PSBJ July 21

Public Sector Build Journal July 2021

Healthcare

Education

Leisure

psbjmagazine.com

Issue 107

DESIGNING SUSTAINABILITY INTO SCHOOLS For the design of one school, the local council decided to go above and beyond the current green requirements.

Housing

A closer look at the carbon retrofit targets for social housing

Aluminium windows – a creative and compliant solution to Part L?

How to implement health and safety protocols on site

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WELCOME NOTE

Editor

Hannah Woodger

hannah@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Rebecca Kemp

rebecca@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Print & Digital Advertising Sam Ball

sam@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Jim Moore

jim@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Print Design Manager Jack Witcomb

For the design of a new school at Glebe Farm in Wavendon, Milton Keynes Council decided that it wanted to go above and beyond the current green requirements. See page 24.

jack@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Digital Design Manager Matt Morse

matt@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Welcome to the July issue of PSBJ...

Accounts

Rachel Pike

rachel@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Sales Support & Administrator

Klare Ball

klare@crossplatformmedia.co.uk

Publisher Sam Ball

sam@crossplatformmedia.co.uk Published by

Cross Platform Media Ltd.

30 The Shoreway, St Mary’s Island, Chatham, Kent, ME4 3SL

psbjmagazine.com 01622 946150 crossplatformmedia.co.uk

It’s fair to say that although 19th July is deemed to be ‘Terminus Day’, we are going to be experiencing some COVID-secure measures long into the future and our day-to-day lives will certainly be shaped by the impact of this pandemic.

Adaptations to office working, for instance, will be here to stay as we see environments designed and reconfigured for socially-distanced, group interaction. However, whilst the need to keep our distance in public sector buildings remains, that is more reason to be better connected than ever before. To maintain high levels of collaboration, the right technology must be enabled to ensure best working practices and maximum efficiency. In this month’s Talking Point, we hear from Tim Shirt of office power and connectivity specialist, CMD, who discusses the emerging trends and altered working behaviours, reflecting on how they will change the look and layout of public sector office environments. Turn to page 26 to read more.

Elsewhere, we look closely at further design changes that could be here to stay. Protective screens have become quite a common sight in public settings of late. These practical and effective barriers not only prevent the spread of germs but they work well as temporary wall solutions to segregate areas, and help people behind them to feel safe. In this issue’s Interiors focus, CRL Europe’s Managing Director, Simon Boocock, explains why the adoption of glass partitions has longevity in a post-pandemic world. Turn to page 28 to learn more.

Meanwhile, LEB Construction discusses safety on site, Perfect Circle showcases its stunning and sustainable wildlife centre and Wates Property Services explores the social housing decarbonisation challenge.

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

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

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

Hannah

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

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CONTENTS

06 News

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

08 Upfront

Students are settling in well at the latest school operated by Teesside-based Horizons Specialist Academy Trust, Mo Mowlam Academy.

12 Leisure

A brand-new wildlife discovery centre has opened in Essex’s River Lee Country Park, using fully recyclable materials that will reduce its impact on landfill waste.

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14 Healthcare

18 Building Access & Security

22 Legal & Business

16 Housing

20 Skylights & Rooflights

24 Education

Modular construction specialist Darwin Group has handed over the keys to the brand-new Lakeside Wing at University Hospital of Wales (UHW) in Cardiff.

Wates Property Services discusses the carbon retrofitting targets for social housing and explains how the industry can support landlords fund their schemes.

UAP, the manufacturer of security and fire safety hardware for doors and windows, has recently supplied a master key locking system for student blocks at Hull University.

Saïd Business School is a unique take on a multi-function room, and with rooflights supplied by The Rooflight Company, the space is warm, welcoming and inspiring.

Luke Baker of LEB Construction discusses the need for all elements of the delivery chain to implement best practice health and safety protocols on public sector sites.

For the design of a new school at Glebe Farm in Wavendon, Milton Keynes Council decided that it wanted to go above and beyond the current green requirements.

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CONTENTS

24

12

18

26 Talking Point

Tim Shirt of office power and connectivity specialist, CMD, discusses the emerging trends shaping the requirements for new workstation solutions.

28 Interiors

Partitioning systems offer an effective barrier against the spread of germs, but there is much to be said for the existence of such systems in a post-pandemic world too.

BRUNDLE

30 Technical Focus

Andrew Cooper of Senior Architectural Systems discusses some of the ways aluminium windows can provide both a compliant and creative solution to Part L of the Building Regulations.

32 Doors, Windows & Balustrades Smart’s glazing systems have been used extensively across a wide range of healthcare projects.

28 34 Product Showcase

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

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NEWS

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

Work begins on phase one of First Passivhaus primary multiple airspace developments school in Scotland gets go ahead Sutton Housing Society has begun work on the first of two phases of airspace development across the south west London Borough of Sutton, which will eventually see the social landlord increase its housing stock by over 30%. The first development phase will see modular, airspace homes built on five rooftop sites, after planning permission was simultaneously granted in June last year for 71 new homes in five separate locations. These new units will increase Sutton Housing Society’s 487 homes by 16%, while the second development phase will see four further simultaneous applications further increasing stock numbers by a similar percentage in 2022. Work has begun on the first block, Norman House, which will see airspace increase the onsite housing density by 68%. The new homes will be achieved by creatively unlocking site potential, and building new flats on top of existing dwellings, providing new affordable rent housing for people over the age of 55. The plans will also benefit the existing residents by modernising the fabric and appearance of 50-year-old apartment blocks, including new communal spaces and lounges, and outdoor landscaping. The work is being undertaken by two contractors, Spencer Francis, which will deliver the structural changes to the buildings, and modular specialist Go Modular, which will add the airspace dwellings.

BakerHicks, the multi-disciplinary design, engineering and project delivery company, has completed its part in the planning permission process for a new multi-million-pound primary school in Perth. The school, which will be one of the first Passivhaus-standard primary schools in Scotland, has been awarded full planning approval by Perth & Kinross Council. Located in North Perth, the new school will replace both the current North Muirton and Balhousie primary schools. It will be built on the site of the current North Muirton Primary School and have capacity for 500 pupils. A nursery and additional support needs (ASN) provision will also be incorporated, each with their own dedicated outdoor space. Due to complete in early 2023, both original schools will remain in operation until that time. BakerHicks was appointed to provide mechanical and electrical design services

by Perth & Kinross Council through the Hub East Central Scotland framework. It will work closely with Robertson Construction Tayside and Architype, the latter as both lead consultant and Passivhaus designer, with WARM as the Passivhaus certifier.

Offsite suppliers appointed to £330m offsite framework

The Cleveland Pools Trust is delighted to announce the start of works to restore the historic pools in Bath, following a 17year community campaign to save the Grade II Listed site.

Bristol-based Beard is leading the work on the restoration of Cleveland Pools, the oldest surviving outdoor public swimming pool in the UK, which was built in 1815 and is now regarded as a nationally significant site. The £6.2m project poses some significant engineering challenges for Beard, which will bring its extensive experience in the heritage sector to the development, as the site is only accessible for vehicles by river. Machinery, building materials and equipment required to carry out the major refurbishment work onsite will have to be loaded up at the nearby Avon Rugby Club, which is being used as a base, and carried upriver on a pontoon pushed by a barge fitted-out for the purpose.

Among the work to be carried out is the restoration of two pools – the crescent-shaped main pool for adults and a smaller, shallower pool for children. There will also be refurbishment of the largely unaltered Grade II Listed buildings, the central cottage upgraded to be used as a main entrance and pay point, with the first floor to become a caretaker’s flat. Work is due to be completed in time for swimmers to return next summer, for the first time since 1984 and will be accessible for all.

17 offsite manufacturers have won places on a new £330m framework for the public sector. The Modular Buildings (MB2) framework from LHC allows local authorities, social landlords and other public bodies to source pre-approved specialist suppliers who can design, supply and install permanent, temporary and refurbished modular buildings. The framework is worth up to £250m in England, £60m in Scotland and £20m in Wales. It primarily covers education, healthcare, emergency services, offices and community-related amenities such as sport facilities and theatres, but it can also be used for residential projects that are part of a mixed-use development or for student accommodation. Dean Fazackerley, Group Procurement Manager, said: “This framework provides contracting authorities with a pool of pre-approved suppliers who have won their place on the MB2 framework based primarily on the high quality of their work, but also the long-term value they can deliver.” The MB2 framework will run until May 2025. For more information on the framework and the full list of approved suppliers, visit the LHC website.

06

Restoration work begins on UK’s oldest lido

NEWS

SES Engineering Services Works underway on £6.5m completes creative arts project expansion of Coventry Leading national engineering specialist, SES Engineering secondary school Services (SES), has announced the completion of MEP works on a university building in Leeds city centre with a development value of £80m. Working on behalf of main contractor George Downing Construction (GDC), SES was appointed in 2018 to install a full range of building services including heating, cooling, ventilation and public health, as well as smoke ventilation, security and a specialist fit-out package, comprising stage lighting infrastructure and audio-visual systems on Leeds Beckett University’s latest landmark building and new home to its School of Arts. Constructed on a sloping site, the building’s design incorporates many changes in levels which presented SES with a challenge for the installation and co-ordination of the high volume of building services required.

SES overcame this using its BIM Level 2 expertise which ensured that the services, most of which are exposed, not only fit within the building, but have been designed and installed in such a way that maintenance and future access provision has been meticulously planned for. Speaking about completing the logistically-challenging scheme, SES’ Operations Director North, Paul Beaumont, said: “We were delighted to have the opportunity to work with GDC on behalf of the university on such a landmark building. Our extensive experience of working on complex buildings in the higher education sector certainly stood us in good stead on this occasion.”

Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson has commenced works at Barr’s Hill School in Coventry to expand and remodel existing buildings and create a new teaching block for year seven pupils. G F Tomlinson is delivering the £6.5m scheme on behalf of Coventry City Council, which comprises the construction of a new two-storey, seven-classroom teaching block known as ‘The Bridge’ for January 2022 – a dedicated space for year seven pupils, which will be designed to help 11 and 12 year olds benefit from a smooth transition into secondary education. Expected for completion in September, works will also see the school’s science department extended and refurbished, new classroom spaces created in existing blocks, improved facilities added to the sports changing/ multi gym and external play spaces, and additional dining space to accommodate the school’s expansion over the coming years. Procured through Pagabo’s National Framework for Medium Works, this is the second scheme G F Tomlinson has been awarded through Pagabo in the West Midlands region – the first being the £3.7m development of Cardinal Newman Catholic School in Coventry, also for Coventry City Council, which is due for completion this summer.

Partnership provides procurement path to healthcare foundation Independent property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard has enhanced its support of healthcare services in the UK through a partnership model with the Florence Nightingale Foundation – affording the charitable organisation with compliant procurement paths for its all-important work. The Florence Nightingale Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation with a principal focus on improving health, clinical outcomes and patient experience through scholarships to build nursing and midwifery leadership capacity and capability. It does this by enabling nurses, midwives and other health professionals to access sophisticated and bespoke leadership development opportunities tailored to the scholar’s needs, both in the UK and overseas. In order to support the charitable organisation, Pick Everard affords the Florence Nightingale Foundation access to a NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) framework through a partnership model. Pick Everard is one of the approved suppliers on the NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) Consult 18 framework, which is a vehicle that provides business support services to the NHS and public sector across the country. Pick Everard delivers a number of services for three lots including: strategy development, management support, capital asset delivery, complex projects and change management.

New £9.2m health and care home nears completion in Berkshire Complete construction partner Stepnell is celebrating after reaching a major milestone as the last beam was put in place at a topping out ceremony for a multi-million-pound care home in Bracknell, Berkshire. The topping out celebration marked the next step in the redevelopment of the former Heathlands care home – which will now become Heathlands Integrated Health and Care Home – delivered by Stepnell’s southern team after work on the new building started on site in September 2020.

