PSBJ July 2018

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July 2018

WEIRD SCIENCE

The University of Bangor's wholly-owned subsidiary, Menai Science Park (M-SParc), pushes the boundaries of science in futuristic campus

On thin ice

Housing's secret weapon

Crush the skills shortage

How illuminating a one-of-a-kind ice rink leisure centre in Romford overcame project challenges

How modular solutions can help meet the Government's house-building targets

The Isle of Wight entices student footfall at brand-new world-class engineering facility

Inspired by adventures outdoors.

Designed for inspiring interiors.

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Welcome Note Editor

Rebecca Kemp rebecca@mixedmediainfo.com

Editorial Assistant Paige Smith

paige@mixedmediainfo.com

Print & Digital Advertising Sam Ball

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Print Design Manager Jack Witcomb

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The brand-new FaulknerBrowns Architects-designed Menai Science Park (M-SParc) features an undulating Corian facade thatenvelops the building's exterior. See page 24.

Digital Design Manager David Perry

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Accounts

Jackie Dearman jackie@mixedmediainfo.com

Managing Director Sam Ball

sam@mixedmediainfo.com Publisher

Mixed Media Information

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Welcome to the July issue of PSBJ...

Today (14th June) marks the first anniversary of the destructive Grenfell Tower fire, and, as I write, news is flooding in of separate incidents at two high-rise towers in Glasgow and Lewisham. Fortunately, both fires were contained within a couple of hours and in both cases there have been no reported injuries. Currently, the cause of the blaze is being investigated.

In Lewisham, this containment was assisted by a sprinkler system, a safety feature that Grenfell Tower fell short of. What seemingly wasn't present, however, was the ringing of fire alarms. Residents of the Lewisham-based Barratt Homes block have expressed their concerns and outrage around the lack of fire alarms sounded during the blaze, with many calling for an investigation.

While Thursday saw Glaswegians and south Londoners flee from their homes with the anniversary of last year's disaster at the front of their minds, in the west of the capital; survivors of the Grenfell fire and members of the public stood at the base of the ruins to pay their respects to those who lost their lives, families and friends one year on since the tragedy. The whole site was illuminated in green, a colour that's come to denote June 2017's unfortunate event.

Many have come to the aid of the former residents of Grenfell; however, one face that seems to be making a regular appearance is Architect and TV Presenter, George Clarke. Living near Grenfell Tower, Clarke is evidently striving for his voice to be heard amongst his peers and has recently launched a petition for a ban on combustible cladding; after Dame Judith Hackitt's review failed to meet this sought-after request from the entirety of the UK. In the upcoming months, PSBJ will be talking to professionals from within the industry on the awareness of fire safety within all applications of construction from residential through to commercial. If you're interested in submitting an advisory or thought-leadership commentary on the importance of fire safety to prevent disasters such as last year's fire, please do get in touch. This month, we start with Ryan Simmonds of voestalpine Metsec who explains why it's vital to only specify fire-tested framing materials. Turn to page 20 of this month's issue to read more.

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

Rebecca

Rebecca Kemp | Editor | rebecca@mixedmediainfo.com Follow us on Twitter:

@psbjmagazine

Download the PSBJ app for iPhone, iPad & Android Search 'PSBJ'

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Contents

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

08 Upfront The skills shortage is well-documented across the UK, and the Isle of Wight is just one county that has displayed deficiency signs. Here, Pick Everard discusses how the island's recently-built Centre of Excellence for Composites, Advanced Manufacturing and Marine is set to defeat the deficit.

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14 Housing

20 Legal & Business

24 Education

With a rapidly-ageing population, the need for social landlords to adapt to the future needs of their tenants and future-proof their housing stock is imperative. James Dadd, Marketing Director at AKW, examines the ever-evolving challenges of today’s society.

With the independent public Grenfell inquiries underway, Ryan Simmonds, Sales Director of Framing at voestalpine Metsec, takes to his keyboard to illustrate the importance of specifying framing systems that have been fire tested.

The new FaulknerBrowns Architects-designed Menai Science Park (M-SParc) in Wales has the University of Bangor at its heart, focusing on the education of science in school and outside of the classroom. Here, PSBJ looks at the park’s elegant, sophisticated design inside and out.

16 Healthcare

22 Talking Point

28 Technical Focus

Scandinavia appears to be a prominent influential region for many in the UK, and its public sector should be no exception. In this article, PSBJ talks to HVAC specialist Victaulic about its involvement in Sweden’s latest healthcare offering, Danderyd Hospital.

“Any initiative that helps public sector organisations to reduce emissions and, importantly, bring down any costs should be welcomed,” explains Minesh Patel at Centrica Business Solutions in his commentary on the Government fund for heat networks. Turn to page 22 for more.

Well-insulated homes are at the top of the agenda for the industry. However, much of the UK’s housing stock pre-dates standards set out in the UK’s regulations leaving many with a retrofit task on their hands. Here, NBT explains how reverse diffusion can take the headache out of retrofits.

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Contents

38

32 30 Glass & Glazing

36 BIM

Natural daylight has a beneficial influence on health and wellbeing, increasing our productivity and performance. Introducing this organic element into our school buildings, therefore, is not only instrumental to a student’s performance but also lowers energy costs.

With the industry striving to embrace the digital age of construction, there’s no area more vital for adoption than the public sector. With ubiquitous large-scale projects within the realm, the sector’s operations can be transformed thanks to digitalisation. Elecosoft explains further.

32 Leisure

38 Street Furniture

The £28m Sapphire Ice and Leisure Centre is the first of its kind in the UK to feature a floating ice rink above a competition pool. The external design features original architectural cladding that resembles a block of ice. Here, REL Building Services describes how it complemented the state-of-the-art design through illumination.

With placemaking high on the itinerary for the public sector, many specifiers are in search of ways to create attractive areas in order to increase footfall. Marshalls explains how it achieved just that at a mixed-use development in Bristol; enhancing the environment for all the community to enjoy.

34 Interiors: Floors, Walls & Ceilings

40 Modular Buildings

Looking to improve the sound insulation performance of a building? Lee Nichols, Product Development & Business Manager at Monarfloor Acoustics, offers his five top tips on addressing flanking sound transmission.

The Government may be unaware of the secret weapon within reach that can be used to beat the troubles the construction industry faces. Here, Western Building Systems unlocks the secret potential of modular buildings.

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08 42 Product Showcase A dedicated focus of industry news, products and case studies to help specifiers and local authorities make informed decisions.

@psbjmagazine

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receive live updates chat with the team comment on articles debate online get networking!

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News

INDUSTRY UPDATES

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

Pupils at Sherborne Girls' School learn on site with Morgan Sindall Contractor announced for Pooley Bridge design A new bridge over the river Eamont at Pooley Bridge is a step closer with the announcement that North West-based Eric Wright Civil Engineering has been appointed as the contractor for the design of the replacement bridge. The appointment follows a competitive procurement process, which saw a number of companies put forward proposals. Eric Wright Civil Engineering, together with design partner GHD, has extensive experience of bridge design and construction and was judged to be the right organisation to take this prestigious project forward. Eric Wright Civil Engineering and GHD have committed to a detailed design and engineering solution that remains as faithful as possible to the concept designs that have already been developed, whilst giving full consideration to the impact of the construction phase on the village, its residents and businesses.

Pellings wins place on nationwide NHS framework Pellings, the integrated design, property and construction consultancy, has been awarded a position on the NHS Shared Business Services Construction Consultancy Services Framework. The consultancy was successful in the four lots that it applied for.

The service lots are project management, principal designer, building surveyor and ancillary services. The framework is available to all UK public sector organisations and offers a convenient, OJEU-compliant route to market and accessibility to a full range of consultancy services. Pellings’ Framework Manager, David Smith, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Pellings to build on its experience providing services to the NHS as well as having another route to becoming a preferred supplier to public sector clients.”

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Pupils at the award-winning independent school, Sherborne Girls, in Dorset, have swapped the classroom for a construction site to see how work is progressing at their new £6m Arts Centre. Around 100 students put on their hardhats to get a close-up view of the latest developments at the school’s new stateof-the-art facility, which is being delivered by construction and infrastructure company Morgan Sindall. The pupils were invited on site

by Morgan Sindall’s project team as part of an engagement day to promote the opportunities available for young people in construction and the wider Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) sector. Morgan Sindall’s team gave pupils a tour of the site and also offered careers advice and guidance.

Historic school to be revitalised with adjusted CALA plans Plans for the sympathetic restoration of the former Boroughmuir High School has been revisited prior to a community event as developer CALA Homes took on board a range of comments from the previous application last year. The new designs have seen the new-build block of affordable homes be reduced by a level, along with a reduction in the scale and mass of the proposed building. Further amendments include the alignment with the height and windows of the neighbouring tenement. To reflect surrounding architecture, the new designs have been paired with a change to chosen building materials, with the use of natural stone and slate resulting in a subtle building that preserves the character of the conservation area.

Students get to grips with live project at University of Edinburgh

Perfect Circle appointed to £52m Milton Keynes expansion

Engineering students at Edinburgh University have secured a work placement with Robertson Group – after lending their specialist skills to a live project. The company is currently undertaking enabling works at the King’s Buildings Campus for the University of Edinburgh, ahead of a wider renovation project. And Robertson Central East, the main contractor, decided to look close to home when trying to solve a challenging aspect of the project. They tasked 40 final-year students enrolled in a Computational Flow Dynamics (CFD) module to use specialist software to track the flow of air through the external envelope of the campus’ purpose-built mechanical and electrical plant (MEP) building. The students took into account factors including wind speed, direction, turbulence and the bespoke cladding on the exterior of the building.

Milton Keynes Council has appointed Perfect Circle as lead consultant on £52m of capital development projects in an area to the west of Milton Keynes. The project will be delivered

by Perfect Circle, a consortium comprising Pick Everard, Gleeds and AECOM, on behalf of Scape Group’s Built Environment Consultancy (BECS) framework. The scheme consists of four individual projects, including the newbuild Western Expansion Secondary School, a purpose-built health centre, an extension to St Mary and St Giles Primary School in Stony Stratford, and a multi-storey car park adjacent to Milton Keynes railway station. The comprehensive works will provide more than 2200 primary and secondary school places for local families, 700 car park spaces at Milton Keynes railway station and will also ensure greater primary care health facilities are available for the growing community.

Flagship art and design building scoops prestigious RIBA award The team behind the transformational Vijay Patel Building at De Montfort University, which inspires some of the UK’s most talented art and design graduates, have scooped a prestigious award from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Nottingham- and London-based CPMG Architects was the appointed architect firm on the project which scooped the RIBA East Midlands Award on 17th May. The judges praised the complex and ambitious project; in particular, the public spaces which have opened up access to the riverside, and the mix of vibrant and inspiring spaces for students. Director for CPMG, Nick Gregory, said: “This RIBA award is a testament to the hard work of our design team who are experts in delivering transformational projects across higher education campuses across the UK.”

Morgan Sindall wins £5.75m project The £5.75m upgrade to a popular south Norfolk primary school is underway, following the appointment of construction and infrastructure company Morgan Sindall. Roydon Primary School, near Diss, will undergo a major expansion that will almost double its student capacity to 420 places. The project, on behalf of Norfolk County Council, will create eight new classrooms, a main hall, food tech room, reception area, offices, toilets and storage space. Teachers will also be given a new staff room as part of the expansion. The project will also involve the removal of four old mobile classrooms from the school site at the end of the works, which are expected to be completed in 2019.

Perfect Circle appointed to review NHS Trust’s estate portfolio York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Perfect Circle to undertake condition surveys for its estate portfolio in York, North Yorkshire and North East Yorkshire, totalling approximately 175,000m2. The appointment follows the announcement by the Department for Health and Social Care, guided by Sir Robert Naylor’s report, to protect more than £2bn of minor capital budget which funds projects on a national basis. The trust’s estate consists of 67 sites, and the data collected from the surveys will be used to inform and assist in planning its backlog and capital investment programme, as well as its future estates strategy. The surveys will also assess condition information to provide both a five-year forward maintenance plan and a 30-year asset replacement model and will include the trust’s three largest hospital sites in York, Scarborough and Bridlington.

News

Irish construction gets off to a flying start with Gold Award for Dublin Airport Roadbridge has won a Gold Award at the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s 2018 National Site Awards for its North Runway Construction Package 1 project at Dublin Airport. This is a huge achievement for the Irish construction industry, as it is the first project in Ireland to win a coveted Gold Award following the launch of the scheme in Ireland in 2017. The scheme’s National Site Awards are one of the most revered accolades within the construction industry. They recognise schemeregistered sites that have demonstrated the very highest levels of consideration in respect of the community, environment and workforce. There were many examples of outstanding best practice on this project; especially singled out for praise was the “collaborative team working” in meeting all of the project’s challenges, with exceptional outcomes achieved across all five sections of the scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice.

Image ©The Environmental Design Studio & JTP

Essex school wins top property prize Glenwood School has been announced as the winner in the ‘Community Benefit’ category at the prestigious Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards. The Special Educational Needs (SEN) school in Benfleet, Essex, was recognised for addressing the needs of SEN school places and community facilities in the local area at the RICS East of England Awards, which recognises outstanding developments in the region. The £15m scheme was commissioned by Essex County Council through its own construction framework utilising leading property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard for project and cost management services, with design and build expertise being provided by construction firm Morgan Sindall.

