaxoSmithKline biopharmaceutical facility at Ulverston and there has been an increase in demand for scientists at Sellafield.

A highly successful first phase The first phase of the STEM building in Carlisle was opened in October 2015 and soon after, substantial bids were submitted to trusts and foundations to extend the facility with a second floor and for new faculty members to be employed to deliver teaching and innovation in STEM subjects.

Commenting at the opening of the first phase, Professor Peter Strike who was Vice

Upfront The development cost for the whole scheme was £3.5m, with £700,000 from the LEP

to engage young people early on in their educational careers, expand our programme of science subjects and perform research consultancy. The university is ambitious in its desire to be the lead provider of science-related subjects in the region.”

Chancellor, said: “The opening of the laboratories marks an exciting start to a new science focus that will create growth and opportunity for university staff and students and the wider community. However, our aspirations do not end there as we intend to extend these laboratories so that we can develop a specialist science centre

A new extension to expand the university’s science programme The extension will allow the university to further expand its science portfolio by offering degree-level qualifications in engineering, chemistry and biomedical science in Cumbria for the first time.

An off-site solution has helped the University of Cumbria to expand facilities in two phases

To construct the second phase, Portakabin craned 500m2 of laboratory accommodation into position in just five days using a 350 tonne crane. The entire operation required only nine people on site.

Each Yorkon module arrived on site partially fitted-out to reduce the overall programme.

The building installation was carried out during the university’s summer recess to avoid any interruptions to students and staff.

The new facilities include specialist research, clean and flexi-laboratories, two temperature-controlled rooms,

a preparation and tissue culture room, microscopy room, office, dark room and plant room.

Externally, the new upper floor has solar-control feature glazing, areas of cedar cladding and brise soleil sunshading to fully integrate it with the first phase of the building.

Category 2 level of containment laboratories Portakabin used a Yorkon offsite solution for both phases of the laboratory building and was also responsible for the installation, testing and commissioning of the air handling systems to Category 2 level of containment; fume cupboards and microbiology safety cabinets.

The development cost for the whole scheme was £3.5m, with £700,000 from the LEP. Paul McCulloch, Head of Capital Development at the University of Cumbria, said: “Following the success of the first phase, it was always our intention to expand the facilities and to use a Yorkon off-site solution again, to provide us with specialist ‘Category 2’ bioscience laboratories. This would enable us to enhance our existing science curriculum offer and is a hugely exciting development for the university, our students and the regional economy.

“Our priorities were speed, quality and cost efficiency 

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Upfront Each Yorkon module arrived on site partially fitted-out to reduce the overall programme

and the Portakabin Group has excelled in each area. It has been really easy to extend the original Yorkon building vertically. We are delighted that the building was handed over on time and on budget in time for the start of the new academic year – and despite a very tight programme. By working in partnership with us, Portakabin has definitely added value to the project and their team ensured its success.”

Why consider off-site building solutions?

Off-site construction is successfully challenging, site-based building methods through innovation and the value it can add to the procurement process for education providers – primary, secondary, further and higher – has been proven.

Completion times can be halved, which results in earlier occupation – an important advantage when there is so much pressure on places.

Construction work is also safer, quieter and less disruptive if more work takes place in

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a factory – with a direct and positive impact on teaching.

With good design, highly efficient processes, and robust, technically-advanced building systems, off-site solutions from Portakabin are providing inspirational and stimulating learning environments, with complete long-term flexibility.

Buildings that adapt to change All education providers – schools, colleges and universities – have to adapt over time, and so do their facilities. The space in all new buildings should be designed to allow for different uses, to meet changing requirements, and the needs of the local community out-of-hours.

Modular buildings can be expanded without the need for decanting and installation can be timed to take place during the summer recess – as the project at the University of Cumbria successfully demonstrates. Nonload-bearing partitions and clear unrestricted internal spans of up to 12m facilitate space planning and the ability to meet changing needs. 

The building will also be a catalyst for greater collaboration with local schools to encourage interest in STEM subjects

Upfront

The latest advancements in off-site construction With the latest technological advances and new innovations in off-site construction, there should be no compromise on design, performance, layout or aesthetics.

There are literally thousands of configurations and permutations, and the most advanced off-site solutions, such as those from Portakabin, are sufficiently flexible to meet almost any site, building footprint or educational requirement.

There is now an even wider choice of cladding, glazing and roofing options to create landmark, award-winning buildings or to complement existing facilities. And, advanced wall and floor constructions offer enhanced acoustic and insulation performance.

How to expand an already highly constrained site Buildings manufactured off site can be installed in completely enclosed courtyards, on raised platforms and on the roofs of existing facilities. This means that areas of a school or university site can now be expanded or developed which may not have access to the plant, materials and equipment required for site-based building methods. This is a key benefit where space for expansion is severely restricted and yet the demand for places continues to rise.

The scheme has been developed to meet the growing demand from students for degrees in a range of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects

Existing buildings can easily be extended using an off-site solution, vertically or horizontally, giving education providers even more flexibility to expand capacity requirements and optimise efficiency in the use of space.

Disruption is a major concern during any construction project.

However by using an off-site solution, the manufacture and assembly of the building structure and envelope, and a high proportion of the fitting out, are carried out off site. The installation phase can also be timed for weekends or holidays, keeping any disturbance to an absolute minimum.  Off-site construction specialist, the Portakabin Group, handed over a second state-of-the-art STEM laboratory scheme at the University of Cumbria

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î˜ą www.yorkon.co.uk

TH 25

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Talking Point

LIFE SAFETY IN SMART CITIES

There is a growing demand for spaces which not only promote the welfare of building occupants, but also actively contribute to people’s physical health and wellbeing

Simon May, Technical Manager at Hochiki Europe, discusses how life safety systems for education, healthcare and other public facilities can be incorporated into the smart cities movement, and how this will change the way public spaces are designed and built in the future. fundamental T hestructure of cities as we know them is changing. The Internet of Things, combined with the possibilities that connected technologies can offer, presents us with an opportunity to transform the way we design buildings forever by making them smarter.

The term 'smart cities' is widely used to describe urban environments that are better connected, increasing efficiency in services, while also reducing costs and energy consumption.

The goal of smart cities is to make them better living spaces for residents, simultaneously enhancing their health and

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wellbeing in the process.

While the potential benefits of smart cities are much discussed, one area where the spotlight is only just beginning to shine is life safety and the role it can play in this integration of technologies and systems across the built environment. Smart or not, protecting the residents of a building or city is vital, but with the fundamental ways in which cities and public spaces are developed and occupied changing, there are key questions being raised about what is required to keep people safe in our schools, hospitals and other public buildings.

According to a recent survey of life safety professionals from across EMEA and India, carried out by Hochiki Europe, there appears to be a gap in awareness and understanding of what smart cities are and their potential impact. The survey, predominantly of life safety installers, found that over half (57%) of respondents had heard of the term 'smart city', and only a third (33%) knew what one was.

That said, when respondents were provided with a definition of a smart city, 48% were confident that the life safety industry would still be able to keep people safe in smarter cities, and almost a fifth (18%) thought people would be even safer.

Simon May is Technical Manager at Hochiki Europe and is Head of the UK Research and Development Department. He has a wealth of experience in designing products and systems for intelligent buildings and also has a keen interest in new technology and smart cities.

Life safety in public spaces Across the built environment, there is a growing demand for spaces which not only promote the welfare of building occupants, but also actively contribute to people’s physical health and wellbeing. Facilities managers play a key role in this by ensuring operational efficiency and effectiveness within their spaces. It’s no wonder then that almost a quarter of respondents in the survey thought that facilities management was a sector that would be most impacted by smart technology.

In places like schools, hospitals, offices and other public buildings, the benefits a smart city can offer – thanks to increased digital connectivity – are clear. Not only can it help with monitoring building occupants from a safety perspective, it can also help in the assessment of building usage and modifying systems as required, ensuring they are operating as efficiently as possible and to the maximum benefit of users. Smart lighting technologies, for

Life safety and planning As well as helping facilities managers plan better maintenance and repair cycles,

smart life safety technologies offer a number of benefits when it comes to wider-scale planning, such as town planning and large infrastructure projects. Linear heat detection technology, for example, is capable of pinpointing the exact location of a fire in a confined space such as a cable run. This, combined with targeted fire suppression systems like sprinklers, can not only help minimise the risk of a fire spreading throughout a building, but also prevent damage to intact property elsewhere. By incorporating this type of technology across the built environment, town and building planners can make more intelligent choices when it comes to the placement of suppression systems to maximise the safety of people in public sector buildings.

What’s next?

Smart cities present an exciting opportunity to improve the standard of living in major cities around the world. It’s clearly time though, for these connected technologies to become more widely used in our schools, colleges, healthcare facilities and office spaces.

In order for the smart city movement to take hold in the design of our public spaces, Governments and manufacturers need to work together to lay the

right groundwork. This includes looking at the regulations surrounding fire safety in public spaces, developing the technology best suited to the task in hand and implementing the infrastructure needed to centralise control of fire safety emergency lighting equipment.

Through this collaborative approach, we can realise a vision of a smarter and safer urban environment. 

Talking Point

example, already exist and are widely used in healthcare environments. These systems are capable of automatically adjusting lighting levels in a room based on daylight levels outside to offer optimum comfort for room users and to save energy.

Modern life safety systems and technologies already operate as part of a connected network in which one centralised control panel controls all fire safety and emergency lighting equipment within any given building. This means facilities managers can monitor the performance of their entire life safety network from a single location, helping to save time as they carry out the regular inspections required by the law.

Further efficiencies lie in the maintenance inspections themselves and the data that can be gathered from them.

With effective data management and smart technologies, facilities managers are able to make better informed decisions as to the delivery of maintenance work and plan any repair work well in advance, reducing costs and disruption to building users or residents.

 www.hochikieurope.com Sectors life safety installers think will be most impacted by smart technologies:

Facilities Management

18%

Healthcare

11%

Construction

24%

Life Safety

12%

Education

10%

The term 'smart cities' is widely used to describe urban environments that are better connected

15

Leisure

GET SPECIFIC AND LINK FENCING WITH TECHNOLOGY

Zaun partnered with Cannock Hockey Club of the English National Premier League to develop a low-noise and low-maintenance metal fence

Fencing can be the differentiator with new leisure sites, especially if specifiers engage manufacturers in their aspirations and plans for their facilities early and get specific about what they want to achieve, says Mo Ali.

I

Zaun has developed its Advantage Tennis system that eliminates many of the downsides of traditional tennis chain link fencing

16

wrote in PSBJ exactly a year ago in a focus on leisure that there is more to fencing than meets the eye. I argued that leisure and sports fencing can keep balls in play, reduce maintenance, provide safety and security, deter vandalism and graffiti, and even be an integral part of the field of play.

I was on a mission to better inform specifiers and architects of the many benefits they could reap and risks they could minimise from properly specifying what, to most, appeared to be just a simple sports fence enclosure.

We, at Zaun, have certainly made some progress on that mission. Fewer specifiers I speak to today, compared with a year ago, are surprised at the range of questions I ask before I will recommend the most

appropriate fencing solution for their sports area.

While fencing itself may have changed little in that year, the adoption of technology as commonplace has continued to move on at a pace. Furthermore, we have innovated the range of fencing we might recommend for specific applications, developing bespoke fencing to meet the very particular demands of specific sports.

For instance, we partnered with Cannock Hockey Club of the English National Premier League to develop a low-noise and low-maintenance metal fence which has set new benchmarks in hockey perimeters.

Ground Committee President Ken Bedford wanted to address some key issues with their perimeter fencing when he looked to upgrade the club’s pitches. The club was

Waltham Forest Council has innovated with LED floodlights at new tennis courts at Ridgeway Park that use far less energy than conventional lighting

experiencing high maintenance costs to replace nets and wooden boards damaged by constant ball impacts. He also wanted to limit the noise of the wooden boards which was affecting the experience for players and spectators alike.

Together, we developed a system at its Chase Park site to mitigate the effects of the high-impact sport and to cut maintenance bills by reducing its need and replacing only individual fence panels when necessary.

The system does away with nets and wooden boards around the ground and replaces them with twin-wire mesh fencing.

The bottom 210mm of the steel fencing system uses a high density of twin horizontal 8mm wires in a close 25 x 50mm mesh pattern – or up to 400mm behind the goals – that reduces significantly the noise while withstanding a far greater number of ball impacts without damage.

The system is then topped with Super Rebound, which gives better viewing, no risk of player or spectator injury from splinters or mid rails and no solid surface for vandals to graffiti.

Similarly with tennis, we have developed our Advantage Tennis

system that eliminates many of the downsides of traditional tennis chain link fencing, which deforms over time and is easy to cut, disfigure and vandalise.