Stepnell is delivering the £9.2m design and build project for Bracknell Forest Council after the former Heathlands care home was closed in 2016. The redevelopment will see the new 66-bed specialist care facility offer a safe and secure environment for dementia patients or patients transitioning from hospital to their own home. The new modern, purposebuilt facility will offer a mix of long-term elderly mentally infirm (EMI) and short-term nursing and rehabilitation care, and will include communal living spaces, nursing stations, kitchens, a reception area, hair salon, therapy rooms, laundry and staff facilities, as well as external landscaping.

07

UPFRONT

NEW SCHOOL DELIVERS PERFECT BLEND OF ROBUST DESIGN AND STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT Students are settling in well at the latest school operated by Teesside-based Horizons Specialist Academy Trust, which is committed to creating the best possible outcomes for students with a range of special educational needs across both primary and secondary education. trust supports six T heother academies, including a sixth form, in the Middlesbrough and Stocktonon-Tees area.

The Mo Mowlam Academy, so named in tribute to the late politician, Mo Mowlam, who was the Labour MP for Redcar from 1987 to 2001, was handed over to the trust by contractor Tilbury Douglas (formerly Interserve) in February this year.

The pupil numbers for Mo Mowlam Academy are relatively low compared to typical allthrough schools, entirely due to the needs of the students who attend. In fact, there are fewer than 10 pupils per year group on average.

Formally known as Pathways School, the capacity of the former school was 64 pupils, with the new school catering for up to 30 primary and 70 secondary school students, thus enabling all local children aged five to 16 with social, emotional and mental health difficulties

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(SEMH) and living within the Redcar and Cleveland area, to be educated within the borough so that they do not have to travel miles to school.

The ethos of the school centres around making a difference to young people, who at some point, have experienced issues surrounding social exclusion both at school and at home, so it was imperative that the design of the new building catered to their specific situational needs.

The design team selection Designing a school building that is both robust and yet able to provide a transformative environment for teaching and learning is a tough call.

While the design needs to intrinsically provide security for students and teaching staff, it must also provide a warm backdrop for learning – a safe haven.

UPFRONT Howarth Litchfield was selected for the role of lead designer, architect and principal designer, with additional responsibility for interior design and BIM coordination because of its extensive experience in the education sector, particularly the specialist areas of SEN and SEMH. The practice had previously completed Marchbank Free School in nearby Darlington, which is also a SEMH school and Keith Handy, Director of Howarth Litchfield, was able to bring significant personal additional experience of both general needs and SEN schools to the project.

He said: “The need for SEMH schools in the North East is growing and this school replaces one that was very small and in need of expansion and an update.

“The structure of the building and its fixtures and fittings needed to be robust but sufficiently interesting to provide an engaging environment capable of keeping the students’ attention, so it was important that there was a mix of external and internal play areas, to allow some opportunity for letting off steam.”

Day-to-day dos and don’ts The school provides both primary and secondary places for pupils who are taught in mixed age groups. Largely with behavioural difficulties, students attending Mo Mowlam require a wide range of techniques to be employed by teaching staff to get the best out of them – some children may even have experienced exclusion from their own families.

Typically, SEMH students cannot cope in crowds. Large, open spaces can cause anxiety, whereas small, confined spaces can make them feel claustrophobic. Although responsive supervision is an underlying principle at the school, there are occasions when students present more challenging behaviour, requiring more direct intervention from staff. This means common and circulation spaces are generally designed to be wider than in a normal school corridor – 2100mm as a minimum – so that pupils do not feel so hemmed in.

Various other specific architectural requirements pertaining to SEMH needs also had to be met.

A school building like this must not permit or encourage anti-social or potentially harmful behaviour, so the roof is designed to be completely inaccessible to pupils; windows need to permit airflow but not allow the egress of pupils or access to large glassed areas where breakage might occur more readily. Fittings, such as trunking and display boards, are designed to be flush to the wall to minimise potential injury through contact or removal.

Calm rooms have been designed with fixed seating which provide an appropriate environment for staff intervention with students if required.

Mr Handy continued: “Considering how the building would be used, separation between both the primary and secondary elements was essential, hence the layout that we have developed with the administrative and ancillary accommodation located centrally on the plan.

“We have tried to promote social inclusion for all the building users, including visitors and service delivery personnel, by providing clear and legible routes through the site that are suitable for pedestrians, wheelchair users and people with prams or buggies and by providing appropriate lighting, recognised tactile surfacing and sufficient contrast between floor and wall surfaces for those with visual acuity difficulties.

“External CCTV is, of course, a given for security but is useful as a tool in monitoring interaction within the school. High-security electromechanical locks on all exterior doors and internal connecting doors are also a much-needed feature.”

Putting the students front and centre The building layout has been shaped predominantly by functional requirements rather than the site itself. Firstly, three distinct, separated entrances were needed – one for primary students, one for secondary students and a main entrance for staff and visitors. 

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10

UPFRONT

External considerations The landscape design serves to create a highquality, secure and pleasant outdoor learning environment with engaging spaces featuring play equipment for primary pupils plus a secure space for them to let off steam away from the view of secondary students.

At the same time, secondary students have been given space to run off energy and unwind away from the view of primary pupils. The central multi-use games area (MUGA) can be used by both primary and secondary pupils.

The external learning areas must also facilitate teaching opportunities and to that end, there is a gated horticultural garden with raised beds so that students can gain practical horticulture skills with some hardstanding providing the opportunity for activities such as bike mechanics.

Mr Handy concludes: “We are pleased with the feedback we have received since the building has been put to full use. We feel we have given careful consideration to how the design can provide an inclusive response to the wider social and cultural issues at play to ensure the building provides a fully accessible asset for the pupils and staff of Mo Mowlam Academy.”

UPFRONT

For primary pupils, in addition to adequate IT provision in the five 41m 2 classrooms, there is a sensory room, a calming room, a soft-play room and practical teaching space large enough for the preparation and cooking of food.

Within the secondary school are eight classrooms containing workstations as well as an ICT room, a library with five more workstations, a dedicated secondary dining room, a music room, a food technology room with sink, cooker and cupboards, a science room, an art room and a design and technology room.

Shared internal spaces are given over to dining, PE and assembly. For teaching and support staff, there is also a reception area, general office, staff rooms and various meeting and interview rooms.

A dedicated central pedestrian access, separate from the vehicular access, maximises safety for those on foot, together with a oneway system for drop off/pick up with sufficient space for multiple students to arrive and leave by taxi. There is also enough space for vehicles to ‘overtake’ if necessary.

The contractor’s perspective Mark Gardham, Regional Director of Tilbury Douglas Construction, said: “We are extremely pleased to have been involved from the outset as part of our nationwide DfE framework.

“We know that this will make a transformational difference to the students, staff and parents alike and it means that staff and students from the local community can benefit from a new state-ofthe-art facility in a building which has been designed and built specifically with their educational and bespoke personal needs in mind.

“The provision of separate teaching, dining spaces around a central administration hub and extensive external sports facilities for junior and secondary students enhances the whole schooling experience, and we consider, will assist in providing a quiet, calm, robust and, above all, safe learning and teaching environment where all pupils, students and staff alike can enjoy their learning experiences.”

A final word from Horizons Trust CEO, Elizabeth Horne CBE: “The new school provides a much-improved learning and social environment for the pupils and students. Everyone has settled in well and the whole school community is delighted with the additional resources available within the new building. We are pleased with the careful consideration that has been given to designing and providing a school environment which is tailored to the specific needs of the children and young people who currently attend and those who will attend in future years.” 

www.howarthlitchfield.com

11

LEISURE

SUSTAINABLE WILDLIFE CENTRE OPENS IN ESSEX COUNTRY PARK

A brand-new wildlife discovery centre has opened in Essex’s River Lee Country Park – using fully recyclable materials that will reduce the building’s impact on landfill waste.

Here, Perfect Circle talks to PSBJ about the centre’s development, the history of the site and the new building’s environmental impact.

development T hehas£700,000 replaced the former Bittern Information Point, which, after 30 years, had run the course of its lifespan. The new centre offers far-reaching, 3600 views of the surrounding area from the 5m viewing tower, allowing birdwatchers and nature lovers to take a closer look at the wildlife in the park, which is situated

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in the 26 mile-long Lee Valley Regional Park – stretching from the Thames to Hertfordshire.

Property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Perfect Circle – a company jointly owned by Pick Everard, Gleeds and AECOM – was appointed by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority through SCAPE, a leading

public sector procurement authority, to provide project management, structural engineering, principal design, civil engineering and upfront QS costings to the project. The works were accelerated by SCAPE Consultancy, a direct award framework that drives collaboration, efficiency, time and cost savings.

Victoria Brambini, Managing Director of Perfect Circle, said: “We are delighted to have worked alongside Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, architect firm Andris Berzins & Associates and contractor Carmelcrest Construction for this project, which has breathed new life into River Lee Country Park.

“Wartime bombing, changes in industry and post-war reconstruction meant that more than 50 years ago, the area surrounding the River Lee was derelict and neglected.

But over the past five decades, the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority has been dedicated to transforming the area into a world-class destination.

“The centre – located on a remote site between two rivers – comes complete with a CCTV system and live nest boxes, which will provide undisturbed, close-up access to the area’s wildlife for visitors of all ages. The coronavirus pandemic has shown us how much people value open spaces and the ability to get close to nature, so we are expecting it to become one of the most popular areas to visit for both the local community and tourists.”

LEISURE As well as providing an area for the community and tourists to appreciate the wildlife and the Eurasian bittern bird – a Biodiversity Action Plan species – there is a fully accessible information point and a twotier viewing area at ground level, with a separate wildlife information room. The centre is also equipped with ramps and lifts to make it accessible to all.

Fully sustainable materials were used to construct the centre – reducing its impact on landfill waste once the building reaches the end of its design life in half a century.

Hannah Hamilton, Regional Partner for the South East at Perfect Circle, said: “The overriding ambition for the scheme was to refrain from using any concrete so the materials can be recycled when the building reaches the end of its life and to be conscious and protective of local wildlife habitats.

“All materials can be dismantled, reused and recycled; the helical piles can be unscrewed and reused, all timber elements can be chipped and used for biofuel, gabion retaining walls can be reused, and the foundations can be recycled because they aren’t composed of concrete.

“The innovative facility demanded sustainable materials for sub-structure and super-structure elements to overcome difficult site constraints – the area is located on a remote site between two rivers with limited access – and COVID-19 restrictions.

“The structural design, led by Pick Everard Associate Jayesh Patel, incorporated offsite construction techniques – including Keller helical piles, pre-fabricated glulam beams and spliced steel framing – to reduce manual handling risks, construction waste and improve site logistics.

“The construction programme also had to take into account bird migration patterns and nesting, with construction activities being monitored for noise to minimise disruption to the local wildlife, such as bird migration and nests.”

Mark Robinson, Group Chief Executive at SCAPE, said: “It’s clearer than ever that communities need green open spaces with facilities that enhance their quality of life. It is wonderful to see these collaborative teams are so enthusiastically embracing sustainable design and construction principles to encourage development that supports the biodiversity and wildlife within the local area. With these principles at heart, Perfect Circle and Lee Valley Regional Park Authority have delivered a community asset that sets a positive example.

“In addition, this project demonstrates the benefits of using a direct award framework to access the very best technical expertise to solve these kinds of complex challenges with innovation and a keen eye on highquality, sustainable delivery.”

The SCAPE Consultancy framework offers direct access to the most extensive property, construction and infrastructure consultancy services available to the public sector. The procurement route brings together the strongest collaborative team with value for money, while contributing substantially to local social value. 

