PSBJ March 2022

Public Sector Build Journal March 2022

Healthcare

Education

Leisure

psbjmagazine.com

Issue 115

A FACILITATOR FOR HEALTHIER LIVES The new Riverside Leisure Centre in Chelmsford excels in encouraging the local community to become more active

Housing

Pagabo takes a look at the frameworks marketplace, termed the ‘wild west’

Why radiant heating is key to creating healthier and safer buildings

Oscar Acoustics explores how to improve acoustic standards in construction

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WELCOME NOTE

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

The cutting-edge Riverside Leisure Centre in Chelmsford has been recognised for its quality of architecture, receiving multiple awards since its completion. See page 16.

Welcome to the March issue of PSBJ...

Last month, severe weather impacted many parts of the country, with an influx of heavy rain, ferocious wind and snow. Gales of 122mph were the highest recorded in the UK’s history, leaving thousands of households without power from the damage caused by felled trees. Meanwhile flood warnings reared their heads again as Storm Dudley, Eunice and Franklin wreaked havoc on river levels.

Despite nations coming together to embark on their biggest effort yet to combat climate change, extreme weather will continue to be a leading consequence of global warming.

However, we can be more prepared for unprecedented conditions in infrastructure, and account for the risks of flooding in new buildings, especially those near rivers.

In this month’s cover story, we focus on a project which has done just that. As its name suggests, Riverside Leisure Centre’s riverside location posed several challenges for the construction team. Turn to page 16 to read how the team mitigated risks from River Chelmer early on in the project.

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Similarly, BakerHicks’ successful design and engineering of Glasgow’s new Clydebank Health and Care Centre demonstrates careful planning to, again, mitigate flood risks from the tidally-influenced River Clyde nearby. Turn to page 14 to read more on how the team overcame this challenge.

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Elsewhere in the edition, Jason Stapley, Managing Director of Pagabo, explores the landscape of the frameworks marketplace and explains why he believes a call for greater standards has been a long time coming. Offsite Solutions takes a look at bathroom pods for multi-occupancy buildings and Stella Rooflights sheds light on rooflights within zinc roofs.

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

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Hannah Woodger • Editor • hannah@redhutmedia.com Find us on Social Media:      @psbjmagazine

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CONTENTS

06 News

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

08 Upfront

Mark Johnstone, Head of Commercial – UK, Middle East and Ireland at Altro, considers the key criteria when specifying for primary schools.

12 Housing

Beesley & Fildes discusses the potential of electric boilers to reduce fuel poverty and provide an easy retrofit solution for the social housing sector.

14 Healthcare

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BakerHicks, the multi-disciplinary design and engineering company, has completed its part in the successful design and construction of the new Clydebank Health and Care Centre.

18 Education

22 KBB & Washrooms

16 Leisure

20 Legal & Business

24 Talking Point

The cutting-edge Riverside Leisure Centre in Chelmsford has been recognised for its quality of architecture, receiving multiple awards since its completion.

New senior school building Crosfields, delivered by family-owned construction company, Beard, provides lessons in overcoming pandemic challenges.

Sotech explores the importance of sustainable buildings within the construction sector and also looks at how sustainability can add value to your building.

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In this article, James Stephens, Managing Director at one of the UK’s leading bathroom pod specialists, Offsite Solutions, looks at some of the trends in specification and design.

Alexandra Houghton, Head of Public Sector at Carter Jonas, discusses localism and how some initiatives are focusing on the health sector having more of a presence in urban centres.

CONTENTS

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28

26 HVAC

Ashley Cooper, Managing Director at WMS, offers his thoughts on why radiant heating is the key to creating healthier and safer buildings for the future.

28 Rooflights

Stella Rooflights uncovers the myths around rooflights and zinc roofs, and offers some top tips to ensure you can achieve the best of both worlds.

30 Frameworks

Jason Stapley, Managing Director of Pagabo, sheds some light on the frameworks marketplace and discusses why greater standards need to be reached.

32 Technical Focus

Most modern structures strive for sustainability and fire safety excellence, yet acoustics is an area often overlooked. Ben Hancock at Oscar Acoustics explains more.

30 34 Product Showcase

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

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NEWS

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

Basildon homes made greener with energy-saving technology Basildon Council – in partnership with Morgan Sindall Property Services – has become the first local authority in the country to install goldeni, a new energy-saving software platform. The goldeni technology uses interconnected sensors to provide social housing landlords and tenants with real-time, actionable insights to help them ensure their properties are healthy, legally compliant and more energy efficient. It will play a crucial role in the council’s aim to make all its operations carbon netzero by 2030, with a wider target of 2050 for the borough. The goldeni platform has been developed by data scientists working for Morgan Sindall Property Services, which is the council’s property maintenance contractor. The platform collects data on the internal environmental conditions, including temperature, air pressure, light levels, humidity and carbon dioxide. goldeni also detects for water leaks and monitors electricity and gas consumption and, using intelligent boiler technology, provides tenants with more efficient boiler operations for heating and hot water in their homes.

Beard to deliver major improvements to tennis club’s community centre Guildford-based construction firm Beard will be playing its part in supporting the next generation of young tennis players with the development of key improvements at The All England Lawn Tennis Club Community Tennis Centre, at Raynes Park, London. Under the ownership of The All England Lawn Tennis Club, the facility services an array of requirements. It supports The Championships, Wimbledon, providing a training ground for the contingent of ball boys and girls, and is also home to the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative coaching programme, which is at the forefront of nurturing young talent. The Community Tennis Centre also provides ‘pay and play’ opportunities for the public, with more than 5000 members having signed up so far. But the site is also in need of improvements in order to accommodate the demand for its courts and training facilities. Beard has been appointed to build a fantastic new clubhouse topped off with a section of green roof, a cafe lounge, a flexible studio space and an elevated terrace to view the new main court. The plan also includes creating a new carparking area to service the clubhouse, as well as landscaping work.

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£5.4m museum extension housing iconic WW2 plane celebrated Thousands of visitors have now visited the £5.4m extension to the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent, which now houses an original Spitfire aircraft thanks to specialist project management from national property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard. The project comprised the design and construction of a new 3800ft2, double-height exhibition space with mezzanine and the alteration and refurbishment of the existing cafe space within the art gallery and museum, alongside extensive external landscaping. Utilising a steel frame and rainscreen cladding, the new exhibition space has been designed with specialist structural glazing to allow the main attraction, the city’s iconic RW388 Spitfire aircraft, to be exhibited. The area also houses a flight simulator, model Hurricane aircraft and other exhibitions. Matt Hall, National Director for Project Management at Pick Everard, said: “We are delighted to have delivered such a historically-significant development, which creates a lasting legacy for the city of Stoke-onTrent. Our expertise, combined with that from tourism and leisure architect Glancy Nicholls, has created a spectacular display space for the iconic Spitfire – a centrepiece the city can be proud of.”

Browne Jacobson re-appointed to Platform Housing Group’s four-year legal framework National law firm Browne Jacobson has been re-appointed onto Platform Housing Group’s (PHG) legal services framework for property and employment work. The new four-year agreement officially started on 17th January this year and replaces the current panel arrangement. The firm has worked with Platform Housing Group (which was originally a merger between Waterloo Housing Group and Fortis Living) since 2007 and the appointment will see it continue to advise on a broad range of practice areas including construction, development, planning, property and sales. They will also support the group from an employment law perspective for the first time. Nathan Barson, Procurement Director at Platform Housing Group, said: “It is great to see our new Category Management function using the tools and techniques to deliver such high-quality work; not only have we successfully mapped our complex requirements but we have managed to secure commercially-robust agreements with some of the country’s leading law firms. We have added value, successfully matched our ambitions to the leading players in the market and ensured we have the partnerships in place for a truly modern housing association.”

NEWS

Affordable homes and charity headquarters set to regenerate Hemel Hempstead site Plans have been submitted to regenerate a brownfield site in the centre of Hemel Hempstead with 56 new homes and a purpose-built headquarters for homeless charity, DENS. On behalf of Dacorum Borough Council, multi-disciplinary design practice rg+p has designed and submitted plans for a complete redevelopment of the Paradise Depot site, which is located off St Albans Road, east of the town centre. Currently occupied by the DENS office and foodbank as well as other commercial/industrial premises, the intention is for the site to become an asset for the town. rg+p’s design proposes a twostorey building to better serve DENS’ needs, comprising ground-floor foodbank and bike workshop together with first-floor community cafe, office space, kitchen and multi-functional meeting rooms. A shared surface unites this building with a new apartment block of 56 one- and two-bedroom homes. Cycle and scooter storage, car parking, residents’ garden and additional landscaping is also incorporated into the overall design. Each apartment has a private balcony and a proportion will be built to accessible standards. Hemel Hempstead’s distinctive local vernacular has heavily influenced the proposed material palette. The concept for the apartment building references the Old Townscape’s Tudor heritage and will feature a blend of red and dark brickwork with hit-and-miss detailing and a rusticated plinth.

Contrastingly, the new DENS centre will have a predominantly darker appearance with black frame windows and rainscreen cladding.

Seddon celebrates 125th anniversary with £1m fundraising pledge Seddon – one of the UK’s largest privately-owned and familymanaged national contracting businesses – is marking its 125th anniversary with a series of events and pledges that will celebrate this most incredible milestone, bring people back together and raise over £1m for charity. The fifth-generation, family-owned business, headquartered in Bolton, has asked colleagues, customers and its supply chain to come up with their own personal pledges that pay homage to the notable number, whilst raising money for The Christie Charity. So far, these include a challenging 125-mile walk, a 125-hole round of golf and a 125km swim. As well as celebrating a century and a quarter in business, Seddon hopes that its endeavours will help it fundraise £1m for The Christie Charity, as well as raising money for other worthy causes that are close to participants’ hearts. Founded in 1897 by George and John Seddon, what started out as a Salford-based bricklaying business, today employs over 650 people and has an annual turnover of £200m. Nicola Hodkinson, Seddon family member and Company Director, said: “125 years in business is a huge deal, so we’re going all out to mark the occasion with the gusto it deserves whilst raising as much money as we can for a charity that’s so close to our hearts.”

644-bed PBSA scheme Waterstons tech approved for the Square Mile consultancy marks a decade Real estate developer Dominvs Group has received resolution to in partnership with London grant planning for a 644-bed purpose-built student accommodation housing association (PBSA) scheme in Holborn, supported by the London School of Economics. Designed by Stiff + Trevillion Architects and Jonathan Cook Landscape Architects, the scheme will deliver urgently-needed student housing in the heart of Central London. Dominvs Group’s plans for the 61-65 Holborn Viaduct site were approved by the City of London Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee. The consent followed a strong officer’s recommendation in favour of the scheme. Dominvs worked closely with the London School of Economics on the scheme, located a few minutes’ walk from the university’s main campus. The LSE seeks to increase its number of student beds from 4500 to 6000 over the next five years, following the Government’s recent commitment to the enrolment of 600,000 international students by 2030. In line with Dominvs Group’s commitment to social value, the development will deliver high-quality space for student interaction as well as amenity space for the local community. Building upon the success of the meanwhile use of the site, the Gaia’s Garden project, the ground floor will house a mix of cultural and performance space in partnership with the Creative Land Trust, a charity supported by the Mayor for London and Arts Council England, for the local community to exhibit artworks and collaborate.