That’s the system that has been installed at upgraded outdoor courts, including four brandnew courts, in two public parks in the town that was famous for producing the Lloyd tennis siblings David, John and Tony.

Southend-on-Sea was hoping to inspire the next generation of British tennis talent with newly-

refurbished courts and a series of participative programmes.

The council is working in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association and Fusion Lifestyle to provide a community tennis scheme and improve access and participation in the sport.

And they’ve turned to technology to further the cause.

They asked for the gates to the courts to be secure and fitted with locks triggered by key fobs, providing access to tennis courts all year round at

Leisure

Chalkwell Park and Priory Park.

Residents can buy fobs online or at a number of Southend leisure centres for just £27.50 per year – or just £25 with a Southend Advantage Card.

They come with a unique membership number and 4-digit PIN, allowing users to book online and turn up at their allotted time, let themselves in with their fob and play. Floodlights for just £2 for 30 minutes mean the courts are genuinely available 365/24/7.

Just down the road, Waltham Forest Council has innovated with LED floodlights at new tennis courts at Ridgeway Park that use far less energy than conventional lighting. While zero cost lighting is one of the innovative features of the second best outdoor gym in the world in Hull.

Shaw Park Eco Gym – one of eight free-to-use outdoor gyms installed for the city council

by The Great Outdoor Gym Company – is powered entirely by human movement and is lit up at night at no cost.

It allows people to exercise around the clock and has attracted official visits from as far afield as Japan and Hungary. The global attention saw it voted the second best outdoor gym in the world after California’s muscle beach.

It proves that anything is achievable if you set your sights high enough and engage the right people early enough in the process. 

 www.zaun.co.uk

Low-energy lighting allows people to exercise around the clock

17

Technical Focus

AQUATIC CENTRE GOES TO GREAT LENGTHS

The clear height requirements varied drastically, from extreme high at dive towers and the water slide to low over swim areas

Project: Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre Location: Surrey, Canada Architect: Hughes Condon Marler Architects

Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre has recently won the Supreme Awards, as well as the Community or Residential Award, at the 2016 Structural Engineering Awards in London. To achieve these accolades, architect HCMA and structural engineer Fast + Epp created the world’s most slender, long-span timber catenary roof. most catenary W hile systems have historically used steel cables, Fast + Epp took a novel approach, pioneering one of its most ambitious designs in the Vancouver firm’s 30-year history.

Engineers chose wood as a cost-effective, structurally-

18

efficient and aestheticallypleasing alternative, cleverly balancing form and function.

The resulting structure fulfills the client’s desire for an iconic building that will be a catalyst for civic growth, and is believed to be the world’s most slender long-span timber catenary roof.

Creativity and innovation For an aquatic centre of such size, the design team recognised the roof structure as a crucial point of visual interest.

The architect challenged the team to “think outside the box” and explore spanning the

primary structure across the 55m longer span rather than the short span – despite knowing this break with convention had the potential to substantially increase costs.

Shying away from typical ribbed ceilings of steel that would eventually corrode from the chemicals and harsh humidity of an aquatic environment, Fast + Epp chose to use wood for its hanging suspension roof. The architect (at first somewhat surprised by the audacity of a timber catenary roof) jumped on board with the unconventional approach, working hard with the entire team to overcome obstacles.

The almost-exclusively wood solution made use of small 5 x 10in long-span, glue-laminated wood beams, acting as cables under a double layer of plywood sheets as the main structural system. They hang between narrow, thin concrete slabs that transfer tension loads to posttensioned concrete butresses.

The roof not only achieves the significant clear spans required for the pools, but uses only a 300mm deep structure (compared with a typical 3000mm steel truss structure), thereby minimising the building volume and ensuring long-term operational cost savings. The deep pool excavations were efficiently utilised to bury

The almost-exclusively wood solution made use of small 5 x 10in long-span, glue-laminated wood beams

BUILDING PLAN (GROUND FLOOR)

STORAGE / VIEWING AREA ABOVE

LEISURE POOL LEISURE POOL

HOT POOL

DIVE TOWERS

CHANGE ROOM / FITNESS CENTRE ABOVE

HOT POOL

concrete foundations deep underground and resist the overturning forces.

A key to the success of the structural concept was the refinement of the roof geometry.

The clear height requirements varied drastically, from extreme high at dive towers and the water slide to low over swim areas. Thus the roof shape was warped, in order to minimise building volume and create slope for rainwater management.

Initially, this resulted in no less than 14 radii of glulam cable curvatures and prohibitive costs for each custom glulam jig manufacture – enough to sink the structural concept. The geometry was then refined so that only one radius of curvature and jig was used for every glulam cable. By simply lengthening and raising the ends of each adjacent glulam slightly, the warped roof geometry was achieved by much more economical means.

The spaghetti-like glulams were erected on site in just 12 days.

Sustainability and value Compared to a more typical ‘box with a flat roof’ to accommodate tall diving towers, GHAC’s roof shape saves money in the long run, by reducing the cubic volume of air to be heated and de-humidified, and decreasing operational costs for the client. The design

Technical Focus

represents outstanding value for money, and met the city’s budgetary expectations.

The facility is seeking LEED-certification, and meets stringent FINA standards to host regional, provincial, national and international sporting events in its 10-lane, 50m Olympicsize competition pool and dive platform. However, the best contribution a structural engineer can make to sustainability is to design efficient structures with minimal material – Fast + Epp’s roof structure delivers on this.

By reducing the effective roof structure depth from 3000mm to 300mm, the building volume was drastically reduced and significant lifecycle energy cost savings were achieved.

Moreover, the best scientific research tells us that wood is a much more sustainable material versus concrete and steel; it is a rapidly renewable resource with low-embodied energy and carbon-sequestering capabilities.

The facade structure (up to 20m high) was constructed with steel tube columns, which serve a double function – they not only resist wind loads but are perforated and connect to the basement air supply ducts, acting as ventilator ducts to prevent condensation at exterior glazing. This eliminated costly and unsightly mechanical ducting. The design maximises security and accessibility, with clear views from the central lobby into the natatorium.

The linear orientation of the roof, parallel to the pool lanes, is a benefit to competitive swimmers for orientation in the water. Initial reaction to the superstructure design of the building suggests that its striking aesthetic expression and ambiance will make it a favourite for years to come, and a pivotal first piece in a larger recreational masterplan to be built over the next decade. 

 www.structuralawards.org

BUILDING SECTION (FACADE ELEVATION)

55m (180ft)

19

Legal & Business

PROCUREMENT: USING A BALANCED SCORECARD

The Government has issued guidance on the use of balanced scorecards as part of its policy driver to use procurement to foster growth in the economy

John Houlden, Procurement and Projects Lawyer at Burges Salmon, discusses what is a balanced scorecard and how it is to be used.

I

n October, the Government issued guidance on the use of balanced scorecards as part of its policy driver to use procurement to foster growth in the economy.

In essence, it sees the Government as being able to support economic growth by helping to “level the playing field” through the way it buys public goods, works and services.

It sees its role as maximising the economic benefit of what it spends directly through the outcomes of major investments, or by playing a catalytic role in the development of supply market capabilities and competitiveness through the way it designs its procurements and requirements.

Whilst important policy goals, these are also issues that are, to a degree, enshrined in law through legislation, such as by the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, whereby contracting authorities

20

must consider how the proposed services or goods to be procured might improve the social, economic and environmental well-being of the relevant area, and how these features might be secured during the procurement process.

The Government therefore sees the balanced scorecard as a means of supporting such initiatives.

The balanced scorecard is a way of “developing a procurement (e.g. the requirements and evaluation criteria) so that more straightforward matters, such as cost, are balanced against more complex issues, such as social and wider economic considerations”. It has been used with some success in relation to the Olympics and the HS2 programme.

It also chimes with recent developments in procurement law – particularly the Public Contracts Directive 2014, which is transposed in the

UK by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. As well as making it clear that the award of contracts should be on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender, the law explicitly mentions the use of whole life costs analysis of a bid.

The entire cost effectiveness of a bid, and not just the initial price, should be assessed. The new regime also provides for greater clarity on the application of social and environmental factors. This fits with, for example, the Government’s recent push on apprenticeships.

The guidance therefore requires all central Government or NDPB works, capital investment and infrastructure procurements with a total value in excess of £10m to apply the scorecard. You can though see that many of its principles will be applicable to other types of procurement. For example,

John Houlden is recognised as a leading procurement and projects lawyer, with a track record of advising on highprofile and complex regulated procurements across a number of sectors for a wide range of public and private sector bodies.

Defra has used a scorecard approach in the delivery of its food plan.

The balanced scorecard is a welcome step in making sure that procurements are well thought-out and deliver real benefit – socially, environmentally and economically. However, it is just one piece in a complex jigsaw that helps to decide the success or otherwise of a procurement. 

 www.burges-salmon.com

Ecobuild is evolving with the industry, focusing on the issues that matter the most.

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Education

A LESSON IN TIMBER SYSTEMS

Stewart Milne Timber Systems was selected by Cullinan Studio to help reach a trio of project objectives

Project: Holy Cross primary school Location: Swindon Architect: Cullinan Studio

Stewart Milne Timber Systems, the UK’s leading timber systems designer and manufacturer, has provided the timber solutions for a £3.6m school development in Swindon, alongside architect firm, Cullinan Studio.

Cross primary H oly school is a two-form, single-storey school which was manufactured off site, taking only three weeks to erect and 43 weeks to complete, thanks to the fast build time afforded by off-site construction and timber systems.

The single-storey building with sloping roofs allows all classrooms to have direct access to covered external learning spaces with views over the playing fields. It also ensures internal spaces

have excellent natural light and ventilation.

The school is organised by two profiled wings of classrooms connected by a lower central spine containing group rooms and specialist learning areas, top-lit with generous rooflights.

The main hall, which follows the same profile as the classrooms, is accessible to the local community for use out of school hours.

This innovative off-site manufactured school was developed from a Cullinan Studio-led research collaboration with Smith & Wallwork Structural Engineers, Cundall Environmental Engineers and Peter Gittins & Associates Cost Planners, to respond to the Government’s challenge to reduce cost and increase speed of delivery for primary school buildings. The aim was for a single-storey plan

FACT FILE: • A £3.6m two-form, singlestorey primary school in Swindon • Precision engineered, factory-insulated timber systems used consisting of manufactured wall panels and cassettes • A fast build time taking only three weeks to erect and 43 weeks to complete • Low-weight, carbon sequestered timber used to maximise efficiency.

Image © Cullinan Studio

The main design principle was an open-plan look to enhance creativity and collaboration between pupils and teacher

22

Education

Image © Cullinan Studio

that could fit a range of site configurations and contexts.

Stewart Milne Timber Systems was selected by Cullinan Studio to help reach a trio of project objectives, namely: a fast build time, high levels of energy efficiency and scope for adaptability. Cost efficiency was another fundamental goal for the project, as it responded to the budget requirements of the education sector.

Enhanced creativity The main design principle, like many modern education buildings today, was an openplan look to enhance creativity and collaboration between pupils and teachers. Priority was also placed on ensuring the building increased circulation and flow around the school.

To achieve this, Cullinan Studio designed a wide corridor running through the school like a spine, with identical classroom clusters forming at either side.

The Stewart Milne Timber Systems design team took that design and developed it for manufacture, meeting all the architects’ objectives and exact specifications in a factory quality environment.

The main requirement for this project was that several timber system units could be exactly replicated, ready to erect on site to form the identical teaching spaces.

Energy performance, another fundamental factor, was built

The single-storey building with sloping roofs allows all classrooms to have direct access to covered external learning spaces

into the fabric of the school, with low-weight, carbon-sequestered timber used to maximise the efficiency of the building.

To ensure high energy performance from the external walls, each precision engineered wall panel was built using timber studs measuring 140mm thickness with 9mm of OSB to one side. Stewart Milne Timber Systems also supplied the roof cassettes for the building which were assembled in the same way, and were built utilising 450mm timber joists.

Holy Cross primary school is organised by two profiled wings of classrooms

The project remained cost efficient with the use of off-site construction, cutting material and labour costs overall. The building was weathertight in just three weeks, meaning follow-on trades had access more quickly in comparison to a traditional build programme.

Alex Goodfellow, Group Managing Director at Stewart Milne Timber Systems, said: “Our work for this project clearly demonstrates the adaptability and design potential timber systems can offer to clients. The new Holy

Cross primary school building will be cost effective and will close the gap between architect design and as-built performance, to provide a high-quality environment for classroom learning.

“Not only were timber systems able to help Cullinan Studio achieve the desired openplan, light-filled and creative look, they also allowed for the project to be built quickly – on time and on budget.”

