PSBJ June 2023

INSPIRING AND UPLIFTING ARCHITECTURE

Holmes Miller reflects on its latest project that creates synergies between sport, culture and mental health

Implications of the new Construction Product Regulations

Managing the risk of legionella during an energy crisis

The building blocks of safe and sustainable social housing

Editor Hannah Woodger hannah@redhutmedia.com

Rebecca Kemp rebecca@redhutmedia.com

Print & Digital Advertising

Sam Ball sam@redhutmedia.com

Jim Moore jim@redhutmedia.com

Print Design Manager

Jack Witcomb jack@redhutmedia.com

Digital Design Manager

Matt Morse matt@redhutmedia.com

Accounts

Rachel Pike accounts@redhutmedia.com

Sales Support & Statistics

Klare Ball klare@redhutmedia.com

Publisher Sam Ball sam@redhutmedia.com

Welcome to the June issue of PSBJ...

UK Construction Week London, hosted last month at the ExCeL, once again brought a plethora of subjects to the fore with a stellar line up of seminars and panels conducive to debate. From journey to net zero, building safety and a sustainable supply chain through to the future of AI in construction and social value, there was plenty on offer for visitors to this year’s show – notably up 6% compared to last year. Highlights included ‘Housing – the MMC solution’, whereby representatives from Building Better, UK Green Building Council, Project Etopia and Future Homes Hub made a case for MMC-driven housing projects, prompting better, faster and greener delivery.

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In this month’s issue, Willmott Dixon supports this approach, illustrated by its recent involvement in phase one of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme for Birmingham City Council. Working alongside traditionally-constructed housing developments, the MMC approach not only provided time and cost certainty but it also enabled accurate record keeping and provided flexibility, relating to social distancing and logistics, when the pandemic hit. Turn to page 18 to read more about the scheme’s benefits and the impact MMC has made on future projects in the area.

Elsewhere in this issue, H+H’s Jenny Smith-Andrews considers masonry construction as a sustainable building solution for the public sector, David Bailey Furniture asks whether our NHS building programme has gone modular and DELABIE explains how it is possible to manage the risk of legionella in the midst of an energy crisis.

I hope you enjoy this issue. Don’t forget, you can also access 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

Ian Cooney, Project Director at Holmes Miller, comments on the delivery of inspiring and uplifting health and wellbeing architecture, driven by social values. See page 24.

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

06 News

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

08 Upfront

The Broadland Food Innovation Centre, near Norwich, is a focused public-private research partnership that champions the food and drink economy in Norfolk and Suffolk.

12 Healthcare

Has our NHS building programme gone modular? Tony Huggins, Managing Director of David Bailey Furniture, explores further.

14 Legal & Business

Louise Mansfield, Legal Director at law firm Bevan Brittan, discusses the implications of the new Construction Product Regulations and offers key considerations for upcoming public sector developments.

16 Bricks & Blocks

Jenny Smith-Andrews, Head of Marketing at H+H, considers masonry construction as a sustainable building solution for the public sector, specifically social housing.

18

18 Housing

Nick Gibb at Willmott Dixon discusses how the contractor implemented MMC to support phase one of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme (PBRS) and offer time and cost certainty.

20 Education

Tony Smith, Major Accounts and Marketing Manager at Integrated Design Limited (IDL), explains more about access opportunities and challenges specific to the educational sector.

22 KBB

Lidia Cetrangolo, Marketing Manager at Multipanel, discusses why sustainable specification doesn’t have to impact style, speed and durability.

24 Leisure

Ian Cooney, Project Director at Holmes Miller, comments on the delivery of inspiring and uplifting health and wellbeing architecture, driven by social values.

26 Infection Control

Carole Armstrong, Marketing Manager at DELABIE, looks at how to keep public washrooms safe for users, yet still reduce energy and water useage.

28 Doors, Windows & Balustrades

Colin Donnelly, Health, Safety and Environmental Manager at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions, discusses the company’s

30 Street Furniture

Following the demise of single-use BBQs on beaches due to their fire and safety risks, electric BBQ units are finding their way onto our promenades as a fun and safe alternative.

32 Talking Point

David Johnson, UK Pre-construction Director at Volumetric Building Companies, shares his thoughts on the future of offsite construction in the UK and the urgent need

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34 Technical Focus

Stephen Boulton at F. Ball and Co. provides crucial advice to guard against the problems caused by excess subfloor moisture when installing floorcoverings.

36 Product Showcase

PSBJ offers readers a dedicated focus of industry news, products and case studies to help architects, specifiers and local authorities make informed decisions.

It’s a lifestyle choice...

INDUSTRY UPDATES

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

Construction commences at new 10,000m 2 school in Northern Ireland

Conlon wins trio of Cheshire East school projects

Conlon Construction has been awarded three school projects by Cheshire East Council, each procured through the North West Construction Hub Framework. The expansion of Wilmslow High School, which will enable the secondary school to increase from 1500 to 1800 pupil places, is already underway. The project will take the school from 12-form to 14-form entry and is expected to complete in time for the new academic year. The programme includes a single-storey extension to the main school building, a further extension linking the existing Olympic Hall and Sports Hall blocks, and substantial internal remodelling. Externally, the project includes modifications to car parks to improve provision for staff and visitors and create a new drop-off area. Conlon has also been appointed to deliver pre-construction services for a new primary school within a 1100-home housing development at Kingsley Fields, north of Nantwich. Conlon is also now on site to refurbish a council-owned building, which will create a new satellite school for the acclaimed Springfield Special School, Crewe. The project will see Conlon convert the former Dean Row Centre in Handforth – a vacant building previously used to support adults with learning disabilities. It will be upgraded for use as a SEND school for up to 80 children and young people aged four to 19 with autism spectrum condition (ASC).

Cruden Building appointed to £500m housing framework

Cruden Building, part of the Cruden Group, has secured a position on a £500m construction framework for the next four years. The Wheatley Group has appointed Cruden Building, together with seven other contractors, to deliver the provision of housing construction work. The framework covers the central belt and Dumfries and Galloway, and the contract will deliver a range of new-build homes at affordable lease terms for the housing provider. It is expected that up to 1000 units per year could be delivered under the new agreement, with a firm focus on providing low-carbon housing solutions. Steven Simpson, Managing Director of the Cruden Group, said: “We are pleased to be appointed to this major housing framework, which could deliver a number of opportunities over the next four years. We work very successfully with the Wheatley Group, and this framework will allow us to continue our positive relationship and supports our combined ambitions to delivering more sustainable and zero-carbon homes throughout Scotland.”

Construction work has started at New-Bridge Integrated College in Loughbrickland, Northern Ireland, where a new school building and sports hall will be erected on the site of the existing school and adjacent land, covering 10,000m2 to accommodate 620 students. The new school, for which HLM completed Stage 4 design, will be built by Ganson UK and replace the current accommodation of two main buildings and several modular structures. The modern threesection design features two wings of teaching spaces connected by a central block housing the entrance, library and dining facilities. The construction of a sports hall, sports pitch, synthetic pitch and tennis courts is also planned, along with media studies rehearsal and recording spaces. Furthermore, a car-parking area, school bus drop-off point and a new entrance onto Doard View Road have been incorporated into the design to improve accessibility. EmmaLouise Hannigan, Associate at HLM Architects, said: “New-Bridge Integrated College has been designed to provide an exceptional learning environment that meets the diverse needs of students, both academically and through extracurricular activities. Despite the challenges posed by the site and the project’s phasing, we are excited to see construction work underway on the new school development, which will equip staff and pupils with the necessary resources to teach and thrive academically.” The project was designed to RIBA Stage 3 by AECOM and is already on track to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. Completion is expected June 2025.

Brett advises on UK’s largest SuDS scheme

Brett Landscaping and Severn Trent Water have been working on the UK’s largest sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) scheme. The £76m project, to reduce flood risk in Mansfield, will create a surface water drainage system that can hold 58 million litres of water – roughly the equivalent of 23 Olympic-sized swimming pools. With funding approved under the OfWat Green recovery programme, Severn Trent and local authorities are working on retrofitting a series of SuDS measures across the Nottinghamshire town including bioswales, detention basins, raingardens, and approximately 50,000m2 of permeable paving. As well as supplying the Omega Flow permeable paving, Brett Landscaping’s experts are providing technical support and advice to the design team – which includes Severn Trent, ARUP, AECOM and Galliford Try – to assist with the design, construction and maintenance of these systems so that they perform as is expected to the British Standard (BS 7533-13: 2009). They also carried out CPDs, toolbox talks and a site visit to previously-installed permeable paving sites. Jamie Gledhill, Technical Engineering Manager for Brett Landscaping, said: “This scheme could be the first of many across the country as local authorities and water companies investigate the possibility of retrofitting SuDS. Sustainable drainage is due to be mandatory in all new housing schemes, but existing communities shouldn’t be forgotten when it comes to mitigating flood risk and preserving water.”

New images unveiled of new-look Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre

A major sports project designed by Lincolnshire architect firm LK2 is expected to be granted planning permission within the coming weeks. The LK2 design for the redeveloped Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre delivers a demand-led solution for Southampton’s sport, health and wellbeing provision, significantly enhancing the current offer to provide a sustainable and multifaceted facility, with projected monetarised benefits of £98.8m. The never-before-seen 3D images released today by LK2 capture a masterplan of improvements for the ‘green lung’ of the city. Improvements welcomed by 97% of people through public consultation. The transformations will provide inclusive access to sport and dramatically open up opportunities for communities across Southampton to increase their level of physical activity within a multi-sport community hub. The designs released showcase a palette of contextual and contemporary natural materials, a bespoke architectural response that creates a positive focus within the natural landscape and reflects the project’s commitment to ecology. Glenn Swann, Director at LK2 Architects, said: “Over the years, LK2 Architects have been pivotal in the delivery of mixed-use retail, commercial and leisure facilities as destinations to provide more whole-life engagement across the country. We have brought forward several bench-marking schemes over the years, but the Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre raises the bar and will have a significant positive impact for Southampton Council and the wider community with this amazing project.”