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HEALTHCARE

PROJECT SUCCESS OWED TO MODULAR CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES Modular construction specialist Darwin Group has handed over the keys to the brand-new Lakeside Wing at University Hospital of Wales (UHW) in Cardiff, after working 24/7 through lockdown to complete the second and final phase of construction works ahead of schedule. an additional D elivering 234 beds, the completion of the southern wing of the site brings the total capacity of the modular building to 400 patients – with a further 200 beds made available across Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s (CAVUHB) other sites, meeting COVID-19 requirements set out by the Welsh Government.

This milestone now means that patients suffering from coronavirus will be able to be moved into the facility immediately, following a thorough project handover.

The £33m build, which was directed by CAVUHB, has been delivered by Darwin Group in just 20 weeks, owing largely to the Shropshire firm’s modular construction techniques.

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This enabled the firm to carry out much of the construction process off site and saw it install a total of 280 building modules in just 70 days.

Darwin Group was appointed

by CAVUHB in September 2020 to deliver the U-shaped modular wing in anticipation of a second spike of coronavirus cases which have subsequently triggered the need for a further lockdown.

The high-quality, temporary build will support UHW throughout the remainder of the pandemic, with plans already being drawn up for it to be repurposed in due course.

Darwin Group’s in-house team provided a unique turnkey service across all stages of the project from start to finish.

Charles Pierce, Managing Director of Darwin Group, said: “The delivery of this facility has only heightened in significance following the latest peak in coronavirus cases and the subsequent lockdown we now find ourselves in. Darwin Group has, therefore, worked tirelessly throughout night and day to ensure that the patients who need these additional beds will be able to access them.

“We are supported by a fantastic in-house team of designers, engineers, and various construction professionals who have come together to deliver each phase of this project within extremely tight time

constraints. As a proud British company, I am delighted that we have been able to deliver on CAVUHB’s requirements and hope that UHW’s new build helps them through these difficult and unprecedented times.”

Len Richards, Chief Executive, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, added: “A lot of work has gone into the planning, build and operational running of the Lakeside Wing. I extend my thanks to all of my colleagues from the health board working on this project as well as the contractors who have worked so diligently on site, ensuring minimal disruption was made for our staff, local residents and our patients.

HEALTHCARE “We will continue to monitor and transfer patients across to the wing from our main site as safely and comfortably as possible as we continue to navigate our way through this pandemic.”

While temporar y constructions, such as the Lakeside Wing, are something Darwin Group can offer, the modular construction specialist remains committed to the quality and longevity of its builds. Darwin Group offers financial payment plans and assists with funding applications to ensure client aspirations and budget constraints align. 

www.darwingroupltd.co.uk

15

HOUSING

THE SOCIAL HOUSING DECARBONISATION CHALLENGE In its Clean Growth Strategy, the Government set out its ambitions for a lowcarbon future with the decarbonisation of social housing high on the agenda.

As social landlords across the UK grapple with the challenge of achieving Energy Performance Certificate C ratings across all social housing by 2030, Wates and its social housing energy services partner, Energy Specifics, explore the main challenges now facing the sector. sheer volume of social T hehousing that requires retrofitting with energyefficiency improvements gives us some sense of scale for the challenges ahead,” explains Amy Smith, Partnerships Director at Wates Property Services. “There are over five million social housing properties in the UK. If we’re to achieve the long-term target of net zero by 2050, we would need to retrofit three homes every minute. But pace isn’t the industry’s most pressing challenge; we’re having to react fast to new legislation and retrofitting isn’t a process that can (or should) be rushed. The industry needs to catch up, to upskill and firmly understand

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the evolving funding solutions so we can help social landlords prepare their housing stock to meet zero-carbon obligations.”

In November 2020, Wates launched its partnership with Energy Specifics to provide a fully-compliant, carbonreduction retrofitting service with the objective of providing landlords with the tools to deliver a ‘whole house’ energysaving retrofit solution. Amy added: “Carbon retrofitting simply can’t be done without working in partnership. Energy Specifics is one of a few companies already operating under the PAS 2035 retrofit standards framework. They bring the technical expertise, compliance and funding

knowledge and we bring the retrofitting capability. By pooling our expertise, we are better able to guide social landlords through their carbon retrofitting programmes.”

Tim Freeman, Director of Energy Specifics, adds: “The net-zero-by-2050 target is undeniably vast and for social landlords the decarbonisation journey will be fraught with unknowns. Ultimately, we are all driven by the same goals – to reduce carbon emissions and combat fuel poverty. But how do we get there? It’s an everchanging landscape; funding is constantly evolving; new carbon reduction innovations are continually brought to market. Our partnership

with Wates is designed to help customers look at what funding is available within a changing landscape and work collaboratively to maximise the opportunities out there.”

Funding for social housing decarbonisation Last year, the Government formally launched the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), through which it has committed £3.8bn over the next 10 years. The first wave of the SHDF provided £50m to fund demonstrator projects to inform future retrofitting schemes. A further £62m was allocated in March this year on top of £500m from the Government’s Green Homes Grant.

HOUSING “There are several funding pots available for social housing retrofitting but they draw a lot of criticism for simply not going far enough,” adds Tim. “The SHDF will not be able to stretch across the homes it needs to but its shortfall isn’t insurmountable. New funding is constantly emerging but eligibility and criteria can be somewhat hard to navigate. The Local Authority Delivery Scheme (LADS), for example, which is part of the Green Homes Grant initiative, is targeted at low-income families. However, residents on a qualifying state benefit may also receive funding under the Energy Company Obligation, but collecting evidence of qualifying benefits to establish potential recipients is a hefty task for local authorities. This can be further complicated by potential complexities with leaseholders in tower blocks skewing LADS eligibility. We often help clients to establish potential recipients of funding, or look at alternatives where occupiers don’t qualify.

“Likewise, the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) funding, which is now in its third phase, has a scoring system which determines the amount of funding available for a carbon reduction measure, generally covering loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, underfloor insulation and boiler replacement or repair. In my experience, the best strategy for social housing decarbonisation is to have a blended approach to securing funding where possible.”

Upskilling for decarbonisation From 1st July this year, retrofitting service providers and those providing energy-efficiency measures will be required to be registered to the PAS 2035* standard in order to qualify for funding, a specification that ultimately ensures energy-efficiency measures have the necessary impact. The PAS 2035 standard ensures that properties are reviewed by trained and qualified retrofit assessors, taking into consideration the energy-saving opportunities, as well as the condition of the property and its suitability for improvement.

Amy adds: “At this point in time there is a bit of a limitation in terms of the number of qualified retrofit assessors and coordinators but huge leaps are being made. To qualify for funding, retrofit assessments must be done by those qualified to the PAS 2035

standard and this is a very involved process. Social landlords are turning to our industry for guidance and so it’s our duty to keep on the front foot in terms of our knowledge and skill.”

Unlike regular household surveys, a retrofit assessment must be conducted by a PAS 2035 retrofit assessor and involves an in-depth two- or three-day survey to provide a detailed retrofit plan (or ‘medium-term improvement plan’), that includes measures to reduce the carbon footprint of a property. The social landlord then selects measures to adopt, applies for funding and commissions the work.

Once complete, the retrofit coordinator uploads the installation details to TrustMark, which generates a number to recoup funding.

Tim continues: “The retrofit assessment is possibly the aspect of social housing decarbonisation that social landlords underestimate. The assessment is very detailed; it includes a condition report, ventilation assessment, EPR (Energy Performance Report) and occupancy assessment. The recommendations within the retrofit plan are often numerous; it’s essentially a guide for property upgrades but it allows social landlords to prioritise the measures that will have the most impact and be most cost effective.” PAS 2035 prioritises fabric-first measures, such as insulation, before heating and renewable measures.

“Not all measures need to be done at once, which makes the decarbonisation journey much more digestible,” adds Amy. “What we are also seeing is that the retrofit plans are giving our clients a better understanding of how their housing stock is performing, which then feeds into their long-term asset management plan. There is no denying that the road to social housing decarbonisation is a long one and we’re very much at the beginning of that journey but we are all heading in the right direction to create healthier homes, reduce carbon emissions and help residents out of fuel poverty.”

PAS 2035: The new Publicly Available Specification that lays out all retrofit energy-efficient enhancements to the UK’s existing housing stock.

Within this framework, TrustMark holders will be required to comply with this standard when carrying out any domestic retrofit work.  *

www.wates.co.uk

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BUILDING ACCESS & SECURITY

PROVIDING THE KEY TO CONVENIENCE AND SECURITY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HULL Student living presents some very complex and specific security considerations for specifiers. It’s important that students feel safe and secure, particularly as most will be living away from the family home for the first time and often bringing expensive – and very steal-able – electronic devices with them. It’s also vital that the developments are practical to operate and maintain, including emergency access, inspections and the inevitable lost key and locked out scenarios. locks and T raditional keys with a hierarchy of key control remain the most practical, secure and failsafe solution, and this approach was taken as part of the refurbishment of 12 student accommodation blocks at the University of Hull.

Complex simplicity The University of Hull student blocks are arranged as apartments with shared living and cooking facilities, along with private en-suite study bedrooms. The entrance to each block is secured with an access control system but keys and locks have been installed to give each resident access to their own apartment and their own room within it.

Each resident has been issued with a single key to unlock both the front door to their apartment and their study bedroom. It was essential that the key could not be used to access any other apartment or bedroom.

The refurbishment contractor was also keen to reduce the number of master keys required to gain authorised

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maintenance access and brought in Miles Architectural Ironmongery to supply a suitable system.

Explains Mark Read, Project Manager at Miles Architectural Ironmongery: “We visited the site to walk round the student accommodation blocks so that we could draw up a detailed specification of every lock required and the matrix of which keys needed to fit which lock.

“The task was extremely complicated but the goal was to make the finished lock installation as simple and userfriendly as possible.”

Following the site visit, Miles Architectural Ironmongery carried out key variation calculations and developed a detailed chart of project requirements to brief the team at Locking Systems.

Mark Read continues: “We have worked with Locking Systems on many occasions and know that we can trust them to take the detailed information we provide and manufacture the correct itinerary of locks and keys with a reliable five- to seven-day lead time.

“It was important that the lock barrels were compatible with the existing lock cases because the locks were being retrofitted. It was also essential that students’ keys could not be re-cut on the high street, to protect against sub-letting, nonpaying additional residents and theft, so Locking Systems’ ability to provide patent-protected keys was also an integral part of delivering on the brief.”

Precision manufacturing Miles Architectural Ironmongery supplied a detailed specification to Locking Systems, including a complete list of door numbers for each block and an itemised schedule of which keys needed to fit which doors. The Locking Systems team inputted this information into the company’s software to produce a detailed design for each of the 700 lock cylinders, each with a unique pin configuration, along with a schedule of keys aligned to each lock.

Bill Murray, General Manager of Locking Systems, explains: “The software generates a precision layout for the pin placement of each lock and collates each lock with the required keys so that we have a complete production schedule for every lock, aligned to the key and master key that will open it. All the cylinders we produced for the project are EN 1303 compliant, conform to grade 6 key locking security standards and have thumb turn opening for egress, so we were able to provide robust and reliable security and safety for students. Meanwhile, precision design and manufacture of the bespoke locks and keys offers singlekey convenience for students and master key simplicity for the estates department.”

The 700 lock cylinders were manufactured at Locking Systems’ factory in Gateshead, with phased production aligned to the installation schedule.

Following machine production of the lock barrels, each lock was hand-pinned to ensure accuracy, smooth operation and reliable security. Each lock was supplied with two patent protected keys, and just eight master keys were required to operate all locks across the 12 blocks.

