PSBJ January 21

Public Sector Build Journal January 2021

POWERFUL BEST PRACTICE TEMPLATE Maidenhead and Windsor Council updates its ageing leisure centre

Healthcare

Education

Leisure

psbjmagazine.com

Issue 101

How to build in flexibility and increase capacity in the NHS

Housing

The benefits of integrating schools into mixed-use schemes

Optimising hygiene in public kitchen and washroom facilities

Introducing Pilkington SaniTise™, a world-first in glazing. Coated with a layer of titanium dioxide, the glass provides antimicrobial properties. Tested by leading universities it helps protect against enveloped viruses.

Pilkington SaniTise™. For a healthier, cleaner, safer world.

For further information visit pilkington.co.uk/sanitise

WELCOME NOTE

Editor

Hannah Woodger

hannah@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Rebecca Kemp

rebecca@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Print & Digital Advertising Sam Ball

sam@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Jim Moore

jim@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Print Design Manager Jack Witcomb

jack@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Digital Design Manager

Maidenhead and Windsor Council turned to Wates Construction to help deliver a landmark leisure project that would capture its sustainability aspirations. See page 12.

Matt Morse

matt@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Welcome to the January issue of PSBJ...

Accounts

Rachel Pike

rachel@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Sales Support & Administrator

Klare Porter

As the country embarks on a mass roll-out of the highly-anticipated vaccine in the fight against COVID-19, we ask how close is the light at the end of the tunnel? The arrival of an approved vaccine was the news we had all been longing to hear, but in reality we could still be a long way from winning the war on this pandemic.

klare@crossplatformmedia.co.uk Vaccinating some 55 million people could take months, maybe even the best part of a year. It has been described by GPs as a logistical nightmare and already the Government’s forecast for 10 million doses to be delivered by the end of 2020 was slashed by half.

Publisher Sam Ball

sam@crossplatformmedia.co.uk Published by

Cross Platform Media Ltd.

Barham Court, Teston, Maidstone, Kent, ME18 5BZ psbjmagazine.com 01622 232725 crossplatformmedia.co.uk

While most initially thought that we’d be out of this global crisis by 2021, sadly we need to remain cautious and uphold high standards of hygiene that have, in a way, become the new normal. In public buildings, this is especially true.

Reducing touchpoints in public spaces is one of the ways in which building occupants can limit their exposure to infection. Bathrooms, kitchens and entry points, such as doors and handles, are breeding grounds for germs and bacteria, but with the specification of innovative solutions, the risk of cross-contamination can be significantly reduced.

Turn to page 18 where you’ll find Richard Bromley, from the ASSA ABLOY Door Hardware Group, outlining the options to reduce touchpoints throughout a site. Meanwhile, on page 32, GROHE UK shares a series of solutions for some of the hygiene hot spots in public buildings – the kitchen and washroom.

I hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget, you can also access all of the magazine’s features, product news and supplier information on PSBJ’s user-friendly and engaging website. Fully responsive, the website allows you to read all the latest stories on-the-go either on your phone or tablet. Simply visit www.psbjmagazine.com.

PSBJ is a proud supporter of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists.

Contributions are invited and when not accepted will be returned only if accompanied by a fully stamped and return addressed envelope. No responsibility will be taken for drawings, photographs or literary contributions during transmission or in the editor's hands. In the absence of an agreement the copyright of all contributions, literary, photographics or artistic belongs to Cross Platform Media Ltd. The Publisher accepts no responsibility in respect of advertisements appearing in the magazine and the opinions expressed in editorial material or otherwise do not necessarily represent the view of the publisher. The Publisher does not accept any liability of any loss arising from the late appearance or non publication of any advertisement.

Hannah

Hannah Woodger • Editor • hannah@crossplatformmedia.co.uk Find us on Social Media:      @psbjmagazine

03

CONTENTS

06 News

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

08 Upfront

Bolton-based contractor Seddon talks to PSBJ about its approach to a series of school projects designed to meet special educational needs.

12 Leisure

When Maidenhead and Windsor Council took the decision to replace its ageing leisure centre, it turned to Wates Construction to help deliver a landmark project that would capture its sustainability aspirations.

20

14 Healthcare

Richard Coe, Project Director at Kajima Partnerships, discusses how to build in flexibility and increase capacity in the NHS, preparing the health service as COVID-19 cases climb, a potential winter crisis looms and the backlog in diagnostics, cancer care and elective surgeries grows.

16 Housing

A new modular council development in Newhaven, East Sussex, consisting of 36 modules, is raising the bar for fire safety and sustainability in the social housing sector.

18 Doors, Windows & Balustrades

One of the key current building challenges is how to reduce touchpoints throughout a site. Here, Richard Bromley, Business Development Director at the ASSA ABLOY Door Hardware Group, outlines the options available.

20 Drainage & Landscaping

Interpave reveals how factory-produced modular concrete paving and kerb units deliver fast, low-cost, retrofit installation.

22 Legal & Business

Kate Bygrave, Managing Director of UK Construction Marketing, discusses how best to market your business in the current climate and offers tips for driving value in 2021.

24 Education

Justin Bainton, Partner at Carter Jonas, reflects on how the integration of schools into mixed-use urban schemes can offer a multitude of benefits to the local community and education provider.

Specifying a CFA member for your next flooring project could mean the difference between success — or a flooring failure. Most of the UK’s largest and best known Manufacturers, Distributors, Contractors and Consultants are CFA members, and for good reason.

• CFA members promote high standards, knowledge and expertise • Specifying CFA members will maximize your investment and minimize costly flooring failures • CFA members have to pass a strict vetting process

Tel: 0115 941 1126

www.cfa.org.uk Email: info@cfa.org.uk 04

CONTENTS

24

16

26 Talking Point

Martin Shields, Head of Safety, Health and Environment, and Chris Harvey, Organisational Development Manager, at ODS discuss how new ways of working can create a better customer experience and improve the skillsets of workers.

28 Lighting & Electricals

The popularity of PoE is set to continue, but it’s essential to understand the impact of heat generation and the need for heat management when designing and installing PoE cable networks.

30 Technical Focus

The draft Building Safety Bill proposes the most radical overhaul of building safety regulations for decades. Paul Swaddle, Head of Technical Solutions at NBS, explores what this better, safer future for buildings could mean for specifiers.

32 KBB & Washrooms

Elina Enqvist-Twomey, Category Manager at GROHE UK, shares a series of solutions for public washrooms and kitchen facilities, some hygiene hot spots in public buildings.

18 34 Product Showcase

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

Protects with a Natural Look 3062 MATT Natural Ingredients Highly water repellent Extremely hardwearing Natural look, light reflections are defused.

05

NEWS

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

Gwent super-hospital opens four months ahead of schedule

Social housing plans give hope to iconic Nottingham building Fresh plans to bring much-needed social housing to Nottingham and breathe life back into a historic pub, that has laid empty for a number of years, are now being considered thanks to a joint venture between Bmor and Carlton Street Trading. The Grove, located on Castle Boulevard, Nottingham, was built in 1886 and is included on the list of Local Heritage Assets for its aesthetic and townscape value. The plans include the conversion of the iconic building, as well as the addition of an extension over the current car park, to create 27 one- and twobedroom social housing apartments for key workers. Nottinghamheadquartered Leonard Design has devised the scheme to preserve the existing character of the building while adding contemporary architectural points of interest. For instance, new brick and glazing will sit sympathetically against the traditional Victorian style to add a modern twist to the development.

The £350m Grange University Hospital (GUH) in Gwent, South Wales, opened to patients on 17th November – four months ahead of schedule, in a bid to help the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) respond to winter pressures and COVID-19. The hospital is a key component of the board’s Clinical Futures Programme, which is transforming health service delivery across the Gwent region. As project and cost manager on the mammoth development, Gleeds has been instrumental in delivering the works in collaboration with construction partner Laing O’Rourke, architect firm BDP and with engineering support from Aecom and WSP. Having been approached by the ABUHB at the start of the pandemic, delivery of several sections of the scheme was expedited to allow a partial opening in April, almost a year earlier than planned, in response to increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases in the locality.

Following the board’s recent occupation of the remaining space, the hospital will now provide a centre of excellence to treat the region’s most seriously ill patients, or those with significant injuries, and it will also act as the emergency department (A&E) for everyone living in Gwent.

BDP designs UK’s first carbonneutral bus station in Leicester Leicester St Margaret’s bus station is set to become the UK’s first carbon-neutral bus station as efficient new building designs by leading architecture and urban design practice BDP have been submitted to Leicester City Council. The new design includes LED lighting, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, air source heat pumps and 750m2 of solar panels, which will generate enough energy to power the station and feed extra energy back into the grid. The building will also incorporate electric bus charging points and a new fully-glazed envelope in the concourse, maximising lighting levels and significantly reducing energy usage. If approved, these designs will make Leicester St Margaret’s one of the most energy-efficient transport hubs in the country and the first bus station to achieve net-zero carbon status.

Islington Council Works begin on pivotal build selects Diamond Build for of West Midlands SEND school £10m housing scheme Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson has been selected by the Department for Education (DfE) to design and build a brand-new facility for the modernisation of Oscott Manor School in Birmingham, as part of the DfE’s Priority School Building Programme. Oscott Manor School, located in Old Oscott Hill, Birmingham, is a SEND (special educational needs and disability) secondary school supporting pupils with autism. Due for completion in winter 2021, the new educational facility will be a community school for 120 young people aged 11 to 19, with autism as their primary diagnosis. Construction works will involve the demolition of existing buildings at the Reservoir Road site; the former Bridge SEND School, Fairfield Children’s Home and the Children’s Bungalow, followed by the construction of the new 29,923ft2 two-storey modern educational facility with a range of versatile teaching spaces for ICT, design and technology, science and music, as well as general staff facilities, external play areas and associated access roads.

06

Islington Council has appointed Diamond Build to construct 24 new council homes on the Harvist Estate in Holloway, near Arsenal’s football stadium. The project will see Diamond Build construct a mix of one- and two-bedroom flats as well as two-, three- and four-bedroom houses. The properties will be located on Citizen Road, which will also be reconfigured as part of the work. The site, which is situated between a Victorian railway viaduct and existing housing, presents a number of challenges for the contractor.

Before construction can begin, Japanese knotweed will need to be removed and measures put in place to minimise disruption for nearby residents. The team will also need to liaise closely with National Rail to agree logistics and timings for certain aspects of the work such as craning. As a specialist contractor for large public sector projects, Diamond Build has a long-standing relationship with Islington Council and has recently completed the refurbishment of offices located at 49-59 Old Street on behalf of the London Borough of Islington.

NEWS

A Lancashire street has welcomed its first residents in over 10 years When the excited tenants collected the keys to their brand-new bungalows on Bright Street, they became the first residents of the Colne road in a decade. The 10 one-bed properties provide supported living for single people and couples who have assessed care needs, including people with learning disabilities, mental health conditions or physical disabilities, as well as older people. The street is a flagship project for adult health and social care charity Making Space, and one of very few developments in the country that has seen an entire road given over to new-build supported housing. The properties have breathed new life into the neighbourhood, with Bright Street devoid of residents since two blocks of empty terraced housing were demolished as part of the regeneration scheme for the Churchfields area in 2009. They will be operated in partnership with Calico Housing. Each bungalow in the £1.5m scheme has a fullyfitted kitchen and a modern, accessible wetroom. The homes feature private gardens and street parking. A communal car park provides additional spaces for visitors.

Plans unveiled for new primary school at Stanton Cross Northamptonshire County Council has submitted a planning application for a new primary school on Irthlingborough Road at the heart of the new Stanton Cross community. Subject to approval from Wellingborough Borough Council’s planning committee, the school will eventually welcome 420 pupils between the ages of four and 11 from September 2022. Construction is scheduled to get underway in summer 2021 on the two-storey building. Proposals include classrooms, a main hall and kitchen, plus a playground and soft play area, as well as a dedicated children’s centre for younger pupils.

The McAvoy Group is principal contractor on the project, a specialist in offsite modern methods of construction. The new building is designed to provide a stimulating educational space and complement the wider environment created by Stanton Cross Developments LLP.