UK must build flood resilient homes says RIBA The RIBA has published a new report outlining what the Government needs to do to help create homes and communities that are resilient to flood damage. RIBA’s ‘The Value of Flood Resilient Architecture and Design’ report stresses that the UK can no longer base its approach to managing flood risk on simply keeping the water out. The Government needs to enable communities to manage their risks.

This means better equipping people and businesses to live with water; being able to stop water entering their properties and speeding recovery if it does. The RIBA report advocates building flood resilient homes and buildings.

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£11M EDUCATIONAL FACILITY AIMS TO TACKLE ISLE OF WIGHT SKILLS SHORTAGE

With a population of less than 140,000 people and the mainland a ferry ride away, the Isle of Wight has struggled to close the engineering skills gap for years. So, with this in mind, the Isle of Wight College and GKN Aerospace wanted to build a facility that would create a world-class engineering workforce on the island, enticing students into the industry and holding onto the talent once training had been completed.

The college approached Pick Everard in early 2014 with the view to create an educational centre to train the next generation of engineers

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All images ©Balfour Beatty

Upfront Project: Isle of Wight College, Centre of Excellence for Composites, Advanced Manufacturing and Marine Location: Isle of Wight Property, construction and infrastructure consultancy: Pick Everard

Leading property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard delivered full multi-disciplinary services for the employer-led training facility

£11m Centre of T heExcellence for Composites, Advanced Manufacturing and Marine (CECAMM) – funded by the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) – was completed in early April 2017, ready for the new autumn term starting the following September.

Leading property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard delivered full multi-disciplinary services for the employer-led training facility – designing the building as well as acting as the quantity surveyor, project manager and mechanical and electrical engineer.

Rod Burton, Partner at Pick Everard, said: “Both the island and college struggle to attract students and then retain them due to the draw of the mainland.

The college wanted to provide a facility to give students apprenticeships, training and good job prospects.”

Debbie Lavin, Principal of the Isle of Wight College, added: “We wanted to give the existing and future workforce of the island the skills local employers need in order to grow and prosper the modern economy, as well as encouraging new businesses to locate and  invest in the island.”

Upfront CECAMM was essential to provide upskilling opportunities for the island’s existing workforce and to create a pipeline of highly-skilled advanced manufacturing engineers

The brief According to a report released by the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce in February 2018, the island currently has a “lowskill, low-wage economy”. East Cowes, where the CECAMM is located, also ranks among the most deprived coastal towns in southern England.

The college approached Pick Everard in early 2014 with the view to create an educational centre to train the next generation of engineers to help assure sustainable longterm economic success for local people and the island as a whole.

The centre needed to be sustainable and practical while being bright and attractive enough to entice young people to study and start their careers there.

Debbie continued: “Based on employer feedback, we knew the college needed to expand its capacity and increase its engineering curriculum offering in order to meet the needs of young people, businesses and the island economy.

“There are a large number of engineering companies on the Isle of Wight, and many are moving away from traditional manufacturing techniques

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and adopting more advanced technologies such as robotics and automation. CECAMM was essential to provide upskilling opportunities for the island’s existing workforce and to create a pipeline of highly-skilled, advanced manufacturing engineers ready to enter the workforce.”

The workshop spaces are bright and airy too

Meeting the brief Once funding had been secured, work to build the centre – which provides 3157m2 of high-quality teaching facilities and flexible workshops for up to 547 engineering students – started on site in early 2016.

Rod said: “We achieved a BREEAM design rating of ‘Very Good’ by incorporating sustainable solutions – such as rainwater attenuation and

optimised use of daylighting – within the design.

“Pick Everard’s interior design team were also heavily involved – if you look inside the centre, there are lots of vibrant colours, yellow in particular, and one of the main internal walls has a stunning feature motif running along it. It was all about providing an attractive environment that would inspire young people and keep them enthused.

Upfront

“The workshop spaces are bright and airy too. Normally, people expect these places to be grubby and uninspiring, but we’ve created interesting roof spaces, with the piping and lighting exposed – you can see how the mechanical and electrical engineering side of it works, allowing students to buy into the engineering environment, as well as experiencing excellent acoustic qualities.”

Debbie added: “This worldclass facility is intended to meet the needs of our prestigious island employers and offers students a broad experience of engineering skills, designed to support them building careers and maintaining the reputation of the island as a focal point of engineering excellence.

“As such, the design of the building and its content was fundamental to supporting that vision, and I am delighted that it is achieving those aims.”

Complexities The college, GKN Aerospace and Pick Everard had to undertake a lot of preliminary work in order to secure funding – building up a cost plan, submitting the application, presenting the plans and providing drawings.

Rod said: “Starting to work on a project that may not have come to fruition was a risk, but we had faith in the scheme and, as we had a long-term relationship with the college, having completed three schemes for them before, we were happy to do so.

“Funding wasn’t confirmed until some way down the project path and, once the funds were secured, work had to start pretty much instantaneously as we only had 21 months to complete the centre from confirmation of funding.”

The site was acquired from the Homes and Communities Agency and presented a particular challenge in terms of drainage.

Rod added: “The surface water was a particular challenge, resulting in the design and construction of swales in poor ground conditions as well as attenuation tanks. In addition, the final ground levels of the site were modelled to maximise the site’s surface water storage capacity to minimise the risk of  the building itself flooding.

Once funding had been secured, work to build the centre – which provides 3157m2 of high-quality teaching facilities and flexible workshops for up to 547 engineering students – started on site in early 2016

More than 460 further education, primary school, secondary school, higher education and adult students, as well as 158 apprentices employed by local businesses, have benefitted from the CECAMM Centre

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Upfront The facility – which won a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) [IW] and IW Society Design and Conservation Award – provides for a wide range of students studying from foundation level to higher education programmes, including degrees, in many engineering-related disciplines

“Due to the nature of the client’s requirements, which also had to accommodate the requirements of local employers, the project also challenged the design team from the outset, particularly the mechanical and electrical engineers. They had to work to very exacting standards when producing specifications for the specialist equipment needed, as well as space planning to position the various items of equipment in the most efficient and workable way.

“But this was overcome by us supporting the college with workshops and general liaison with local employers.

We also looked in detail at how the curriculum was going to be delivered to ensure that spaces for effective educational purposes were produced and the required services were provided in the right places, allowing for sufficient flexibility to provide an appropriate degree of future-proofing.”

Successes More than 460 further education, primary school, secondary school, higher education and adult students, as well as 158 apprentices

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employed by local businesses, have benefitted from the CECAMM Centre – situated at Whippingham Technology Park, East Cowes – in its first year.

The facility – which won a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) [IW] and IW Society Design and Conservation Award – provides for a wide range of students studying from foundation level to higher education programmes, including degrees, in many engineeringrelated disciplines. It delivers full- and part-time programmes to young people and adults, including apprenticeships and full-cost courses.

Rod said: “This new facility will contribute to a sustainable, longterm economic development on the island, hopefully continuing to encourage young students to seek their career path here.”

Debbie added: “Students and employers have all agreed that, in operation, the facility more than meets the very high expectations it was conceived for. It is a wonderful place to work and study, and I am proud of it and all who contributed to it being here.” 

 www.pickeverard.co.uk

Pick Everard’s interior design team were heavily involved – inside the centre, there are lots of vibrant colours, yellow in particular

Housing

BATH OR WETROOM – LET THE TENANT DECIDE

There are six major challenges faced by today’s social landlords that mean that the pressure to provide accessible housing will only increase. James Dadd, Marketing Director at AKW, a leading provider of mobility and accessibility solutions, discusses what the growing challenges are, how it is possible to build flexibility into housing stock and the success of a particular accessibility solution – AKW’s ‘Bathroom for Life’.

Our rapidly-changing population In the social rented sector in England alone, there are over 1.6 million people over 55 years of age; representing almost 45% of all socially rented households.

Of particular concern to social landlords is the fact that a significant percentage of the extra 6.3 million ‘elderly’ (60+) people who will be living in the UK by 2035 will already be living in, or looking to move to, social housing.

Importantly, approximately 40% of those new 60+ residents will have some degree of disability.

Poor health and disability Disabled people are twice as likely as non-disabled people to be social housing tenants, almost half (48.5%) of all socially rented households have at least one person whose illness or disability limits their activities.

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This is much higher than other tenures. A survey of local authority waiting lists showed that 23,886 wheelchair users are in urgent need of wheelchairaccessible social or affordable housing in England alone.

The movement of older and disabled people from other tenures The private rented sector contains a large proportion of older residents and those in poor health, however, it is hard for private tenants to find suitable adapted properties, or to get their private landlords to agree to adaptations due to these changes reducing the general letting appeal of their properties.

Inevitably, many of these will apply for social housing, putting further significant pressure on housing managers.

Housing

The hidden burden of dementia The number of people in the UK with dementia is currently over 800,000; numbers are projected to increase by 40% over the next 12 years. The quality of life of those with dementia can be significantly improved by making some key home improvements, particularly in the bathroom.

Sheltered housing More than two-thirds of all sheltered housing is in the social rented sector and over 40% of social tenants over 85 years of age live in sheltered accommodation. With most of the sheltered housing stock built in the last century, much still needs upgrading and this delivers a range of challenges to social landlords.

Younger people with disabilities More disabled children are surviving infancy and children under 16 are the fastest-growing group of disabled people. One child in 20 is disabled and 99% of these live at home supported by their families. Surveys have also shown that families with disabled children make up 5% of all households in the social sector.

Allied to our rapidly-ageing population and the rising number of people developing dementia, the need to provide safe social housing for those who are older and/or disabled is becoming increasingly urgent and intense.

Building flexibility into the UK’s housing stock Recognising that one style of bathroom does not suit everyone, AKW has introduced a ‘Bathroom for Life’ solution that is proving popular with private and social landlords alike. It enables bathroom accessibility to be built into an existing or new facility quickly and cost-effectively and embraces the possibility of the bath being changed to a wetroom – and back again – with minimum effort.

The Bathroom for Life concept is a conventional bathroom layout that includes a bath. The difference, however, is that this bath can be very quickly and easily adapted to become a level-access wetroom showering area (and back again, if required).

The bath effectively becomes more like a piece of furniture, so it is possible for landlords to keep the bath in place for families or remove it for older people or those with disabilities, as required.

The Bathroom for Life solution minimises any adaptation costs for a housing provider by reducing the amount of building work needed. It also reduces disruption to tenants. Once installed, it takes approximately half a day to either install a bath or take the bath out and return it to a wetroom, making it easy for new residents moving into a property, as they can have the choice of a bath or shower depending on their needs or preference.

because the plumbing is already in place, they only need to fit a waste adaptor to create a level access shower room.”

This flexible approach has already proven its worth, as within two years of installation,

some tenants have already had their bath taken out and, so, they can have a shower for health reasons.

Although there is increasing pressure on housing stock to become ever more accessible, there is now the bathroom equipment out there to make this a reality. 

 www.akw-ltd.co.uk

Sovereign Housing Association – Bathroom For Life in practice AKW has been working with many social housing providers to enable them to build flexibility into their housing stock. The benefit of an AKW Bathroom for Life has already made a big difference to a wide range of housing associations.

A case in point is Willow Close in Newbury where AKW’s Bathroom for Life was installed in the seven bungalows.

Paul Clayton, Contract Manager from Sovereign Housing, comments: “When tenants move in they start off wanting and needing a bath, but as time moves on, their needs change. When this happens with a ‘Bathroom for Life’, very little disruption is experienced. A trusted local installer is employed to undertake minor adaptations without any structural damage.

The bath is simply taken out and,

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Healthcare

Choosing grooved pipe joining technology made the estimation of the Danderyd project easier

Project: Danderyd Hospital Location: Danderyd, Sweden HVAC company: Victaulic

newly-built T heemergency room (ER)

COMPLEX PIPE INSTALLATION: WHAT SEPARATES SUCCESS FROM FAILURE?

Tight deadlines, space limitations and stringent hygiene requirements – these are just a few of the many obstacles contractors must overcome when working in a challenging healthcare sector. That’s why, after winning the contract for installing a new mechanical room at the Danderyd Hospital in Stockholm, local contractor Sandbacken Ror knew traditional pipe joining methods were not up to the challenge, making the move towards more innovative solutions a natural choice, writes Jared Breidinger, Divisional Sales Manager at Victaulic.

Installing a grooved system made installation easier and workflow more predictable, and eliminated uncertainties associated with hot works

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at the Danderyd Hospital, part of a major Swedish hospital service modernisation project, required a HVAC system, connecting heating and cooling piping to the central system.

At times, the task demanded up to 30 people co-working on the installation of over 18 miles of piping: the length of 300 football pitches.

In a complex system installation, such as at Danderyd, a few factors played an essential role in making the project a success.

Grooving versus welding The tempo is at full throttle when Sandbacken Ror simultaneously works on two fronts of the ER. In the basement, work is near completion: a newly-installed piping system for heating and cooling is about to be connected to the central system.

On the sixth floor, the piping connecting the central system in the basement with the separate ventilation systems is also being finalised. The insulation is being applied, and the pressure test is imminent.

Success – everyone can relax But a firm foundation of the project was laid more than a year ago when Sandbacken Ror decided to partner with Victaulic, whose grooved couplings and fittings were simply a better fit for the task.

It did not take long for Sandbacken Ror to see the fruits of its decision.

First, choosing grooved pipe joining technology made the estimation of the Danderyd project easier. Sandbacken Ror provided a fixed price for the entire project, which made a sound economy of the utmost importance. Installing a grooved system made installation easier and workflow more predictable, and eliminated uncertainties associated with hot works. That meant that  construction workers also

Healthcare

did not have to worry about a vast range of hazards which are typically faced by welders, including fire and fumes. All the above contributed to an easier estimation on the project.

