PSBJ January 2018 by Red Hut Media Ltd

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January 2018

LOUD AND CLEAR Rockfon enhances speech intelligibility and aesthetics in ambitious Welsh school project

Proactive planning

Addressing supply issues

Deter and defend

Many NHS trusts are turning to mobile units in an effort to reduce patient waiting times

How new technology can eliminate risks associated with supply issues in the public sector

Why an 'onion-skin' approach to security can't be beaten for public sector projects

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Rockfon has supplied a variety of acoustic solutions for a three-storey purpose-built high school in Caerphilly, Wales. See page 28.

Welcome to the January issue of PSBJ... As our January issue lands on desks, much of the nation will begrudgingly be traipsing back to the workplace following a much-appreciated week away from work-related pressure and the stresses of everyday life. As I write, the team at PSBJ are winding down for the festive season preparing for a well-earned retreat beyond the boundaries of the Mixed Media Information office. While many of us enter 2018 recuperated and invigorated, the same does not apply to the majority working in the public sector. The NHS, for example, will have experienced its highest footfall over the Christmas period from both minor ailments and life-threatening emergencies. While the NHS offers those without critical illnesses alternative methods of care, A&E departments across the nation are rife throughout the winter period with individuals complaining of coughs and colds, chest infections and stomach bugs. For the elderly and infirm, these ailments could lead to severe health complications, however, for the majority, a trip to A&E is not always necessary. Christmas isn't the only challenging period the NHS has to overcome each year and A&E departments aren't the only wards that are suffering. The struggle is endless amongst the nation's most hard-working professionals each and every day. As a service highly valued by the UK more must be done to relieve this pressure from those working within the service. Philip Hammond's second budget statement as Chancellor offered the NHS an extra £2.8bn over the course of the next three years, however, as Keith Austin, CEO of EMS Healthcare, explains in this month's Healthcare feature this "fell short of the £4bn deemed necessary by experts". In this issue, Keith delves deeper into the challenges faced by trusts and offers a proactive planning solution to capacity issues – just one of the many strains on our precious service. Keith reveals that mobile healthcare units are an option many trusts across the nation are opting for in an effort to reduce patient waiting times whilst ageing estates are repaired and new equipment is installed. For a deeper insight into Keith's guidance, turn to page 26. I hope you enjoy this edition. Don’t forget, you can also access all of the magazine’s features, product news and supplier information at your fingertips via Public Sector Build Journal’s state-of-the-art app. To download your version free of charge, simply search ‘PSBJ’ on Google play or the App Store.

Rebecca

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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 Proteus Facades has been selected by the University of Northampton to create a 26m flue shaft on its £6.9m biomass plant at the university’s Riverside Campus. Here, Proteus explains the complexities faced by MCW architects surrounding this striking feature.

12 Talking Point Many public sector organisations are unprepared for power failures. Dr. Alex Mardapittas, CEO of Powerstar, explains why it is vital for companies to have energy resilience strategies in place.

14 Housing

18 Technical Focus

22 Education

South Shropshire Housing Association has turned to Kensa Heat Pumps for an off-gas heating solution to decrease tenants’ high utility bills and improve existing ineffective heating across two rural sites.

Eurobrick’s Technical Director, Richard Haines, discusses modern methods of construction in an industry surrounded by deficiencies and advises how the well-documented skills shortage concern can be addressed by off-site construction.

Western Building Systems has delivered a modular teaching centre to the University of Essex. Comprising 20 classrooms, fully-fitted WCs, leisure facilities and circulation spaces, the project involved the construction of 72 steel-framed units.

16 Doors & Windows

20 Legal & Business

24 Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

Here, Permadoor explains why it’s vital for landlords to future-proof external doors on their housing stock and how looking at whole-life costs improves durability in the long term.

Gibson Hewitt offers its professional, invaluable advice to guide construction businesses through a preparatory process ahead of the economic slowdown predicted for this year.

Perspectives surrounding architects have intensely transformed. Duncan Voice at Insulation Superstore explains why it’s crucial that architects become leaders on fire safety.

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Contents

14 26 Healthcare EMS Healthcare explains how mobile units can eradicate the many struggles faced by the NHS. Using Frimley Park Hospital as an illustration, CEO Keith Austin explains how EMS’ two-trailer solution has reduced patient waiting time.

28 Interiors: Floors, Walls & Ceilings Rockfon has supplied a Welsh purpose-built school in Caerphilly with Class A sound absorption via the installation of its impactresistant, durable ceiling solutions.

32 Leisure Leisure design and build expert, Createability, has been appointed to transform Sevenoaks

26 Leisure Centre. Acting as a major hub within the community, the leisure centre’s oldfashioned layout will be transformed this spring to increase a flow in members.

34 Paints, Coatings & Finishes Following the launch of its recently unveiled environmentally-friendly, water-based range, JCB PAINT advises how to increase the longevity of exterior painted surfaces.

36 Building Access Steve Bailes, Business Development Manager at the Zaun Group, explains why site operators need to take a more holistic approach to security with effective defense ‘layers’ to deter potential intruders.

News

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

New £50m national innovation centre given go-ahead Permission has been granted to build a major new development in the heart of Newcastle which will link up university academic talent with the industry and public sector to help develop the skills needed to solve real-world problems. The £50m national innovation centre, on Science Central, will bring together businesses, academics and the public to support the research and development of ageing and data-oriented products and services. The third Newcastle University building to be located on the Science Central site, the centre will be home to the university’s teams from the National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA), the National Innovation Centre for Data (NICD) and the National Institute for Health Research Innovation Observatory (NIHRIO).

Collaborative approach wins Clugston FM national award Clugston Facilities Management (FM) has won the ‘Partners in Corporate’ in the Public Sector Award at the PFM Awards 2017 for its work with Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS at Walkergate Park in Newcastle. The team were recognised for delivering an array of advanced maintenance and support services to the facility – which is renowned as a worldwide centre of excellence in treating people with neurodisabilities. The judges commended Clugston FM for its approach and commitment to delivering consistent, sophisticated FM services to the hospital and for aligning all services with the needs of the trust. A crowd of over 600 people from the FM community were in attendance at the event at The Brewery, Chiswell Street, London, to see Clugston FM scoop the prestigious award, which is one of the UK’s biggest accolades for the facilities management sector.

Morgan Sindall helps apprentice take first step on career ladder A groundwork apprentice has been given a first taste of working on a major construction site with the help of construction and infrastructure company Morgan Sindall. Daniel Preston is the first apprentice to start work on the £18m expansion of the Co-operative Academy of Manchester, in Blackley, which is being delivered by Morgan Sindall. Based onsite at the multi-million-pound project, Daniel is training five days a week with Morgan Sindall’s supply chain partner, Will Nixon Groundworks, as part of a Level 2 Apprenticeship in General Construction Operations. 16-year old Daniel was recruited through ‘Yes’, a social enterprise which offers support to local people seeking employment or training. Yes is based at The Hive, within the Co-operative Academy, which acts as a support network for the local community and small businesses.

Popular 388-home development given unanimous green light Disused land opposite Leith’s Ocean Terminal will finally be revitalised following approval of a long-running brownfield

development. Ambitious proposals for Waterfront Plaza, which were strongly backed by local community and business leaders, were given the green light after councillors voted unanimously in favour at the hearing. CALA Homes (East) is now hoping to begin construction of the 388 homes as early as summer 2018 with fist completions late summer 2019 – along with 1500m2 of flexible workspace units similar to The Arches, Market Street. As well as the major economic benefits and the creation of a public realm, a wide range of the local housing supply will be boosted, with 97 affordable homes also included in the plans.

New home for school play equipment thanks to Larkfleet Homes Housing developer Larkfleet Homes has helped youngsters at Bourne Elsea Park Church of England Primary Academy find a new home for their PE and play equipment. The school is just a short distance from Larkfleet’s headquarters in Bourne, Lincolnshire. Larkfleet supplied a new shed for erection on the school field ahead of the arrival of winter weather. Helen Hick, Joint Managing Director of Larkfleet Homes, said: “Larkfleet is committed to supporting the local community and it’s a great pleasure to sponsor the new shed. It means that the children can have the equipment they need to enjoy their breaks and sports activities with a safe and secure place to store it.”

BakerHicks’ architects start full concept design for new Scottish prison BakerHicks, the multi-disciplinary design and engineering company, has started work on the full concept design for the new £70m HMP Highland in Inverness. The initial designs by BakerHicks, which were used to achieve Planning Permission in Principle, are now being developed by its design team to a point that the project can be tendered for construction. The contract for the concept design, which includes the preparation of all ITT documentation, was awarded to BakerHicks through the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) framework on a multi-discipline basis for architectural, civil & structural, mechanical & electrical and principal designer services. The new prison includes a central roundhouse as a focal point for visitors, the family centre and staff facilities, with the main building designed to reflect the River Ness.

“The only way to deliver 300,000 homes a year is to get local authorities and housing associations building as well as the private house-builders. By lifting the HRA cap in high-demand areas, the Government has finally begun to give councils better access to finance so that they can borrow to build affordable homes. We need a revolution in council house-building, and finance is the main stumbling block. If given the right resources and powers, local councils can serve as the engines for house-building in their communities. The challenge now on housing is how quickly they can be delivered. Once again, the Chancellor has also set out ambitious plans for further reform of the planning system, and this will put yet more pressure on local authorities to deliver permissions. However, to achieve this they need to be properly resourced and will only succeed if the authorities facing the greatest pressure receive more funding for their planning departments.”

Top marks for Hub South East as it scoops two education awards Hub South East Scotland, development partner to public sector clients in Edinburgh, the Lothians and Borders, scooped two awards at the inaugural Education Buildings Scotland Awards. As a team, it won ‘Consultancy of the Year’ and, in partnership with West Lothian Council, the West Calder High School project was successful in the ‘Inspiring Learning Spaces’ category. This double win came at the end of the first day of the Education Buildings Scotland Conference in Edinburgh, bringing education built environment and policy professionals together from early years, schools, colleges and universities to celebrate the success of various projects and initiatives across the country, as well as discussing how we can work together to ensure that all of Scotland’s learning environments are sustainable, inclusive and welcoming places that meet the needs of all who use them.

CityBlock student accommodation turns around contractor disaster CityBlock has completed the build of its latest development on time, despite the main contractor going into administration. Situated on Penny Street, the main gateway into Lancaster city centre, and designed by SSHARC, the new development, worth £7m, is CityBlock’s first completion since handing over management of their three other developments in Lancaster in May. The building required significant redevelopment, so was demolished to make way for the new landmark. However, mid-way through the construction phase, main contractor, Titan, went into administration, leaving the development only partially complete. Having never missed a deadline in its 15

years of developing purpose-built student accommodation, CityBlock sourced additional support from third-party, trusted suppliers, as well as the expertise of its in-house team, to ensure completion of the development.

News

Mark Robinson, Scape Group Chief Executive, comments on Autumn Budget

Perkins+Will to masterplan new technology campus for Trinity College Dublin The Trinity Technology and Enterprise Centre (TTEC) is a five-acre site in the heart of the Dublin Docklands, that is already home to some of the largest technology companies in the world. It is proposed that the new campus will bring together academic and commercial facilities to drive innovation-led activities, and will act as a catalyst to enable the creation of an internationally leading innovation district at Grand Canal Quay in Dublin. The design of the masterplan will act as a central location to connect and activate the technology companies in the area, while adding a significant new cohort of start-up and scale-up companies and providing new community infrastructure that will enable interaction with a broader range of disciplines, including arts and drama.

School campus receives award for achieving SBD crime prevention standards A primary school development in Kilmarnock, Scotland, has been recognised for achieving high standards of security in its layout and landscaping as well as its physical security. Secured by Design (SBD) trained designing out crime officers worked with architect firm, Keppie Design (Glasgow), and Morrison Construction from the initial planning stage through to final construction to incorporate many proven crime prevention techniques into the £12.4m Whatriggs Primary School campus. The design and construction teams met frequently to discuss the layout of the school grounds and its buildings to maximise natural surveillance as well as perimeter defence and the use of lighting and CCTV to ensure optimum security, whilst making sure the building remained a welcoming and attractive place for pupils and teachers.