Tony McAteer, Headteacher at Holy Cross primary school, commented: “The features of the school which especially excite the staff are the spacious reception area and children’s entrance, the fact that each class has its own designated outdoor space and the general feeling of openness and light throughout the building. Teachers like the breakout areas and management enjoys the fact that a walk up through the building facilitates a snapshot of the school at work.”

While the construction methods of the timber systems for this build were intricate and precision engineered, the building itself boasts simplicity and a welcoming, open feel.

Cullinan Studio required the help of Stewart Milne Timber Systems to achieve its vision, but in quick, cost-effective and efficient way. 

 timbersystems. stewartmilne.com

23

Housing

Structural timber frame – a build material that already harnesses pre-manufacture methods – can offer house-builders unrivalled commercial benefits

INCREASE PROFIT WITH PRE-MANUFACTURE Here, Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association, highlights the inherent cost benefits that structural timber frame offers house-builders, developers and contractors. findings from The T heFarmer Review of the UK Construction Labour Model have highlighted the urgent need for the UK construction industry to change and adopt a new work culture, ethos and

method of manufacture.

The ominous subtitle of The Farmer Review, Modernise or Die, indicates with clarity the severity of the challenge facing the construction industry at present, shining a light on many prevalent

Off-site construction helps ensure that initial plans are strictly adhered to

24

issues within the sector.

The report found that the construction industry’s aversion to innovation and collaboration, as well as the lack of investment in research and development, was severely affecting its

productivity, pool of skilled workers and, ultimately, its ability to deliver much-needed housing.

The solution, as put forward by the report, lies in embracing modern methods of construction, specifically offsite prefabrication, also known as pre-manufacture. Farmer advocates using “the residential development sector as a pilot programme to drive the use of pre-manufactured construction, for example, through off-site built or modular housing”.

Adding further credence to this argument is the updated RIBA Plan of Work 2013: Designing for Manufacture and Assembly, which reiterated the importance of pre-manufacture construction for the future of the construction industry benefits it can offer.

Harnessing digital processes, the report outlines how designing for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) allows for the mass-customisation of solutions, often used by other industries such as automotive, to become commonplace for the built environment. Creating new design processes, the RIBA Plan of Work champions the capacity of pre-manufacture to enable the industry to meet the UK Government’s Construction 2025 strategy of 50% faster delivery, 50% lower greenhouse gas

Housing

not need to be dug as deep. Also, pre-manufacture construction enables structural features, such as windows and doorframes, to be factory fitted. Finally, in the last stages of the project timeline, using structural timber frame means there will be less waste material onsite to dispose of. All these elements reduce time on site, thus labour and material related expenses and, ultimately, final project costs.

Increased uptake

Structural timber frame allows for properties to be built and sold quicker

emissions, 50% improvements in exports and 33% lower costs.

In providing counsel and advice for those approaching pre-manufacture, the report highlights the clear benefits of prefabrication, such as 20-60% reduction in build time, 20-40% reduction in construction costs along with more than a 70% reduction in on-site labour costs.

As such, structural timber frame – a build material that already harnesses premanufacture methods – can offer house-builders unrivalled commercial benefits.

For example, off-site construction helps ensure that initial plans are strictly adhered to, presenting the truest likeness to the original design.

This means that there are fewer modifications to designs and unexpected financial costs are not incurred.

Meet industry demands Furthermore, timber is a readily available material that can easily meet industry demands.

Brick and block supply have consistently and persistently suffered supply shortages and when a material is in short supply, a premium is placed on its price.

Also, supply costs and project delays will not be incurred by the shortage of skilled labour within the timber industry unlike other

sectors such as the brick industry.

In fact, the structural timber frame sector has significant growth potential; with the capacity to double its output if, and when required, due to a consistent strive for best practice. Witnessing progressive and steady growth in market share, up 10% since 2004, structural timber frame can be a key element in the industry’s drive to provide more housing in a modern, productive and effective manner.

Additionally, in a factory setting, health and safety costs can be reduced as a factorybased environment ensures safer working conditions and decreased height risks when compared to on-site construction. An added benefit of pre-manufacture is also the elimination of weather as an unpredictable variable in the construction of a property.

This can be a substantial cost given the uncertainty of the UK’s weather patterns; premanufacture therefore provides protection from the elements enabling stricter deadlines to be adhered to.

These benefits consequently mean that the product is delivered to site in a timely manner, with the truest representative of the architects’ designs without the need for

substantial on-site trade and labour costs.

Structural timber frame build time is therefore typically 30% quicker than ‘traditional’ methods of construction. Consequently, when considering cash flow and the rate of return of a project, structural timber frame allows for properties to be built and sold quicker, enabling the initial investment payback milestone to be met in a shorter time period.

Even further savings can be extrapolated by closely examining the project timeline. For example, timber’s lightweight structure when compared to block and brick means that foundations do

With all this in mind, it is little surprise that more and more contractors and developers are beginning to recognise the cost effectiveness of structural timber frame. Housebuilder, Barratt, has chosen to increase its use of structural timber frame to one in 10 properties. Increasing its residential building capacity, Willmott Dixon is also using structural timber frame for its offsite manufacturing capabilities.

It is readily evident from multiple independent reports; the on-going housing crisis and skilled labour shortages that the construction industry is in dire need of wholesale change. The weight of history, technology and expertise is behind the widespread implementation of pre-manufacture – and specifically, structural timber frame. Consequently, the quicker that house-builders, developers and contractors start to embrace the innovation of pre-manufacture, the quicker they can start to reap its multiple commercial benefits. 

 www.structuraltimber.co.uk

In a factory setting, health and safety costs can be reduced as a factory-based environment ensures safer working conditions

25

Healthcare

PICK EVERARD DELIVERS MRI SCANNER FACILITY FOR NHS

The relaxing aesthetics of the new department were important, not only to patients but to staff working there as well

Project: MRI scanner facility Location: Manchester Client: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Leading independent management, design and construction consultancy, Pick Everard, has project managed a new £2.8m MRI scanner facility at Manchester Royal Infirmary, which accommodates a suite of state-of-the-art scanners for the NHS. new cutting T heedgeChristie’s MRI (magnetic

Each room is equipped with a full-spectrum, colour-changing LED lighting system

26

resonance imaging) suite will provide patients with the latest in image-guided scanning technology. The suite houses three new scanners – two 1.5T (tesla) scanners and a powerful 3T scanner which was funded by £1.65m in donations to The Christie charity.

Pick Everard has project managed the delivery of the unit for The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. The scanner project posed many challenges with the unit needing to be built within a live hospital environment.

Jon Parry, Regional Director at Pick Everard, said: “This has been a highly technical project due to the scanners requiring a specialised, precise environment to operate in.

“The existing ward building is

over 80 years old, so it required careful project management to bring about a fit-for-purpose facility which will serve both patients and employees. The new facility will provide increased scanning capacity and a much improved patient environment.

The enhanced interior design features will also help to make time spent in the unit as relaxing as possible for patients.”

Future-proof facility The project involved major refurbishments and alterations to the existing ward and a newbuild extension to create the new scanner bunker.

The facility accommodates three scanners – two 1.5T scanners and one 3T scanner.

The scheme also includes the option for a fourth scanner to be added in the future.

Healthcare The new unit has been designed around the four seasons, with each one of the four scanner rooms signifying a different time of the year

The 3T scanner offers ultrahigh resolution and its powerful magnification can capture exceptional amounts of detail.

All three scanners are more spacious, allowing patients who suffer from claustrophobia to be scanned and it has upgradeable software, meaning it won’t need to be replaced for a decade.

It is expected that around 7700 NHS scans will be completed in the department by the end of 2017 with that figure rising to 10,000 within a couple of years.

Pick Everard was also commissioned to manage the technical coordination of the mechanical and electrical requirements of the Faraday cage and scanner providers. The Faraday

cage isolates the scanner from external interference and prevents the radio frequencies produced by the scanner from interfering with monitoring equipment.

When operational, all services within the scanner room must pass through filters to maintain the integrity of the cage.

Benefits for all Dr Prakash Manoharan, The Christie’s Consultant Radiologist and Nuclear Medicine Physician, said the new scanners would greatly enhance the scanning of cancer patients and give doctors a better insight into disease processes. He commented: “Many thousands of people are going to benefit from this facility immediately.

“Our patients will have access to the best and most up-todate imaging technology. The additional 3T machine will propel our imaging capabilities to a ‘stateof-the-art’ onco-MRI department.”

Relaxing environment

It is expected that around 7700 NHS scans will be completed in the department by the end of 2017

The new unit has been designed around the four seasons, with each one of the four scanner rooms signifying a different time of the year. Each room is equipped with a full-spectrum, colourchanging LED lighting system

which patients can control and which the designers believe helps to lower anxiety levels. As well as the scanning rooms, the building also has counselling facilities, an interview room and a number of clinical and administrative areas.

Dr Manoharan said the relaxing aesthetics of the new department were important, not only to patients but to staff working there as well.

“The sense of space and the amount of natural light coming in was important and was one of the things we worked closely with the designers on,” he said.

David Nisbet, Partner at Pick Everard, added: “We have considerable experience in the healthcare sector and this project necessitated vigilant project management to manage the high levels of coordination between design team, contractor and specialist suppliers.

“We are delighted to have achieved this for the NHS Trust and to have developed a facility which will help to deliver an exceptional service for its patients.”

The contractor carrying out the works was City Build Manchester with the work being delivered under the Christie Framework. 

 www.pickeverard.co.uk

27

Paints, Coatings & Finishes

A palette of sea blues from the Dulux Trade Diamond Eggshell range was used on the building’s ground floor

AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH FOR DULUX TRADE

Inspired by the Welsh landscape, a selection of colours from the Dulux Trade Diamond Eggshell range has blurred the boundary between inside and out at a new, £18m purpose-built day and residential special school in Wales, creating a truly inspirational learning environment. caters Y sgol-Y-Gogarth for approximately 195 pupils between the ages of three and 19 who have a wide spectrum of additional learning needs. Willmott Dixon’s redevelopment of the school involves the creation of many bespoke facilities to meet the requirements of the pupils.

The school, which overlooks the beautiful bay in Llandudno, wanted the interior design to have a positive effect on all pupils. For example, by creating a calming environment for those with autism and simple wayfinding and signage designs for pupils with visual impairments.

Known for its soothing properties, a palette of sea blues from the Dulux Trade Diamond Eggshell range was used on the building’s ground floor. Whilst on the first floor, strong mountain green and purple shades were applied to emphasise the energy,

28

and seniority, of pupils as they progressed through the school.

Eric Klein Velderman, Director at Cantoo Design, helped to develop the interior design at Ysgol-Y-Gogarth. He commented: “The building is surrounded by the sea, coast and mountains. It was a combination of this stunning backdrop, and the school’s commitment to encouraging pupils to get involved in outdoor activities that inspired the concept of bringing the outdoor environment inside.

“As a result, the school was zoned into distinct thematic areas with the sea on the ground floor, mountains for the first floor and the forest acting as the transition point between the floors.”

Eric continued: “Colour has also been used to create visual aids. Colour repetition throughout the building helps pupils to locate themselves and distinguish between pupil and administration spaces.

Aside from the ground and first floor colour differentiation, the core spaces, such as offices and medical rooms, have each been allocated their own colour scheme, and repeated across every level.

Eric added: “We also used a combination of coloured

feature walls for wayfinding.

Blocks of colour help to guide people through the building and contrast nicely with areas painted with Dulux Trade Wiltshire White, ensuring the brighter walls really stand out. In addition, a strong feature wall with high clarity seaweed graphics provides real visual interest in the stairwells."

Eric concluded: “The clever use of colour within an educational environment – like Ysgol-Y-Gogarth – can help to improve visual processing and stimulate student minds for learning, interacting and creating relationships with fellow pupils.”

David Ellis and Frank Ryan from Ambrose Ellis Painting Contractors were in charge of applying Dulux Trade paints to the school. David commented: “This is a great example of a construction company, a painting contractor and Akzo Nobel working in partnership to create something really beneficial for the pupils at Ysgol-Y-Gogarth.

The interior design of the school was unique and with Dulux Trade paints specified, it made the project enjoyable to work on as the paints are so easy to apply.”