Global business and IT consultancy Waterstons is celebrating a 10-year partnership with Gateway Housing, a well-established community-based housing association in East London. Gateway Housing Association has 3000 properties primarily in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets with the aim of providing great homes for people in East London and supporting local communities to thrive. The housing association first appointed Waterstons in 2011 as its long-term IT partner to work with its in-house IT team to provide first-, second- and third-line support as well as IT strategy and governance. Social housing is a constantly shifting landscape with changing regulations and diverse resident demands. Over the last decade, Waterstons has helped Gateway Housing to deliver significant improvements including long-term technical strategy ensuring better return on investment, migration to the Cloud improving employee collaboration, mobilisation of the whole workforce for home working, project management of key business-focused IT projects ensuring new tools were delivered to time and cost, and deployment of a new intranet.

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UPFRONT

BACK TO SCHOOL Learning environments are some of the most important places, and the way they function is just as important as how they look. Mark Johnstone, Head of Commercial – UK, Middle East and Ireland at Altro, considers the key criteria when specifying for primary schools.

W

hen it comes to specifying for education environments, there is a greater need than ever for durable, easy-to-clean, comfortable and attractive surfaces – and, thankfully, plenty of smart solutions meet those demands.

We have worked through the decades to develop solutions to age-old issues; safety floors to prevent slips; sustainable adhesive-free floors to reduce downtime; shoe and barefoot flooring for safer changing rooms; floors that reduce the impact of sound for quieter working spaces; and walls and doors that impress, yet don’t compromise on hygiene and easy maintenance.

Specifiers have a lot to balance. We’re aware of the changing views on learning spaces, for example, the positive impact that biophilia – using natural shades, including woodlook options, and images of nature – has on learning. We’re aware of the benefits that

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adaptable learning spaces and effective wayfinding solutions, among other design concepts, have for those with autism or social emotional mental health (SEMH) needs – and that, actually, these should not only be considered for specialist spaces, as the same things hugely benefit all children.

We understand the challenges of complying with regulations designed to keep our children safe, whether finding solutions that have the required 30-point light reflectance value difference between floors and walls, installing safe disability access ramps, or giving reassurance that our doors and walls meet the required standards for fire resistance.

We appreciate that education buildings are among the busiest public spaces, meaning durability and easy maintenance are essential. We know specifiers must also meet sustainability requirements – there is a lot to take into consideration.

UPFRONT

Entrance and reception areas In primary schools, this area has a variety of functions: it’s an office space, a waiting room and, as the first area of the school that parents and visitors see, a room that represents the school’s ethos. First impressions count here and, as a workspace, it needs to be a calm oasis in the surrounding bustle. For ultimate design freedom, consider options such as Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom) for walls and Altro Orchestra Custom floors to make your individual mark.

As most people in this area will be coming in from outside, the risk of walked-in rainwater, and, therefore, a slip, is high, so a safety floor will protect students, staff and visitors from slips. There are plenty of great options, including sustainable adhesive-free floors which can halve installation time, and are 100% recyclable pre- and post-installation.

Corridors Constantly in use by both little and large feet plus equipment trollies, floors for corridors and general circulation areas need to be tough while looking good.

These spaces can be noisy as pupils move from one space to another, so impact sound reduction is welcome here,

reducing distraction for those still concentrating.

Ease of cleaning is an important consideration, as is downtime in an area that’s in constant use. Ranges such as Altro Operetta, Altro Orchestra and Altro Serenade offer multiple attractive, natural colours and finishes that are robust and easy to clean, with a custom option for a bespoke approach too. Consider adhesive-free options with installation time halve that of a traditionally adhered floor: you can weld and walk the same day, even over fresh concrete. There are no rucks or movement when down, and at the end of its life the entire floor can be uplifted and reused or recycled.

For walls, consider systems such as Altro Fortis wall sheet combined with corner protection – dense, impervious and resistant to bumps, it is ideal for use in these busy, vulnerable areas.

Classrooms Primary school classrooms go from calm to chaos and back again throughout the day. The floor you choose contends with constant use from 30-plus pairs of feet, activity debris and chairscraping. It needs to support quiet learning, tired feet, act as the occasional seat and play its part in creating an inspiring space to work and learn in. 

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UPFRONT A good option here is a vinyl floor with acoustic properties for impact sound reduction and comfort, as well as ease of cleaning and durability.

With a wide variety of activities taking place in the classroom, a sink is a common feature, making splashes and spills and, therefore, slips, likely.

With so much going on, it’s not always possible for teaching staff to spot or wipe spills straight away.

You probably won’t need to install a safety floor for the whole room; you can install just around the sink. Altro safety floors mean you can reduce the risk of a slip to one in a million in that space.

You can choose to match the shade to the rest of the floor, or deliberately create a contrast to remind pupils that it’s an area they need to be careful in.

Kitchens Prepping and cooking hundreds of meals, all to be served within an hour, or less, means school kitchens must operate efficiently and quickly, without compromising on safety. As staff work to get multiple dishes ready, there’s no time to worry about oil splashes or food debris on the floor, which increase the risk of a slip accident. Once prep and

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service are over, clean-up and next-day prep mean there’s no rest for staff feet, so a floor solution that can take the burden of a day spent standing will be welcomed.

Kitchens need a specialist safety floor, such as Altro Stronghold 30, designed specifically to deal with these challenges. They also benefit from hygienic wall systems – grout-free, easy to clean and impact-resistant.

Multi-purpose halls/canteens A primary school hall masquerades as a gym, restaurant and conference room. A versatile space needs a versatile floor that can handle changing needs, looks good and provides a comfy seat. This key area for a school can’t be out of action for long, so is an ideal area to opt for our sustainable adhesive-free floors with quick and straightforward installation over an existing floor, or over new concrete.

An option, such as Altro Wood adhesive-free, meets each need: a slip risk of one in a million for those lunchtime water spills; 14 dB impact sound reduction to help keep outside noise out, inside noise in, and to lessen foot and chair noise within the room; comfort underfoot to go

easy on jumping and dancing feet, and on little bottoms; shades to create a warm, comfy look; and no adhesive, halving installation time, with no associated adhesive odours.

What’s more, you can reuse it elsewhere or recycle.

For walls, Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom) enables a school to put its own stamp on its main space, with durable

and scratch-resistant properties to look good long-term.

Choose from the school logo or photographic images of the children playing sport, or of local landmarks, to inspire knowledge and pride: the possibilities are endless. In addition to photos or art, this wall system can be used to support wayfinding, featuring signage or instructions.

UPFRONT

Libraries

Staff rooms

Primary school libraries are no longer the intimidating, quiet rooms they once were but, as a space where storytelling comes to life or a pupil curls up to enjoy their first novel, there’s a need to reduce noise distractions, so an acoustic floor that’s thick enough for comfort underfoot is a good option here.

Staff areas are well used; lots of feet, chairs and desks, so the floor needs to be durable. As a space used for work, meetings and well-earned breaks, it needs to look homely and feel comfortable: the floor plays a central part in creating a space where staff are happy to be.

With staff areas in constant use, installation or refurbishment

needs to be quick and easy, so this is another area where adhesive-free floors can be used to great effect.

Toilets With no time for staff to constantly monitor the state of the toilets, the floor needs to prevent slips from sink splashes, walked-in water and any little accidents, so safety

flooring is ideal here. It has to be easy to clean, whether a quick wipe or the thorough end-of-the-day clean. Look for slip resistance that lasts the lifetime of the product to give peace of mind that pupils will be as safe from slips when they leave school as when they started. There is a huge range of colours now available, so it’s possible to make the bathroom more fun, theming the space, or using different colours for each cubicle and the handwash area.

Hand hygiene is more important than ever, and can be a challenge at primary school age. When it comes to school toilet walls, they can play a role in reducing the number of places bacteria can lurk. Walls need to be easy to clean. Tiled walls are popular, but problematic – with grout present and cracks common, tiles will not support effective hygiene and maintenance.

Look to a hygienic walls system, such as Altro Whiterock, that can be wiped clean. Grout-free, impactresistant, quick to install and backed up by lengthy guarantees. And plenty of colour and design options on offer too. 

www.altro.co.uk

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HOUSING

ELECTRIC BOILERS: A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO ADDRESSING FUEL POVERTY FOR THE SOCIAL HOUSING SECTOR Adam Taylor, Heating and Plumbing Product Specialist from builder’s merchant, Beesley & Fildes, discusses the potential of electric boilers to reduce fuel poverty and provide an easy retrofit solution for the social housing sector.

T

he social housing sector has grappled with the issue of fuel poverty for some time. Now, with energy prices rising and the average home’s fuel bill set to increase by as much as £700 a year, many social housing tenants, already making tough decisions on a tight budget, may have to choose between eating and heating.

The Government is taking steps to try to take some of the sting out of the price rises in the short term, with a package of measures that includes a £200 rebate, paid back as prices begin to drop again. But, what if prices don’t drop, or drop enough during that five-year payback period? What if the choice between eating and heating becomes a public health crisis for the most vulnerable and those on the lowest incomes?

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At this time of year, the biggest hope is that a warm spring and summer and a mild autumn will take the pressure off a little, allowing social housing tenants to switch off their heating and turn down the thermostat on their hot water. But, even the warmest of springs, summers and autumns become winter again eventually, and tenants will be only too well aware that the heat or eat dilemma will return.

For social housing landlords, therefore, now is the time to consider if anything can be done to rethink how their properties are heated. For those already investing in retrofitting new energy systems to replace inefficient or older gas boilers, electric boilers could provide an ideal and affordable option.

Why upgrade?

There are a number of reasons why social housing providers should consider replacing gas boilers in existing properties and explore alternatives to gas for any new properties.

The duty of care to offer tenants homes that are both comfortable and affordable is a key driver and, while much has already been done to improve insulation and leverage increased value from the heat produced, cost for the tenant is still an issue. Gas boilers also have an environmental impact; particularly if they are older, less efficient models and most gas boilers never reach condensing mode as they are set too high, so even modern gas boilers are often only around 87% efficient.

Operationally, sticking with gas rather than investing in other technologies presents additional challenges. For safety reasons, gas boilers must be serviced and safety checked each year, which is both a cost to the social housing provider and a disruption for tenants. There are also safety risks to consider including carbon monoxide, gas leaks and explosions.

Social housing providers should also be mindful of the effects of fuel poverty on building maintenance. Tenants who cannot afford to put the heating on are much more likely to keep windows closed and wet washing hanging in a cold, damp environment, creating a risk of mould which will affect their health and wellbeing, as well as the building fabric.

HOUSING

Why are electric boilers a good solution for social housing?

While the Government is encouraging renewable energy installations – in particular, air source heat pumps – as an alternative to gas boilers, this can be both an expensive and disruptive switch for social housing. Air source heat pumps are not suitable for all property types, they can be difficult to retrofit and they are expensive to buy and fit, with an extended payback period. Moreover, they are most efficient in generating heat when the weather is warmer – not in the winter when tenants are in most need of affordable heating.

Conversely, electric boilers are easy to retrofit using existing pipework and radiators and they can be used in combination with renewable energy sources – such as solar power – or with renewablesonly energy tariffs. It is also possible for social housing tenants to benefit from cheap electricity tariffs during the night to heat all their hot water for the following day. A combination electric boiler is most appropriate for a one- to two-bedroom apartment with a shower, while for two- to threebedroom homes, an electric

boiler and an unvented cylinder will provide enough energy to heat the property and deliver sufficient water pressure to support use of a bath.