Upfront

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX AT NORTHAMPTON UNIVERSITY Proteus Facades has helped create a striking new feature on the University of Northampton’s Riverside Campus in the form of a 26m flue shaft on its new £6.9m biomass plant, completed with Proteus cladding panels and an integrated LED screen by digiLED. visual interest was F urther added to this project by the juxtaposition between the Proteus SC perforated panels specified for the flue stack and Proteus HR solid cladding panels

used to create the unusual vertical saw-tooth facade design on the energy centre’s main building. This was a challenging project for MCW architects because the designers had to work around

the constraints imposed by the requirement for a large box-like structure to house a 1MW biomass boiler, four 4MW gas boilers and a 120m³ thermal store.

Proteus HR solid metal skin with honeycomb core was used around the thermal envelope of the building combined with polycarbonate cladding in a striking internally lit vertical 

Upfront

Project: The University of Northampton’s Riverside Campus Location: Northampton Architect: MCW architects Cladding manufacturer: Proteus Facades

Visual interest was added to this project by the juxtaposition between the Proteus SC perforated panels specified for the flue stack and Proteus HR solid cladding panels

The backlit random perforations now appear as though they are pixels being projected outwards from the 12m LCD screen

In order to achieve the ‘random’ pattern for the perforations, each of the Proteus SC panels on the flue stack had to be manufactured to a specific drawing reference and to millimetre tolerances

Upfront ‘saw-tooth’ arrangement. The lightweight, exceptional flatness, strength and rigidity of Proteus HR panels allowed the architects to develop a large modular cassette system (2500 x 1000mm), which was replicated around the building providing uniformity across different facade elements. An equally engaging aesthetic was achieved on the 26m-high stack by wrapping it in the Proteus SC perforated ‘skin’, creating a sense of weightlessness in what would, at the height of three London buses, have been quite an imposing structure. The backlit

random perforations now appear as though they are pixels being projected outwards from the 12m LCD screen, whilst the elongated landscape perforated panels play with the eye to visually truncate the stack’s overall height. The screen itself provides the university with a useful information bulletin that showcases courses and events as well as being an advertising medium, both of which have the potential to generate a useful secondary income stream. In order to achieve the ‘random’ pattern for the perforations, each of the

The pitch of each hole had to be calculated so that they passed seamlessly over panel joints

Proteus SC panels on the flue stack had to be manufactured to a specific drawing reference and to millimetre tolerances. This involved changing the location, number and layout of the perforations on each panel. The pitch of each hole had to be calculated so that they passed seamlessly over panel joints. Proteus also addressed the aim of establishing a seamless link between its perforated panels on the stack and the 12m-high LED screen. This was done by working with the

Both the Proteus SC perforated and Proteus HR solid cladding panels are executed in polyester powder-coated aluminium in RAL 7044 Silky Grey

architects, screen suppliers and facade installer, Deane Roofing and Cladding, to create a bespoke tray system allowing the screen to be recessed and the perforated panels butted up flush with the edges. “While the building function is essentially utilitarian and technical, the external envelope has been developed to create a visually strong elevation to the campus celebrating the university’s commitment to sustainability,” commented a spokesperson from MCW architects. Both the Proteus SC perforated and Proteus HR solid cladding panels are executed in polyester powdercoated aluminium in RAL 7044 Silky Grey, creating visual integration between the stack and main building below. The new energy centre forms part of the £330m Waterside Campus development at the University of Northampton. It will provide sustainable heating and hot water for all the buildings and student residences on the 58-acre site, whilst saving over 1000 tons of CO2 in the short term, rising to 2200 tons a year following the introduction of a combined heat and power engine. 

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Talking Point

REMAINING RESILIENT TO BEAT POWER FAILURES Dr. Alex Mardapittas, CEO of leading energy storage and voltage optimisation brand Powerstar, discusses the impact of power failures in the public sector, and how new technology can eliminate the risks associated with supply issues while offering the added benefits of lowering energy consumption and costs. failures and P ower reputation are inextricably linked. High-profile incidents such as the power outage that caused British Airways’ IT systems to crash back in May, resulting in severe disruption to flights worldwide, illustrate perfectly the loss of both confidence and revenue such events generate. Yet, many organisations remain unprepared for power failure. A recent report into

energy resilience found that not only had more than 80% of those surveyed experienced a power outage, this had a knockon effect of hitting their annual revenue by around 17%. Despite the fact that more than half of decision-makers surveyed believed their organisation would experience an energy failure in the next year, around one third did not have an energy resilience strategy in place.

Saving costs, saving the planet Rising energy prices, combined with increasingly stringent targets on carbon emissions, are encouraging the public sector to look at decentralised energy storage schemes. At a national level, the Government’s Clean Growth Strategy pledges to invest £265m in smart systems to reduce the cost of electricity storage and to develop new ways to balance the

Dr. Alex Mardapittas is Chief Executive Officer at Powerstar and founded the company 16 years ago. An experienced Chartered Engineer, with a research doctorate, Alex has used his extensive knowledge to spearhead Powerstar since its inception in 2001.

Talking Point grid. Included in this is the concept capacity through DSR attracts of a decentralised energy network, financial reward for organisations where energy is generated locally that are able to be flexible and makes the most of both with their energy consumption, energy efficiency and renewables. increasing or reducing electricity Fuelled by fears about the usage as required. security of energy supplied by Additionally, the flexibility the grid, investment in battery of energy storage means the storage systems will help energy technology can be utilised for a sources be more effective and variety of applications, including secure, balancing demand put solar and electric vehicle charging. on the National Grid. Supply and demand Capturing energy at off-peak tariff periods provides the Systems can be implemented opportunity to significantly to support a backup supply to reduce costs, particularly for large the load in the event of a power electricity consumers. Energy failure. On-site energy storage storage can offer a tailored solutions are one example, solution for with the ability facilities of various to offer full A recent sizes, allowing report into energy Uninterruptible organisations to Power Supply resilience found come off-grid and (UPS) that kicks avoid peak tariffs. in as needed, that not only had It is estimated including within more than 80% that storing milliseconds to off-grid can save of those surveyed provide seamless organisations support. experienced a up to 24% on Electricity electricity bills is captured power outage, this – particularly at a time of had a knock-on attractive to low demand facilities such as effect of hitting their or through hospitals, public integrated annual revenue by renewable offices and social housing schemes. generation and around 17% In fact, energy stored, ready for storage can achieve further use when required. This allows savings by redirecting electricity the user to come off the grid and back to the National Grid through switch to stored electricity as Demand Side Response (DSR) needed – in the event of a power incentives. Supporting grid failure, for example.

Adopting energy storage systems with full UPS capabilities will help organisations prepare for energy failures without any interruption whatsoever to the power supply, no matter what the cause of the power outage. Leading solutions can activate within a timeframe of just three milliseconds after a supply issue being detected – vital when figures show that blackouts or brownouts are becoming more frequent, with a 46% increase recorded in 2016 compared with the previous year. Battery-based energy storage technology is an ideal solution for organisations such as the NHS, or those that are reliant on the continuous, uninterrupted functioning of IT or critical equipment. Additionally, if capacity needs to be expanded, more batteries are installed in line with demand, futureproofing the solution. Experienced providers of energy storage systems should be able to deliver a concept-to-completion service including assessing and monitoring a building’s energy supply. They will also be able to advise on optimising processes, minimising consumption and other energy-saving options. As no two sites are the same, a bespoke plan can be put together to reflect the specific needs and requirements of each facility. 

 www.powerstar.com

Battery-based energy storage technology is an ideal solution for organisations such as the NHS, or those that are reliant on the continuous, uninterrupted functioning of IT or critical equipment

Housing

Borehole drilling at St Mary’s Place

RETROFITTING RENEWABLES IN RURAL AREAS South Shropshire Housing Association and Kensa Heat Pumps have completed an off-gas heating retrofit programme featuring ground source heat pumps in rural properties in Cleobury, Shropshire.

Borehole drilling at St Mary’s Place

the rural two U niquely, site project accesses two streams of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI); St Mary’s Place features Kensa’s innovative shared ground loop system qualifying for the Non-Domestic RHI and ECO, whilst College Close features individual ground arrays per property to receive the Domestic RHI; all properties have their own Kensa Shoebox ground source heat pump providing tenants with the freedom to switch electricity suppliers. Kensa Heat Pumps’ contracting division, Kensa Contracting, was appointed as principal contractor for the £500k heating upgrade. The scheme comprises the replacement of ageing electric storage heating in 22 bungalows, one flat, a communal room with general needs and eight houses. Bernard Quinn, Investment Manager for South Shropshire Housing Association, said: “Feedback has been very positive as there is a general dissatisfaction with electric storage and solid fuel heating systems – residents welcome the opportunity to have new controllable and affordable central heating systems in their homes. “We were an early adopter of air and ground source heating.

Project: St Mary’s Place and College Close Location: Shropshire Client: South Shropshire Housing Association

It’s been a key part of our affordable warmth strategy for the last eight years. So far it’s estimated that the group has saved its tenants nearly a quarter of a million pounds in their heating bills. This project contributes to a total of more than 280 renewable heating installations at 42 locations across Shropshire, where fuel poverty is always high on the agenda.” Christina Groves, a recipient of the new Kensa ground source heat pumps, says: “The new system is fantastic, it’s easy to operate, you just set it and leave it and it provides a constant heat and hot water when you need it.” Neighbour Derek Fletcher says: “It’s a lovely constant temperature now and the bathroom is nice and warm. The workmen were very helpful and no trouble.” St Mary’s Place had electric storage heating and immersion hot water systems installed in 1997. These systems have an expected 20-year life and were therefore scheduled for replacement. Furthermore, households at St Mary’s Place had expressed dissatisfaction with their existing heating system on Shropshire’s Quality of Home survey. College Close had a mix of solid fuel and electric storage heating.

Housing

Bernard explained the main advantages and outcomes expected from the project: "Helping meet our Decent Homes objective "Helping meet our Affordable Warmth objectives "Helping meet our energy efficiency/carbon reduction objectives "Helping meet our customer satisfaction/quality of home objectives "Experience at similar projects elsewhere in the group has shown a significant improvement in letability of rural properties with renewable heating systems over traditional solid fuel back boiler heating and electric storage heating." Bernard continues: “We know that our tenants are finding it increasingly difficult to find the money to keep their homes warm. The residents in this area of Cleobury had electric storage heaters and solid fuel back boilers; as part of our review into updating their heating and hot water we found that ground source heating was a far better alternative, and residents agreed. “Our Asset Management Strategy includes a vision for the housing stock to be in good repair. This means planning to replace components such as central heating systems at the end of their useful life. The installation of ground source heat pump central heating will help deliver this vision. In addition, we have a target to reduce our carbon footprint and tackle fuel poverty in our off-gas properties. The proposal goes some way to help meet these ambitions.” Shropshire Housing was impressed with Kensa’s track record of completed projects. Kensa has achieved SafeContractor accreditation which gave Shropshire Housing confidence that the project would be delivered on time and on budget. Kensa designed the whole project and was responsible for the complete installation, commissioning and MCS accreditation. Kensa worked with Shropshire to secure the ECO funding and the RHI income and will continue to provide support as required for ongoing RHI obligations.

Connecting the Shoebox heat pumps

Shropshire had previously completed all viable fabric measures across the scheme with cavity and 300mm of loft insulation, replacement windows and doors, however, the properties still featured ageing night storage heaters which were due for replacement. Residents were struggling with high bills and ineffective heating as, due to the age of the NSH, not enough heat was being retained, leaving many reliant on fan convector heaters to top up their heating on expensive day-rate electricity. In addition, the poor controls meant that properties were often too hot in the morning. To reduce cost, some residents chose to turn off heaters in the property and only heat a single room; this not only provides an uncomfortable cold environment and poor health and wellbeing but also leads to building fabric issues too, such as the build-up of mould and condensation.

Open vented hot water cylinders provided poor water pressure, and meant the use of electric showers was necessary for wetrooms. The buildings also featured asbestos soffits, where the pipework was designed to enter the building. The proposal for St Mary’s Place is based on individual Kensa heat pumps using a shared ground loop for every three to five properties, meaning the scheme would qualify for the ECO and NonDomestic RHI, paid over 20 years. This is partly based on the fact it is an open-plan site, with insufficient curtilage per bungalow to facilitate individual boreholes. College Close comprises three-bedroom, semi-detached houses with adequate space within each curtilage for individual boreholes, making the installations eligible for receipt of the Domestic RHI, which is paid over seven years.