Secondly, pipe contamination was another problem Sandbacken Ror did not have to deal with as, in contrast to a welding process, grooved pipe installations do not contaminate the system with soot and fragments of metal. The pipes, therefore, do not require extra cleaning and sanitisation, which would then have to be executed following rigorous procedures.

Speeding up with 3D What Sandbacken Ror found particularly useful was the fact that the initial plan drawing was converted into a 3D model

by Victaulic, to ensure there were no conflicts with existing installations and to optimally utilise the space available, which was then sent back to the planner for approval.

The 3D drawings portray the different zones of the project as they are meant to be built on site, with all components in place, as well as listed materials and volumes.

Furthermore, the latest 3D technology has even more than that to offer. At preconstruction stage, if needed, a walk-through of the site could be facilitated using the newest 3D VR gear.

This allows contractors to fully immerse themselves and results in less unexpected events during construction, as potential clashes could be detected upfront.

After approval of the plans and drawings for Danderyd’s HVAC system, pipes were cut and grooved in the appropriate lengths and spools were produced and preassembled in the quantities required, ready for installation on site.

The spools were delivered to the Danderyd Hospital on pallets, accompanied with the 3D drawing and a plan sheet, according to the construction schedule and progression of the project. This increased space efficiency on site significantly.

To make the installation process even more simple, all components delivered to site had ID tags that referred to the 3D drawings of the project.

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Pipe contamination was another problem Sandbacken Ror did not have to deal with as, in contrast to a welding process, grooved pipe installations do not contaminate the system with soot and fragments of metal

For the scheme, Victaulic had planned and precisely drawn up blueprints to make everything fit: approximately 70% of the assembly work was prefabricated at Victaulic and components arrived fully assembled at the site.

Investment in the future Faster installation times at Danderyd ultimately translated into fewer manhours. That’s why Sandbacken Ror is confident that using a more innovative solution made financial sense

too. Considering saved hours on installation and minimalisation of material handling and storage, the grooved system was no more expensive than a welded system.

Sandbacken Ror’s decision to use grooved couplings and fittings will also result in reduced future costs when implementing any changes or modifications at the hospital.

The entire installed pipe system can be disassembled, which means changes and the work associated with them will be far less costly than with other

solutions. In fact, it will be easy for the Danderyd Hospital to add new components to the system, replace or interchange an older one, such as a pump or a heat exchange, changing the specifications of the system.

The pipe installation work done at the Danderyd Hospital is a testimony on how innovative solutions enable constructors to overcome all major challenges and complete projects on time and on budget. 

 www.victaulic.com

What Sandbacken Ror found particularly useful was the fact that the initial plan drawing was converted into a 3D model by Victaulic

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Legal & Business

CALL FOR CHANGE: THE IMPORTANCE OF FIRE SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION Ryan Simmonds, Sales Director for Framing at voestalpine Metsec, explores the importance of only specifying framing materials which have been fire tested, and the options available to the industry. is high on F irethesafety agenda for all of us in the construction industry, and rightly so.

Today’s buildings need to perform as efficiently as possible – structurally, acoustically and thermally – but they must also be safe in terms of fire protection.

There were 687,476 incidents attended by fire and rescue services in Great Britain in 2016/171, with the recent Hackitt Review on the Grenfell Tower tragedy concluding that indifference and ignorance led to a “race to the bottom” in building safety practices, with cost prioritised over safety.

One issue already emerging from the Grenfell Tower

20

tragedy is that focusing on the performance of one standalone product in a fire, without considering the myriad of other factors that can allow a fire to spread, is too simplistic and does not address all the risks involved.

For any future building project, full system testing and fire safety are paramount to any organisation within the construction supply chain.

End clients are calling for additional reassurance, and we in the construction industry are being urged to ensure that all components used have been designed and developed in line with the latest fire and safety guidance2.

Furthermore, the insurance industry is calling for an overhaul of fire testing for building materials after a study exposed its “utter inadequacy” in real-world conditions3.

Having led the market for more than 20 years, we recognised the need to increase the efficiency of steel framing system (SFS) products, which led to the development and launch of the innovative new SFS range.

The biggest change in the SFS market for 20 years, the aim of the new range is to combine best value and quality for installers and end-users, as well as have a substantial impact on the green credentials and sustainability of any project

Ryan Simmonds is Sales Director for Framing at voestalpine Metsec.

where our new SFS solution is implemented.

Quality and fire safety do not have to be sacrificed in the name of cost – and should never be.

The construction industry should lead the future fire safety debate, and work with regulators to ensure all parties involved – from contractors to building occupants – view the sector as standard bearers for both quality and safety. 

 www.metsec.com/sfsframing 1

https://www.gov.uk/government/statisticaldata-sets/fire-statistics-data-tables 2

https://www.mishcon.com/news/articles/ independent-review-of-building-regulationsand-fire-safety 3 https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/ best-practice/material-fire-testing-utterlyinadequate-insurers-claim/10030408.article

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Talking Point

Minesh Patel is Business Development Manager at Centrica Business Solutions.

He has many years’ experience supporting Cogen & Trigen (CHP & CCHP) for on-site energy in many market sectors. Minesh is technicallybased and prides himself with a highly professional service.

HEAT NETWORKS: HOW DO WE UNLOCK THEIR POTENTIAL? Minesh Patel, Business Development Manager at Centrica Business Solutions, discusses a new Government fund for the development of heat networks across the UK and how using combined heat and power solutions to fuel them will be key to maximising their benefits.

22

Department for T heBusiness, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) recently announced the launch of a £320m funding programme for heat networks across England and Wales.

The scheme, due to open for applications this autumn, will offer grants and loans to both the public and private sector for the installation of networks serving two or more buildings.

Heat networks, often described as ‘central heating for cities’, distribute energy efficiently to multiple recipients from a single source. Using specially insulated pipes, they can reduce heating costs by up to 30%.

The £320m investment marks the first real push from central Government to promote and, importantly, fund these initiatives. As BEIS cited in its announcement, there are already networks set up in the UK, including one in Sheffield that uses 12,000 tonnes of municipal waste each year to fuel the system.

The Government clearly sees these networks as a key part of its Clean Growth Strategy and has stated that they could cater for a quarter of the heat demand in industrial and public sector buildings by 2050.

This is certainly a positive move, especially for a public sector faced with huge challenges.

Talking Point Pressure on all sides The Government’s drive for efficiency savings across core services has created massive pressure for public sector organisations to reduce costs.

At the same time, Brexit uncertainty raises the possibility of further budgetary constraints after the UK leaves the EU. In the midst of this, is the continued campaign from Westminster to meet its internationally agreed climate change targets.

The culmination of all these factors is a need to bring down costs and be more efficient wherever possible. Energy use is always going to be a core part of this and, consequently, has moved to the top of the agenda for public sector organisations.

A report we produced in partnership with Edie, that surveyed sustainability, CSR and energy managers working in the public sector, found that more than two-thirds of respondents cited energy efficiency upgrades as one of their top three priorities for significant sustainability investment.

With all this considered, any initiative that helps public sector organisations to reduce emissions and, importantly, bring down energy costs should be welcomed. Funding heat networks certainly falls into this category.

Combining heat and power Yet, these networks alone will only solve part of the problem.

They are an excellent way of distributing heat and should be adopted wherever feasible. But they do nothing to make the actual production of energy more efficient.

Making the most of heat networks must mean more than simply connecting buildings to better piping. It is essential to ensure that the savings made through more efficient delivery are reflected in the way that it is generated in the first place.

Fundamental to this will be investigating how different energy solutions can be integrated to get the best results.

Combined heat and power (CHP) is a way of generating energy that will go hand-in-hand with a network designed for the more efficient delivery of heat.

CHP systems take the byproduct of power generation and use this to satisfy other demands such as central heating or the need to warm up water.

An example of this in practice is our work with Gateshead Council. This project combines an energy centre with battery and solar panels to create an energy system for council buildings, local homes and businesses.

This system uses a 3MW battery to meet local electricity demand while waste heat from generation is recovered to provide hot water for heating via a 3km network of pipes.

If we apply this model to a heat network, it’s possible to see how the by-product of creating electricity through a CHP unit could be used to fuel the network. This means far less additional energy would be required to power it on top of the electricity needs of the buildings it is connected to.

Integration is key to success The move by BEIS to fund heat networks is a positive step and the emissions and cost-saving benefits it will offer is certainly something that public sector organisations should look to take advantage of.

But, ultimately, reducing energy consumption needs to be viewed as an end-to-end process. Heat network funding is one vitally important part of the matrix of different measures needed for the UK to meet its energy targets.

For it to be as successful as possible, it needs to be integrated into a system that strives for efficiency at every stage of the supply chain – from production to end-user.

Consolidating demand for electricity and heat through CHP will be the most effective way of ensuring that the positive impact of a heat network contributes to the best overall result. 

www.centricabusinesssolutions.com

23

Education

Project: Menai Science Park (M-SParc) Location: Gaerwen, Wales Architect: FaulknerBrowns Architects Solid surfaces: Corian

The structure is characterised by a continuous flowing ribbon that forms floor, wall and roof surfaces

IMPRESSIVE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR CLADDING FOR NEW MENAI SCIENCE PARK BUILDING An undulating ribbon of Corian forms the high-impact first impression of the magnificent new Menai Science Park (M-SParc) by FaulknerBrowns Architects. science park to T hebe first developed in Wales, the £15.5m project aims to drive growth in knowledge-based industries, with a focus on clean and sustainable technology.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Bangor University, M-SParc is working closely with the university to provide expertise and support to local enterprise.

The 5000m² building features an Open Innovation Space offering conferencing, coworking and hospitality (both for businesses and the wider community) plus incubator and grow-on office space, laboratories, clean workshops and admin facilities. The structure is characterised by a continuous flowing ribbon that forms floor, wall and roof

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surfaces, wrapping around the space within while also connecting the building to the exterior landscape.

“The architecture is intended to reflect the values of M-SParc,” says Leighton Cooksey, Project Director at FaulknerBrowns, “and to create a high-quality, unique environment to promote energy and innovation while attracting the best new initiatives and creating a thriving community space.”

The form of the building posed a number of challenges as the ribbon needed to contain all building services, structure and waterproofing within a continuous thickness of just 850mm. A seamless finish was desired to create a monolithic appearance with minimal joints.

The chosen material had to meet a variety of orientations, be formed into tight internal radii of 400mm and withstand the worst of the Anglesey weather.

“We investigated a number of alternative cladding systems including glass reinforced concrete, aluminium  composites, cassette panels

The architecture is intended to reflect the values of M-SParc

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Education

Both applications make the most of the material’s translucency and its compatibility with technology, by smoothly integrating backlit logos for added impact

and high-pressure laminate, but very quickly chose Corian as the preferred solution,” Leighton continues. “Working with Unique Fabrications, we developed the principle of a Corian rainscreen cladding system over a waterproofed steel frame. Corian proved to be the perfect material to deal with the sinuous form of the ribbon, with the thermoformed curved panels, preformed corners and invisible fixings and thus to meet the architectural design intent.”

FaulknerBrowns carried out extensive research together with M-SParc to assess the weathering performance and robustness of the proposed cladding, confirming that it would withstand the rigours of the exposed site. “The smooth, non-porous nature of Corian and its ease of cleaning and maintenance made it the ideal choice for ensuring the longevity of the pristine white finish,” Leighton concludes.

Fabricated and installed

by Corian industrial partner, Unique Fabrications, the cladding consists of 1300m2 of Corian in Glacier White

26

thermoformed into sculptural panels and fitted over 15 weeks using an aluminium support system.

Corian also makes an impressive appearance to the interior of the building, continuing the ribbon motif with cladding around varying levels of the lobby and forming the main reception desk. Both applications make the most of the material’s translucency and its compatibility with technology, by smoothly integrating backlit logos for added impact.

Operational Director of M-Sparc, Pryderi ap Rhisiart, adds: “We did a lot of research ourselves before agreeing to the Corian cladding, and we know we’ve made the right choice. The impact is exactly what we wanted from this flagship building. The public and businesses alike comment on the external and internal design when they enter, with the Corian creating a clean, professional finish fitting to a building of this stature. It really does have the wow factor.” 

 www.corian.uk

Corian also makes an impressive appearance to the interior of the building, continuing the ribbon motif with cladding around varying levels of the lobby

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Technical Focus

REVERSE DIFFUSION: THE HIDDEN RISK IN IWI RETROFIT SCHEMES Andy Mitchell from NBT, UK distributor of the Pavatex range of woodfibre insulation, discusses the risk of reverse diffusion in social housing internal wall insulation retrofits. high levels of E nsuring thermal efficiency is a clear priority for social housing providers. Not only does a more efficient building envelope mean improved all year round comfort for occupiers, but it also helps address the issues surrounding rising energy prices and fuel poverty, with better-insulated homes minimising the energy costs associated with heat loss.

New-build properties are designed to meet current Building Regulations with a heavily insulated and airtight building fabric to complement energy-efficient appliances and, increasingly, renewable energy sources.

However, the majority of the UK’s social housing stock pre-dates contemporary Part L standards, leaving housing providers with the onerous task of upgrading the building envelope on these properties in a manner that is effective without incurring excessive costs or disruption to

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tenants. Cavity wall insulation is the obvious choice in homes that have been built with a wall cavity, but this is not possible for older homes constructed with singleskin brick or masonry walls. Here, retrofitting internal wall insulation (IWI) is often the least costly and intrusive way to add thermal performance without significantly losing internal space. However, the specification and design process requires more considered thought than simply improving the U-value of the building envelope as the addition of new elements can fundamentally alter the property’s building physics resulting in condensation, damp and mould and affecting the integrity of the building or the health of the occupants.

