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Product Showcase
NEW CPD AVAILABLE ON BIOPHILIC DESIGN AND BIODIVERSITY
The UK is facing a mental health crisis. Everyone working in construction will be aware of how much the built environment can affect the wellbeing of occupants. Nature-inspired or biophilic design has been proven to improve educational outcomes in education, speed up recovery or reduce the need for medication in the health sector and provide a more relaxed and human work environment for office workers.
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TG Escapes Modular Eco-Buildings has produced a certified CPD in partnership with Building Magazine, which explores the themes of biophilic design and biodiversity net gain.
This CPD will address the advantages of including both these elements in the built environment, within the context of the construction industry’s strategies to achieve better outcomes for a building’s occupants. It includes an overview of the 10 patterns of biophilic design, their attributes and benefits.
Can buildings be built in such a way that they provide a positive impact upon people’s everyday lives? The answer to this in recent years has been a resounding yes.
The construction industry has embraced a number of building performance systems to reflect the drive towards designing and delivering buildings that increase the wellbeing of occupants, through the use of natural elements such as sunlight and fresh air.
Building performance systems, such as WELL assess, measure, certify and monitor features of the built environment that impact human health and wellbeing, through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind. Biophilia and biophilic design
A number of academics and researchers have looked into the positive effects of nature being incorporated into the built environment. In 1984, US Biologist Edward Wilson argued that humanity’s affinity for nature was innate and evolutionary, and that it binds us all to other species.
Biophilic design provides a calming environment that benefits occupants, whether in homes, schools, hospitals or workplaces. Growing numbers of firms across the construction industry are approaching building schemes with a mindset that revolves around biophilia.
The word ‘biophilia’ is derived from the Greek ‘bio’, meaning life, and ‘philia’ often being translated as ‘brotherly love, friendship or affection’.
In Greek and Roman architecture, openair courtyards were the centre of the home, with gardens, fountains and sculptures providing a calming respite, fresh air, natural light and views of nature.
Biodiversity in construction
As well as employing biophilic techniques when drawing up plans for a project, construction firms are increasingly being encouraged – and, in some cases, mandated – to consider creating biodiversity gains across their schemes.
Biodiversity is essential to maintain a healthy, stable environment which, in turn, is crucial for the continued provision of life systems upon which human life depends. A healthy ecosystem also plays a vital role in climate stability and disease limitation.
For new builds where biodiversity net gain is a prerequisite, the industry could be making much more of the opportunity this presents to think about enhancing one or more of the biophilic principles referenced in this CPD module.
To take the CPD online, visit cpd.building.co.uk/courses/cpd-14-2022incorporating-biophilia-and-biodiversity
FOCUS & INNOVATION ACCELERATED CARE CAPACITY THANKS TO WERNICK BUILDINGS
North Devon Hospital required a new building to reduce its orthopaedic surgery backlog. To increase its elective bed capacity as quickly as possible, the trust opted for a modular building. A modular solution also complemented the spatial constraints on site.
The trust went out to the marketplace using the NHS SBS framework to find a modular building provider. It specified a building that not only met the trust’s obligations under the Health Technical Memoranda (HTM) and Health Building Notes (HBN) but one that also exceeded full compliance.
For ease of use for clinical and maintenance staff from day one, the trust required an ‘out-of-the-box’ solution for building fit-out.
The solution
Just 20 weeks after the trust placed its order with Wernick Buildings, it was welcoming its first patients. The trust named its new building the ‘Jubilee Ward’, yet the client couldn’t imagine that the space would be open and functional weeks before the Queen’s celebrations.
Over two days, Wernick installed the modules on the site of an acute care hospital at full capacity, intending to reduce disruption as much as possible.
A link structure between the main hospital building and the new modular building provides a continuous transition for patients.
The hospital now serves an extra 25 orthopaedic patients a week in the new £1.4m building, which Wernick completed with two four-bed wards, two one-bed wards, accessible bathrooms, ancillary rooms and staff areas. Medical services supplier MIG provided specialist ward equipment.