Due to the lack of available storage space within the properties, the heat pumps are installed externally within purpose-built enclosures provided locally by GSM. Each property is fitted with a Kensa Shoebox ground source heat pump installed as part of a micro district system; each heat pump is connected to a shared ground loop. Typically each micro-district heat network consists of one borehole feeding two properties. As part of the heating upgrade, all properties were also fitted with new skinny unvented hot water cylinders, specified to fit within the existing cylinder cupboard. Radiators were installed in each room fitted with TRVs and new simple-to-use controls allow residents to have full control over when they require heating and hot water and what temperatures they require, which is improving tenants’ overall quality of life. 

 www.kensaheatpumps.com

Trenching and headering works

Doors & Windows

HOW TO FUTURE-PROOF EXTERNAL DOORS When looking to buy new external doors, getting value for money is arguably the most important consideration, but increasing financial restrictions on both property owners and landlords mean there is extra pressure to minimise costs. cases, choosing I nthemost cheapest doors rarely represents the best value in the long-term as they can incur further costs on maintenance and even replacements in the years to come. Instead, buyers on a tight budget should consider the cost of a product’s whole lifecycle before committing to spend. A variety of options are available, but making some important considerations will ensure the experience isn’t complicated or stressful.

Future-proofing Future-proofing is key to guaranteeing value for money. At first glance, most external doors might perform well, but how will they stand the test of time? Making sure products deliver optimum insulation, durability and visual appeal over many years is critical. Long-term performance will work out much cheaper than having to regularly replace budget doors. Whether choosing for new-builds, renovations or refurbishments, combining comfort, security and energy performance with a strong design are also primary considerations.

The benefits of composite When it comes to long-term solutions, composite doors make an ideal choice. They are visually appealing, available in different colours and provide a real wood grain appearance, making them perfect for a range of applications, including as external or fire doors. They are also highly resistant to denting, warping, splitting, peeling and fading.

They are made from robust materials that are selected for their resilient properties which, when combined, counteract common flaws found in similar products. Composite doors combine superior aesthetics, high performance and thermal efficiency, and are low maintenance. What’s more, they are easy to install and lock cylinders are easy to replace.

Which composite door to choose? There are two primary options to consider: foam-filled glassreinforced plastic (GRP) or solid timber core thermoplastic. Both offer outstanding performance but are best suited to different applications. Foam-filled GRP excels at thermal performance, providing superior insulation compared to timber. While they are both equipped to pass the latest PAS 24:2016 cut-through test, which is assessed on whether they can withstand a three-minute attack using two chisels (6 and 25mm) and a Stanley knife in the central 800mm zone, solid timber core thermoplastic are tougher and more secure as they offer the same level of security across the whole door area.

Making sure products deliver optimum insulation, durability and visual appeal over many years is critical

“Selecting a product that will perform to the highest standards is critical in today’s market, but they must also create the right look and feel for a property. “Composite doors combine traditional looks with the benefits of high performance and low maintenance. A wide choice of colours, styles and accessories, as well as bespoke sizing, means they are ideal for a range of projects. We’re so confident about the outstanding performance of our doors that they come with a 10-year guarantee. “These doors offer the highest level of security, with PAS 24/ Secured by Design-compliant specification available. They

are also Building Regulations compliant and CE Marked. “With composite doors there really is no compromise. They offer the full package of looks and performance. “We also believe in exceptional service and have dedicated business managers who work with our customers to ensure they are choosing the right product to suit their needs. “More importantly, we believe that, by supplying the best possible products and services, we can help our social housing partners to secure their housing stock for the future.” 

Speak to an expert Permadoor has been a specialist manufacturer and supplier of GRP and thermoplastic composite doors for almost three decades. Rob Hartill, Commercial Director at Permadoor, said: “Composite doors should be the first choice when it comes to future-proofing.

Buyers on a tight budget should consider the cost of a product’s whole lifecycle before committing to spend

 www.permadoor.co.uk

Technical Focus

Eurobrick’s P-Clad system has been installed on a housing association development in Liverpool

BRICK SLIP CLADDING – THE FACE OF MODERN CONSTRUCTION Necessity is the mother of invention and this is never truer than for public sector building where it seems that every stage of the process is challenged by shortages; building materials and labour shortages, funding shortages, land availability constraints, shortages of housing and school places, the list goes on.

his sector has had to employ some creative thinking to address the problem of how to build more for less more quickly. Modern methods of construction (MMC) have been successfully used for many years across the public sector for housing, schools, libraries, hospitals and student accommodation. The increasingly sophisticated nature of off-site design and manufacturing has led to the continuing rise of interest in MMC as the answer to some of the shortages. Eurobrick is a UK-leading brick slip system specialist and its P-Clad system has been installed on a housing association development in

Liverpool. Belle Vale, a £3.5m development of 33 eco homes for Liverpool Mutual Homes, adopted modern methods of construction techniques to build modular houses for the project. The houses were constructed off site in a factory before being transported to site in sections. P-Clad was also installed off site, which offers benefits in terms of quality control and speed of project delivery. The development has a contemporary mixed finish and Eurobrick supplied circa 1600m² of P-Clad along with its Britannia Range Autumn Leaves brick slips and Smooth Red slips for the plinth detail. The ground floor of the houses was finished entirely with P-Clad

with a brick slip panel detail to the first floors. The brickwork was pointed using Europoint standard grey pointing mortar. Richard Haines, Technical Director at Eurobrick, said: “A well-designed system offers a level of product consistency that is essential to the off-site construction industry and vital for mass-produced buildings.” P-Clad was developed with new-build projects in mind. It comprises a composite backer panel made up of 10mm-thick cement particle (CP) board with Eurobrick’s ribbed skin bonded to it. The horizontal ribs allow for easy brick alignment so that brick courses are formed quickly and accurately. The rigid CP board is an ideal

external sheathing material and can be fitted direct to the building frame. P-Clad has third-party certification from the British Board of Agrément (BBA) and is further approved by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) to be installed on buildings over 18m high, constructed with a steel frame substrate wall. The potential for use of P-Clad on high-rise structures is something Eurobrick is very excited about and, in the four years since the approval was obtained, it has seen a significant increase in enquiries for the system. P-Clad has been installed on multi-storey residential developments including The Point in Ilford and is currently being installed on a major student accommodation development in Coventry city centre. The P-Clad panels are normally fixed to vertical battens or studs, top hats or other bracket systems. These must be located accurately to coincide with the system design fastener layout. One of the main benefits of P-Clad is that its quick installation methodology contributes towards the speed of delivery of projects. In the time-constrained world of modern construction sites, the adherence to work to schedules

1 2 3 4 5 6

semi-skilled labour to install and this could ease labour pressures both in terms of finding workers and the associated costs. Longevity of the product is important and this includes the required exterior finishes. Kilnfired clay brick slips weather and age in the same way as conventional brickwork so a brick slip exterior will require little to no maintenance. It is important to note that the lifespan of different cladding systems may vary and should be checked with the suppliers. In the case of P-Clad, it has a lifespan of at least 25 years. Aesthetics are important, a brick finish remains popular and in many areas may be the vernacular building material. The brick slip market has grown significantly in recent years and

there is now a wide selection of manufactured brick slips and corners available. Manufactured (extruded) brick slips are competitively priced and generally enjoy a reliable supply chain. In addition to extruded slips, it is also possible to have brick slips cut if a specific brick has to be sourced, although this is a more costly option. The extent of brick colours and textures available means that most aesthetic designs are possible. Brick slip cladding systems are flexible and may be used in conjunction with other cladding systems such as timber, render etc. This means that a mixed palette of finishes, popular for creating a contemporary look, is achievable. î&#x2122;ł

Technical Focus

FRAME WALL WITH DRAINABLE CAVITY

î&#x2DC;ą www.eurobrick.co.uk

KEY: Sheathing substrate to framed wall 1

Adhesive

P-Clad backer panel

Tyvek or similar membrane

Brick slip facings

Cavity spacer battens

Mortar pointed joints

P-CLAD INSTALLATION Positions of support battens behind backer panel

300mm 300mm 300mm 367mm

367mm

1200mm is vital. The ability to install off site during the manufacturing process (if required) is another key advantage. Off-site installation helps reduce on-site operations, which can be costly, are subject to other scheduled site activities or delays and (particularly significant in the UK) will be at the mercy of the weather. A good quality brick slip cladding system is robust enough to withstand the stresses of being lifted, transported to site on the back of a lorry and craned into

position. If a building can be delivered to site that does not require substantial finishing works, it is a big advantage; after all, it costs money to have installers and builders working away from home so the less time spent on-site the better. The ongoing skills shortage in the construction industry is a real concern and in a sector that is expected to grow in the coming years, reducing the dependency on traditional skilled labour will be beneficial. P-Clad only requires the use of

P-Clad has been installed on multi-storey residential developments including The Point in Ilford

Legal & Business

HOW TO SURVIVE THE SLUMP IN CONSTRUCTION: A BUSINESS RECOVERY GUIDE

The Construction Products Association (CPA) study at the end of October showed that the industry’s output will not grow at all next year, following a downward revision from its previous estimate of 0.7% growth earlier in 2017

The UK economy has slowed significantly in the last few months, with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) revising national growth down from 2% at the start of the year to 1.5% in the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget in November, writes Lynn Gibson, Director at Gibson Hewitt.

is this slowdown N owhere more significant than in the construction industry. A separate study by the Construction Products Association (CPA) at the end of October showed that the industry’s output will not grow at all next year, following a downward revision from its previous estimate of 0.7% growth earlier in 2017. This report is the latest in a long line of studies that show that the sector as a whole is suffering, with only residential house-building showing significant growth during the last year, thanks in part to renewed support from the Government to build new homes. With a bleak outlook ahead for many developers, especially those focused on commercial and office construction, how should companies prepare for 2018? It is important to recognise that the industry is experiencing a lot of issues that may be outside of businesses’ control. Whether you are for or against Brexit, its impact on business confidence is undeniable. You only have to look at the latest Business Confidence Monitor for Q4 – produced by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales – which shows that business confidence is 14 points lower than the same quarter prior to the referendum, to see the impact Brexit is having.