The threat to the building fabric is from moisture. By improving the relative differential temperature between the outdoor and indoor environment, the insulation can have a significant effect on the vapour pressure, causing moisture

to be trapped within the building fabric where, over time, it can cause damage to areas such as embedded timbers and joist ends.

To address this, the commonly accepted solution is the installation of a vapour control layer (VCL) as part of the IWI retrofit specification. This is installed on the internal wall surface to prevent moisture from within the building from permeating the building fabric. However, the effectiveness of this solution is increasingly being called into question due to the challenges of correctly fitting the VCL. In reality, the VCL can actually be a contributory factor in trapping moisture that enters the structure from outside, often referred to as ‘reverse diffusion’.

What is reverse diffusion?

If you’ve never heard of ‘reverse diffusion’, you’re not alone.

It is known by a number of names, including ‘solar-driven vapour gradients’ and ‘summer

condensation’. These alternative terms can be misleading as they imply that reverse condensation is associated with warmer climates.

In fact, the wet winters and warmer summers with prolonged daylight hours that are typical of South East England provide the ideal climatic environment for reverse diffusion, particularly when normal seasonal variations are punctuated with winter sunshine during the colder months and episodes of heavy, driving rain in the summer.

Generally, we expect more rain in winter, which hits the external wall surface and is drawn into the brickwork by capillary pressure, which sucks it through into the building fabric, despite a vapour pressure gradient pushing it in the opposite direction. In the summer months, increased sol-air temperatures on the external wall surface affect the level of moisture in the wall, but only a proportion of the moisture in the structure can be released as vapour due to the very high gradient vapour pressure in the brickwork. As a result, the dew point is located on the wrong side of the VCL, within the internal wall structure, so the very element of the specification that has been installed to address problems with condensation becomes responsible for trapping humidity within the structure.

Thanks to the increased sol-air temperatures outside and the internal wall insulation doing its job of preventing overheating within the internal environment, this creates the ideal warm and wet conditions for mould spores to form, affecting the integrity of the building and the health of its occupants.

What does this mean for specifiers?

The basic issue here is that the critical interface between the insulation and the wall needs to be able to dry out during the summer and, to do this, moisture needs to escape from the building fabric into both the internal and external environment. Over the course of months or years, humidity within the structure can cause serious damage.

CIBSE guidance provides a simplified equation for calculating sol-air pressure, but this does not account for wind, which can significantly affect the level of

Reverse vapour diffusion

www.natural-building.co.uk

5

1

Vapour diffusion Reverse vapour diffusion

2

6 Capillary flow Vapour diffusion Liquid diffusion

Vapour diffusion

Solar-driven vapour diffusion Reverse vapour diffusion

3

7 Vapour diffusion

Interstitial condensation

Vapour diffusion

Balancing risk As with any area of specification, neither the VCL nor the insulation specified should be considered in isolation but as part of a full wall build-up.

Similarly, higher standards of thermal performance must be balanced against the impact of increased indoor/outdoor temperature ranges on the building physics with steps taken to design mitigation into the specification. 

Technical Focus

RELEVANT MOISTURE MECHANISMS WITHIN A SOLID BRICK WALL

Reverse vapour diffusion

Solar-driven vapour diffusion Reverse vapour diffusion

8

4 Capillary flow

Vapour diffusion

moisture entering the building through the brickwork because it can cause driving rain and splashback, as opposed to rain alone. Consequently, dynamic hypothermal modelling should ideally be used to assess risk. It is also beneficial to understand the climate context of the location, combining knowledge of wind, rain and temperatures with average peak sol-air temperatures and clear sky month climate data.

While context and modelling will enable a thorough assessment of project-specific risk, specifiers should begin from the standpoint of viewing reverse diffusion as a possibility for any unvented brick or masonry wall build-up, and consider it a certainty for projects in the South East and other areas with high levels of driving rain. There are several things that can be done to mitigate that risk, including reducing air temperature absorption with lighter colours on the external wall surface and reducing moisture content in the wall by protecting the facade from rain and splashback.

It’s also important, however, to consider the properties of the specified insulation and whether, when considered holistically as part of the wall build-up, the insulation could actually aid controlled moisture transfer. For example, woodfibre insulation has naturally hygroscopic properties, reducing the potential for humidity within the building fabric. Where these properties are maximised in a woodfibre insulation like Pavadry, which has been developed specifically for retrofit installation and actively exploits capillary conductivity, the risk of reverse diffusion and associated damage can be significantly reduced.

Liquid diffusion

Vapour diffusion

29

Glass & Glazing

INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY IN SCHOOLS

Schools need good quality daylight. This readily available and sustainable natural energy resource is widely recognised as one of the best ways to improve the happiness and wellbeing of building occupants. It helps to not only maximise student performance and productivity but also contributes to lowering a building’s energy use. lighting should N atural always be the main source of lighting in schools, but with daylight illumination falling off with distance from windows, the role that rooflights play in the provision of daylight has never been more important.

When you consider children spend more than 7800 hours at school throughout their education and a large amount of time in the classroom, their school environment is critical for promoting wellbeing and resilience. Studies have

30

shown that students felt at their best under rooflights or natural lighting, whilst teachers appreciate the low glare, good colour rendition and good behaviour demonstrated under the conditions created by rooflights.

Daylighting the interior environment has a direct and positive impact on student and teacher performance. A study released by the Heschong Mahone Group, ‘Daylighting in Schools’, looked at the effect of daylighting and human

Built as part of the Priority School Building Programme, the President Kennedy Academy in Coventry serves approximately 1600 students

Glazed in 16mm structured polycarbonate, the Marvaults could be easily assembled into runs of more than 21m in length with a span of 1.5m

performance. Analysing maths and reading test scores for more than 21,000 students from elementary schools in different regions of the western United States, the results found that throughout one year, students with the most daylight in their classrooms progressed 20% faster in maths and 26% faster in reading, compared to students who had less natural daylight in their classrooms.

The pressure on schools due to the combination of shrinking budgets and

ever-changing teaching requirements has meant that teaching spaces need to be flexible and adaptable.

By introducing rooflights, including domes, vaults, pitched skylights or panel glazing systems, manufacturers such as Brett Martin Daylight Systems can help specifiers deliver educational spaces that encourage learning, concentration and positive student behaviour, helping to meet the specific needs of each school project.

According to the Department for Education Building Design Bulletin 90: “The school designer should assume that daylight will be the prime means of lighting when it is available”. With daylight considered a fundamental design criterion, rooflights can help maximise the transmission of natural light to the interior of a school. Correct use of natural light can help achieve BREEAM credits for Health and Wellbeing – including daylighting and glare control – as well as Energy Saving.

An important consideration when specifying rooflights is ensuring compliance with the differing national regulatory frameworks.

For example, when meeting the requirements of Part L 2013, the minimum performance standard for rooflights is 2.2W/m²K, which means all rooflights should be at least triple skin. For a building to meet its CO2 emission targets, however, specifying rooflights with a U-value of 1.8W/m²K – to match the performance of the rooflights in the Notional Building – is recommended.

Installing 15% of the roof area in rooflights is a practical solution to ensure the lighting levels within the building are adequate and will reduce the artificial lighting requirement and energy use, which, in turn, reduces a building’s CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the passive solar gain achieved can provide free heat to the building.

In addition to new-build construction, architects and designers refurbishing and upgrading many older school buildings can reap the benefits of rooflights. Brett Martin has offered guidance and advice to specifiers wanting to transform courtyards into classrooms, provide canopies and covered walkways, replace existing rooflights and develop bespoke daylight solutions for halls and circulation areas, leisure facilities and classrooms according to each project.

Seeing the light At the President Kennedy Academy in Coventry, an impressive 85m2 application of Marvault, a continuous vault rooflight system from Brett Martin, has helped to deliver exceptional levels of diffused daylight into communal areas of the school. Built as part of

Glass & Glazing

Daylight performance

the Priority School Building Programme, the new secondary school serves approximately 1600 students.

With the academy’s central areas requiring a natural light source to optimise internal environmental conditions, the Marvault system provided the optimum combination of high light transmission and diffusion.

Glazed in 16mm structured polycarbonate, the Marvaults could be easily assembled into runs of more than 21m in length with a span of 1.5m. The economic, simple-to-fit, barrel vault system complemented the new facility’s high-quality external aesthetic.

“We have partnered with local authorities, architects and schools on a significant number of school projects across the UK and Ireland,” commented Tony Isaac, National Commercial Sales Manager at Brett Martin Daylight Systems. “Our technical advisors can provide expert, impartial advice on the design, specification and installation of rooflights and are on hand to advise on the regulatory demands for daylighting the school of the future.”

Lighting plays an important part in any building, and in schools, the lighting design should enable students and staff to carry out their particular activities easily and comfortably in attractive and stimulating surroundings.

In addition to improving the energy performance of the school building, rooflights can be fundamental to ensuring that attention, concentration and overall pupil behaviour is maximised to enhance academic performance. 

 www.brettmartin.com

An impressive 85m2 application of Marvault, a continuous vault rooflight system from Brett Martin, has helped to deliver exceptional levels of diffused daylight at the President Kennedy Academy

With the academy’s central areas requiring a natural light source to optimise internal environmental conditions, the Marvault system provided the optimum combination of high light transmission and diffusion

31

Leisure

Project: Sapphire Ice and Leisure Centre Location: Romford, Essex Architect: Saunders Boston Architects Construction company: Willmott Dixon Building services expert: REL Building Services

All images ŠWillmott Dixon

Improving lighting performance

LIGHTING THE WAY

REL had to deliver lighting which harmonised and emphasised the architectural cladding

A new £28m leisure centre in Romford is one of only a few in the UK to feature a floating ice rink above a competition swimming pool. Toby Buckley, Managing Director of REL Building Services, discusses the facility’s complex electrical design and installation challenges. by the London F unded Borough of Havering and Sports England, the Sapphire Ice and Leisure Centre is located in the heart of Romford town centre. Built by Willmott Dixon on a highly constrained site, the scheme was designed by Saunders Boston Architects to maximise the site and bring a raft of impressive new facilities to the area.

Romford had been without an ice rink since 2013 and without a pool for even longer. As the build space was so limited, the

chosen solution was to construct the 56 x 26m rink above the eight-lane swimming pool rather than side-by-side at ground floor level. It is extremely rare in the UK to design a leisure centre in this way.

A robust structure was required to accommodate the ice rink, which given its position above the swimming pool, was created without using internal columns.

Given the complexity of the project, all of the contractors and specialist teams had to work

closely together from the outset to understand and address any potential challenges. This included collaborating with the structural engineers to ensure that all of the mechanical and electrical services could be carefully coordinated.

Appointed by Kershaw Mechanical Services, REL was involved in the electrical design from the early stages, responsible for developing the concepts and then evolving them as the project progressed to ensure maximum efficiency and performance.

Appointed by Kershaw Mechanical Services, REL was involved in the electrical design from the early stages, responsible for developing the concepts and then evolving them as the project progressed to ensure maximum efficiency and performance

32

Initially, the focus was on value engineering, ensuring the electrical elements could perform effectively within the required budget.

However, the project spent a number of years in the preconstruction stage so as the timescales shifted, there were opportunities to review the electrical design.

Within this time, there had been a considerable revolution in LED lighting technology, so we reviewed and altered the lighting design to improve performance, energy efficiency and running costs significantly.

In the swimming pool hall, which also features a learner pool with a movable floor, there were additional challenges as the lighting had to meet the strict criteria set by Sports England and maximise safety. Not only did the design have to achieve a high level of lighting for competitions but also eliminate glare on the pool surface as this can inhibit surveillance.

The original electrical design comprised downlights around the pool perimeter, but these were changed to LED uplighters to ensure compliance with Sports England and reduce maintenance. To reduce glare on the water, the uplighters were arranged in such a way that all light was directed evenly over the ceiling, which in effect, meant the ceiling became the luminaire.

The swimming pool and the ice rink were built in a double-height space, so in each area, the lighting had to be installed at a height of 7m. In the ice rink, high-bay LED luminaires were used.

These were coordinated with AV equipment gantries which result in uniform light over the rink and minimise glare.

This was essential as the rink is used by local sports teams, including the London Raiders ice hockey team.

Leisure The new leisure centre is one of only a few in the UK to feature a floating ice rink above a competition swimming pool

The lighting design extended to the outside of the building, which has a striking facade designed to resemble a block of ice. This meant that we had to deliver lighting which harmonised and emphasised the architectural cladding, giving the facility its unique appearance.

This was achieved by creating a vertical ribbon of light at specific points, comprising a very thin watertight LED strip just 16mm wide. We also advised on the use of cool-white LED lights to set off the blue panelling and give maximum impact.

Overcoming challenges In addition to the lighting design and installation, there were other electrical challenges to overcome.

As the facility was in the heart of the town centre, there was limited storage space and no car parking. This required very accurate programming to ensure that electrical items were delivered at exactly the right time to enable us to install them straight away.

The design of the fitness suite also presented installation hurdles. With 100 stations, the electrical equipment is vast, but

In the swimming pool hall, not only did the design have to achieve a high level of lighting for competitions but also eliminate glare on the pool surface

there was only a 65mm void in the floor through which to feed all the services. This required very careful coordination of the power and IT wiring, which had to be segregated within the small space but then connect to the same machine.