For social housing providers considering how to keep energy costs down for tenants, a combination of an electric boiler for each tenant with rooftop solar power for the building is ideal. While, historically, electric heating has had a reputation for providing a less consistent heat output than gas, this is no longer the case. Contemporary electric boilers, such as the EHS boilers stocked by Beesley & Fildes, are efficient and reliable: the key is to specify the correct size and type of boiler for the property. Just like gas boilers, they can also benefit from the use of smart controls, enabling the tenant to programme in their own requirements or control their heating remotely for improved comfort, energy efficiency and cost management.

The switch provides operational benefits for the social housing provider too, with no mandatory annual servicing requirements, no risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and none of the safety risks associated with gas, providing an assurance of tenant safety.

Uncertainty and investment There are some tough choices ahead, for both tenants and providers in the social housing sector. With so much uncertainty about gas pricing and so much investment in renewable electricity generation, easy retrofitting of electric boilers is an opportunity to take a different approach to tackling fuel poverty. 

www.beesleyandfildes.co.uk

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HEALTHCARE

NEW HEALTH CENTRE DRAWS ON SITE’S INDUSTRIAL PAST BakerHicks, the multi-disciplinary design and engineering company, has completed its part in the successful design and construction of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s (NHSGGC) new Clydebank Health and Care Centre.

T

he new facility, situated in the health quarter of Queen’s Quay and in the shadow of the area’s famous Titan crane, consolidates a number of local GP and social care practices, as well as podiatry and physiotherapy, within a sustainable and fully accessible three-storey building.

Appointed by hub West Scotland, BakerHicks provided the civil and structural design for the new £19m building, which was constructed by BAM Construction. The design incorporates a steel frame, long-span beams and the use of curtain walling and extensive glazing to create a light and open feel in the atrium and beyond. It also features an impressive cantilever above the main entrance.

Working closely with architecture firm, Anderson Bell Christie, and the landscape architect, Harrison Stevens, BakerHicks’ knowledge and expertise were also used to help highlight the industrial past of the site, with the use of corten steel elements throughout.

Queen’s Quay Clydebank is one of Scotland’s key waterfront regeneration projects. The

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once-thriving industrial site was famous for building the QE2 and Queen Mary. The plan now is to transform the 24-hectare site into a vibrant, mixed-use community.

With the new facility being located on a brownfield site, it posed a number of civil engineering challenges, including contaminated soil, buried tracks and foundations.

To overcome this, BakerHicks’ civil engineers devised a thorough land remediation strategy. Thick layers of made ground due to the site’s industrial past also required ground improvement measures with the use of controlled modulus columns (CMC) to accommodate foundation loads.

The tidally-influenced river Clyde, plus surface water flooding from surrounding areas, meant the site levels had to be carefully designed to mitigate the risk of flooding.

BakerHicks set the building level so as to prevent flooding from the river and designed an overland flow path through the site to allow the surface water to dissipate.

Laura James, Head of Scotland at BakerHicks, says the new facility in Clydebank is another

HEALTHCARE example of the company’s expertise in delivering health and care design: “We have now been involved in the design of five separate facilities in the Greater Glasgow area that will genuinely deliver a step change in the provision of health and care in Scotland. Providing a central base for local health services, it will improve primary care services, giving the local community improved access to health services in the most upto-date, high-quality facilities.

“Our teams worked closely with the architects and wider design team to ensure the building honours the culture and past of the area, as well as bringing the modern values of the town to the new development.”

Tom Steele, NHSGGC’s Director of Estates and Facilities, said: “I am personally very proud of this development, which stands in this most historic location.

“This stunning development is the sixth health and care centre NHSGGC has built in recent years, delivering stateof-the-art facilities for their local communities. Very soon it will be home to six GP practices and community health and

care services, including speech and language therapy, mental health services, physiotherapy, antenatal clinics, community paediatric clinics, podiatry and sexual health.

“I have every confidence that the people of Clydebank will be equally pleased with the result when it opens in a few weeks.”

Iain Marley, CEO of hub West Scotland, commented: “The completion of this landmark facility is a hugely significant milestone in the development of the Queen’s Quay Masterplan, and we are immensely grateful to everyone who has contributed to achieve this brilliant outcome.

“The design of the new facility benefits from the team’s experience gained from the delivery of multiple tremendously successful health and care centres for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.”

BakerHicks also provided civil and structural engineering services on Eastwood, Gorbals, Greenock and Woodside Health and Care Centres, all of which follow the same design principles as Clydebank. 

www.bakerhicks.com/en

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LEISURE

AWARD-WINNING RIVERSIDE LEISURE CENTRE PROMOTES HEALTHIER LIVES IN CHELMSFORD The cutting-edge Riverside Leisure Centre in Chelmsford has been recognised for its quality of architecture in the east of England, receiving a RIBA Suffolk award in the Sport and Leisure category. This follows a LABC Building Excellence award for Best Large Commercial Building in 2020 and a 2021 Society for Public Architecture (SPACES) Highly Commended award in the Civic Building category.

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he £36.5m leisure complex, which redeveloped the existing centre, has been successful in encouraging the local community to lead more active lives, with new memberships rising dramatically since opening.

Located alongside the River Chelmer, the facility provides a 25m 10-lane swimming pool with a movable floor; a toddlerfriendly sensory splash zone and fun pool with flume; a 130-station gym; health and fitness studios; an Ofstedregistered creche; soft-play facility; fully-accessible changing rooms; a spacious reception foyer; and an airy cafe with a terrace overlooking the River Chelmer and an impressive ice rink with spectator seating.

It also provides space for 80 cycles, in a bid to encourage greener methods of travel to the centre.

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Leading independent property, construction and infrastructure consultancy, Pick Everard, provided all the design and cost services for the flagship scheme, delivered for Chelmsford City Council.

A centre to reflect a riverside location The design of the Riverside Leisure Centre needed to both make a statement and seamlessly connect to its surroundings. It is located on a major cycle and pedestrian route to the city centre and so the project included the enhancing of the existing riverside path along the River Chelmer. The overall design reflects the environment within which the centre sits.

The structural design included complex piling and substructure, with glulam beams in the pool hall creating a self-bracing

roof that avoids the need to bring bracing all the way to the ground. This allowed the ability to have glazing all around the pool hall with uninterrupted views to the river. The exterior walls that surround the swimming pool use blue glass, with white cladding featuring bubble-shaped holes, reflecting the centre’s riverside location and water facilities within.

Meanwhile, the spin studio also looks out over the riverside path, providing an impressive canopy to the centre’s entrance and a strong focal point for the development as a whole.

Naturally, a construction scheme located on a riverside comes with associated challenges and risks, particularly when it comes to flood risk. As part of the two-stage process, the design team worked to mitigate any risk early within the process, carrying out flood risk assessments to be

submitted as part of the initial planning application and to the requirements of the Environment Agency.

Safe construction in a live environment There was the requirement to keep the old, existing leisure centre live and operational throughout construction, as well as maintaining safe access to public spaces in the area.

The design team had the existing adjoining ice rink, which was fully refurbished as part of the scheme, and the existing leisure centre, which was eventually demolished, scanned in 3D and incorporated into a 3A computer model. This allowed the team to develop a clear communication strategy, which was reviewed with the client’s operations team to agree dayto-day works impacting the existing centre.

LEISURE Ultimately, through a phased approach and close collaboration with Kier, the contractor, access was maintained for both public and staff to existing facilities throughout the build process.

Managing key stakeholders As with any leisure development, there were a range of key stakeholders to be consulted with for the new leisure centre, including the client and its existing user base, sports clubs along with potential new users.

A major stakeholder on the Riverside Leisure Centre scheme was Sport England, meaning that all design proposals had to comply with its standards. Pick Everard worked closely with Sport England from early on in the process to discuss concept proposals and agree design calculations, finishes and quality for pool, gym and studios.

Maintaining support from Sport England was essential to ensure that designs adhered to the necessary guidelines to obtain grant funding for the scheme.

The new complex also demonstrates real social inclusion for disabled users, which was achieved through early and sustained engagement with Chelmsford Access Group. The resulting

maximised level of accessibility was ultimately recognised by disability sport representatives as having gone above and beyond minimum requirements.

Showcasing sustainability The existing leisure centre was nearing 60 years old at the time of development and was outdated in terms of its design and facilities, but especially so in its energy efficiency. The council had identified the complex as being unable to meet the future demands of the city, meaning that this had to form a key part of the client brief.

The design team brought learnings forward from previous schemes, delivering BIM Level 2, Soft Landings and a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating – and ultimately achieving a 38% carbon reduction.

Thanks to low-carbon technology and airtight detailing, the new, modern leisure centre now leaves minimal impact on the environment and saves costs for the client, all while providing excellent facilities for the local community.

The client’s vision was able to be delivered with a strong emphasis on functionality, efficiency and sustainability thanks to a highly collaborative

approach, supported by Pick Everard’s multi-disciplinary function as a business.

The building won a Best Public Servicing award and won praise from Chelmsford

City Council for capturing the essence of what the client wanted to create, balancing practicality and affordability. 

www.pickeverard.co.uk

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EDUCATION

NEW SCHOOL BUILDING PROVIDES LESSONS IN OVERCOMING PANDEMIC CHALLENGES National lockdowns because of the pandemic were posing significant challenges to building projects when family-owned construction firm, Beard, began work in September 2020 on a new state-of-the-art senior school building at Crosfields, a leading co-educational independent school on the outskirts of Reading.

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he need for enhanced safety measures and delays in the delivery of materials meant that numerous construction projects were impacted by delays. However, despite these difficulties, Beard finished construction in November 2021.

Beard achieved this by continually evolving and improving safety measures in accordance with the Government’s guidelines to ensure the site at Crosfields School could remain open and

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fully operational during this unprecedented situation.

The Beard team also found ways to deal with delays in deliveries of materials as a result of the impact of Brexit and COVID. For example, by working proactively with suppliers, Beard ensured that deliveries of the cross-laminated timber (CLT) arrived from Austria on schedule. This meant the impressive main structure of the senior school building could be completed on time, and work could begin on the roof.

Close relationship with the client One of the key aspects of this project was the close relationship with the client.

Despite the need to overcome some hurdles created by pandemic restrictions, by working together and communicating openly, Beard delivered these exceptional new facilities in time for the children to start their new term.

The new senior school building at Crosfields was built in response to numerous

requests from parents and students themselves for the school to expand and offer a complete education journey from nursery through to GCSE. The school, which is set in 40 acres of grounds, prides itself on offering an ideal environment for enabling pupils to learn and develop, and had traditionally provided education for children from the age of three, up until they turned 13.

Extending education to children beyond year eight required an exceptional new senior school building in keeping with the existing school, which is made up of single- and doublestorey buildings set around courtyards and green spaces, with a pleasant, campus-like feel.

Forward-thinking and inclusive ethos The new building continues the campus-like feel, integrating with the existing mature trees across the site and creating a new senior school courtyard with views across the town. It has been designed to make the most of the site’s hilltop position as well as reflecting the forward-thinking and inclusive ethos of the school.