The uncertainty created by this landmark decision has slowed the property market as a whole and continues to restrict business expenditure, including the development or leasing of new premises. However, there are things that businesses can do to prepare for what looks to be a difficult year ahead. One of the bugbears of construction firms is late payments. Many are either unable or unwilling to chase outstanding invoices in fear of losing future business, but there is a tipping point at which cashflow can become so restricted that businesses have to act to avoid financial distress. Thankfully, the recent rise in the Bank of England’s base rate may provide a helping hand. Under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, a company can charge another business ‘statutory interest’, which is worked out at 8% plus the Bank of England base rate, if it is late paying for goods or a service. However, the higher base rate means that, for many, debts may now become a mounting issue. With this rate sitting so low, for so long, many companies have been encouraged to borrow, but now

many lenders are raising their rates of repayment to reflect the higher interest rate, so it is essential that developers pay off their debts sooner rather than later – particularly as rates are predicted to rise while inflation remains at 3%. Companies should also look to reduce costs where they can. In order to effectively reduce unnecessary spending, it is essential to have a clear breakdown of outgoings and any assets that the firm holds. A set of regular management accounts will help give a business a greater overview of their spending, income and assets, which will, in turn, give them a better idea of where expenditure can be cut from their budget or investment can be made to improve growth. It is all too easy to suddenly drop prices when work is scarce to make the business more ‘competitive’, but in most situations, this will make an insolvent business more insolvent – effectively if a company is making a loss then they are paying for the privilege of doing the work! Of course there will be times when a company needs to make a contribution to its overheads, but it is important to know what works, why it is being done and

Lynn formed Gibson Hewitt & Co in 1988 with Robert Hewitt. Both were senior managers with the leading accountancy practice of Touche Ross at the time. She is an honours graduate in economics at the University of Manchester. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1978, is a Fellow of the Association of Business Recovery Professionals and a qualified Insolvency Practitioner. for how long to ensure projects don’t go from covering costs to becoming loss-making. Most importantly though is to learn when a business is experiencing stress. It is all too easy to lose track of a company’s financial situation when focusing on growth, but certain key factors may indicate undue stress on a firm including: Deteriorating results Reduced liquidity Low asset to liability ratios Poor credit ratings Investment in working capital ahead of growth Operational challenges. If developers experience any of these issues then it is vital that they act fast and seek advice in order to secure a future for their business. 

 www.gibsonhewitt.co.uk

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Education

The project involved the construction of 72 steel-framed modular units which were produced at Western’s Mountjoy Road plant

THE UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX GOES MODULAR Technological innovation has dramatically altered methods and practices utilised by construction firms in recent years. The University of Essex training centre site is a prime example of modern building techniques improving efficiency through off-site construction, early design integration, coordination and engagement. a student population W ith of 10,500, the threestorey modular teaching centre includes 20 classrooms, fully-fitted WCs on each of the three floors, leisure facilities and circulation space for the students. Spanning 2000m2, the £2.9m build involved the use of Western Building Systems’ pioneering modular

construction methods and offsite production processes. Other key features of the new training centre included: glazed screens, full M&E as wells as uPVC A-rated windows and aluminium doors, the latter of which were manufactured by Western. An unusual element of the project included the inclusion of a lift at either end of the

building which went above and beyond current standards to provide a designated lift for fire-fighting purposes. John McBride of ADP Architects, the firm commissioned by Western Building Systems to help design the building, said: “The client [the University of Essex] outlined specific requirements such as

Modular construction units consist of pre-finished frames that are produced off site, before being linked together to create streamlined building solutions

Project: The University of Essex Location: Essex Architect: ADP Architects Construction firm: Western Building Systems

the mix of classrooms, square footage, ceiling height and other education-specific elements like electronic whiteboards, Wi-Fi and breakout spaces. “It was important to the university that there was continuity with the rest of the campus so we matched internal screens and doors with those already in place in the surrounding building. “The site previously contained a pre-fabricated student accommodation office which meant that central services like power and water were already in place. This was a distinct advantage when it came to preparing the site for installation.” The project involved the construction of 72 steelframed modular units which were produced at Western’s Mountjoy Road plant in Tyrone before being transported to Essex for installation. Modular construction units consist of pre-finished frames that are produced off site, before being linked together to create streamlined building solutions. This form of construction allows for a greatly reduced programme in comparison with traditional on-site construction methods and brings with it a host of other advantages including dramatically less site activity, vehicular movements and a consequent reduction in CO2 emissions. According to John McBride: “The main advantage of modular construction is the speed of construction when compared to traditional building methods. By constructing the modular steel frames off site, downtime, for example, due to weather is dramatically reduced – a real benefit when operating in the UK and Ireland. “Designing a three-storey modular build was particularly satisfying from a professional point of view, as modular builds are often limited to two storeys. While the modules

Education The three-storey modular teaching centre includes 20 classrooms, fully-fitted WCs on each of the three floors, leisure facilities and circulation space for the students

dictate design to an extent, it’s possible, with the right design and planning, to create unique and interesting-looking buildings, through the choice of cladding and roofing materials. For the university, we were able to introduce some interesting aesthetic features by adding canopies to either end of the building in order to guide the flow of students towards the two main entrance points.

communication between the off-site manufacturing plant in Tyrone and the site in Essex where sub-structures and site services were carried out. “Early design integration included consideration of specialist fit-outs such as lift installations, interactive whiteboards and built-in projectors. This way, every

element of the build was fully coordinated into the building fabric – preventing construction clashes down the line.”

Building benefits for the client The benefits of modular builds are compelling. On average, they reduce the build programme by up to 50% through off-site

construction capabilities – up to 80% of construction can take place off site. Beyond the obvious cost and time savings, off-site production causes minimal disruption on site; reducing on-site health and safety risks associated with traditional builds. 

 www.westernbuild.com

Efficiency through early engagement Early design integration was fundamental to ensuring value for the university. Commenting on the importance of early coordination and engagement Declan McCloskey, Operations Director at Western Building Systems, said: “Forward planning is important for any project when it comes to ensuring critical milestones are achieved on time and on budget. “This is especially true with modular builds like the University of Essex training centre where smooth installation required constant

Spanning 2000m2, the £2.9m build involved the use of Western Building Systems’ pioneering modular construction methods and off-site production processes

Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

FIRE SAFETY: NOW IS THE TIME FOR ARCHITECTS TO TAKE BACK OWNERSHIP OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION

Architects play a vital role in ensuring tragedies like Grenfell do not happen again

Duncan Voice, Store Manager at Insulation Superstore, outlines why architects need to learn a valuable lesson from the Grenfell Tower tragedy and take back control of specification. the wake of the I nGrenfell tower tragedy, there has been a dramatic shift in attitudes towards the role of architects in construction. The avoidable disaster has forced the industry to take design quality more seriously, whilst also demonstrating how highquality build specifications can not only protect occupants, but save lives. A post-Grenfell review is currently underway, spearheaded by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), with RIBA also calling for a comprehensive

reappraisal of Approved Document B and related fire standards. Although the official outcome is still yet to be determined, there will undoubtedly be a focus on the fact that components such as cladding, insulation and fixing methods must be considered holistically as part of a robust fire safety build strategy. Traditionally, architects have always played a significant role in the specification of materials; however, the rise of complex ‘design-build’ contracts is increasingly leaving them powerless within the

construction supply chain – with no say or input on budget cuts or the substitution of cheaper alternative products. Following Grenfell, it is crucial that architects become leaders on fire safety, as well as taking responsibility for their specifications, considering the impact of individual components across an entire build while future-proofing their designs by using non-combustible materials. This is an issue focused on care, protection and long-term build performance, working to ensure tragedies like Grenfell do not happen again.

Duncan Voice is Store Manager at Insulation Superstore

A critical factor in the failure of Grenfell was the cost-saving substitution of an FR-grade aluminium composite material cladding for an unrated grade with a polyethylene core, which has since proved combustible in Government tests. In addition, the synthetic insulation used on the building was made from polyisocyanurate, which is known to burn when exposed to heat. Initial reports from the disaster also revealed that the insulation chosen for the £10m tower refit was acceptable for use on tall buildings, but only when combined with incombustible cement panels. Individually, both the cladding and insulation materials can prove problematic, but when used together, they can be, and were, catastrophic. Detailed analysis of public documents has also revealed a complex chain of contractors and sub-contractors, which has raised the question of who was ultimately responsible for fire safety during the refurbishment. 95% of buildings screened and covered by the recent Government BS 8414 testing program failed to meet current fire safety standards, indicating that ambiguity and confusion are still prominent across the industry. There are two major fire components of fire safety to consider; stopping fire ignition and intensity, as well as preventing it from spreading. These are essential factors when focusing on a building’s exterior envelope, with all components of a wall contributing to its fire performance.

Roofing, Cladding & Insulation

A vital lesson

It is crucial that architects become leaders on fire safety, as well as taking responsibility for their specifications

A new way forward In the past, architects have been able to ensure that specified materials were used as part of a unified design strategy. However, facing increasing industry pressure to cut costs, this isn’t the reality with performance specifications enabling alternative materials to be used – often selected by the developer, contractor or sub-contractors. This shift in build processes has meant that during construction there is no longer a single appointed professional who is responsible for ensuring that the specified materials perform when placed under pressure from potential risks such as fire, heat and smoke. Designers now need to take responsibility for any nonstandard build slip-ups. This includes understanding how

RIBA has advised that architects should act as a single point of responsibility from project conception to completion

materials work together in a more holistic way, as well as their influence on key build factors such as fire safety, attention to detail, environmental impact and workmanship. Informed specification decisions should be based on not just budget requirements or their performance in isolation, but on how components interact across the entire build and with each other.

Getting serious Architects play a vital role in ensuring tragedies like Grenfell do not happen again, making fire safety not just an extra consideration but, instead, a vital component in the early design stages. This is essential when protecting a building’s exterior, evaluating and selecting products based on their behaviour with other structural elements, the surrounding environment and its occupants. For example, if a noncombustible insulation product cannot be applied uniformly across a facade, it is the architect’s responsibility to ensure the implementation of cavity barriers to stop, or at least slow, fire spreading. Noncombustible insulation can also provide an element of building preservation during fires, offering an extra opportunity to protect its inhabitants.

This is supported by recommendations from RIBA, which has advised that architects should act as a single point of responsibility from project conception to completion, as this would prevent key specification decisions (such as the use of fire-retardant cladding) being transferred to contractors during the build process. It would also mean that the materials specified not only work together cohesively as part of a wider fire safety strategy but that they are also correctly installed and maintained to regulatory standards. Whilst reviews and investigations are still ongoing, there is no doubt that fire safety regulations and standards will become more stringent and, undoubtedly, architects will be expected to play a greater role within not just design, but also construction. Designers now have the opportunity to educate developers and contractors on the importance of incorporating high-quality specifications and fire protection measures into building design at an early stage. Whilst budget cuts are unlikely to be eradicated overnight, Grenfell serves as a lesson to all those within the industry on how cost-cutting can potentially cost lives. 

 www.insulationsuperstore.co.uk  www.constructionmaterialsonline.co.uk

Healthcare

PROACTIVE PLANNING

Frimley Park Hospital uses a twin-trailer unit to overcome capacity issues in its ophthalmology department

The future of the NHS has been surrounded by a great deal of negativity in recent years. It’s a service we all cherish, yet every week we are met with a new headline and shocking statistics that expose more trusts entering special measures, prolonged waiting times for patients and a lack of funding for growing health concerns, says Keith Austin, CEO at EMS Healthcare. we’re T hetold,solution, is more money. But while money makes an enormous difference and in a perfect world it would be simple to have the funds increased at the same rate as demand for healthcare services, in reality the likelihood of the NHS being granted what it needs is low. Even Philip Hammond’s recent announcement of an extra £2.8bn over the next three years for NHS services – whilst a welcome injection of funds – fell miles short of the £4bn deemed necessary by experts.

cater healthcare services to local needs. However, there is one key step that applies to every trust across the country, and it is something that can be implemented by every professional in the sector; proactive planning. Not only in terms of budget and staffing, but also through innovative

solutions that can be put in place ahead of a crisis to avert from suffering under pressure. Amongst the many different solutions designed to tackle the numerous challenges faced by the healthcare sector lie mobile healthcare units, and it’s an option more trusts are turning to for the smooth delivery of

patient care when disruption in facilities management is suspected. More flexible than a static modular build, yet with the capacity and capabilities to see up to 250 patients per week in some cases, mobile medical units are proving to be an effective solution for proactive planning.

Finding another solution What else – if not money – will help this struggling sector survive? There is no straightforward answer, as is demonstrated by the sustainability and transformation partnerships (STPs) established in a bid to

Quest+ Decontamination has been developed following increased requests from healthcare providers facing capacity challenges

The NHS has long worked in a reactive manner, but with the ageing population and more patients at risk of chronic health conditions, capacity strains no longer come as a surprise, which means unavoidable problems can be identified early. Although not everything can be planned for or expected, there are many aspects of healthcare that we can predict. For hospital estates and facilities teams, this couldn’t be more true. NHS England owns an estate floor area that is enough to cover the City of London 10 times, and a recent report by Sir Robert Naylor for the Secretary of State for Health found that 18% of NHS provider estates predate the formation of the NHS, whilst 43% were built over 30 years ago. We don’t need an expert to tell us that the facilities in use are too often outdated and unsuitable for the 21st century, meaning they are unable to keep up with the grave changes in demand. As the pressure mounts for the NHS to act more commercially, many trusts are realising the benefits of embracing a proactive approach to keep on top of the increases in demand long before waiting list targets are missed. For example, whilst planning for winter is not a new concept – this time of year goes hand-in-hand with increased hospital admissions – chronic illnesses are now also posing an equal challenge as the prevalence increases with the ageing population. By closely monitoring these conditions, we gain a clearer vision of how the next 12 months may play out.