Further investment The Sapphire Ice and Leisure Centre took 18 months to build with the electrical installation taking 12 months.

Operated by Everyone Active, it represents Havering Council’s largest single investment in a

borough-wide improvement programme. It is set to have a major impact on the local economy and will act as a catalyst for further regeneration in the local area. 

î˜ąwww.relbuildingservices.co.uk

33

Interiors: Floors, Walls & Ceilings

FLANKING SOUND TRANSMISSION: FIVE WAYS TO TACKLE IT

A traditional concrete floor with masonry walls would be the ideal choice from a noise transmission perspective

Structure-borne noise is a growing problem for multi-occupancy buildings – but there are ways to reduce it, says Lee Nichols, Product Development & Business Manager at Monarfloor Acoustics, part of the BMI Group. to the World A ccording Health Organisation,

Sound travels through structures when a structural element continues from one property to an adjacent one. It could be a continuous floor slab, a joist, a void beneath the floor or ceiling or the cavity inside a wall.

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noise is an “underestimated threat”. It can lead to multiple health problems from sleep deprivation to stress, poor mental performance and even heart problems. In the UK, the number of complaints due to noise nuisance in domestic buildings is constantly growing.

As the number of multipleoccupancy dwellings – such as purpose-built apartments or converted buildings – increases, so too do the risks of unwanted noise. One of the biggest problem areas – and one of the least wellunderstood – is flanking sound.

Flanking sound doesn’t travel directly from one space to another. It’s noise that takes an indirect path, perhaps through the structural frame of a building, or

through voids beneath floors or within walls. It could be the sound of a barking dog, dancing feet or a humming hoover that travel from one part of a building to another and cause annoyance.

Unfortunately, the section of our Building Regulations that deals with noise, Part E, has not been updated for residential buildings since 2004. Meanwhile, today's music and home entertainment systems have changed beyond all recognition.

For those who do want to improve the sound insulation performance of their buildings, one of the best ways to do that is through addressing flanking transmission. Below are some of the things to think about:

1. More mass Generally, more mass reduces flanking transmission problems.

A traditional concrete floor with masonry walls would be the ideal choice from a noise transmission perspective. Adding mass in other ways, such as using denser blockwork or thicker floor slabs, always helps.

However, this can be difficult in lighter forms of construction and ‘off-site’ such as steelframed or timber-framed buildings. Designers need to take extra care when using modern methods of construction.

4. Think M&E

Sound travels through structures when a structural element continues from one property to an adjacent one. It could be a continuous floor slab, a joist, a void beneath the floor or ceiling or the cavity inside a wall.

To stop sound travelling, one must somehow break up those continuous elements. For example, the traditional way to isolate adjacent semi-detached or terraced houses is to split the floor slab at the point of the party wall. In many cases, that isn’t a good option because it adds cost in additional foundations to support the edges of the slab and more material to excavate.

In that situation, a proprietary acoustic isolation system for party walls, such as Bridgestop, can lead to savings of between 14 and 35% of foundation costs. Bridgestop incorporates an insulating membrane that goes on top of the floor slab, underneath the party walls and a quilt that is installed on the cavity-side of one of the party walls.

Savings are most pronounced on brownfield sites where there is the additional cost of removing contaminated land.

Where there is a gas or radon barrier, a proprietary acoustic isolation system can protect the barrier from potential damage due to mortar droppings.

Mechanical and electrical installations can often be the source of flanking noise in residential buildings – think banging water pipes or grumbling shower pumps.

In recent years, the drive towards higher levels of energy efficiency and airtightness means that mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) systems are being installed more often.

To avoid such installations becoming a problem, it’s important to choose low-noise units and ensure that they are resiliently mounted to avoid vibration and noise. Risers too must be firmly fixed.

3. Break the joints From a sound engineer’s perspective, the best approach to joints would be to de-couple them – if it’s possible. Often it isn’t. Some forms of off-site offer particular problems; for example, when steel-framed ‘pods’ are bolted together, the joints between elements are creating a ready-made path for sound to flow through.

One solution to isolate the joints between walls and floors is an elastomeric interlayer, such as Monarfloor Wall Cap. This interlayer sits over the top of a load-bearing wall, below the floor slab above it. Precompletion sound insulation testing has demonstrated improvements of 8 dB and more using this cost-effective and easy-to-install method – which is a very significant improvement in performance.

Interiors: Floors, Walls & Ceilings

2. Divide and conquer

5. Inner linings Another way to protect against flanking transmission is to install independent linings within a room or apartment. This may be a viable solution for a retrofit or conversion, although the downsides are that it adds significant cost and reduces the rentable or saleable space.

Acoustic floors reduce both impact and flanking sound transmission and are already a common solution. Products such as Monarfloor Tranquilt can be used as an isolation layer between the sub-floor and the finished screed.

We are seeing more demand for these systems, such as Monarfloor Wall Cap and Monarfloor Tranquilt, for high-end attached dwellings and buildings such as hotels, retirement complexes and build-to-rent apartment

Products such as Monarfloor Tranquilt can be used as an isolation layer between the sub-floor and the finished screed

blocks. For some architects and specifiers, the fact that they are made from fully-recycled material is an extra bonus.

In conclusion, there are costeffective and straightforward ways to reduce flanking transmission and hence greatly improve the environment for those living in or using

the building. For new buildings, it is very important to design these measures in early, since retrofitting systems to reduce flanking transmission is expensive and often ineffective. 

 www.icopal.co.uk

A proprietary acoustic isolation system for party walls, such as Bridgestop, can lead to savings of between 14 and 35% of foundation costs

35

BIM

At the Heslington West campus at the University of York, the Interserve team used Powerproject to plot out multiple programme paths, retain significant float and adapt in realtime to client requests and design changes

Image ©Interserve

SCALING THE CHALLENGE OF PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION We often hear that collaboration is improving rapidly in construction, thanks to digital technology. Elecosoft’s Jonathan Hunter explores how this can transform the operations of the large sites and strategic projects which are so common in public sector building. challenges of T heimproving project efficiency and assuring dependable delivery are now accepted as strategic priorities for construction, and nowhere is finding solutions more urgent than on critical public building and infrastructure projects.

Many construction businesses are striving to embrace digital construction and modern methods. The scale of major public initiatives creates very large or distributed construction sites, and some problems that can be worked around on smaller projects often become more difficult to circumvent as projects scale. Expanded

36

project management teams must collaborate continually.

Construction executives must be able to see every project as a whole, to steer a steady path.

Enterprise-wide thinking The scale and cost of hospital developments, new town construction or transport infrastructure projects are extreme. Carillion’s collapse has highlighted the importance of public providers and partners delivering on their financial and physical promises. Making smart digital decisions is business-critical.

Our customers are realising that to manage very large

projects, single-project point solutions aren’t enough.

They want to help project managers (PMs) to collaborate, and better communicate with clients and suppliers. They need help to have much more accurate, unified data in realtime from site, that they can manage in an accessible common data environment. With the right solutions, they can plan better projects from the start through collaboration between builders, end-users and operators/facilities managers (FMs), to ensure optimal building information that enables ongoing operation, facility maintenance and asset management.

When Interserve won a £9.5m contract to build a new science building on the Heslington West campus of the University of York, it realised that client care and communication was vital. A tight timeline, complex connection to the existing Biomedical and Natural Sciences Building and three other active buildings nearby meant a need for precision programming. It would require careful planning to avoid interruption, dust, noise and vibration disrupting critical research experiments. The team used Powerproject to plot out multiple programme paths, retain significant float, and adapt in real-time to client requests and design changes. Its strategy was to stay 10% or five weeks ahead of the programme at all times – meaning that every snag or delay was manageable. The result?

A handover that was perfectly on time, and a delighted client.

BIM

Large site and major project challenges

3. Right resources – large projects are a symphony of sequential planning as PMs must manage and distribute plant and equipment, plus trades, to ensure the right resources are in the right place at the right time, maximising utilisation.

4. Accountability for all – complexity of progress management increases with site scale; the more you can get site managers and on-site team leaders engaged in tracking progress the better, and there are numerous business/timesaving gains. This is another benefit that Interserve gained when it adopted mobile progress tracking.

5. Proximity problems – large sites mean noise, inconvenience and logistical challenges that can cause issues with neighbouring houses, proximal buildings and shared services. Interserve found this impacted their building of a

biology facility at the University of York and used Powerproject to link up to nine potential programme solutions designed to avoid proximity issues from noise, dust and vibration.

6. Total time – large project durations can be years, with multiple completion deadlines.

Tight time management and awareness is essential for all stakeholders. We are proud of the role our software plays in supporting the Willmott Dixon FiiT Time programme which is creating a time-conscious culture across its entire construction business.

7. Data deluge – on a large project, data can stack up; an information management challenge that starts on site for contractors which is then inherited by clients and FMs. As built data is a vital resource for clients and operators going forward, and also an essential pillar for contractors against any future delay and disruption discovery process.

Better collaboration, accountability and information sharing is critical to the future of public sector construction.

Early impetus for digital change may have come from BIM, but today the drivers are also survival and success. Effective modern construction, especially on large sites, is impossible without digital.

Whether managing major sites with large numbers of concurrent operations, or sites in multiple locations, ‘whole project’ visibility is hard for project managers, the business and clients

We now hear regularly from customers who are seeking more integrated solutions to improve how people can work together, increase accountability and build value through information. We’re working hard to respond, including developing a new collaborative portal service for future release, that is evolving with the help of a few major UK customers.

As well as embracing the collaborative working practices of BIM, construction businesses must put the right tools, platforms and joined-up digital construction solutions in place to support collaborative management not just up to client handover, but over the entire lifespan of buildings, to commissioning and beyond. 

 www.elecosoft.com Image ©Matt Clayton

2. Creating consistency – assuring quality and consistency is vital on student flats, schools, or public housing. Willmott Dixon knows this challenge – often managing more than 20 simultaneous large projects.

It recognised that collaborating around templates was essential, and chose Powerproject in part for that capability. National Planning Director, Paul Hoskins, said: “It allows us to take repetitive works, where we might have hundreds of homes, and easily repeat the trades and optimise their resource efficiency.”

Image ©Matt Clayton

1. Seeing at scale – whether managing major sites with large numbers of concurrent operations, or sites in multiple locations, ‘whole project’ visibility is hard for project managers, the business and clients, and so is knowing you have a true picture of progress. Interserve faced this in delivering seven schools across Hertfordshire, Luton and Reading. The fit-out stage meant an exponential rise in numbers of tasks. It chose our Site Progress Mobile app, that links to Powerproject, to ensure accuracy and visibility.

Interserve chose Elecosoft’s Site Progress Mobile app, that links to Powerproject, to ensure accuracy and visibility at seven schools across Hertfordshire, Luton and Reading

37

Street Furniture

With the development aiming for a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM rating level benchmark, use of the Natural Elements range proved a real benefit; all these products use FSC-certified timber to match the BREEAM standards

PLACEMAKING IN BRISTOL WITH HELP FROM MARSHALLS Now known as Bristol’s creative quarter, the Paintworks story began as the development of Phoenix Wharf, a brownfield site which housed an original Victorian factory complex. Today, it is a mix of residential and commercial properties, home to creative businesses and studios with galleries, event venues and an emerging cafe culture.

Crest Nicholson T hedevelopment is an attractive mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments alongside three- and fourbedroom houses plus a number of live and work units with a popular urban warehouse feel, sited alongside the established Paintworks community.

This is the largest podium structure in Europe, covering one and a half acres, with 221 units and 14 commercial spaces. The

design allows for 248 parking spaces situated at a lower level, with the residential development built on a structural frame above, effectively creating a concrete deck where the houses sit.

Approach The concept of the scheme was founded on a natural theme, aiming to create a subtle Mediterranean look and feel using appropriate planting, landscaping and paving.

The paving selected for the area is Marshalls La Linia in a range of plan sizes and harmonising shades. Created through Marshalls’ partnership with Stein + Design, La Linia is a beautifully textured paving range creating striking visual effects using both colour and shape.

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Choosing natural stone underfoot and incorporating benches like the Marshalls Natural Elements range fitted well into the design, complementing the environment.

The Natural Elements seats and benches were selected to provide an attractive centrepiece for the central plaza area.

With the development aiming for a ‘Very Good’ BREEAM rating level benchmark, use of the Natural Elements range proved a real benefit; all these products use FSC-certified timber to match the BREEAM standards.

Initially, there was a discussion around designing bespoke benches for this space, but with the Marshalls Natural Elements range meeting all the style and performance criteria for the project, with modular elements to allow for the necessary flexibility and customisation, this was the selected route.

Discussions with Marshalls also allowed for a further degree of customisation in terms of alteration to the lengths of the seats and benches, which

Project: The Paintworks Location: Bristol Manufacturer of hard landscaping products: Marshalls

created an elegant elongated look to complement the surrounding mixed-use space.

Standard length Natural Elements seats were extended from 1790mm to as much as 4500mm, and benches from 1790 to 1950mm to meet the desired specification.

The paving selected for the area is Marshalls La Linia in a range of plan sizes and harmonising shades. Created through Marshalls’ partnership with Stein + Design, La Linia is a beautifully textured paving range creating striking visual effects using both colour and shape. Ideal for pedestrian areas, La Linia is also capable of handling occasional overrun by vehicular traffic for access and convenience.

Outcome Although work is still in progress in other areas of the Paintworks site, the entire project has been hailed a great success and is likely to be nominated for a number of different architectural, design and community awards.