Jonathan Morgan, the Headteacher at Ysgol-Y-Gogarth, said: “Our school looks great and the children love the new environment. The use of colour throughout the school has certainly helped to improve pupils’ behaviour and has eased their ability to transition around the building.” 

 www.akzonobel.com

The school, which overlooks the beautiful bay in Llandudno, wanted the interior design to have a positive effect on all pupils

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DECKING-OIL: Highest quality colour and protection for wood

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MICROPOROUS DURABLE UV-RESISANT OIL-BASED HIGH COVERAGE

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HVAC/HVP

An estimated 50% of buildings in the UK suffer from condensation

INDOOR AIR QUALITY: A CALL OF DUTY A raft of recent research has highlighted the crucial importance of good indoor air quality (IAQ) and how the nation’s health depends upon it. Social housing landlords should be aware of these findings and fulfil their duty of care to tenants by providing good indoor air quality (IAQ) in their properties. Jenny Smith, Marketing Manager at Vent-Axia, explains how. a bid to improve the I ncondition and efficiency of housing stock, social housing refurbishment projects are on the rise. This brings many benefits, such as cutting energy bills for tenants, but as properties become increasingly airtight as a result, more homes are being blighted by condensation, mould and poor IAQ, and the associated health and maintenance problems they bring. An estimated 50% of buildings in the UK suffer from condensation and the damage it causes to the health of tenants and the fabric of homes is a big issue for social housing providers.

Improving ventilation therefore offers a simple solution to condensation for social housing landlords. And when it comes to ventilation, social housing has a very specific set of needs. It is therefore important to select fans that have been designed

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So with figures like that, it’s crucial to avoid damaging condensation by installing ventilation that offers simple specification, low maintenance and reliability. The new LoCarbon Revive from Vent-Axia has been designed to provide exactly that. It is versatile, with a choice of speeds for multiple installation options and can be ducted or through the wall, meaning it suits any room. Plus, Revive is low maintenance since its market-leading Multi-Vortex technology does not require a filter, while the highly-sculpted interior actively repels dust, avoiding clogging, thus helping to avoid call backs. Revive also boasts reliability backed by up to seven years’ warranty.

Satisfied installers Quick and simple installation is key to keeping landlords, installers and tenants happy.

Installers need to be able to fit multiple fans on multiple sites as quickly and easily as possible.

The latest fans have a simple alpha numeric LED display which is clear and easy to read and a menu for commissioning and data gathering. Some fans even tell the LED 

especially for the sector. At Vent-Axia, we understand landlords’ concerns and design products to help ensure tenants and landlords alike are happy.

Satisfied landlords Social housing is under increasing pressure with tightening budgets. A recent survey revealed that 100 of the UK’s largest housing associations spent a whopping £2.5b on repairs and maintenance in 2014/15. High levels of condensation can damage the fabric of a property resulting in increasing maintenance and repair costs. Surface condensation results in mould, meaning landlords will need to pay for redecorating. But more serious than this, condensation can occur within the fabric of a building. This presents a greater hazard because it can often go undetected for long periods until serious structural damage has developed.

Landlords should looks for fans that have been designed to be powerful enough to remove moist air to ensure good IAQ, but at the same time quiet enough not to disturb

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Structural Glazing Specialists Structural Glazing Specialists Structural Glazing Specialists Structural Glazing Specialists To find out more visit www.firmanglass.com Firman Glass,19 Bates Road, Harold Wood, Romford, Essex RM3 OJH To out374534 more visit Tel:find 01708 Fax:www.firmanglass.com 01708 340511 Email: sales@firmanglass.com Firman Glass,19 Bates Harold Wood, Romford, Essex RM3 OJH To find out more visitRoad, www.firmanglass.com In association with Tel: 01708 374534 Fax:Road, 01708Harold 340511 Email: sales@firmanglass.com Firman Glass,19 Bates Wood, Romford, Essex RM3 OJH Tel: 01708 374534 Fax: 01708 340511 Email: sales@firmanglass.com In association with

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HVAC/HVP Fans, like the Revive, include a Day Logger which allows landlords to track how many days a fan has been running

display which orientation to use depending on whether it is wall or ceiling mounted. All of which saves time, and so cost, on site and reduces installation complications. Tenants will also appreciate not being disturbed for very long during installation.

Revive’s Smart Sense intelligent technology offers all these features.

Satisfied tenants Mould can have adverse effects on tenants’ health, and the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 puts the onus on landlords to ensure their properties are designed and maintained to prevent condensation and mould. Social housing landlords therefore have a duty of care to their tenants to provide good IAQ. The Royal College of Physicians’ report “Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution” starkly sets out the dangerous impact of air pollution, with around 40,000 people dying in the UK every year due to air pollution. Exposure to indoor air pollutants, such as radon and second-hand smoke, further add to these figures and with health problems, such as cancer, asthma, stroke and heart disease, diabetes, obesity and dementia all linked to poor air quality, it is clear that this needs to be urgently addressed in every household.

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Good ventilation helps to combat the problem of condensation and mould, but fans can only do this if tenants run them as intended by their design. Traditional old intermittent fans have tended to be noisy which not only disturb tenants, but make them aware the fan is running. This can potentially cause tenants to tamper with the fan to turn it off, causing condensation and mould to appear and resulting in poor IAQ. Landlords should look for fans that have been designed to be powerful enough to remove moist air to ensure good IAQ, but at the same time, quiet enough not to disturb, while remaining energy-efficient, like the Revive.

Fans like the Revive can even provide real-time data via an intuitive interface to communicate the fan’s energy efficiency so landlords can reassure tenants of the lowrunning costs. In addition, they can record when high humidity levels have triggered the boost speed, meaning the landlord can build up a humidity profile of the individual property, helping to identify those properties that suffer from abnormally high humidity levels.

Meanwhile, nuisance tripping is another reason tenants avoid using fans, so an ambient response humidistat is a useful feature to avoid this, thus increasing tenant acceptability.

However, despite the latest fans offering energy-efficient, quiet comfort, some tenants may still have concerns. Fans, like the Revive, include a Day Logger which allows landlords to track how many days a fan has been running, to ensure it is used as intended, thus building a profile of tenant activity and aiding landlords in investigating humidity problems.

Recording and monitoring this information is a significant step towards combatting condensation and mould in social housing properties.

Today, modern continuous ventilation offers a clear route to a good indoor environment for tenants, with lower humidity levels, and lower maintenance costs.

By installing these latest products, local authorities and housing associations avoid condensation damage to their housing stock and will ensure that their tenants can avoid the health risks associated with poor IAQ. 

 www.vent-axia.com

Improving ventilation offers a simple solution to condensation for social housing landlords

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Structural Glazing Specialists Structural Glazing Specialists Structural Glazing Specialists Structural Glazing Specialists To find out more visit www.firmanglass.com Firman Glass,19 Bates Road, Harold Wood, Romford, Essex RM3 OJH To out374534 more visit Tel:find 01708 Fax:www.firmanglass.com 01708 340511 Email: sales@firmanglass.com Firman Glass,19 Bates Harold Wood, Romford, Essex RM3 OJH To find out more visitRoad, www.firmanglass.com In association with Tel: 01708 374534 Fax:Road, 01708Harold 340511 Email: sales@firmanglass.com Firman Glass,19 Bates Wood, Romford, Essex RM3 OJH Tel: 01708 374534 Fax: 01708 340511 Email: sales@firmanglass.com In association with

www.firmanglass.com

To find out more visit www.firmanglass.com

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Firman Glass,19 Bates Road, Harold Wood, Romford, Essex RM3 OJH Tel: 01708 374534 Fax: 01708 340511 Email: sales@firmanglass.com In association with

www.firmanglass.com

Acoustics & Sound

AN IMPRESSIVE ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE

SIDERISE provided Roskel Contracts with good advice and backup on this extremely complex and challenging project

Project: SSE Hydro Location: Glasgow Architect: Foster + Partners

For what is one of the world’s most spectacular and busiest entertainment venues, the £125m SSE Hydro in Glasgow required an acoustic solution that could deliver consistent, high-quality sound for music and sport events within the arena bowl. Leading manufacturer of fire, acoustic and thermal insulation products, SIDERISE, met the challenge.

and liaising with both the architect and acoustic consultant.

From concept, through to mock-ups and the final site installation, they provided us with good advice and back-up on this extremely complex and challenging project.”

SIDERISE BM/P5/BOAK and BM/P10/BOAK sheets are thin polymeric sound barriers that provide exceptional flexibility and offer optimum sound reduction and dampening performance. They were originally designed to improve the acoustic insulation performance of metal, wood and plastic, being particularly effective at reducing the effect of coincidence dip resonance in these materials.

They are commonly used in construction applications including high-performance wall and partition constructions; external cladding to ducts/pipes; component in built-up metal roof and cladding systems. They can also be used in sandwich constructions between boards or as an internal membrane in built-up composites where final flexibility is required. 

 www.siderise.com part of the F orming redevelopment of Glasgow’s former docks and located adjacent to the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, the Foster + Partners’ designed SSE Hydro is a 25,000m2, 12,500-seat arena with an exterior facade which morphs into a massive multicoloured screen displaying stunning light shows. Internally, this ambitious concreteframed structure benefits from innovative acoustic engineering which heightens the arena experience and provides a worldclass experience for guests.

To create a sonically-pleasing environment, an acoustic performance upgrade was required to suit the complex geometry of the arena’s bespoke British Gypsum sloping fire-rated boarded plenum ceilings. As the ceilings’ design offered restricted access, an exclusively-boarded solution would prove unsuitable.

SIDERISE was approached by specialist contractor, Roskel Contracts, for its technical expertise in acoustics to find a

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bespoke solution that would meet the acoustic performance criteria requirements.

SIDERISE used its acoustic barrier/damping mat solution SIDERISE BM/P5/BOAK and BM/ P10/BOAK. Overlapping sheets were fitted from below through the structural framework. The SIDERISE BM/P5/BOAK and BM/P10/BOAK sheets were fixed and sealed to provide a continuous membrane which could be shaped and installed to suit the services and structural elements. The result was a fully compliant system.

Mike McLaughlin, Managing Director (Joint) of Roskel Contracts, commented: “We came to SIDERISE on the Hydro Arena as we had concerns that a buildable solution, which met the acoustic performance criteria, could not practically be achieved with an exclusivelyboarded solution. Having worked with them previously, we were confident that they had the range of products and the technical expertise to assist us in developing a practical solution

An acoustic performance upgrade was required to suit the complex geometry of the arena’s bespoke British Gypsum sloping fire-rated boarded plenum ceilings

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Glass Excellence Glass Excellence Glass Excellence

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Established in 1975 Firman Glass is one of the leading independent glass processors in the UK, manufacturing toughened glass, laminated glass and specialist sealed units.

Established in 1975 Firman Glass is 5one of the Based in Harold Wood Essex within minutes leading independent glassand processors in the of junction 28 of the M25 half an hour from UK, manufacturing glass, laminated Central London we toughened are ideally situated to glass and sealed units. service ourspecialist ever growing and diverse customer base.

Based in Harold Wood Essex within minutes Established in 1975 Firman Glass is 5one of the of junction 28 ofallthe M25 half an hour from Manufacturing forms ofand processed leading independent glass processors in the Central London we are ideally situated to toughened glass, with comprehensive stocks of UK, manufacturing toughened glass, laminated mirrors, service our ever growing and diverse customer clear float, low iron, satin, body tinted, glass and specialist sealed units. laminated glass, acoustic laminated and fire base.

Based in Harold Wood Essex within 5 minutes rated glass.

Manufacturing forms processed of junction 28 ofallthe M25ofand half an hour from With some of thewe most advanced capabilities in toughened glass, with stocks of Central London arecomprehensive ideally situated to mirrors, place float, Firman Glass is able to diverse manufacture high clear iron, satin, body tinted,customer service ourlow ever growing and laminated glass, for acoustic laminated andincluding fire quality products all markets sectors base. rated glass. retail, leisure and domestic. architectural, Manufacturing all forms of processed With some glass, of the most advanced capabilities toughened with comprehensive stocks in of place float, Firman is ablebody to manufacture high Products clear lowGlass iron, satin, tinted, mirrors, • Toughened glass • Specialist insulating glass units quality products all markets sectors laminated glass, for acoustic laminated andincluding fire • Processing • Anti–slip glass architectural, rated glass. retail, leisure and domestic.

• CNC shaping • Fire rated glass • Laminated glassof the most advanced • UV capabilities bonding With some in • Toughened and laminated • FIRMALITE electric switchable glass Products place Firman Glass is able to manufacture high constructions • Heated glass • Toughened glass • Specialist insulating glass units quality products for all markets sectors including • EVA and Vanceva coloured interlays • Decorative glass • Processing • Anti–slip glass • Fabric and decorative interlays architectural, retail, leisure and domestic.