Derby Market Hall’s second phase of building work in full swing

The highly-anticipated Derby Market Hall refurbishment has commenced its second phase of work, making drastic internal and external improvements. The Victorian market hall on Tennant Street is set to become a vibrant retail and leisure destination, linking the Derbion shopping centre and St Peter’s Quarter to the Cathedral Quarter and the Becketwell regeneration scheme. When complete, the refurbished market hall will pay homage to its heritage while evolving to meet modern needs and consumer demand. A vital part of this next phase is to develop the public space at Osnabruck Square, a key entrance to the Grade II Listed building, as well as reinstating the north entrance. The refurbishment is being led by Wates Group, which is working in collaboration with Derby City Council. The project team is made up of specialists operating within the region, including Lathams Architects, structural engineer Rodgers Leask and M&E consultant Clancy. Lisa Cunningham, Pre-construction Director at Wates Construction, said: “The market hall will play a vital role in creating a thriving cultural heart in Derby and we’re pleased to support this project to restore and transform such a unique building. With the roof restoration completed, this next phase will begin to show substantial improvements to the interiors and strengthen the exteriors to ensure the building has a long life.”

Wales

Work is progressing at a significant refurbishment project at a school in Merthyr Tydfil, which will pave the way for the future construction of educational facilities in Wales. Morgan Sindall Construction was appointed the contract for Pen Y Dre High School by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council last summer, which, once complete, will be the first major school refurbishment project delivering net-zero carbon in operation in Wales. The scheme is partially funded by the Welsh Government, as part of its Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, which aims to invest in and improve educational facilities. The project will see the use of CarboniCa, Morgan Sindall’s innovative digital carbon reduction tool, which is enabling the contractor to support its customers decarbonise local communities. CarboniCa is part of Morgan Sindall’s Intelligent Solutions approach, bringing together digital and platform design capabilities with modern construction methods and innovative carbon reduction tools to create unique, sustainable and inspiring places for customers. It measures wholelife carbon emissions, ensuring potential carbon outputs can be managed and reduced during the design, construction and entire building lifecycle.

Major housing association merger concludes

A multi-disciplinary team from national law firm Bevan Brittan has been advising on the conclusion of the merger between Peabody and Catalyst. The outcome from which has created a single not-forprofit organisation, focused on improving services and investing in existing homes. 12 months ago, Peabody and Catalyst announced plans to merge and initially Catalyst became a subsidiary of Peabody. The process to transfer all assets, operations and employees has now completed and the new single housing association will be known as Peabody. Simultaneously, Rosebery Housing Association, which had been a subsidiary of Catalyst, has merged into Peabody’s subsidiary Town & Country Housing. The group is responsible for 104,000 homes providing housing for around 220,000 residents across London and the Home Counties. Sarah Greenhalgh, a specialist housing corporate governance partner from Bevan Brittan, who advised on the merger alongside a wider team at the firm, said: “Bringing two large organisations together is a complex process, requiring tight governance. After advising on the initial merger last year, we have worked closely with the leadership team on a simplification process that will help Peabody move forward strongly.”

Refurbishment of school paves the way for future construction methods in

OPTIMUM ENVIRONMENT FOR INNOVATION AND GROWTH

he Broadland Food Innovation Centre, in Broadland District near Norwich, with a build value of around £11m, is a focused public-private research partnership that champions the food and drink economy in Norfolk and Suffolk led by Broadland District Council. Funding partners are European Regional Development Fund and New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, and project partners include Hethel Innovation and the University of East Anglia.

Comprising two linked buildings housing 13 individual units with a total net lettable area of 36,000ft2 and fitted out to the British Retail Consortium food hygiene grade and including test kitchen and sensory tasting spaces plus a central ‘green street’, they offer SMEs and entrepreneurs operating in the food and drink sector the ideal environment for innovation and business growth.

Together with the 2000ft2 innovation hub building, the centre has been designed to ensure the long-term development of the surrounding industry aimed specifically at helping new and existing businesses thrive, through nurturing ideas and enabling increased capacity for the processing of agricultural output. Importantly, the scheme also achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.

Procurement

Procured using the SCAPE National Major Works framework, award-winning property consultancy Summers-Inman was employed to provide quantity surveying and project management services having submitted a strong tender based on its previous experience within the sector and its demonstration of quality.

Sustainability shaped the design, which incorporated a landscaped ‘green street’, an array of roof-mounted photovoltaic panels and the attainment of a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ environmental standard.

Working with Broadland District Council and preferred contractor Willmott Dixon, Summers-Inman’s role included scheduling and managing the risk register, monitoring the quality of construction work on site, witnessing tests and inspections to ensure compliance, assisting with post tender clarifications, commercial management throughout construction including variations and instructions to ensure the client obtained value for money and providing cost reports throughout.

A spirit of partnership working

From the start of the project, the Summers-Inman team brought a spirit of partnership working with all stakeholders to develop a truly collaborative working environment, seeking to understand the goals and objectives of the client from the outset.

The approach adopted included a commitment to providing:

An effective communication plan – both oral and written

Clear, accurate and timely communications

Proactive participation at workshops and meetings

The schedule of information that was developed enabled project deliverables to be met

Ensuring compliance to auditable processes and procedures.

Commenting on the project, Ian Griffiths, Group Managing Director of SummersInman, said: “The Broadland Food Innovation Centre for SMEs and start ups is offering the optimum environment for innovation and growth, combining bespoke facilities, specialist support, cluster membership and a community of like-minded businesses on the Food Enterprise Park near Norwich.

“This was a fantastic project for Summers-Inman to be involved in and we are delighted we were able to work so effectively with Broadland District Council and Willmott Dixon to bring in the project on time and budget.

“Summers-Inman has significant experience working across the food and beverage sector and not only is this a great scheme for the local area, but it represents an investment in the future of the industry overall. The new centre will allow companies to collaborate and that can only mean accelerated growth and shared opportunities for the sector.”

Growing success

Recently open for business, the Broadland Food Innovation Centre can offer the optimum environment for innovation and growth – its bespoke facilities, specialist support, cluster membership and a community of like-minded businesses being ideally placed to help support those who are debating their next move.

The experienced business growth team, for example, is providing bespoke advice and guidance including access to specialist consultants with projects and consultants being matched via a dynamic purchasing system whereby consultants are invited to apply on a continuous basis.

The new Broadland Food Innovation Centre provides the food and drink community with a prestigious facility within the Norfolk Food Enterprise Zone to grow their businesses. The centre, delivered by contractor Willmott Dixon, is Norfolk and Suffolk’s first dedicated food grade innovation space.

Images: ©Willmott Dixon

Through this process, business owners have the chance to benefit from 12 hours of funded innovation support to help meet the challenge of knowing how to make the right decisions at the right time. This service is provided by project partner Hethel Innovation and forms one part of the whole Broadland Food Innovation Centre project.

Such support also helps food and beverage operators to develop the optimum support package for meeting their goals by working with the centre’s food adviser on the priorities to overcome, their challenges and how to access new opportunities by developing new products, gain market insight and review their strategies, for example.

Others may be keen to seek technical support for topics such as shelf life, process improvement or website development, and if they qualify, then the project’s £250,000 grant funding can be utilised to connect them with consultants and experts to provide focused pieces of support.

The resulting emerging cluster in Norfolk and Suffolk, managed by project partner the University of East Anglia, is beginning to link organisations interested in the commercial benefits of food innovation and the future of food and is welcoming members who are engaged with the food supply chain in the UK or internationally and focused on building resilience through innovation.

Client feedback

Jo Copplestone, Portfolio Holder at Broadland District Council, said: “We were delighted with the way this innovative project went – the team was well coordinated and organised throughout the delivery programme.

“We are wholly committed to creating jobs in the region and helping to facilitate growth. The new centre will not only enhance product testing and increase local agricultural output, but it also has all the makings of being able to create a firm basis for expansion of the food and beverage industry, which is very exciting.”

Funding

The project received £5.7m of funding from the European Regional Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth programme 2014-2020.

It was also supported by New Anglia Enterprise Partnership, which contributed £4.14m – £2.7m from HM Government

Getting Building Fund and £1.44m from the New Anglia LEP Growing Places Fund.

The balance of funds and resources come from Broadland District Council, the University of East Anglia and Hethel Innovation, along with support from City College Norwich and Quadram Institute.

www.summers-inman.co.uk

PROGRAMME DETAILS:

Start date: July 2021

Completion date: September 2022

Project value: £11m

Procurement route: Scape framework

Form of contract: NEC Engineering and Construction 3rd Edition

HAS OUR NHS BUILDING PROGRAMME GONE MODULAR?

The Government’s plans to spend £3.7bn on dozens of new NHS hospitals has not materialised in the way that some had anticipated, but could that be because budgets are now being spent on offsite construction to deliver hundreds of new buildings, surgical wings and other major refurbishments asks Tony Huggins, Managing Director of David Bailey Furniture?

Offsite construction companies, able to deliver new, readyequipped buildings, sometimes within just 20 weeks, now seem to be filling the demand for essential infrastructure in the NHS. This follows the endorsement by the UK Government in 2020 to increase the use of offsite manufacturing in the delivery of healthcare projects.

For companies such as David Bailey Furniture, one of the fastestgrowing manufacturers of specialist furniture and storage solutions for the healthcare sector, it has involved a major change in the way it delivers products for the NHS.

By working closely with companies specialising in the offsite construction market, it has been able to produce bespoke products, such as reception desks, shelving and fitted furniture, to fit precisely

into modular buildings that are then transported and finally installed in hospitals and healthcare centres across the country.