It has a timber framework with a slanted roof and support struts, both of which are eyecatching features, and includes a front entrance, nine bright new classrooms, a staff area, medical centre, library, flexible performance space and a new cafe. The classrooms provide a light, airy space for teaching with underfloor heating, mechanical ventilation, wi-fi and a teaching wall with screen and storage for resources.

The school works closely with the community. It holds a charitable status, and is committed to reinvesting funds back into its facilities with recent projects including an artificial turf sports pitch, science labs, cricket pavilion, sports centre and a swimming pool.

This project fitted perfectly into the Beard ethos that buildings are spaces for living, working, playing, performing and connecting. There is no doubt that this will happen in the new building, with friendships being forged, personalities developed and experiences shared, while education takes place. 

www.beardconstruction.co.uk

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LEGAL & BUSINESS

HOW SUSTAINABILITY ADDS VALUE TO YOUR BUILDING Simran Thiara, Southern Specification Manager at Sotech, explores the importance of sustainable buildings within the construction sector and looks at how sustainability can add value to your building.

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he future of the construction industry is green, with the UK Government announcing plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Construction companies have also begun to consider how to lower their carbon footprint.

According to a report by the WBCSD, the construction industry should follow the embodied carbon reduction strategy. This means repurposing when possible, rather than using raw materials.

By repurposing products, construction companies can reuse materials and minimise waste. This will ensure sustainability stays at the forefront of construction.

The importance of sustainable buildings The construction industry is responsible for up to 11% of global carbon emissions.

To combat this, the National Engineering Policy Centre stated that the sector must reduce carbon emissions by 78% before 2035. This includes all stages of production, from sourcing materials to generating electricity during construction.

The Green Building Council has urged the construction industry to limit emissions of embodied carbon. As well

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as taking part in carbonoffsetting projects, the report recommends actions to decarbonise construction.

The recommendations include retrofitting existing homes, investing in industrial decarbonisation and adopting a minimum standard of key appliances for new buildings.

How sustainability can add value to your building Whether you’re installing carbonsaving gadgets or redesigning an entire building, sustainability in construction has many forms.

Here are three ways this will add value to your building: 1. Rainscreen cladding will insulate buildings A protective layer that sits on the outside of a building, rainscreen cladding provides direct protection against the weather. The outer layer stops rain, while the inner layer improves the structural integrity and insulation of buildings.

This is a great way to add value to your building while also being environmentally conscious in your design.

Rainscreen cladding is capable of reducing energy costs in both domestic and commercial buildings, saving up to 40% of bills per year. As well as being

economically conscious, this will stop people overusing heating. In turn, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere will reduce.

2. Solar panels will boost the price of domestic buildings Solar panels harness energy from the sun and generate electricity to power buildings. As well as being environmentally conscious, solar panels are a cost-effective energy source. According to a study by the Green Match, a 6kW solar panel grid can save an average of £430 on electric bills within a year. This is an attractive selling point to anyone.

Simran Thiara is Southern Specification Manager at Sotech. Simran has been working in the construction industry specialising in anodising, building envelopes and glass manufacturing on a number of major projects.

Overall, sustainability adds value to your building. As the Government pledges to reach net zero, the construction industry continues to adapt to new ways of operation. How will you build with sustainability in mind? 

www.sotech-optima.co.uk Sources https://www.gov.uk/government/ news/uks-path-to-net-zero-set-out-inlandmark-strategy https://www.weforum.org/ agenda/2021/07/construction-industrydoesn-t-know-where-it-stands-when-itcomes-to-carbon-emissions/ https://www.raeng.org.uk/news/newsreleases/2021/september/construction-

3. Investors will prioritise sustainable buildings There are many goodnatured reasons to build with sustainability in mind. Creating a future free from carbon emissions is only one of those.

On top of that, investors are prioritising sustainable buildings, so it pays to think sustainably about buildings. In fact, out of 4000 workers in the construction and commercial property sector, 55% believed that investors were more concerned with sustainability in buildings than the year before. As the market for sustainable buildings continues to change, it’s a good idea to build with a green future in mind.

sector-must-move-further-and-faster-t https://www.constructionnews. co.uk/sustainability/cop26-buildingregs-reform-set-out-to-drive-carbonrevolution-12-11-2021/ https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/ wiki/Rainscreen https://rcimag.co.uk/gl-roofing/five-keybenefits-of-rainscreen-cladding https://www.euronews.com/ green/2021/10/20/heat-pumps-ukhouseholds-can-get-5000-to-replacegas-boilers https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/ blog/2014/06/solar-panels-are-theyworth-it https://www.theecoexperts.co.uk/solarpanels/property-value https://uk.ramboll.com/news/ruk/sustainablebuildings-market-study-2021-impacts-of-covid19-and-beyond

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KBB & WASHROOMS

HOW TO USE BATHROOM PODS FOR MULTI-OCCUPANCY BUILDINGS In this article, James Stephens, Managing Director of one of the UK’s leading bathroom pod specialists, Offsite Solutions, looks at some of the trends in specification and design.

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he demand for bathroom pods is unprecedented and continues to rise – for high-end apartment schemes, mixed-use developments, social housing, student accommodation, build-to-rent, care homes and hotels. This is being driven by the shortage of skilled labour, issues with consistent quality, and the need for programme certainty.

The importance of standardisation and early engagement For optimal construction efficiency, early engagement is essential, and pods should be designed into the very first stages of a construction project. This will reduce the likelihood of interface and connection issues with M&E services.

Pod installation must be allowed for in the build-up of floors and the positioning of walls and should, therefore, be one of the first packages placed in a construction project.

We strongly recommend involving the pod manufacturer in the earliest stages of design to fully optimise the benefits of offsite construction.

It is important for housing providers, contractors and architects to recognise that variations, including footprints and levels of specification, have to be kept to a minimum to suit offsite manufacturing. For example, a 400-pod project with four pod types and three levels of specification will not readily lend itself to bathroom pods.

It is still possible to offer a choice of finishes with pods, such as colour palettes, provided the bathroom footprints are consistent, specification decisions fit with production scheduling, and there is sufficient volume for manufacturing runs of at least 100 bathrooms.

Designing for a retained asset Good bathroom design should have an eye to the retained asset to minimise ongoing maintenance and operating costs for the rental sector. This means incorporating low-maintenance products – such as larger format porcelain tiles which have fewer grout lines and avoid the need for repainting walls.

We use a GRP composite ceiling panel across our full range of bathroom pods. This type of ceiling never needs painting and so is ideal for rental schemes, helping to reduce operating costs and with no compromise on aesthetics.

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Enhancements for GRP bathroom pods Higher specification GRP pods are another innovation in pod technology, offering a range of aesthetic features, as well as significantly lower capital and operating costs.

These pods can incorporate enhancements to suit shared ownership schemes, such as porcelain-tiled feature walls, tiled recesses above the bath or in the shower, tiled splashbacks, solid surface vanity shelves, wall-hung toilets and full-width mirrored bathroom cabinets.

GRP bathroom and shower pods also have the benefit of an integral tile-effect finish within the GRP carcass, which complements porcelain-tiled feature walls. This innovative option avoids the need for grout and tiles in the wet areas and significantly reduces the cost of ongoing maintenance for affordable housing schemes.

Bathroom storage solutions Storage is often overlooked in shower rooms for student housing and depends on the level of specification required.

Studios and rooms targeting international students, for example, can command higher rents which are reflected in higher specification bathrooms.

Shower pods for the student sector tend to be GRP which are very low maintenance, but storage can easily be incorporated in standardised pod designs. A recess can be added in the shower, and a shelf or cabinet can be positioned above a basin and elsewhere in the shower room, according to the budget.

Combining design quality with production efficiency Developments in bathroom pod technology mean there should be no compromise on design or quality. But housing providers, specifiers and contractors should be aware of the essential need to follow the principles of standardisation and early engagement to reap the quality and programme benefits of offsite manufacturing. To attend a CPD seminar to find out more about bathroom pods, visit the website below. 

www.offsitesolutions.com/cpd

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23

TALKING POINT

COULD PUBLIC SECTOR SERVICES REVOLUTIONISE REGENERATION? Alexandra Houghton, Head of Public Sector at Carter Jonas, discusses localism and how some initiatives are focusing on the health sector having more of a presence in urban centres.

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Alexandra Houghton is Head of Public Sector at Carter Jonas and also sits on the commercial board. She has a long history of public sector property consultancy.

She leads the commercial division’s public sector consulting team, where she provides strategic advice to mainly public sector clients, focusing on the delivery of solutions to business needs through estate change.

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hanges in the commercial market over recent years, particularly in the retail and office sectors, have been well documented. The loss of anchor tenants and a structural shift in the way we shop, with nearly 30% of retail transactions now taking place online, continue to make a mark. In the office sphere, survey evidence suggests there could be a five-fold increase in flexible working by 2025 compared with pre-pandemic levels. This move to increased hybrid and remote working models means that, for some businesses, offices are becoming a positive choice, not a necessity, with overall demand for offices expected to decrease as a consequence.

Whilst this decline will be partly mitigated by employment growth and

perhaps the impact of the Levelling Up agenda, with increased funding announced in the budget, the focus is undoubtedly turning to quality: space for collaboration, communication and health and wellbeing being central components.

These changes are having a fundamental impact on our high streets and towns – with the loss of footfall a key issue. However, where there is change, there is opportunity.

Some initiatives are focusing on the health sector having more of a presence in urban centres – the premise being around high levels of demand for healthcare, and a significant oversupply of retail units. But why should the healthcare sector lead the charge? Could local authorities now step in

and make a difference; could they be the centrepiece whilst also delivering services in a different, more effective way?

The concept of service delivery ‘all under one roof’ is not new. There are the obvious civic services that local authorities provide, but they are also instrumental in delivering community provisions, libraries, leisure, health, social care and the need to meet housing targets. Why couldn’t these be consolidated into a multifunctional space alongside the health sector in urban locations? This would represent localism at its best.

There will always be examples of where the campus-style ‘county hall’ model works, but often this is not located in the heart of the community.

TALKING POINT There is also a fundamental shift in how the public sector delivers services. They are becoming more streamlined and efficient, primarily due to financial pressures but also increased demand. There is a need to change, and this presents an opportunity to be at the centre of the regeneration agenda.

The first step is to undertake a service-led review – the difficult bit – to understand who can occupy with whom and which services will benefit from towncentre locations because it might not work for everyone. There are, of course, complexities around separate tiers of Government providing different services but a unitary model lends itself well to this initiative, and One Public Estate projects prove that it can work.

There will always be a motive to move: a piecemeal estate perhaps, assets in the wrong locations, poor-quality space or the possibility to raise a capital receipt and generate revenue savings. Operational services collocating can have its challenges, but a service-led review can start to unlock it.

Local authorities often own land or sites in strategic locations which are increasingly important to regeneration and renewal. Our sense in the market is that deals are being agreed at more realistic levels than previously, so town-centre sites are becoming viable and the low borrowing rates (for now) may lead to potential opportunities for acquisition – if the business case stacks up. Significant due diligence is needed and even

in stronger markets, piecing together these strategies in town centres has been lengthy and complex – not least due to the patchwork of ownerships.

Surely, though, local authorities – or even wider public sector service delivery hubs – can become an effective anchor for a scheme whilst also delivering services more effectively through collaboration, integration and modernisation – putting the public at the centre of that experience.