In action The frequency of eye disease seen across the UK is steadily growing in prevalence; cases of glaucoma will have risen by over 110% between 2010 and 2020. With this insight, Frimley Park Hospital, which is widely known for its outstanding ophthalmology department, recognised that waiting list backlogs and crowded hospital environments were likely to occur. To deal with heightened demand, Frimley sought a cuttingedge solution that could be easily installed to enable it to continue its high-level of patient care. It was at this point that we provided Frimley with our Liberty unit, made up of two interconnecting

Healthcare

Why proactive?

Mobile medical units enable the safe delivery of uncompromised patient care outside of the hospital setting

40ft medical trailers that include all the facilities expected of a modern clinic. As a result, an additional 12,500 clinic slots were created per year, eliminating the need for evening and weekend clinics, whilst patient waiting times were reduced from one hour, 21 minutes within the hospital to just 32 minutes on board the mobile medical unit.

Modernising facilities It is not just the service capacities that need planning for. In many cases, the facilities that enable services to go-ahead are in urgent need of refurbishment, something Government has recognised with a dedication of £3.5bn between now and 2020 to undertake repairs to ageing estates and new equipment. However, until those restorations are complete, trusts will still need to plan for disruption. Our latest mobile medical unit, Quest+ Decontamination, has been

developed in response to this, following a stream of enquiries from clinicians requiring a temporary solution for the decontamination of endoscopes. The unit is the first of its kind, solving a major gap in the endoscopy market that enables trusts to continue reprocessing their endoscopes in-house, either when their own facilities are at full capacity, or when equipment has reached the end of its eight to 10-year lifecycle and is in need of refurbishment. Demand for gastrointestinal endoscopy is set to exceed 2.4 million procedures per annum by 2019/2020, up 44% since 2013/14, so having solutions like this in place will be crucial to ensuring uncompromised patient care throughout.

Shared responsibility Often there can be barriers that are preventing a trust from delivering the service it strives

towards, but talking about them openly can help – it is only through those at the forefront of the services speaking out that we were able to develop Quest+ Decontamination. There are hundreds of companies out there developing groundbreaking solutions designed to support the healthcare sector, and by communicating with them and other trusts, hospitals can often find a resolution to overcome these obstacles. The delivery of excellent care is not only down to the patientfacing clinicians and nurses, or those with access to the financials – we all have a part to play. Estates and facilities teams play an imperative role in this, and planning proactively is a positive step that can be taken to manage the progressively high capacities being faced by hospitals. 

 www.ems-healthcare.com

Quest+ Decontamination includes all the equipment necessary to efficiently reprocess endoscopes

Interiors: Floors, Walls & Ceilings

Project: Islwyn High Location: Caerphilly Ceiling supplier: Rockfon

Rockfon Koral E-edge ceiling tiles deliver outstanding acoustic control and the safest fire classification which is why 4800m² is installed in the classrooms, circulation areas and auditorium

ROCKFON ACOUSTIC SOLUTIONS BRING HARMONY TO THE VALLEY Islwyn High in Caerphilly is an ambitious project to amalgamate two former schools in a new purpose-built development. Part of the 21st Century School Programme across Wales, the impressive three-storey building comprises a range of modern teaching spaces, an amphitheatre, technology workshops and science labs.

variety of Rockfon acoustic ceiling tiles are installed throughout the school to control noise and harmonise with the contemporary interior. Rockfon was able to successfully fulfil the ceiling design and performance requirements specified by Caerphilly Borough Council. Willmott Dixon Design Manager, Julian Morgan, explains the role Rockfon played in the success of the project: “Rockfon is our mandated material supplier for

suspended ceilings. The building work was finished on time and within budget. The help, they provided product selection and ensuring the installations went smoothly enabled us to achieve our objectives.” Rockfon is delighted to have received a 'Highly Commended' award in the Product of the Year category of the Willmott Dixon Regional Awards. Acoustics were high on the agenda when it came to the ceiling specification. Rockfon

Scholar 40mm and Rockfon Tropic dB40 ceiling tiles are installed on the school’s top floors in part to reduce the noise generated internally by rainfall on the external metal roof. Rockfon Scholar, with its Class A sound absorption and durable, impact-resistant surface, is ideal for education buildings as it helps lower the level of reverberation in classrooms. Rockfon Tropic dB offers superior sound absorption and sound insulation

which decreases the ambient sound level in the classrooms and limits noise transference to the spaces around and below. Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Lead Designer, Julian Harding, explains his choice of Rockfon Blanka tiles with Z-edge for use in the school’s reception area and dining hall: “These tiles conceal the grid and create a modern linear aesthetic which accentuates the directional geometry of the space. This provides

Interiors: Floors, Walls & Ceilings Rockfon was able to successfully fulfil the ceiling design and performance requirements specified by Caerphilly Borough Council

Rockfon Tropic dB offers superior sound absorption and sound insulation which decreases the ambient sound level in the classrooms

Rockfon is delighted to have received a 'Highly Commended' award in the Product of the Year category of the Willmott Dixon Regional Awards

an attractive visual contrast between these areas and the rest of the school.” Rockfon Koral E-edge ceiling tiles deliver outstanding acoustic control and the safest fire classification which is why 4800m² is installed in the classrooms, circulation areas and auditorium. Background noise can interfere with concentration levels and performance in schools, the Class A sound absorption of Rockfon Koral improves speech intelligibility.

handle and install. I also like how quickly and efficiently the team at Rockfon respond to calls and queries. They are great to work with.” The Rockfon Blanka range of ceiling tiles benefits from their whitest surface yet. The superwhite surface provides 85% light reflection to optimise the available natural light, creating a pleasant environment, helping minimise energy consumption, leading to energy cost savings. Its enhanced surface durability

All Rockfon acoustic solutions on this project offer Class A1 fire safety performance characteristics and are therefore noncombustible and prevent the spread of fire – essential for schools and public buildings. Andrew Pearce of M&P Group installed the ceilings at the school and is impressed with how well the job went. “I’ve worked with Rockfon for a number of years and I’ve always found their products easy to

makes Rockfon Blanka more resistant to direct wear and tear – ideal for a busy school environment where tiles may be frequently removed for maintenance purposes. Rockfon Blanka dB44 ceilings installed in the music rooms provide outstanding sound insulation and the highest level of sound absorption to prevent music becoming a distraction in adjoining rooms. 

 www.rockfon.co.uk

ARCHITECT@WORK Preview

ARCHITECT@WORK will return to Olympia, London, from 24 to 25th January

THE LATEST ARCHITECTURAL INNOVATIONS REVEALED ARCHITECT@WORK, the carefully curated two-day trade show aimed at architects, interior designers and specifiers, will return to Olympia National Hall, London, for its 2018 edition from 24 to 25th January. 100 leading O ver international architectural suppliers will showcase new products and offer the latest innovations in surface solutions, lighting technology as well as interior and exterior fixtures and fittings. All exhibitors go through a rigorous selection process, with an external judging panel overseeing the product selection, to ensure that this is one of the UK’s most highly respected trade shows of its kind.

Light theme The theme for ARCHITECT@ WORK UK 2018 is light. To honour this, the SCIN Gallery will present LIGHT FANTASTIC, an exhibition that explores how light reveals itself and affects our interaction with materials. Light enhances architectural features and materials while also being a powerful emotional force that creates different experiences. Specially for ARCHITECT@ WORK, DAPh has created new work that fits within the theme of ‘Architecture and Light’.

DAPh, an abbreviation of Dutch Architectural Photographers, is a collection of specialised architectural photographers who, through collaboration and exchange of knowledge, elevate architectural photography to great heights. Among DAPh’s clients are architects, architectural magazines, construction companies and project developers.

@Work film series ARCHITECT@WORK has commissioned UK-based Tack Press to produce a series of filmed interviews with architects, designers and engineers in the @Work film series. The creatives discuss their lives at work: how and why they do what they do, what impact their practices have on the industry and the role lighting has in today’s architectural scene. This visualisation of the lives of architects and their contemporaries will be available online prior to the show. 

 www.architect-at-work.co.uk

TALKS PROGRAMME: Wednesday 24th January 15:00 Living with Light A panel of expert designers will showcase the effect light can have in our homes, from artificial lighting to buildings shaped to let the sunlight in and create mood, atmosphere and space. 16:15 Frozen Light Photography and architecture have a long and complex history. The best way to communicate buildings and spaces to a global audience is to freeze them in a moment in time as light enters the camera lens. How is this changing in the 21st century, with the proliferation of smartphones and an obsession with social media? 17:30 Lighting London At night, the city comes alive and lighting takes on a new role to shape our experiences of the urban landscape. The ways we interact with public spaces, bridges, streets, squares, bars and nightclubs are being constantly redesigned to inspire and delight once the sun goes down. Thursday 25th January 15:00 Leading Lights in Workplace Wellness We spend the majority of our waking hours in the workplace but often the lighting is uncomfortable, if not detrimental to our health. Employees understand the importance of health at work and now often choose their future roles based on the quality of life they will get in the office. Why then are we so far behind with the design of artificial and natural lighting in the workspace? Who are the bright sparks leading us out of the dark? 16:15 What Architects Should Know About Lighting Paul Nulty discusses the role of the lighting designer in contemporary architecture, paying particular attention to common mistakes he often encounters and the innovative solutions that his team employs to create indoor and exterior spaces which are well-lit and inspiring. Working closely with clients, architects, interior designers and engineers, Paul has built up an award-winning studio on the basis that collaboration is key to create atmospheric spaces that don’t take a toll on the planet. He believes that education and open discourse are paramount to make beautiful environments for everyone. 17:30 The Art of Light and Art Cultural venues often lead the charge in terms of high-end design, with huge technical challenges brought about by the requirements for sensitive and beautiful works of art. Visitors to galleries and museums expect inspiring spaces and these buildings often go on to win a raft of design awards. An informed panel of speakers will discuss their projects and the complex issues they face, both in the UK and abroad.

N . R , FO ES HE TS AN W RIZ Y W AN TH ! NO P R TR R L R S, NT N IE NA TE AY E E E AS FI EN -AW RIC NEW SO E AND VE P E S R GI LF UC ND E G HA OD U H D TR RO H T AN U I N Y 5 EAC L YO ON TO R W R NO EVE

GOLF CLASSIC

THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY’S NATIONAL TOURNAMENT

Join us in celebrating 26 years of offering golfers the chance to play golf regionally, make friends and build lasting, profitable relationships. Enter now and be part of the UK construction industry’s annual national tournament.

We take care of the matching so you can enjoy playing golf, sharing green fees the through five rounds. Set in 1000 acres of beautiful Northumberland countryside, this year’s Grand Final will be held at Slaley Hall. Finalists will enjoy free golf, gala prize-giving dinner and overnight stay.

NOW ONLY 5 ROUNDS SO MORE CHANCES TO REACH THE GRAND FINAL!

For more information and to enter call 01892 752300 visit www.thegolfclassic.co.uk, email info@thegolfclassic.co.uk or fill in and return the entry form below with your £44 entry per two ball team. Entrance closes Friday 23rd February 2018 with the 1st round kicking off in March.

ENTER NOW R FO JUST £44 PER TEAM AND LOOK FORWARD TO GREAT GOLF IN 2018!