BUILDING ACCESS & SECURITY

Future-proofing

Mark Read continues: “To limit the number of master keys required across the project, all the locks and keys needed to be engineered at the same time but the refurbishment project was phased to maximise occupancy and minimise disruption, so supply also had to be phased.”

Alongside the locks and keys for the student apartments and study bedrooms, a number of additional locks were required within the student blocks for maintenance locations, such as loft hatches and electrical cupboards. Locking Systems also manufactured these locks with hand-pinning, aligned to the installation schedule, with a single master key.

For the maintenance locations, safety was the biggest concern, as these areas must only be accessible to authorised personnel. Installing the same high-quality locks and specifying all locks with a single master key provided a convenient approach to safety and security across all 12 blocks.

The University of Hull project is still ongoing with 10 of the 12 blocks now completed.

The detailed engineering data for all locks and keys in the project will be retained within Locking Systems’ records to ensure that the delivery partners and the university have all the information required should any of the locks or keys need to be replaced in the future.

Bill Murray adds: “It is always important to consider maintenance and management of buildings throughout the operational lifespan of a refurbishment.

Not only will the high-quality locks we provided be durable and smooth to operate over years of use, but the detailed information we securely store on the project means that we can produce new keys or locks to integrate with the installation at any time should they be needed.” 

www.uapcorporate.com

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SKYLIGHTS & ROOFLIGHTS

A PERFECTLY-BALANCED BACKDROP FOR EVENTS Commercial, educational and public sector spaces present unique design challenges that you would never come up against working on a residential project. One such challenge common to them all is the multi-function room. a space that can C reating be adapted for any need is a deceptively simple task because it means creating a space that lacks a clear purpose of its own, so it’s not as easy as it might first appear. This was the very challenge the Saïd Business School in Oxford faced when it chose to extend its existing building to add a space that could be used for corporate or private events of varying scales, and the solution was all in the rooflights.

Multi-function rooms are fantastic and often necessary assets to public sector or educational buildings because of the flexibility they offer.

The downside is that, because they lack clear direction for their intended use, the finished product can feel dull and empty, which doesn’t make for a welcoming space to host events in or an inspiring space to collaborate and get creative.

To prevent this happening at the Saïd Business School, Estates Director Mat Davies was keen to balance the need for additional space with a clear design direction. To make sure the space had its own character, he came up with the creative idea of making it a garden room. Not only

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did this decision give the project a very clear personality, but as an organisation situated in the heart of Oxfordshire, it also made the best use of the stunning landscape by incorporating an abundance of windows and rooflights to perfectly frame the stunning countryside just beyond the building’s boundaries.

Architecture firm Dixon Jones, which had previously designed the business school’s main building and executive education centre, got onto the job of the garden room, which would be bathed in natural light during all hours of the day, no matter the season, to the benefit of up to 60 people.

Naturally, rooflights were to play a key role in bringing as much light from above into the room as possible but also as a design element. Mat was keen that they looked sleek, fit in with the existing building’s character, gave a clear and unobstructed view out, and didn’t stand out on the exterior by sitting proud on the extension’s new copper roof. Only one rooflight on the market could offer all of that, the Conservation rooflight from The Rooflight Company.

The Conservation rooflight perfectly marries high-spec design with a traditional look and can sit completely flush with the exterior roof material.

On the interior, the plasterboard can be taken right up to the glass, leaving behind a completely seamless look, like the glass pane has simply been installed with putty. This also maximises the view out and the amount of light that enters the room.

Specified for the scheme were four sets of three rooflights all linked together by one baseplate. Each baseplate is made up of three CR15 rooflights each measuring 1021 x 1635mm. This ‘stringed’ approach creates the illusion of one larger rooflight, when they are in fact multiple individual products.

Not only do the rooflights provide an abundance of natural light, which was key to avoiding the dull and industrial feel, but the middle rooflight of each set was fitted with a motor to provide the required ventilation.

The glazing bars were also removed to minimise the sight lines and provide a completely uncluttered view out to make the most of the beautiful Oxfordshire surroundings. Finally, each rooflight was painted in traffic light grey to further blend in with the new copper roof which would naturally turn green in colour after being exposed to the elements. 

www.therooflightcompany.co.uk

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LEGAL & BUSINESS

SAFETY ACROSS THE SUPPLY CHAIN ON PUBLIC SECTOR SITES Luke Baker, Managing Director of LEB Construction, discusses the need for all elements of the delivery chain to implement best practice health and safety protocols on public sector sites. and safety should H ealth always be a top priority for all organisations involved in any aspect of construction.

Over the past 18 months, that responsibility has been more urgent and complex than ever, with the need to keep both site personnel and the public safe from COVID-19, while continuing to manage the hazards and risks inherent in the programme.

As a main contractor, LEB Construction is often also the designated principal contractor, which involves responsibility for all aspects of site safety. That includes ensuring risk assessments and method statements are thorough, as well as implementing measurable health and safety policies and practices. It also includes adjusting health and safety protocols in response to any changes – such as adverse weather conditions, for example, or revisions to the scope of works.

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Since the onset of the pandemic, the need to respond in real time to changing health and safety considerations has never been greater. Not only have we needed to modify site set-up to enable social distancing, sanitisation and one-way systems, there has also been a need for health screening, avoiding bottlenecks in restroom facilities and preventing unnecessary visitors coming to site. Even more challenging than these requirements, perhaps, has been adjusting to unknowns.

Changing lockdown restrictions and the potential for workers to be absent from site due to infection or trackand-trace self-isolation requests has created the potential for teams to be short-handed, which can create gaps in safe supervision or unsafe site behaviours in order to avoid falling behind schedule.

It is across all these scenarios that the role of the principal contractor is

not simply to impose health and safety best practice but to actively collaborate and communicate with all supply chain partners. Only then can a genuine safety culture be delivered consistently throughout the site.

Where necessary, that must include flagging any challenges with the client and building additional time into the programme to enable both quality assurance and safety best practice. Even when the project in question is the refurbishment of an occupied building or requires handover within a missioncritical deadline, accountability for health and safety at every level is essential and should be integral to a best value delivery model.

With a problem-solving approach, an experienced team and effective collaboration, it should be possible to avoid the cost and disruption of overruns by identifying issues early and putting measures in place

Luke Baker is Managing Director of LEB Construction, which he set up in 2009 after training as a Carpenter at Coleg Ceredigion, apprenticed to a wellrespected local builder.

to maintain progress, quality and safety. A main contractor that nurtures the trust and confidence of all supply chain partners, keeps the client up to speed and calls on the expertise of all involved to find solutions to safety challenges can avoid both risk and delays.

At LEB Construction, we have been very fortunate to work in a region of Wales that has avoided the spikes in COVID-19 cases that have affected some areas of the UK, but effective health and safety management is not just about responding quickly; it’s also about anticipating risk. A collaborative culture is fundamental to risk management, both during the pandemic and beyond, so, for clients, principal contractors and supply chain partners, it should always be a priority. 

www.lebconstruction.co.uk

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EDUCATION

DESIGNING SUSTAINABILITY INTO SCHOOLS Schools face a number of design challenges shared by few other construction projects. What other building has to accommodate specialist areas dedicated to scientific experiments, dramatic performances and diverse sports activities while also providing food, IT services, vital community services and more to thousands of people on a daily basis? David Rowsell, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction – Northern Home Counties, discusses further.

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or today’s new schools, it’s important to add to this list that a holistic approach to sustainability needs to be embedded within each element of its construction. This is crucial, as it’s likely that green building guidance is only going to become stricter as the Government looks to achieve its goal of a net-zero carbon society by 2050.

This means that new-build school projects must carefully consider the entire lifecycle of a school, from how it’s designed and built through to how it’s operated and maintained to make sure that the overall carbon footprint is as low as possible.

Milton Keynes Council’s environmental ambitions When it came time to design a new secondary school at Glebe Farm in Wavendon, Milton Keynes Council decided that it wanted to go above and beyond the current green requirements to create a site that would set a new benchmark for sustainable school construction. This project, which is currently on site, is therefore a good case study in how to examine specific aspects of a school’s creation to minimise its environmental impact.

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Procured through the Pagabo framework, a £10bn six-year Major Works Framework, Glebe Farm School is the product of a long-standing collaborative relationship between Milton Keynes Council and Morgan Sindall Construction’s Northern Home Counties business.

As the contractor confirmed to deliver the 1659-place facility, our team advised the council on how their green targets could be met through the use of new materials and innovative building processes. The council were quick to agree to these changes during the project’s design phase, in order to drastically lower the emissions that would be generated by both the school’s construction as well as its long-term use.

Creating a cleaner building site With construction of the school having started in February, many of the recommended green building processes are currently in action at the construction site.

One of the most significant ways we’ve minimised emissions during the build is by using alternative and

renewable power sources for the equipment and temporary set-up.

This was accomplished by using a solar-powered generator to provide clean, off-grid energy for the site’s cabins. For those less sunny days, the generator uses the bio-fuel HVO instead of diesel to make sure that the work can keep going without any disruptions. Even when not on solar power, this is still a much more sustainable energy source for the team on site, as HVO only creates 0.195kg of CO2 instead of the 2.68kg created when burning red diesel.

The green benefit of using this system was proven over the first month of the development, as the site’s sunshine and bio-fuel-powered generator delivered a 72% reduction in CO 2 compared to what would have been expected from a diesel driven 40kVA generator running 24 hours a day over the same time period.

Going gas-free One of the most significant design changes came with the decision to remove the school from the gas grid, with all the heating to be provided instead by renewable energy via roof-

mounted air source heat pumps (ASHP). The emission-reducing effectiveness of this move was highlighted by the Committee on Climate Change1, which stated that carbon emissions for a home can be up to 90% lower for a house and 80% lower for a naturally-ventilated office when using ASHPs instead of gas.

Unlike most developments, this decision has an interesting knock-on effect for a school, as typically every science lab will require gaspowered Bunsen burners. To solve this issue, the council decided to install electric Bunsen burners instead, so that no part of the building would require a gas connection for any reason.

This is a good example of how this project is ahead of the curve, as gas Bunsen burners are still routinely specified for new schools despite the construction industry veering away from this fossil fuel in general. The move to drop gas is especially evident in the recent Future Homes Standard and its directive to take new homes off the gas grid – a direction that’s likely to be keenly felt in public sector construction over the coming years.

EDUCATION

Redesigning through a green lens The green design changes didn’t stop there, as renewable power became an ever more prominent part of the project, with the number of solar panels increasing and with six electric charging points added to the car park. When it came to the components used to construct the school, the Green Guide for building materials was consulted to inform sustainable specification choices, which included choosing eco-friendly PVCfree hoarding instead of a traditional option.

The Morgan Sindall Construction team worked closely with Milton Keynes Council to ensure that the school would continue to effectively minimise emissions during its day-today use. A key way this was achieved was by designing a building envelope with very low air permeability to retain heat and reduce the energy required to warm the classrooms. While regulations state that schools should meet an air leakage rate of 5m 3/ hm 2, Glebe Farm’s new school would benefit from a much better air permeability rate of only 3m 3/hm 2.

Externally, the school’s grounds were made to be green in more ways than one.

Not only will 840 saplings donated by the Woodland Trust be planted, but all the mulch and topsoil will be reused instead of being

moved, saving the emissions that would otherwise be incurred through transportation. The levels of the school’s ground were carefully redesigned and raised to accommodate this additional material.

A new generation of sustainable schools There’s an urgent need for new schools right now, as last year saw a drastic fall in the number of education sector construction projects being started. According to Glenigan 2, this drive to create more classroom space will see a 53% increase in school

projects this year compared to 2020 which, for obvious reasons, saw a fall of 33% in the number of education facilities being started.

These new facilities need to not only provide high-quality teaching spaces for more students than the country has ever taught before, but local councils need to create facilities that simultaneously align with challenging sustainability objectives.