What this big idea needs is an organisation to take the lead, with a vested interest in bringing town centres back to life: the local authority. The need for change in service provision, the need for change in town centres and the need for us to keep up with the changing way we live, and work creates a compelling opportunity for the public sector to be at the centre of the regeneration agenda. 

www.carterjonas.co.uk

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HVAC

INCORPORATE SAFETY AND WELLBEING FROM THE FLOOR UP There are many considerations when specifying products to enhance the safety and wellbeing of building users and occupants – from reducing risk of injury to improving the indoor climate. Here, Ashley Cooper, Managing Director at WMS, a leading supplier and installer of underfloor heating systems, offers his thoughts on why radiant heating is the key to creating healthier and safer buildings for the future.

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hatever the planned usage, taking a peoplefirst approach is vital when building and specifying commercial and residential properties. So, when it comes to the heating system, striking the right balance involves creating an environment that is safe and pleasant for those who live or work within the building, and visitors who are less familiar with the surroundings.

One product which ticks all the right regulatory boxes, whilst incorporating safety, health and wellbeing aspects into the very fabric of a building, is underfloor heating.

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Step onto the solution Increasingly viewed as the ideal solution for developers and contractors, hydronic (waterbased) underfloor heating circulates warm water through a series of continuous loops that are fitted under a floor. This process creates a large radiant surface to heat a space from the floor upwards.

Designed to cover a much greater surface area than radiators, underfloor heating runs at lower temperatures (45°C rather than 80°C) when compared to traditional convection radiator systems. This factor also makes underfloor

heating systems perfectly suited to address the upcoming low water temperature update to the Building Regulations and Part L, which comes into force this June (2022) and will affect new-build homes.

From this point, there will be an enforced 31% reduction in CO2 from new dwellings compared to current standards and new home heating systems will also be required to have a maximum flow temperature of 55°C – something by its very design underfloor heating is easily able to achieve.

Another key benefit of underfloor heating is the ease of integration with renewable energy sources. When paired with such technologies, the entire system also becomes more efficient as the energy source doesn’t need to work as hard, as underfloor heating is able to run at lower temperatures.

Safety as standard While thermostatic radiator valves on modern heating systems can provide more control, if temperatures remain set to high levels, serious injuries can occur if children, elderly or vulnerable people make contact with these scalding hot metal units. Every month, 590 children require admission to an NHS burns service following a severe burn or scald injury1.

Risk of serious accidents associated with radiators can be prevented through the specification of underfloor heating, which eliminates the danger of burning hot radiator surfaces and pipework from the building, while offering all the warmth, zoning and control required.

In addition to creating a comfortable and safe environment, from a maintenance perspective, underfloor heating also takes away costly maintenance time to address common radiator system issues. Typically, radiators require an annual check for air in the system/bleeding and sometimes more invasive inhibitor dosing is needed, plus they may need to be fully replaced every 10 to 15 years.

On the other hand, underfloor heating requires very little maintenance, with WMS offering a 75-year pipework warranty, making it possible for the system to outlive the life of the building itself.

Wellbeing advantages Air quality has become an increasingly important aspect when integrating health and wellbeing into the design of a building, particularly to support those who suffer with allergies and asthma, or for settings where infection control is vital.

HVAC Currently 5.4 million 2 people in the UK are receiving treatment for asthma, while a staggering 44% 3 of British adults now suffer from at least one allergy. The number of sufferers is also on the rise, so it’s never been more important to specify solutions which reduce any possible triggers.

While fabrics are typically known as the main culprits for harbouring dust mites, skin cells and dander, convection

heating systems are also a magnet for dust and germs which gather behind and inside the panels. This also creates an additional cleaning and maintenance requirement, as radiators will need to be regularly checked for any lingering dust and allergens gathered between the panels.

Allergy and asthma symptoms can also be further exacerbated when the system is turned on and convection heating currents

circulate these problematic particles into the atmosphere.

This is just one of the issues that underfloor heating can help with, as radiant heat reduces the movement of dust – and reduces the spread of viruses or germs – making it one of the healthiest ways to heat a building.

Another added health benefit is that radiant heat eliminates cold spots from a room, where mould could

develop as the heat is radiating from the whole floor surface.

Mould not only adds to maintenance requirements, but also exasperates respiratory conditions too, so by nature, underfloor heating ticks all the right boxes. 

www.wms-uk.com Sources: 1. Children’s Burns Trust 2. Asthma UK, 2017 3. Mintel 2010

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ROOFLIGHTS

ROOFLIGHTS AND ZINC ROOFING Paul Trace from Stella Rooflight offers some advice on the use of rooflights in zinc roofs.

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espite being used for over 200 years, zinc roofs have hit their prime. Versatile, robust and with multiple colours and styling options, they are an architect’s dream. What’s more, with a growing focus on sustainability in design, zinc is a 100% recyclable material that is also energy efficient to produce. With so many benefits, zinc roofing is an attractive proposition for properties.

However, often architects will talk about the trade-off you may have to make with a zinc roof. For example, many architects may steer away from zinc if you are planning to add rooflights. Similarly, architects might focus on other natural light options if a zinc roof is the right choice for your property.

However, does there always have to be a trade-off? Here, we uncover the myths around rooflights and zinc roofs and offer some top tips to ensure you can achieve the best of both worlds.

Why is zinc roofing so popular?

With its contemporary styling, it’s hard to believe that zinc has been used in roofing for centuries. However, it’s the contemporary appearance that is really

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allowing zinc to grow in popularity.

Whereas some roofing material will mean compromising your building materials, zinc offers a huge variety of colours and finishes so that it can work in harmony with almost any structure.

This versatility makes zinc ideal for a range of roofing projects. For example, agricultural projects, converted barns as well as listed or protected buildings, such as those in conservation areas. Zinc colours can blend or contrast with the building, while different textures, such as ripples, grooves and scales, can help enhance the aesthetic.

Ready for weather and the next 100 years As well as the design and aesthetics, a zinc roof offers longevity. It has excellent weatherproof properties and is UV resistant. This ability to withstand harsh conditions adds to the lifespan of a zinc roof, as does the ability to resist corrosion.

In fact, some describe zinc as self-healing as it has an unusual ability to repair itself over time when it comes to surface scratches.

All of this combined means that zinc roofing can have a long-term serviceable

life. In some cases, zinc roofing can last for up to 100 years. What’s more, during such a long lifespan, the maintenance requirement is minimal. The most important maintenance is to clear debris, such as fallen leaves, and ensure the zinc is treated where necessary.

Can you install rooflights in a zinc roof?

There are several concerns when it comes to installing rooflights on a zinc roof. One is the fact that rooflights can tend to look bulky on a zinc roof. This is especially apparent as a zinc roof can have an ultrathin profile. The fact that many rooflights can have a bulkier frame can deter architects and property owners.

When there is an overlap or large seam, there is also a potential problem with heavy rainfall. A thicker rooflight profile can increase the risk of water ingress. This can also be exacerbated when the roof pitch is low. Without a high angle to promote water runoff, there is a risk that water will pool at the top of the rooflight. This may be fine in the short term but may cause long-term issues, especially if the water finds a way into the roof.

profile to prevent the build-up of water around the frame or head of the rooflight. You can also help to mitigate the risk of water ingress by installing a gully around the rooflight to improve drainage and reduce the amount of water that flows over the top of the rooflight’s surface.

Zinc roof rooflights: key considerations

3. Width and seams Another key consideration is the width of the rooflight.

Naturally, many property owners appreciate large rooflights that let in as much natural light as possible.

However, large rooflights on a zinc roof can cause issues with water ingress.

A rooflight will typically be installed across seams in the roof. However, the more seams that a rooflight crosses means that more water has to be diverted further. This water diversion can cause puddling or pooling, increasing the risk of water build-up and ingress without the roof materials.

Generally, it is recommended that rooflights should not cross more than three seams in a zinc roof. This is an important design and lighting consideration when working out the maximum width of the rooflights.

If you’re looking to incorporate rooflights into a zinc roof, there are factors to consider to ensure it is a success: 1. Design A zinc roof is often chosen because of its aesthetic. The installation of a rooflight, particularly bulky rooflights, can be unsightly on the streamlined, thin profile of a zinc roof.

Often, zinc roofing is used in conservation areas as it can work sympathetically with slate roofing. However, for rooflights to be approved by conservation building officers, it is crucial for the rooflights to be part of the seamless design of the roof.

A subtle design is essential, and this is best achieved by using rooflights that sit flush against the roof so they are barely detectable.

A thin, but durable, frame of the rooflight can help to ensure that they meet the needs of a conservation plan and is in keeping with the sleek design of the roof.

2. Roof pitch As mentioned above, the pitch of the roof can be a significant consideration when installing a rooflight. A low pitch (roof angle) can mean that the water doesn’t run off with ease.

As a result, more standing water on the roof can lead to water ingress, and the seams around the rooflight can cause capillary action to draw water into the roof construction.

The most successful rooflight installation will be in properties with a significant roof pitch. Ideally, a pitch would be above 14° as capillary action is more likely in an angle less than this.

If you have a low roof pitch, then it is still possible to install rooflights. However, it becomes more important to opt for rooflights with a thin

ROOFLIGHTS

The way to get around this is to opt for rooflights that can fit flush against the roof.

Having an ultra-thin frame that sits flush against the roof can help prevent the risk of water ingress while also offering a more pleasing aesthetic and maintaining the clean lines of the roof.

Stainless-steel, ultra-thin rooflights for zinc roofs Stella rooflights are an architect’s favourite for zinc roofing, due to their strong and durable construction and ultrathin stainless-steel profile. Stella stainless-steel slim rooflights sit flush against the roof, helping to improve the aesthetics, meet the needs of conservation regulations and reduce the risk of water issues too.

All Stella rooflights are bespoke made for each project and can, therefore, be designed to fit any size or shape required, with a wide range of custom options available.

In addition, much like a zinc roof, Stella’s stainless-steel rooflights offer unrivalled longevity and will not rust, unlike mild- or carbon-steel-framed alternatives. A Stella rooflight is the ideal choice to complement a zinc roof application however big or small. 

www.stellarooflight.co.uk

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FRAMEWORKS

GOLD STANDARD NEEDED TO CONQUER THE ‘WILD WEST’

The framework marketplace is as crowded as it has ever been, but whether the quantity is matched by the quality is one of the construction industry’s key challenges. The Construction Playbook and the recent ‘Constructing the Gold Standard’ report have both called for greater standards to be placed on frameworks, something which Jason Stapley, Managing Director of Pagabo, believes has been a long time coming.

F

rameworks have long been a source of surety for clients and suppliers alike. From humble beginnings, the market is now growing exponentially, and the flexibility, variety and competition that frameworks provide have been huge drivers for this sustained growth in recent years.

However, the problem with competition is that it can often lead to corners being cut to gain an advantage.

In addition, the lack of supplier capacity for new work and the growing cost of materials is causing a growing problem of getting enough companies to bid. With prices continuing to rise, suppliers are increasingly reticent to commit to delivering a project for a stated price when prices will have likely increased significantly by the time contracts are agreed.

With clients and suppliers both now used to frameworks delivering choice and

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flexibility, there is always going to be a varied market, but it’s about making sure everyone is going about it in the right way.

The Construction Playbook – now published more than a year ago – set out a roadmap for doing this, but more notable is the recent report authored by Professor David Mosey; ‘Constructing the Gold Standard’. This report has made a clear call for a gold standard for all frameworks to ensure that they are offering the very best level of procurement across the market for the public sector to access.