It is a partnership that starts with precise architectural drawings to allow David Bailey to accurately price and build the furniture, which is then manufactured to exactly fit the predesigned modules.

This has allowed the company to deliver a wide range of furniture products across an equally wide range of healthcare applications from X-ray departments to orthopaedic wards, from urology to specialist surgical hubs.

Such is the demand for modular solutions that some manufacturers are now anticipating NHS demands and are pre-building units in advance where experience has shown that there is likely to be an order in the

near future. Such developments are significantly reducing delivery times still further while allowing the NHS to fulfil its obligation to patients more efficiently.

The rise in modular solutions follows the desperate need for new wards and clinical centres, which could be at least two years away using traditional construction techniques. This is in spite of Government promises for up to 40 more hospitals. However, it is now possible with offsite construction and the same ingenuity used to build Nightingale Hospitals during the COVID pandemic to deliver those essential new wards and clinics within just a few months.

While there is a will by Government and a process in place to build more hospitals, it is clear that COVID and the additional strains it has placed on the NHS has made it more difficult to deliver that programme, which is why David Bailey Furniture, working with its modular construction partners, is convinced that offsite construction offers a real solution to provide the facilities needed by the NHS.

This is supported by organisations such as the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), who reported in a recent survey that offsite construction is safer, faster and cheaper. They also added that, thanks to offsite construction, 61% of people saw increased productivity, while 47% reported enhanced employee safety.

There is a further added bonus that when compared to an equivalent, traditionally-built project, up to 67% less energy is required to produce a modular building and not only is the actual construction of the building ‘greener’, but the building is also energy efficient for life.

So, it is clear that modern methods of construction are well established as a building technique and can now deliver the highest of construction standards. It is also obvious that offsite construction offers a very real solution to providing those vital healthcare resources and it can be done using highly sustainable materials, greater levels of health and safety and, most importantly, it can significantly reduce costs.

Yet for all that, offsite construction still only accounts for between 5 to 10% of the industry output. This is compared to around 9% in Germany, 12 to 15% in Japan and 20% in Sweden, so the potential for growth in this sector is enormous.

For David Bailey Furniture, it all means one thing – change, which is why we continue to work closely with our partners in modular construction. We can see that this very much represents a positive step forward in terms of delivering the infrastructure that the NHS so badly needs – so it really is a case of watch this space.

www.davidbaileyfurniture.co.uk

IMPLICATIONS OF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION PRODUCT REGULATIONS

Louise Mansfield, Legal Director at Bevan Brittan, takes a closer look at the Building Safety Act, expected to be fully implemented in October, and addresses the new Construction Product Regulations, what they will entail and how they will impact the public sector.

he much-anticipated Building Safety Act 2022 (‘BSA’), which was introduced in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, will create a number of new requirements that apply to the construction process.

The BSA is expected to be fully implemented by October this year and one significant change is the introduction of new regulations and a new regulator to monitor the quality of ‘construction products’ to ensure they are safe for their intended use. This was identified following the Grenfell Tower fire as an area that needed additional regulation, as the existing regulatory framework was too narrow and did not cover many products used in construction, including ACM cladding, meaning there was no power to withdraw such products from the market even where they could not be used safely.

The new regulations (which are yet to be published) will impact public sector providers responsible for constructing and maintaining all buildings, including residential high-rise buildings (‘HRBs’).

Overview of the new Construction Product Regulations

A ‘construction product’ has a broad definition and is likely to encompass any product produced for incorporation in permanent structures (i.e. all construction products). The new regulations will prohibit the marketing or supply of construction products that are not considered “safe”. There will be additional requirements for a list of “safety-critical products”, yet to be determined, but where a failure of such products could risk death or serious injury and where there is not an existing designated standard that the products have to conform to.

The new National Regulator for Construction Products will be charged with monitoring the new regime and taking enforcement action where required. It will also have new powers to take action where false statements or other misleading or inaccurate claims are made about the performance of a construction product, including rights to carry out market surveillance, search premises, seize non-compliant products and issue fines for non compliance.

Section 148 of the BSA introduces a new mechanism for damages to be claimed from a manufacturer of a construction product within 15 years from the date the “relevant works” were completed, by any person with a “relevant

interest” in a building/dwelling for personal injury, damage to property or economic loss suffered as a result of a construction product being installed that did not comply with the relevant requirements and which renders a building/dwelling unfit for habitation.

Key considerations for public sector developments

The new regulations should make it easier for public sector organisations to ensure that when construction is taking place, only safe products are used, providing appropriate due diligence procedures are in place. However, it is important to note that:

1. Manufacturers will only be required to assess the risks of their products according to their intended and likely uses. Manufacturers will not have to consider every feasible use of the product.

2. The new regulations will only require manufacturers to reduce those risks as far as possible and provide information about any remaining risks. There is no requirement to remove all risks, meaning remaining risks must still be managed.

3. The duties under the new regulations for products manufactured outside GB will fall upon the importer not the manufacturer and so it is important to consider who this will be.

It is expected that the new regulator will work closely with other regulators to coordinate regulatory action, particularly the new Building Safety Regulator, which will oversee the safe design, construction and occupation of HRBs. In relation to HRBs in particular, it is important that information about the construction products used is retained for inclusion in the ‘golden thread’ of information about a building, a further requirement under the BSA.

Minimising the risk of non compliance

To minimise the risk of non compliance and to ensure buildings are safe, it is vital that public sector organisations conduct supply chain due diligence to ensure that all new construction products are both compliant with the new regulations and safe for their intended use and also consider carefully the procurement processes for any products purchased from outside GB to avoid inadvertently taking on the duties under the new regulations.

www.bevanbrittan.com

Louise Mansfield is a Legal Director in the litigation, advisory and regulatory team at national law firm Bevan Brittan. She specialises in health and safety and criminal regulatory law and advises clients on a wide range of regulatory legal issues, including health and safety, building safety and fire safety.

THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL HOUSING

Jenny Smith-Andrews, Head of Marketing at H+H, considers masonry construction as a sustainable building solution for the public sector.

asonry may not be the obvious choice for sustainable construction in the public sector, but it offers solutions to specific challenges and is a strong option for creating sustainable and durable social housing.

Fabric first helps tenants and landlords

Cold winters and the rising cost of energy over the last 18 months has shown us that we need to build a thermally-robust social housing stock. To achieve this, a fabric-first approach is necessary, building thermal efficiency into the structure of each building rather than relying solely on solar panels and heat pumps.

Masonry products’ inherent thermal performance makes them an excellent choice for new homes designed to meet current and future energy efficiency standards. Approved Document L recommends using the same material below DPC as in external walls for insulation continuity, making masonry the ideal choice for wall construction as it can be used in foundations.

Highly thermally efficient, masonry materials achieve excellent U-values in wall building. For example, cavity walls built with lightweight, aircrete blocks can reach a U-value as low as 0.11W/m2K, when combined with the right insulation materials.

An intrinsically-fabric-first approach to building, Passivhaus construction creates homes designed to reduce or eliminate additional heating, saving residents’ money and drastically reducing a dwelling’s operational carbon footprint. Materials like aircrete have proven success in creating the

airtight structures and low U-values needed to meet the stringent building standard.

Passivhaus construction is gaining popularity in the UK, showing great promise for the public sector. In 2014, Southern Housing built a Passivhaus development on the Isle of Wight with aircrete, which has been highly successful, satisfying residents and the landlord.

Head of Design and Technical at Southern Housing, Jack Ostrofsky, praised Passivhaus construction for social housing and called the masonry development a “phenomenal success”, citing reduced carbon emissions and lower tenant heating costs as key benefits.

Some residents reported not needing heating all year, and one tenant claimed that lighting a candle in the evening was enough to keep the living room sufficiently warm. Saving money on heating expenses made tenants more comfortable and helped secure rental income for the social landlord.

Building durability and safety into the housing stock

In late 2021, the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee launched an inquiry into social housing regulation after media reports of disrepair. The inquiry found that the age and design of social housing is a principal cause of disrepair1

Much of this existing stock was only built in the 1970s using lightweight, modular construction. While the design life for homes in the UK may be 60 years, houses constructed of masonry have a life expectancy of over 100 years, lasting for generations.

After the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017, fire safety standards for housing have been under scrutiny, with some building materials still in question for use in affordable housing schemes. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, recently reiterated his concerns about using combustible materials in his Affordable Homes Programme 2

Moreover, last December the National Fire Chiefs Council expressed concern over efforts to build homes quickly with prefabricated methods. They warned of ‘significant uncertainty’ regarding the fire performance of modular homes and called for stricter testing3

Masonry products offer excellent fire resistance. Modern construction methods, like aircrete Vertical Wall Panels, can speed up building while providing masonry’s performance benefits, helping to safely deliver the homes England needs, fast.

Moisture build up and mould growth is another serious concern for the social housing sector, with the tragic death of Awaab Ishak in 2020 highlighting the severity of the problem.

Damp and mould are some of the biggest issues currently faced by social housing associations with the number of social housing tenants in England complaining of damp and leaks on course to more than double in the years since Awaab’s death4

With damp a prevalent issue in existing social housing stock, it is imperative that we avoid building this same issue into brandnew housing. Here, building with bricks, blocks and pre-cast concrete or aircrete panels offers an immediate solution.

With masonry, interstitial condensation in buildings is less likely to cause damage. Water falling or laying on brick and block, while not ideal, will not cause structural damage and can be easily rectified, protecting residents and landlords alike.

The potential of masonry

While masonry is durable and energy efficient, the elephant in the room is embodied carbon. However, the masonry industry has enormous potential to improve and decarbonise –starting with manufacturing.

Significant advancements have already been made, of course. The UK, for example, is leading the way with the sustainable production of aircrete blocks. The H+H factory in Kent is the most efficient aircrete plant in Europe and plans are in place to further upgrade the factory later this year.