• Sandblasting • CNC shaping • Fire ratedTMglass • Saflex DG41 structural interlay • Colorfirm back painted glass • Laminated glass • UV bonding Applications • Toughened and laminated • FIRMALITE electric switchable glass Products • constructions Structural glazing Staircases • Decoration • Heated glass • glass coloured interlays • Specialist insulating glass units • Toughened EVA Vanceva Glassand floors • Decorative Treads and glass stringers • Wall cladding Processing • Anti–slip glass •• Fabric and decorative interlays Partitions Shower screens • Splashbacks • Sandblasting CNC shaping • Fire ratedTMglass •• Saflex DG41 structural interlay Roof lights • Colorfirm Shelving back painted glass • Privacy • Laminated glass • UV bonding •Applications Balustrades • Glass doors • Technical Support • Toughened and laminated • FIRMALITE electric switchable glass • Full height barriers • Acoustic reduction • Nationwide Coverage • constructions Structural glazing Staircases • Decoration •• Heated glass • Canopies • Fire rated Glassand floors Treads and glass stringers • Wall cladding • EVA Vanceva coloured interlays •• Decorative Partitions Shower screens • Splashbacks •Further Fabric and decorative interlays •• Sandblasting information is available from our sales and technical offices or Roof lights Shelving TM back painted glass • Privacy • Saflex DG41 structural interlay •• Colorfirm •Applications Balustrades Glass doors Technical Support Firman Glass,19 Bates Road, •Harold Wood, Romford, Essex• RM3 OJH • Full height barriers • Acoustic reduction • Nationwide Coverage Tel: 01708 374534 Fax: 01708 340511 Email: sales@firmanglass.com • Structural glazing • Staircases • Decoration • Canopies • Fire rated • Glass floors • Treads and stringers • Wall cladding •Further Partitionsinformation is available • Shower screens • Splashbacks from our sales and technical offices or • Roof lights • Shelving • Privacy Glass,19 Bates Road, •Harold Wood, Romford, Essex• RM3 OJH •Firman Balustrades Glass doors Technical Support •Tel: Full01708 height barriers • 340511 Acoustic reduction • Nationwide Coverage 374534 Fax: 01708 Email: sales@firmanglass.com • Canopies • Fire rated

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Further information is available from our sales and technical offices or 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

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BIM

Housing construction programmes already utilise modular planning to drive progress and manage subcontractors for maximum productivity

HOUSING POLICY TO PILE ON THE PRESSURE Jason Ruddle, Chief Operating Officer at Elecosoft, considers how the pressures on construction contractors bidding for housing contracts may be impacted in 2017 by recent policy announcements. authorities and L ocal housing associations are no doubt hard at work, following the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. An investment of £3.7b for housing, with £1.4b for affordable homes, aims to create 100,000 new homes, including 40,000 affordable homes. Application for Shared Ownership, Affordable Homes and Buy to Rent schemes is likely to be competitive.

As organisations outline tenders for design and

construction, they are likely to demand maximum time- and cost-efficiency. BIM will already be implicit in every plan: the delivery of an information model, alongside each asset, is now a given, to help future lifecycle management. Austerity means they will continue to seek cost effectiveness. However, it is also likely that they will be seeking something else: a White Paper is imminent, per statements made in October, to incentivise the use of

prefabricated materials and modules, thus accelerating contract fulfilment.

Demand modern methods Bidders must already aim to show BIM certification or a demonstrable capability to manage building data. But clients should now additionally ensure that they show they can adapt to a changing construction world. The urgency to build means tough deadlines. To rebuild housing stocks at the rate that demand, and public and media pressure requires, they must identify bidders that use every advantage of digital technology, off-site manufacturing, prefabrication and smart materials.

Insist on integration

Software sits further at the heart of the construction design, planning and management process than ever

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Today, software sits further at the heart of the construction design, planning and management process than ever. A truly integrated view of delivery, delivering a live

3D visualisation linked to construction programmes, is now essential. Housing construction programmes already utilise modular planning to drive progress and manage subcontractors for maximum productivity. They will now increasingly incorporate the management of manufacturing timelines and Just In Time delivery of off-site-built elements and prefab modules.

This complements BIM since, as well as accelerating building, it provides ready-made data injections into the overall model, as BIM objects, allowing scenario-planning of time and cost across different build options.

Control costs As a new swathe of politicallyand socially-sensitive housing schemes commence, it will be vital that local authority and housing association project owners have full programme transparency. They will welcome the benefits of a broadening use of 5D BIM, which integrates cost estimation and planning into the overall view. We see growing demand for this from customers wanting to utilise Elecosoft’s applications linking Asta Powerproject BIM software with our estimating tool, Bidcon and modular design tool, Framing.

As 5D use increases, we expect public sector clients to seek this capability from suppliers. It offers the ability to see the full cost implications of decisions to actively manage and mitigate cost overruns, with the aid of 3D visualisation, throughout the build, not just as an initial forecast for quantity take-offs and budgeting.

The construction industry will welcome this promised investment as a much-needed boost within an uncertain economic environment and will be keen to benefit. With fierce competition likely, organisations that fully embrace the power of digital construction will be best placed to take advantage in the year ahead. 

 www.elecosoft.com

Relieve the pain of rising patient numbers

A rise of patient numbers means hospitals and clinics could face a facility shortfall putting pressure on healthcare management to provide more space quickly and economically.

Modular buildings from Wernick provide a modern, spacious, energy efficient environment for patients and medical staff which are fully HTM and HBN compliant. What’s more, while the building is being manufactured, the foundation is being prepared on-site. This makes it possible for us to deliver a building of exceptional quality very quickly and with a saving of up to 50% when compared to a traditional building.

Modular buildings can form permanent buildings with traditional features such as a brick finish and a pitched roof.

Why Wernick Modular Buildings?

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Speedy completion Lower cost than traditional build More dependable build programme HTM and HBN compliant 25 year structural warranty Planning and building regulation service Full project management Sustainable form of building Choice of traditional or contemporary finishes HIRE and LEASE options available

Sustainable construction without compromise Sustainable construction without compromise For additional information visit www.wernick.co.uk/healthcare

0800 18 18 22

Energy Management

The renovation of Swansea University’s Bay Campus is part of a greater regeneration scheme that spans the whole of Swansea

A LESSON IN INCREASING ENERGY EFFICIENCY Schneider Electric, in partnership with EFT, has been working with Swansea University and St. Modwen’s to implement a number of solutions which have made a tangible difference to Bay Campus’ energy usage, while creating a comfortable place for students to study, work and socialise.

University is a S wansea research-led university that was first opened in 1920. Set in parkland overlooking Swansea Bay on the edge of the Gower Peninsula, the university has 15,921 students and 2510 staff and prides itself on providing

an environment of research excellence, and delivering an outstanding student experience.

As part of this commitment, the university embarked on an ambitious campus expansion and development programme that will enable it to double in size

and further enhance the student experience.

Swansea University’s new 65-acre Bay Campus, which is located on an old BP Transit site, is now home to the College of Engineering and School Management students. It will be

Project: Swansea University Location: Swansea Overall Project Value: £450m

home to almost 5000 students and 1000 staff. The new campus is one of the biggest knowledge economy projects in Europe, and one of just a few in the world that has direct access to a beach and its own seafront promenade.

Planning for the project, which was developed by regeneration specialist, St. Modwen, began more than 10 years ago, and has taken just over two years to build.

Following its formal opening, a phased opening of other amenities has followed which include a sports hall, gym, music rooms, creche, student union, laundrette, bar and dining room and a cafe bar, with an additional 545 student accommodation rooms now available.

The renovation of Swansea University’s Bay Campus is part of a greater regeneration scheme that spans the whole of Swansea. As part of this, iconic buildings and sites were put on the market in a bid to change the shape of the city and with the aim of transforming Swansea into the financial capital of Wales.

Background to installation

The new campus is one of the biggest knowledge economy projects in Europe

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As part of Swansea University’s ambitious regeneration project, St. Modwen needed to source a number of building management solutions to help make the campus one of the safest and most comfortable learning and

Energy Management

living environments available.

Schneider Electric was brought on board with the design and build of the campus on the back of a long-standing relationship with EFT Consult, thanks to its reputation for helping solve the challenge of providing an energy-efficient, appealing, secure campus, while maximising financial resources.

The overall regeneration project has been valued at £450m, and at just over 50% of the way through, Schneider Electric’s involvement has totalled over £1m to date.

Solution and benefits To meet Swansea University and St. Modwen’s strategic sustainability objectives, a number of solutions were implemented to make a tangible difference to Bay Campus’ energy usage, while creating a comfortable place for students to study, work and socialise.

The university and St. Modwen identified the active management of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems as a key component of controlling building energy usage.

Moreover, it would also enable optimised environments

EFT and Schneider Electric’s solution has been deployed in 14 buildings as part of the Bay Campus regeneration plan

for enhanced performance and energy efficiency. With this in mind, and as part of a design and build project, EFT developed and implemented a solution in partnership with Schneider Electric, that saw the introduction of a complete Building Management System (BMS), StruXureWare, wiring accessories, industrial cable

containment, LV Distribution, Rising Busbar and Metering.

Positioning itself as a market leader in the provision of cutting-edge academic facilities and energy management, it was imperative that Swansea University and St. Modwen could run their buildings at optimal efficiency, at all times. EFT, in partnership with

Schneider Electric, helped achieve this thanks to its control and metering philosophy.

Client feedback Swansea University and St. Modwen are delighted with the service provided by Schneider Electric, in partnership with EFT. A smooth installation, combined with expert technical support were crucial in easing the implementation project and assisting the electrical contractors install the systems.

EFT and Schneider Electric’s solution has been deployed in 14 buildings as part of the Bay Campus regeneration plan.

Schneider Electric’s partnership with EFT on this impressive project has given Swansea University and St. Modwen the confidence to modernise its infrastructure, embrace new technologies, with tools to regulate power consumption, and deliver a superior level of sustainability and cost benefits across the campus.

Moving forward

Swansea University’s new 65-acre Bay Campus, which is located on an old BP Transit site, is now home to the College of Engineering and School Management students

Schneider Electric and EFT are now involved in the third phase of the project consisting of an additional 543 bedrooms and two floors of Swansea University space which includes seminar rooms, offices, meeting rooms and PC labs. 

 www.schneider-electric.co.uk

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Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

Getting on top at the Crick The Francis Crick Institute in central London is a world-leading centre of biomedical research and innovation. Its research groups are now beginning to move into a new state-of-the-art building, featuring an extraordinary roof screening solution from Levolux.

This striking new building, designed to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating by architects from HOK with PLP Architecture, is one of Europe’s largest biomedical research

was necessary to limit the visual impact of the building, particularly at high level, as it overlooks St Pancras International station, the British Library and housing in the Somers Town area of Camden.

Levolux worked collaboratively with the project design team to develop a custom roof screening solution, to satisfy unique and challenging project-specific requirements.

The resulting solution is impressive in scale; extending 160m in length and 80m in width, and reaching up to more than 43m above street level. The enormous roof screening structure resembles a modern vaulted roof, divided into two interlocking shells.

Each shell is formed from a variety of screening fins, or louvres, that combine to create an attractive, yet multifunctional, enclosure. Solid, perforated and twisted aluminium fins all feature, along with glass fins.

In total, Levolux designed, fabricated, supplied and installed almost 2400 screening fins. The fins vary in size, with widths ranging from 150 up to 750mm and lengths of up to 9m. Each fin is engineered with custom brackets to facilitate the smooth operation of lifting and securing them into place.

centres. The building is equipped with a vast array of specialist, highly sensitive plant and equipment, much of it located at roof level. To satisfy planning requirements, it

 www.levolux.com  info@levolux.com  0208 863 9111

Sika reinforces failing residential buildings

Redland's BCP pitched roof training is just the ticket Roofers lacking formal qualifications can now enjoy CITB-funded training thanks to Redland’s accreditation as an approved provider of the Basic Competency Programme (BCP) for pitched roofing. To date, Redland is the only manufacturer approved for the BCP in respect of pitched roofing. The BCP certificate – when combined with a Working at Height's CSCS Health & Safety Test pass – entitles apprentices and ‘old hands’ to apply for the three-year Red ‘Experienced Worker’ CSCS ‘ticket’, allowing them to work on site while looking towards the next level of qualification. The objective of the BCP is to support roofers without either a full competency or an official roofing qualification in obtaining one.

 www.redland.co.uk  marketing.redland@monier.com  01293 666700

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A total corrosion management concrete repair specification from Sika provided the protective solution for residential buildings’ deteriorating exterior. Spalled concrete had occurred throughout the buildings, with steel reinforcement exposed. The exposed repair area surfaces were applied with Sika Monotop-610, which required mixing with water to provide a reinforcement corrosion protection, and bonding primer in preparation for concrete repairs using Sika Monotop-615. To address the carbonation-induced corrosion within the concrete, which hadn’t yet propagated cracking or delamination, Sika Margel VPI 580 was installed. Sikagard-550 W Elastic provided the final application over the existing coating.

 www.sika.co.uk

 enquiries@uk.sika.com

 01707 394444

Innovative bracket boosts insulation integrity In line with the company’s commitment to fire prevention and its focus on innovation, building envelope specialist, CA Group has launched its new and improved spacer bracket. The new bracket maintains its 240 minutes of structural integrity and is now capable of achieving 120 minutes of insulation integrity – a four-fold increase on the existing system, which is already market leading.