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SIMPLY COMPLETE THIS FORM AND SEND IT WITH YOUR CHEQUE FOR JUST £44 PER TEAM MADE PAYABLE TO ‘THE GOLF CLASSIC’ TO: THE GOLF CLASSIC, FREEPOST SEA12502, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT TN3 9BR. ENTER AND PAY ONLINE AT www.thegolfclassic.co.uk EMAIL info@thegolfclassic.co.uk OR CALL 01892 752300 FOR DETAILS AND TO ENTER PLAYER 1

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For full conditions and rules of play visit www.thegolfclassic.co.uk

Leisure

Project: Sevenoaks Leisure Centre Location: Sevenoaks Leisure design and build expert: Createability

Createability assisted Sencio in developing the designs and specifications as well as carrying out the construction of the new facilities

£1M TRANSFORMATION FOR SEVENOAKS LEISURE CENTRE Sevenoaks Leisure Centre is set to benefit from a £1m investment, which will see a complete redesign of the fitness facilities over two floors, including the transformation of a large, underused toddler pool into a 104m2 dry-side multi-purpose room, new members changing and a new-look reception and cafe area. is T hebeingredevelopment carried out by leisure design and build expert, Createability, which has a long-standing relationship with Sencio, the company managing the leisure centre on behalf of Sevenoaks District Council. Createability assisted Sencio in developing the designs and specifications as well as carrying out the construction of

the new facilities. The work is due to complete in spring 2018. The glass-sided toddler pool hall currently sits within the centre’s wet-side, so significant work is needed to modify the area for dry-side use. This includes solar-reflective film for the windows to keep the area cool, as well as creating a false ceiling to house air conditioning. Structural alterations have facilitated a walkway being created to access the existing studio, new free weights area, fitness

The redevelopment is being carried out by leisure design and build expert, Createability

studio and new dedicated fitness changing. Engineers have also punched a new wetside walkway through from the changing village to the learner pool and through into the main pool to ensure access to wet and dry facilities are separated. Improvements are also being made to the layout of the first floor gym, which will increase space to 302m2 to include a functional training area, and allow for an enhanced free weights section on the ground floor. All new TechnoGym equipment will be installed throughout. The existing dance studio will also be refurbished. On the ground floor, old dryside changing along with a disused spa will be stripped out to make room for new bespoke male and female changing for the fitness facilities. “Sevenoaks Leisure Centre is a major hub within our community and is very well used. But the feel-good factor

was starting to wane as all our classes get fully booked up and the gym is often packed,” said Jane Parish, CEO of Sencio Community Leisure. “The old-fashioned layout of the facilities meant the flow of members wasn’t working well, particularly for our female users, so we had to find a way to increase space within our existing four walls. Createability came up with some fantastic concepts. We have worked with the team on a number of projects, including a smaller redevelopment of the fitness facilities at Sevenoaks about 10 years ago and redevelopments of White Oak and Edenbridge Leisure Centres in 2005, so we are excited they are back to help us make this dream for first-class fitness facilities at Sevenoaks a reality.” “We really have thought about every aspect of the design from a user’s point of view,” said Ian Cotgrave,

Leisure All new TechnoGym equipment will be installed throughout

Managing Director of Createability. “For instance, we’ve included a low-level screen between the female changing exit and the free weights area, so ladies don’t walk out of their changing area directly into the free weights section, but can go straight to the main studio, multi-use studio or up the stairs to the main gym. “We are also carrying out changes to make the building work more efficiently, including the installation of doors from the main pool area into the gym to

stop the escape of both heat and moisture, which over the years has led to paint peeling and wood rotting in the corridor, as well as letting heat escape from the pool, which meant the air conditioning units struggled to work in the gym.” The reception area will also be remodelled to create a large 315m2 modern,

welcoming environment with cafe area, and the entire site will also be redecorated to reflect the Sencio brand colours. Createability is a design and build specialist working in the trust, local authority and

education sectors. Over the last 20+ years, it has delivered more than 550 developments worth over £100m. 

 www.createability.co.uk

Improvements are also being made to the layout of the first floor gym, which will increase space to 302m2

Paints, Coatings & Finishes

A colourfast paint which regulates and reduces the swelling and shrinkage of wood will significantly reduce the denaturing, greying process

EXTERIOR PAINT – HOW TO MAINTAIN EXTERIOR SURFACES FOR INCREASED LONGEVITY Across the public sector, there is a continuous need to manage and service many different types of buildings to ensure they are habitable and in excellent working condition; those responsible must do so within strict budget requirements while respecting such considerations as the safety of occupants, social pressures and sustainability. the specific F ormaintenance of public spaces, outdoor equipment and the exterior of buildings, another component comes into play, the weather. Britain’s weather is distinctly unique as it is under an area where five main air masses meet in conjunction with the jet stream; this extraordinary mix of atmospheric conditions continuously battle it out to determine whether an area has rain, sun, wind or snow and this can change hour by hour, day by day. The consequence of these extreme weather conditions is that it will affect the wear and tear on exterior surfaces, changing both the decorative appeal and the protective integrity of the materials used. For maintenance contractors looking to increase the

longevity of a building’s exterior, using an exterior paint can be part of a cost-effective solution to negate the time, resource and cost necessary to carry out a complete overhaul or replacement. Exterior paints create a barrier to provide total protection against not only moisture and wind but the adverse effects of UV rays from the sun and pollutants in the air. One type of paint which has been invented in Cheltenham to meet the demands of Britain’s severe, temperamental weather is JCB PAINT. “Using a unique PU copolymer ingredient, we have specifically formulated a water-based paint which is impervious and not penetrable; it has been engineered to be used on virtually any surface,” comments Chris Honer, CEO of JCB PAINT.

As the external facade provides the visual identity of a building, many different types of materials are often used to represent the owner’s vision, ideals or outlook.

To keep costs down and lower the volume of leftover paint it is worth spending the time researching and investigating which type of paint(s) will meet the

Extreme weather conditions will affect the wear and tear on exterior surfaces, changing both the decorative appeal and the protective integrity of the materials used

Paints, Coatings & Finishes

requirements of each surface material within the project. Paint which retains no water and dries quickly is very useful for facades which are affected by algae and fungal attack due to environmental conditions and the location of the building. Existing problem areas should be thoroughly cleaned and treated by a fungicidal solution first before applying a new coat of paint as it will eventually come through newly painted areas. Buildings which are exposed to long periods of sunlight can reduce the amount of energy absorbed by the surface material using a paint containing infrared pigment technology which is designed to reflect solar energy. A colourfast paint which regulates and reduces the swelling and shrinkage of wood will significantly reduce the denaturing, greying process often associated with exposed timber and minimise the time spent mechanically sanding the damaged surface. It is worth noting that the performance of any exterior paint will be affected when it is diluted, which is common practice when trying to reduce costs; in the first instance it will save money but overall the maintenance cost for the building during its lifespan will increase as more applications of the paint will be required to help the exterior surface fight against the effects of the British weather. The other consideration is the ambient temperature when applying an exterior paint; once the temperature starts to dip below 10ºC it will slow the drying and re-coat time as well as potentially causing film cracking, poor adhesion, lack of stain resistance and colour uniformity issues. One last thought refers to the sustainability guidelines for construction, refurbishment and maintenance projects which many public sector buildings now issue. Although the paint and coating sector has made great strides on the environmental impact of paint production, there is still a huge problem with the scale of packaging waste.

To keep costs down and lower the volume of leftover paint it is worth spending the time researching and investigating which type of paint(s) will meet the requirements of each surface material within the project

According to the British Coatings Federation, an estimated 55 million litres of waste from decorative paint is generated in the UK each year. The majority of this either ends up in landfill sites, being incinerated, gathering dust or, at considerable cost to local authorities, gets separated out and disposed of as hazardous waste. JCB PAINT has created a unique ‘bag-in-a-tub’ concept in which the paint is stored in a plastic bag in an airtight plastic tapered tub; once you have

finished with the product you can simply dispose of the bag through normal waste and then decide whether to use re-use the tub for other purposes or recycle it. “When we first started developing the paint we wanted to ensure that we considered the impact on the environment throughout the product’s lifecycle; with this type of packaging not only do we reduce our carbon footprint during the transportation process, we also overcome the

challenge of disposing it as it can be recycled or re-used which is a cleaner, safer and more cost-effective alternative for contractors working on a maintenance project,” explains CEO, Chris Honer. One thing is for sure, maintaining the grounds and buildings of an establishment is never-ending, but having the right paint in your armoury could save you time, money and a lot of effort. 

 www.jcbpaint.com

For maintenance contractors looking to increase the longevity of a building’s exterior, using an exterior paint can be part of a cost-effective solution to negate the time, resource and cost necessary to carry out a complete overhaul or replacement

Building Access

INTELLIGENT INTEGRATION IS BETTER THAN ‘KITCHEN SINK’ SECURITY Operators of public sector buildings and those who specify their security measures need to balance risks versus response versus costs then think outside the box for the most appropriate and proportionate physical, electronic and human security solutions, says Steve Bailes, Business Development Manager at the Zaun Group.

gave a short talk at the UK Security Expo (UKSec) late last year as a part of the building and facilities management conference there. My basic premise was that site operators need to weigh many factors in order to determine the appropriate and proportionate physical, electronic and human building access and security measures to put in place. First are the threats posed to their building or facility; second, the chances of those being realised; third, if they are, the costs to the organisation or enterprise, both monetary and potential downtime, diversion of focus and reputational damage. And, of course, what investment they are prepared to make in mitigating against those threats and risks.

I still believe the old ‘onionskin’ principle to security can’t be beaten – with successive layers of deterrent and defence for an intruder to overcome at a deeper and more robust level the nearer they get to the most critical and sensitive assets. The Crown Jewels are a perfect example of this. They are displayed behind bomb-proof glass under the watchful eye of armed guards and more than 100 hidden CCTV cameras. The Jewel House itself is a vault within a former barracks at the Tower of London, protected by the 22-strong Tower Guard force, on detachment from the British Army, and the 38 resident Yeomen Warders, or Beefeaters, who are ex-military too. And heaven only knows how many fences, gates, barriers, blockers, cameras and other

high-tech wizardry are employed around the perimeter of the tower. But, few public sector buildings have the equivalent of the Crown Jewels to protect – or the budgets that the security costs! It’s tempting in this fearful age of apparently random acts of terrorism and lone wolf attacks to ‘throw the kitchen sink’ at security. The current specification for Crossrail stations is a ‘five-minute fence’, so we have created our CorruSec SR3 as a viable product to meet this need. We also have CorruSec Premier SR4 fencing, which will resist a penetration attack for more than 10 minutes. In theory, we could go on adding more and more layers of mesh to gain higher and higher ratings. But, another conversation at UKSec broached a potentially more

Steve Bailes is Business Development Manager at the Zaun Group, the premier integrated perimeter protection and event overlay systems provider in the market, securing prisons, water, gas, oil, electricity and nuclear sites and temporary events in the UK, mainland Europe and the Middle East.

appropriate and proportionate approach of adding PIDs to a simpler perimeter security fence. Use electronics on a physical barrier that both deters and defends and muster a human response to any genuine threat. This, I believe, is where specifiers must go in the future. Buying time against the threats is the key goal. Successive onion-skin layers of protection – integrating physical, electronic and human security measures – is the way to protect our public sector buildings. And, we need to think outside the box, literally. With radar-detecting threats up to hundreds of metres away, this now sees us looking beyond the perimeter, at the perimeter and within the perimeter! 

 www.zaun.co.uk

LEVATO MONO porcelain paver system Transform any outside space with LEVATO MONO Porcelain paver system from the Deck Tile Co. Ltd. The system offers flexibility and choice for even the most challenging of applications - from roof terraces and balconies with multiple falls to patios and restaurant piazza’s where wear resistance is key. With many finishes and formats available, the 20mm pavers combine incredible technical properties with uncompromising aesthetics and thanks to the intuitive height adjustable and slope correcting facility on the support system, it is possible to cover most waterproof membranes or uneven sub-surfaces.

20mm porcelain pavers 40x80 45x90 60x60 75x75 80x80 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 AB+C Lightweight – 45kgs per m2 High load bearing and impact resistance Timber, stone & cementitious effects Completely non porous

www.thedecktileco.co.uk t: 0118 391 4120

e: info@thedecktileco.co.uk

Ideal for balconies, roof terraces and piazzas, for both commercial and residential use Frost proof Height adjustable/slope correcting support system ranging from 9mm up to 550mm

Drainage & Waterproofing

High capacity channel system drains main car park at Castlegate Business Park The 107-space car park at the new Costa, KFC outlets, Castlegate Business Park, Dudley, West Midlands, is drained with 44m of Hauraton’s RECYFIX MONOTEC high capacity channel drainage system. The Castlegate Business Park is already home to restaurants including Frankie and Benny’s and Pizza Hut, as well as a Showcase Cinema and offices. Hauraton introduced the MONOTEC system in January 2016. The Castlegate development joins numerous installations successfully completed in the United Kingdom. The RECYFIX MONOTEC channels installed in the car park’s red block/asphalt surfaces have a nominal grating width of 100mm, an overall height of 380mm and a cross section of 355.5cm2. Having a total water capacity of just over 1566 litres, the channel runs drained an area of over 1233m2.