Masonry manufacturers’ scope 1 and 2 emissions will vastly improve as the nation’s electricity system decarbonises. In 2021, the Government announced aims to fully decarbonise the power grid by 2035 and earlier this year, a Climate Change Committee report voiced confidence that this goal is still very much achievable5,6

Admittedly, this isn’t the whole picture. Scope 3 emissions contribute significantly to the embodied carbon of masonry products. However, in part, these emissions may already be mitigated in a process called recarbonation.

All cement and lime-based products naturally absorb CO2 from the atmosphere during their lifespan, acting as permanent carbon sinks during the use phase of a building and continue when it is pulled down and recycled.

Recarbonation of concrete is a wellestablished science and recognised by the IPCC in its Sixth Assessment Report 7 . A recent study from AAC Worldwide has helped to quantify the process, finding that aircrete products can absorb 77kg of CO 2 per m 3, with 80% of recarbonation achieved after 50 years and 95% within 80 years 8 .

All things considered; now is the time for a step change in the way the public sector thinks about ‘sustainable construction’, and it should reconsider masonry as just that.

www.hhcelcon.co.uk

Sources:

1https://ukparliament.shorthandstories. com/condition-of-social-housing-in-england/ index.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_ medium=tweet&utm_campaign=social-housing

2https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/ what-london-assembly-does/questions-mayor/ find-an-answer/gla-housing-funding-buildingmaterials-2

3https://www.ft.com/content/cefe4c22-fc5d4ec8-8dbd-eca71fe041cf

4https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/ feb/02/mould-damp-complaints-social-housingombudsman-tenants-landlords

5https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ plans-unveiled-to-decarbonise-uk-power-systemby-2035

6https://www.carbonbrief.org/ccc-heres-howthe-uk-can-get-reliable-zero-carbon-electricityby-2035/

7https://eaaca.org/wp-content/ uploads/2022/08/EAACA_Net-Zero-Roadmapfor-AAC_2022-08-12.pdf

8https://www.aac-worldwide.com/category/ science-innovation/co2-absorption-during-theuse-phase-of-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-byrecarbonation-2031

SHAPING CONTEMPORARY BIRMINGHAM THROUGH MODERN METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION

Birmingham City Council is on a mission to drive regeneration a nd realise its vision for the second city’s future. One area within this overarching plan is Perry Barr’s regenerat ion, which has already seen new homes built and significant leisure, transport and infrastructure improvements made. Nick Gibb, Deputy Managing Director at Willmott Dixon, discusses how the contractor implemented modern methods of construction (MMC) to support phase one of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme (PBRS) and offer time and cost certainty.

he council put new housing at the heart of the area’s regeneration, which was accelerated by investment secured to host the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. It kicked off with significant new housing provision in Perry Barr – totalling 968 homes. Lendlease was commissioned as principal contractor for phase one of the PBRS, valued at £326m. This saw Willmott Dixon and two other tier-one contractors appointed across four plots. We worked closely with the council to understand what they wanted to achieve and when – which led to us proposing an MMC solution for our two plots and the council accepting.

Confidence and quality through MMC

At a time when external factors, particularly Brexit, were wreaking havoc on materials and resources, delivering the new homes using only traditional building techniques was far too great a risk, particularly in a heated Midlands market and with the scale of other works planned in Perry Barr simultaneously.

The council has historically used a more traditional construction approach, so we worked to address their concerns about using a new method for such a landmark project. We reinforced the method’s ability to deliver assured quality and meet programme expectations, boosting the council’s confidence in overcoming time and budget constraints. Another key benefit was waste reduction; our plots delivered only 10% of the waste and were 50% more efficient when compared to a local 266home traditional build development.

As a result, plots eight and nine showcased the possibilities of such an approach and dispelled the myths about the added value provided by MMC. This led to Willmott Dixon becoming the only contractor to utilise these modern techniques at such scale on the scheme.

We incorporated MMC elements such as light gauge steel frame, brick-slip facades, pre-manufactured balconies and balustrades and almost 700 bathroom pods. The steel-framed panel system required 25 people on site to assemble, compared to 160 for an equivalent-sized concrete-frame traditional build. No scaffolding was required due to the use of a mechanically-fixed, brick-slip facade – improving safety, eliminating temporary works and providing an 80% reduction in cement, one of the worst materials for embodied carbon.

How MMC sped

up

delivery on plots eight and nine

Plots eight and nine include 430 one- and two-bedroom apartments in four- and six-storey blocks – built for sale and affordable rent.

The bathroom pods were manufactured off site in a factory – this generated greater quality assurance, which was reflected in the levels of quality and minimal snags we experienced. It also enabled prices to be fixed early on, providing greater programme certainty and assured quality – there were almost no issues compared to the typical build-andfit approach. The ability to install between 15 and 20 complete bathrooms per day increased time efficiency by 30% and raised productivity, whilst reducing trades

and people on site, with their associated vehicle movements and deliveries. Reducing the number of people working in close proximity was a key benefit in an unforeseen COVID world.

Despite COVID, which disrupted many a project programme, combining these MMC elements enabled us to complete our plots six weeks early and hand over nine months ahead of the traditionallybuilt plots. Given the other plots on the scheme were of similar scale, it offered a unique opportunity to directly compare MMC’s pace of completion with traditional building methods – with MMC proving faster and to a very high quality mark.

The use of MMC helped us combat a limited specialist labour pool during a period of market turbulence, which was already stretched due to simultaneous building projects underway in the local vicinity.

Furthermore, when the pandemic hit, the flexibility of MMC enabled us to pivot and implement changes in standard working practices without impacting on programme – something that could have significantly impacted logistics and timing for a traditional build. This included re-sequencing the steelframe structure process to allow for social distancing, reviewing products and materials to avoid those with national shortages and pre-manufacturing the bathroom pods and taking legal ownership of them (vesting) to ensure no delays – an eventuality that would have been faced when COVID made material supply challenging.

Is MMC the real deal?

PBRS proves that MMC can help the public sector with common delivery problems, such as programme certainty, whole-life cost and resource efficiency, and still secure a quality product at an affordable price.

There is, however, another incredibly important benefit; the new Building Safety Act and the requirements it is placing upon the industry to raise its game in record keeping. When it comes to life safety, adopting MMC alongside digital technologies makes it much easier to check and record the positioning of key safety features, such as fire-stopping barriers, against the design. Rather than the variability of traditional trades, MMC provides the opportunity to check and log the position of barriers, which can also be evidenced photographically, giving peace of mind to all involved. On a more traditional build, this is trickier to achieve.

With so many benefits, the council is now looking at how it can use MMC in other areas, such as low-rise housebuilding and commercial spaces. The council is conscious of its responsibility to support the construction industry with new ideas and techniques and understands that implementing the latest methods will provide benefits for everyone.

The approach for plots eight and nine has attracted continued attention. Impressed by the result at the PBRS, Cross Keys Homes, the developer behind the 315-apartment Indigo project in Peterborough, has commissioned us to deliver another MMC-driven high-rise residential scheme.

The first phase of PBRS remains a cornerstone of Perry Barr’s regeneration. It provides valuable lessons learnt that will inform future phases of the ‘Perry Barr 2040: A Vision for Legacy’ masterplan. It offers a valuable example showcasing to other public sector organisations how they can receive high-quality projects on time and on budget through MMC.

We are now running workshops for clients and potential clients using the wealth of data, learnings and information from this scheme to help them to understand real-world MMC costs. These insights are helping to unlock schemes by demonstrating where added value lies.

HOW ENTRANCE CONTROL CAN HELP SECURE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS

Here, Tony Smith, Major Accounts and Marketing Manager at Integrated Design Limited (IDL), explains more about access opportunities and challenges specific to the educational sector, and how entrance control can tick all the right boxes.

tudents, staff and visitors don’t want to feel like they’re entering a high-security prison when they arrive on campus. When people enter a learning environment, whether as an everyday user or a visitor, their main concern should be on the day’s activities, not the process of gaining access to the building itself. Key to designing an entrance control solution for this kind of environment is maintaining an open and welcoming feel, allowing a free flow of authorised pedestrian traffic, whilst simultaneously providing a high level of security.

Safety round the clock

With students often on flexible agendas, many universities and colleges may find it helpful to have facilities, such as libraries, open for as many hours as possible. It is, therefore, essential that any entrance management system in place can allow access at any time of the day whilst still maintaining a secure campus environment. Building managers must be assured that the system won’t falter if there is little onsite staff.

This was the situation at the University of Sunderland, which was looking to secure its student libraries to ensure that only authorised staff, students and visitors could gain access to the facilities.

Library managers also wanted a means to track student usage of the libraries to gain insight into how they were being used and when.

As part of this project, we installed five lanes of our Fastlane Glassgate 150 turnstiles, which are designed to prevent the most common access control violations, such as tailgating, passbacks and unauthorised entrance attempts. The new lanes meant that only one person could gain access for each authorised card presented.

In terms of security, the turnstiles now prevent unauthorised entry, creating an internal perimeter, ensuring a safe working environment for staff, students and visitors.

Integrating with existing systems

A common issue in many security installations is the need to integrate with what is already there. Fortunately, there are standard protocols with which access and entrance control elements

communicate, so experienced integrators should be able to work with whatever systems are already in place.

Fastlane products benefit from the capability to be integrated with all known security and building management systems. Integration is also possible with other third-party technologies, such as video analytics, time and attendance, HVAC and identity management, providing data and intelligence to building owners.

The University of Sunderland, for example, was looking for a solution that could integrate with its library management system (LMS). Our turnstiles were compatible with the LMS meaning the library staff could capture and analyse data, allowing them to make plans around when to open the library based on its usage.