Client comment
Marsh Pullen, Capital Contracts Manager for the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, commented: “Our experience of working with the Wernick team is very professional. They said they could deliver us a ward on time, on budget and they have, and that speaks volumes. There was a lot of harmony. Whenever we had a problem, it was overcome collectively – and that proactive attitude shows through in the outcome. Wernick has delivered us a fantastic ward, which I’d put up against any ward in the UK for quality, speed of delivery and affordability.”
www.wernick.co.uk 0800 112 4640
FACT FILE:
Project name: North Devon Hospital
Sector: Healthcare
Location: Barnstaple, Devon
Client name: Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Supplied by: Wernick Buildings
Project duration: 20 weeks
Accommodation type: Single-storey modular ward block
Size: Nine modules/403m²
Features: Hospital wards, staff room, kitchen, accessible bathrooms and reception
ZENTIA CEILING SYSTEMS HELP A REDEVELOPED SCHOOL WIN A NATIONAL AWARD
TORMAX OPENS THE DOOR TO WORK
A range of Zentia’s suspended ceiling tiles and grid systems have been used as part of an award-winning project to transform one of Northumberland’s largest schools. The Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham, Northumberland, was crowned Project of the Year – Schools, at the Education Estates Awards in November 2022.
A total of almost 11,000m2 of Zentia’s Dune eVo, Perla, Hydroboard, Bioguard and Hygiene tiles, all in white, as well as Colortone Neeva tiles in black, were specified by Ryder Architecture for the £38m redevelopment.
Zentia manufactured and supplied a versatile range of ceiling solutions to suit a variety of environments with variable performance requirements. The judges said the scheme was “a great design solution on a challenging site that includes a listed building” and a “beautiful integration, well presented”.
Working with contractor Galliford Try and two specialist sub-contractors, Keyes Brothers Construction and Riss, Zentia supplied a total of 8670m2 of Cradle to Cradle- certified Dune eVo Tegular and Max Tegular for use in the classrooms and corridors. An additional 615m2 of laminated Perla dB Tegular and 1000m2 of Perla OP 0.95 Tegular was used on the top floor, as well as in specific classrooms requiring additional acoustics, such as music rooms and workshops.
In addition, the Colortone Neeva with black grid and trim was used in the assembly room and lecture theatre; 140m2 of Bioguard Plain Tegular, known for its antimicrobial performance, was used in the kitchen; 60m2 of Hydroboard, a specialist tile designed for high humidity areas, in the toilets, and 440m2 of Hygiene, a tile suitable for high-pressure cleaning in the kitchen and dining hall.
In the more humid environments of the kitchen and toilets, the tiles were used with a non-corrosive trim and grid.
SIG in Newcastle acted as the distributor of these products to ensure a seamless delivery to site.
www.zentia.com 0800 371849 marketing@zentia.com
Allowing clear and easy access for all jobseekers, TORMAX was contracted to install an automatic sliding entrance to a new Dundas Job Centre that was opened during the pandemic, under the Government’s Plan for Jobs.
With an external frontage located on a main thoroughfare within the local shopping centre, it was important that the Job Centre was made to be as welcoming as possible to every possible user.
The bi-parting sliding doors are powered by the in-house-designed TORMAX Win Drive 2201 operator, delivering smooth operation, even on the busiest of days. Housed in a casing that measures just 142 x 100mm, the Win Drive is neat and compact, helping create a professional and contemporary aesthetic. Further encouraging jobseekers to enter, the entrance is fully compliant with current legislation, offering a wide-open doorway for the less able, as well as for those with buggies and prams, for example.
Simple two-key programming allows Job Centre staff to quickly adapt door-opening and -closing speeds to reflect the volume of foot traffic and weather, helping minimise heat loss from the reception area. When the facility is closed, security is assured thanks to an electromechanical bolt that delivers a solid and secure locking mechanism.
“With TORMAX, you get the complete package – bespoke design, prompt manufacture and installation as well as ongoing maintenance from our team of professionally-trained engineers,” confirms Simon Roberts, Managing Director for TORMAX.