Newcastle’s RVI and Freeman hospitals undergo £5m transformation Almost £5m worth of work to transform wards across two Newcastle hospitals has been completed in just five months by Gatesheadbased contractor Tolent. The works completed across two wards at the RVI and one ward at the Freeman Hospital have aided the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to respond to the second wave of COVID-19. At the RVI, ward 49 underwent a full design, reconfiguration and refurbishment from its existing model to create a new intensive care ward to care for COVID-positive patients. Now a 17-bed facility complete with standard air locks for patient isolation, the design of ward 49 from P+HS Architects meets the needs of patients and staff operating in critical circumstances including the ability to ensure non-COVID emergency and elective work is able to continue. At the Freeman Hospital, works to upgrade ward 12 included a full refurbishment which is now an exemplar of a new trust branding to be rolled out on future ward refurbishment programmes.

Pick Everard appointed to design new prisons for the MoJ Milestone reached Leading independent property, construction and infrastructure at £73m aquatics hub consultancy Pick Everard will play an integral role in the design of four new prisons – to be built in Yorkshire and in the North West and South East of England – following its appointment by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to its New Prisons Programme (NPP). The MoJ and HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) aims to deliver a decent, safe and secure estate that supports offender rehabilitation. These four new prisons will be designed with this in mind and provide prison staff the necessary tools to prevent offenders from being drawn into further criminal activity whilst serving their sentence in custody and turn their lives around. Pick Everard – operating under Perfect Circle’s unique collaboration – has been appointed as client designer for the project, with procurement and delivery being accelerated through SCAPE, a leading public sector procurement authority. SCAPE’s direct award and fully performance-managed framework will also help drive collaboration, efficiency, time and cost savings across the four sites.

National contractor Wates Construction has reached a significant milestone in the construction of Sandwell Aquatics Centre, in Smethwick. Structural steelwork has now begun at the £73m state-ofthe-art leisure facility with the first three roof trusses and main frame now erected, giving scale to the site and its facilities within. By the end of the year, 14 trusses will have been installed in total, each spanning 75m and weighing around 30 tonnes. It marks the first stage of the centre taking form above ground, with the Wates team spending the summer months carefully creating the 50m Olympic-sized pool – the only one of its size in the Midlands – as well as a 25m diving pool and community swimming pool. Some 3000m3 of concrete were used in the pools’ creation, which had to be carefully poured to an accuracy of mere millimetres to comply with Olympic standards. The project is set to complete in spring 2022 and will open to the public in the spring of 2023.

07

UPFRONT

BUILDING SEND SCHOOLS Here, John Shannon, Divisional Director at Seddon, discusses the company’s experiences of building two SEND schools at the heart of their local communities, and what they mean to pupils and staff alike.

A

ccording to analysis from the National Education Union (NEU), there are now more than 390,000 pupils and students with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), an increase of 10% on 2019 and 62% on 2015. The NEU estimates that there is a £2.1bn shortfall in funding for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), creating a system that cannot cope with the increased number of pupils with EHCPs. As a result, greater numbers of young people with complex needs are being educated in inappropriate settings, without the facilities and support needed to provide them with a proper education.

In the worst cases, pupils receive no educational provision at all, with the latest data revealing that 1260 pupils of compulsory school age are in this position (NEU data).

The statistics tell a difficult story, yet despite the financial and practical burdens they face, our teachers continue to give their all when it comes to educating young people with SEND.

08

It is up to the Government and local authorities to address the budgetary shortfalls to provide all pupils with the very best learning environments that facilitate exceptional care and development.

Over the years, Seddon has completed several new-build SEND schools for its local authority customers, to help improve facilities and provide space to accommodate more pupils.

Specialist education from the ground up Under Cumbria County Council’s Local Offer, all schools in the region make SEND arrangements, though the county is only home to a small number of specialist schools that meet the needs of children with severe, profound and multiple disabilities.

Following a competitive tender process through the North West Construction Hub framework, Seddon successfully won the contract to deliver a new £8.6m SEND school in Ulverston for Cumbria County Council, to replace an existing facility that was no longer fit-for-purpose.

UPFRONT Located on council-owned land that was once home to the old Ulverston High School Sixth Form Centre, which stood derelict for years, is Sandside Lodge, a state-of-the-art, 80-place specialist school – the fifth in the region.

Seddon held weekly meetings with Headteacher, Donna Stretton, and her team to design and build the school from the ground up with pupils’ needs in mind. Working closely together, they redesigned aspects of the scheme to create a modern, fit-for-purpose school, while achieving more than £1m in savings.

Sandside is well-equipped with an experience room, hydrotherapy swimming pool, physiotherapy room and rebound trampoline therapy, alongside modern teaching spaces with the latest technology.

Once enabling and demolition works were completed, the site team laid tarmac in preparation for the steel frame to be fitted, offering an innovative solution to health and safety, and maintaining site cleanliness for the duration of the contract.

Main construction began in May

2018, ready for the school to open to new pupils and staff in September 2019.

A flagship part of the scheme included the installation of a state-of-theart hydrotherapy pool, which is extensively used in SEND education to aid pupils in their development. Hydrotherapy helps children maintain joint and muscle movement and is especially important for young people who are confined to a wheelchair and might not be able to access a public pool.

Seddon employed subcontractor, Innova Care Concepts, to design and install the bespoke stainless steel hydrotherapy pool, equipped with hoist systems, air jets, colour-changing LED lights and an internal perimeter railing to enable physiotherapy exercises.

A dedicated library and specialist science facilities were also constructed to aid creative learning, along with the school’s first kitchen, offering pupils and staff their own meals on site – a vital consideration for students who have complex dietary requirements. 

09

UPFRONT Donna Stretton, Headteacher at Sandside Lodge, commented: “The space in the new school will enable us to change completely the way we teach our students, especially in terms of the space we are afforded. We will be able to break off into small groups, have a music room and help our students with physical disabilities to go swimming.”

Community engagement is a core part of any build; regular newsletters were issued by Seddon to keep residents updated, and drop-in days were arranged so the community could see progress in real-time.

The team also provided added value by laying a temporary car park for neighbouring Ulverston High School, minimising disruption to staff.

Pupils were invited to the sod-cutting ceremony and

10

visited the site during the summer holidays. The whole school also voted on a colour choice for the external cladding to keep the students engaged and develop familiarity as changes in environment can be really challenging.

Regular progress photos were shared with the headteacher who produced a ‘progression board’ to build excitement among the children in anticipation of their new school being ready.

Sandside Lodge opened in September 2019 and is well on its way to becoming a flagship school for students with severe learning difficulties. The project was well-received by the construction industry, winning the Health, Safety and Wellbeing category of the 2019 National Constructing Excellence Awards.

New SEN facilities for Oldham’s young people Kingfisher School is the only school in Oldham designed for primary-aged children with the most complex and severe learning needs.

As the population of the town has grown – the metropolitan borough is home to more than 235,000 people – demand for places at Kingfisher School has increased by nearly 50% in just over five years.

Oldham Council’s Local Offer paints a vision for the town to be a place where children and young people with SEND can thrive. As high-quality learning environments are essential to that development, the council recognised the need to increase places and improve facilities at Kingfisher School.

Following a competitive tender via the Procure Partnership Framework, Seddon was awarded the £3m design and build contract at the school.

A key element of the works included the installation of a new hydrotherapy pool in the steel-frame extension, to replace the old above-ground pool, which was over 40 years old and had been out of service for some time.

Before the project was put to tender, the school had been raising funds for its replacement via its ‘Big Splash’ appeal.

The community raised an impressive £100,000 towards the cost of the new pool, with substantial donations coming from local philanthropist, Sir Norman Stroller, Frank and Judith Rothwell and

UPFRONT national charity, St James’s Place. The remaining funds were provided by Oldham Council in line with its Local Offer.

Following a successful partnership on Kingfisher School, Seddon once again asked Innova Care Concepts to design and install the stateof-the-art, stainless steel hydrotherapy pool. Seddon also constructed two new classrooms at the site of the old pool to create engaging learning environments for ‘Safe, Happy Learners’ – the school’s motto.

In addition to the pool, another new building was constructed, this was to host a two-year-old provision for children with severe and complex needs, the first of its kind in the town.

Furthermore, the existing

building was reconfigured to optimise the learning space available and provide further opportunities for staff to tailor their teaching to each child’s EHCP and learning requirements.

Work began in November 2019 and continued through the national coronavirus lockdown.

The children returned to school in June 2020 while Seddon continued to operate the live site, liaising closely with the school to ensure effective communication and as little disturbance to pupils as possible.

Careful consideration was given to safety and disruption throughout the project and a detailed logistics plan was agreed.

Deliveries were organised to avoid drop-off and pick-up times, which are particularly busy due to the large number of students being dropped off by parents, arriving by taxi or minibus.

The transformation of Kingfisher School was completed in November 2020 and it can now fully meet the needs of many more pupils with SEND needs for years to come.

Michael Unsworth, Director of Business at Kingfisher Learning Trust, explained what the works meant for the children: “The impact was two-fold: the new pool is a moderndesigned, specialist provision for what our children need, and the enhancements to the classroom areas will give us more opportunity to better work with the growing number of children in the school.” 

“The space in the new school will enable us to change completely the way we teach our students, especially in terms of the space we are afforded. We will be able to break off into small groups, have a music room and help our students with physical disabilities to go swimming.”

– Donna Stretton, Headteacher at Sandside Lodge

www.seddon.co.uk

11

LEISURE

NEW LEISURE CENTRE PROVIDES POWERFUL BEST PRACTICE TEMPLATE When Maidenhead and Windsor Council took the decision to replace its ageing leisure centre, it turned to national contractor Wates Construction to help deliver a landmark project that would capture its sustainability aspirations. recent opening T heof the new Braywick Leisure Centre marks an exciting new era for Maidenhead. The £33m facility replaces the Magnet Leisure Centre, which served the local community well for more than 40 years. It welcomed 800,000 visitors a year, hosting everything from pantomimes to election counts and even appearing on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow.

However, as the Magnet Leisure Centre came towards the end of its natural life, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead took the decision to invest in a brandnew leisure hub – one which would not only serve as a sports facility, but act as a cornerstone for the wider community’s wellbeing.

The new centre features a 10-lane swimming pool, larger splash and training pools, a 200-station gym, four squash courts, a sports hall, cafe and all-weather football pitch. But as well as providing world-class facilities, this was a project that also had to reflect the borough’s sustainability aspirations.

12

Green ambitions At the heart of the council’s ‘Environment and Climate Strategy’ is a pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. It aims to reach this ambition by focusing on the sustainable use of resources, reducing consumption and decarbonising its supply of energy and supporting biodiversity, health and wellbeing.

All were key drivers in the design and delivery of Braywick Leisure Centre and posed exciting challenges for national contractor Wates Construction and Plymouth-based architect firm Burke Richards.

The sustainability credentials of the new leisure centre began with its location. It was decided to situate the hub within the town’s largest open space and next to a range of existing outdoor sports pitches, to bring new facilities to where they were already being accessed.

The design by Burke Richards embraced the centre’s parkland setting with lush landscaping and natural materials, such as timber boarding and trusses.

However, its true green

credentials came to the fore via its energy efficiency, designed to use just a third of the energy of its 45-year-old predecessor, as well as being delivered as a carbon-neutral project.

Wates engaged in a range of initiatives to ensure this ambitious target was met.

These included offsetting carbon through investing in renewable energy schemes in India, and sourcing materials and supply chain as locally as possible to reduce the miles travelled to site throughout the construction programme.

and, as well as investing £13k into supporting social enterprises, tree planting and gardening events, several initiatives to educate and inspire were delivered.

The project team arranged several site visits, networking events and assemblies for local schools as well as 13 work experience placements for students. Through Wates’ Building Futures programme, 17 jobseekers passed their CSCS test, with one employed as a Gateman since November 2018.

Social sustainability

The nature of a leisure centre scheme is highly complex, not least with respect to the mechanical, electrical and public health systems used to support the facilities required with the building.