Safety vs design

One common concern raised by academic institutions is that they want students to feel safe but not caged in. We have, therefore, taken great time and effort to design turnstiles that are stylish, quiet and easy to use.

Using modern materials, such as stainless steel and glass, they blend seamlessly into many entrance areas. We can also accommodate bespoke finishes and have even included custom monograms screen printed on to the glass barriers.

Retrofitting security

Often security systems are added to an educational site at a later date and this can present some install challenges, mainly when working around existing utilities or when the area needing security isn’t exceptionally spacious.

We approach each install as a unique project, and don’t just offer an off-theshelf solution. This was the situation facing our integration partner Lock-Tec at its Winstanley College project in Wigan.

The college was looking to enhance the perimeter security of the campus, especially in areas of high footfall, and sought an additional security solution for its main student entrance. Additional challenges at the site included limited floorspace, underfloor heating and the siting of a large TV/monitors within the lobby area.

A fully-integrated solution with Fastlane’s Glassgate 400 turnstiles was specified as this full-height barrier provided a high level of physical deterrent whilst still maintaining a sleek design, complementing the building’s aesthetics. The installation also included a wider lane with a width of 914mm, providing disabled access compliance to equality regulations.

To work around the location challenges, the turnstiles were mounted on floor protector plinths to avoid the existing underfloor heating pipes. Due to the shape and design of the entrance area, bespoke glass panels were also installed on either side of the turnstiles to maximise the useable space, to avoid congestion and obstruction of the monitor, together with maintaining the integrity of the security solution.

Build quality

With high footfall and the rigours of student use, the build quality of entrance systems should also be an important consideration for educational facilities.

All Fastlane turnstiles are made in house by us in the UK, with our sales, technical and production teams located under one roof, allowing us to ensure quality levels are maintained as well as shortening the manufacturing and delivery timeline. Some of our turnstiles are often in stock allowing for a quick installation, which can be important when planning around the academic year.

www.fastlane-turnstiles.com

HOW BATHROOM WALL PANELS CAN HELP TOWARDS NET-ZERO AMBITIONS

Lidia Cetrangolo, Marketing Manager at Multipanel, discusses why sustainable specification doesn’t have to impact style, speed an d durability.

Whilst the nation’s net-zero target of 2050 may seem far in the distance, each year it moves closer and closer, putting additional pressure on the already-stretched industry to take necessary action to ensure goals are met.

Whilst the Government’s initial target of building 300,000 new homes a year has since been recanted as advisory¹, demand remains strong, meaning there’s a need for more ‘out-of-the-box’ solutions.

The whole ethos of net-zero 2050 is ‘Build Back Greener’ and at the centre of this must be sustainable specification; choosing a product for its eco credentials

rather than its price tag. With a focus on value rather than cost, the right products and materials can be integrated into building projects; especially high-volume schemes where time is, more than ever, of the essence.

Modern building materials

Whilst they’ve been around for many years, bathroom wall panels are deemed as a fairly modern building material usually reserved for forward-thinking developers. Yet, increasingly, the wider industry is cottoning on to the oftenoverlooked benefits of the product.

Exceptionally quick to install, they can support tight installation windows. This is important, as housebuilders are under pressure to decrease time spent on building and installation, whilst ensuring that corners aren’t cut and that quality isn’t compromised. Ready for occupation after just 24 hours, they completely eradicate the need for grout; fixed simply with adhesive.

Completely waterproof, they leave little room for mould and mildew build up, thus resulting in little to no need for maintenance, which is a key factor for consumers during the buying journey. Additionally, wall panels offer a range of consumer benefits beyond low maintenance, such as the range of stylish and attractive aesthetics that are available to suit every taste.

It’s this ‘fit and forget’ stance that the sector needs to adopt in order to tick both speed and sustainability boxes, otherwise we’re at risk of falling short of net-zero 2050.

Sustainable development

Meaning different things to various parties, what remains at the centre of sustainability is long term and, in some cases, long-term thinking needs to become short-term action.

For example, bathroom wall panels come with a 30-year warranty, are manufactured from recycled materials and are themselves recyclable; meaning that, if they are specified, they don’t technically have to be worried about again until after almost three decades.

Opting for a wall panel that uses sustainablysourced materials will ensure that a bathroom project is as environmentally friendly as possible, too. Even if it’s just for a small downstairs cloakroom, using correctly-certified materials, like those with a Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) emblem, can make a big difference.

The need for speed

Whilst the age-old ‘hare and the tortoise’ adage is still used to this day, there is a lot to be said for working quickly; especially when contract clauses dictate fines for overruns.

With little room for error during installation, opting for bathroom wall panels can claw back valuable time on a job. Bathroom wall panels can be installed approximately five-times quicker than traditional tiles, making the material a very viable option for compressed projects.

Quicker installation equals more time for other jobs, too, so there is the potential for labour requirements to be reduced through less labour-intensive fitting.

Pleasing everyone all at once

The calculation of housing targets minus delivery speeds plus sustainability times net zero divided by cost-of-living crisis equals a big headache, however, the industry must be accommodating of better collaboration in order to meet the multiple macro demands imposed.

Corners don’t need to be cut, rather business leaders need to be open-minded about what needs to be done and the journey options available in order to reach the desired destination. For too long, the supply chain has been too siloed; with parties focusing on their individual targets rather than collective success and changing that can be a useful step towards meeting a shared goal.

Joint venture development is often perceived as a useful model as it utilises best practices, policies, infrastructure or experience from multiple parties –could this, therefore, be the secret to unlocking the UK’s potential to deliver a juxtaposition of competing targets, such as building more homes more quickly, whilst increasing the sustainably of the process? With ESG being the new CSR, what’s the StSS (secret to speedy sustainability)?

Following CSR’s evolution into ESG, with the latter rightfully being more deeply embedded into an organisation’s policies and practices, how can speed and sustainability be co-delivered?

Two polarising terms, they simply need to work together in order to generate success. As with all housing developments, it’s a numbers game, whether that be units on the masterplan, value of the Section 106 contributions or number of local people employed. But put simply, to understand that choosing a product that is five-times quicker to install, 100% waterproof and requires zero maintenance over 30 years versus its traditional counterpart is a simple calculation to make.

www.multipanel.co.uk

Source:

¹https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-governmentbacktracks-housebuilding-targets-after-lawmakersthreaten-2022-12-05/

INSPIRING AND UPLIFTING HEALTH AND WELLBEING ARCHITECTURE

Ian Cooney, Project Director at Holmes Miller, specialising in sport and leisure/ health and wellbeing architecture and design, talks to PSBJ about the firm’s latest project, Allander Leisure Centre in Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, which also uniquely integrates a local resource centre.

When two much-loved community facilities had outgrown their inefficient buildings, East Dunbartonshire Council knew it wanted whatever replaced them to be at the heart of the community and play a key role in improving the lives of local people.

The Allander Leisure Centre had been a recreational hub for the community of the East Dunbartonshire suburb of Bearsden for over 40 years, hosting countless swimming galas, football birthday parties, nightly squash challenges, coffee mornings and fetes.

For a similarly long time, Kelvinbank Resource Centre in Kirkintilloch had been a home from home for adults with learning challenges, dementia, autism and physical disabilities – providing day care and vital support to users and their families.

A new inclusive community hub

When we were asked by the council to bring these facilities together to form one community hub – the new £42.5m Allander Leisure Centre – with inclusivity at its heart, we saw this as a chance to break down barriers.

We felt that through thoughtful design, this new centre could unlock a host of new opportunities for Kelvinbank’s users, placing them at the heart of the community and making a real difference to their lives. The added benefits, of course, would be a reduction in carbon footprint and operational costs.

Together with the council, we held sessions to listen to and understand the aspirations of the users of both facilities. Their views helped shape a brief for the Allander Leisure Centre project that reflected the community’s needs and aims – something that is becoming increasingly common in the design of new sport and leisure facilities.

Agile sport and leisure design

The project team that worked on the Allander Leisure Centre have more than 30 years of combined experience in sport and leisure architecture, and followed an agile design model that was guided by five principles: flexibility, vitality, community, efficiency and quality.

Key to our design was the synergy of community leisure and care, within a vibrant and uplifting environment. We wanted to create a distinctive civic building with a timeless aesthetic that was welcoming, open, generous and of a high-quality architectural specification.

The new centre offers the community significantly enhanced sport and leisure facilities including an eight-lane swimming pool, training pool, sauna and steam room, hydrotherapy pool, gym, eight-court games hall, squash courts, spin room and improved football and tennis facilities.

To reflect changing trends in sport and recreation, throughout the building we designed in multi-purpose spaces that will give the operator flexibility to meet changing levels of demand throughout the year, while catering for the school curriculum and local sports club requirements.

Our solution to what was a complex tandem build involved arranging each core component of the building programme as a layered mass, sequentially stepping up to temper the scale of the building. This cascading form uses a clean and simple palette of materials that reflects the tones of blonde sandstone commonly used in Bearsden and Milngavie. Highquality brick steps down over a welcoming pleated glass and bronze main elevation.

The focal point of the building’s interior is a naturally-lit, timber-clad, triple-height entrance atrium that serves as a flexible events space for the community, and also houses a cafe.

The building is topped by a translucent light box that wraps around the games hall to illuminate the space and provide a visual marker.

Alongside the main building will sit an indoor sports dome, anchored by a solid base and topped by a playful and geometric roof form – as the final phase element.

Design making a difference

The facilities at the new resource centre follow health and social care best practice, with an internal layout that reflects a curated programme. The centre offers dementia, physiotherapy, rebound and sensory treatment rooms, along with arts and crafts, dance and music rooms, and meeting spaces.

The interior design scheme uses colour signifier and tactile surfaces, and the creation of sensory and production garden areas ensures users benefit from a holistic experience that caters to their needs. Housed within a training kitchen, a food production social enterprise gives the centre’s users a chance to get involved with the wider community.