“With worldwide coverage and over 65 years of expertise, TORMAX really is a company that can be relied on to deliver truly outstanding entrance solutions, even in the testing times that were presented by the pandemic.”
FOCUS & INNOVATION WHY DO THE WORLD’S LEADING DANCE UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOOLS CHOOSE HARLEQUIN FLOORS?
Dance students can spend hours working in a dance studio. It is their place of work and should offer a safe environment fit for purpose. The floor is a dancer’s most important work tool and dancers need reassurance they are not going to slip and fall, that lifts can be performed safely and, on landing from jumps, the response of the floor consistently returns the right amount of energy absorption.
It is a common assumption that a well-designed sports floor will suit the needs of dancers, but this is not the case.
There are some critical factors that distinguish the requirements of dance from those of sports played on a sports floor. Unlike sportspeople who wear increasingly high-tech air-cushioned shoes to give grip and protect against impact injuries, the modest ballet shoe has barely changed in design since the mid-18th century. Made from soft leather, canvas or satin, the ballet shoe is very flexible, has a thin sole and offers little protection for the wearer.
But not all dance floors are the same. Only a floor developed specifically for dance will do. There may be a temptation to specify floors for aesthetic or budget reasons, or to specify sports floors in the mistaken belief they will be suitable for dance, but there have been some high-profile examples where floors have had to be replaced by a dance company after the building is complete.
Harlequin is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading authorities on dance floors. As an enlightened manufacturer, Harlequin has always worked closely with the dance community to develop floors that dancers want to dance on. There is no doubt, the choice of flooring is critical. For over 40 years, Harlequin has been the performance floor of choice for the world’s most prestigious dance and performing arts companies, theatres, venues and schools.
Harlequin offers free advice to ensure dance companies, schools and venues install dance floors best suited to their particular use.
ZENTIA RENAMES ONE OF ITS MOST POPULAR CEILING TILE RANGES
Leading UK ceiling manufacturer Zentia is bringing together and renaming three of its most popular mineral tiles. The new Fission range will comprise Fission (formerly Tatra), Fission ND (formerly Cortega) and Fission FT (formerly Fine Fissured), which are all fire rated to Euroclass A2-s1,d0.
Despite the renaming, there are no changes to the products or their technical performance, and they are still warrantied for up to 30 years (when fitted with the Zentia grid system). Alongside this, they are manufactured with up to 51% recycled content and remain 100% recyclable.
Fission and Fission ND are white tiles available in two different edge details – Board (600 x 600mm and 1200 x 600mm), and Tegular (600 x 600mm) for greater design flexibility. The Board edges fully expose the suspended ceiling grid, while the Tegular tiles are rebated, creating a semi-bevelled visual.
Featuring directional and non-directional fissured patterns, they balance the need for sound absorption and sound attenuation in open-plan spaces such as atria, libraries, storage facilities and warehouses.
The premium product in the Fission range is Fission FT, which is available in black as well as white and in three different edge details (Board, Tegular and MicroLook). The MicroLook edge is designed for use with Zentia’s 15mm grid range, with a vertical edge creating crisp shadowed effects. Its ultra-fine nondirectional fissured pattern offers an optimum balance between sound absorption and sound attenuation.
All three ceiling tiles are suitable for new-build and refurbishment projects in the commercial, industrial and retail sectors.
Zentia’s Sales and Marketing Director, Graham Taylor, said: “There’s no need for our customers to worry, their favourite ceiling solutions won’t disappear, and they can still rely on us to manufacture and deliver the same quality suspended ceilings we always have.”
CONSORT CLAUDGEN WIDENS LST HEATERS CONTROL OPTIONS
Consort Claudgen’s low surface temperature heaters range now includes heaters that are Wi-Fi enabled. They can be controlled from the Consort Connect app, which provides the same control features as the digital control panel on the heaters. Features include a seven-day timer with 24 heating periods per day, lock function, open window detection and custom automations. Users can also view the energy consumption statistics of all connected heaters. Additionally, LST heaters with Wi-Fi and occupancy sensors have a self-learning control ability that uses in-built occupancy sensors to detect and learn a user’s weekly presence in a room. It then creates a heating schedule and automatically warms the room according to the detected or predicted occupancy. When the room is unoccupied, the heater will conserve energy by switching to a setback temperature or frost protection mode. BIM objects are available for download from Consort’s website.