Setting the tone One of the key roles of frameworks is setting the tone for responsible procurement practices, and it is essential that providers across the board adhere to the same levels of compliance, standards and provides the appropriate support to clients and suppliers.

This is potentially an area where newer framework providers have some way to go. Too many seem to be in the market for a quick buck and don’t necessarily provide the level of consultancy of some of the more established providers.

While this does make the likes of Pagabo’s frameworks and our service stand out from the crowd, the flipside is that it gives frameworks in general a bad rap. When you look at the raw figures, there are more than 2000 public sector frameworks, which creates a bit of a ‘Wild West’ situation, diluting the offering not just for clients, but for supply chain as well – who is going to bid for a framework without knowing that there is a solid pipeline of work?

Established framework providers have been pushing for the gold standard for some time, especially as their importance in the public sector is increasing. The fallout of the Construction Playbook

and the Mosey Report shows a strong shift towards taking the complexity out of procurement, leaning heavily into that allimportant compliance.

Naturally, the biggest benefit of frameworks to clients is the choice of suppliers – many want as large a pool to fish from as possible, so they need to have that trust in the framework process to be sure that what they are getting is truly of a high standard. This also has a noticeable benefit on the supply chain side as well, with competition for work organically driving standards upward.

Benefits for all Frameworks mean that suppliers are engaged earlier and costs are therefore lower for clients, making it a win-win for them – it cuts down on their legwork, and gives a higher probability of securing the best quality supplier without having to constantly retender.

For the suppliers, the visibility of pipelines is really

FRAMEWORKS the most crucial benefit of being on any given framework. Some suppliers already have order books stretching deep into next year, while the cost saving that comes from having full visibility of what projects are worth their time bidding for can stretch into the millions on bigger jobs.

It’s often overlooked, but every penny saved on procurement is another one to spend on the project itself.

There are a multitude of other benefits to framework working – regional lot breakdowns for a localism-centric approach, a commitment to SMEs and additional timeline security to name but three – but it all boils down to market engagement and collaboration.

If framework providers engage with the market to identify what its needs are – whether that be adjustments to existing frameworks, or ones specifically developed with their needs in mind – the result of that collaboration can only be beneficial for clients, supply chain and the providers alike.

That is the key framework issue that the playbook identified, and that is what the Mosey Report is looking to fix. 

www.pagabo.co.uk

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TECHNICAL FOCUS

HOW TO IMPROVE ACOUSTIC STANDARDS IN CONSTRUCTION Life during lockdown and the densification of our cities has highlighted how many structures simply aren’t fit for purpose when it comes to acoustic solutions and sound management. In this article, Ben Hancock, Managing Director at Oscar Acoustics, looks at what can be done to improve acoustic standards in construction.

M

ost modern structures strive for sustainability and fire safety excellence, yet acoustics is an area often overlooked. The problem is widespread – spaces may look beautiful, but are, in fact, uncomfortable and noisy – a far cry from the harmonious environments designers set out to create.

The problem is now endemic and synonymous with modern-day buildings – many of us struggle to work or relax because acoustic solutions haven’t been given the attention they deserve. For those living and working in these types of settings, the situation can become dire, leading to long-term health problems such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, heart attacks and even strokes.

Raising the bar So how can contractors and architects overcome these issues around noise and sound control? Tackling noise from above is one of the most common sources of complaints. Building Regulations

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Document E sets minimum standards for soundproofing residential buildings in England and Wales, however, while these ensure new builds and conversions comply, the standards don’t apply to existing dwellings, leaving hundreds of thousands of previously-built properties with inadequate sound insulation.

When noise from above is a problem, the simplest solution is to create an isolated ceiling using acoustic hangers, which work by absorbing the vibrations that cause the transfer of unwanted noise between floors. With the right acoustic hanger, you can install an isolated ceiling entirely from the room below with no disruption to the room above, and with minimum ceiling height loss (as little as 6mm).

Specifiers should always look for fire safety accreditation – acoustic hangers should come with a BRE fire rating of over 90 minutes and be compliant with British Building Regulations Approved Document E for airborne and impact sound.

TECHNICAL FOCUS

based fibres and specialist water-based adhesives can contribute towards many sustainable design and health certification systems including BREEAM, SKA, Living Building Challenge and adds up to 17 points towards the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating of a project.

This can even improve business rates. In a recent report, The Impact of Sustainability on Value by JLL, new Grade A office buildings in central London with a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’ or better, achieved higher rents than those without a rating.

Understanding the regs It’s never been more important for built environment professionals to understand current regulations, which is why we’ve included a quickreference, go-to guide:

Noise regulations checklist

Acoustic sprays: reducing reverberation Excessive sound reverberation is another reason for poor acoustics, particularly within office space and warehouse environments. Open spaces that contain hard surfaces allow sound energy to ‘bounce’ creating ‘echo chambers’.

This can make communication difficult, as well as lead to prementioned health risks.

Developers looking to tackle this problem can do so with fire-rated acoustic sprays.

From deliberately textured to plaster smooth, seamless acoustic sprays and plasters can be quickly applied to ceilings and walls for quality acoustic finishes without design compromise. Coloured options are also available, which can speed up refurbs as there’s

no need for redecoration and will also minimise the need for repair over time, and help offset the cost.

With fire safety now a major focus, acoustic sprays that go beyond Approved Document B fire requirement (Class 0 to BS 476 & B-s1, d0 fire rating) will offer reassurance that, should an event occur, the acoustic spray would provide little to no smoke and absolutely no droplets, assisting in the safe escape of occupants.

These acoustic systems also allow complete flexibility with Cat A and Cat B configuration allowing for dividing structures, such as office pods, to be brought in without disrupting the acoustic spray finish on the ceiling above.

A high-quality spray is also extremely versatile, moulding

to any surface shape and will bond to virtually all common construction materials including plaster, wood, metal and concrete.

Prioritising health of occupants According to space wellness expert, WELL, it advocates the use of acoustic materials that can absorb sound “to support concentration and reduce reverberation”. In its V2 WELL-accreditation document, ‘sound-reducing surfaces’ are listed and awards two points to buildings that have undergone a specialist treatment, such as an acoustic finish.

With sustainability now a major focus, environmental benefits should also be considered. Acoustic sprays made of recycled, natural plant-

Minimum standards for soundproofing residential buildings in England and Wales For dwellings: Building Regulations Document E1 Control of Noise at Work Regulations: Sound levels should be no higher than: - Daily or weekly exposure of 87 dB - Peak sound pressure of 140 dB2.

Under the regulations, the internal airborne sound resistance inside any dwelling must be a minimum of 40 dB. It applies to walls and upper floors between bedrooms and other rooms. There is one exception: any wall that has a door in it and walls to en-suite bathrooms.

For impact sound such as footsteps, jumping and dropped objects, a maximum impact sound transmittance level of 62 dB is set for floors and stairs in new builds. A maximum of 64 dB is set for conversion projects. 

www.oscar-acoustics.co.uk Sources 1 https://www.gov.uk/ government/publications/ resistance-to-sound-approveddocument-e 2 https://www.hse.gov.uk/ pUbns/priced/l108.pdf

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ROOFING, CLADDING FOCUS COATINGS & INNOVATION & FINISHES & INSULATION

CHAMPIONING SUSTAINABILITY Powdertech Wood Finish (Roughwood R047) is being used for a prestigious sustainable logistics development in Milton Keynes, built by Glencar Construction for client Baytree Logistics.

The building, on a 10.4-acre site at Fenny Lock, will feature the latest in technologyenabled sustainable design features providing an environment beneficial to the health and wellbeing of the building users. Wherever possible, Cradle to Cradle (circular economy) principles have been adopted meaning that materials used can be repurposed in the future, being returned into the construction cycle for remanufacture with no detriment to quality.

BREEAM has specified the development scheme as ‘Excellent’. It is also ‘WELL’ ready – the WELL building standard is the world’s first building standard focused exclusively on sustainability, human health and wellbeing.

Seven years of research have gone into the formulation of this standard, involving scientists, doctors and architects. Together,

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they have explored the relationship between the buildings where people spend their time, and the impact those buildings have on the health and wellbeing their occupants. WELL is third-party certified by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), which administers the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.

The benefits of Powdertech Wood Finish Wood Finish on aluminium fits this approach perfectly. Aluminium itself is endlessly recyclable and powder coatings do not affect the process. The finish can be removed, and the metal returned to its original bare state. Powder coatings are also free of VOCs, halogens and heavy metals – all compounds which are damaging to health.

“We are very pleased that the sustainability of Wood Finish on aluminium, and the ‘clean’ qualities of the product have been recognised,” said Richard Besant, Powdertech Director. “Using Wood Finish on external features is also in harmony with the aesthetics of the building design.”

Using PWF on aluminium or steel allows the architect to combine the strength and longevity of metal with the warm, natural appeal of wood. The finish has excellent corrosion protection and weather resistance and conforms to Fire Reaction classification A2-s1,d0. Unlike wood, the finish will not rot or warp and requires very low maintenance to remain looking good for years to come with a high level of colour and gloss retention.

Wellbeing for people and the planet Roof garden terraces and onsite water attenuation form part of a sustainable drainage system, which includes harvesting of rainwater for reuse on site. Wood Finish in Roughwood shade R047 has been used to coat 11 enormous aluminium drainpipes that form part of this scheme. The drain pipes, manufactured by BTS Facades & Fabrications, stand 13m high with a 600 x 600mm top section tapering to 150mm square at the ground. The scheme also includes outdoor gyms and training areas, edible vegetation and reclaimed timber seating. Internally, sensors constantly monitor air and water quality.

“Baytree intend that this should be one of the most sustainable logistics developments ever built in the UK and we are very excited to be a part of this ambition,” added Richard Besant. “Wood Finish on metal is frequently mistaken for actual wood, proving that it can provide that natural appearance where needed, saving many trees at the same time.”

www.powdertechcorby.co.uk 01536 400890 pcl@powdertech.co.uk

The world leader in timber preservation technology ®

Celcure

THE DURABLE CHOICE CELCURISED TIMBER, THE TRUSTED TIMBER PROTECTION FOR LONG STANDING PRESERVATIVE PERFORMANCE FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit: www.kopperspc.eu Email: kpc@koppers.eu Call: +44 (0)1628 486644 Fax: +44 (0)1628 476757 Protim Solignum Limited, Fieldhouse Lane Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 1LS ™ Protim Solignum Limited trading as Koppers Performance Chemicals. Koppers is a registered Trademark of Koppers Delaware, Inc. Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in this document, Protim Solignum Limited gives no undertaking to that effect and no responsibility can be accepted for reliance on this information.

Information will be updated when the need arises. Please ensure you have an up to date copy. All products are produced by independently owned and operated wood processing facilities. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners. Koppers Performance Chemicals, Protim Solignum Limited, Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1LS. Visit: www.kopperspc.eu, Email: kpc@koppers.eu, Call: +44 (0)1628 486644, Fax: +44 (0)1628 476757. Registered in England 3037845. © Copyright 2018.

by Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Manufacturers Of Wood Preservatives Protim Solignum Ltd Marlow, Buckinghamshire

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ROOFING, CLADDING FOCUS & INNOVATION & INSULATION ©Jim Stephenson

NORDIC COPPER INSPIRATION Nordic Copper offers an extensive range of natural surfaces and alloys that can be applied in numerous ways to clad a wide variety of building types, from major public buildings to distinctive individual homes. A growing series of building studies – available to view on the website – exemplify the best in contemporary architecture and showcase the diversity of surfaces, forms and applications available with Nordic Copper today.