All RECYFIX MONOTEC 1m-long channel component is of a sturdy monolithic design where the HEELSAFE grating and the tongue and groove linking system are integral to the channel moulding. The whole unit is made of tough, virtually unbreakable polypropylene (PP) formulated to be very resistant to daily temperature fluctuations from frost conditions to strong sunlight, including the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum. PP is naturally resistant to de-icing salt. Complying with the requirements of EN 1433, the PP is given its UV resistance by adding just sufficient stabiliser so that the structural strength of the material is

unaffected and a consistent appearance is maintained. The MONOTEC channels have a loading category of up to Class D400.

 www.hauraton.co.uk  sales@hauraton.co.uk  01582 501380

Sanitaryware Supplies Company secures exclusive UK distribution Local authority awards “critical” flood prevention drainage contract Lanes Group has won a contract to map and maintain highway drainage assets that a local authority says is “critical” to its plans to minimise the risk of flooding. The work involves cleaning, CCTV surveying and digitally mapping highway drainage assets on behalf of Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council. The one-year Drainage Asset Mapping contract will be managed from the Lanes depot at Eccles. Lanes will use its fleet of modern specialist drain cleaning vehicles, including jet vac tankers and gully sucking tankers, to desilt and clear roots from highway drains. Engineers will also carry out CCTV drainage surveys, and use GPS-enabled asset management software to map the drainage system.

 www.lanesfordrains.co.uk  sales@lanesgroup.co.uk  0800 526488

Sanitaryware Supplies Company (SSC) has secured the exclusive UK distribution rights of the ground-breaking Grate Seal drainage solution range. Grate Seal was originally brought to the international market by the environmentally-conscious Australian firm, Gentec. The self-fitting seals can be retrofitted to any existing floor drains, providing odour prevention and ‘pest-proofing’, making it ideal for a commercial kitchen environment. It is both easy to install and can be fitted to new and existing facilities. Gentec’s Grate Seal is expected to be a welcome addition to a number of other markets and outlets, including health and aged care, education, shopping centres, sports and leisure centres, disability and accessibility, food and processing industry, spas, hotels and education.

 www.sanitarywaresupplies.co.uk

 01157 842769

De-bug timber with Safeguard’s destructive insect treatment guide Safeguard Europe – the UK’s leading specialist in damp-proofing and waterproofing technology – has produced a superb guide on the problem of larval infestation of timber, how to accurately identify the cause and how to treat it. Safeguard’s Woodworm Identification and Treatment volume is packed with detailed colour photography on the likely species to be encountered in Britain – and through all their life stages, from larvae to adult. In addition to allowing the reader to identify woodworm, the guide covers how to check whether a woodworm infestation is still active or has died out, and how to treat minor infestations of common species effectively, and for the long term.

 www.safeguardeurope.com

 info@safeguardeurope.com

 01403 210204

HVAC/HVP

Lot 21 (warm air) has a max NOx emission of 100mg/kWh input plus a minimum seasonal efficiency of 72%. Seasonal efficiency is calculated from airflow temperature rise, thermal efficiency and electrical power consumption. Lot 21 also applies to AHUs and includes the performance of any heating/chilling coils, where human comfort is the primary heating purpose. Essentially, other than outdoor (heating an outdoor space) units, air curtains or ambient units, all products need to comply with either Lot 20 or Lot 21, plus the motor efficiency ErP regulation.

Implementation date: Each lot has a different date. Lot 20 (radiant heaters) comes into force on 1st January 2018. Lot 21 (warm air heaters). Minimum seasonal efficiency comes into force on 1st January 2018, with the maximum NOx levels applicable September 2018.

For the Welsh National Velodrome in Newport, Newport City Council wanted a very quiet heating system that could maintain different temperatures for competitors and spectators. To heat the race track and badminton courts area, a Nor-Ray-Vac continuous radiant tube system from Nortek was specified for the race track and badminton court area, while three AmbiRad linear tube heaters were installed above the seating areas.

ERP; NORTEK IS READY New legislation has changed the way that the seasonal efficiency of heating equipment is calculated. Danny Packham, European Product Manager – warm air and radiant – from Nortek Global HVAC, outlines the key points. Gas-fired warm air and radiant heating systems are long-standing technologies associated with effectively heating large, open (industrial or commercial) spaces. By burning the fuel at point of use currently provides an efficient thermal and seasonal efficiency, however, the way in which manufacturers will calculate seasonal efficiency (from 1st January 2018 onwards) is changing due to ErP (Energyrelated Products) legislation coming into force. We would like to give you an insight into the impact this legislation will have.

What is ErP? ErP is part of the Ecodesign regulation (EU) 2015/1188 which, along with the

implementing Directive 2009/125/EC, is an EU policy aimed at improving the energy efficiency and other environmental performance criteria for ErP, such as radiant and warm air heaters.

How is equipment categorised? Products have been divided into product groups or ‘Lots,’ with warm air heaters using gaseous or liquid fuels contained within Lot 21 and radiant heaters within Lot 20.

What are the requirements? Each Lot provides the minimum energy efficiency and environmental values for each heating technology. Any product that does not comply

with the requirements cannot be marketed and sold within the EU – including the UK. Following the referendum in the UK to leave the EU, the requirements of Ecodesign will still have to be complied with as it could take up to two years to finalise the process. Even then, unless new UK legislation is introduced, ErP will continue to be one of many methods employed by the Government to reduce the environmental impact of heating technology. Lot 20 (radiant) has a max NOx emission of 200mg/kWh input plus a minimum seasonal efficiency of 74%. Seasonal efficiency is a combination of thermal efficiency, radiant efficiency and electrical power consumption.

The second tier for ErP will be 2021, whereupon seasonal efficiency will increase to 78% and maximum NOx emission for gaseous fuels will be <=70mg/ kWh input. Crucially, the minimum criteria for Lots 20 and 21 are applicable for new installations and when replacing existing products. As a result, customers can be assured that the heating equipment they are purchasing is highly energy-efficient and emissions of harmful environmental pollutants are constrained. Unlike other products, warm air heaters and other commercial heating appliances are directly planned and purchased by HVAC professionals, the regulation 2015/1186 excludes warm air heaters and other commercial heaters from mandatory energy labelling. However, product literature and free access websites of manufacturers must indicate the seasonal efficiency and NOx emissions for each product or system. Air curtains are not considered warm air heaters by the scope of this directive.

 www.nortek-erp.com  erp@nortek.com  01384 489700

Much of the complexity of designing, installing and maintaining central heating in multioccupancy low-rise buildings can potentially now be eliminated. Innovative developments at Gilberts have created a room-by-room solution that combines appropriate ventilation with a heat boost. The concept means that, in effect, there is no need to provide radiators in the rooms in which the new option is fitted. The solution focuses on Gilberts’ unique Mistrale Fusion (MFS) unit with an integrated LPHW coil. Just two standard MFS128 units (one at either end of the room), or one MFS256, will ventilate, and warm, a standard 32-pupil classroom to all regulatory requirements regarding air quality.

RAUTHERMEX chosen for riverside installation REHAU’s RAUTHERMEX pipes have been chosen for a major district heating project in Glasgow, where four tower blocks are being upgraded to provide efficient and affordable heating to more than 300 social housing properties. Craig Dalrymple, Project Manager for SSE – which won the contract to design and install the district heating system – said: “The radial design required more than 500m of pipework to run heat from the new energy centre to the four tower block plant rooms. Polymer pipes were definitely the better option on paper, so we went with RAUTHERMEX for the installation.” REHAU’s RAUTHERMEX pre-insulated PE-Xa pipework is specially designed for applications where low heat losses are critical.

HVAC/HVP

Be relaxed about building services design

 www.gilbertsblackpool.com  info@gilbertsblackpool.com  01253 766911

100% CIBSE pass rate for Giacomini

 www.rehau.com  jo.trotman@rehau.com  01989 762751

Over the past year, Giacomini UK has been making vast steps to ensure its technical sales team is fully up-to-speed with the very latest in the industry and to ensure that its employees are experts in the sector. As part of this, the technical sales team has been undertaking courses from the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and Giacomini is delighted to announce that all of its UK technical sales engineers are now fully registered CIBSE heat network consultants. Technical Support Manager, Helen Gibbons, was the first to receive the accreditation in June 2016, followed by Giacomini’s UK and Ireland Sales Manager, Alistair Moore, and Technical Sales Engineer, Warren Smyth, in May 2017.

 www.giacomini.co.uk

 01454 311012

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Floors, Walls & Ceilings

Knauf AMF creates exceptional school interiors with Class A acoustics Alyth Primary in Perthshire has undergone an £8.9m transformation to unite the nursery, primary and community areas and create a protected external learning space. The principle of ‘shared learning’ is at the heart of the project and this is realised using open-plan classrooms, break-out areas and a terrace which extends from the first-floor library to overlook the central courtyard. To ensure this ambitious layout works acoustically, Heradesign and Thermatex ceilings from Knauf AMF are installed throughout to achieve the standards required by BB93 Acoustic Design of Schools. The natural materials used in the interior design combine with high levels of light to create a healthy atmosphere which helps motivate the pupils and aid concentration. Natural materials used in education buildings have been found to reduce stress levels. Heradesign plays a key role in creating this positive ambience and is installed in the classrooms, gym hall and corridors.

The school’s open-plan spaces used for teaching and group activities are prone to unwanted noise which can disrupt learning. The Class A sound absorption of Heradesign provides the necessary noise control to allow clear communication between the teacher and pupils in the classroom, which will have a positive effect on academic performance. The high impact performance of Heradesign has been put to good use in the gym hall as it is durable and strong enough to withstand heavy-impact ball games. Thermatex Alpha One ceilings are fitted in the school’s circulation spaces. The

smooth, white ceiling tiles offer over 88% light reflectance. The kitchen areas in the school required a ceiling that can withstand high humidity. Thermatex Aquatec offers the optimum solution as it is humidity resistant up to 100% RH. This means that the ceiling will retain its shape even in temperatures as high as 40°C.

 www.knaufamf.com  info@knaufamf.co.uk  0191 518 8600

UZIN system used to renovate floor at Peterborough Regional College

Malmo luxury vinyl flooring offers the assurance of reduced noise transfer Malmo, the luxury vinyl flooring range available from IDS, has become even easier to specify after independent sound tests showed that the flooring offers reduced noise transfer when walking over its surface. The flooring was tested against BS EN ISO 10140 and BS EN ISO 717 standards, which measure the reduction of transmitted impact noise and impact sound insulation of a floorcovering in buildings and building elements. The tests follow the recent awarding of R10 slip resistance, and the HSE preferred Pendulum PTV +36 slip resistance rating and is another reason why Malmo can be used with confidence for a wide variety of residential and commercial applications.

 www.idsurfaces.co.uk  info@idsurfaces.co.uk  08457 298298

UZIN products were used to renovate the flooring within the reception at Peterborough Regional College. As the college provides education to over 10,000 students a year, it was extremely important that the new floor could withstand the heavy footfall. Lowstrength smoothing compounds are susceptible to indentations that will mirror in the floorcovering. UZIN NC 150 smoothing compound has a high compressive strength of 25N and produces a fantastic finish. The floor was exceptionally finished by Superior Finish Contracts and, by using a UZIN system, Peterborough Regional College will benefit from a more durable floor which can tolerate the large amount of foot traffic.

 www.uzin.co.uk

 info@uzin.co.uk

 01788 530080

Remmers leads the way with low-emission epoxy resin flooring Remmers’ Epoxy OS Color New is a coloured epoxy self-smoothing resin system suitable for industrial and commercial applications. Its high mechanical strength coupled with excellent chemical resistance makes it ideal for industrial environments whilst its innovative reduction in VOCs means it is perfect for commercial applications such as schools, hospitals or retail areas. Epoxy OS Color New is one of a select band of Remmers’ solvent-free epoxy resins that holds AgBB certification thanks to a huge reduction in the use of harmful ingredients when compared to standard resin flooring. These market-leading improvements come alongside the usual high-quality product performance that Remmers’ clients have come to expect.

 www.remmers.co.uk

 sales@remmers.co.uk

 01293 594010

Floors, Walls & Ceilings

Armstrong CPD explains the advantages of metal ceilings A RIBA-approved CPD which details the benefits of specifying metal systems is now available from Armstrong Ceiling Solutions. The presentation, which gives architects a one-hour CPD credit, recognises the degree to which metal systems now play in Armstrong’s already peerless portfolio. The reasons given for specifying metal ceiling and wall systems are numerous and varied, from their aesthetics (a crisp, clean, hi-tech visual in flat, curved or sculptured forms, and linear or modular layouts) to their durability, withstanding rigorous handling, with edges that do not chip and surfaces that do not flake. The CPD also takes architects through the manufacturing process for tiles, planks, canopies and bespoke (curved, radial and trapezoidal) systems.

 www.armstrongceilings.com/commercial  sales-support@armstrong.com  0800 371849

Designer Contracts named as number-one supplier for national procurement consortium Designer Contracts has become the number-one preferred supplier for Procurement for Housing (PfH) on the flooring category of its EU compliant framework. Procurement for Housing drives efficiency and improves procurement practice for more than 850 social housing providers throughout the UK. This allows them to choose suppliers that have been carefully vetted and appraised on ability to deliver. PfH enables social housing organisations to generate cost savings and business efficiencies which reduce spend for members to the sum of over £55m per year. Designer Contracts has flooring to suit all budgets, including carpet and carpet tiles, vinyl, safety flooring, laminate, wood and luxury vinyl tiles.