The MatriX Spacer System, incorporating the fully re-designed and MatriX Bracket with FireWall option – both of which are patent pending, was designed, developed and fully tested by CA Group’s team of engineers and replaces the highly successful original Matrix bracket.

 www.cagroupltd.co.uk

 info@cagroup.ltd.uk

 01388 834242

SBP ARY

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

Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

Sika provides rapid repair to bring long-term, watertight solution to town centre car park Water ingress was being experienced to the exposed asphalt split level decks at Sunbury Cross Shopping Centre. With the site providing nearby residents with their only parking means, it was vital the system used to waterproof the existing surface allowed for a rapid installation which could withstand long-term vehicular stress.

Sikafloor- RB58, a quality, highly-crack bridging system from Sika, met all the project’s requirements.

Sunbury Cross multi-storey car park in Middlesex serves the high street’s busy shopping centre. The asphalt surface of its top two decks – which are reserved for residents – had become cracked and blistered due to long-term exposure to the elements. Contractor, Makers Construction, was appointed by client, real estate leader Colliers International, to install SikafloorRB58 to refurbish the damaged surface as

part of a five-week programme of repairs.

Selected for its dynamic crack-bridging, incredibly fast curing times and high abrasion resistance, Sikafloor- RB58 comprises a fully reinforced system to guarantee the surface is watertight and free from cracks which allow the passage of water.

As part of the repair system, Sikafloor-10 Pronto, a medium-viscosity, fast-curing primer was applied to the car park’s 3000m2 asphalt surface. To fully strengthen the base coat, glass fibre reinforcement mat Sika Reemat Premium was applied and embedded

into the Sikafloor-32 Pronto. A further layer of Sikafloor-32 Pronto, filled with 1:2 Sikafloor-Pronto Filler, was also applied and fully broadcast with quartz sand.

Sikafloor-18 Pronto, which offers excellent mechanical and chemical resistance, provided the system’s fast-curing, solvent-free seal, giving the floor a superb skid and slip-free finish, sufficient to meet HSE regulations.

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

VMZINC roof on awardwinning Greenwich social housing project Redland courts success with Cambrian Slate When the team at Forster Roofing realised that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s building in Glasgow was the ideal showcase for its integrated roofing and solar service, the company also realised that Redland’s lightweight Cambrian Slates were perfect for the project. The commission to install solar panels on a fully operational building was a tall order in itself, but an inspection of the existing roof showed that it had less than 10 years life left and the project was expanded to incorporate the renewal of the 1800m² roof covering. And, because the roof structure was not designed to withstand the weight of natural slate, the roof was stripped and 25,000 Redland Cambrian Slates were fitted.

 www.redland.co.uk  marketing.redland@monier.com  01293 666700

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Having identified an acute need for affordable, single-storey dwellings for people over 60, Greenwich Council was granted funding to construct 35 on eight small sites across the borough. Designed by Bell Phillips Architects, they feature prominent use of zinc with standing seam, monopitch VMZINC PLUS roofs in PIGMENTO RED. The elevation rises 1.5m above the brickwork to create a sawtooth profile and an extensive glazing span which enhances natural light and space. The project has won RIBA National and London Awards and been commended in the 2016 Blueprint and Sunday Times’ British Homes Awards.

 www.vmzinc.co.uk

 vmzinc.uk@vmzinc.com

 01992 822288

The world of waterproofing in the palm of your hand Launched in May, the free Newton Waterproofing app is available for Apple and Android devices, and is an essential tool for anyone involved with structural waterproofing or damp proofing. From a practical perspective, the app puts Newton’s immense library of technical content at the disposal of the user, with data sheets, images, technical drawings, case studies and video tutorials.

The app cements Newton’s status as the industry’s most progressive and innovative company, integrating digital technology with technical information for the first time and forming the foundation for future developments.

 www.newtonwaterproo fing.co.uk  info@newtonwaterproofing.co.uk  01732 360095

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44 Public Sector Build Journal

Matthew Street flats were originally built in the 1960s as part of a wider housing boom at the time. The two 10-storey blocks of flats, owned and managed by the City and County of Swansea, have recently undergone a large-scale refurbishment using Mapei construction products and have subsequently been upgraded to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS).

As a result, residents will benefit from better quality, more energy-efficient housing.

The project included removing asbestos, demolishing redundant risers, replacing kitchens and bathrooms, electrical rewiring, as well as upgrading the insulation level to external walls. Beton Bauen carried out the specialist repairs on behalf of client, Interserve Construction.

A number of Mapei products were specified including Mapei’s carbon fibre plate Carboplate E 170/100/ 1.4, which

was bonded with Adesilex PG1 adhesive and used to reinforce 500-2000m2 of concrete elements damaged by physical and mechanical stresses within the block of flats.

Mapei concrete repair mortars Mapegrout T40, Mapegrout T60 and Planitop Smooth and Repair were used in the refurbishment of existing deteriorated concrete.

The use of Planitop Smooth and Repair eliminated the need to break out concrete,

Image © Robert Melen

Floors, Walls & Ceilings

Mapei construction products used for Swansea housing refurbishment

significantly reducing the noise and dust pollution. This allowed all occupants to remain living inside the building whilst the refurbishment was taking place.

For more information, please visit Mapei's website.

 www.mapei.co.uk  info@mapei.co.uk  0121 508 6970

Grill ceiling completes look of Northbrook College development

Stylish flooring for fashion college London College of Fashion recently refurbished its High Holborn Building, and opted for Scarlet Oak from design flooring specialist, Moduleo. It was crucial the flooring specified was durable, stylish and safe, as well as flexible for the students and staff who utilise the campus daily.

With this in mind, the designers on the project opted for luxury vinyl flooring from Moduleo for the student’s union cafe and bar, as a result of its advanced strength, slip-resistant rating of R10 and realistic wood-effect appearance. Colin Stroud, Director at Interior Precision which completed the refurbishment, comments: “Moduleo is a well-known name within the industry, and is renowned for its costeffective, yet on-trend, products which were imperative for this project.”

 www.moduleo.co.uk  salesuk@moduleo.com  01332 851500

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A West Sussex college has been enhanced with a stunning grill ceiling, manufactured by Hunter Douglas. The third phase of development at Northbrook College comprised an extension and refurbishment of the construction trades and engineering workshops and classrooms at a cost of £2.2m.

Hunter Douglas Architectural, which manufactured 300m2 ceilings for the college’s first two developments, supplied a further 300m2 of solid timber grill in a 4-90-15-45 module in African Ayous for the common areas and reception in the newest scheme. The solid wood grill panels are constructed using black aluminium dowels, which are clipped onto a black grid system, making an unobtrusive suspension system, but allowing easy access into the void.

 www.hunterdouglas.co.uk

 info@hunterdouglas.co.uk

 01604 766251

Itec at heart of NHS refurbishment project

Itec Contract Floors has provided over 1000m2 of commercial vinyl flooring for Heartlands Education Centre, a crucial facility and the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust’s largest hospital site.

Hallways and classrooms – key areas within the doctor and nurse training school – were treated to Itec Concept Woods' decorative vinyl in the rich oak hue of Santiago 749. The Concept Woods stable has proved popular in various healthcare locations thanks to its far-reaching talents, with Birmingham Heartlands now receiving a similar service thanks to the collection’s standout credentials that include a Class 34 'Very Heavy' commercial rating.

 www.itecfloors.co.uk

 info@itecfloors.co.uk

 0800 032 3970

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45

HVAC/BIM

AMBIRAD JOINS THE 3D MODELLING WORLD OF DESIGN AmbiRad, part of Nortek Global HVAC, has entered the 3D digital world of design by securing the equivalent of BIM (Building Information Modelling) Level 2 compliance for the Nor-Ray-Vac continuous radiant heating system product.

BIM encompasses the information about every component of a building in one place. It makes it possible for anyone to access the information for any purpose to integrate different aspects of the design more effectively.

BIM:

Nick Winton is the Divisional Manager at AmbiRad

Nor-Ray-Vac A mbiRad’s product range has now been 3D-modelled to the equivalent of BIM Level 2 compliant. Nick Winton, Divisional Manager, says: “We are committed to ensuring the complete range of NorRay-Vac product components are BIM compliant, technical information is now available to download through BIMstore – www. bimstore.co.uk/ manufacturers/ambirad.”

Nick continues: “Every manufacturer of products for the construction industry needs to be aware of how the implementation of BIM opens up huge opportunities for increased specification and product inclusion within projects.”

Reduces costly rework during construction Improves construction productivity by reducing conflicts and changes Improves operations and maintenance of equipment within the facility.

Being able to provide an intelligent parametric 3D object with the correct information is imperative and saves time and money.

Architects, consultants and contractors can produce drawings more quickly in 3D with the ability via BIM to clash detect during the design, rather than of old at

construction stage. The ability to provide a data-rich 3D object is a huge benefit to those designing, constructing and extracting the FM data from these buildings. Manufacturers on supply chains now have to be able to demonstrate their digital capability via BIM or risk losing their status. BIM is a golden opportunity for manufacturers as it can open previously closed doors and locks in product specification.

Although manufacturers can’t technically be ‘Level 2 compliant’, they can, and do, play a huge role in helping designers and specifiers to achieve Level 2 BIM on a project.

Digital world

collaborative way of working underpinned by the digital technologies, which unlock more efficient methods of designing, creating and maintaining assets. 2016 has seen a busy time for the industry and BIM cannot purely be seen as a ‘box-ticking’ exercise to be compliant. It should be embraced because ultimately implementing new technology and forwardthinking processes reduce risk and saves time and money.

With the Government’s recent Digital Built Britain report highlighting that BIM Level 2 is a stepping-stone to the implementation of Level 3, it is clearer than ever before that now is the time for the whole industry. 

BIM is the first global 3D digital construction technology and will soon be deployed in every country in the world. It is a

 www.ambirad.co.uk  richard.ferguson@nortek.com  01384 489700

Benefits of BIM The information contained within BIM for each product is unique, however, the same key benefits will include: Elimination of design conflicts Coordination of building services at design stage Product preference at design stage, to ensure compliance with specification, and during construction Streamlined site construction work.

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AmbiRad's Nor-Ray-Vac product range has now been 3D-modelled to the equivalent of BIM Level 2 compliant

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HVAC/HVP

HIU provides impressive hot water response Evinox Energy's ModuSat heat interface unit now takes around 15 seconds to meet changes in hot water demand, providing an impressive response time.

Using advanced proportional integral derivative (PID) control logic, in combination with PICVs and a fast-acting actuator, the primary flow rate modulates to match the DHW or HTG demand and responds instantly to the changing loads.

ModuSat's fast hot water response provides several benefits: Ensures that end-user comfort is achieved by providing consistent, safe hot water at the tap The system is more efficient due to fast control, guaranteeing a low return temperature to the primary network at all times Minimises the amount of energy wasted The building owner has a hassle-free, efficient development.

FairHeat tests Heat interface units play a vital role in the efficiency of district heating networks. As

Vent-Axia adds open grille fan to Revive range Vent-Axia has added an open grille fan to its Lo-Carbon Revive range of filterless unitary fans. Designed to meet the needs of social housing, the range boasts powerful, quiet, efficient ventilation, providing good indoor air quality and comfort while being quick and easy to install, low maintenance and reliable. The new open grille option also offers an additional choice to its existing tile grille. Revive’s Multi-Vortex technology has a high-pressure hybrid impellor that is powerful, yet quiet. Drawing air into the fan fluidly and silently via its bell mouth design, the open grille Revive features an aerofoil blade design, allowing air to move efficiently over the fan’s blades, ensuring resident comfort.

 www.vent-axia.com

 info@vent-axia.com

 0844 856 0590

Newcastle housing company invests in whole house ventilation Your Homes Newcastle (YHN), the Arms Length Management Company of Newcastle City Council, has invested in Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) from EnviroVent for 150 properties in the last 12 months as a way of reducing mould and damp in its tenants’ homes. EnviroVent recommended a Positive Input Ventilation system as it provides a healthy living environment by supplying fresh, filtered air into a property at a continuous rate. This eliminates surface condensation, prevents mould growth and reduces house dust mite populations. EnviroVent’s PIV systems are ideal for fitting into existing homes and offer low energy consumption, so are very affordable to run.

 www.envirovent.com

 innovation@envirovent.com

 01423 810810

a result, FairHeat has developed a technical standard for testing the HIU performance, derived from the Swedish F:103-7e certification, but modified to better fit typical UK Heat Network operating parameters. This is a project that was funded by DECC. Under the initial method of assessment, a number of tests were performed including heating tests, static domestic hot water tests, dynamic hot water tests, low flow hot water tests and keep warm facility tests.