M-AR’S CRYSTALCLEAR VISION FOR THE FUTURE AS IT CELEBRATES 15TH ANNIVERSARY
In December, specialist offsite manufacturer and contractor, M-AR celebrated 15 successful years of business, as it continues to champion offsite solutions to the wider construction industry. M-AR, which still has its roots in Hull where it was set up in December 2007, describes itself as a “contractor with a factory” – an approach that enables it to offer a full turnkey service to clients from design to completion. From an initial team of three, it has grown rapidly and now employs 100 members of staff, with a team of subcontractors and an extensive supply-chain network all on-hand to support M-AR’s projects in the residential, commercial and education sectors at sites across the UK. Ryan Geldard, Director at M-AR, said: “Like any anniversary, this milestone gives us the perfect chance to pause and reflect as we reset ourselves for the future. We’re in the midst of our busiest period to date and this looks set to continue with demand growing steadily as we embark on our own ambitious five-year growth plan.”
GOLDEN GIVEAWAY FOR 50TH RAG ANNIVERSARY
F. Ball and Co. is celebrating the launch of the 50th issue of its industry-acclaimed Recommended Adhesives Guide (RAG) with a golden giveaway. Golden tickets have been hidden inside 50 copies of the 2023 edition of the guide, with the lucky recipients entitled to claim one of a range of prizes. Copies will automatically be sent to members of F. Ball’s Ball Rewards scheme and can also be requested for free. The RAG enables contractors and specifiers to quickly check the compatibility of F. Ball adhesives with over 6000 branded floorcoverings from over 200 leading international floorcovering manufacturers – offering flooring professionals the most comprehensive guide to floorcovering adhesive compatibility available.
www.f-ball.co.uk 01538 361633 mail@f-ball.co.uk
GILBERTS HELPS PROTECT GOVERNMENT
The Government is investing in a series of hubs to better deliver public services as part of its Levelling Up strategy, and drive to improve resilience, productivity and efficiency. One of the first to become operational is Fletton Quays in Peterborough, where 1000+ staff will be kept safe by advanced smoke evacuation technology from Gilberts Blackpool. The seven-storey office development Sand Martin House provides 8000m2 of flexible workspace to address emerging working practice. Energy efficiency has been a key design feature, to the extent that even the smoke evacuation system uses minimal energy to function. A 1.5m2 BRE natural ventilation smoke shaft rises the full height of the building, to provide effective ventilation of smoke in the event of a fire. The approach optimises natural buoyancy principles where the hot smoke rises and fresh air inlets drive the smoke upwards for extraction/exhaust. Gilberts’ innovative Series 60 smoke evacuations dampers have been chosen and installed by smoke ventilation specialist Orion Contract Services to channel smoke into the riser. With low air leakage when closed, a motorised actuator opens the dampers to drive the smoke into the shaft in the event of a fire.
FOCUS & INNOVATION COLOURS INSPIRED BY NATURE
Colour has a huge impact on how we feel, act and react. There are various psychological studies on how different colours evoke different moods, which can profoundly affect our happiness and productivity. Interestingly, the history of the first colour used in art dates back to 75,000 years, when red, from ochre, was used for caveman drawings – using colours inspired by nature.
Nature provides us with ever-changing beauty, the waves of the sea and the wildness of roaring rivers; these are all elements that Osmo UK has drawn upon for inspiration. With innovative design, Osmo UK has created a new product with nature in mind. Explore the colours inspired by nature, from the ocean floor to your home.
New Country Shades
Country Shades is a stunning new wood finish to join the Osmo UK exterior range, with 120 colours inspired by nature. Country Shades offers up to 26m² per litre with just one coat. The high-performance exterior wood finish doesn’t require sanding for future applications. A simple re-application is recommended when signs of wear become visible. Reduce your maintenance time and increase your wood’s longevity with Osmo UK’s quality wood finishes.