This was amplified at Braywick with its focus on implementing a range of sustainable initiatives including LED lighting throughout, solar panelling, rainwater harvesting and extra insulation to reduce heating requirements, and so early collaboration between Wates and its construction and consultant partners was paramount.

From Wates’ perspective, sustainability is not just measured in carbon but also the positive impact of the project to the local community. The scheme provided significant benefits to local trades with more than 150 businesses from the area attending a meet the buyer event and three quarters of the supply chain were from within 40 miles of Maidenhead.

Indeed, community engagement was sought at every opportunity throughout the construction programme

Early engagement

LEISURE The project was the first delivered for Wates via SCAPE – the UK’s leading public procurement authority. Its direct award construction framework facilitates collaboration as a way to drive efficiency, time and cost savings. This meant Wates, Wates Building Services and ME engineer Hoare Lea were able to engage early in the scheme and support the design team prior to finalisation of the costs for delivering the building.

Wates Building Services was also able to provide valuable advice at an early stage to support the installation and co-ordination of the MEP services throughout the scheme to help streamline the final design activities prior to going into the construction phase.

Overcoming challenges with collaboration It was this spirit of collaboration and mutual support between all stakeholders that was also crucial in overcoming the challenges that arose at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis in March 2020.

The project was closed for just a week as the appropriate measures were established on site and a manual was created to demonstrate the necessary procedures to all supply chain, visitors and client team so that the site could be back running efficiently as soon as possible. The end result was that the project was delivered as scheduled in September 2020 following a 26-month comprehensive build programme.

Alec Jackman, Business Unit Director for the Southern Home Counties at Wates Construction, said: “We are incredibly proud of Braywick Leisure Centre both in terms of the quality of the building but also the wider positive impact that a project like this will have in the years ahead for the local community.

“Maidenhead is likely to see significant development in the years ahead with Crossrail coming to the town in 2022 and with the council’s strong environmental commitment, Braywick sets an exciting reference point for its future sustainability goals.

“What also makes this project really stand out is the quality of the partnerships that have been so important right through this project, from the procurement stage with SCAPE through to the delivery with the client, consultant team, supply chain and local community.

“From the outset, there was a clear vision that was embraced by everybody involved, allowing us to work through and overcome challenges together and the end result is an exemplar building that provides a powerful best practice template for the future.” 

www.wates.co.uk

13

HEALTHCARE

REDUCING THE FINANCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL BURDEN ON THE NHS Richard Coe, Project Director at Kajima Partnerships, discusses how to build in flexibility and increase capacity in the NHS, preparing the health service as a potential winter crisis looms.

T

he pressure the pandemic has placed on the healthcare sector, particularly NHS Trusts, is severe. Indeed, 2.3 million fewer diagnostic tests for cancer were carried out in August last year compared to the previous year, and the recent lack of services could mean an extra 35,000 cancer deaths. The backlog of patients waiting for diagnostics, cancer care

14

and elective surgeries is approaching critical levels.

However, the cost of building the capacity to address this crisis in the NHS is huge. Thus, the need for design solutions to solve the unprecedented demand on our health services is crucial. One option to assess is modular construction, which offers an opportunity for NHS Trusts to flex up capacity and services without incurring significant financial costs.

HEALTHCARE

solution to the financial burden of high energy usage involved in traditional building methods during construction as well as over the life of the building.

Modular achieves this initial energy saving through building in a highly controlled environment.

As the construction is conducted offsite in a factory setting, the process is far more efficient than its traditional counterpart. More control in building leads to more control in price. Furthermore, the installation and assembly processes require less vehicle traffic than traditional onsite methods. This makes modular an extremely attractive option for the NHS, reducing both the financial and ecological impact of construction.

Cost-efficient in the long-term

Implementing modular construction methods across NHS Trusts more widely will allow our health service to construct at pace, saving greatly on energy usage, construction costs and ensuring our hospitals and clinics have the ability to adapt to changing and unforeseen circumstances in the future.

These benefits will be especially useful as we continue to battle COVID-19 and prepare for a potential winter crisis.

Speed of delivery With 50,971 patients now waiting at least a year for treatment, up from 1117 a year ago, the speed of offsite construction offered by modular is welcome. The NHS is facing an unprecedented backlog crisis in the wake of the pandemic but lacks the infrastructure to

cope and does not have the funding to meet these demands with traditional building methods.

Turning to modular can provide a cost-efficient alternative to flex up the NHS and begin tackling the significant patient waiting list.

Modular construction can deliver buildings at great pace.

For example, using the modular method, 1700m2 of hospital space was delivered to Nightingale Hospital Exeter in just four weeks.

This is a speed of delivery that traditional construction methods cannot match. Consequently, adopting modular construction methods could save the NHS significant amounts of money as more traditional construction methods have much lower productivity – indeed, recent estimates from the Construction Products Association suggest

that construction site productivity fell by 30 to 40% during the first lockdown earlier this year.

Saving money and the planet Although a swift response to this crisis is needed, we must make sure not to overextend our use of resources to the detriment of the environment. Our built environment contributes around 40% of the UK’s total carbon footprint. Modular structures can help reduce this footprint, with most modular buildings being required to run in compliance with the latest L2 Building Regulations governing thermal efficiency, meaning they deliver an average lifetime energy saving of 90% compared to traditional structures. Moreover, with up to 67% less energy required to build, modular offers a welcome

Aside from the immediate financial benefits of modular in tackling the patient backlog crisis, the positives it offers extend beyond a purely short-term solution. A great challenge faced by the NHS long-term is the need to be able to adapt to future spikes in demand for services and facilities, whether they are seasonal or unexpected. Buildings constructed using modular methods retain the ability to be repurposed as and when needed to meet changes in requirements.

This flexibility is particularly useful for the NHS as it not only must flex up and down with demand throughout the year, but also as it allows for the reallocation and accommodation of new and existing facilities as modular healthcare builds can implement the necessary modifications with ease.

Indeed, modular construction is being increasingly used to quickly implement facility updates outside the UK. For example, earlier this year a modular approach was used to deliver a new satellite radiology clinic in a hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark, in just two weeks.

At a time when the NHS is under severe stress, the faster time and improved cost-efficiency of construction and delivery, alongside the ability to redeploy and repurpose structures, means that modular could play a significant role in addressing the issue of the patient backlog crisis as well as help the NHS shape and adapt its services to meet ever-varying demand in the years ahead. 

www.kajima.co.uk

15

HOUSING

NEW COUNCIL HOMES ‘RAISE THE BAR FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND FIRE SAFETY’ A new modular council development in Newhaven, East Sussex, is being hailed as a ‘game changer’ for social housing and a window on the future of residential schemes. The entire development consists of 36 modules constructed within the Boutique Modern factory, less than two miles from site, in Newhaven and craned into place. is the council’s second project T his with Boutique Modern, following on from the first sustainable project which delivered a smaller scheme of volumetric homes along the coast in Peacehaven.

In line with the local labour agreement in place with Lewes District Council, both the factory and site employed a number of Newhaven residents, many on apprenticeship programmes.

The 13 one- and two-bed apartments are equipped to the highest specification, in terms of standard and desirable features, sustainability credentials and fire safety standards that effectively future-proof the development against all anticipated toughening of regulations post-Grenfell inquiry.

The project overcame COVID-19 lockdown pressures, completing in an impressive 10-month time frame.

Contractors carried out the demolition of the old council building and prepared the foundations while, simultaneously, the modules were being constructed within the Newhaven factory. The method of construction ensured winter weather delays were avoided and minimised the impact on the local community.

The previous smaller Peacehaven modular project only took six months from the beginning of the project to the first residents moving into their new homes, approximately 50% quicker than a traditional build – great news when the council is under such huge pressure from the housing register.

16

Families on Lewes District Council’s housing register are now living in Palmerston House and will soon be enjoying lower living costs as it is anticipated the mains energy use will be reduced by 70%, taking the properties ‘off-grid’ for up to three or four months of the year.

In line with the council’s sustainability principles, the 13 homes in Newhaven have been delivered to: Drastically reduce the carbon footprint of the building Reduce waste of the construction process Build locally – employing local people, training locally Take a fabric-first approach to design Use modern technology Build with modern methods of construction to significantly reduce the build period Enable sustainable transport.

Every apartment has its own 2.1kWh solar PV installation and 2.7kW battery to store electricity generated during the day for use at peak times. Power usage monitoring displays are also installed in each home and all residents will receive advice and guidance on how to interpret and use the information to further reduce energy use.

The modules are super insulated, meaning they are 40% more energy-efficient than traditional homes.

Mechanical ventilation and heat recovery systems are installed in each apartment. They filter and exchange the air to keep the environment low in humidity, saving on maintenance issues/costs and maintaining a healthy fresh air supply within each home.

Modular housing: setting trends Lewes District Council is now working alongside neighbour Eastbourne Borough Council to progress sites for 300-plus homes on sites already within their ownership, as well as working on a programme of acquiring sites for future delivery.

Planning applications are being prepared, with the vast majority of the schemes delivering affordable rented properties that are directly targeted at the identified local need and the housing list.

Within the council’s overall development plans, an ambitious programme of modular housing delivery is integral. This will help ensure delivery targets are met

by March 2024. The programme is aligned to Homes England’s new Affordable Housing Programme 202126 and a focus on modern methods of construction and sustainability.

Councillor William Meyer, Cabinet Member for Housing at Lewes District Council, said: “Palmerston House represents a complete and hugely exciting departure in 21stcentury housing construction.

“These wonderful new homes provide a design template that I am certain will be replicated all over the UK as decision makers discover what we have achieved in Newhaven.

HOUSING “There is no doubt that this is a game changer, not just in terms of raising the bar for sustainability and fire safety, but also in build quality and finish. The apartments are stunning examples of what social housing professionals should be striving for.”

Despite being under 18m, Palmerston House has been built to meet the 18m Fire Regulations introduced following the Grenfell investigations.

Each apartment constitutes a one-hour fire compartment, and every habitable room has a MIST fire suppression system installed. In the event of a heat detector being triggered, a fine mist is produced to extinguish the source of fire, rather than the whole property being drenched.

The nature of the water dispersal means repairs and reinstatement required are less extensive. The system also limits damage to other homes.

The development also features automatic opening vents (AOV). In the event of a fire, every walkway window and the roof vent in the stair core will automatically open, allowing smoke to clear.

A communal fire alarm system is integrated with the fire brigade or monitoring company. It detects any fault and activates within seconds.

Councillor James MacCleary, Leader of Lewes District Council and Ward Councillor for Newhaven South, said: “When the Co-Operative Alliance took over the council, we put building homes and reducing carbon output at the heart of our agenda.

Palmerston House achieves both of those things.

“On top of that, it is a truly cutting-edge building that just adds to the sense that Newhaven is a town where a

lot is happening. It’s a great addition to our town and, most importantly, represents a positive future for local families who can now look forward to spending Christmas together in their new home.”

Other headline specifications at Palmerston House include: Back-up dual main coldwater tank and pump system in case of pressure drop-out on the main network and increased usage from the dwellings. It is a networked system so in the event of pump failure, a text or phone alert is sent out to the maintenance team.

Stormwater attenuation tank installed to slow and reduce rainwater impact on the local network Audio communal door entry system and key fobs for residents. A station within the plant room is currently being installed for the maintenance team to produce new fobs and drop fobs off the system.

Safety system on the roof with specialist harness and lanyards to allow safe working for maintenance teams All homes have satellite and terrestrial TV capabilities and superfast fibre pre-installed. 

www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk

17

DOORS, WINDOWS & BALUSTRADES

REDUCING TOUCHPOINTS WITH HANDS-FREE DOOR HARDWARE One of the key current building challenges is how to reduce touchpoints throughout a site. Here, Richard Bromley, Business Development Director at the ASSA ABLOY Door Hardware Group, outlines the options available for decision makers in the public building sector.

right door hardware T heor access control can help to create a safe and secure environment for all building users. They help protect building users from the risks hidden on well-used, common surfaces, while ensuring only authorised individuals have access to certain areas.