We’re committed to helping our clients achieve those objectives. The activity that has taken place at Glebe Farm is a perfect illustration of Morgan Sindall Construction’s

wider environmental strategy, Decarbonising Communities.

Launched earlier this year, Decarbonising Communities will enable us to support our customers and local supply chains – in Milton Keynes and across the country – in achieving their environmental ambitions and help meet our own target of net-zero carbon by 2030.

Committee on Climate Change: The costs and benefits of tighter standards for new buildings 2 Glenigan: Construction Industry Forecast 2021-2022  1

www.morgansindallconstruction.com

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TALKING POINT

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC SECTOR OFFICES LOOK LIKE? Tim Shirt from office power and connectivity specialist, CMD, discusses emerging trends and altered working practices, reflecting on how they will change the look and layout of public sector office environments in the post-pandemic era.

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live and work for good. Even as we begin tentative steps towards rebooting office routines and shared workspaces, there is a widespread acknowledgement that what we’ve learned from the pandemic experience will shape the way we behave and perceive our work environment for years to come.

A time of change Over the past year, we have discovered the pivotal role of technology in contemporary working practices. From schools to local authority services, public sector environments have adapted to new tools and platforms and gained an insight into how much technology allows us to do. Collaboration across departments and sites has become easier, paperless office practices have fallen into place out of necessity and agile working has become routine.

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The importance of a comfortable and welcoming work environment has also been firmly established over the past year. Many of those able to work at home have benefitted from softer surroundings and biophilia, and the experience will influence workplace trends moving forward.

Already, there was an evolution towards more agile, welcoming and tech-enabled offices, and the pandemic has escalated those trends.

As a consequence, we can expect to see more use of natural materials and biophilia in public sector office environments, creating a resimercial look and feel, with layouts that enable both social distancing and collaboration.

Let’s not forget that employees have coped with a lot of disruption and anxiety over the past 18 months.

Bringing a softer look and

feel into the office is not just about aesthetics, therefore, it’s also about providing reassurance by articulating a caring, nurturing workplace.

The office environment The biggest short-term challenges for public sector workplaces centre around the need to implement new working practices to enable social distancing. Potentially, depending on the size and layout of existing office accommodation, this may involve reconfiguration and equipping the office for hot desking or agile working. In the public sector, like the private sector, there is a widely-held assumption that a degree of homeworking will continue to be part of workplace culture indefinitely.

To aid ease of reconfiguration, we are likely to see an increased focus on busbar powertrack systems, such

Tim Shirt is Key Furniture Accounts Manager at CMD. His vast experience has won him national awards as one of the leading consultants in his field.

as CMD’s Betatrak, or hub distribution systems, which allow electrical installations to be modified easily and occupancy to be scaled up or down. The ability to locate a tap off anywhere on the network at 30cm intervals allows versatile layouts, with redundancy and resilience built-in where required, so that layouts can remain flexible as needs change.

In the short term at least, offices will need to implement cleaning and booking regimes to enable social distancing and infection control. And if hot desking remains a feature of public sector work patterns, booking systems for hot desking are likely to remain. This has implications for workstation connectivity, smart technology and on-desk equipment, including the use of Bluetooth and RFID technologies to allow automated registration of personnel at the workstation.

TALKING POINT

Technology enabled Alongside the need for booking systems and trackand-trace functionality, the need to drive down overheads in public sector buildings, and for transparency on carbon emissions, means smart systems will be more widely adopted.

We have also reached a period where digital natives, who have grown up with digital devices and internet use, are a key part of the workforce. For generation Z, there is an expectation that technology is part of every environment, and, as tech continues to advance, they will be quick to adopt and demand it.

This means bringing together power, charging and data, not just at the workstation, but also in breakout spaces and throughout public sector buildings. Apple’s adoption of wireless charging technology has been a game changer in terms of homogenising the tech required for wireless charging of any device. As this technology has become more robust, enabling charging of both phones and tablets, there is a more compelling case for integrating it within furniture, alongside USB charging and power sockets. With a move away from traditional desk layouts towards formal and informal collaborative and quiet working spaces, we are

also likely to see powerbank functionality built into furniture for breakout areas and acoustic meeting/isolation booths.

In addition to the power, charging and connectivity, the technological evolution of the office will also require a focus on enabling multi-location collaboration via online platforms. Whether teams are collaborating across locations or from both office and home environments, buildings will need to be equipped with sufficient data capabilities and A/V equipment to facilitate real-time communication.

This will include increasingly sophisticated document sharing platforms and collaboration software tools, along with

A/V equipment. Consequently, compact units, such as the CMD Linear, which combines power, charging, data and media, and the four-sided CMD Inca, which combines power, charging and data in a compact unit, will be go-to solutions.

Capitalising on change Public sector office environments have seen substantial change over the past two decades.

The pandemic and increasingly available complex technologies have created a perfect storm to escalate the pace of change, creating an opportunity for more connected, collaborative and caring workplaces. 

www.cmd-ltd.com

27

INTERIORS

ARE GLASS PARTITIONING SYSTEMS HERE TO STAY? There are many aspects of social distancing during the pandemic that are likely to become obsolete eventually, but glass partitions in public-facing environments may well remain, as CRL Europe’s Managing Director, Simon Boocock, explains for PSBJ.

P

ublic sector buildings, including healthcare, leisure and education environments, look a little different in 2021 as we emerge from lockdown to how they were just over a year ago when the pandemic first reached UK shores.

Although partitioning systems in reception areas aren’t completely new, before now they have been specified more to offer employees

a level of safety against intruders, rather than to guard against a potentially deadly virus. Now, with society used to social distancing measures, these protective screens have become quite a common sight in public settings.

Being able to interact with customers remains important, of course, therefore it’s essential to integrate solutions that don’t compromise on the ability to

communicate. Maintaining the natural flow of the space also remains important.

Compromising on the interior design or layout of the building’s interior is never on the agenda and being able to adjust the screening easily as requirements change is also a priority. Glass or clear plastic partitioning means that is not impaired, but the spread of germs can be halted.

For many building managers, this change had to be made fairly rapidly. In order to comply with Government COVID-safe regulations for re-opening, such safety measures had to be implemented on an incredibly short turnaround, meaning that completely changing the layout of a room or making any structural alterations was not possible. Instead, what was needed was a flexible, perhaps temporary solution that could be installed quickly and changed as necessary.

Solutions include floorsupported moveable screens – a particularly popular and useful option in public-facing spaces such as healthcare centres, thanks to their manoeuvrability which means they can easily be repositioned wherever they are needed before being made secure with a safety brake on the wheels. For desktop settings, there is portable partition screening, offering similar flexibility and making a desk or countertop barrier with no need for screwing into furniture.

Both options enable additional screens to be added to increase the width of the barrier and all such solutions removed the headache of installation.

Once in place, such partitioning systems offer a practical and effective barrier against coughing, sneezing and the general spread of germs.

This is, of course, supremely important during a global pandemic, but there is much to be said for the existence of such systems in a post-pandemic world too. Research is ongoing into the effect of distancing measures such as mask-wearing in public places and increased handwashing in the reduction in the spread of all germs, not just coronavirus, with statistics already suggesting that the ‘normal’ cold and flu season in COVID-hit countries has been reduced as a result.

The same argument can then be made for glass partitioning systems in public sector buildings. A glass or clear plastic screening system that acts as a protective barrier against the spread of germs, while not in any way negatively impacting the aesthetics or acoustics of the environments surely has longevity. 

www.crlaurence.co.uk

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TECHNICAL FOCUS

AN EFFICIENT APPROACH TO WINDOW SPECIFICATION

From the desire to increase the sustainability of a building to the very real need to reduce its impact on the environment, it is important to view windows in terms of their thermal efficiency. Andrew Cooper, National Specification Manager from leading aluminium fenestration solutions supplier Senior Architectural Systems, discusses some of the ways aluminium windows can provide both a compliant and creative solution to Part L of the Building Regulations. we talk about the W hen thermal performance of fenestration, what we are really concerned about are U-values.

Put simply, when it comes to U-value ratings, less is more and the lower the figure, the more heat is retained. The U-value of a window system is dependent on a number of factors including the frame material, the type of glazing and the use of a warm edge spacer bar which provides the space and insulation between the two or three panes of glass.

Although BREEAM, Passivhaus and other such standards have helped to encourage the wider specification of energy-efficient building materials and processes, the required U-values for both domestic and non-domestic dwellings are determined by Part L of the Building Regulations – and these figures are set to change.

Although the specific timings and targets of the new legislation are yet to be

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confirmed, one thing that is for certain is that the U-values target will be lowered. It is also very likely that further reductions will be introduced in the future so now is the time to factor achieving the best possible U-values into your specification plans.

Future-proof fenestration The planned changes to Part L will shake up the construction industry – after all, its specific aim is to challenge us all to think more carefully about the impact that the built environment has on the wider world. However, for many fenestration system manufacturers, planning for such a change has been years in the making and rather than the new legislation being seen as a minimum target, it has helped fuel innovation to provide solutions that not only meet but exceed current requirements.

TECHNICAL FOCUS As all buildings lose heat from windows and doors, thermal performance is one of the most important characteristics of any system and most on the market use a strong polyamide as an insulator to prevent heat loss between the inner and outer frame.

For our part, Senior wanted to push the boundaries even further with the creation of our patented PURe system that incorporates an even more effective thermal barrier made from expanded polyurethane foam; a material more commonly used in insulation products. This gives our PURe aluminium window the potential to achieve U-values as low as 0.71W/m2k, which far exceeds the current targets set out by Part L as well as the likely changes that lay ahead.

So, should window systems be specified on their U-value ratings alone? It’s a good place to start but most effective building envelopes are those that take a more holistic approach.

Adding value As much as all buildings must meet the required U-value targets, they must also meet their specified budget. There is a misconception that ultra-efficient window systems are the most expensive option but in reality, they are often competitively priced and what’s more, offer additional cost savings.

An obvious benefit of specifying low U-value windows and doors is that by retaining more heat, less energy is needed to heat the building. This can make a huge difference to the operational costs of a building and can provide a much greater return on investment than options with a more expensive outlay price such as underfloor heating or solar roof panels.

Although the energy efficiency of fenestration systems can be boosted through the complementary use of lowemissivity – or low-e – glazing, it’s important to remember that the thermal performance of many aluminium systems, including our own PURe system, is really focused in the frame. Aluminium frames are much more hardwearing and less likely to break than glass, which in turn would be expensive to replace, so such systems represent a good long-term investment.

Add to this the fact that aluminium systems can be powder-coated in a variety of finishes to reduce maintenance and increase durability, there are many ways that that specifiers can make their budgets stretch even further.

Behind the figures Low U-value windows and doors may help your scheme achieve Part L compliance but how can you be sure that the most thermally-efficient systems on the market are actually the most sustainable? This is where it is becoming increasingly important that manufacturers provide complete transparency on their manufacturing processes as any green credentials can be easily tarnished if significant waste and carbon has to be generated before the specified system even makes it to site.

By looking at the lifecycle of a product, from its manufacture and transportation to its operation and disposal, specifiers can get a much clearer picture of how sustainable a product really is and how its use will truly impact on the overall carbon footprint of a scheme. A good benchmark is checking if a

manufacturer holds an accreditation such as BRE Global’s BES 6001 standard for the responsible and sustainable sourcing of aluminium extrusions.

Similarly, systems that offer Cradle to Cradle recyclability can help further lessen the environmental impact of a project, reducing both its carbon footprint and the need for materials to be sent to landfill at the end of the building’s life.