This exciting development is considered to be one of the most successful schemes of its type in the country, and Bristol City Council has rated the scheme as an ‘Exemplary Site’.

Testimonial “Paintworks is a unique development in maintaining a quality of design, use of natural materials and the creation of inviting public spaces which together create a delightful new community in the heart of Bristol. Marshalls Natural Elements benches have certainly complemented the design vision on the project and add to the goal to create thoughtfully designed spaces,” commented a spokesperson from Crest Nicholson. 

 www.marshalls.co.uk

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Modular Buildings

80% of construction on modular buildings takes place off site in state-of-the-art controlled manufacturing facilities

MODULAR BUILDING IS THE ANSWER TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY’S PRODUCTIVITY WOES

Shane Taggart at Western Building Systems explains why modular off-site building techniques are the Government’s secret weapon in the fight against low productivity levels within the construction sector. construction sector’s T heproductivity has lagged behind that of other prominent sectors for a number of decades. Globally, the sector’s productivity growth averaged 1% a year over the past two decades, compared with 2.8% for the total world economy and 3.6% for manufacturing.

In the UK, the construction sector’s productivity also trails behind the total economy which negatively impacts on wages, long-term economic growth and living standards throughout the country. The sector had an especially disappointing start to 2018, with an alarming drop

40

in output of more than 3%.

One source of the industry’s productivity problem lies in outdated and inefficient building techniques. The way buildings are created in the UK has largely remained the same for 40 years and requires a drastic overhaul if the high demand for new buildings is to be met.

Government action As their main customer and setter of industry standards, the Government is using its clout to set the construction industry on the path towards modernisation.

With Britain facing both

an acute housing crisis and worrying classroom shortage, efficiency in construction is paramount. It was announced in the autumn budget that off-site building techniques will be the Government’s preferred method of construction. Indeed, the Department for Transport, the Department of Health, the Department for Education, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Defence will all adopt a presumption in favour of off-site construction by 2019 across suitable capital programmes, where it is best value for money. This embrace of a cutting-edge approach

to construction is part of the Transforming Infrastructure Performance (TIP) programme.

The TIP programme was created with the intention of improving the way infrastructure is planned, procured, delivered and operated. Through championing the use of off-site construction methods, the TIP programme also aims to support economic growth and exploit a £15bn productivity opportunity in construction every year. To help towards achieving these goals, the Government has committed an impressive £31bn to the National Productivity Investment Fund.

The Government has described off-site modular construction as ‘smart construction’ for a number of reasons. On average, off-site modular building techniques reduce building programmes by a staggering 50%. These impressive time savings are primarily attributed to the fact that 80% of construction on modular buildings takes place off site in state-of-theart controlled manufacturing facilities. Even the latest technology can be integrated into modular buildings off site. For example, Western Building Systems successfully integrated a bespoke acoustic control system, full M&E work, enhanced natural ventilation and heat retention capability off site for a modular building designed for the University of Leeds. Although it was possible to fit these features on site, the process would have been more labour-intensive and external factors such as the weather and wet trades could have risked costly delays.

Shorter on-site construction programmes are especially beneficial where there is the need to minimise disruption to existing operations.

Pioneering digital design and engineering typically underpin modular buildings.

Digital design is used to improve predictability of projects, thus boosting the overall productivity. Computers are used to validate the buildability of modules digitally.

By developing a complete modularised building with high-precision tools before construction on site begins, clients can predict project cash flow and final forecasted costs with more accuracy. Embracing intelligent design at this level also creates greater levels of standardisation. Traditionally, buildings are individually designed and often lack a standard approach in both design solution and designated method of construction, even in instances where different projects present identical challenges. This represents a missed opportunity, as some buildings are repeatable in design. For instance, with

Modular Buildings

Off-site modular building drives efficiency

300,000 houses needing to be built every year to meet growing demand, taking advantage of standardised components and repeatable processes will help the Government stay on target.

As well as being repeatable, modular builds are recyclable.

Because of their pre-fabricated parts, modular buildings are easy to disassemble and reposition to different sites. In some instances, buildings can be relocated in their entirety lifted by a crane. In the UK, where more than 125,000 children face missing out on a secondary school place by 2022/23, the innate flexibility of modular buildings could go a long way to support construction companies in their efforts to meet Government targets for new classrooms and schools.

For example, where a modular classroom has become obsolete, it can be lifted and moved efficiently to a different school that requires more space.

Overall, a move towards modular off-site construction offers the opportunity to transition from traditional construction to more productive building techniques.

This move will allow the construction industry to harness the efficiency of repeatable processes and standardised components manufactured off site. 

 www.westernbuild.com

Western Building Systems successfully integrated a bespoke acoustic control system, full M&E work, enhanced natural ventilation and heat retention capability off site for a modular building designed for the University of Leeds

On average, off-site modular building techniques reduce building programmes by a staggering 50%

It was announced in the autumn budget that off-site building techniques will be the Government’s preferred method of construction

41

HVAC & Electricals

Danny Packham is European Product Manager – warm air and radiant – at Nortek Global HVAC.

ERP; ARE YOU READY FOR THE NEXT MILESTONE? The September deadline for the ErP Directive for warm air heaters 2018 (Lot 21) is fast approaching. New legislation has changed the way that the seasonal efficiency of heating equipment is calculated. Danny Packham, European Product Manager – warm air and radiant – from Nortek Global HVAC, outlines the key points.

(Energy-related E rPProducts) is part of the Ecodesign regulation (EU) 2015/1188 which, along with the implementing Directive 2009/125/EC, is an EU policy aimed at improving the energy efficiency and other environmental performance criteria for Energy-related Products (ErP), such as radiant and warm air heaters.

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

What are the requirements?

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

42

with the requirements cannot be marketed and sold within the EU – including the UK. Following the referendum in the UK to leave the EU, the requirements of Ecodesign will still have to be complied with as it could take up to two years to finalise the process. Even then, unless new UK legislation is introduced, ErP will continue to be one of many methods employed by the Government to reduce the environmental impact of heating technology.

Lot 21 (warm air) has a max NOx emission of 100mg/ kWh input plus a minimum seasonal efficiency of 72%. Seasonal efficiency is calculated from airflow temperature rise, thermal efficiency and electrical power consumption. Lot 21 also applies to AHUs and includes the performance of any heating/chilling coils, where human comfort is the primary heating purpose.

Essentially, other than outdoor units (heating an outdoor space), air curtains or ambient units, all products need to comply with either Lot 20 or 21, plus the motor efficiency ErP regulation.

Implementation date Lot 21 (warm air heaters) Minimum seasonal efficiency came into force 1st January 2018, with the maximum NOx levels applicable September 2018.

The second tier for ErP will be 2021, whereupon seasonal efficiency will increase to 78% and maximum NOx emission for gaseous fuels will be <=70mg/kWh input.

Crucially, the minimum criteria for Lots 20 and 21 are applicable for new installations and when replacing existing products. As a result, customers can be assured that the heating equipment they are purchasing is highly energy-efficient and emissions

of harmful environmental pollutants are constrained.

Unlike other products, warm air heaters and other commercial heating appliances are directly planned and purchased by HVAC professionals; the regulation 2015/1186 excludes warm air heaters and other commercial heaters from mandatory energy labelling. However, product literature and free access websites of manufacturers must indicate the seasonal efficiency and NOx emissions for each product or system.

How does ErP seasonal efficiency differ?

On initial appearance, the ErP seasonal efficiency looks to be a lot lower than the current Building Regulations seasonal efficiency calculation, however, when these minimum thermal and radiant efficiencies are added into the ErP seasonal efficiency calculator, the approximate results are as follows: Gas-fired warm air heaters (atmospheric) = 70% (2% below) Radiant (unitary) heaters = 71% (3% below).

To summarise Seasonal efficiency will be calculated differently (to include electrical power consumption).

The current minimum seasonal efficiency would be 70% for warm air and 71% for radiant if we applied this calculation to our existing Building Regulations requirements.

ErP Lot 21 (warm air heaters) max NOx levels comes into effect September 2018.

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

HVAC & Electricals

New online tool helps designers with HIU specification Evinox is excited to announce the launch of the ModuSat Heat Interface Unit Online Selector.

Available via the Evinox Energy website, this intuitive tool recommends the ideal HIU(s) for a district or communal heat network development, based on project parameters entered by the user.

With over 15 years of experience in the design and manufacture of interface units for heat network systems, Evinox created the selector with M&E consultants in mind, aiming to provide a tool that is easy to use, and can help with sizing and selection whilst saving time for the specifier.

Helen Gibbons, Evinox Technical and Design Manager, comments: “This unique new tool is an extension of the Evinox Heat Network Design Guide that is used by many M&E consultants in the UK. It draws on Evinox’s experience sizing HIUs for numerous communal heating projects, and also recommendations from the

Swedish District Heating Association Technical Provisions F:101, Danish Standard 439 and the CIBSE CP1 – Heat Networks: Code of Practice for the UK.” Helen continues: “In addition to the heat interface unit sizing and selection functionality, our new tool provides heating and hot water technical performance information specific to the user’s project, complete with Low Temperature Hot Water (LTHW) calculations for the whole heat network, which can act as a useful guide for the design and specification process.”

As well as all the functionality detailed, the user can also save unit selections and calculations for each project and come back at any time to access or edit them or to create a new selection, making this a really useful resource for consultants.

 www.evinoxenergy.co.uk  technical.email@evinox.co.uk  01372 722277

Thorn creates brighter, more engaging atmosphere for library users

Thorn Lighting has played a key role in improving the lighting levels and reducing the running costs at Gateshead Central Library, Tyne and Wear, with a selection of LED luminaires from the company’s Chalice, Omega and IQ Wave ranges. A lighting design specific to the proposed shop layout was required to maximise the illumination of the displays. Chalice and Omega luminaires were chosen for the main entrance and shop. Thorn’s Omega LED uses 50% less energy than a 4 x 18W T26 (T8) fluorescent with adjustable mounting options for through-life flexibility. For the main library, Thorn’s IQ Wave, with its simple and flowing lines, has created a modern but simplistic aesthetic.

 www.thornlighting.co.uk

uk.quotations@zumtobelgroup.com  01388 420042 

Over 4500m of Unitrunk installed at the new Preston Bus Station A good service is now operating from Preston Bus Station with the help of cable management specialist, Unitrunk. Over 4500m of Unitrunk’s multi-compartment trunking solutions were specified throughout to house the building’s power and lighting cabling. In the passenger waiting areas, it was integral for the trunking solutions to blend in with the contemporary appearance of the scheme seamlessly. With that, 4500m of Unitrunk’s multi-compartment trunking, which was powder-coated in white, was specified and installed. Similarly, within the multi-level parking areas of the building, Unitrunk’s multi-compartment trunking was also installed on the ceilings in a powder-coated ‘concrete’ effect to echo the matt finish of the car park.

 www.unitrunk.co.uk

 tim.brown@unitrunk.co.uk

 07920 745608

Uponor provides low-carbon solution for Kingston Uni Uponor has designed and installed its TABS (Thermally Active Building System) at Kingston University London’s showpiece Town House development.

The development will contribute to the university’s aim of reducing carbon emissions by 35% by 2020. Uponor’s TABS will help to deliver this carbon reduction strategy by providing a highly efficient, fit-and-forget cooling solution.

Using air source heat pumps and solar panels as its main energy source, the Uponor TABS will heat and cool the building using water that will flow through pipework embedded in the structure, utilising the thermal mass of the semi-precast concrete building to store and exchange thermal energy.

 www.uponor.co.uk  enquiries.uk@uponor.com  01923 927000

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Floors, Walls & Ceilings

New RIBA CPD app covers subfloor preparation and adhesive selection

F. Ball and Co. has made its RIBA-assessed CPD tutorial available to download as an app. The tutorial covers all aspects of subfloor preparation, including the varying requirements of different subfloor types, moisture testing and providing effective moisture protection, and the installation of a suitable levelling compound to create a smooth, blemish-free finish.

The CPD module also details how to specify the correct adhesive, taking into account the floorcoverings being installed and the environment in which they will be situated. The tutorial can be completed in one go or in sections until it has been fully completed, upon which a certificate of completion is issued. The tutorial is worth one hour of CPD points.

 www.f-ball.co.uk

 mail@f-ball.co.uk

 01538 361633

Designer Contracts awards long-serving employees Designer Contracts has acknowledged 65 longserving members of staff with special awards, as it celebrates its 25th year in business. The company, which has grown rapidly over the past 25 years, treated five of its longest-serving employees to a celebratory meal at the Casa Hotel in Chesterfield, the town where the business is headquartered. At the dinner, Designer Contracts’ MD, Peter Kelsey, presented Andrew Brent, Jill Lee, Cath Amphlett, Tim Williams and Fay Sykes with engraved iPad Pros as a thank you for their dedication and loyalty. Said Peter Kelsey: “As we celebrate our 25th year, we thought it would be an opportunity to thank our longest-serving employees for their loyalty.”