C

opper’s unique architectural qualities are defined by its naturallydeveloping patina – which cannot be replicated successfully using other materials with surface coatings. Within a few days of exposure to the atmosphere, a copper surface begins to oxidise, changing from the ‘bright’ mill finish to a chestnut brown, which gradually darkens over several years to a chocolate brown. Continued weathering can eventually result in the distinctive green or blue patina seen on older roofs.

Natural processes

©Maris Tomba

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The Aurubis ‘Nordic Copper’ range provides all these surfaces straightaway.

The processes involved are generally similar to those taking place over time in the environment, utilising copper mineral compounds, not alien chemical processes.

All these surfaces form an integral part of the copper, generally continuing to change over time outside, and are not lifeless coatings or paint. The material is easily bent and formed, and there are no limitations on

the length of copper sheet or strip because whole coils are treated on the production line, not just limited-size sheets.

The Nordic Copper range includes Nordic Standard ‘mill finish’ and Nordic Brown pre-oxidised copper, offering lighter or darker shades of brown determined by the thickness of the oxide layer. The extensive Nordic Blue, Nordic Green and new Nordic Turquoise ranges have been developed with properties and colours based on the same brochantite mineralogy found in natural patinas all over the world. As well as the solid patina colours, ‘Living’ surfaces are available for each with other intensities of patina flecks revealing some of the dark oxidised background material.

Copper alloys Copper alloys are growing in popularity as well, including Nordic Bronze and Nordic Brass – which can also be supplied preweathered. The innovative Nordic Royal is an alloy of copper with aluminium and

ROOFING, CLADDING FOCUS & INNOVATION & INSULATION ©Chris Hodson zinc, giving it a rich golden through-colour and making it very stable. It has a thin protective oxide layer containing all three alloy elements when produced. As a result, the surface retains its golden colour and simply loses some of its sheen over time, as the oxide layer thickens with exposure to the atmosphere to give a matt finish. A wide choice of Nordic Decor mechanicallyapplied surface treatments is also available for various surfaces and alloys, particularly suited to interior applications.

Diversity of forms Apart from traditionally-jointed, rolled material supported by a substrate, various other forms of copper for architecture are increasingly being explored by designers. For example, copper can be supplied in profiled sheets or extremely flat honeycomb panels, pressed to provide surface textures and modulation, or perforated, expanded or woven as mesh for transparency.

But there is more to architectural copper than meets the eye, with an unrivalled lifespan, no maintenance and full recyclability. Its ‘A1 (noncombustible material)’ fire classification to EN 13501-1 is also suitable for cladding tall buildings, using appropriate constructions. Low thermal movement makes it appropriate for any climates and locations, and it is non-toxic and safe to handle, as well as non-brittle and safe to

work. And, importantly today, its inherent antimicrobial qualities make it ideal for touch surfaces internally as well.

Long-term performance The lifespan of copper roofing and cladding can be regarded conservatively as 200 years, subject to substrate and structure, and this is endorsed by experience. Naturally, this longevity has a significant beneficial effect upon comparative whole-of-life cost assessments. Copper’s longevity is due to a complex patination process.

It ensures extreme durability with no maintenance and resistance to corrosion in virtually any atmospheric conditions.

In addition, copper requires no maintenance or decoration. As a lightweight and flexible covering, structural support demands are reduced, resulting in lower carbon and ‘whole-of-life’ costs. Copper is also fully recyclable utilising longestablished practices – 97% of copper in construction comes from recycling – and has other impressive sustainability and environmental credentials. And, of course, copper retains a high scrap value at eventual demolition.

www.nordiccopper.com/ copper-stories 01875 812144 g.bell@aurubis.com

©Tom Ferguson

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FOCUS & INNOVATION

CONTOUR HEATING LAUNCHES BRAND-NEW LOW SURFACE TEMPERATURE RADIATOR Midlands-based safe heating product provider, Contour Heating, has launched a brand-new low surface temperature radiator that is set to provide the education sector with a cost-effective alternative to its current heating solutions.

Covora Lite launches alongside a range of other new safe heating products for 2022, as part of the all-new brochure made available earlier this year. Aimed at helping school and nursery refurbishments working to tight budgets and timelines, its launch is in line with specification for summer projects.

“Covora Lite is our most affordable low surface temperature radiator to date,” says Commercial Director, Robin Mansell.

“With all the features expected from Contour’s extensive range, Covora Lite is still a premium product, but one that makes safe heating much more affordable.”

Including bullnose corners for added safety precautions and with BioCote helping to protect against 99.9% of bacteria, Covora Lite low surface temperature radiators are available with a much shorter lead time than other Contour products, helping projects to get completed far quicker.

On top of this, spilt delivery is also available, helping customers optimise projects and work more streamlined with other trades.

Contour Heating’s complete product range also includes other low surface temperature radiators as well as a variety of anti-ligature solutions, helping provide safer heating to a wider range of industries.

www.contourheating.co.uk 01952 290498 sales@contourheating.co.uk

NEW OUTPATIENTS BUILDING ARRIVES ON SITE AT KING’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL Premier Modular, one of the UK’s leading offsite construction specialists, has installed the final modules on site for a new 3450m2 outpatient services building at King’s College Hospital in London, achieving a major milestone in the build programme. The £21m contract is Premier’s largest single offsite healthcare project in its 65-year history, which is being delivered with its construction partner Claritas. Dan Allison, Divisional Director at Premier Modular, said: “When you have a hospital site as restricted as this one, it is easy to see how offsite construction really comes into its own. And by constructing the building structure in the factory while the foundations are progressed on site, these new hospital facilities will be brought into use at an earlier stage, to the benefit of patient care.”

www.premiermodular.co.uk

0800 316 0888

info@premiermodular.co.uk

DEANESTOR FITS-OUT THE FIRST NEW HOSPITAL IN THE CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK Deanestor, one of the UK’s leading healthcare furniture specialists, has delivered its latest hospital fit-out contract – a community hospital in Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands.

This is the first new hospital to be constructed in the Cairngorms National Park. 120 rooms across the new hospital have been fittedout by Deanestor. Bespoke furniture was manufactured in accordance with SHTM 63, including storage cabinets, wardrobes for the inpatient rooms, shelving, worktops and foldaway beds. Designed by Oberlanders Architects and Rural Design, Badenoch and Strathspey Hospital is now a finalist for Healthcare Development of the Year at the Scottish Property Awards.

www.deanestor.co.uk/healthcare

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01623 420041

enquiries@deanestor.com

MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR THE SUSTAINABLE OPTION FOR FAILING METAL FRAMES Dealing with damaged or neglected old metal windows can be a genuinely daunting challenge for property owners or their maintenance teams, but replacement – especially using modern alternatives – is rarely the only answer as specialist contractor Associated Steel Window Services (ASWS) can attest. In work across the south-east and further afield, the London-based company carries out a wide variety of contracts, addressing everything from heritage steel windows in listed buildings, to the maintenance of more modern W40 section and aluminium frame fenestration and curtain walling. Crucially, in almost all circumstances, timely intervention by ASWS can greatly extend the working life of windows.

www.steel-window-association.co.uk 0203 475 8049 info@steel-window-association.co.uk

THE PERFORMANCE FLOOR OF CHOICE FOR EDUCATION Harlequin is one of world’s leading authorities on the design, manufacture, supply and installation of performance floors, mirrors and ballet barres for the performing arts.

The Harlequin product range has been carefully researched and designed in collaboration with dancers, biomechanics experts and sports scientists. Safe performance is at the heart of everything it does.

As a global brand with over 45 years’ experience in the performing arts, Harlequin is trusted by the world’s leading dance companies, dance professionals, architects and building contractors. Harlequin provides a turnkey solution for all education dance

ZENTIA CEILINGS HELP A WELSH SCHOOL TO EVOLVE A plethora of products from one of the UK’s leading leading ceiling manufacturers, Zentia, met a multitude of challenges at a redeveloped Welsh school.

Five square-edged mineral products from Zentia were used on the £20m regeneration of Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg school in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, that included additional BB93 accommodation for 300 pupils.

The modernisation and upgrade of facilities at the school saw the construction of five new extensions, including a design and technology teaching block, a new sports hall and a reception area and dining hall.

FOCUS & INNOVATION

studio requirements with offices in Europe, the Americas and Asia. All products are referenced on RIBA NBS Source.

Harlequin Activity is Harlequin’s leading sprung floor for dance in education. A ‘fullyfloating’ sprung-floor system without fixings to the subfloor, it features Harlequin’s proprietary ‘triple sandwich’ construction method.

Harlequin Activity provides shockdampening to avoid a ‘trampoline’ effect, plus area elasticity to ensure identical characteristics across the whole floor, offering better protection from injuries for both teachers and performers.

The educator’s choice of vinyl performance top surface with Harlequin Activity is Harlequin Cascade with BioCote.

Harlequin Cascade is the ultimate heavyduty vinyl dance floor, with mineral fibre reinforcement for stability and durability.

Harlequin has now produced a new, improved Cascade with BioCote antimicrobial protection. It is the Harlequin Cascade that you know and love but with an added ingredient with proven antibacterial properties that helps keep the floor hygienically clean, so reducing the risk of cross contamination by working constantly to reduce the presence of microbes on the surface of the flooring.

www.harlequinfloors.com 01892 514888 dancing@harlequinfloors.com

Zentia’s Perla tiles, which feature light reflectance of 86%, were used in the corridors and circulation spaces while sister Perla dB tiles, which perform to sound absorption Class C, featured in the classrooms.

Antibacterial Bioguard Acoustic tiles, which also perform to sound absorption Class C, were used in the food technology classrooms, and Bioguard tiles, which are clean-room classified to ISO 5, in the kitchens. Finally, Hydroboard tiles, which are 100% humidity resistant and perform to sound absorption Class A, were used with a Prelude non-corrosive suspension grid in the changing rooms and toilets.

They were selected by architect firm Austin Smith Lord, which has specified Zentia many times before for school projects, as they met the aesthetic and acoustic requirements of this particular 11,000m 2 steel-framed scheme.

Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg brings to life the school’s vision to create an exemplar environment on a single campus, where pupils start in primary school and finish sixth form all within one site. IT and the remodelled sixth-form area are now at the heart of the school, promoting Welsh language learning post-16.

www.zentia.com/en-gb 0800 371849

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ROOFING, CLADDING FOCUS & INNOVATION & INSULATION

address the climate emergency, while also increasing energy efficiency. Currently, many hospitals also suffer from thermal issues, such as overheating.

An all-in-one approach

HOW CAN INSULATION PROTECT OUR HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN HEALTHCARE CONSTRUCTION? Healthcare construction in the UK goes beyond simply creating more beds and is guided by a complex set of varied building regulations and best practices, bringing immense challenges for specifiers and designers. Here Paul Barrett, Head of Product Development at ROCKWOOl UK explains the role of insulation in this challenge and how it can help reduce building costs, as well as promote health and wellbeing, patient safety and comfort.