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

Heckmondwike’s got it covered for Lancashire school St Mary’s RC Primary School in Langho near Blackburn, Lancashire, has specified Total Care by Heckmondwike, one of the UK’s leading fibre-bonded carpet and carpet tile manufacturers, as part of a major refurbishment. The school selected Total Care in Iris as it closely reflected the blue colourway of its logo. 48m2 of Total Care was installed throughout the classrooms, offices and meeting areas of the building by local flooring contractor, Rishton Flooring. Total Care is widely used throughout education and healthcare environments as it is extremely durable and provides long-lasting performance, even in areas of heavy foot traffic.

 www.heckmondwike-fb.co.uk  sales@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk  01924 413637

Marmox Thermoblock tackles thermal bridging

Horbury secures ceilings and partitions framework Horbury Property Services, part of the Horbury Group, is celebrating its success in becoming part of a framework agreement with Coventry City Council. This will see Horbury Property Services being one of the approved providers of ceilings and drywall partitioning services for the council’s public buildings including schools, academies, leisure centres and commercial offices and retail units. The framework went live in October 2017 and is for a maximum period of four years. As well as ceiling and drywall partitioning services, Horbury Property Services provides a full range of works, which can form part of planned maintenance programmes.

 www.horburypropertyservices.com  hello@horburypropertyservices.com  01709 917555

Some 180 Marmox Thermoblocks have been supplied to a regional builder for the construction of a home near Harrogate, with their unique combination of insulating and loadcarrying properties being used to tackle cold bridging where the two storeys above ground meet the basement structure which contains a swimming pool and other recreation areas. The property has been built by Dobson Construction with a beam and block ground floor being supported off the in-situ concrete basement walls. The partially filled external wall of dense concrete blockwork, with an outer leaf of quarried stone, was then raised on the continuous course of Thermoblocks.

 www.marmox.co.uk

 sales@marmox.co.uk

 01634 835290

Bostik receives top marks for flooring at the University of Huddersfield A range of subfloor preparation products from Bostik have been chosen by Titan Flooring for the development of a new building at the University of Huddersfield. A number of products from Bostik’s range were selected to ensure a superior floor finish across the Oastler Building. These included the Screedmaster one-coat membrane, Universal primer and Screedmaster epoxy primer, along with the Screedmaster Deep, Screedmaster Flow and Screedmaster Smooth levelling compounds and Bostik Laybond Carpet Tile Tackifier. The project provided Titan with some challenging site conditions and Bostik’s technical expertise and ability to quickly tackle any issues on site were instrumental in winning the work.

 www.bostik-profloor.co.uk

 flooring.uk@bostik.com

 01785 272625

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Focus & Innovation

Architects should consider reinforced landscape furniture such as planters, seating, litter bins, lighting columns, cycle stands and bollards

Reducing the perception of risk

A NEW FRONTLINE AGAINST TERRORISM Terror organisations are now increasingly focused on using vehicles to kill, maim and cause panic. But rather than erecting concrete barricades in defence, Jaz Vilkhu, Managing Director of Landscape Protection at Marshalls, argues that urban planners must consider a holistic approach focusing on protection and design to ensure people don’t feel a continual threat. have become the V ehicles weapon of choice for terrorists. Stripped down to the bare-bones of an individual with motivation, intent and access to a car, van or lorry, the attacks we’ve seen across Europe over the last few years have cut the time between planning an attack and execution to a matter of hours. This new threat is far more difficult to predict and has so far prompted a primitive and unsophisticated response, which has become a blanket reaction across our towns and cities. According to the 2017 EU Terrorism Situation and Trends report, the increase in

the number of anti-terror barrier installations around landmarks, key infrastructure and public spaces with high footfall has reflected the sharp rise in vehicle attacks. But fortifying urban areas in this way can convey mixed signals. Yes, concrete barricades send a clear message that threats are taken seriously, but in doing so they remind the public of the need for protection and creates an environment of fear. In a recent Guardian article, Columnist Simon Jenkins noted: “Parts of Central London already look cowed and afraid, as ugly barriers go up around tourist sites.”

It’s clear that such Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) measures can unnerve the public and feed the feeling of imminent threat. And while the battle is primarily against terror, addressing this perception should be just as key a priority for those designing and securing cities from terrorist or criminal activity. It’s a vicious circle; the higher the perception of risk the greater threat individuals feel. This applies directly to the presence of visible anti-terror security measures, which have been found to increase levels of suspicion, tension and fear among the public. It’s a reaction that is hard-wired into the human brain. Anxiety worsens cognitive functioning as our attention is drawn away from day-to-day life and towards the threatening stimuli that confront us. In seeking to protect places, the very act of fortifying our town and city centres is increasing the fear that people feel. This can all too easily translate into action, with falling footfall severely hitting businesses and urban areas.

Tackling the issue through aesthetic design Installing protective measures can change the nature of these urban spaces and addressing this presents a new challenge. In her study, ‘Invisible Security: the impact of counter-terrorism on the built environment’, Rachel Briggs writes: “It has been argued that ‘security’ has become the justification for measures that threaten the core of urban social and political life – from the physical barricading of space to the social barricading of democratic society – that rising levels of security in cities will reduce the public use of public space.” To allay this, urban designers should look to adopt a holistic approach to ensure that protection is integrated in a way that doesn’t change how people feel about and use their town and city centres. In essence, using measures that are unobtrusive and can be hidden in plain sight.

It’s pleasing to see that these considerations are increasingly forming part of urban security planning. Architects, city planners and security experts are less willing to compromise on aesthetics when it comes to security. According to a recent report we produced with IFSEC Global, 79% of these professionals have seen the number of projects requiring aesthetically-focused perimeter protection increase over the last three years. In addition, 94% believe that demand will ramp up across both the UK and EU.

Deter, deflect and defend One option is a multi-layered strategy that is designed to reduce the threat long before a vehicle can reach its target, while in-keeping with an environment’s aesthetics. As a first step, designers could look at limiting the speed or mitigate the angle of approaching traffic. This could include changes to the layout of the road network, the addition of traffic-calming features, such as chicanes, speed bumps, restrictedwidth lanes and the creation of pedestrianised areas and ’buffer zones’, which demarcate traffic from pedestrian areas. Secondly, new kerbing systems can be installed to deflect oncoming vehicles back on the carriageway and away from vulnerable areas. Rather than using concrete blocks or metal barriers as a defensive line to implement a high level of HVM, architects should consider reinforced landscape furniture such as planters, seating, litter bins, lighting columns, cycle stands and bollards. Although these products look like regular landscape furniture, they are built with fortified PAS 68/ IWA 14.1-certified cores. This is the latest Publicly Available Specification for products used to assist in terrorism prevention, which specify a classification for vehicle security barriers and their foundations when subjected to impact. The foundations can be built to varying depths and, using the strongest specification, a single piece of furniture can stop a 7.5 tonne articulated lorry travelling at 50mph.

 www.marshalls.co.uk  info@marshalls.co.uk  01422 312000

Focus & Innovation

Pendock covers for Sevenoaks’ rebuilt primary school Wolverhampton Council first to benefit from new secure workplace lockers The City of Wolverhampton Council has been the first local authority to benefit from David Bailey Furniture Systems’ brandnew range of workplace lockers, which the fitted furniture manufacturer recently added to its extensive product portfolio. This spring, David Bailey Furniture Systems manufactured and supplied 67 six-door locker units, which were installed on one floor at Wolverhampton Council’s offices and in September a further 75 six-door locker units were supplied. Designed to offer secure and convenient storage, David Bailey Furniture Systems’ workplace lockers replace the council’s previous desk pedestal system for storing staffs’ personal belongings, clothing, possessions and confidential documents.

 www.davidbaileyfurniture.co.uk  sales@davidbaileyfurniture.co.uk  01843 604896

Pendock has recently supplied MX and CH pipe boxing profiles to cover pipework at Sevenoaks Primary School, rebuilt as part of the Priority Schools Building Programme. Led and majority funded by the Education Funding Agency, along with the support of Kent County Council, the scheme represents a sustainable, fit-forpurpose and much-needed replacement of the original 50-yearold building. MX profile is a two-sided pipe casing, suitable for high or low levels and can be installed vertically, horizontally and at corners to cover pipework and heating services, soil, vent and rainwater pipes. Hardwearing and maintenance-free, the ply boxing is manufactured at Pendock’s Telford premises and can be supplied in a wide range of colour options.

 www.pendock.co.uk

 sales@pendock.co.uk

 01952 580590

Artificial pitch innovator tackles health and environment worries A world-leading manufacturer of infill for artificial sports pitches is set to change the face of the industry with the launch of an innovative new product that eliminates any risk to the health of players and the wider environment. PRO-gran was developed by Murfitts Industries to answer the growing perception of risks to health and the environment from black rubber crumb artificial turf infill. Founder and MD, Mark Murfitt, said: “PRO-gran is a polymeric infill that is engineered to offer the very best in performance and is safe for players and the environment. The infill combines the exceptional dynamic properties of rubber which is then coated in polyurethane to make it 100% safe.”

 www.murfittsindustries.com

 info@murfittsindustries.com

 01842 860220

The Golf Classic is better than ever In its 26th year, The Golf Classic continues to offer golfers the chance to play golf in their region, meet new people and forge new business contacts. With only five knockout rounds to play, entrants have an even better chance of reaching the Grand Final and The Golf Classic is offering half price entry for teams that introduce new teams to the tournament. The tournament is open to those employed within the UK mainland construction industry and entry costs £44 per team. Entries must arrive by 23rd February and play tees-off in March 2018. Enter now and look forward to playing exciting golf in 2018.

 www.thegolfclassic.co.uk

 info@thegolfclassic.co.uk

 01892 752300

Avire expands product range with Microkey acquisition Avire has acquired SETCO S.A (www.microkey.es), a specialist in emergency telephones, GSM wireless transmission and monitoring systems for lifts, which is marketed under the Microkey brand. Rob Lewis, Managing Director at Avire, said: “This is a really exciting time for Avire, Microkey and our customers. With the addition of Microkey’s cutting-edge technology to Avire’s global footprint, we have created the clear market leader in terms of size and technology. Not only is this good news for our customers now, but with the increased R&D resource, we are expecting even more customer-focused products in the near future.”

 www.avire-global.com

 pr@avire-global.com

 01628 540100

Offsite Solutions wins Manufacturer of the Year Award Offsite Solutions has won the Manufacturer of the Year Award at the Made in the South West Awards. These annual awards showcase manufacturing excellence across the South West and celebrate the commitment of the region’s businesses to achieving world-class quality and performance. Offsite Solutions was presented with the award for Manufacturer of the Year (under £25m turnover) at a ceremony at the Grand Hotel in Bristol. This category assessed manufacturing excellence, sales growth and regional economic impact. The judges commented on the spread of sectors that Offsite Solutions is flourishing in – from residential and student accommodation to healthcare and hotels, and its £5m factory investment programme, which is now underway.

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

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