At this time, reducing touchpoints throughout a building is a top priority for many. However, it’s important to note that nothing will ever better a thorough and routine cleaning schedule for a site’s doors and their hardware.

Surfaces should be cleaned with a mild, non-abrasive antibacterial detergent and water solution, using a soft cloth.

Then, using water and a soft cloth only, surfaces should be wiped to remove any remaining detergent residue. The treated surface should appear visibly wet then allowed to air dry. Various factors, such as frequency of use, levels of traffic passing through and security requirements, will all impact when deciding what cleaning routine is right for a building. Nonetheless, a regular cleaning regime is critical.

18

What other product solutions are available that can help reduce touchpoints throughout a public building?

Fast, low-cost options Firstly, there are ‘touch-safe’ or anti-microbial products.

These have been on the market for many years, offering a proven means of helping stop the spread of bacteria.

Hardware treated with an anti-microbial coating can significantly minimise any risks, with copper offering both anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. Copper alloybased handles provide an effective and more permanent solution, but can be more costly. Alternatively, products such as anti-viral copper tape can be a good compromise.

Quick to fit, this simply wraps around a clean door handle, providing a cost-effective, temporary solution.

While these measures do offer protection, it’s important to note these lose effectiveness over time, and so are not advised as permanent solutions.

Other options include arm and foot pulls. For those with only a limited budget available, these can be fitted quickly, enabling people to open doors without having to use their hands. Be aware, though; while these are quick, low-cost options, they can often invalidate the fire integrity of a door. They can also present a potential trip hazard if these protrude from a door too much.

Levelling up with door controls The next step up would be to look at hold-open door controls, which can help keep doors open at all times, except in the case of an emergency. For instance, UNION offers Door Sense, a safe and legal means of keeping fire doors open, but which automatically closes should a fire alarm sound. There’s also ASSA ABLOY’s DC300G-HF door closer, which holds doors open in medium- to high-traffic corridors, but then closes automatically in the event of a fire.

DOORS, WINDOWS & BALUSTRADES

“Whatever the available budget and building demands are, there are solutions available that can reduce the likelihood of key touchpoints proving an issue...”

It’s important to note that fire doors must always be fitted with a CE-marked door control.

It should go without saying that fire doors must remain a top priority in public buildings; trying to reduce touchpoints throughout a building should never be an excuse to not conform with legal fire safety requirements.

Hands-free solutions To eliminate any contact with a door whatsoever, there are a range of access control hardware devices that simply require the wave of a hand to open. An automatic door operator that uses proximity sensors can be an ideal solution for an entrance door to a building, for instance. These can be a more expensive option, but are an effective answer for main thoroughfares.

Decision makers could also opt for access control solutions that use personalised keys.

Not only do these reduce potential touchpoints throughout a site, but personalised keys also simplify key management, while saving organisations valuable time and money too.

Solutions such as ASSA CLIQ Remote, which is a mechatronic locking system that assigns access rights to a key, allows users to have their own personalised keys for all doors and eliminates the need to share keys.

Loughborough University, for example, is just one site that has chosen the ASSA CLIQ Remote system to help secure rooms and improve access control. The technology has been used in a range of different applications, from teaching laboratories and offices to plant control rooms.

Loughborough University can programme and update each key remotely, removing or granting access privileges for the key holder in real-time. This allows only those with the necessary authority at the university to enter a room. For staff that have access to these areas and then leave the university, their access rights can be easily removed by using the system’s web-based interface. Contractors can also be given time-limited keys, so any potential security risks are minimised.

Phil Sheppard, Senior Clerk of Works at Loughborough University, said: “For us, a big advantage is that its electronics effectively extend the patent of the key indefinitely. The system cannot be copied, which means ASSA CLIQ Remote provides a long-lasting access control solution. The audit capabilities of the system are also really useful, ensuring we know exactly who accessed a room, and when.”

Nevertheless, whatever the available budget and building demands are, there are solutions available that can reduce the likelihood of key touchpoints proving an issue. By considering the door hardware options available to them, decision makers can help make sure public buildings are hygienic and secure environments, ensuring everyone feels as safe and as comfortable as possible in these spaces. 

www.assaabloyopeningsolutions.co.uk/ handsfree

19

DRAINAGE & LANDSCAPING

PAVING FOR CHANGE Announced in May last year, the Government’s £2bn post-pandemic investment package for cycling and walking provides a unique opportunity to transform the public realm. But this – and other recent Government initiatives – also herald a new approach to hardlandscape and the external spaces around buildings as well, as the trade association Interpave explains.

A

lthough responding to the need for more space highlighted by the COVID-19 crisis, Government initiatives are also opportunities to address other long-outstanding issues including flooding, vehicular pollution, urban heat island effects and climate change. Both well-established and innovative techniques using modular concrete paving systems offer adaptable, lowintervention, retrofit solutions to meet these new challenges, demonstrated in case studies from Interpave, via www. paving.org.uk.

Understandably, local authorities may feel reluctant to commit to expensive and disruptive permanent changes in these uncertain times. Some of the resulting temporary measures – often involving cones and barriers – have proven unappealing and unpopular, and now need addressing. In contrast, factory-produced modular concrete paving and kerb units deliver fast, low-cost, retrofit installation with limited intervention work.

Subsequently, layouts can easily be altered and units taken up and re-used, if needed to meet changing needs.

20

Adaptable paving These principles apply to all precast concrete block, flag and kerb products. Precast paving products are fully engineered and manufactured under sustainable, controlled conditions – consistently providing accurate sizes, colours and textures, as well as slip/ skid resistance and other performance characteristics.

The distinct, modular units and designed variations in colour, texture and shape can break up areas giving visual interest and a human scale not possible with monotonous, formless materials.

So, precast concrete paving offers a unique combination of predictability, safety and accessibility for all, with scope for endless variety in shape, scale, colour and texture giving designers freedom to enrich the urban environment. Good paving design helps create ‘places for people’ and will help encourage walking and cycling. It is also central to the rejuvenation of our town centres and suburbs as well.

Multifunctional surfaces for the future The multifunctionality potential of precast paving is expanded further with concrete block permeable paving – uniquely placed as an essential, multifunctional sustainable drainage (SuDS) technique. In addition to safe, attractive paving for any application, it also provides an inherent drainage system requiring no additional land take for water storage, treatment or conveyance. It eliminates pipework, gulleys and manholes, and generally costs less than conventional drainage and paving.

But permeable paving also traps vehicle pollution from surface water run-off before it reaches our rivers and streams. It can also help reduce the urban heat island effect, with evaporation of rainwater within the paving. And this is in addition to the high albedo – or heat reflectance factor – available with concrete block or flag paving generally, compared with asphalt.

Recent regeneration projects – one shown here – have demonstrated the benefits of retrofitting concrete bock permeable paving as a thin overlay, replacing conventional street surfaces and drainage, over existing paving bases. This innovative approach opens up real potential for fresh, attractive and adaptable surfaces delivering multiple benefits to existing streets and hard landscaped areas in the post-pandemic era. 

www.paving.org.uk

Solving water as a ‘Smarter Water Manager’ Transform the efficiency and reliability of your operations with smart water solutions

FACE YOUR

CHALLENGES. BUILD RESILIENCE,

FLEXIBILITY, EFFICIENCY, SAFETY

Learn more in our latest White Paper

www.xylem.com/uk 21

LEGAL & BUSINESS

MARKETING FOR SUCCESS IN 2021 Kate Bygrave, Managing Director of UK Construction Marketing, discusses how best to market your businesses in the current climate and offers tips for driving value in 2021. what a strange year.

2 020, We’ve seen some lows, very few highs, but let’s explore the marketing opportunities it has brought us.

The decrease in face-to-face meetings, presentations and trade shows has fundamentally shifted the focus of how businesses sell and engage with prospective customers. Those who proactively embrace this change will be best positioned for the year ahead.

Now is the time to prepare if you have yet to do so. Review your existing marketing plan in a structured way, starting with a current analysis of your company, listing strengths and weaknesses.

Move on to examine plans already laid down and decide if those are realistic in this climate. Look at what your company does well and where you need, or want, to go in the future.

If you are a small business owner you will invariably be wearing many hats, marketing may not be your first priority or your core skillset. If you are a larger company and have a marketing manager or team, they will know that you cannot

22

solely rely on repeat business.

Client loyalty is wonderful but does not last forever. You need to be making new connections, building trust in your brand and making sure you stand out against your competitors. This will not be easy, but you can make things easier on yourself.

Laying your marketing foundations To start, identify your target audience and refine the list.

Do you have a different target audience for different offerings?

If so, your marketing campaigns need to be tailored. Aim to understand your customers as individuals and why they are interested in a product or service.

How visible is your business online? How does your prospective target audience perceive your organisation? An often-overlooked resource for insight into public perception is talking to current and past clients. Listen to them and act on their suggestions, sharing any success stories and testimonials.

As it is harder than ever now to meet clients face-toface, the window into your

business is your website and online media. This needs to be ‘on point’ and stand out when compared to those of your competitors. If they have invested wisely in marketing and branding, with great imagery, engaging video and regular topical news posts, it shows attention to detail and pride in their offering.

Staying on the radar is key.

Are you active on LinkedIn and other social media?

Many overlook LinkedIn as an effective marketing tool and your company should be as active as possible. Share your expertise and knowledge with your audience, build up trust and make new connections. Is your company page up-to-date and correctly branded? Are you posting regularly? Is your content on-brand, engaging and relevant?

Finally, every member of your team should be a brand ambassador. They should be correctly reflecting your brand and familiar with your company tagline, mission statement and elevator pitch. This way, your message can always be

Kate Bygrave is Managing Director of UK Construction Marketing, a marketing agency that delivers inspiring marketing campaigns and innovative brand design for construction businesses.

correctly communicated to potential clients. It should be included in brand guidelines, which are distributed to all staff and any marketing or communication contractors.

That summarises just a few marketing items which are important for any business. If this all seems overwhelming, then it’s time to enlist the help of experts. 

www.ukconstruction marketing.co.uk

Epwin Window Systems ACCREDITED

Because you need MORE, you need Epwin Window Systems SPECIFIED

PROVEN More windows, doors and commercial solutions.

0845 340 3968 more@epwinwindowsystems.co.uk epwinwindowsystems.co.uk

EDUCATION

BUILDING SCHOOLS FIT FOR THE FUTURE: A VISIONARY APPROACH Justin Bainton, Partner at Carter Jonas – a multi-disciplinary property consultant, chartered surveyor and estate agent – reflects on how the integration of schools into mixed-use urban schemes can offer a multitude of benefits to the local community. encouraging to see I tinisthe recent Spending Review that the Government remains committed to building or rebuilding 500 schools across the UK in the next 10 years.

The majority of new schools – those in urban extensions or new communities – have the flexibility of several acres of green space which enables single-storey, accessible, buildings with ample facilities (including playing fields) and the ability to put into practice the Government’s Area Guidelines for Mainstream Schools. But this is not always the case. There is a growing need for new schools (or new school buildings) in innercity locations which lack this flexibility. So how can we create excellent education facilities fit for the future, in situations where space is so compromised?

24

Introducing a school development into a busy urban environment requires careful design, community buy-in and flexibility in the planning balance, but can have considerable benefits which extend beyond the school itself.

Architecture Initiative is doing some pioneering work which involves comprehensive partnerships between the education sector and the private sector. It has devised an approach whereby schools are integrated into other forms of mixed-use urban development – alongside residential, retail and leisure schemes. For example, a build to rent (BTR) scheme may have a school on the ground floor, homes above, and extensive leisure facilities (possibly run by the local authority) which can be used by the school during the day and

the residents at night. Schemes such as these can take inspiration from the Victorian model which positioned schools at the centre of public squares – and therefore of communities more generally.

This provides the opportunity for schools, academy trusts and local authorities to initiate multi-functioning buildings and to act as property developers, thus generating considerable profits which can be reinvested in education.

Clearly this requires a substantial re-focus and some lateral thinking. But this is far from a lofty vision. It has already been put into practice with considerable success. Architecture Initiative

has designed an education-led scheme for the DfE and LocatED (sponsored by the Ark Soane Academy) in the Gunnersbury Lane regeneration zone in London.