We know that in this time of austerity, the design of health and wellbeing facilities needs to continue to adapt and evolve to ensure local authorities can provide good value for their communities. By collaborating closely with East Dunbartonshire Council, at the new Allander Leisure Centre we have delivered flexible facilities that will give local people an exceptional quality of experience, both now and in the future.

The overall result is a warm, welcoming building that breaks down barriers, improves lives and creates synergies between sport, culture and mental health.

MANAGING THE RISK OF LEGIONELLA DURING AN ENERGY CRISIS

Hot water is the primary method of controlling legionella bacteria in water distribution system in public buildings. The old adage is keep it hot and keep it moving. The recent energy crisis has placed extraordinary pressures on budgets. However, reducing the temperature or even stopping hot water production is a false economy that places the public at risk. Carole Armstrong, Marketing Manager at DELABIE, looks at how to keep public washrooms safe for users.

N aturally present in water, legionella bacteria develop in standing water with a source of nutrients, such as biofilm in pipes or rusted water storage tanks. They multiply at 20 to 45°C and can be harmful if inhaled in aerosol form, i.e. steam from showers.

Hot water is the typical method for controlling legionella bacteria in nondomestic buildings. Health and safety guidance recommends producing and storing water above 60°C, and distributing it at 50°C (55°C in healthcare). At these temperatures, 90% of the

TABLE 1

bacteria die within two minutes. Stopping hot water production risks creating a large store of stagnant water. And, if the temperature falls below this guideline, the risk of bacterial growth increases. Maintaining these minimum water temperatures reduces the risk of contamination and is more energy efficient than allowing water to cool during periods of inactivity then reheating. Complex systems lead to temperature drops and increase the contamination risk. To minimise this risk, pipe runs should be kept to

TEMPERATURE LEGIONELLA DEVELOPMENT

a minimum (ideally <2m). Lagging pipes prevents heat loss and, where cold and hot water pipes run side by side, insulation will stop heat transfer, preventing the cold water temperature rising above 20°C where legionella bacteria are no longer dormant (see table 1).

Technical solutions in the fight against legionella

In sports facilities, thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) are typically used to blend incoming hot water to a safe temperature for showering. Type 3 TMVs have a failsafe to prevent scalding if the cold water supply fails and, conversely, the cold water shuts off if the hot water supply fails. In normal circumstances, the failsafe requires a minimum temperature differential between the incoming water supplies to ensure user safety. In the absence of hot water, the failsafe must be overridden to ensure water is delivered at the outlet.

activates every 24 hours after the last use, running for 60 seconds. The solenoid valve is piston operated, removing the need for a diaphragm, which can trap water and harbour bacteria. Battery-operated taps and showers are easy to install and they flush the pipework automatically to prevent stagnation. Touch-free electronic controls are also more hygienic, preventing the spread of germs by hand.

Water-efficient solutions

Self-closing mechanical or electronic taps and showers can optimise water usage. The valve closes automatically after seven seconds for self-closing taps, and 30 seconds for showers; or after removing hands from the detection zone (sensorcontrolled models). A pre-set flow rate of 3l/minute for taps (6l/minute for showers) will prevent unnecessary waste. The user can, therefore, wet their hands, apply the soap or shampoo, and rinse without the water running continuously. With a DELABIE electronic tap, water consumption drops to 0.6 litres per use, a decrease of almost 90%. And reducing water consumption reduces the amount of energy required to heat it.

Source: Belgian Building Research Institute (CSTC: 2002)

Water controls featuring a pre-programmed automatic duty flush will prevent stagnation and bacterial development. With DELABIE’s electronic showers, an automatic rinse

Reducing energy costs can be achieved without compromising user safety. Legionella prevention measures must be maintained but by reducing unnecessary water consumption, both water and energy bills can be managed in public washrooms. By understanding the risks and installing products specifically designed to meet these challenges, the risk of contamination and scalding can be managed without blowing the budget.

SUSTAINABILITY IN PRACTICE: THE JOURNEY TO NET ZERO

Colin Donnelly, Health, Safety and Environmental Manager at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions, discusses the company’s journey towards net zero and how organisations can implement more sustainable operations.

Businesses play a crucial role in the Government’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, whether they are large multinational corporations or independent SMEs.

Around one in three of the UK’s largest businesses are leading the way in the world’s transition to a low-carbon economy, committing to align with UK Government ambitions and eliminate their contribution to climate change by 2050.

Many companies understand the issues around decarbonisation and recognise the need for the transition to net zero. However, there is a significant gap in turning this general understanding of the issues into tangible plans and action.

For example, small businesses have struggled with how to implement sustainability into their operations. A survey found that although 99% of small firms recognise the importance of sustainability, three quarters of them (77%) don’t know how to measure their carbon emissions and need support.

The recent ‘Mission Zero’ independent review of net zero makes recommendations for transitioning to a thriving green economy, and suggests it could be a lucrative economic opportunity.

But hundreds of businesses consulted in the review made it clear that guidance and help is needed in areas such as skills, energy efficiency, support for SMEs, and providing a tax environment that stimulates investment.

Shifting focus

Instead of seeing the transition to

net zero

as an exercise that requires sacrifice, ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions has used this initiative as a driver to innovate and boost business while lowering operations costs.

What’s more, there is also a potential competitive advantage to be gained through pioneering net-zero plans, although this can be challenging in cases where sustainability endeavours are not integrated with a corporate strategy.

We have increased our focus on sustainability in recent years, and subsequently were included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index Europe in recognition of our progress and our ambitions.

This is due to our combination of focused initiatives and continuous improvements, as well as ensuring sustainability is closely aligned to, and is a positive enabler of, our group strategic objectives. Essentially, our business strategy is also our sustainability strategy.

As a group, we align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which provide the global community with a roadmap for how to combat global challenges related to economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Our increased focus on sustainable buildings is a growth driver and we invest in a sustainable product offering, with accompanying transparency and verification documentation.

Collaborative working is key, and ensuring the entire organisation buys into the concept of a more sustainable future – everyone from those in the factory, to office workers and senior management.

So, how are we implementing more sustainable operations at our production sites?

Implementing change

We have recently created a significant reduction in carbon emissions at our Lisburn site through a variety of methods, including advances in packaging, lighting and welfare facilities.

By introducing the new Eco pallet wrap, we have reduced packaging CO 2 emissions by 56%, resulting in 115 fewer trees that need to be planted to offset CO 2 per year. What’s more, the product offers a cost reduction of 39%.

We also implemented a lighting upgrade, removing existing lighting within both steel and timber door production areas, installing highefficiency 150W LED lighting. These LED lights are made operational via motion sensors omitting the use of switches on walls.

Also included is a control system, which enables the user to dim the brightness as required on individual lights, offering an annual reduction in energy consumption of 54,332kWh.

One of our ageing compressors has been changed out with a replacement unit providing efficient new technology. With its new air pump system, the new compressor will improve efficiency within the factory by approximately 94,500kWh annually and a subsequent reduction in air leaks due to this technological advancement.

A project was also identified to upgrade existing welfare facilities within the Lisburn site, to implement sensor technology within the sanitaryware to help reduce unnecessary water usage.

New touchless sensor water taps and cisterns were installed to replace push taps and traditional push cistern technology, offering an annual water saving of 624m 2

There is still a long way to go, but by introducing these kinds of innovations at production sites, we can implement more sustainable operations, and help propel our journey towards net zero.

www.assaabloy.com/uk

“We found Tough Furniture by accident because we were initially looking for some chairs for our SEN provision... but we have stayed with them on purpose, as everything we have ever bought from them has been stylish, of excellent quality and robust. This year, in a new refurbishment, they were our go-to suppliers because we know we are making an investment in something that will last the school a long time and give the students the learning environment they deserve - safe, attractive and easy to maintain - so that their classrooms always look fabulous.   Thank you, Tough Furniture! Highly recommended for any school, but especially one as wonderful as ours!

Beth Elkins Gretton School Cambridge, UK

Designed for SEN Environments

Classroom Seating

Reception Seating

Outdoor Seating

Noticeboards

Dividing Screens

Workstations

Computer Desks

Storage Cupboards

Display Units

Heavy Duty Tables

TV Protection

Bespoke Solutions

Tough Furniture

Furniture built to last

A VIEW TO GRILL

The weather during British summertime can be unpredictable, with a mix of favourable and unfavourable conditions. Fortunately, in recent years, we have experienced mostly enjoyable summers. On certain occasions, temperatures have even reached an unprecedented high of 40.3°C, leading to an influx of BBQ gatherings and bustling beaches.

As Brits, we thoroughly relish the idea of enjoying a BBQ by the seaside. It’s a perfect combination of conviviality, stunning ocean views, delectable food, refreshing drinks and delightful music, creating an ambience that is hard to resist.

However, you might be wondering if the era of disposable BBQs on the beach is approaching its end. Single-use BBQs certainly have their advantages, such as being lightweight and convenient to utilise. Nevertheless, they also come with significant drawbacks. One major concern is the considerable amount of litter they generate annually. Additionally, since they essentially involve a small fire on the beach, they pose inherent dangers. Numerous instances of misuse and improper disposal have been reported, prompting some local authorities to prohibit them entirely or impose strict guidelines. The most substantial risk has been individuals burying them in the sand or covering with pebbles after use, effectively concealing them.

This creates a hazardous hot surface that unsuspecting people may inadvertently step on, resulting in potentially severe burns. Considering these factors, numerous local authorities are beginning to take strict measures. For instance, in July 2022, Brighton and Hove implemented a ban on all single-use BBQs on their beaches and public spaces. This trend is increasingly observed in other coastal areas throughout the UK, raising the question of whether it will become the standard approach.