Evinox’s ModuSat HIU was included in the first phase of tests and performed well within the technical specification set out by FairHeat.

Now, with the improvements the company has made to ensure a high speed DHW response, the ModuSat unit will be sent to Sweden for tests under the FairHeat test method version 2.

 www.evinoxenergy.co.uk  info@evinoxenergy.co.uk  01372 722277

Sentinel Kinetic Advance MVHR shortlisted in CIBSE Awards Vent-Axia is delighted to announce that it has been shortlisted in the CIBSE Building Performance Awards 2017.

These prestigious awards recognise excellence in the built environment and the company’s Sentinel Kinetic Advance has been named as a finalist in the ‘Energy Efficient Product or Innovation of the Year’ category. This follows on from a number of recent nominations for the innovative Advance. Vent-Axia’s Sentinel Kinetic Advance is a new breed of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) unit. With best-in-class performance and offering near-silent, energy-efficient and high-pressure operation, it is perfect for care homes and student accommodation as well as new-build residential properties.

 www.vent-axia.com  info@vent-axia.com  0844 856 0590

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Doors & Windows

New Eurocell cills adapt to fit Eurocell has expanded its PVC-U window cill range with two new models measuring 125 and 225mm deep. The wider model is specially designed for the new-build sector because of the increase in larger wall cavities intended to achieve lower U-values. Furthermore, the 225mm item has the flexibility to accommodate surveying discrepancies by fitting a cill extender to create a cill up to 275mm in depth. The cills have foot details so they can be cleat fixed and, with a 10mm frame extension, can provide the flat bottom often encountered in new builds. Both cills are made from recycled PVC-U, giving developers a sustainable option without compromising performance or appearance.

 www.eurocell.co.uk

 chris.coxon@eurocell.co.uk

Eurocell trains tomorrow's technicians today

Eurocell has initiated a technical apprentice scheme alongside its successful in-house management development programme in order to underwrite a talent base for the future and ensure its leadership training is balanced across all workplace disciplines.

The first tranche of apprentices will spend a year in customer services before moving on to two years in design engineering; while others will be spread throughout the company and in divisions such as Merritt Plastics, the recycling arm.

“Planning for the long-term is crucial if we are to continue our success and nothing can be more important than training young people in the skills that we will need in the future,” says David LeightonBerry, National Training Coordinator.

 0800 988 3049

Eurocell patio door handles' stringent security right on Part Q Developed by Eurocell to meet the security standards laid out by Approved Document Q of the Building Regulations, the Euroslide patio door suite enables house-builders and developers to provide home buyers and owners with the benefits of high-aesthetic, high-performance patio doors while reducing the risks from housebreaking or burglars.

The first patio door to meet the recently introduced and stringent security standard, Euroslide is an easily fitted in-line PVC-U patio door that, when fabricated to PAS24 standards, automatically conforms to Part Q, and so, is suitable for any development subject to building control such as new-build and large extensions.

 www.eurocell.co.uk

chris.coxon@eurocell.co.uk 

 0800 988 3049

 www.eurocell.co.uk  chris.coxon@eurocell.co.uk  0800 988 3049

Hart & Co supplies fire windows to Salix Homes

No compromise with Axim's new Electric Strike

To meet the ever-changing demands of the hardware market and specifiers’ installation requirements, the new Axim ES-2100 Electric Strike series is a remote access control device, suitable for doors fitted with the Axim LK-2100 deadlatch series. A reduction in installation time and maintenance ensures a reduction in costs for installers. Suitable for the most demanding commercial environments, the new Axim ES-2100 Electric Strike replaces the standard fixed strike plate of the deadlatch. The Axim ES-2100 electric strike is supplied with a flat faceplate for installation into a frame of a single leaf door or the inactive leaf of a pair of doors.

 www.axim.co.uk  orders@axim.co.uk  0208 685 2313

50

Hart & Co has worked with Salix Homes to supply PVC-U fire-rated windows for nearly 60 flats across its Salford housing stock. An independent fire risk assessment carried out for the social housing provider had identified specific flats opening onto communal areas, which required a fire-rated window as well as a fire-rated door in order to comply with the relevant codes of practice under the Fire Safety Reform Order 2005. Salix Homes turned to Hart & Co for a solution. The REHAU-accredited fabricator was able to design and manufacture fixed-pane, fire-rated windows using the REHAU RAUFERNO system, providing a cost-effective, low-maintenance and attractive alternative to conventional frames in timber or steel.

 www.rehau.uk

 irene.smith@rehau.com

 01989 762600

The Window Company (Contracts) achieves Kitemark for installation The Window Company (Contracts) has joined the elite group of installers holding the Kitemark for window installation based on BS8213-4, and has become the first company to complete the Kitemark process as a new applicant since the publication of the 2016 version of the standard. The commercial installer boasts that it now has the safest, best trained and most highly motivated workforce in the UK. The Window Company (Contracts) already had a comprehensive training programme in place before it decided to apply for Kitemark accreditation, but the more joined up approach it has taken this year has helped it to create an even more efficient training framework.

 www.thewinco.co.uk

 thornton@thewinco.co.uk

 01245 268120

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Doors & Windows

1500 windows installed in £2.2m Buckinghamshire County Council renovation Hazlemere has successfully completed a challenging refurbishment project for Buckinghamshire County Council – installing thousands of replacement windows at the authority’s 12-storey Aylesbury headquarters.

The £2.2m development saw Hazlemere fit 1500 Sapa Dualslide vertical sliders, replacing dilapidated 60s originals with modern, thermally-broken window products equipped with high-performance solar glass to cut heat gain and deflect glare.

The project wasn’t without its complications.

Not only did work have to be carried out at evenings and weekends to minimise disruption for what remained a fully occupied, bustling workplace – commencement was also delayed for six months to allow local peregrine falcons to complete their mating season.

The rare bird is subject to the strictest legal safeguards under the Wildlife and Countryside Protection Act of 1981, and damaging, destroying, or even attempting to move one of its nests, can result in fines of up

to £5000, or a six-month prison sentence.

Hazlemere’s Sales Director, Tony Beale, commented: “Refurbishment jobs can often be more challenging than new-builds, but that also makes them some of the most rewarding.

There’s something very satisfying about completely re-fitting a 12-storey building in a way that still allows everyday work to continue.

“On a tower block of this sort, safety is paramount. That’s why we installed windows that could be cleaned from the inside – but only by authorised users, preventing accidents that, particularly from the upper floors, could be deadly.”

 www.hazlemere.co.uk  m.austin@hazlemere.co.uk  0808 231 6594

Glazerite installer completes anti-ligature project

Lumi launch tops 20-year celebration for Joe Roche

There was plenty to celebrate when Joe Roche Glass & Glazing invited guests to the opening of its new showroom.

The event not only marked 20 years in business for the installer, but also its launch as the area’s first dealership for the ultra-contemporary Lumi window and door system from Apeer. “It’s a wonderful achievement to have reached 20 years in business,” said Joe. “And, we are very fortunate to have Apeer as such an important part of our supply chain. On reaching the 20-year milestone, we knew it was time to reinvigorate the business so the Lumi window and door system has come at just the right moment for us.”

 www.apeer.co.uk  linda.tomb@acefixings.com  0282 563 2200

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Doncaster-based AK Glass and Glazing has recently completed a demanding project at a specialist rehabilitation hospital in Cheadle, Stoke on Trent. Director Ian Gelantly, who was part of the installation team, along with contractors Pacey & Wheatley, explains: “We have worked with Pacey & Wheatley on a number of care home projects over the years, and after supplying a sample of VEKA’s Matrix 70 anti-ligature casement that was supplied by The Glazerite UK Group, we were pleased to win the contract. The approved and proven anti-ligature handles and window restrictors were fitted externally, and met the strict specification from Woodhouse for the new hospital unit.”

 www.glazeritewindows.co.uk

 sales@glazerite.net

 01302 391139

Premdor's factory glazed oak fire doors include up to the minute safety rating Premdor has launched a brand-new range of factory glazed fire doors, independently assessed by globally-respected Exova Warringtonfire. Assessed to an impressive fire safety rating that meets British Standard 476: Part 22, these oak veneer doors are not only beautiful in appearance, but also utilise real American white oak veneers from sustainable sources. Those who choose from Premdor’s new range can expect years of use without the warping and splitting that can affect solid oak doors. Catherine Horsfall, Product and Marketing Director at Premdor, said: “Uniquely, the range is factory glazed – meaning that the doors were glazed in the same factory they were manufactured in, reducing the likelihood of damage or poor workmanship by third parties.”

 www.premdor.co.uk

 kkeshmiri@premdor.com

 01226 392043

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Focus & Innovation

Modelling Abet's laminates Abet Laminati is delighted to announce that, as part of its ongoing drive to ensure ease of specification, Building Information Modelling (BIM) is now available across its core ranges in the UK. The BIM objects are now available for the complete range of compact grade high pressure laminates. This includes the dedicated Cubicle, Locker and Labgrade collections as well as MEG, the exterior grade self-supporting laminate. All objects are compatible with both Autodesk Revit and IFC programs.

Abet’s UK and Ireland compact grade solutions are available in different thicknesses and a variety of sizes in a range of plain colours, speckled finishes, woodgrains and textured surfaces. The compact grade’s solid core construction, available from 6 to

12mm thick, makes it a perfect choice for areas prone to high moisture and humidity.

This particularly applies to leisure centres, swimming pools and changing rooms and where there is no risk of peeling, cracking or delamination. The fully self-supporting boards are also easy to work with for cutting and fabrication and are widely used in situations where high quality performance and design can be carefully crafted together to create an

attractive visual experience.

The BIM objects will shortly be available from the NBS National BIM Library at www.nationalbimlibrary.com and are also available direct from Abet at www.abetlaminati.com/en/bim.

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

Thomas Dudley scoops major innovation award Waterfit, a division of Thomas Dudley, has won the Black Country Chamber of Commerce's coveted Innovation & Technology Award.

The accolade was given to Waterfit’s new Multifit product which was launched earlier this year. Multifit is a self-tapping ferrule strap that delivers significant business benefits to water and utility companies, asset owners and contractors. Incorporating a patented universal design and fitting pipe sizes from 63 to 180mm in diameter with just three options, Multifit eliminates the need for customers to purchase, stock and transport six traditional straps.

In doing so, it provides the ability to reduce inventory lines by 50% and van weight by up to 75%. On site, Multifit’s userfriendly design also simplifies installation and significantly reduces the time and costs associated with installation.

Rob Ewels, General Manager at Waterfit, commented: “This is a proud moment for the business and we are delighted to receive this prestigious award. We’ve worked extremely hard in developing this product and want to

54

thank all those involved in the project. I look forward to seeing Multifit help us to work with customers nationwide and overseas to help them address their key challenges, from leak prevention to speed and simplicity of installation. This product was developed through close collaboration with end-users to overcome the problems they experience with traditional products.”

Simon Boyes, Innovation Director, added: “The award is so important to Waterfit as it recognises Multifit as an innovative, highperformance product that helps customers to realise time and cost savings. As such, it has already exceeded initial sales targets, enabled Waterfit to increase its shopfloor workforce by 20% and allowed us to explore new market opportunities as far afield as the Caribbean.”

Waterfit provides the water industry with high-quality, British-made products for service pipe connection and water

meter installation. With a strong reputation offering value and reliability, Waterfit works in partnership with major water companies and OEMs to develop ground-breaking product innovations, tailored around individual customer requirements.

 www.waterfit.co.uk  enquiries@waterfit.co.uk  0121 520 7987

Focus & Innovation

Reducing noise in the first Welsh Passivhaus school The Burry Port Community School is the first Passivhaus school in Wales. In a design collaboration between Carmarthenshire County Council and Architype architects, this groundbreaking project unites the town's infant and junior schools, accommodating 210 pupils and a 30-space nursery class.

Its aesthetically-pleasing, comfortable and noise reduced environment is also a showcase for the use of Troldtekt acoustic panels.

The original school building has been refurbished, while the extended block accommodates four new classrooms, as well as two further teaching spaces and staff and meeting room facilities. Sitting between the new and old buildings, a dynamic multi-use ‘pod’ offers group recreation and performance space, making an important statement about Architype’s commitment to sustainability.

The choice of Passivhaus lies with Carmarthenshire’s ongoing commitment towards long-term sustainability, with the standard providing the most rigorous energy certification in Europe. Based on

simple, robust principles, this depends on high-quality design and thorough construction with a focus on continuous airtightness, insulation and solar gain to deliver exceptionally low energy performance, high internal comfort and dramatically reduced energy costs.

A major contribution to the pleasant environment was the choice of Danishmanufactured Troldtekt acoustic ceiling panels, especially in the classrooms and potentially noisy, open spaces. Specified throughout the UK and Europe, the benefits of the 100% natural wood fibre panels include high sound absorption, high

durability, natural breathability, low cost lifecycle performance and sustainability documented by Cradle to Cradle certification at Silver level.