The regeneration potential of the site had long been overlooked by developers, but the project team successfully challenged the sole D1 (‘non-residential’) planning use class to bring forward a 1200-place free school and sixth form as part of a mixed-use development which includes 116 new homes.

The secondary school occupies the lower three levels of the building and above the school are three 10-storey residential blocks. Planning consent was granted in 2018 and the first phase of development is now complete and the school will open next September. The sale value of a selection of the apartments offset the cost of the school and reduce the contribution required from the public purse, ensuring a viable scheme. The project also made significant improvements to the surrounding public realm.

The landscaping of the public areas and external play spaces will soften the currently unwelcoming tarmac car park and celebrate the existing trees whose roots have known the history of this neglected site.

The design also reinstates a pedestrian route through the site, providing connected access to the high street.

This will create welcoming and safe access to the site, inviting residents, pupils and the local community in and through to the adjacent park, driving footfall and community integration.

This regeneration project represents a number of firsts for the London Borough of Ealing: the first major mixed-use, educationled scheme and is the instance of a residential development being positioned above a school in a seamlessly integrated arrangement.

Through the reimagining of this once disconnected site, the local community has gained a significant asset that embraces the future of connected city living.

Education has been moving in this direction for some time. Lee Mainwaring, Architecture Initiative’s Design Director, explains: “Thanks to multi-academy trusts and free schools, we have seen increasing entrepreneurial thinking in education. But this needs to be developed further – through training, sharing of best practice and improved communication between the public and private sectors.

Furthermore, change could be expedited and improved through greater creativity and flexibility at the local plan stage to prevent allocations limiting a site to a single use.”

The education sector would also benefit from a more creative attitude towards mutually beneficial partnerships at a functional level. Schools in dense urban areas may lack a playing field, for example, but partnerships with football clubs, rowing clubs and climbing centres can provide access to excellent facilities, free from the practical downsides of management and maintenance.

Similarly, partnerships can benefit efficiency and sustainability: a building which combines several uses can have a single energy centre, for example. And on a broader financial level, the management of a portfolio of schemes by either an academy trust or the DfE can result in an investment in wealthy urban areas, benefitting rural communities in greater need. Architecture Initiative’s scheme is an

EDUCATION

enabling development model in which the profits derived from the apartments reduced the public investment in the school, resulting in greater subsidy being available for future education schemes elsewhere.

Schools in urban locations can benefit considerably from financial opportunities. For example, they can be utilised to provide a range of evening classes, sports activities or events and the fees generated can be reinvested in education.

Such measures can help anchor schemes within their communities and are also seen by local authorities as significant public benefit. This is particularly important when assessing sensitive schemes within conservation areas, and can help unlock the potential of challenging urban sites.

Following the introduction of Use Class E, which covers a multitude of uses, there are also more opportunities to integrate day nursey provision within mixed-use schemes.

There is a developing trend of looking at creative ways in which such nursery facilities can be integrated into mixed-use schemes which not otherwise prove viable.

As Architecture Initiative’s work demonstrates, quality education facilities can be brought about at a time when public finances are stretched. Even more importantly, it demonstrates how a holistic approach inspired by masterplanning can make a vision a reality.

It is important to bear in mind that the issues described are not only relevant to urban locations. New schools in rural edge-of-town locations are also impacted by restrictions, such as Green Belt legislation and similar principles can apply. Every school, and every situation in which a school is built, is unique.

Challenges and solutions will vary, but despite considerable challenges, there is a growing bank of excellent solutions to inform future development. 

www.carterjonas.co.uk

25

TALKING POINT

Martin Shields is Head of Safety, Health and Environment at ODS. He has been employed at OCC (Oxford City Council) and ODS since 2004 and has been Safety Lead since 2008. Martin is a graduate member of IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) and a member of the IIRSM (International Institute of Risk and Safety Management).

Chris Harvey is Organisational Development Manager at ODS. Prior to joining ODS, he worked in local Government for 12 years specialising in learning and development and organisational development.

26

HOW COVID-ERA WAYS OF WORKING CAN LEAD TO INNOVATION Martin Shields, Head of Safety, Health and Environment, and Chris Harvey, Organisational Development Manager, at ODS discuss how new ways of working can create a better customer experience and improve the skillsets of workers. is a services company O DS fully owned by Oxford

New and improved procedures

City Council. It has over 600 employees, of which around 400 are field-based, in roles such as construction trades and property maintenance.

Beyond simply coping with the disruption of the pandemic, many public sector organisations have switched to innovation mode, introducing new procedures to protect both employees and customers. New efficiencies are being created, technology is being used in exciting ways and companies are working even harder to care for the mental health and wellbeing of their colleagues.

Working during the crisis can be particularly difficult for those in frontline jobs, such as construction and building maintenance. It’s therefore important that creative, streamlined ways of working are developed to ensure a better and safer experience for these members of staff.

As parts of the country inch back to normality, the focus on customers remains a high priority.

At ODS, we only carried out essential work during the first lockdown whilst we put new COVID-secure measures in place and reviewed our operational models. These changes have enabled us to provide all of our services during this second lockdown.

The building services’ repairs and maintenance team, which serves around 8000 homes on behalf of Oxford City Council, has continued to provide a full service during this time because we wanted to ensure we addressed the maintenance challenges that the winter period brings as people spend more time indoors. Strict safety procedures to keep both our staff and customers safe are in place so everyone can be confident about letting our teams into their homes.

Additionally, having multitrade workers is something that is not only useful but beneficial during the pandemic. We had already begun training some of our maintenance teams to be multidisciplinary so that rather than having two or three different trades visiting a property to carry out repairs, just one person would be able to perform a ‘one-time fix’. This approach has proven to be popular with both residents and workers as it minimises the infection transmission risk, reduces the carbon footprint of multiple visits and improves the efficiency of the department.

Another way to drive efficiency during the pandemic was to alter our working patterns. This has enabled both our teams and customers to arrange a visit at a more suitable time.

It is crucial to design and operate a system that makes

TALKING POINT maintenance jobs not only more efficient but safer. For example, when our employees are conducting gas safety checks, the tenant will receive a text with the worker’s arrival time and another text once they are outside their door. The tenant can then let him or her in, without the doorbell being rung, and go to a different room while the repair is carried out. Processes such as this are designed to protect the health and safety of both the employee and the household, and lead to fewer failed visits.

Zooming ahead with the use of technology The construction industry is one of the few industries that was permitted to work throughout the second lockdown. However, because the sector had to pause work at the start of the pandemic, construction companies have had to use what they learnt

during this stoppage period in order to make up for lost time.

Increased safety measures, such as social distancing, can be perceived as a barrier to progress. However, these new ways of working may actually make working more efficient.

For example, implementing staggered shifts ensures there is less interaction as well as less congestion on the roads and public transport, and also allows staff to work normal rather than reduced hours. This, in turn, reduces the likelihood of the infection transmission resulting in improvement for both people’s health and the economy.

Another example is the use of technology. Video platforms, such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, allow contract managers and workers on different sites to have virtual meetings, improving collaboration between team members.

This also cuts commuting

time and also helps the environment as people aren’t driving to meet one another.

Using handheld devices also reduces paper waste.

Additionally, new apps can be a game-changer not only during the pandemic but in the way companies work in the future. For instance, all of our operatives are equipped with the Stay Safe App, which allows them to call monitoring services at the push of a button in case they need help.

Caring for your people Mental health has been a growing topic during COVID-19 due to the emotional strain it has put on so many people. While many companies already had processes in place to address the wellbeing of employees, the pandemic has been an eye-opener for everyone.

As more people speak about the effects of coronavirus on mental health, the world is becoming aware of its importance all the time.

It’s now part of the national agenda and has made people at all levels of the corporate ladder think about this.

Mental wellbeing can be a sensitive subject to respond to and there are several things companies can implement to help their employees. One example is training Mental Health First

Aiders (MHFA). At ODS, we have a group of accredited MHFA colleagues that are available to support staff.

Another support mechanism is the Employee Assistance Programme, which provides free, independent and confidential advice on a range of topics from finances to nutrition and legal issues to neighbour disputes.

Looking towards the future Implementing some, if not all, of the above procedures and systems will help keep customers and employees happy and safe. Making improvements to COVID-era ways of working and putting new processes in place will also speed up efficiency and could change the way people work for the better, now and beyond the pandemic.

As a vaccine has recently been approved for use in the UK, the question is whether companies will continue to apply these new systems of working or allow things to go back to the way they were. It’s crucial that we don’t forget what was learnt this year and backtrack on innovation, as COVID-driven ways of working will actually help to drive and support businesses like ours going into the future. 

www.odsgroup.co.uk

27

LIGHTING & ELECTRICALS

POWER OVER ETHERNET (POE): HEAT MANAGEMENT When planning for PoE applications, heat management of the cable channel must be a top consideration. Here, Zoran Borcic, Draka Global Product Manager Datacom, offers advice on how to achieve this, including the maximum bundle sizes that can be used and the maximum drive distances that can be achieved, whilst also reducing power loss. power and P oEdatatransmits over a single cable, saving the cost of purchase and operation of additional cabling.

PoE injectors or switches/hubs serve as the power source.

PoE is ideal for remote devices, such as surveillance cameras or WLAN access points installed in inaccessible places, and is becoming important in smart offices and many network-compatible devices in industry.

The number of PoE-capable ports has tripled in the past five years. Network cables that can transmit more and more power are driving the trend. However, the addition of electricity means an increased load for the cable/link/channel, which

28

usually results in increasing cable bundle temperature.

The greater power a data cable delivers, the more heat is generated in the cable.

In addition, the bundle size and installation environment directly influence the cable’s heat dissipation leading to a significant temperature increase. Furthermore, a channel which includes two/ three patch cords with smaller conductors (higher resistance) than the cable could lead to the possibility of even higher temperatures being generated.

The maximum operating ambient temperatures of PoE cables is 60°C and the components 50°C. Heat management of these needs to

be an important consideration.

Why? Because continual heating and cooling over time will change the cable’s performance, frequently decreasing transmission properties and softening the insulation material, leading to loss of associated permanent structural symmetry. Heat build-up over a PoE channel can also negatively impact the connectivity components.

There is a real risk that if disconnected under load, a spark can be generated which could destroy contacts.

To achieve optimum performance, the total heating effect from power loss versus heat dissipation must not combined exceed 10°C. To

maintain this operating limit, the power loss must be reduced, or the heat dissipation increased.

Clearly power loss is undesirable, so heat dissipation should be a major focus when designing and installing cabling systems.

Key factors which influence the heat dissipation include bundle size, shielding, patch cords and air flow. Smaller bundles are ideal, as are shielded cables as the metal of the shield helps to dissipate the heat generated inside (plus they allow greater flexibility in heat management at the design stage). Patch cords with a conductor of less than 26 AWG should always be avoided, as replacing a patch cord with a product that is smaller in copper size and/ or increased in length could change the stability of the bundle/installation, or even the whole system. Obviously greater flowing air currents help keep temperatures down, so cable laid on open grille are preferential to closed duct.

The popularity of PoE is set to continue, but it’s essential to understand the impact of heat generation and consequently the need for heat management when designing and installing PoE cable networks if you are to achieve maximum drive distances whilst maintaining network stability and longevity. 

mms.drakauk.com

29

TECHNICAL FOCUS

THE DRAFT BUILDING SAFETY BILL: WHY SPECIFIERS MUST ADAPT NOW The draft Building Safety Bill proposes the most radical overhaul of building safety regulations for decades. Paul Swaddle, Head of Technical Solutions at NBS, explores what this better, safer future for buildings could mean for specifiers. a virtual A ddressing audience of 600 built environment professionals in October, Dame Judith Hackitt had a stark warning for the attendees of the NBS Construction Leaders’ Summit: “Adapt and change if you’re going to survive.”

Speaking in her capacity as Chair of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, Dame Hackitt said that although legislation set out in the draft Building Safety Bill may not be implemented until 2023, it is a moral obligation for the construction industry to act as if they are already in place.