Similarly, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council faced a significant number of hazardous incidents involving single-use BBQs, prompting them to take decisive action. Rather than outright prohibiting their use, they opted for an alternative solution. The council collaborated with All Urban – the UK distributor for Christie cooktops (an Australian company) –and recently concluded a project that introduced Christie electric BBQs along its seafront.

Nickie Khosravi, Destination Development Officer, Destination and Culture, commented: “BCP Council (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) purchased 27 Christie electric barbecue units through their UK partner, All Urban. These barbecues have been installed at various locations across our 15-mile stretch of coastline for locals and visitors to enjoy, free of charge. The electric barbecues offer a safe, waste-free and environmentally-friendly way to cook.”

Paul Conradie, Head of Sales at Christie Barbecues, added: “Unlike domestic or commercial products, Christie communal barbecues are explicitly designed for public outdoor use. They are safe, reliable and energy-efficient while providing a great cooking experience. These new electric BBQs are free to use (no, really, they are! On a first-come, first-served basis). They provide a fantastic way for friends and families to gather at the beach and enjoy the outdoor space.

“Communities across Australia have been getting to know each other by sharing food around our barbecues for over 50 years. They are a great way to activate and enjoy public outdoor spaces. We are all aware of the health benefits of being outside, and our products bring people together outdoors in a safe, inclusive and environmentally-sustainable way. We are very excited by this initiative from BCP Council, leading the way for the British public to enjoy this great Australian tradition.”

The future might lie in embracing public BBQs as a viable solution. These communal cooking facilities not only encourage community engagement but also offer an environmentally-sustainable alternative. By replacing disposable BBQs, they effectively decrease pollution and waste. Additionally, the elimination of open flames and hot coals reduces the risk of personal injury.

PLATFORM DESIGN –WHY A SINGLE MODULAR SOLUTION CANNOT CREATE A PLATFORM

he UK Government has made no secret of the need for faster, higherquality and more predictable construction solutions in every sector – from schools and hospitals to housing. And there is a considerable drive for a unified platform design and a greater level of standardisation across the modular industry.

In recent years, there have been multiple attempts to drive standards in offsite construction with the use of specialist MMC procurement frameworks developed by the Department for Education, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Justice.

Whilst these client-led attempts to introduce standardisation have been very welcome, they just haven’t gone far enough. Too many requirements have been left open to interpretation, leading to the introduction of a host of similar but different types of building solutions.

To exacerbate the problem, as each scheme percolates through the various stages of procurement, the sustained tinkering by building designers, cost consultants and local authority planners and building control combine to completely erode the strategic ambition for an increased level of standardisation to improve the efficiency and quality of project delivery.

Traditional in-situ methods of construction have to adhere to standardisation through compliance with Building Regulations. This gives clients the

vital confidence that the contractor will deliver the project to the required standard – and if not, that it will be rectified.

The offsite sector absolutely must come together to agree a truly universal standard against which compliance can be measured and assured.

Many modular manufacturers are simply selling their own ‘platform solutions’ in an attempt to ‘capture the zeitgeist’, when, in fact, they are promoting their own system completely independently and calling it a platform. A genuine platform solution has to embrace and represent the whole MMC sector.

How to foster greater confidence in modular technology

With the unfortunate demise of some big industry names in recent months, the time for pride and individual business trailblazing has passed. We need to come together as an industry and provide a unified solution that will foster a much greater level of confidence in modular technology and in the built solutions.

And if we don’t achieve this? The UK Government will lose faith and volumetric MMC as a viable building solution will be set back 20 years.

Let’s be honest, what we do is not rocket science. We do not use spaceage materials or really cutting-edge technology. What we do is apply wellmanaged processes and robust control

systems to the historically chaotic and continually bespoke world of construction.

Eroding strategic ambition

There are many other intrinsic benefits of modular solutions that provide really persuasive arguments for its use over traditional in-situ building methods – from reduced material waste, improved safety on site, consistent delivery on time and budget, shorter build programmes to less disruption and enhanced thermal performance. However none of these advantages are dependent on the need to protect new or innovative technology.

Beyond the box, it really doesn’t matter what happens inside. Does the colour of the seat fabric or the quality of an in-car entertainment system affect the legal compliance or reliability of a new car? Is it really worth the effort of protecting a particular modular solution that is only a slight variation on a theme?

Our industry has to pool its expertise and collaboratively develop a regulatory compliant genuine ‘white box’ standard that we can all support, promote and take to Government as a truly game-changing platform design solution.

Without that, we risk remaining a niche specialism rather than a universallyadopted construction standard.

David Johnson is the UK Pre-construction Director at global modular building specialist, Volumetric Building Companies. He brings broad experience of the offsite sector to his role as well as a deep understanding of construction across multiple sectors.

David Johnson, UK Pre-construction Director at Volumetric Building Companies, shares his thoughts on the future of offsite construction in the UK and the urgent need for change.

DEALING WITH DAMP – MOISTURE MANAGEMENT TO AVOID FLOOR FAILURE

Unmanaged excess subfloor moisture is the leading cause of floor failure and frequently results in delays to projects, major inconvenience and expense when remedial work is required. To help avoid these situations, Stephen Boulton, Technical Service Manager at leading subfloor preparation products manufacturer, F. Ball and Co., provides crucial advice to guard against the problems caused by excess subfloor moisture when installing floorcoverings.

Unchecked subfloor moisture, whether residual construction moisture or rising damp, can attack flooring adhesives and floorcoverings, causing wood to warp and damaging textile floorcoverings by promoting mould and bacterial growth. Not only can this ruin the finished appearance of a flooring installation, but it can potentially cause floorcoverings to de-bond, resulting in complete floor failure, and present a health hazard.

F. Ball’s technical service department frequently receives enquiries from

contractors who have been called to rectify a recent flooring installation where floorcoverings have begun to lift as a result of unmanaged excess subfloor moisture, and our regional technical representatives often attend site visits where this is the case.

To prevent floor failure due to excess subfloor moisture, it is important to take time to determine subfloor moisture levels and deploy an appropriate moisture management solution, where necessary, prior to installing floorcoverings.

Testing

F. Ball recommends that a moisture test is undertaken as part of any flooring installation, having first prepared the subfloor so that it is suitably smooth, sound and free of contaminants. If the subfloor relative humidity (RH) levels exceed 75% (65% if wood floorcoverings are to be installed), a moisture management solution will be required to prevent excess subfloor moisture attacking adhesives and damaging floorcoverings. A quick, non-intrusive way to identify the presence of subfloor moisture is to use a handheld radio frequency moisture meter. If the device indicates the presence of moisture in the subfloor, further testing will be required to determine the precise subfloor relative humidity levels and if a moisture management solution is required.

The only method of measuring subfloor relative humidity levels with certainty, and the method advocated by British Standards, is to use a calibrated hygrometer. These devices measure the relative humidity of a small volume of confined air in equilibrium with the subfloor, taking into account the ambient temperature.

The device is affixed to the subfloor using butyl tape to create an airtight seal around the base of the instrument. It is then left for a sufficient amount of time to allow entrapped air to reach moisture equilibrium with the screed or base before the unit is switched on. Equilibrium can generally be assumed after leaving the instrument overnight and readings taken four hours apart are identical. It is recommended that multiple digital hygrometers are placed at regular intervals across the entire subfloor area to avoid the prospect of localised excess moisture not being detected.

Waterproof surface membranes

There are a number of options available to contractors for creating a barrier to protect the floorcovering from high levels of moisture detected within the subfloor.

The application of a liquid waterproof surface membrane is the usual solution for effectively controlling damp. The bestperforming epoxy waterproof surface membranes will isolate excess subfloor moisture where relative humidity values are up to 98%, with a single-coat application, which will fully cure in as little as three hours.

Quicker two-coat, water-based systems are also available that will create an effective barrier against residual construction moisture where relative humidity values are up to 95%. The first coat cures in 15 to 20 minutes. A further 30 minutes curing time is required for the second coat.

An alternative solution

An alternative solution for dealing with damp is available for where a waterproof surface membrane cannot be applied. This may be the case where flooring installations are part of a refurbishment project and screeds are contaminated with oil, other chemicals or old adhesive residues. It is also useful in heritage settings where the subfloor must be preserved.

In these situations, a looselay isolator membrane can be laid directly onto the subfloor, without the requirement for an adhesive, to provide a barrier to stop excess subfloor moisture causing floor failure.

These membranes typically have nodules on the underside, creating an airspace to allow water vapour to travel to the edge of a room, into a dry wall or ventilated area, where it can safely escape. A wide range of floorcoverings can be adhered to its upper surface. This enables durable new floors to be installed and easily removed at a later date, allowing buildings to be returned to their original state and offering a solution for temporary flooring installations.

Next steps

When a suitable moisture management solution is in place, contractors can proceed with preparing the subfloor for the installation of new floorcoverings. Where an isolator membrane has not been used, this should include the application of a smoothing compound to create a perfectly smooth base for the receipt of floorcoverings, remembering to prime beforehand if necessary.

Contractors can proceed to install floorcoverings using an appropriate adhesive once the smoothing compound has cured. At this stage, the compatibility of particular floorcoverings and adhesives should be checked to further ensure against floor failure. To do this, contractors can consult the adhesive manufacturer’s Recommended Adhesives Guide or see the floorcovering manufacturers’ instructions.

MODULAR BUILDING PROVES PERFECT SOLUTION FOR KINGSTON HOSPITAL

Modular construction pioneer Wernick Buildings recently completed a new healthcare clinic located in Greater London.

Due to the closure of a previous threestorey building on site, Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was looking for a new purpose-built unit to house its growing outpatient services for gynaecology, audiology and ear, nose and throat.

After a discussion with the Wernick Buildings team, it was decided that two separate modular healthcare buildings on site would offer the most timely and cost-effective solution to accommodate all three hospital departments.