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

The Golf Classic celebrates 25 years of getting golfers together The Golf Classic is the UK construction industry’s national golf tournament. For 25 years it has offered golfers of all abilities the opportunity to play in their region, make new friends and forge profitable partnerships. To mark its anniversary, The Golf Classic is offering giveaways, prizes, more ways to reach the Grand Final and half price entry for teams who introduce new entrants to the tournament. The tournament is open to those employed within the UK mainland construction industry. Entering couldn’t be easier – simply email, call or visit the website to enter. Enter now and enjoy great golf starting March.

 www.thegolfclassic.co.uk

 info@thegolfclassic.co.uk

 01892 752300

Touchscreen presentation brings REHAU products to life If you haven’t visited the impressive REHAU Hub in the Building Centre, London, for a while or haven’t made it there yet, now is definitely the time because REHAU has just produced a brand-new touchscreen presentation for visitors which brings its complete product range to life. Running on a large screen in the REHAU Hub, it allows visitors to simply tap their area of interest from a giant city scape and zoom in to see the range of REHAU products available. Whether that is renewable energy, district heating, fenestration, railway infrastructure, furniture, cable management or any type of heating or cooling, REHAU has a product in that sector.

 www.rehau.co.uk/hub

 jo.trotman@rehau.com

 01989 762600

University beams over new barrier installation H&J Martin Asset Management Services was recently commissioned to provide an automated entry solution to Northern Ireland’s largest university, Queen’s University Belfast. The Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology previously had an open entrance and there was a need for a new solution with safety and convenience as the primary considerations of the installation – the FAAC B680 barriers combined with Laser Scanners were the obvious choice. The FAAC B680 barrier was recommended

by H&J Martin not only because of its long life and fast opening speed, but also because it is easy to install and maintain.

 www.faac.co.uk  sales@faac.co.uk  01256 318100

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Focus & Innovation

Aluminium sheet coated in Evolution ‘Aged Copper’

A natural evolution in powder coatings Powdertech Corby has a new selection of exciting finishes to add to the company's Collections range.

Evolution takes powder coatings into new realms of design and performance, representing the appearance of patination on the surface of metal. Patinas are beautiful effects caused naturally by oxidation on the surface of metals, such as copper and bronze.

“Evolution has arisen in response to the growing trend, in architectural design, to create natural effects on metal at the same time as protecting the substrate,” said Richard Besant, Director at Powdertech Corby. “These are high-performance,

organic coatings which give the appearance of naturally weather-worn metal – yet the metal is fully protected, retaining structural integrity.”

Aluminium coated in Evolution can be cut and formed, with no reduction in the integrity of the finish. The versatility of Evolution makes it suitable for external and internal fabrications, ranging from large facade panels, to small decorative elements.

With high UV light stability, Evolution’s patina effects are enhanced by light, both natural and artificial, playing across the surface. “A customer has recently used Evolution ‘Scorched Earth’ on light bezels to great effect – as can be seen in the photograph,” said Richard. Evolution will be fully launched in the spring, with a choice of eight shades and more to follow.

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

SuperTrench strengthens Aggregate Industries' portfolio

Portakabin receives second award commendation Portakabin has received a second award commendation for its delivery of a highly complex ward and theatre building at Royal Stoke University Hospital. The 4200m2 facility was completed in less than four months to help meet the increasing demand for orthopaedic services. In recognition of the success of the project, Portakabin has now been highly commended at the Offsite Awards in the 'Public Sector Project of the Year' category and was also highly commended for the Constructing Excellence West Midlands Project of the Year Award. The highly serviced £13.5m building at Royal Stoke accommodates clean air theatres for orthopaedic procedures, a recovery room, ward bays and single en-suite rooms.

 www.portakabin.co.uk  information@portakabin.co.uk  0845 401 0010

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Aggregate Industries has strengthened its portfolio of asphalt reinstatement materials, thanks to the performance benefits of SuperTrench. Compliant with HAUC requirements, SuperTrench is a range of permanent hot mix surface course mixtures for use in the reinstatement of flexible footways, footpaths and cycle tracks. Available in two sizes and designed to meet the criteria set out by the Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways (SROH), the 6mm option is an ideal solution for the permanent reinstatement of flexible footways, footpaths and cycle tracks, laid with a minimum thickness of 30mm. Whilst SuperTrench 10mm, when laid with a minimum thickness of 40mm, is ideal for type two, three and four flexible roads.

 www.aggregate.com

 expressasphalt@aggregate.com

 03331 228294

DANLERS' outdoor security switches just got better DANLERS’ outdoor security switch range now benefits from an IP66-rated polycarbonate enclosure and can be installed across a greater range of environments. The range includes an IP66 Compact Person Detector with improved time-lag options and an upgraded photocell range of 10-1000 lux, together with a new photocell inactive feature. Also featuring in the range is an IP66 Twilight Switch – which turns lights on from dusk to dawn – alongside a new IP66 Twilight Switch, which features DANLERS’ ‘intelligent photocell’ – reducing the risk of over illumination. An IP66 Dusk Switch also features in the range with a new ‘intelligent photocell’ and LED feedback for determining time on duration of between two to 16 hours.

 www.danlers.co.uk

 sales@danlers.co.uk

 01249 443377

Polyflor adds colour to Hopwood Hall College refectory High-performance commercial flooring from two of Polyflor’s sheet vinyl flooring collections were recently used to create a vibrant environment for students at Hopwood Hall College to dine and enjoy their break times in. Polyflor XL PU and Polysafe Wood fx PUR flooring was fitted throughout the further education college’s refurbished refectory. The flooring design chosen for this canteen area features Polyflor’s XL PU product cut into circles and semi-circles, laid into a background of Polysafe Wood fx PUR safety flooring in the Rustic Oak design.

XL PU flooring, in the Tanzanite Blue, Citrine and Connemara Green shades, was chosen to add splashes of bold colour around the servery and seating areas.

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

Sunesis, which offers a suite of designs for inspirational new school buildings delivered to fixed costs and timescales, has scooped a prestigious national award. Sunesis won in the ‘Product Innovation’ category at the Offsite Construction Awards ceremony held at The NEC in Birmingham. Tim Carey, Product Director for Sunesis, said: “Innovation is at the heart of Sunesis and our range of new school designs, so it’s particularly pleasing to be recognised with an award in this category. Our thinking is always geared towards finding solutions that meet the needs of our customers across both public and private sectors.”

 www.sunesisbuild.co.uk

 tim.carey@sunesisbuild.co.uk

Focus & Innovation

National award shows Sunesis schools are a class apart

 0845 475 5678

Helifix Dixie piled foundations for new-build modular and temporary structures A new brochure from Helifix gives details of how its versatile Dixie micro-pile system can be used to provide reliable, economical structural support for permanent and temporary buildings. Piled foundations are likely to be more costeffective than traditional foundations requiring deep excavations, when load-bearing strata is at a deeper level. Helifix circular hollow section piles are simply screwed vertically into the ground, to the required depth, and then topped with an engineered steel plate. This plate is then either cast into reinforced concrete pile caps/ground beams, for traditional new-build construction, or connected directly to the base of modular or temporary steel structures. Once a temporary building is dismantled, the piles can be ‘unscrewed’ and removed from site.

 www.helifix.co.uk

 info@helifix.co.uk

 0208 735 5200

EPIC moves to mobile Respected industry body, EPIC, is making it easier for specifiers and contractors to access a wealth of information about insulated panel systems with the launch of a new, fully mobile-optimised website.

The new website is aimed at improving user experience and follows a wave of initiatives, including the introduction earlier this year of a sustainability charter for members. Visitors to the website will be able to read about the benefits and uses of insulated panels and can download the latest versions of the EPIC guides, such as the regulatory requirements for the conservation of energy, fire performance and end of life, as well as the sustainability charter and report.

 www.epic.uk.com

 info@epic.uk.com

 0330 221 0499

Specialist hired to tackle increase in demand for waterproofing services Peter Cox has today announced the appointment of Gary Laird as Commercial Waterproofing Development Manager, in a newly-created role. Laird, who was previously Yorkshire Branch Manager at the business, will head up an enhanced service offering, created to tackle an increase in demand for specialist waterproofing services across the UK. As part of his role, Laird will focus on developing the company’s existing waterproofing strategy across large commercial and residential projects – supporting construction and building companies, architects, design managers and maintenance businesses. He will also focus closely on growing the business as well as training and supporting existing surveyors working on the design and installation process of a new-build project.

 www.petercox.com

 enquiries@petercox.com

 0800 789500

Norcros Adhesives strengthens environmental work In its latest initiative to enhance the environmental aspect of its work, tile adhesive, grout and preparation products manufacturer, Norcros Adhesives, has joined the Supply Chain Sustainability School. The Sustainability School is an initiative designed to promote sustainability in construction supply chains.

With a raft of environmental credentials to its name, Norcros Adhesives has a lot to contribute. In 2016, the company won The Tile Association Gold Award for ‘Best Environmental Initiative’. This was in recognition of the many measures the company has put in place over the last two years to improve the environmental management of its operations.

 www.norcros-adhesives.com  sales@norcros-adhesives.com  01782 524140

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Focus & Innovation

Platform drainage at historic York Railway Station Opening in 1877, the new York Station took three years to rebuild. Designed by the North Eastern Railway's Architect Thomas Prosser, the 800ft-long train-shed roof, supported by iron columns, arched 42ft above the platforms. The station was immediately hailed as one of the great buildings in the Victorian era. At the time, it was the largest railway station in the world with four massive arches and 13 platforms.

Today, the structure still impresses. Serving the busy East Coast mainline route, primarily between Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and London, it is also a vital cross-route link between Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool.

The station currently copes with around 800 trains and thousands of passengers each week.

With so many passengers using the station, the extended platforms, which project out from the original arched structure, are as busy as ever. The platform surfaces have been designed to gently slope inward away from the track so any surface water naturally drains towards their centre. Effective drainage of these roofed and un-roofed ‘outer’ areas was a major safety consideration.

Hauraton RECYFIX STANDARD 100 channels were chosen for the slightly curving platforms. The 271m of channelling installed were made from the company’s tough, recycled Polyethylene-Polypropylene (PE-PP), all fitted with Class C 250 ductile iron ‘heel-safe’ gratings finished in a black anti-oxidisation coating. As each 1m unit only weighs just over 6kg, including the grating, contractor C. Spencer was impressed with the ease and speed of installing the channels as all the units used easily complied with manual lifting regulations.

 www.hauraton.co.uk  tim.connolly@hauraton.co.uk  01582 501380

HP wall graphics donation brighten children's hospital unit Secure takes a smart approach to district heating

Secure has launched a smart metering system for district heating to provide housing associations and local authorities with a reliable and secure solution to eradicate debt management issues. The Liberty Connect 100 smart heat meter and wireless in home display ‘Pipit’ unit provides tenants greater security, peace of mind and control over their heating budget and has the ability to vastly improve energy efficiency. The Liberty Connect 100 is a smart pre-payment heat metering solution, providing real-time usage, cost and credit information to the Pipit in-home display unit. Tenants benefit from an instant view of their heating consumption and can keep an eye on their spend.

 www.securemeters.com  sales@securetogether.co.uk  01962 840048

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HP Inc. has created and donated a series of wall graphics for the Clinical Research Facility (CRF) at Liverpool’s new Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. Designed to transform the experience for the many patients and families who visit Alder Hey’s CRF each year, HP utilised its latex technology to create six photographic wallcoverings inspired by natural surroundings.

HP’s unique, water-based inks and PVC-free Durable Smooth wallpaper were ideal for the hospital’s needs. The HP latexprinted wallcoverings are not only odourless, but also hardwearing and easy to clean perfect for a high traffic, sensitive environment such as the children’s hospital.

 www.hp.com

 giorgia.giacobbe@hp.com

 +39 348 0948066

Move freely with Snickers' FLEXIWork jackets The Snickers FLEXIWork range of clothes takes working comfort and flexibility to a whole new level.

This advanced workwear features stretch fabrics and advanced body-mapping designs – just the job for the fast-paced professional. The FLEXIWork jackets are designed for ultimate flexibility and freedom of movement on site. There’s a selection of stretch jackets, hoodies and fleeces, plus a brand-new stretch waterproof shell jacket. It’s a three-layer waterproof jacket with taped seams to give great protection from the pouring rain. Its engineered fit comes with prebent sleeves and mechanical stretch that combine to ensure optimal freedom of movement wherever you are.

 www.snickersworkwear.co.uk

 info@snickersworkwear.co.uk  01484 854788

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

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

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

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

e: info@thedecktileco.co.uk

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