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

The world-renowned Hayward Gallery is a contemporary art gallery within Southbank Centre, London. As part of a two-year restoration project, Remmers’ restoration products were selected

by Cemplas to complete extensive concrete repair and renovation works to the internal architectural concrete elements of this prestigious major arts venue. Remmers’ Arte Mundit was applied to remove the decades of superficial dirt that had built up on the concrete walls and ceilings. Arte Mundit is a self-vulcanising cleaning paste that dries into a peelable natural latex. It provides thorough water-free removal of residues to varied substrates, and there is no development of dust making it the ideal product for specialised restoration projects.

 www.remmers.co.uk  sales@remmers.co.uk  01293 594010

New civic centre takes control with Danfoss NovoCon

Charcon Construction Solutions introduces innovative lightweight stairs to product range

Danfoss NovoCon, the first multi-tasking digital actuator to connect a hydronic HVAC system with the Building Management System (BMS), is part of the energy-efficient design of a new civic centre in south-west London. Combined with Danfoss AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) and utilising remote fieldbus communication, NovoCon maintains correct hydronic balance within the building’s Active Chilled Beam system at all loads. Providing this advanced level of control cuts energy consumption and carbon emissions, reduces running costs and creates a comfortable and more productive working environment.

Approximately 500 Danfoss NovoCon digital actuators and AB-QM PICVs are installed in the new offices. Actuators are connected to the BMS via a BACnet communications protocol.

Charcon Construction Solutions, part of the Aggregate Industries group, has introduced an innovative lightweight stairs product to its pre-cast concrete portfolio. The lightweight nature of the stairs make them ideal for multi-storey residential or commercial projects. That’s because a lighter product makes it easier to lift them into place and also install, which helps to reduce crane costs and also installation time. Plus, lighter concrete can also reduce the dead load of the overall structure, meaning fewer foundations are needed, creating further – and substantial – cost savings. Despite its lightweight nature, the new stairs provide the same level of structural performance as normal weight concrete.

These stairs are unique to Charcon Construction Solutions, and not available anywhere else in the UK.

 www.heating.danfoss.co.uk  ukheating@danfoss.com  0845 1217400

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Remmers exhibits at Hayward Gallery

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Schueco UK has announced that it will be running a series of free seminars designed to address compliance issues in the aluminium facades, windows and doors market in the UK. Schueco UK believes that following the publication of the final report of the Hackitt Review, compliance is a topic that every responsible company needs to address urgently. The seminars will take place on a quarterly basis in Schueco UK’s new London office in Great Portland Street. The first seminar, scheduled for September, will address regulations and compliance issues relating to aluminium and steel fire systems, Schueco’s own range of such systems being the most comprehensive currently available in the UK.

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New Schueco seminars will address compliance issues

SE MINA

 01908 282111

New contracts manager at The Window Company (Contracts) Steven May is the new Contracts Manager at award-winning commercial installer, The Window Company (Contracts). He has been appointed to oversee and supervise a number of projects from survey to final completion, including the window and door replacement contract for Basildon Council, which the company was awarded recently. With substantial experience in the construction sector, particularly in operations roles with two leading facade specialists, Steven has valuable knowledge of the aluminium and new-build markets and brings an important new dimension to the already strong management team at the Chelmsford-based business. Steven will be responsible for everything from on-site health and safety to pricing and planning compliance.

 www.thewinco.co.uk

 thornton@thewinco.co.uk

Comar 7P.i LS+ – it’s a lift slide life for us Now it’s time to lift and slide Comar’s product range with Comar 7Pi LS+. Innovative lift and slide gearing provides smooth operation for door configurations up to 12m wide and 3m high, creating true glazed sliding walls. From one system, Comar 7P.i LS+ provides delivered solutions, for the summer months to maximise the opening space with the three-track slider which creates two thirds clear opening, whilst in the winter, the lowest U-values keep out the cold. Innovation comes from Comar 7P.i LS+ offering unique solutions from one system, which means that with the same profiles you can provide lift slide or straight rolling gear, standard or slim interlock, enhanced performance with the inclusion of thermal foam and double- or triple-track configurations.

 www.comar-alu.co.uk  projects@parksidegroup.co.uk  0208 685 2318

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 01245 268120

SBD commercial doors, perfect for schools, delivered in two weeks For installers who need SBD commercial doors for school refurbishments this summer, AluFoldDirect delivers any colour in just two weeks. It makes ordering aluminium glazing easy for installers who need high-spec products for educational building refurbishment and new-build projects. “Since the Secured by Design Guidance for Schools was introduced, SBD has been high on the agenda for school building specifiers choosing glazing systems, and time restrictions on projects can be tight when buildings have to be ready for when schools re-open,” says Craig Miller, AluFoldDirect’s MD. “Our two-week turnaround means that installers can order from survey rather than from plans and get SBD commercial aluminium windows and doors delivered directly to site.”

 alufolddirect.co.uk  info@alufolddirect.co.uk  01706 260700

SYSTEMGLAS Ligna provides assured fire protection Designing, specifying and installing fire-rated, timber-framed butt-jointed glazing is now easier with the assurance of a fully traceable supply chain with the launch of SYSTEMGLAS Ligna by Promat UK. Joining the existing ‘frameless’, paintable, metal-clad and steel frame options to complete the SYSTEMGLAS range, Ligna gives designers the ideal balance of assured fire protection and maximum light transmission in all kinds of timber-framed glazed partitions and screens. Ideal for offices, healthcare, education, retail and public sector applications, it has been tested (CERTIFIRE CF5452) to provide integrity and insulation (EI) fire protection from 30 minutes up to 60 minutes (EI30 to EI60). All the options are explained in Promat UK’s comprehensive new 'Specifiers Guide', available to download via the website.

 www.promat-glass.co.uk  sales@promat.co.uk  0800 588 4444

Landscaping & Water Management

With appropriate planning and execution, most – if not all problems – are not insurmountable. The first thing to do is simply acknowledge that problems exist.

SCHOOLS: HOUSES OF LEARNING OR CORRECTION?

Schools are our future. Within the four walls of classrooms up and down the country, young minds are inspired, useful skills are taught and new interests are forged that will be later harnessed to ensure our country’s continued prosperity. don’t just need S chools classroom walls to keep children safe. They need a comprehensive security infrastructure around them – most notably, secure perimeters that keep unwanted people out, but also ensure visitors, parents and students alike can access their shared community space without feeling unnecessarily segregated or unwelcome.

At a time when schools face both capacity pressures (there are more children than ever at school, but the total number of schools has actually fallen) and severe

budgetary constraints, it can be all too easy to let perimeter replacement or upgrading programmes slip – even though safety is often the primary concern of parents.

To gauge exactly how parents, teachers and those responsible for perimeter solutions view school security, Jacksons Fencing commissioned original research for a special report. It polled 1000 parents (a nationally representative sample) and asked them about a range of issues around school security. These were joined by the views of more

Schools don’t just need classroom walls to keep children safe. They need a comprehensive security infrastructure around them – most notably, secure perimeters that keep unwanted people out, but also ensure visitors, parents and students alike can access their shared community space.

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than 280 teachers (including nearly 50 heads) and 75 architects.

In the special report, ‘Protecting the Future 2018’, Jacksons Fencing reveals the results of this research in full. The initial headlines make for some worrying reading.

The data finds schools are faced with a balancing act.

They are perceived as having an over-zealous attitude to security – some 30% of parents think their school’s security is “over the top” (with two-thirds of parents arguing schools more closely resemble houses of correction than houses of learning). At the same time, schools seem not to be doing enough.

Jacksons Fencing found 38% of teachers and 23% of parents say their school has not been sensibly designed to keep staff and pupils safe and secure. More concerning than this, current perimeter solutions are simply not up to scratch – both in terms of preventing children from getting out and discouraging unwanted/ unauthorised people from getting in. In addition, nearly a quarter (24%) of parents say children leave the school site either sometimes or often (a fifth do so through gaps in the fence, while

nearly two-fifths simply climb over it), while 27% say their school sometimes, often, or very often experiences unauthorised people getting in and doing harm.

These events happen despite 80% of teachers saying their boundary fences and gates have been inspected within the last five years. The only conclusion this leads to is that inspectors are missing key design flaws.

With schools needing to keep more students present on site than ever before, these observed weaknesses in current school perimeters will surely be a worry to parents and teachers alike. We find, for example, that many schools can still be accessed via public footpaths, while some architects admit that they don’t always know about key security standards.

If there’s one positive that can be taken from these findings, it’s that with appropriate planning and execution, most – if not all these problems – are not insurmountable. The first thing to do is simply acknowledge that problems exist.

 www.jacksons-security.co.uk  security@jacksons-fencing.co.uk  0800 4084761

Landscaping & Water Management

Hauraton high capacity channel system drains extensive car park at Skypark, Exeter

The Skypark Business Park is located just north of Exeter International Airport, Devon, and east of the M5 off junction 29.

The park is a joint venture partnership between St. Modwen, a UK-leading regeneration specialist, and Devon County Council.

The development, when complete, will cover 130,200m2 (1.4 million square foot) and comprise office, industrial and manufacturing premises. Ancillary retail development and a hotel are also planned as part of the scheme. Set in landscaped grounds, it includes numerous car parks requiring effective surface water drainage.

In this phased development, three sizes of the Hauraton RECYFIX MONOTEC high capacity surface drainage system have so far been installed in the extensive asphalt car parks servicing Skypark Units 10 and 20; 145m of MONOTEC 100/230mm, 136m of 100/280 and 45m of 100/380. 100mm is the channel grating width and the internal

dimension. The 230mm (overall height) channel model has a cross-section of 190.5cm2, the 280mm, 245.5cm2, and the 380mm, 355.5cm2. The 326m of channel supplied provides a total hydraulic capacity of just over 7717 litres.

Hauraton introduced the MONOTEC system just over two years ago. Skypark joins the numerous installations successfully completed in the UK. The MONOTEC 1m-long channel component is of a sturdy monolithic design where the HEELSAFE grating and the tongue and groove linking system are integral to the channel moulding. The whole unit is made of tough, virtually unbreakable

polypropylene (PP) formulated to be very resistant to daily temperature fluctuations from frost conditions to strong sunlight, including the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum.

PP is naturally resistant to de-icing salt.

Complying with the requirements of EN 1433, the PP is given its UV resistance by adding just sufficient stabiliser so that the structural strength of the material is unaffected and a consistent appearance is maintained. The MONOTEC channels have a loading category of up to Class D400.

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

Vulcathene makes the grade at Plantsbrook School

A £20m rebuild of a Midlands secondary school has utilised the Vulcathene chemical drainage pipework system, as it looks to provide state-of-the-art science laboratories. Installed to convey chemical waste from the sinks in the science laboratories, through to the school’s foul waste drainage system, Vulcathene Mechanical was installed for all of the low-level stacks, where fused joints were not required, with Vulcathene Enfusion utilised for all risers and high-level stacks. With this element of the pipework to be boxed in, making access to the pipework difficult following completion of the project, it was crucial a secure joint was made that could stand the test of time.

 www.durapipe.co.uk

technical@durapipe.co.uk 

 01543 279909

Safeguard shows the expert way to tackle flooding With more than five million homes in England and Wales at risk of flooding, Safeguard Europe has produced a simple yet definitive guide to protecting property: 'Designing for Flood Resilience and Resistance'. Drawing upon its 35 years’ experience, the company has created several flood management systems which illustrate the various mechanisms by which flood water can enter a property and how to stop it, as well as detailing the internal and external remedial works necessary for habitable reinstatement. There are two main approaches to tackling flooding – water exclusion and water entry strategies, alternatively known as flood resistance and resilience respectively – and the guide explains both and how to deploy them.

 www.safeguardeurope.com

 info@safeguardeurope.com

 01403 210204

Brett Landscaping wins Best External Product 2018

Brett Landscaping has won the ‘Best External Product’ category in the Housebuilder Product Awards 2018. An expert panel of seven judges including Claire Curtis-Thomas, the CEO of the British Board of Agrément (BBA), and Dale Saunders, the UK Associate Technical Director of major house-builder Taylor Wimpey, decided Brett Landscaping’s GeoCeramica should be crowned this year’s winner.

Launched in 2017, Brett Landscaping’s GeoCeramica paving has quickly become one of the company’s most popular products.

GeoCeramica is a new product range which innovatively combines porcelain paving with a pre-bonded drainage mortar base. The product is available in thicknesses of 40mm for patio paving and pathways and 60mm for driveways.

 www.brettpaving.co.uk  landscapinginfo@brett.co.uk  0345 608 0577

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Landscaping & Water Management

Access points should be limited in number, with one main point located in view of the reception or school office

FINDING THE PERFECT MATCH BETWEEN BOUNDARY PROTECTION AND YOUR SCHOOL’S RISKS AND NEEDS Whether renewing, refurbishing or building from new, a school’s fence, entrance gates and access control should be carefully considered for today and in anticipation of the future. should A perimeter provide a realistic and appropriate level of physical security, commensurate with the risks it could face while either making a bold design statement in its own right or blending into its environment.

Here are Jacksons Fencing’s top five areas to consider when evaluating the security of a school site.

Access points Access control is a valuable part of any school’s security strategy.

Over half of teachers say their school has more than one entrance (56%). Access points, however, should be limited in number, with one main point located in view of the reception or school office. If you do have other key access points, it’s a good idea to make them accessible only during peak times – and install signs displaying opening times and directing visitors to the main access point.

Type of risk Criminal damage is a problem at 28% of schools, according to teachers. This is part of a range of

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risks, from theft and vandalism to arson and anti-social behaviour.

Thieves sometimes target public buildings for their materials, such as copper and steel. Other risks can include heavy traffic or equipment and fencing appearing as an incidental climbing frame for young pupils.

there deliveries or buses coming onto school grounds? In primary schools, younger children may be collected by parents part-way through the school day, while sixth form students in secondary schools are often permitted to leave the grounds during lunch or free study periods.

Aesthetics

Local environment

For a school, the balance between deterring potential intruders whilst welcoming students and visitors is vital. Creative use of colour can soften a perimeter’s appearance. While metal railings may be suitable for some schools, nurseries and primary schools may benefit more from timber fencing, which still provides security but with a ‘friendlier’ appearance and greater privacy.