The UK healthcare estate is vast and multi-faceted. As well as being earmarked for capital investment with new hospitals and facilities, many of the 1250 plus NHS Primary Care Networks-managed hospitals are approaching 40 years old, thus requiring significant maintenance and refurbishment to bring them up to modern standards.

Yet as well as being large in scale, the task is also complex in its requirements. The construction and optimisation drive in UK healthcare goes beyond beds.

Modern hospitals and healthcare facilities are being designed to include repeatable rooms, standardised assemblies

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and components, and flexibility in the use of space.

As well as reducing building costs, healthcare providers are seeking to deliver environments that are more accessible and promote health and wellbeing, patient safety and comfort. This supports a faster recovery time and ultimately reduces hospitalisation, thus speeding up the throughput of in-patients.

Energy performance and comfort are also key drivers in contemporary healthcare environments. The NHS in particular is committed to reaching net-zero carbon as soon as practically possibly, helping

Specifiers and designers have an immense challenge on their hands to ensure the correct, most effective materials are chosen for the construction and refurbishment of healthcare facilities.

With healthcare projects being complex, solutions that provide multiple benefits in a single specification make the job much easier for specifiers. By opting for stonewool insulation for example, it’s possible to deliver acoustic and thermal performance, as well as provide enhanced fire resilience due to its inherent non-combustibility.

Designed with health in mind For over 80 years, ROCKWOOL has been a trusted partner on many healthcare projects, providing the most relevant, adaptable, highest-quality stone wool insulation solutions to ensure patient safety and wellbeing, whilst still allowing for cost-effective construction. In recent years, we’ve supported several NHS trusts and healthcare providers in helping them achieve strict fire safety and energy efficiency guidelines whilst improving acoustics and thermal performance.

To support this partnership a step further, we’ve now created ‘ROCKWOOL for Healthcare Construction’, a comprehensive guide to designing and building with health in mind. Providing a deep-dive into sector-specific building regulations and best practice, as well as case studies and future building methods, ‘ROCKWOOL for Healthcare Construction’ has everything designers and specifiers need to create a safe, modern healthcare environment.

To download the ROCKWOOL for Healthcare Construction guide, visit rockwool.com/uk/healthcare.

www.rockwool.com/uk/healthcare 01656 868490 technical.solutions@rockwool.co.uk

FOCUS & INNOVATION

AKW’S NEW FUTUREPROOF SANITARYWARE RANGE – COMPLIANT WITH REVISED UK WATER REGULATIONS AKW, one of the UK’s leading providers of accessibility solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of its stylish new Livenza Plus sanitaryware. This high-quality range has classic, clean lines and is fully compliant with the latest, revised UK Water Regulations.

With the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) reviewing its approval of water fittings across the industry, the Livenza Plus range delivers peace of mind to installers and end-users alike, as it is fully compliant with all revised requirements. In addition, Livenza Plus features a rimless toilet pan, flush options and stylish aesthetics to suit any home.

The latest UK Water Regulations require a 300mm cistern overflow pipe and a visible top-fill water inlet valve, with an all-round air gap. This is to eliminate backflow and potential contamination risk of the water supply. To accommodate the revised internal design requirements, the Livenza Plus raised push button and lever flush cisterns are tall and slim, delivering both functionality and enhanced aesthetics.

Alongside this sophisticated design upgrade to the original Livenza range, the AKW Livenza Plus range has rounded edges and corners to minimise potential fall injuries and features a rimless pan, which is easier to clean and helps prevent the build-up of bacteria. To improve functionality further, the cistern comes with

either a standard push button flush, a raised version or lever handle option for those with dexterity issues. There are two contemporary soft-close seat options that can support up to 23.5 stone (150kg) and a 59mm toilet plinth has been included in the range to accommodate raised-height design requirements. A new wash basin bracket has also been developed to provide additional strength and support where needed.

www.akw-ltd.co.uk 01905 823298 sales@akw-ltd.co.uk

DOMUS VENTILATION LAUNCHES NEXT-GEN HIGH-PERFORMANCE MVHR SYSTEMS

TBA FIREFLY SYSTEM SUB-DIVIDES SUPERMARKET ROOFSPACE During the recent pandemic, supermarket chains have had to continue with property maintenance and improvement programmes to ensure the safety of their premises, including a store in Staffordshire where the APOLLO Lite 30:30 barrier, manufactured by TBA FIREFLY, was installed within the roof space as part of a major refurbishment project. Commenting on the success of the work, The B Team Site Manager, Adi, said: “As the architects specified vertical fire barriers in the strategy according to the Approved Document B from the Building Regulations, we decided to use APOLLO Lite 30:30 from TBA, as we have used it and other Firefly products on other projects in the past. It is easy to cut and install, fixing it vertically to the metal profiles with stainless-steel screws to create 20 x 20m compartments.”

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

Domus Ventilation, part of the Polypipe group, has launched its next-generation, improved performance HRXE mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) units for a wider range of residential properties than ever before. HRXE-HERA and HRXE-AURA high-performance MVHR systems combine supply and extract ventilation in one system. They efficiently recover the heat typically lost in waste, stale air and use it to temper the fresh air drawn into the building via a heat exchanger. The filtered, prewarmed air is distributed to areas of the home such as living rooms and bedrooms, effectively meeting part of the heating load in energy-efficient dwellings.

www.domusventilation.co.uk

vent.info@domusventilation.co.uk

PANELSTYLE LAUNCHES BRAND-NEW BROCHURE AND 13 STUNNING DECORS The PanelStyle PVC wall and ceiling panelling collection has launched a new-look brochure featuring two new ranges and a total of 13 new decors – offering an extended choice of stylish and waterproof decors ideal for the bathroom environment. The 34-page brochure showcases the full PanelStyle collection which includes a total of 59 decors across its Splashpanel, Proplas and Proplas Tile ranges. It features inspirational lifestyle photography, a new foldout three-page overview of all PanelStyle designs, a handy key highlighting the benefits of each of the ranges and technical information. It also includes larger format panels on the decor pages to aid with selection.

www.panelstyle.co.uk

0845 023 0374

info@panelstyle.co.uk

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ROOFING, CLADDING FOCUS & INNOVATION & INSULATION

To prepare the property for the luxury holiday rental market, Ross and Katy paid particular attention to updating the idyllic outdoor areas that surround the house and overlook the loch. They wanted to reflect the beautiful forests and woodlands that surround the property by incorporating a number of natural wood features for their guests to enjoy.

Choosing Osmo

ENHANCING OUTDOOR LIVING WITH NATURAL OIL WOODSTAIN Set within the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park in Scotland, Old Kilmun House occupies an elevated waterside position, overlooking Holy Loch in the village of Kilmun. The Duke of Argyll originally built this stone manor house in 1696. Ross and Katy Olusanya have extensively renovated this beautiful stone manor house to breathe new life into the property.

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These include a bespoke wooden pergola for the hot tub area so it can be used in all weathers, a beautiful natural wood picnic table and bench, made from locally-sourced oak, which overlooks the loch, and a long outdoor dining table and matching chairs in the BBQ area.

They chose to use Osmo Natural Oil Woodstain 706 oak to protect and enhance the natural wood. The durability of this product was important for Ross and Katy who wanted a high-quality result that would be low maintenance and last for years.

Natural Oil Woodstain is a decorative, oil-based protective finish for all exterior use. The microporous, breathable finish allows the wood to breathe and reduces the risk of swelling and shrinkage.

It is water repellent and extremely weather- and UVresistant, making it ideal for the harsh weather conditions on the west coast of Scotland and it contains active ingredients to slow growth of mildew, algae and fungi. It is designed to last decades in all kinds of climatic conditions and does not crack, flake, peel or blister.

Ross comments: “We were looking for a high-quality product that would really enhance the beautiful features of the wood and would also be in-keeping with the natural surroundings of the property. I found it easy to apply with a flat brush and it dries quickly. I was impressed that it is water- and dirt-resistant, making it very low maintenance – a must for holiday rental properties. We’re so pleased with the result.”

www.osmouk.com 01296 481220

FOCUS & INNOVATION

M-AR CPD PROVIDES INVALUABLE OFFSITE INSIGHT Offsite contractor M-AR has launched a brand-new CPD module focused exclusively on modern methods of construction (MMC) and exploring how best to maximise the benefits of offsite.

Typifying M-AR’s open and collaborative approach to improving standards across the industry, the new CPD is designed to provide architects, specifiers, cost consultants and end-clients alike with insight on the offsite manufacture and installation process as an alternative to traditional build.

Guiding participants through the range of MMC solutions, M-AR’s first public CPD presentation looks to address key questions, such as how to get the most out of MMC, what options are available, and how to deliver the best end result in the most effective and efficient way. M-AR will share its own insight along with

examples of best practice and lessons learnt from challenges overcome by the team on projects of varying sizes and spanning different sectors.

The benefits of offsite, from cost predictability to programming efficiency and improved site safety, are well documented so the new CPD from M-AR delves deeper into the concept of offsite. It provides practical insights like how to effectively work with your offsite manufacturer as part of your build programme to maximise the benefits for each project.

M-AR is a contractor with a manufacturing facility which means that it effectively

SAFETY REASSURED WITH EVAC+CHAIR Evac+Chair is a world leader in safe emergency evacuation. With 40 years’ experience in the design and manufacture of evacuation chairs, Evac+Chair is trusted and relied upon in any emergency situation to assist in saving people’s lives. With a design and manufacturing facility based in the UK and a wide range of accreditations (including being a Class 1 Medical Device), Evac+Chair products are manufactured to the highest quality standards. Evac+Chair has a dedicated R&D team, that continuously innovates to ensure those with mobility impairments can be safely evacuated from buildings in the event of a fire or emergency. The specialist’s lifesaving products are installed in a variety of environments including offices, hotels, schools, colleges, sports stadia, retail outlets, factories and various healthcare settings worldwide. Training, maintenance and servicing is also available, providing customers with complete reassurance that their Evac+Chair will be fully supported throughout its lifetime.

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spans both disciplines, so is ideally placed to advise on the requirements of any project from both perspectives – providing a full 360-degree approach to offsite.

The free CPD presentation will be available from March 2022 and will be delivered either face-to-face or virtually by M-AR’s expert team.

01482 635081

www.m-ar.co.uk buildingrelationships@m-ar.co.uk

YALE TS008 POSTMASTER PROFESSIONAL LETTERPLATE RECEIVES BSI KITEMARK The TS008 Postmaster Professional letterplate from Yale has been granted the British Standards Institute (BSI) Kitemark – adding a new accreditation to what is already the most rigorously-tested TS008 product on the market. The Yale TS008 Postmaster Professional letterplate combines superior security with a modern design and a range of unique features, making it an unrivalled product on the current letterplate market. With a 96mm sightline height and a telescopic feature allowing it to suit a range of door types and thicknesses, the letterplate offers utmost practicality and versatility. Designed with security in mind, the inner flap has a positive stop feature to guard against common attack methods and ‘fishing’. The external flap features a complete peripheral seal to help form a thermal and acoustic barrier. Available in a wide range of finishes including polished, brushed, satin silver, gold, black and white, the product works with many finished door aesthetics. Its elegant and slim design makes it suitable for even narrow hallways, while its lack of sharp corners protects children and pets when the flap is held open by packages.

www.yaledoorandwindowsolutions.co.uk 01902 366800 info@yaledws.co.uk

enquiries@evacchair.co.uk

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