This is yet another wake-up call for public sector specifiers and the wider industry, parallel to all the recommendations and requirements of the Building Safety Programme.

The draft Building Safety Bill is a much-needed conduit for change, and the provision of a golden thread of information is at its heart. The new building

30

Mark Farmer, the CEO and Founding Director of Cast, a leading construction consultancy, echoed those sentiments in his own presentation, ‘Modernise or die’, providing an update on key themes of his 2016 ‘Farmer Review’ of UK construction.

“We’re going to see some uncomfortable moments for those that can’t deliver quality and I urge everyone to think long term, act as a leader and collaborate in moving construction forward.” safety regulator will ensure that all major regulatory decisions for buildings in scope at design, construction, occupation and refurbishment stages are overseen. Specification will be central to these information exchanges.

Repeated calls for culture change The shared moral responsibility highlighted by Dame Hackitt should really be the only argument needed for culture change in the industry, to ensure the safety of buildings and their occupants now and in the future, and that tragedies like Grenfell are never repeated. That said, ensuring that buildings are high quality and built to exacting standards has a number of other long-term benefits, reducing costly rectification and remediation, improving environmental performance and increasing the lifecycle of built assets.

Power of the golden thread Better management of data will benefit everyone in the procurement and management of buildings, especially specifiers at the front line of decision-making, recording the digital audit trail of client requirements and product selections. The new rules for highrise buildings in scope are designed to capture the whole construction journey from early design and planning through to occupation and the needs of residents.

TECHNICAL FOCUS Ensuring greater accountability, and making it clear who is responsible for managing potential risks and their mitigation, is a core principle of the draft bill.

Successful implementation of the new regulatory regime to check that what is required to move to the next stage has been delivered rests on the golden thread of vital information about the building in all its detail, gathered and refreshed over its lifetime.

Golden thread is one of the phrases I’m glad to hear as a buzzword. There are no excuses left. Everyone in the industry must take accountability for their data and their competence. For specifiers, this duty requires the creation and maintenance of rich, reliable data sets for every system used, and every specification generated will drive efficiency and make this complex process easier to carry out.

Safer buildings, delivered efficiently This is a time of unprecedented change. Dame Hackitt’s call to stop the “race to the bottom” has to finally move construction culture from being cost-focused to being quality-driven and urgently

address the last-minute practices of value engineering and product substitution.

According to NBS’ Marketing Integrity Group Construction Product Information Survey (November 2019) only half of architects (52%) and a third of contractors (33%) polled said that drawings or models were updated following product substitution.

The survey found that performance criteria of the replacement product was not matched against the original by nearly half of contractors (48%). More rigorous digital record-keeping and clear ‘gateway’ sign-off procedures will become our new normal, requiring a transparent approach to specifying and product comparison, and new tools to reflect new processes.

Collaboration is king Adopting these new digital approaches will reduce mistakes, ensure currency of standards and require that checking and verification procedures are tightened. With a cloud-based specification platform, such as NBS Chorus, high-quality data management becomes easy, improving the value of information and providing opportunities for greater collaboration.

Poor communication is one of the most likely routes to misinformation in the project documentation but, in NBS Chorus, collaborators can be invited directly into the project to capture information centrally. In addition, linking the specification to the graphical, model information and using the NBS plug-ins to keep them in sync, will save time and coordinate previously disconnected data.

Communication between specifiers and manufacturers has traditionally been a tangled web of email threads and PDF literature which quickly falls out-of-date.

Powerful online databases, like NBS Source, are freely available to construction professionals to find, select and compare product data across thousands of products.

This saves considerable effort spent liaising with manufacturers and inputting product information manually.

In combination, NBS Source and NBS Chorus contain an encyclopaedic amount of up-to-date and consistently structured information alongside technical guidance, delivering an essential assurance to the industry and instilling confidence in specifiers using NBS products.

What about those reluctant to collaborate? Well, in Dame Hackitt’s words, these “laggards and dinosaurs” will fall away.

“People will choose to work with people who want to collaborate.”

Golden opportunities The future is about embracing data and technology to keep the golden thread intact. In doing so, these new workflows will have a direct impact on wider sustainability goals, for instance, by demonstrating how buildings can reduce embodied carbon and emissions, improving the built environment for all.

Sharing research at the summit, David Rockhill, Associate Partner at McKinsey, congratulated the industry on its ability to move fast when the COVID-19 situation demanded.

He revealed that two-thirds of construction leaders believe the pandemic will accelerate digital transformation of the industry. He commented: “This disruption can be daunting, but the reality is that the challenges we face can only be met by construction changing the way things are done.”

To avoid repeating some shameful history, that kind of change can’t come soon enough. 

www.thenbs.com

31

KBB & WASHROOMS

OPTIMISING HYGIENE IN PUBLIC WASHROOM AND KITCHEN FACILITIES Here, Elina Enqvist-Twomey, Category Manager at GROHE UK, shares a series of solutions for public washrooms and kitchen facilities, some hygiene hot spots in public buildings. products that optimise W hile hygiene have been commonplace in the public building sector for some time, this year hygiene has become a permanent and essential fixture in the interiors and design landscape like never before, and the demand for high-quality, hygiene-focused products in these spaces has risen significantly in order to ensure the best possible solutions are in place to protect public health, both in the face of the crisis and when a new form of normality resumes. At a time when the pandemic has pushed the everyday necessity of hand-washing into the spotlight, it is not surprising that builders, designers and specifiers in the public sector are seeking solutions that optimise hygiene and instil confidence and reassurance in end-users as they go about their everyday lives. While hygiene has jumped the ranks in terms of priority over recent months, it is likely to have longevity and a long-lasting impact on the public building sector.

32

Infrared taps Infrared technology is a leading go-to hygienic solution in public buildings, primarily seen in washrooms with touchless taps and automatic flushing. The technology works by the infrared sensor registering when the user’s hands are approaching and automatically activating the flow of water. If the sensor no longer detects presence, the water will automatically turn off.

This means that infrared taps require no human contact with the tap itself unlike standard taps where germs from unclean hands could linger on tap handles and are, therefore, perfect for public bathrooms with high footfall.

Other benefits of some more innovative infrared taps include pre-set programmes that ensure temperature is optimised for both safety and hygiene and ease-of-use for older generations and those

KBB & WASHROOMS with limited mobility thanks to touch-free operation, making it possible to create a hygienic space while also taking steps to improve accessibility. Also, the very best of these products are equipped with features that ensure water only flows when it is being used and even have an additional watersaving aerator that limits water consumption considerably, reducing it by up to 70% in some cases, which increases the sustainability credentials for public buildings without compromising on convenience or design.

Shower toilets Shower toilets are beginning to be more understood by the mass market and designers, builders and specifiers in the public sector are increasingly understanding their multifaceted nature and the value of the benefits they can offer.

Cleaning with water after using the toilet is an age-old tradition that is still popular in many parts of the world, however, shower toilets bring this natural form of cleansing into the technology, and more recently, hygiene-focused 21st century; using automation and app-connectivity to create a hands-free experience.

Product innovations at the forefront of this category are equipped with automatic

flush functionality and precise motion sensors which prompt the lid to automatically open upon approaching and close when you leave. A personalised cleansing experience can also be made possible via a smartphone app or remote control. Users can select their preferred temperature, spray pattern, pressure and much more. For example, GROHE’s Sensia Arena benefits from ion technology known as PlasmaCluster, which releases positive and negative ions into even the farthest hardto-reach corners of the toilet bowl and in the air around the toilet, to inactivate bacteria.

Meanwhile, an automatic odour extraction system is integrated into the toilet system to ensure the ambient air remains free from unpleasant odours.

These state-of-the-art hygiene functions are particularly beneficial when shower toilets are used in public spaces with increased footfall. They help to maintain superior hygiene standards between each use to supplement routine cleaning protocols carried out by staff.

Hands-free kitchen taps The kitchen is an integral and high-traffic area in many public buildings including schools, local Government, hospitals and emergency services and it is therefore just as important to

prioritise the specification of products that optimise hygiene here as it is within bathrooms.

Standard kitchen mixer taps are evolving; many models are doing away with the kitchen lever and opting for alternative modes of operation that reduce the need for direct contact with the tap’s surface. One of the latest ways of thinking is to replace the tap lever with a button at the end of the spout that can easily be pushed with the wrist, forearm or elbow to activate water flow. Not only

does this method prevent the risk of cross-contamination from daily touch and usage but also when preparing food, especially raw produce.

Health and hygiene are set to play a key role in defining the way public buildings are designed in the coming years, and product designs that use advanced technologies to meet this demand will likely continue to become a staple of the modern build. 

www.grohe.co.uk/en_gb

33

DOORS & WINDOWS

THE BENEFITS OF DUAL CERTIFICATION FOR SOCIAL HOUSING PROVIDERS Social landlords can reassure tenants of the fire safety and security performance of doorsets by specifying products that have achieved independent, third-party dual certification.

Door-Stop International and Warringtonfire, explain the benefits of choosing fire doorsets with this additional layer of testing:

What is the difference between a fire door and a fire doorset?

A fire door usually only refers to the fire door leaf. The door leaf is installed into a compatible frame, complete with its compatible essential ironmongery. A fire doorset is supplied pre-assembled in the frame, manufactured to the required size and includes all of the correct components such as ironmongery and seals.

Fire doorsets should be third-party tested and certificated using an independent UKAS-accredited test house and certification body such as Warringtonfire and BM TRADA. This provides assurances on the doorset’s performance and the manufacturer’s integrity.

34

What is dual certification?

“Dual scope certification is where fire and security performance is certified under the responsibility of a single certification body,” explains Mark West, Technical Development Engineer at Warringtonfire.

“All the testing and assessments are carried out to carefully ensure both performances are maintained, the scope of certification and specification is identical, and any security features do not affect the fire performance and vice versa.”

How does it compare to other fire door testing?

“Dual scope certification provides confidence that the product meets its required performance for both fire and security, and that any changes to the product are developed with fire, security and all other relevant performances

DOORS & WINDOWS

At the third and final gateway, the client must submit information on the final building which will form part of the golden thread data.

When the building has been approved, the golden thread will be handed over to the accountable person who, alongside the building safety manager, will keep the golden thread updated with the latest building information. This includes any future refurbishment works.

What can social landlords do to improve fire safety in their buildings?

in mind,” says Mark. “Any future product enhancements will be rigorously assessed in all applicable areas. This ensures that neither fire nor security performance is compromised at any point, a position that cannot necessarily be achieved when the certification is not linked in this way.”

Warringtonfire and BM TRADA, which are both part of the Element Group, are one of the few certification bodies in the UK with the technical competence to offer this dual certification through their Certisecure, Certifire and Q-Mark certification schemes.

Certisecure, a scheme recognised

by Secured by Design (SBD), is used

by Warringtonfire to demonstrate a fire doorset’s security credentials.

How does dual certification fit into wider fire safety legislation?

Dual certification provides all the information required for the golden thread; one of the recommendations of the Hackitt Review.

In MHCLG’s response to the Building a Safer Future consultation, it announced that all 53 of the recommendations from the Hackitt Review were going to be implemented.

The response gave more clarity on the new regulatory regime and defined the duty-holders for the design, construction and refurbishment phases of a building.

The client, principal designer and principal contractor have a vital role in creating and maintaining the golden thread.

“Fire safety is about hundreds, if not thousands, of different factors, that need to work together as a complete system if an emergency happens. Refusing to take a holistic view of fire safety is short-sighted, and as we know, deadly,” says Hannah Mansell, Group Technical Director of Premdor Crosby.

“Those that sit and wait for legislation to make buildings safer are going to be waiting for a very long time. There are no excuses. Those responsible for fire safety need to get with the programme now.”

The new Door-Stop International fire and security doorset range aims to be the product of choice for those reviewing their fire safety strategies and who want to improve their existing buildings or specify new developments.

Designed by Door-Stop, a subsidiary of Premdor Crosby, the timber core product with GRP facings is third-party certificated. A robust base of primary test evidence has been used as the foundation for certification.