Inspired by the elements of nature
Country Shades’ new range of colours is inspired by the four elements of nature; air, earth, fire and water. Offering a collection of 120 bespoke colours, which have been carefully selected by Osmo UK’s experts. Each colour has been given a unique description that allows you to connect to the colours on a deeper level. Whether you’re looking for a bold, bright and strong colour or a subtle, calm and neutral colour, Osmo UK’s new range provides a shade for every colour preference. Give wood the colour it deserves with Osmo UK. Get in touch with Osmo UK by using the contacts below to pre-order your colour card.
www.osmouk.com 01296 481220 info@osmouk.com
NEW CLEMENT STEEL WINDOWS SELECTED AS REPLACEMENT WINDOWS AT WEST COUNTRY SCHOOLS
Clement Windows Group has manufactured and installed new steel windows at two West Country schools. Trent Young’s CE School in Dorset and St Mary’s Calne in Wiltshire both required replica steel windows to replace the original fenestration.
Trent Young’s School, Grade II Listed and in a conservation area, was originally constructed by Reverend Turner and his wife in 1862 as the National School for girls and infants. The existing metal windows were not fit for purpose and, due to the school’s listing, it was imperative that the new replacement windows provided as close a match to the originals as possible.
The Clement Brooking range was specified because the slim, strong frames could replicate the wonderfulshaped heads of the existing windows and could be fixed directly to stone. The 16mm krypton-filled units offer much-improved thermal performance and it was possible to fit the frames with restrictors for safety.
St Mary’s School is a leading independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18, which was founded in 1873 by local Vicar Reverend John Duncan and moved to its current site in 1907. Around 40 new steel windows were needed in this phase of work to replace the original steel windows on the front and gable ends of the Plumer Wing, which comprises classrooms for music, computing, religious education and art. Clement EB20 windows were chosen, painted RAL 7016 (Anthracite Grey) instead of white, like the original windows.
Clement Windows Group manufactures an innovative range of steel windows, doors, screens and conservation rooflights for both private residences and commercial projects.
AIRTECH OFFERS SOCIAL HOUSING LANDLORDS EXPERT ADVICE AND HELP TO TACKLE MOULD
Condensation and mould specialist, Airtech Solutions, is offering expert advice and help to social housing providers following the Rt Hon Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, writing to council leaders and social housing providers regarding damp and mould. His letters highlight landlords’ responsibility to take action to protect residents from hazardous damp and mould following the tragic death of Awaab Ishak. Airtech is, therefore, offering advice to social housing landlords on how to help tackle condensation and mould, and fulfil the requirements of both the minister’s letters and the Homes Act. Contact Airtech Solutions below to see how the company can help landlords find the right ventilation solution.
CORKSOL APPOINTS NEW SURVEYOR TO DRIVE REGIONAL SALES
Yorkshire-based sustainable coatings distributor, CorkSol, has recently welcomed Andy Charlton to the team as a surveyor, helping to drive sales for the SprayCork product across residential projects. Andy will be pushing forward the company’s growth across the region, meeting with customers to provide a free home survey and talk in more detail about the unrivalled benefits of SprayCork, before liaising with local approved applicators to deliver each job. Andy will combine his new role with running his company, AC Plastering, which has been trading for 20 years, as well as AC Eco Coatings, which was launched back in 2020 to bring sustainable render alternatives to the homeowner after he discovered the SprayCork product.
FORBO FLOORING HELPS TO CREATE MODERN MEDICAL EDUCATION CENTRE
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust continuously strive to provide better education for the next generation of medical professionals. As such, with help from NTW Solutions, it wanted to create a modern learning space for its medical education centre in Gosforth. Forbo Flooring Systems’ Flotex, Modul’up and Allura Flex ranges all played a key role in bringing this project together. It was important for NTW that the modern feel was kept in every aspect of the project. This was enhanced by Forbo’s expansive range of products.