The first building delivered by Wernick was the Gynaecology Outpatient Clinic (Willow Building).

Through a competitive tender process, Wernick Buildings presented

a full turnkey solution, which included a complete groundworks package and service connection.

Designed for outpatient use, the two-storey BREEAM-rated block offers several HTN/HBN-compliant amenities, including consultation areas, procedure and recovery rooms, staff offices, changing facilities and accessible toilets. The reception and waiting area feature an open floorplan, which creates a spacious welcome area for the clinic’s patients.

The building comprises 30 modules and showcases sleek cladding, PV panels and a state-of-the-art plant room on the second storey.

Wernick worked closely with ADP Architecture during the design process. Clinic nurses, doctors and other staff were also consulted in the planning process, assuring their specific needs and requests were met.

Clinical Director, Meena Shankar, remarked on the speed and usefulness of the new clinic. “The building was ready to use very quickly and is very modern and comfortable,” she explained. “We were excited about being involved with the design team from the beginning to get exactly what we wanted.”

The clinic features a modern interior with a cool green colour palette. Its interior was designed to help provide a calming environment for patients who may be undergoing difficult procedures. The layout boasts a convenient one-way traffic system and a patient-sensitive discrete exit.

Wernick was also able to provide two temporary modular office buildings to house other displaced departments that were relocated from the hospital’s Roehampton Wing.

The building modules were constructed off site, which allowed for minimal disruption and noise pollution to the surrounding area.

Crews overcame several challenges when transporting and installing the modules into place on the property. The building site was landlocked by three roads and located at the front of the hospital entrance near to the emergency department. Crane operatives had to take special care to manoeuvre the modules in a dense area surrounded by other buildings. A second clinic (Aspen Building), housing the audiology and ear, nose and throat departments, is due to be completed imminently.

Wernick Buildings has decades of experience in delivering modular solutions in the healthcare sector and is highly skilled at working around live clinical building settings. Design, manufacture and site teams are located in house, providing customers with a single point of contact for peace of mind throughout the project. Wernick’s flexible modular systems provide cost efficiency, shorter and more reliable programmes, and improved quality and sustainability.

Offsite construction methods are attractive to NHS Trusts as they can dramatically reduce build programmes. Facilities can be operational in a matter of months, compared to years for many traditional build projects. They also reduce onsite disruption and associated health and safety risks.

The Wernick building system is designed to deliver compliant hospital wards and clinical spaces via standardisation with compliancy requirements being applied to building systems. This streamlines the construction process by incorporating pre-approved designs.

Aside from integrating standard NHS specifications, modular construction can offer clients the option to create bespoke building designs tailored to their specific requirements.

0800 112 4640

ZENTIA LAUNCHES NEW ACOUSTIC CALCULATOR

Leading UK ceiling manufacturer, Zentia, launches a threestep online acoustic calculator.

JAMES LATHAM INTRODUCES FERRO

Responding to UK/ Ireland specifier calls for high-performance door components, James Latham introduces FERRO, a premium range of highlydurable and weather-resistant external door blanks from leading brand Moralt. Comprising some of the most robust external blanks currently available on the market, FERRO blanks are made from top-quality natural and engineered timbers, with either paintable plywood, exterior MDF or decorative veneered plywood faces. What sets the FERRO blanks apart from others on the market is that each one contains two thermally-isolated solid steel stabilising bars in its core, helping to prevent bowing and warping. Such is the degree of anti-bowing and warping strength achieved through the incorporation of the steel stabilisers, every FERRO blank comes with a 10-year anti-bowing guarantee. Going even further, Moralt is committed to replace any FERRO door, free of charge, which warps more than 4mm over this period, including fitting costs. The FERRO range is CE certified and has been developed to meet contemporary specification requirements, particularly in line with evolving UK and Ireland regulations around energy efficiency and fire safety.

www.lathamtimber.co.uk

An online acoustic calculator that helps architects and other specifiers check ceiling product performance against acoustic standards in just three simple steps has been launched by one of the UK’s leading ceiling manufacturers, Zentia.

While the focus of the new acoustic calculator is education, due to its particularly stringent acoustic requirements, future developments of the calculator will expand on this strong baseline.

In the first of the three steps, the new acoustic calculator automatically finds the target reverberation time of the chosen room type, so users do not even need prior knowledge of the building standard.

Step two adds the room dimensions and apertures, and the wall, floor and ceiling construction materials, before the user selects a ceiling tile, canopy or baffle to benchmark against their chosen building standard.

The third and final step allows the users to review the information they have submitted before the result report shows if their chosen ceiling product meets their target reverberation time. The report can be downloaded or emailed directly to a colleague.

Zentia’s new acoustic calculator also allows the user to view technical details and sustainability information, order a sample, contact Zentia’s specification team for a consultation, and to add their chosen product to an NBS specification.

The launch of the acoustic calculator comes hard on the heels of another innovative Zentia design tool – Sonify 3D Studio, an online parametric configurator that allows each design of discontinuous ceiling to be visualised and exported as a Revit file to support digital workflows.

www.zentia.com/en-gb

0191

KNIGHTSBRIDGE SEES PART M

Knightsbridge – one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of wiring accessories and lighting – has recently compiled a collection of wiring accessories ideally suited to environments where meeting Part M of the Building Regulations is a concern. The collection covers safety, ease of use and hygiene, encompassing anti-bacterial switches and sockets and accessories dedicated for those with disabilities. At the heart of the Part M range is colour-contrasted, outboard rocker sockets, and high-contrast and wide-rockered switches for both lighting and appliances. To assist people with visual impairments, socket chassis come in a striking anthracite finish with white rockers for contrast. This range satisfies recommendations that switches contrast with front plates, which, in turn, contrast with walls. By mounting the rockers on the sockets’ outboard edges, the risk of an accidental disconnection or contact with live pins is greatly reduced. Both one- and two-gang sockets are available. Two-way light switches – again anthracite and white – come with single- or two-gang wide rockers, or in traditional narrow format in one, two or three gangs. Other switches are available for fan isolation, hobs, ovens and 13A fused spurs, with and without neons.

STO PRODUCTS SELECTED FOR NEW CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL IN DUBLIN

External wall insulation specialist, Sto, has been selected to provide a suite of products for a new 165,000m² hospital in Dublin, Ireland. Scheduled for completion in 2024, the New Children’s Hospital will comprise more than 6000 rooms spread across seven storeys.

Main contractor, BAM – which was responsible for designing, engineering and managing the facade packages – chose Sto products to meet performance requirements set by BDP, a multi-disciplinary practice of architects.

To maximise thermal efficiency and fire protection, the StoTherm Mineral external wall insulation system is being used. The project will also feature the StoSilco silicone resin render and a specialist Sto facade paint to create a colourful and highly-durable exterior that won’t fade.

BREATHING BUILDINGS EXPANDS AWARD-WINNING NVHR RANGE

Breathing Buildings, a leading provider of controlled natural and hybrid ventilation systems, has added to its award-winning natural ventilation with heat recycling (NVHR) range with its new NVHR 1700. This larger unit is ideal for leisure centres, halls, sport facilities, shopping centres, offices, schools and other buildings with high heat gains, with the NVHR 1700 offering excellent ventilation and thermal comfort. Meanwhile, in school classroom applications, the NVHR 1700 now allows one unit to be specified rather than two, which means a simpler and quicker installation. Breathing Building’s NVHR 1700 offers enhanced natural ventilation with hybrid technology in a slimline, compact, lightweight and energy-efficient unit. The unit is designed to fulfil the ventilation needs automatically with its demand-controlled equipment, best-in-class flowrate, low noise levels and low energy consumption. The NVHR 1700 leads the way in efficiency with specific fan power levels as low as 0.08W/l/s and, in larger applications, provides airflow rates as high as 540l/s.

www.breathingbuildings.com 01223

With work still being completed on site, the Sto products are being applied by Dublin-based SF Plastering. Featuring non-combustible mineral fibre boards, the StoTherm Mineral system has been installed onto a light steel frame using StoRotofix Plus mechanical fixings. Uniquely, these enable the insulation boards to be adjusted after installation to accommodate surface irregularities, ensuring a smooth surface prior to rendering.

To create multiple colours across the exterior, the Sto render was selected in shades of mauve, yellow, orange, green and aqua. Once applied, this will provide a high level of water repellence and water vapour permeability, making the facade resistant to the build up of dirt and reducing the growth of algae and fungus. StoSilco X Black facade paint was applied to the darker colours to ensure these won’t fade over time.

The New Children’s Hospital is being brought forward by the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and will combine services currently provided at three children’s hospitals in Dublin. When complete, it will offer a world-class facility for Ireland’s sickest children and young people, and be the country’s primary centre for paediatric education, training and research.

www.sto.co.uk

d.newton@sto.com

MID WALES SOCIAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS FITTED WITH LATEST PASSIVHAUS VENTILATION SYSTEMS

Two new social housing developments in Mid Wales are set to benefit from energy-efficient, PassivHaus-compliant MVHR systems supplied by leading ventilation specialist EnviroVent. Croft Court is a brand-new complex consisting of 17 energy-efficient apartments, while William Ainge Court is an existing residential block that is being extended to offer a further 16 dwellings. Both of the affordable developments are situated in Welshpool, a market town close to Newtown, Powys, in Mid Wales. Two of EnviroVent’s innovative PassivHaus-certified ventilation solutions were specified for these developments by the main contractor Mid Wales Properties, working on behalf of Barcud, an organisation recently formed following the merger of Tai Ceredigion and MidWales Housing association (MWHA). SL300 slimline units were specified for the Croft Court development, while energiSava 300 units were installed at William Ainge Court. The units were chosen because they achieved PassivHaus certification, as well as offering exceptionally low energy consumption, reduced noise levels and a range of innovative features.

www.envirovent.com

0345 272 7810