The Door-Stop Fire and Security Dual-Certificated Doorset is Certifire-certified by Warringtonfire.

Although it is not a requirement for timber fire doors, it has been furnace tested from both directions to provide additional assurances to building owners and occupants.

“Do not be complacent; third-party certification is not the singular factor that will find the holy grail of fire safety in a building,” warns Hannah. “Even a perfectly produced fire door will not perform to expectations if installed incorrectly.

“Installation of fire doorsets needs to be considered hand-in-hand with the product itself, as a complete system. This is why we have also tested our doorset with a range of lineal gap sealing systems to provide this assurance of the ‘system’ working.

“Installation must also be carried out in accordance with certification and the manufacturer’s guidance, using approved material and methods. This must be supported by regular maintenance to ensure that the product will perform in an emergency. If it isn’t installed correctly, certification is invalid, and the required level of safety and protection may not be provided to the building’s occupants.”

Regular, open communication with residents is also key. Every doorset that Door-Stop supplies is shipped with detailed installation instructions and a resident guide. The guide includes an easy-to-follow checklist that will help residents avoid the common pitfalls that prevent fire doors performing in the event of an emergency, as well as the methods to report concerns, find out further information and fully trace their fire doorset back to its original certification and specification.

www.door-stop.co.uk/firedoors 01623 446336 sales@door-stop.co.uk

35

FLOORS, WALLS & CEILINGS

Value We see that value is about more than just price. We are driven to create environments that set higher standards for wellbeing, productivity and happiness.

At the heart of this is our commitment to deliver quality products and solutions that will inevitably drive excellence through our supply chain and to exceed the expectations of all those involved, as well as the end-user.

Solutions provider

A TRUSTED HISTORY, A DIGITAL FUTURE It has been a story almost three years in the making. Now Armstrong Ceiling Solutions, a leading UK manufacturer of mineral fibre ceiling systems, has unveiled its new identity, which will take it into 2021 and far beyond.

Graham Taylor, Director of Sales and Marketing at the newly-renamed Zentia, reintroduces the business behind the brand.

We are still the same people you’ve always done business with; we bring you the same products you’ve always trusted and specified; we will still manufacture in Britain, as we have since 1966; and we will provide the same support you depend on, and that you can continue to rely on with Zentia – a very positive base on which to build.

Our vision is to take those positive traits you have clearly valued and add more agility and boldness to our approach. We will take bold decisions and act swiftly where required. We will respond to the changing environment and market, whilst fully embracing the digital world.

We were Armstrong; now we are Zentia.

We’ve gone from A to Z, introduced a bright and dynamic colour palette and centred our business around our new brand AXIS – four key elements which underpin our new direction. In the process, we’ve created a new brand that marks a pivotal evolution for our business.

Our AXIS is what drives us. It differentiates us and makes us strong. The four components of the Zentia AXIS are ‘value’, ‘solutions provider’, ‘responsibility’ and ‘continuous improvement’, and they’re the four things that we promise to live, breathe and promote in everything we do and for every customer.

Being a solutions provider is about more than having a broad range of products and systems. Range is important, but so is agility and expertise; the ability to not only provide a product but provide a solution. As a complete ceiling solutions provider, this is what every partner can expect from us. We apply our heritage, pride and passion to deliver unrivalled problem-solving support.

Responsibility We take responsibility for our actions and we aim to do more with less. We look at everything we do with an ethical mindset and scrutinise our activity so that we can continually improve our social, economic and environmental values for ourselves, our partners and our stakeholders.

Continuous improvement We focus on relentless progress and performance enhancement across our business, our solutions and the environments we help create. One key aspect that helps us do this is our digital-first mindset. As we pioneer digital services and supply chain support, we want to continually improve and make it easier than ever to do business with us.

This is such an exciting time for us as a company – creating a new identity for the business, a new ethos and new mindset.

It’s not something that you experience a lot in your professional life. You might even say it’s a once-in-a-lifetime change.

It brings more strength, more power and more enthusiasm to our team, and I expect also to the market.

As Zentia, we draw from decades of leadership in the ceiling space, where we’ve become a trusted partner to specifiers, contractors, architects and interior designers who appreciate the exceptional quality of our products and the expertise of our people.

Now, we’re taking what we do well and harnessing technology to ease and add value to what you do. With digital collaboration, specification and support, we’re leading the way into a smarter future – that starts today.

www.zentia.com 0800 371 849

36

WHEN THE WORLD DANCES, IT CHOOSES HARLEQUIN FLOORS Making the correct choice of dance floor is essential when designing a performance space. Whether it’s a world-renowned dance company, university, secondary school or local dance school, the dance studio is a dancer’s work environment and the floor is a fundamental tool for their work.

The correct dance floor makes an important contribution to the safe performance of dancers, without the risk of slips and falls, or longer-term stress injuries. Floors developed for commercial or sports applications do not offer the key benefits dancers need.

FLOORS, WALLS & CEILINGS

Harlequin works extensively with dance scientists and biomechanics experts to investigate the effects of the choice of dance floor on dancer performance and injury and to research and develop floors that minimise these risks. That is why Harlequin is recognised as one of the world’s leading authorities on dance floors.

To continue offering the highest quality floors to the world’s performers, Harlequin has recently launched a new and improved version of its highly-regarded Harlequin Cascade vinyl performance floor with added BioCote antimicrobial protection.

BioCote antimicrobial technology is manufactured into the Harlequin Cascade vinyl creating a dance surface upon which microbes, such as bacteria and viruses, cannot survive. The result is a floor which is easier to keep hygienically clean, reducing the risk of cross-contamination and infection by working constantly to reduce the presence of microbes on the surface of the floor.

To find out more information on why the world performs on Harlequin floors, head to the website or get in touch with its technical team. To understand the importance of specifying the correct floors for dance, specifiers can also book an online CPD available on the website.

www.harlequinfloors.com 01892 514888 architects@harlequinfloors.com

Making Making Schools Schools Safer Safer

Antimicrobial protection, exclusive to Contour Heating Antimicrobial protection, Antimicrobial protection, exclusive to Contour Heating exclusive to Contour Heating

Radiator Covers - LST Radiators - Pipe Casings Radiator Radiator Covers Covers -- LST LST Radiators Radiators -- Pipe Pipe Casings Casings 01952 290 498 01952 290 498 01952 290 498

sales@contourheating.co.uk sales@contourheating.co.uk sales@contourheating.co.uk

contourheating.co.uk contourheating.co.uk contourheating.co.uk

37

FOCUS & INNOVATION

ACCESSIBLE DESIGN IN PUBLIC WASHROOMS In public places, adapted washrooms must cater for the whole population, not just individuals. Where space is at a premium, separate provision for people with reduced mobility is not always possible.

The obvious solution is to specify washrooms with access for everyone regardless of age, level of mobility or independence.

This means designing a neutral environment which is discreet, non-stigmatising, aesthetically-pleasing and comfortable. Every user will then feel comfortable, whether they are able-bodied, ambulant disabled, wheelchair users or fully dependent on a carer.

Designing for shared use Good aesthetic design removes the institutional and medicalised aspect of accessible washrooms. DELABIE’s designers are conscious that product appearance is just as important as technical performance.

The Be-Line range of grab bars, shower seats and accessories have sleek, stylish lines that are easy to clean and maintain.

Offering a complete range of products in matte white and metallised anthracite provides specifiers with options that complement the decor and provide a good visual contrast with wall finishes.

Adaptability is also important for facilities that provide short-term accommodation for people with reduced mobility.

Removable shower seats provide a practical solution in rooms where the use changes according to the user. The seat can be installed only when required.

38

Taking the strain The primary role of grab bars and shower seats is to support the static weight of any user and assist their movement within the washroom. The elderly or people with reduced mobility can easily lose their balance. If they reach for the nearest hand hold, whether this is a grab bar or riser rail, it must support the additional force required to arrest their fall. The type of fixing is therefore very important. Be-Line grab bars, shower seats and accessories have robust, concealed fixings which provide the ideal solution. Not only are they completely hidden, they also prevent unwanted removal.

In the event of the user falling, grab bar dimensions also take on greater significance. If the user slips, their arm may get trapped between the wall and the grab bar. By limiting the gap between the bar and the wall, Be-Line grab bars minimise the risk of fracture. To provide full support, the profile of the grab bar or support rail must allow a firm, natural hold. If the bar’s profile is too angular, the hand cannot grasp the bar properly. Be-Line grab bars have an ergonomic profile comprising a flat front face plus a 35mm diameter to optimise the grip. If the diameter is too small or too large, the forearm muscle is activated rather than the shoulder muscle, placing unnecessary strain on the user.

Attention to detail When considering design in accessible washrooms, the accessories are easy to overlook. Simple touches, such as matching the finish on toilet roll holders, coat hooks and toilet brush, can improve the aesthetics. Ergonomics play a significant part too, so installing toilet brushes – with a long ergonomic handle that self-centres when replaced in the holder – can be a small detail that improves the user’s experience.

Specifiers of adapted washrooms in non-domestic environments no longer need to compromise on aesthetics. It is possible to incorporate stylish designs that will withstand intensive use, while upholding user safety and hygiene standards.

www.delabie.co.uk

01491 824449

FOCUS & INNOVATION

HÖRMANN OKTABLOCK WINS PRESTIGIOUS SECURITY AWARD Hörmann UK has won the Security Solution Innovation of the Year category at the Security and Fire Excellence Awards 2020 with its innovative OktaBlock mobile vehicle blocker. OktaBlock is a bollard-based mobile vehicle blocking system that provides hostile vehicle mitigation for open-air events and publicly accessible locations.

Following recent vehicle-related terrorist attacks across Europe, Hörmann recognised the increased challenge being faced by local authorities regarding the security of public spaces and open-air events. Historically, temporary concrete barriers were commonly specified, offering an inefficient, and often ineffective, solution that could not be easily redeployed as and when required.

Certified as a single module, the OktaBlock range has been designed to provide the highest standards in safety and flexibility through an easy-to-deploy, temporary security solution, without the associated costs of fixed security bollards or blockers. OktaBlock has been designed to be unobtrusive, making it ideal for specification throughout public spaces, whilst its exterior can be customised to feature bespoke information or advertising space. Impressively, a single OktaBlock can stop a 7.5t truck

travelling at 50km/h. The product is certified according to international crash standards PAS68/IWA14-1.

OktaBlock has been developed so that it can be moved using a forklift truck, making it easy to position whilst providing access for rescue vehicles as and when required. Its tamper-proof and non-flammable construction also means there is no need for physical guarding before, during and after the event.

Commenting on the award, Mark Lester of Hörmann UK, says: “We are delighted to have won the Security Solution Innovation of the Year category. The OktaBlock range is a truly innovative security solution developed to provide public authorities and event organisers with a certified, flexible solution that delivers the highest standards of protection. It has already been adopted in Germany to safeguard a number of outside venues and Christmas markets.”

www.hormann.co.uk 01530 516868

INTRODUCING...

FIRE-SECURE® DOORS ARE THE IDEAL SOLUTION FOR

COMMERCIAL

HOTEL/LEISURE

SOCIAL HOUSING

HEALTHCARE

A BRAND NEW GROUND-BREAKING COMBINED TIMBER FIRE & SECURITY RATED DOOR, WHICH REVOLUTIONISES DOOR SAFETY AND STANDARDS.

For more details, call our specialised team to discuss your particular project on:

01252 645534

sales@sunraytimberdoordivision.co.uk www.sunraytimberdoors.co.uk

39

FOCUS & INNOVATION RCI

ADVANCED AT CENTRE OF WIRELESS FIRE DETECTION SOLUTION Industry-leading fire alarm control equipment from UK manufacturer, Advanced, has been installed at the core of a wireless fire detection system protecting Leuchie House in East Lothian on the Scottish Borders.

As part of an upgrade to the existing radio fire system at the classical Georgian mansion house in North Berwick – which operates as a respite centre for people with multiple sclerosis – an Advanced four-loop MxPro 5 fire panel has been installed alongside the latest EMS wireless FireCell equipment.