Prepare for Part L With the pending changes to Part L and the ever-increasing need to create more energyefficient buildings, the specification of low-U-value, cost-effective, fully recyclable thermally-broken windows is fortunately no longer such a tall order. With technical advice, product guidance and support with thermal calculations an essential part of a manufacturer’s service offering, engaging early with your chosen fenestration systems supplier can help unlock the full potential of your next project. 

www.seniorarchitecturalsystems.co.uk

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DOORS, WINDOWS & BALUSTRADES

SUPPORTING INVESTMENT IN HOSPITALS In 2019, the UK Government announced a £13bn investment programme for NHS hospitals, including the construction of six brand-new facilities by 2024 and significant investment in the development and refurbishment of 34 existing hospitals. Further plans announced in July 2020 included additional funding for major infrastructure programmes. a history of providing W ith high-quality, highperformance systems for a wide range of public sector infrastructure projects, including hospitals, Smart Aluminium Systems’ Managing Director, Eddie Robinson, said: “The Government’s focus on major infrastructure projects, and in particular hospitals and schools, has been widely welcomed. Our experienced teams are looking forward to bringing their expertise to bear across these nationallyimportant new-build, refurbishment and upgrade projects and to working closely with our fabrication and installation partners to deliver the right solution for each scheme.”

Smart’s systems have been used extensively across a wide range of healthcare projects, from medical practices to NHS Trusts and laboratories,

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with two examples, Kingston Hospital and The James Black Building at the University of Glasgow, perfectly showcasing the company’s flexible and collaborative approach to delivering projects of widely-ranging scale, scope and complexity.

Refurbishment programme delivers improved environment for patients and staff When the Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust embarked on a major refurbishment programme to replace the windows and doors of the hospital’s Esher Wing, the programme was designed to not only improve the building’s aesthetics, but also to improve thermal performance, reduce energy costs and deliver improved patient, visitor and staff comfort.

The seven-storey block contained a mix of wards, operating theatres, maternity units and administration facilities, with all four elevations still featuring the building’s original 1960s heavy-duty steel windows, which were well beyond their useful life.

Although the size of the windows was quite large (nominally, each was 6m wide by 3m high), the main installation issues were logistical, with work being carried out as the hospital continued to operate. In slots of nine hours, the teams had to take out the old windows, fit new units, change the radiator and clean the area (whether it was a ward, operating theatre or office) to clinical standards.

DOORS, WINDOWS & BALUSTRADES During the eight-month project, 1200 Smart EcoFutural windows were installed (a combination of tilt-and-turn and bottom-hung casements), as well as seven sets of Smart Wall double doors and the MC600 curtain wall grid system. MC600 was specified due to the requirement to hang brise soleil units from two of the building’s elevations.

The materials were finished to one of Smart’s own colour formulations from the company’s Sensations range, with an Antique Grey finish specified for the external profiles and Velour for the interior.

As a result of the work, Kingston Hospital now has stateof-the-art windows which have considerably improved patients’ comfort and provided a muchimproved working environment for all hospital staff, with a building which is warmer, weather-proof, more energy efficient and better ventilated.

Delivering a perfect combination of aesthetics and performance, EcoFutural is ideal for high-occupancy public buildings such as hospitals and schools, with the range containing high-performance, high-quality single and double doors as well as tilt-and-turn, pivot, fixed and open-out casement window options.

Refurbishment of iconic building continues 1930s ‘art-moderne’ design style The refurbishment of the iconic Joseph Black Building at the University of Glasgow was developed to give it a completely new lease of life, preserving the design heritage of the building while improving its efficiency and performance and making it a better research, learning and teaching environment for staff and students.

The building is home to the university’s School of Chemistry and houses a combination of lecture rooms, laboratories and offices. As a consequence, the refurbishment programme was subject to detailed planning to reduce impact on the building’s users.

The first phase of work covered the replacement of all the windows and doors in the external envelope of the 17,000m² building, with more than 1100 Smart Alitherm Heritage windows being installed. A stunning feature of the building is the 10.8m-tall window units, installed above the main reception and stairwells, the design of which has been faithfully recreated using the Alitherm Heritage system.

In terms of matching the original window profiles, it was critical that the design maintained the essence of the building’s ‘art-moderne’ design and replicated the lines of 1930s steel windows. The team designed a new cill and gasket details to ensure that an almost exact match to the original design was achieved.

Alitherm Heritage has helped maintain the aesthetic integrity of the original building, but at the same time enabled the staff, students and estates management team to benefit from the comfort, performance and cost efficiencies that modern aluminium materials deliver.

Designed specifically to meet the requirements of public buildings, all Alitherm Heritage windows deliver enhanced thermal performance. Similarly, the system’s doors are ideally suited to projects such as schools and hospitals, which typically have a high footfall and heavy usage.

Certified to PAS 24 for security and BS 6375 for weather testing, rebated doors are available in the range to provide an effective ‘anti-finger trap’ solution, which is perfect for heavily trafficked, public buildings.

Eddie Robinson continued: “As well as developing highperformance products, we are also committed to working towards a greener, more sustainable environment, ensuring every aspect of our activities follow sound environmental practices.

This focus extends to raw material sourcing, and we are delighted to top the Building Research Establishment’s Responsible Sourcing league table for suppliers of aluminium products in the UK. “Across a range of projects, we have helped transform public buildings into modern, bright and energy-efficient spaces, providing benefits to patients, visitors and staff and with a tailored range of products and our marketleading technical support services, we have a complete package of solutions for the healthcare sector.

“We are now looking forward to working with local trusts, hospitals, care homes, architects and designers, as well as our supply chain partners, to help deliver the Government’s rebuilding programme and to support the regeneration of our critical health sector infrastructure.” 

www.smartsystems.co.uk

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DOORS & WINDOWS

IRISH COLLEGE SELECTS SALTO TO SECURE ITS NEW CAMPUS South West College, the largest further education college in Northern Ireland, has selected SALTO and its partner company, Doorways Architectural, to provide the access control solution for its new multi-million-pound Erne Campus.

Located in the communities of Tyrone and Fermanagh in Northern Ireland, the college is physically represented at campuses in Cookstown, Dungannon, Enniskillen and Omagh. It employs over 900 full-time and part-time staff servicing around 18,000 enrolments and, with a turnover of £41m, makes a major contribution to the local and regional economy.

The new campus, which is situated on the site of the former Erne Hospital in Enniskillen, will open its doors to students and staff later this year having been delayed due to COVID-19, and will deliver additional first-class facilities and accommodation for students and staff at South West College.

It will see the delivery of the first educational building worldwide to achieve the highest international standard in environmental construction – Passive House Premium. The application of the Passive House standard is still quite new in the UK and in particular Northern Ireland,

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ranking it alongside prestigious buildings such as the Apple Campus 2 in terms of sustainable innovation and design, and it is also designed to achieve a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating, confirming the college’s commitment towards sustainability.

What did the college need?

To ensure the safety and security of its students, staff and visitors, the college needed a modern access, wire-free control solution that was future-proof to allow for any future expansion, and provide full control over who could access what, where and when. In addition, any proposed solution had to be easy to install, simple to operate, be able to grant access rights instantly and revoke them in real-time if and when required, and provide full audit trail functionality.

To meet this brief, Tracey Brothers, the main contractor constructing the new campus, commissioned SALTO partner Doorways Architectural to supply and install the new access control system.

Solution and benefits Robert McNeill, Doorways’ Sales Manager, comments: “Having made the decision to standardise access control on the SALTO solution, installation got underway with some 100 plus doors being secured.

Products fitted include SALTO XS4 One handle sets, mortise locks with projecting latches, strike plates and simple-to-use SALTO BLUEnet software.

“This provides high-level, real-time access control throughout the campus, allowing system administrators to manage doors and user keys in just a few easy steps and in real-time. A SALTO Virtual Network (SVN) was also installed, which provides the flexibility for the campus’ access control system to grow as required.”

Controlling access plays an important role in the security of any educational building and SALTO’s innovative, wire-free technology allows stand-alone electronic locks to read, receive and write information via their operating smart cards. And, at a later date if the client chooses, they can also incorporate the use of JustIN Mobile technology making it easy and secure to incorporate smartphones as a part of their on-campus access control solution.

A spokesperson for South West College said: “Security is of paramount importance for all our students and staff. Doorways and SALTO understood our requirements to be successful – secure and safe. We needed a system where our new campus buildings felt safe but where our students have a sense of freedom – and our new SALTO technology provides that.”

www.saltosystems.com 01926 811979 info.uk@saltosystems.com

CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IS IMPROVED WITH EXCELLENT SECONDARY GLAZING Set in the area close to the imposing 600-year-old Chester Cathedral are two Grade II Listed Georgian buildings, which have been carefully and sympathetically renovated to become Abbey School for Exceptional Children.

NEW FROM ENFIELD: BUILD YOUR BESPOKE PAS24 FD60 DOOR

DOORS & WINDOWS

www.selectaglaze.co.uk 01727 837271 enquiries@selectaglaze.co.uk

GEZE WINS NHS CONTRACT

Enfield Speciality Doors is now offering custom-built, highsecurity one-hour fire doorsets. The PAS24 FD60 internal entrance doors are certified for fire and security and are ideal for apartments for social housing, students or private landlords.

Enfield’s new entrance doors meet BS 476 for fire resistance and smoke control, as well as PAS24 for enhanced security, which is required for the police-backed Secured by Design certification. 30-minute fire door options are also available with PAS24 certification. Single doorsets in this range come with up to 33 dB acoustic performance. The high-security fire doorsets are all built to order, with a variety of finishes and veneers to choose from. They incorporate a severe-duty core with a hardwood frame and a range of high-quality ironmongery available in satin or polished stainless steel. Options include anti-snap letterplates, lift-off hinges, lever handles and push-on escutcheons, plus a choice of surface-mounted and concealed door closers. A Fortress 3* thumbturn cylinder with hardened pins for anti-drill, anti-pick and anti-bump resistance offers ultimate peace of mind.

0208 805 6662

Most of the windows were original and single glazed, which provided little thermal insulation for the students who would be occupying the spaces and allowed the noise of passing tourists visiting the historic square to enter the rooms. Barron Design contacted Fenestral, a trusted partner of Selectaglaze, to discuss options, suitable treatments and to install the units thereafter.

The specification of the secondary glazing included 6.8mm laminate K glass. The choice of glass thickness and type, and installation of the units with a cavity of well over 200mm from the primary glazing, will result in a noise reduction more than 45 dB. 70 units were installed in classrooms, sensory rooms, dining areas and accommodation.

Series 46 fixed lights were used below sill level transom coupled to either Series 60 where there are off-set sashes, or Series 20 where the sashes are of equal size. For the exceptionally large windows, over 3m, Series 90s were specified.

All units were fitted with locks to prevent unauthorised operation by pupils. These included fitch catches for the Series 20 and 60, flush locks for the Series 45 and Series 90.

U-channels were also included in all the vertical sliding units to not only keep running tracks clean and clear, but adding another element of safety for curious pupils.

www.enfielddoors.co.uk sales@enfielddoors.co.uk

GEZE UK has been successful in securing a five-year contract in conjunction with NHS UK Property Services.

The collaboration between NHS UK Property Services and GEZE UK is believed to be one of the largest contracts of its kind. Providing a service to more than 1000 sites and 5000 assets, GEZE UK is the industry choice to deliver a first-class service to the NHS. The majority of sites provide regional healthcare and fall into one of the following categories: health centres and GP surgeries; hospitals and hospital-related properties and offices. GEZE Service has recently launched a recruitment drive to provide the necessary support for a contract of this magnitude and is recruiting for key account managers, account administrators and service technicians for automatic and industrial doors. Service Director, Adam Presdee, says: “An exciting relationship ahead, GEZE is looking forward to working with the NHS in maintaining and improving the public’s experiences and prolonging the lifecycles of its assets.”

www.geze.co.uk

info.uk@geze.com

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ROOFING, CLADDING FLOORS, WALLS & CEILINGS & INSULATION

GET SUMMER READY WITH DR. SCHUTZ Now that the days and evenings are becoming brighter, brown patios, green fencing and grubby outdoor furniture are just some of the sights we’re beginning to see.