Taking a good look at the local landscape is important. For instance, are the foundations firm enough for fences, gates and barriers to sit effectively? A significant 36% of parents know of children leaving the school site by climbing over the perimeter. Are there any potential climbing aids,

such as overhanging branches, parked vehicles or storage bins that need to be borne in mind? If your school is in a residential area, consider the impact that security solutions may have on neighbours.

Acoustic fencing can provide privacy and security while reducing noise from inside (and outside into) the school grounds.

More insight into parents’, teachers’, heads’ and architects’ views on school safety are detailed in Jacksons Fencing’s special report, ‘Protecting the Future 2018’.

 www.jacksons-security.co.uk  security@jacksons-fencing.co.uk  0800 4084761

Usage Many schools experience heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic at peak times of the day. Think about creating separate traffic routes for pedestrians and cars to ensure safety during these busy times and discuss how your site security should be managed in off-peak times. For instance, are

Taking a good look at the local landscape is important. For instance, are the foundations firm enough for fences, gates and barriers to sit effectively?

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American white oak helps achieve seamless spatial flow

Sustainability in Development Conran and Partners completes 20 hectare regeneration in Tokyo, Japan

Greenhouse An innovative screen solution prevents residential property from overheating

Design & Desire Regional showpiece in Azerbaijan hosts the nation’s cultural programs

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RCI

After cleaning the substrate, contractors applied Kemper System’s Kempertec D Primer over the Kempertherm F insulation as part of the warm roof build-up

KEMPER SYSTEM DELIVERS ROOF REFURBISHMENT TO ART DECO GEM The roof of an occupied 1930s Art Deco municipal office building, situated in the busy town centre of Blackpool, Lancashire, required urgent repair. building was T heexperiencing standing water on a largely zero falls roof with only four drainage outlets, meaning water had started to leak into the occupied offices below.

Kemper System’s Stratex Warm Roof system using its Kemperol V210 was specified for the 1200m2 roof area – offering exceptional performance and supplied as a complete integrated system of matched components.

The Kemperol V210 is a polyester-based resin, applied wet-on-wet that forms a permanently elastic, seamless, yet highly durable waterproofing membrane.

Due to limited access on site, Lancashire-based Castle Contractors had to remove 40 tonnes of stone ballast and inverted insulation on the existing roof by hand. Because of the volume of material and the busy street location of the building, skips were not suitable to dispose of the waste, so the material was lowered from the roof and then immediately

52

taken away from site using contractors' vehicles.

The roof was extremely complex with detailing around air conditioning units, raised steelwork and cable trays in close proximity. Contractors also removed and replaced eight rooflights and boxed-in others that were no longer required. All existing steelwork on the roof was treated and encapsulated with plywood and waterproofed with Kemperol to ensure additional lifespan.

Contractors had to clean the roof prior to the application of Kemper System’s Kemperol V210. The lack of drainage meant any power washing created more ponding on the roof. Therefore, contractors used a vacuum wash-and-dry system that automatically extracted the wastewater and pumped it directly down the drainage outlets.

After cleaning the substrate, contractors applied Kemper System’s Kempertec D Primer over the Kempertherm F insulation as part of the warm

roof build-up. The insulation is rigid PIR board with multilayer foil composite face on both sides and has tongue and groove edges for interlocking construction. Kempertec EP5 Primer was also applied prior to installation of Kemperol V210 to the roof deck and stairwell areas.

The cold-applied Kemperol V210 liquid resin saturates a non-woven reinforcement fleece that is tailored to the

exact contours and details of the roof. The waterproofing is installed in a single process and cures to provide a robust waterproof membrane that cannot delaminate and is UV stable.

Mark Atherton, Managing Director at Castle Contractors, said: “There were three main challenges to overcome on this project – the safe removal of the existing ballast, cleaning of the roof prior to application, and the creation of drainage channels to carry water to the outlets.

“Due to budget constraints preventing the use of a full tapered insulation scheme to improve the drainage, it was agreed by the client, Blackpool Council, for us to create a 50mm-deep channel system in the warm roof build-up to route all the water to the four drains that serve the entire roof.

“Because Kemper System is applied wet-on-wet, we were easily able to waterproof the entire roof area including the new drainage system and execute complex detailing around the rooflights with ease.

“Access to site was extremely challenging, so the simple yet effective equipment required on site was ideal.

“Thanks to the successful application of Kemperol and on-site technical guidance, we were able to develop a good relationship with the client for future projects.”

 www.kempersystem.co.uk  stuarthicks@kempersystem.co.uk  01925 445532

Kempertec EP5 Primer was applied prior to installation of Kemperol V210 to the roof deck and stairwell areas

RCI

Icopal guide reveals roofing’s hidden fire risks Top marks for SpecMaster on mixed ownership estate Employing the Redland SpecMaster service has proven beneficial to Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council (MBC) when it re-roofed 40 properties on one of its estates. This specification avoided unsightly, expensive detailing and also accelerated the roofing programme through introducing the Innofix Clip.

BAAS Construction brought in the SpecMaster service to help Wigan. “The 15-year guarantee is important to us because it means that we shouldn’t have any unexpected financial burdens put upon us at Wigan and, in the unlikely event that there is a problem, Redland will still attend site and rectify the issue free of charge,” Brian Hampson, Project Manager, explains. The 15-year guarantee covers weathertightness, durability and design liability.

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

Flat roofing specialist Icopal, a BMI Group company, has produced a six-page guide that explains the fire risks of flat roofing and how to mitigate them. Recent years have seen a string of serious fires, such as the £60m Kelsey Academy incident, which have occurred because roofing contractors weren’t aware of flammable elements on the roof. TorchSafe Detailing, Guidance Document for Reinforced Bitumen Waterproofing sets out when roofing membranes can be torch applied, and when they can’t. It also underlines the responsibilities of all those involved to ensure that a roof installation is safe.

 www.icopal.co.uk

 john.curley@bmigroup.com

 0161 865 4444

Trivallis chooses inclusive Redland package for peace of mind On-site training, top-quality workmanship and a market-leading 15-year guarantee led Trivallis, one of the largest social landlords in Wales, to choose the free-of-charge roof specification service offered by Redland when it needed to reroof the Maerdy estate in Rhondda, South Wales.

The 96 properties on the estate were due for re-roofing, explains Lee Tapper from Trivallis: “The service ensures that we meet the current British Standard, we get the technical advice that we need and we get the guarantee from Redland which means we know we don’t have a problem with the roof for 15 years. We know that our properties are watertight and that our roofers know exactly what they’re doing.”

 www.innofixclip.co.uk

 sales.redland@monier.com

 01293 666700

Tameside College achieves peak performance

The £10.5m Advanced Technologies Centre at Tameside College in Greater Manchester benefits from a radical external screening solution, courtesy of Levolux. The design for the building was handled by architect firm, IBI Group, and includes a host of eye-catching features. The most visible of these is the external screening solution which effectively wraps around the building.

Levolux was able to draw upon its unrivalled experience of delivering similar solutions, to meet challenging project requirements. The custom solution comprises perforated aluminium panels, secured against an inclined supporting structure, with integral horizontal walkways.

The screening structure was not only required to create a striking architectural feature but also performs as an effective solar veil.

 www.levolux.com

 info@levolux.com

 0208 863 9111

New Sika Sarnafil flat roofing CPD meets modern demands Sika Sarnafil has launched a new RIBA-accredited CPD seminar, ‘Selecting Flat Roofing System to Meet Modern Demands’, for those wanting to specify high-performance flat roofing that meets the most up-to-date legislative requirements. The CPD provides specifiers with a breakdown of all the typical roof build-ups from cold and warm to protected roofs, with the new addition of blue roofs, through simple and engaging animations. This is accompanied by information on important design considerations, materials and workmanship. A further upgrade to the seminar is the inclusion of extra expertise on energy efficiency, BRE Accredited Details, sustainability and BIM to help architects, FMs, building managers and surveyors that are under increasing pressure to source environmentally-responsible roofing products.

 gbr.sarnafil.sika.com

 sarnafilroofing@uk.sika.com

 01707 394444

Firestone refreshes online presence

Firestone Building Products UK and Ireland has made accessing information about the company’s products, capabilities and technical support easier than ever with the launch of a dedicated UK and Ireland website. The new site – www.firestonebpe. co.uk – provides clear navigation across Firestone’s areas of expertise in roofing, lining, thermal insulation and facades, and features UK-based project case studies, product information and news. Designed to provide accessible and up-to-date information about the products and services Firestone offers in the UK and Ireland, the website is optimised for use on any device via any browser, making it a useful tool and reference for contractors and specifiers, both in the office and out on site.

 www.firestonebpe.co.uk  info@fbpl.co.uk  01606 552026

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Focus & Innovation

Simplified accessibility CDM The potential complexity of creating a compliant, accessible facility is simplified with the latest service from Closomat. The UK-leading provider of accessible, intimate hygiene solutions is fully Construction (Design & Management) 2015 compliant. The compliance supports Closomat’s already proven ability to deliver a comprehensive project management service. The combination means that architects, construction companies and the like can contract Closomat to execute a project – from a home adaptation to a major upgrade of accessible toilet/bathroom facilities, including assisted accessible Changing Places toilets – secure in the knowledge it will be done in a timely and safe fashion, and fully in accordance with all relevant regulations.

 www.clos-o-mat.com

 info@clos-o-mat.com

 0161 969 1199

Snickers’ ‘Climate Control’ workwear The onset of summer and the warmer weather calls for a change of focus on what you choose to wear on site. From keeping warm and dry in winter, warmer weather brings with it a need for professional craftsmen and women to be cool and dry.

That’s why Snickers’ new working clothes for the summer use 37.5 fabric technology which is really good at ‘wicking’ moisture away from the body and keeping you dry.

In the Snickers Workwear FLEXIWork, LITEWork and RUFFWork product families, there’s new shirts, shorts and work trousers that are super-light and quick-drying with advanced ventilation to keep you cool in the heat.

 www.snickersworkwear.co.uk

 info@snickersworkwear.co.uk

Pressalit Care opens hands-on showroom Pressalit Care has opened a demonstration showroom at its Reading offices that features its range of accessible bathroom products.

With the ability to adjust the layout to replicate different bathroom scenarios, Pressalit Care can demonstrate to those looking to install or adapt an accessible bathroom, the space and flexibility requirements needed by wheelchair users and those who need assistance.

“By opening this showroom, architects, specifiers and end-users are able to see first-hand how their bathroom will look, how the individual elements can be adjusted to suit the individual and where they need to be positioned to allow ease of use,” says Andrew Lowndes, UK Sales Manager at Pressalit Care.

 01484 854788

 www.pressalit.com  uk@pressalit.com  0844 880 6950

Professional Timantti portfolio from TeknosPro

ZEDpods proposes solution for NHS key worker housing

Each year 33,000 nurses leave the NHS and, according to the Royal College of Nursing, 40% are considering leaving London over the next five years due to housing costs. To meet this problem, ZEDpods, a company set up to build and install low-carbon homes for key workers, is announcing a solution to benefit NHS Trusts, estates managers and key worker job providers. ZEDpods’ homes operate by separating housing provision from land prices using air rights over car parks. By taking the cost of land out of the equation, ZEDpods can create affordable houses for key workers close to hospitals and public transport. ZEDpods’ housing can generate long-term revenue without selling off NHS Trusts’ valuable real estate.

 www.zedpods.com  david@zedpods.uk  0208 404 1380

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Designed to give interiors the professional touch, the Timantti portfolio from TeknosPro comprises long-lasting, sustainable waterborne coatings which are mildewresistant with low VOCs making them the perfect choice for indoor surfaces. It includes Timannti Clean containing antimicrobial technology which preserves the coating’s surface preventing bacteria build-up. This makes Timantti Clean ideal for schools, hospitals and nurseries, while the mildew resistance of the whole range makes it the ideal choice for walls and ceilings in humid spaces such as kitchens and bathrooms. The Timantti special acrylate coating means that the walls and ceilings can be washed without damaging the paintwork.

 www.teknos.co.uk

 sales@teknos.co.uk

 01608 688925

Ecological Building Systems takes airtightness on tour

To celebrate BBA approval of its pro clima Intello Plus Intelligent Airtight Membrane, Ecological Building Systems and Pro Clima have announced a seminar tour that will bring airtightness insights to five locations around the UK. Kicking off at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre in Swindon on 16th October, the Air Tightness Tour then visits London, Belfast and Glasgow before culminating at The Studio in Birmingham on 22nd November. Each event will include a packed full-day programme of technical presentations and discussion topics from Pro Clima, the Ecological Building Systems team and the BBA, along with practical installation demonstrations, a keynote speaker presentation and a roundtable discussion.

 www.intellosealofapproval.com  info@ecologicalbuildingsystems.com  01228711511

CUBE ONE SHAPE, ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES FROM A FLEXIBLE, ROBUST AND HIGHLY EFFICIENT EXTERIOR LUMINAIRE The Cube LED exterior luminaire series offers a versatile solution for lighting designers and architects. The design is a study in clean lines and minimal form which takes the shape of a cube and can be mounted as either a floodlight, wall wash effect feature or on ground bollard. A wide range of beam angles and accessories allow comfortable viewing from any angle. Extremely precise beam spread optics offer the opportunity to create specific light effects.

To see further models in the range please visit our website.

www.concord-lighting.com

Tel: 0800 440 2478