The MxPro 5 was selected to protect the five-storey, 18thcentury building and its residents, thanks to its compatibility with EMS FireCell XP detection – one of the most advanced cable-free fire detection systems available on the market.

Responsible for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of the fire system at Leuchie House is Galashielsbased Safe Services, which required a solution capable of delivering seamless protection whilst keeping disruption to the fabric of the building at a minimum.

As a listed building, retaining a radio fire system was agreed to be the most suitable form of protection to safeguard the features of this period property. Installing cabling would have been intrusive to the decor, and difficult and costly to achieve in the more inaccessible areas of the site.

Graeme Millar, Fire Systems Technical Engineer at Safe Services, said: “Having worked with Advanced products for many years, we were confident that we could rely on its solutions to perform as required. Now that Advanced supports EMS wireless FireCell detection, the MxPro 5 fire panel was the obvious choice for installation at the core of this wireless fire detection system, effortlessly ensuring protection across all five levels of the building.”

uk.advancedco.com

KEYLITE ROOF WINDOWS TAKES MARGATE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT TO NEW HEIGHTS

US UNIVERSITY PICKS INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS FROM PILKINGTON GLASS Spurring innovation and collaboration between scientists to enhance the student experience was front of mind when American University in Washington DC planned to build a new faculty. Ensuring that the new facility was environmentallyfriendly was a key part of the brief. In order to maximise natural light, the architect, Ballinger, designed a full-height glass wall along its campus-facing edge. In keeping with the brief of innovation, to combat excessive solar gain, the architect turned to Pilkington United Kingdom Ltd, part of the NSG Group, and specified Pilkington Suncool 50/25 T glass within the insulated glass units across the whole facade, supplied by Pilkington UK partner CareyGlass.

Over 60 Keylite roof windows have been installed to new homes and flats in the Brooke Close housing development in Margate, offering clean and modern aesthetics as well as peace of mind for the building contractor, PCR Projects. Designed by architectural firm Urban Surveying and Design and built by well-respected local contractor PCR Projects, the development required 60 Keylite polar white PVC centre pivot, thermal glazing roof windows to be installed in each of the houses, and two Keylite white-painted centre pivot, thermal glazing roof windows, with smoke ventilation kits in each of the block of flats.

www.keyliteroofwindows.com

01283 200158

info@keyliteuk.com

THIRD LHC FRAMEWORK LISTING FOR THE WINDOW COMPANY (CONTRACTS) The Window Company (Contracts) has achieved a full house of LHC Framework Agreements, adding a listing on the framework for the supply and installation of aluminium windows and doors to the PVC-U and timber window and door frameworks it is already on. The specialist commercial installer, based in Chelmsford, is on the Home Counties, London and East Anglia framework for PVC-U and on the South East England frameworks for timber and now aluminium. Company Chairman David Thornton said: “Joining the aluminium LHC Framework alongside PVC-U and timber obviously gives us access to key public sector clients specifying in all three materials to provide them with fast-track procurement and transparent rates.”

www.pilkington.com/en-GB/uk www.thewinco.co.uk

40

01245 268120

thornton@thewinco.co.uk

KALWALL SHEDS LIGHT ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT A £4m extension to the globally-recognised Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) at the University of Strathclyde has used Kalwall to solve an interesting problem. The centre houses Europe’s largest forge – to be precise an 8.5m-high, 300-tonne hydraulic press forge – along with the associated isothermal, cooling, furnace and manipulator plant.

DOMUS VENTILATION FANS LISTED ON NEW COMPLIANCE SCHEME Domus Ventilation, part of the Polypipe group, is pleased to announce its energy-efficient ventilation products have been listed on the BEAMA Green Homes Compliance Scheme. BEAMA is the UK trade association for manufacturers and providers of energy infrastructure technologies and systems. It has created the Green Homes Compliance Scheme to help installers identify products that will meet Building Regulations and deliver effective ventilation. The Green Homes Compliance Scheme provides ventilation installers with a downloadable list of Building Regulations-compliant fans, which will overcome any potential problems that could occur as a result of increasing the airtightness of a dwelling. The fans have all been confirmed as capable of removing air at a defined rate when installed – and not just under test conditions – overcoming any resistance to air-flow from ducts or grilles etc. Domus Ventilation fans listed under the Green Homes Compliance Scheme include the Sapphire range of intermittent axial, in-line and centrifugal bathroom and kitchen extract fans and Decentralised Mechanical Extract Ventilation (dMEV) units.

www.domusventilation.co.uk vent.info@domusventilation

FOCUS & INNOVATION

Kalwall was used on the original structure.

The addition of the new extension has seen a Kalwall clerestory surround added to bathe the interior with diffused daylight. A clever system of removable 6 x 5m Kalwall rooflights has been installed allowing for the craning out of the plant machinery to service and maintain when needed.

The rooflights not only allow for this vital function but, similar to the clerestory, cast daylight deep into the building below.

For projects like this, the use of Kalwall means that natural diffused daylight is transmitted deep into the interior space. This means there is an even balance of light throughout with no hotspots, glare or shadows, therefore, removing the need for any blinds or shutters. Its properties also mean there are fewer issues around solar gain, as the unique composition reduces inward radiation and conduction five times more effectively than glazing. At the same time, Kalwall provides line-ofsight protection and additional thermal insulation, thereby further reducing the reliance on HVAC systems and artificial lighting.

The durability and low maintenance of Kalwall is also a factor in installations such as these.

Tested to ASTM E661, Kalwall rooflights can be walked upon, and every panel exceeds the safety requirements of OSHA 1910.23 without the additional need for external screens or fixed standard railings.

www.structura-uk.com/kalwall mail@structura.co.uk 01233 501504

ROCKWOOL UNVEILS NEW ROOFING WHITEPAPER With roofs maintaining their prominent role in contemporary building design, ROCKWOOL has released a new whitepaper exploring how roofing contractors and specifiers can manage fire risk when planning and installing flat roofs. The ‘Flat Roofs: Managing fire risk in the fifth facade’ report addresses misconceptions around testing protocols and material fire classification ratings, plus examines the rise in roof fires and the resulting social and economic impact. The whitepaper, which is available to download at www.rockwool.co.uk/fifthfacade, then outlines specification best practice for flat roof insulation and how to future-proof the building envelope in line with expected changes to Building Regulations. Will Wigfield, Product Manager at ROCKWOOL, commented: “This report explores the risks of exposed flat roofs, delves into the effects of prominent fires, and then advises roofing contractors and specifiers on selecting materials that will help protect lives and the remaining building structure in case of fire.”

www.rockwool.co.uk

41

FOCUS & INNOVATION

F. BALL ACHIEVES FIRST-CLASS RESULT AT PLYMOUTH COLLEGE OF ART High-performance floor preparation products and adhesives from F. Ball and Co. have been used to transform Tavistock Place, the main undergraduate building at Plymouth College of Art, into an inspiring learning space. Specialist F. Ball products enabled contractors to install safety vinyl sheet and carpet tiles, using Styccobond F49 pressure-sensitive adhesive and Styccobond F41 tackifier, respectively, in the independent art school’s reception, gallery, cafe bar, offices and conference rooms. Commenting on the project, Mark Wood, Director at Lang & Potter flooring, said: “There was a short window in which to complete the job ahead of the new academic year starting, and the F. Ball products helped to meet the deadline.”

www.f-ball.co.uk

01538 361633

mail@f-ball.co.uk

VERSATILITY GUARANTEED WITH LUXALON STRETCH METAL CEILING SYSTEM Aesthetics and functionality are the watchwords of Hunter Douglas Architectural’s Luxalon Stretch Metal ceiling tiles and planks. A versatile system, it can be used to create myriad visual effects and it is suitable for all building sectors. There is also an impact-resistant stretch metal plank for sport hall applications. There are 10 distinct tile and plank designs, with the open mesh varying between 36% and 66% and T-profile widths 15 or 24mm wide.

Both the stretch metal planks and the tiles can be fitted as lay-in tiles and lay-on tiles, either on standard T-profiles or on a Bandraster, and the planks can also be installed on a hook-on Z-profile, which provides concealed suspension and retains accessibility.

www.hunterdouglas.co.uk

01604 648229

DARWIN GROUP DELIVERS NEW TEACHING BLOCK FOR KENDRICK SCHOOL Modular construction specialist Darwin Group has delivered a brand-new teaching block for Kendrick School in Reading, scaling 930m2. The new block will be known as ‘The Horizons Building’ and boasts a total of nine classrooms, a dining area and brand-new sports courts. Darwin Group’s latest multi-use building will provide the school’s current and future students with enhanced teaching and learning facilities and was funded by Kendrick School’s successful application for a share of the £50m Selective School Expansion Fund (SSEF). The offsite specialists’ skilled inhouse team of designers, town planners and construction professionals provide a unique turnkey service that covers all stages of design, planning and construction from start to finish.

www.darwingroupltd.co.uk 01939 252909 marketing@darwingroupltd.co.uk

info@hunterdouglas.co.uk

INNOVATIVE CLADDING FIRE DETECTION SYSTEM UNDERGOES TESTING

ISO-CHEMIE INTRODUCES NEW FENESTRATION CONSTRUCTION SHEETS Foam sealant tape specialist ISOChemie has introduced its new Iso-Top Construction Sheets WF3 to the UK fenestration sector to provide improved design and installation for windows and doors. Iso-Top Construction Sheets WF3 are the latest addition to the company’s in-front-ofwall installation systems and can be used either as adapter boards as part of a system profile, or as individual components to support profiles, packing strips or shaped window cill parts. Manufactured from high-density Thermapor, the boards offer excellent load-bearing capacity – in excess of 650kPA – and can be quickly and easily sawn or cut to shape and size onsite.

www.iso-chemie.eu/en-GB/home 07837 337220 a.swift@iso-chemie.co.uk

A cladding fire detection system that could offer a lifeline to thousands affected by the UK’s cladding crisis is undergoing a critical period of testing with one of the UK’s leading testing bodies, the Fire Protection Association.

Intelliclad, created by Darron Brough and Mohammed Zulfiquar, believes that its sensor, which would be retrofitted to integrate into the cladding system of high-risk buildings, can provide a smarter, faster and more cost-efficient method of monitoring fire safety when compared to the controversial Waking Watch. Each sensor is connected to a control system that, in the event of a fire, can uniquely send an alert to all residents via a smartphone app.

www.intelliclad.co.uk

info@intelliclad.co.uk

FACADE SOLUTIONS PROVIDER MSP INVESTS £250,000 IN BRIGHT FUTURE Cumbernauld-based architectural facades manufacturer MSP has invested £250,000 in new technology and improved facilities to meet increased demand for its services. Among its new acquisitions is a CNC-controlled Mayer beam saw and a second Rainer Eletek turret punch. These machines will dramatically improve the plant’s capacity, enabling it to provide developers and contractors across the UK with a wide range of non-flammable, bespoke facade systems. New air filtration and dust extraction systems have also been installed to meet the highest safety standards. The investment has been facilitated by parent company Vivalda Group, which also owns the Prism Powder Coating and Pura Facades brands.

www.mspcladding.co.uk

42

01236 729591

sales@mspscot.co.uk

Speak to our audience directly...

With our new

FCA and PSBJ Magazine Webinar series and magazines are determined to support the industry during this difficult period, and with a huge uplift in our online training and promotional areas, we are launching a new initiative that can involve you.

It’s your chance to speak to our audiences - directly!

Featuring a range of topics including: industry training, technical expertise, solutions for projects and more.

30/60-minute webinars and live Q&A sessions.

Your brand and your expertise listed on the registration page.

Delivering interesting, topical and educational content in the most accessible manner.

This campaign is launched to over 30,000 architects, specifiers and contractors for FC&A magazine and 14,000 housing associations, local authorities, heads of estates for education and healthcare buildings.

Your own dedicated brand and webinar promoted exclusively through FCA / PSBJ channels.

All opt-in GDPR-compliant attendee data from your session given to you.

If you are interested in taking part or would like to know more about our webinar series, please contact Cross Platform Media via telephone or email.

01622 232719

sam@crossplatformmedia.co.uk