To aid the dreaded task of exterior cleaning and maintenance, Dr. Schutz showcases three of its most popular products, perfect for transforming outdoor spaces.

Wood Refresher Restore the natural colour of outdoor wood with an intensive cleaning agent for all wood surfaces, which have turned grey, with Dr. Schutz Wood Refresher. The product has good adhesion and a non-drip formula, making it easy for any surface to be refreshed.

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Stone Care Stone Care is a concentrated cleaner for the removal of dirt, grime, grease and other micro-organisms on stone and tile floors. This product benefits from a high coverage of 1000m2/litre.

Intensive Cleaner This product is a thoroughlyeffective and powerful deep cleaner for the removal of dirt, grime, algae, moss, grease and micro-organisms from any outdoor surface. Garden furniture, decking, fencing,

stonework, brick walls, garden ornaments, steps, driveways, paths, patios and concrete are just some of the surfaces which can benefit from using this cleaner.

Stay on top of cleaning and maintenance this summer with Dr. Schutz.

www.drschutz.co.uk 01296 437827

FLOORS, WALLS & CEILINGS

Choosing the correct dance surface is vital for dancers’ health, safety and artistic performance. All sprung floors are not the same and understanding the differences between various types of floors available is important.

Experts in biomechanics have established a clear link between the quality of a dance floor and the likelihood of injury, demonstrating that a floor with a consistent response and the correct degree of ‘traction’ is vital.

Dance creates impact energy. If the energy generated is returned to the body it can result in an array of joint problems, sprains, fractures, knee problems and tendonitis. Lower limb problems, such as tendinitis, shin splints, knee pain and ankle strain can all be attributed to incorrectly-specified sprung floors and can take several weeks of physical therapy and recovery time to correct. A dance floor that is impact absorbent and provides lateral foot support is essential.

Ensure correct specification

THE IMPORTANCE OF SPECIFYING THE CORRECT FLOOR FOR DANCE AND DANCE EDUCATION Whether you are specifying a dance floor for the world’s leading dance companies or for classes in schools, colleges or universities, the same fundamental criteria apply. Wherever a student chooses to study dance, it is important to make sure that the learning environment is equipped to professional standards with sprung floors, mirrors and barres.

Harlequin is a global brand leader for sprung and vinyl performance floors and has an enviable portfolio of dance and education clients from top universities and dance schools to the world’s leading dance companies including the Royal Opera House and Royal Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Houston Ballet and New Zealand Ballet.

Harlequin has over 45 years’ experience manufacturing, supplying and installing professional performance floors and offers a wide range of sprung floor systems and vinyl performance floors to meet every requirement.

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

F. BALL LAUNCHES ENHANCED FLOOR FINISHING COMPOUND F. Ball and Co. has launched Stopgap Micro Rapid, a new ultrasmooth, flexible, rapid-drying floor finishing compound for creating a flawlessly smooth subfloor finish. Stopgap Micro Rapid can be applied to a seamless feathered edge to fill indentations formed by screws used to secure plywood and hardboard sheets as well as the gaps at joints between the panels. It can also be used to repair minor surface defects in a wide range of other absorbent surfaces, including sand, cement and calcium sulphate screeds. It is ideal for use where an ultra-smooth surface is required to prevent imperfections affecting the finished appearance of new floorcoverings.

www.f-ball.com

01538 361633

CONCRETE VENEER: WHERE CONCRETE AND PERFECT ACOUSTICS COME TOGETHER

mail@f-ball.co.uk

SETCRETE RAPID SET REPAIR MORTAR OFFERS 30-MINUTE SET TIME FOR BEAM AND BLOCK FLOORS Setcrete Rapid Set Repair Mortar repairs damaged or worn concrete in just 30 minutes. The water-mix mortar can be used internally or externally, and applied up to 25mm thick on horizontal surfaces or 10mm on vertical surfaces. It is suitable for repairing a wide range of non-structural concrete elements, including floor screeds, paving slabs, beams and lintels, stair treads and risers, balcony edges and concrete soffits. With a working time of 10 to 15 minutes, Setcrete Rapid Set Repair Mortar is walk-on hard after 30 minutes (depending on ambient temperature) and can be covered, for example, with a floorcovering, after 24 hours. Packaged in convenientlysized 5kg pouches, with a storage/shelf life of 12 months, it is available through builders’ merchants nationwide.

www.setcrete.co.uk

01538 361633

Concrete Veneer is a new and innovative product that brings together a perforated core plate and a finely perforated 1.5mm cement top layer. It looks exactly like a conventional concrete product, but the perforated panels provide acoustic absorption to aw 0.50, NRC 0.65 and SAA 0.64. The nano-perforations are microscopic perforations at Ø 0.5mm, which enable high acoustic performance without compromising the aesthetic quality. Concrete Veneer is also relatively lightweight, with the perforated panels weighing only 12kg/m2 and the nonperforated version weighing 15kg/m2, and easy to fix. It is available in five different colours – from natural white to dark graphite.

www.hunterdouglas.co.uk 01604 648229 info@hunterdouglas.co.uk

lisa.shirley@f-ball.com

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FOCUS & INNOVATION

BOWATER DOORS DELIVERS INDUSTRY-LEADING LEVELS OF FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION Bowater Doors is proud to introduce FireShield, a composite fire door with impressive and consistent test results.

It’s a revolutionary fire and smoke protection solution and is the result of innovative design, combined with extensive testing and sealed with the BM TRADA Q Mark certification scheme to ensure consistent high quality.

This range of next-generation composite fire doors includes glazed and solid designs, all of which have been thoroughly tested to BS EN 1634, the latest standard for fire resistance and smoke control.

Scott Francis, Technical Manager at Bowater Doors, has been instrumental in the testing of this new range of fire doors. He comments: “BS EN 1634 is the latest standard and a far more demanding test in comparison to BS 476. This is particularly in reference to the requirement to expose both sides of the door to the fire, combined with the increased level of pressure and heat in the furnace. We made the decision to test our doors to the limits with regards to safety and security to ensure we are offering the best composite fire door on the market.”

For additional peace of mind, FireShield is supplied with a low-maintenance, fully-finished frame that has been designed specifically for use with fire doors.

The testing of this door range was not limited to fire protection. Keeping residents safe remains a key driver for the development of Bowater Doors’ entire product range.

FireShield was tested to PAS 24 and also holds the Secured by Design accreditation.

The function and usability of the range was also considered and, as a consequence, it features an AV2 slam-shut lock to ensure that when the door is closed it is secure and ready to perform in the event of a fire.

Every aspect of the system was considered including its environmental credentials. To ensure consistent levels of performance, FireShield features an environmentally-friendly Agrifiber core door slab – an incredibly strong, durable and stable material in comparison to phenolic foam alternatives.

www.bowaterdoors.co.uk/fireshield 0191 411 2567

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LRWA LAUNCHES PRODUCT REGISTER FOR LIQUID ROOFING SYSTEMS A free, online tool that enables users to quickly assess the suitability of liquid roofing systems has been launched by the Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing Association (LRWA).

www.lrwa.org.uk

0333 987 4581

FOCUS & INNOVATION

Aimed at specifiers, distributors and contractors, the Product Register compiles information from third-party certifications, including agrément and European Technical Approval (ETA) certificates, into an easy-to-read format.

It allows the user to search for a preferred manufacturer via a drop-down list or a product name, if known.

Alternatively, if the user is unsure about which liquid roofing system to use, they can carry out a search using six filters, which will create a random list of potential products.

The filters include the material, for example, polyurethane; the type of roof that needs waterproofing such as inverted, pitched or a terrace; the level of foot traffic; the required lifespan of the roof area; what type of substrate will be coated; and whether it is a new-build or refurbishment project.

Every product in the register is listed with key features and a link to further information, such as approved applications, evidence of durability and properties in relation to fire. There is also a function that allows different liquid systems to be compared.

Available on the LRWA website, the Product Register will be continually updated and contains the details of more than 80 liquid systems offered by the association’s members.

The tool forms part of the LRWA’s wider aim to help specifiers, distributors and contractors make the right choice and ensure liquids perform as expected. In 2020, the association launched a new Design Guide for Specifiers offering extensive technical information and advice to help specifiers correctly select liquid products and systems.

info@lrwa.org.uk

BESPOKE APP PROVIDES LIVE PROJECT UPDATES ROCKWOOL SUPPORTS FIRE PROTECTION FOR STRUCTURAL STEEL WITH NEW CPD Stone-wool insulation manufacturer ROCKWOOL has launched a new CPD module to help design out risk for steel-frame constructions.

‘Passive Fire Protection for Structural Steel’ has been developed to enhance industry knowledge on up-to-date regulations and examines how specifiers can maximise fire protection periods with carefully chosen insulation materials. “Insulation might not always be a designer’s first thought when it comes to fire protection, which is why we’re aiming to help develop industry knowledge and encourage specifiers to think carefully about what different insulation solutions can offer,” explains Coral Morgan, Product Manager – Fire Protection, ROCKWOOL UK. The ‘Passive Fire Protection for Structural Steel’ CPD gives an overview of structural-steel and steel-frame construction, key considerations to keep in mind when specifying passive fire protection for steel members, and up-to-date regulations, standards and testing protocols.

01656 868400

www.rockwool.com/uk/pfp-cpd customersupportcentre@rockwool.co.uk

The Window Company (Contracts)’ mission for continuous improvement has just had another boost with the launch of a brandnew app, which allows fitting teams to provide live project updates from site. Fitters on site simply log into the app to record and log their point of work risk assessments (POWRA) and installation checklists. They can also take and submit before and after photos of every job and record any snagging issues directly from the app. The big benefit for the company and for its clients right across the social housing and new-build sector is that the data recorded on site is automatically added to its database, which holds the records of every property where work is planned, ongoing or completed. The Window Company (Contracts)’ SQL/Access database is already a powerful tool in the company’s service offering. For instance, it includes a bespoke caller ID system, which identifies any resident who calls up and brings up their customer record so that the call handler can greet them by name and see exactly what work is being carried out at their property.

www.thewinco.co.uk

01245 268120

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ROOFING, CLADDING FOCUS & INNOVATION & INSULATION

NET-ZERO CLASSROOM BLOCK BY TG ESCAPES EXTENDS FACILITIES AT SAMUEL RYDER ACADEMY Samuel Ryder was a very small secondary school with about 250 students. The local authority decided to extend the school’s provision to cover primary and secondary pupils. Since then, the school, with an ‘Outstanding’ leadership Ofsted rating, has grown in popularity and demand for places has outstripped capacity. The school’s timber frame modular building from TG Escapes was completed at the end of August 2020, ready for use in time for the students’ return to school.

The block consists of seven English classrooms, the English team office, an SLT office, year 7 and 8 toilets, a media suite and two year 6 classrooms.

Whilst price was the key criterion during the selection process, the sustainable nature of the building materials used was a benefit.

“Offsite fabrication resulted in a very rapid onsite construction. I was impressed by the speed of delivery, which occurred on schedule, and the site manager, who had excellent communication skills and was extremely accommodating of requests to tweak the original design,” commented Ian Cushion, Scholars’ Education Trust Estates Manager.

Consultant Barker Associates sent out invitations to tender to six contractors, from which a shortlist of three was drawn up. The key criteria were price and quality, but it was also very important that the company selected had

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proven experience of working with schools, and that the individuals with whom the school had contact with were of the right calibre.

The energy performance certificate for this building is A+ rated at minus 24, making the building carbon neutral, or net-zero, in operation.

Mechanical and electrical systems are key to producing comfortable building environments as well as achieving energy efficiency. TG Escapes’ M&E consultant Designphase used a combination of four systems to achieve this: Air source heat pumps to heat the hot water and most of the space heating A hybrid active ventilation system to efficiently supply fresh air and extract stale air LED lighting and lighting controls with daylight dimming to keep consumption to a minimum A solar photovoltaic system was installed across the roof.

The air source heat pumps specified produce between 3 to 4 kilowatts of heat for every kilowatt of electricity used. The ventilation system tempers the incoming air with the hot air being extracted using low-wattage fans to distribute the air and provide a comfortable environment.

The LED lighting is inherently efficient, and the addition of controls like daylight dimming means that when the spaces are flooded with natural daylight, the lights will respond automatically.

Finally, a large 72kW solar photovoltaic array was installed across the roof to help offset the energy used in the building.

The combination of these systems resulted in a building that is both comfortable to use and provides a high level of energy efficiency that will benefit the end-users at Samuel Ryder and the environment we pass onto the next generation.

www.tgescapes.co.uk 0800 917 7726 info@tgescapes.co.uk

The University of Bristol’s emergency lighting upgrade continues with the installation of a further 10 LuxIntelligent emergency light testing panels from fire and life safety system manufacturer, Advanced. The new equipment will be installed alongside 21 existing LuxIntelligent panels, linked to around 4500 light fittings, to ensure ongoing compliance with the BS 5266-1 code of practice for the emergency lighting of premises. The LuxIntelligent panels will continue to be retrofitted across a range of university buildings, including seven halls of residences, using existing cabling. The ease with which LuxIntelligent can be used to replace outdated emergency lighting on existing sites allows significant time and cost savings to be achieved. A variety of LED luminaires have been chosen from the wide LuxIntelligent range to protect buildings with very different lighting requirements. They include downlighters, spotlights, exit signs and bulkhead lighting that complement equipment already installed in the historic Victoria Rooms, the Wills Hall halls of residence as well as operating theatres and abattoirs in the veterinary college campus.

www.uk.advancedco.com jmountain@advancedco.com

0345 894 7000

FOCUS & INNOVATION

ADVANCED LIGHTS THE WAY AT UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL

THREE DEANESTOR PROJECTS WIN SCOTTISH PROPERTY AWARDS Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading furniture and fit-out specialists, has provided furniture and fit-out services for three projects which have won awards at this year’s Scottish Property Awards. The largest scheme was a £3m contract for the furniture and fit-out of Inverurie Campus. The £55m project won Development of the Year (Public Buildings). Deanestor fitted-out 360 rooms across the campus and manufactured bespoke fixed furniture. In the healthcare sector, the new acute mental health wards at Stobhill Hospital won Healthcare Development of the Year. Deanestor provided fixed furniture and fit-out for the new facilities which have created light, airy and welcoming spaces for patients, their families and staff.

The team who worked on the NHS Louisa Jordan Hospital in Glasgow won an Outstanding Achievement Award. On this project, Deanestor supplied a range of specialist clinical equipment in just a few days – from healthcare benching to drug cabinets, medi rails and storage solutions.

www.deanestor.co.uk enquiries@deanestor.com

01623 420041

WORLD-FIRST SUSTAINABLE OFFICE RETROFIT FOR ISO CHEMIE WINFRAMER AND SEALANT TAPES

NORBORD EUROPE IS NOW PART OF WEST FRASER Norbord Europe is proud to join the West Fraser organisation. As one of the UK’s number one engineered wood panel manufacturers, Norbord is the go-to corporate name behind the company’s popular brands for architects, merchants, specifiers, end-users and consumers alike.

These successful, well-known brand names will remain – SterlingOSB Zero, CaberFloor and CaberWood MDF – as part of the West Fraser organisation. David Connacher, Marketing Manager, comments: “We are delighted to be working within the West Fraser family. It gives us the opportunity to continue growing, developing and maximising our European business as we have been doing for many years. It is very much business as usual and our customerfacing teams are communicating this positive message to our key partners.”

uk.westfraser.com

New foam sealant tapes and a thermally-insulating and load-bearing bracket support system from Iso Chemie have been specified for a worldfirst sustainable office retrofit at Cambridge University. The move sees WINFRAMER units and ISO BLOCO tape being installed at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) Entopia Building in Regent Street, Cambridge, in an initiative to bring the property in line with current zero-carbon Passivhaus and BREEAM energy-efficiency standards. This is the first time that retrofitted windows are being installed as part of an office refurbishment to ensure compliance with some of the lowest emission standards in the world.

www.iso-chemie.eu/en-GB/home

07837 337220

a.swift@iso-chemie.co.uk

UPONOR ADVANCES PRE-INSULATED PIPES WITH ECOFLEX VIP THERMO LAUNCH A high-performance pipe designed to make heating systems more sustainable than ever before has been launched by Uponor, the total solutions provider of systems for the safe transportation of water around a building.

Ecoflex VIP Thermo represents the next generation of pre-insulated pipes thanks to its ability to significantly minimise heat and energy losses. The product’s efficiency stems from its unique hybrid design which combines technology from bonded and unbonded insulated pipes to create a solution that delivers up to 48% lower heat loss compared to unbonded pipes, and 34% compared to bonded pipes. In addition, Ecoflex VIP Thermo is also highly flexible and durable, making it ideal for complex projects where space is limited.

01786 812921 www.uponor.co.uk/ecoflex-vip

01923 927000

enquiries.uk@uponor.com

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FOCUS & INNOVATION

UPGRADE YOUR PROPERTY WITH COUNTRY COLOUR The one activity that has seen most of us through lockdown is walking. We’ve all become more familiar with our neighbourhoods as we have wandered around the local streets on a weekly basis – daily for those who are more energetic – for almost a year.

Having never really taken the time to do this before, and with more homeowners using lockdown to refurbish their properties, we are noticing the different house styles, upgrade work that’s been completed and landscaping choices for front gardens.

Never has it been so apparent what a difference an upgraded front door, cladding system or garden fence can make to a property. Homeowners are proud of their properties and want them to look the best that they can be. Having taken note of the upgrades that are being

done, we have observed a trend towards more standout colours being used – in particular, blue.

Making small upgrades that make the world of difference does not need to break the bank. You don’t need to install brand-new products when there are fantastic refurbishment

options available to you that are affordable, easy to use and provide the desired pop of colour.

Country Colour from Osmo UK offers an opaque, satin wood finish for exterior wood.

Available in 19 standard colours, 186 RAL Classic and 1950 NCS colours, it is the ideal finish to renew previously-stained, weathered or discoloured wood surfaces and provide a standout colour feature to your property.

The range promises premium durability and a rich colour, hiding the natural colour and grain of the wood whilst enhancing its natural texture. The finish not only rejuvenates the wood, but leaves it protected against the unpredictable British weather for many years to come.

Country Colour can be applied to a range of wood species, including oily and exotic materials. Based on natural vegetable oils, the finish allows the wood to breathe, preventing it from cracking, peeling or blistering. Requiring only two coats, it can be applied using a roller or brush and has an approximate drying time of eight to 10 hours.

www.osmouk.com 01296 481220 info@osmouk.com

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Franke has launched a brand-new product offer and online brochure, titled Dimensions, aimed at developers and house-builders. It showcases the depth and breadth of its portfolio from Franke and sister brand Carron Phoenix, including product solutions designed to cut energy, water and waste in the home, together with its environmental and sustainable credentials. The 61-page Dimensions is available as an online brochure by visiting the below website. Strategically selected to suit the varied needs of the contract market reflecting different build specifications, Dimensions offers an extensive range of Franke and Carron Phoenix sinks, taps, cooker hoods, accessories and waste management solutions with price points and specs to suit every project, from social or high-volume housing, through to innovative and premium products for high-end developments.

www.franke.co.uk/dimensions

0161 436 6280

ks-info.gb@franke.com

OFFSITE SOLUTIONS BATHROOM PODS USED ON THREE STUDENT SCHEMES DEVELOPED BY MACE Offsite Solutions, a leading UK bathroom pod specialist, manufactured more than 1400 shower pods in contracts worth over £3m for three student housing schemes developed by Mace. The Offsite Solutions design team worked closely with Mace to develop a standardised en-suite pod solution for use on multiple student schemes. The GRP composite pods were used for the West Wing in Cardiff, The Depot in Exeter, and most recently, West Way Square in Oxford. Each pod was fully fitted-out and finished in the factory and had only left- and right-hand variations for maximum efficiency in offsite manufacturing.

www.offsitesolutions.com

01278 780807

SIKA SWEEPS THE BOARD AT SPRA AWARDS 2021

FOCUS & INNOVATION

FRANKE LAUNCHES BRAND-NEW DIMENSIONS PRODUCT RANGE AND BROCHURE

Sika and five of its certified contractors have triumphed at this year’s Single Ply Roofing Association (SPRA) Awards.

The awards, which recognise best practice within the single-ply roofing industry, saw Sika Sarnafil, working with Berkshire-based Malone Roofing, take home the Best New Build award for its contribution to St George’s College’s new sports facility and its bespoke freeform glulam roof. The lightweight system was ideal for the complex curved roof. Also, the addition of Sika decor profiles meant rainfall could be interrupted and guided across the roof area, ensuring highpitched areas could provide more slip resistance, offering substantial health and safety benefits.

www.sika.co.uk/roofing 01707 394444 enquiries@uk.sika.com

info@offsitesolutions.com

PREMIER MODULAR PROVIDES £2M SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS FACILITY BUILT OFF SITE

TBA’S PHOENIX UPGRADES FIRE PROTECTION WITHIN RAF MANSTON HISTORY MUSEUM One of the high-performance, flexible and very versatile fire-rated smoke and flame barriers manufactured by TBA FIREFLY has been employed at the iconic RAF Manston History Museum, located near Ramsgate in Kent, during the refurbishment of a single-storey structure. Peter Steele, Museum Chairman, commented: “The model of the Manston service depot, which supplied the airfield back in the First World War, has been here in the museum for some 20 years. When the room was built, however, they had just installed a cotton fabric across the soffit, which we discovered was not flame resistant, so I started looking for an alternative. Having searched online, there were a number of possible materials, but the FIREFLY Phoenix met all the requirements.”

www.tbafirefly.com 01706 758817 technical@tbafirefly.com

The offsite construction specialist, Premier Modular, has delivered a new £2m special educational needs facility at Nethergate Academy in Nottingham – an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ special school for children with autism, learning difficulties and disabilities. The school is sponsored by Greenwood Academies Trust. The main driver for Nottingham City Council’s decision to use offsite was the essential need to reduce noise and disruption to the children by moving construction work into a factory. The building also had to be delivered to a short programme ready for occupation for the start of the new academic year.

The new purpose-designed facilities have expanded the teaching spaces for autistic children and provide 48 new places.

www.premiermodular.co.uk

0800 316 0888

info@premiermodular.co.uk

ROCKWOOL LAUNCHES SOCIAL HOUSING RESOURCE HUB Stone-wool insulation manufacturer ROCKWOOL has bolstered its technical resources with a new Social Housing Resource Hub, making it easier for specifiers to access the latest information and advice on specialist insulation solutions for social housing, and helping them create comfortable and safe properties for residents. The hub brings a wealth of technical information into one place, giving stakeholders access to product data and benefits, case studies and direct links to further helpful resources at their fingertips such as a comprehensive retrofit solutions section. The ROCKWOOL Social Housing Resource Hub is the latest addition to the manufacturer’s suite of technical information.

www.rockwool.com/uk/resource-hubs/

01656 868400

customersupportcentre@rockwool.co.uk

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

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

For further information visit pilkington.co.uk/sanitise